CHAPTER 40

VALENTINA IMARA MEADOWS

Two days? Three or four? Hindi ko na matandaan kung ilang araw na akong nakakulong dito sa torture chamber ni Perses. My throat is parched, and I can feel my lips cracking from dehydration.

"Mrs. Collazo?"

I remained lying on the dirty floor, emotionlessly staring at the rusty bars. Hinintay ko na sumilip siya dahil alam kong dadalhan na nila akong pagkain ngayon. Hindi sapat ang pagkain na binibigay nila para bumalik ang lakas ko. The food and the water are so few.

And Right now, I just needed water because my throat was so dry. I tried to sit up even though I felt weak. Sobrang bigat ng katawan ko at ang mata ko ay nanlalabo kahit na dahan-dahan ang kilos ko.

"Patayuin niyo. Bilis," utos ng isang lalake sa kasamahan niya ng masilip nila ako sa loob ng kulungan. They see my tangled hair, dirty gown, dirty face, pale lips, and the noticeable weakness of my body.

"Saan niyo ako dadalhin?" kunot noo kong tanong sa kanila.

Hindi nila ako sinagot at tinawanan lang ako ng makapasok ang isang lalake sa loob.

He grabbed my jaw roughly and brought his face close to mine. I couldn't help but feel disgusted by his smell. Ang baho niya, especially with the strong smell of gunpowder on his body.

"Ilang araw kanang nasa teritoryo namin pero wala ka pang talagang balak na sabihin kung ano ang tunay na pangalan ng asawa mo?" mariin niyang bulong sa akin. "We'll make you pay if you don't confess."

I looked at him sharply. "You're the ones who will pay when I get out of here," I coldly replied.

Humalakhak siya sa akin. "Napakatapang mo pa rin talaga ngayon, huh?"

Hindi ko inaasahan ang sunod niyang ginawa. I cried out in pain when I felt his fist in my stomach. I coughed several times and held my stomach where he punched me. Pakiramdam ko ay parang nanatili pa rin ang kamao niya roon dahil ramdam na ramdam ko pa rin ang sakit sa sikmura ko.

He quickly and roughly removed the chains from my right foot. Mahina akong napadaing nang maramdaman ang kamay niya sa buhok ko; the guy dragged me out of the cell while his hands were on my hair.

"B-bitawan mo ako!" I shouted at him, even though my body was weak. "Let m-me go, I said—"

Hindi agad ako nakakilos ng basta dahil itinulak niya na lang ako sa malamig na sahig.

I fell face-first and gasped for breath from my shouting. I glared at the man who did that to me and slowly got up from falling on the floor, pero hindi ko rin 'yon nagawa dahil nahablot niya na naman ang buhok ko at mariin na sinubsob ang mukha sa sahig.

I groaned on the floor while he forcefully pushed my head against it as if he wanted to bury my face in the floor. Parang hindi pa siya nakuntento, parang nandilim at umikot ang paningin ko ng maramdam na ilang beses niyang inuntog ang ulo ko roon. Pain spread through my head, and it didn't go away immediately. It lasted for a few seconds until it wouldn't go away because he kept doing it until I couldn't groan anymore from the pain.

My vision blurred for a moment, and I felt something liquid running down my nose. My trembling hand raised it to touch the liquid that came out of my nose and I closed my eyes tightly when I realized it was blood.

Walang tigil na sa pagdurugo ang ilong ko dahil sa ginagawa niya ngayon.

"Gan'yan ang kinalalagyan ng mga taong nanlalaban sa amin, Mrs. Collazo," he said to me, laughing. He lifted my head by pulling my hair. "Do you think you can still fight back in your situation now? Hindi ka makakatakas dito. Ipaalala ko lang sa 'yo na kung susubukan mong gawin 'yon, maraming tauhan si Perses sa labas na nagpapatrol."

Nanghihina na tinignan ko siya gamit ang nanlilisik kong mga mata. "F-fuck you!" singhal ko sa kan'ya kahit na nanghihina na sa harapan niya.

Mahina siyang natawa at napailing na lang. "I won't decline that if that's what you want," he jokingly replied and laughed slightly.

"Ilabas mo na nga 'yan sa loob ng box para makapagsimula na tayo. Sobra na akong naiinip at naiirita dahil wala tayong nakukuha matinong impormasyon sa asawa nito," iritable niyang utos sa kasamahan nito na tahimik na palang nakaupo sa monoblock chair.

"A-anong gagawin niyo?" nanghihina kong tanong.

I followed the man's gaze as he walked towards the old, large box. Kumunot ang noo ko habang tiningnan kung ano ang kinuha niya. It was a black, long whip. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as various scenarios came to my mind.

Gagamitin nila 'yon sa akin, and I know there's no escape. I'm too weak to fight back; I can only accept my fate. I won't reveal Atlas' true name, even if it kills me.

A deafening crack filled the room as the man swung the whip through the air. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa braso ko at kinaladkad papunta sa gitna. The gown ripped, exposing my bare back.

"Akin na 'yang latigo," he commanded.

Palihim akong napalunok ng umalingawngaw sa ere ang tunog ng latigo. Hindi ko maitago ang kaba at takot na nararamdaman ko. It feels like every nerve in my body tensed.

"Kaunti na lang ay iisipin na namin na parang hindi ka na importante sa asawa mo... alam mo kung bakit? Dahil wala siya rito. Why isn't he here to save you? Why is he letting us hurt you?" natatawa niyang sabi.

Mariin akong napapikit ng lumapat ang dulo ng latigo sa akin. The sting of the whip tore through my skin with a searing pain that spread through my body. Paulit-ulit kong naririnig ang malutong na tunog ng latigo sa ere at sa bawat paglapat no'n sa katawan ko. I fought to suppress my cries, my body trembling uncontrollably.

"We thought he'd be here to save you, eh anong nangyari? It seems your beloved husband abandoned you."

I remained silent as he lashed my back again. Halos hindi ako makakilos ng maayos dahil sa sunod-sunod na panlalatigo niya sa katawan ko hanggang sa tuluyan na akong bumagsak sa sahig. I gasped for breath, na para bang hindi ako humihinga sa bawat paghampas ng latigo nila sa akin.

Mahina akong napadaing at nilabanan ang sakit. I can't take it anymore. The main is too much; it feels like  a thousand cuts rather than a few lashes. I could already feel a warm, sticky liquid trickling down my spine... it was my blood.

"Hindi mo pa rin ba talaga sasabihin kung ano ang totoo niyang pangalan!?" singhal niya sa akin.

"H-hindi..." nanghihina kong sagot. I refused to show them my weakness, even though I wanted nothing more than to cry out in pain. Every movement sent a jolt of agony through my body.

Muli akong napapikit ng mariin nang maramdaman na naman ang paghampas nila ng latigo sa likuran ko. I couldn't suppress a gasp and tried to crawl away, but he stomped the wound on my back. I cried out in pain, clenching my fists. My breathing was ragged as I glared at the floor, determined to endure the agony silently.

I wouldn't let them see me weak, no matter how much it hurt.

The pain was excruciating. It feels like my back is being sliced open repeatedly. With each stomp, it felt like my back was being impaled. I struggled to remain still, my body trembling.

"Sa tingin mo ba tama na ganito yung gagawin natin sa kan'ya?" I heard one man ask the other. "Maybe we should just kill her? Paniguradong dadating talaga asawa niya kapag gano'n gagawin natin. Nag sasayang lang tayo ng oras kung ganito lang mangyayari, eh."

"Let's wait. Perses hasn't said anything about killing her yet. She'll break eventually."

My hearing began to fade as if they were miles away, even though they were right beside me. I reached out to strike the man who'd whipped me but I couldn't. His companion had placed his boot on my head, pressing down. They took turns stepping on me, their weight crushing my body.

Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision. Ilang beses kong tinatatak sa isipan ko na hinding hindi ako iiyak, but the pain was too much.

As my vision faded, I slipped into unconsciousness, overwhelmed by pain and exhaustion.

▄︻デ══━一

One week later...

Isang malamig na tubig ang nakapagpagising sa akin. I couldn't move immediately, and my body arched as I felt the sharp sting of a whip striking my back. That's when I realized I had lost consciousness because of the torture they did to me.

They lashed my back repeatedly—so many times I couldn't even count. Halos hindi ko maipaliwanag ang sakit na naramdaman ko dahil sa paulit ulit nilang panlalatigo hanggang sa mawalan ako ng malay dahil sa sakit at pagod.

Throughout the entire day I spent in this place, I didn't utter a single word, and I think that's what infuriated them the most.

The only sounds they heard from me were faint groans and gasps whenever the whip struck my back. Another wound had been added to my already injured back, kahit na hindi pa magaling ang mga naunang sugat ko sa likod.

"Hindi ka pa rin ba talaga mag sasalita?" iritang tanong ng lalake sa akin.

Kahit na namimigat ang talukap ng mga mata ko ay pinilit ko pa rin na idilat 'yon. May mga araw na hindi nila ako binibigyan ng pagkain at tanging tubig lang. Kaya sa tingin ba nila ay may matitira pa ba akong lakas sa katawan ko?

Halos hindi ako makakilos ng maayos dahil sobra na akong nanghihina. That's exactly what they wanted—to weaken me, hoping it would make me confess.

Mga tanga. As if naman na sasabihin ko ang totoong pangalan ni Atlas. I'd rather die gasping for breath before that happens, and even if it did, I'd take that secret with me to the grave.

"A-ang tigas talaga ng ulo niyo, 'no?" nanghihina kong sabi. "Kahit anong gawin niyo hinding hindi ko ibibigay ang g-gusto niyo..."

I was slumped on the floor, my hands bound tightly in front of me. The restraints were so tight that my hands were nearly numb. My gown was in shambles—the back completely torn apart—and I had to adjust the fabric in front just to keep my breast covered.

"Ang bastos mo pa rin talaga sumagot kahit na nanghihina kana sa sitwasyon mo, huh?" natatawang tanong ng lalake. "Kung nakikita mo lang ang sarili mo sa harap ng salamin, Mrs. Collazo. You're barely hanging on, and it looks like you only have a few days left here. Seems like your husband doesn't care anymore and has completely abandoned you."

"T-tanga ka ba? Anong gusto mong tono kung paano ako magsasalita? Malambing?" I replied sarcastically, my voice trembling from exhaustion. It felt like the little energy I had left was wasted just by talking to him.

I saw his eyes darken at my words. He grabbed my hair and yanked me to my feet. His strength made it easy for him to lift me up using just my hair, leaving my limp body swaying in front of him while he still held onto it.

The sharp pain from my scalp was unbearable. Mariin akong napapikit ng maramadaman ang mabigat niyang palad sa aking pisngi. The impact left my cheek numb and my ear ringing. The corner of my lip split open, and I could taste the metallic tang of my own blood.

"Talagang sumasagot ka pa!" bulyaw niya.

My head snapped to the side again as his heavy hand struck my cheek once more.

"Hindi mo naman 'to mararanasan lahat kung sinabi mo na sa amin ang hinihingi namin."

I couldn't muster a response to his words, too weak to speak. My body crumpled to the floor as he finally released my hair. I landed on my stomach, at iniiwasan na hindi mapahiga gamit ang likuran dahil sa sugat ko roon. Sobrang makirot niya pa rin, parang kaonting galaw lang no'n ay parang nanunuot sa buong katawan ang sakit.

My entire body trembled from the pain of the countless wounds I had endured. I knew my back was a horrifying mess of injuries, and I had no desire to see it. I could already imagine how grotesque it must look.

"Why are you taking so long to get down here, huh?" I heard the man yell toward the open door of the torture chamber.

Umangat ng kaunti ang ulo ko ng maranig kung sino ang kinakausap niya. My brow furrowed as I noticed someone entering, something—or someone—in their right hand. I couldn't quite make them out at first since they hadn't fully stepped inside.

"Some fool broke in. Came into the mansion alone, as if that's a smart move. Who charges in solo like that? Tanga tanga," the man muttered.

I shut my eyes tightly as a fresh wave of pain flared from my back. Nang idinilat ko muli ang mata ko, doon ko na tuluyan nakita kung sino pa ang isang kasama no'n. My eyes widened as I finally saw who he was dragging along.

Nakatali ang dalang kamay no'n sa harapan niya, magulo ang ginto niyang mga buhok, and the suot niyang puting damit ay may bakas na ng putik. His lip had a cut and the same goes for his eyebrows; I could see the blood coming out from there. When his gaze landed on me, particularly on my bloodied, wounded back, his eyes widened in horror.

"Hexia," I heard him whispered.

"Oceanus..."

SHANGPU