CHAPTER 45

VALENTINA IMARA MEADOWS

I quickly moved as I reached the underground parking lot in Atlas' basement. I didn't know how many times I tapped my foot impatiently on the elevator floor until I reached the first floor of Atlas' basement.

Alam ko naman din agad na nasa sala na silang dalawa at pinaguusapan na ang digital invitation ni Cronus na nakapost sa website ng organization namin.

"Hexia!" I heard Oceanus call out as soon as I stepped out of the elevator.

Tama nga ang hinala ko. They were sitting on the long, soft sofa, focused on Oceanus' laptop resting on the center table. They were looking at the digital invitation Cronus had posted for our organization's upcoming anniversary.

"Did Cronus really agree so easily to let people back into Sanctuario Seguro, Atlas?" kunot noo kong tanong sa kan'ya.

'Yon agad ang una kong tinanong nang makalapit sa kanilang dalawa.

I saw Oceanus stand up to come closer to me.

"Nasa baba yung mga groceries?" Oceanus asked.

I nodded and glanced at him. "Yes. Puwede bang pakuha? I also need to talk to Atlas. I'll tell him now, Oceanus," I whispered softly.

Namilog ang mga mata niya. "Sigurado ka ba?"

Naramdaman ko ang kamay niya sa aking braso at hinila ako palayo kay Atlas. We noticed Atlas glancing in our direction, but we ignored him for now.

Tumango ako. "Oo. It might make things easier for Atlas if he knows the truth. Kung hindi baka mapatay niya si Helios, he might kill his own son," I said firmly. "That would be more help than doing nothing for him, don't you think?"

Napabuntong hininga na lang si Oceanus at napatango na lang.

He patted my shoulder and spoke before heading toward the open elevator.

"I have a feeling Atlas already knows that it wasn't just Perses who abducted you in the safe zone," he murmured softly to me.

"Why are you two whispering over there? May tinatago ba kayo?"

I pushed Oceanus away from me forcefully and pointed at the elevator, signaling him to get in and take the groceries to the second floor of the basement.

"Atlas," I called his name as I approached him.

I sat beside him and glanced at Cronus' post. Marami na rin na taong nag react sa post niya, at meron naman na mga nag comments. Members of our organization freely commented on the post.

"I asked Pallas to help me find out who else was involved with Perses in your abduction," salita ni Atlas nang makaupo ako sa tabi niya. "Cronus found out too, which is why he pushed through with the anniversary event at the safe zone—to expose the culprit. It turns out one of the underbosses or bosses handling arms and weapons trafficking was working with Perses. They share the same trade, so it was probably easy for them to align their plans against us."

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko dahil doon. He already knew my suspicion about Faction Tres was correct. Was Perses so desperate to kill Atlas that he colluded with another faction?

Atlas leaned back in his seat, picked up Oceanus' laptop, and exited the website. He started drafting an email, na sa tingin ko ay para 'yon kay Ismael. He let out a faint chuckle, but his expression gradually darkened.

"The nerve of that old man to be mad at me when he did something worse. I'll make sure he dies," he muttered darkly.

"I know who Perses is to you, Atlas," I said.

Atlas stopped typing and turned to look at me. Even though I didn't know Perses' real name, I was sure of the connection—Helios himself had told me that Perses was his grandfather.

"What are you talking about?" Atlas asked, frowning.

"I know Perses is your father," diretsuhan kong sagot na ikinatingin niya sa akin.

"Where did you hear that? From Oceanus again?" Atlas let out a soft laugh at my words, as if I'd just cracked a ridiculous joke.

Napapailing na binalik niya ang paningin sa screen ng laptop bago tinuloy ang ginagawa.

"Alam kong anak mo si Rafael Zevallos. Do I still look like I'm joking? The person you and Oceanus were talking about when I overheard you—it's the same person, because Rafael, the one you mentioned, is my best friend. And I already found out your real name, Atlas. You're Randy David Zevallos," I said firmly, emphasizing his name to make it clear I wasn't bluffing.

Atlas slowly turned to me, confusion evident on his face. He probably wondering how I knew his true identity.

"And now, it's better you know everything before you end up killing your own son. Helios—"

"I just confirmed that Perses' right-hand man has feelings for you, Hexia," Atlas interrupted, cutting me off.

His words left me speechless. Bakit ba ang random niya?

I blinked a few times, trying to process what he said. Napaayos ako ng upo ko habang alanganin na napaubo dahil sa sinabi niya.

"I—I don't know what you're talking about—"

"I confirmed it during Hyperion's birthday. I let the fake news spread on our website, even though it wasn't true. But when I noticed something off about the way he looked at you—and at me—I knew he had feelings for you," Atlas said seriously.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako. "Atlas, Rafael, and Helios are the same person," I admitted, deciding it was better to lay everything out in the open before his thoughts ran wild. "Buhay ang anak mo. Did I ever mention to you before you deleted my contacts that I left just one in my phone? That was Rafael. Back then, the news spread that he was dead, pero ang totoo ay buhay siya. He changed his appearance, his name, and his identity. Hindi na siya si Rafael Zevallos, he's now Amadeus Alejandro Zevallos."

"He's dead," Atlas said firmly. I saw the redness in his eyes, and after a moment, he sighed heavily. "Okay, I won't deny it anymore. Rafael was my son, but he's been dead for a long time, Hexia. That Amadeus Alejandro Zevallos you're talking about? He's just a fake Zevallos."

I frowned. "Paano mo naman nasabi na pekeng Zevallos siya?"

"Perses is just making up stories. When the time comes for Perses to pass on his position, he plans to hand it over to Helios. My son died under Perses' care, so now he's fabricating someone to replace him," Atlas replied.

I shook my head. "Atlas, I've confirmed it myself. Iisang tao nga lang si Rafael at Amadeus. I understand why you're reacting this way, but please believe me. If you don't, you might end up killing your own son."

"Of course! He's next after I killed Perses!" Atlas shouted, his voice rising as he suddenly stood up. "Perses let my son die under his watch, and now he's using this imposter to mock me!"

I just sat there, watching as Atlas stormed off to his office. I let out a deep sigh, deciding not to follow him since he was clearly still furious.

▄︻デ══━一

"Want to hear something?"

Mabilis akong napalingon sa likod nang marinig ang boses ni Atlas. Nasa kusina ako ngayon at nagtitimpla ng maligamgam na gatas dahil hindi ako makatulog.

We were now on the second floor of Atlas' basement, intending to rest since it was already late at night.

"Ano 'yon? Can't sleep?" I asked, placing the milk glass down on the kitchen island.

I sat on a high chair and watched as he grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the cabinet, followed by a glass. He poured himself a drink and added ice cubes from the double-door refrigerator's freezer.

"Naniniwala ka na ba sa sinasabi ko sa 'yo kanina?" tanong ko sa kan'ya habang pinagmamasdan siya.

He sat on the empty high chair across from me, sipping his drink.

"Fifty-fifty," he replied curtly.

I couldn't help but sigh at his answer.

"I know it's hard to believe, pero totoo 'yon. I realized he's your son when I saw your picture. He looks just like you when Rafael and I were together before he became Amadeus. If you want, once this problem is over, you can take a DNA test to confirm it. But I'm telling you now, he's your son."

"Si Helios na ang nagsabi sa akin na lolo niya si Perses. He's the one who helped us to escape so we could return here. I don't know what excuse he gave to get us through their territory, but I know how impossible it is to leave with all Perses' men patrolling there."

Atlas exhaled sharply and took another drink. "Oceanus already told me that."

"I'm begging you, Atlas. Don't kill Helios. Oceanus and I will help you with whatever you plan to do to Perses, but leave your son out of it. I love him, Atlas. I love your son. And I understand why you're so angry at your father—"

"That's not the only reason I want to kill Perses, Hexia," he interrupted. "He killed my wife... He killed Sienna. And what's worse, he shot her right in front of me while she was holding our five-month-old son."

Awtomatikong nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang marinig ang kan'yang sinabi. I covered my mouth with my hand. I stared at Atlas, his expression dark and his eyes red. This was it—the missing piece I'd been searching for, the deeper reason behind Atlas' rage against Perses.

Perses killed Atlas' wife.

"Do you think what he did was right?" Atlas asked me, his voice filled with emotion. "Even now, I still feel the pain of losing Sienna because of him."

Tahimik akong napalunok dahil doon. Hindi rin ako makasagot. Siguro... kung sino man ang nasa sitwasyon ni Atlas ngayon ay alam kong gano'n din ang mararamdaman nila.

It wasn't just about the loss—it was the cruel way it happened, right before his eyes. Moving on from something like that would be nearly impossible.

Then a thought struck me, and I looked at him with wide eyes.

"Sienna? Siya ba yung may ari ng golden stiletto-type weapon na binigay mo sa akin?" tanong ko sa kan'ya.

It was strange seeing Atlas like this. He nodded as he fiddled with the ice in his glass.

I blinked a few times, watching him as he suddenly stood up. I downed the warm milk in one gulp and placed the glass in the sink. Atlas, on the other hand, finished his whiskey and set the glass on the counter.

"It's yours now. Alam ko naman na aalagaan mo 'yon. Besides, you're the only woman who knows how to use it. Instead of letting it sit in storage, it's better off being used," he said, walking ahead of me. He glanced back one last time before heading to his office and spoke again.

"And I know you'll be my son's wife in the future, so Sienna's weapon won't go to waste. Just take care of it so it lasts with you."

Those were his parting words before he walked away and entered his office. He left me standing by the sink like a fool and trying to process what he had just said.

"And I know you'll be my son's wife in the future."

Naniniwala na siya sa akin.

Atlas finally believed that Helios was his son!

▄︻デ══━一

"Bakit naman para akong ikakasal sa lagay na 'to?" I asked the two of them with a frown as I walked into the living room on the second floor of Atlas' basement.

Ako na lang ang hinintay nilang dalawa na makapagbihis at makapag-ayos dahil ngayong gabi na ang anniversary ng organization namin. They were already dressed in their three-piece suits, the only difference in their outfits is the color.

Oceanus wore royal blue, while Atlas stuck to his usual black.

"It's looking fine for me," Oceanus said, eyeing me from head to toe. "Your outfit isn't plain white, Hexia. Those red gloves add a touch of villainess vibes to your look."

Inirapan ko na lang siya at nilapitan silang dalwa. "Baka gusto mong ipaalala ko sa 'yo na ikaw pumili nitong gown ko. And right now, it seems like it's my fault for even asking."

"Okay, chill," Oceanus replied with a laugh, while Atlas remained silent, sitting on the plush sofa as he checked something on his email.

I looked down at my luxurious, long, white, strapless gown made of French lace with a fitted, beaded corset. The only difference was the red lace gloves that went up to my elbows. Bagay na bagay naman ang kulay ng suot ko roon, so it wasn't a problem.

The gown had a slit on the right side, showing my white lace thigh-high stockings. Since weapons weren't allowed in our safe zone, I couldn't wear my leg holster with it.

Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at dinampot ang maliit kong red velvet clutch purse sa ibabaw ng center table bago magsalita.

"Let's go," I urged them, brushing my hair back and letting it fall over my back. I didn't bother curling it—it was left loose.

I entered the elevator first, and they followed. They were the ones who chose my gown because I was busy working in the main laboratory in Section 1, checking the new drugs and cocaine produced. We needed to distribute them to other countries as soon as possible.

There had been a delay when Perses abducted me since no one could properly manage the lab during that time. Ria couldn't take over my responsibilities either, as her workload had significantly increased in my absence.

Nang makapasok na kaming lahat sa sasakyan ni Atlas ay agad din kaming umalis sa warehouse niya. I grabbed the two masks on the dashboard and handed one to Oceanus.

"Your mask," I said as I handed it to him.

"Thank you," Oceanus replied as he took it.

Nakasuot na rin agad si Atlas ng mask nito kaya nakafocus nalang ang paningin niya sa kalsada. I adjusted my seat, fastened my seatbelt, and leaned back with a sigh.

"You'll help me," Atlas suddenly said.

I turned to him in surprise. "With what?" I asked, frowning.

"You'll help me kill Perses," he replied without hesitation.

Mabilis akong napalingon kay Oceanus sa rearview mirror ng kotse para tingnan ang naging reaksyon nito. Isang tango lang ang binigay niya sa akin at gano'n din ako.

A few seconds passed before Atlas spoke again, this time glancing at me briefly.

"And when it's over, you'll introduce me to Helios, Hexia," he said seriously, his eyes fixed on the road.

A strange warmth spread through my chest at his words. He believed it now. He accepted that Rafael was still alive. The fear I had carried, that he might kill his own son, disappeared like smoke. I let out a breath and smiled at him.

"Yes, don't worry. Kapag natapos na 'tong gulo—"

"Everything will end tonight," he interrupted. "All the members of our organization will attend the anniversary party, so I'm certain the traitor will be there too. All you need to do is be ready because chaos will break out inside."

"Why are you telling us this just now when we're already on our way?" I asked, frowning. "We could've brought weapons and left them in your car. I know weapons aren't allowed inside the safe zone, but charging into a fight unarmed is a huge mistake."

I heard Oceanus clear his throat in the backseat, so I turned to look at him.

"There's a small room in the safe zone where weapons are hidden," Oceanus said.

I frowned at him. "Hindi nga puwede ang mga armas sa loob, pero merong mga gan'yan sa safe zone? To be honest, your safe zone rules are a bit confusing."

Muli akong napalingon kay Atlas nang magsalita siya ulit.

"Kaunti lang ang nakakaalam tungkol doon, Hexia," Atlas replied. "Only the big boss and bosses in the organization have access to that room."

"If only big bosses and bosses have access, how will you get weapons from there if needed?"

"We'll ask Pallas for help. He's already given Oceanus and me the code to access the room. The security there is doubled, so Pallas needs to stay on watch to ensure no one slips through."

"Did you tell him about the heightened security?" I asked.

"Yes. Our earpieces are connected to him as well. We can communicate with him if there are any issues with the CCTV," Atlas replied.

I felt Oceanus lean forward from the backseat, positioning himself between me and Atlas. He held onto the backrests of our seats, listening intently to the conversation.

"Don't worry, Hexia. Just be ready for what's coming later. And before that happens, Atlas and I might go ahead and grab a weapon for you from there."

I turned to him at his comment. "Bakit hindi niyo na lang ako dalhin doon at ako na ang mamimili sa magagiging armas ko? I'm not going to get kidnapped again, Oceanus. Kung 'yon ang iniisip niyo."

He shrugged. "Who knows? It was Atlas who told me that, not me."

"Teka nga," I said, sitting up straighter and staring at Oceanus. "Sabihin niyo nga ang totoo sa akin. Nakaplano na ba 'to lahat ng hindi niyo binabanggit sa akin?"

Oceanus coughed awkwardly and lightly patted Atlas on the shoulder before retreating to his seat in the back, as if silently passing the responsibility of answering to him.

"The light machine gun you requested is in the car's compartment," Atlas said instead of addressing my question.

Napailing na lang ako sa naging sagot niya. Sumandal na lang ako sa kinauupuan ko at hindi na nagsalita. At least they told me the plan rather than keeping it from me entirely. Now that Atlas mentioned the M249 machine gun I wanted was already in the car, I couldn't wait to use it if the situation called for it.

Hindi ko tuloy maiwasan na hindi ma-excite dahil doon. I had thought it would take much longer before I got my hands on it. Usually, shipments of these kinds of illegal items took months, so it felt fast that they had arrived.

"Salamat. I'll pay you back after this."

"No need. Let's just call it an early birthday gift," Atlas said.

I glanced at him, shaking my head. "So that's why you brought the car with the sunroof—for me to use it later, right?" I asked with a laugh.

"Yes," he replied simply.

"That's better than always using my car whenever you know things are going to get messy," Oceanus chimed in. "Umuuwing wasak wasak yung kotsed ko dahil sa inyong dalawa."

Inikutan ko lang siya ng mata ng lingunin ko ito bago binalik ang paningin sa kalsada.

As we drove silently toward Sanctuario Seguro, my mind was overwhelmed with thoughts. Knowing what was about to happen in the safe zone made it impossible to stay calm. Atlas' earlier words kept replaying in my head—ang weapon room, ang mga big boss, si Cronus, at iba pang bosses ang puwedeng maka-access doon.

Kung hindi puwede ang mga armas sa loob ng safe zone at may weapon room na naeexist doon, at mga bosses and si Cronus lang ang makakapasok. It could only mean one thing—someone among them had helped Perses smuggle a gun into the safe zone during our last visit.

"May tanong ako, Atlas," I broke the silence.

"What is it?"

"You mentioned that only Cronus and the bosses have access to the weapon room, right? Parehas kayong dalawa ni Perses na underboss at wala kayong access sa weapon room ng safe zone natin. I think he might have an accomplice in Faction Tres—a boss who helped him get weapons from that room. It's possible he did it to arm himself since no one can bring guns into our safe zone. Or maybe it's Theus! He could be involved too."

"Theus has nothing to do with this, Hexia," Oceanus interrupted. "We've already spoken with him in detail."

"If it's not Theus, then Perses must have partnered with someone in Faction Three before I was kidnapped. Kasi napakaimpossible naman talaga na makakapasok ka ng armas sa loob ng safe zone. And if we consider Pallas and Hyperion, it's highly unlikely they'd be involved, Atlas. So it must be someone in Faction Tres working with Perses."

I frowned when I heard Atlas chuckle softly while keeping his eyes on the road. The grin on his face disappeared quickly before he spoke again.

"I honestly thought you wouldn't figure out who Perses' ally, Hexia, was. But you're right—someone from Faction Tres helped Perses."

SHANGPU