CHAPTER 49

VALENTINA IMARA MEADOWS

Nakarating din agad kami sa mansion nila Helios, we saw the lifeless bodies of Perses' men scattered across the floor. Blood was everywhere, staining the ground. I got off Helios' motorcycle and scanned the surroundings, searching for a place to climb up and get a better view of what was happening inside.

"Come here. I'll show you a spot where you can position yourself. One of Perses' men usually climbs up here to scout since it gives a wide view," Helios said.

"Saan?"

"Follow me," he replied swiftly.

Agad ko siyang sinundan at nakarating naman kami sa sinasabi niya. It was a tall guardhouse. Tinulungan niya akong makaakyat doon, at saktong pagkapasok ko sa loob ay isang malakas na tunog ng baril ang narinig namin. Helios and I exchanged startled glances before I gestured for him to go back down.

"Magiingat ka. I'll stay here and keep watch, don't worry. Go help Atlas and Oceanus inside. It looks like there might still be some of Perses' men in the mansion," I told him.

"Okay," he replied.

Mabilis niyang hinila ang kamay ko para mahalikan ang aking labi. I didn't stop him—I wanted it just as much. But he didn't stop there; he brought my hand to his lips and pressed a tender kiss against the back of it, like he wasn't ready to let go just yet.

"Keep your earpiece line open so you can hear us if we need you," he added before walking away.

I just nodded, choosing not to say anything so I could focus on hiding properly. I positioned my sniper rifle, peered through the scope, and scanned the entirety of the mansion.

The place was eerily quiet, with no sign of Perses' remaining men. Iyon na ba 'yon? Were all his men lying lifeless on the ground, and no one else was left?

Kumunot ang noo ko nang makarinig ng parang may kumakaluskos sa likuran ko. I quickly grabbed my Glock 45, spun around, and fired several shots when I turned to face the source of the noise.

I heard a loud crash, na para bang may nahulog sa baba. Nang masilip kung ano 'yon napailing na lang nang makita ang isa sa mga tauhan ni Perses ang walang buhay dahil sa ginawa ko.

My ear caught the sound of Atlas' voice through the earpiece.

"Hexia, we need long-range support. Perses is heading toward the backyard. Aim for one of his legs to slow him down," he instructed.

"Copy," I replied.

I grabbed my gear and hurriedly descended from the guardhouse. Mabilis nag ang kilos ko dahil parang halos lahat yata ng tauhan ni Perses ay wala na. Lakad takbo akong nagtungo sa backyard ng mansion para matulungan agad sila Atlas.

As I reached the wide-open area, I furrowed my brow upon spotting Atlas, Oceanus, and Helios chasing Perses not far from the yard. I placed the metal bipod grip of my sniper rifle against a fence, its height just enough to allow a clear view through my scope.

I watched them through the scope, tracking their pursuit. I took a deep breath and lined up the crosshair of my sniper on Perses' leg. He was already limping, his injured leg slowing him down, but he still managed to move quickly despite his condition.

Once I had a clear shot, I pulled the trigger.

Through the scope, I saw him stumble and collapse to the ground.

"Sweet," I muttered under my breath. "Hindi ka na makakatakas—"

"Kaya naman pala parang may kulang sa kasama ni Atlas. Nandito ka lang pala."

Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko ng biglang may humablot ng buhok ko sa likod. My sniper rifle slipped from my hands. A startled gasp escaped me as the man dragged me toward the mansion by my hair.

"What's going on, Hexia?" I heard Oceanus' voice over the earpiece.

Hindi ako makasagot sa tanong ni Oceanus dahil abala ako ngayon kung paano ako makakatakas sa lalaking ito.

"Let me go!" I shouted, my voice laced with anger.

I reached down to grab my Glock 45, but he quickly snatched my wrist and squeezed it with such force that I dropped the gun. Malakas niyang sinipa 'yon kaya tumalsik 'yon sa malayo. Wala akong choice kundi gamitin ang close-combat skills ko sa kan'ya.

I shifted my hand to his, the one holding my hair, and grabbed his fingers. I bent one of them backward with all my strength.

"Fuck!" he screamed in pain.

Nabitawan niya ang buhok ko kaya mabilis akong tumayo at inayos ang sarili. His face twisted in pain as he looked at me. He was broad-shouldered, his dark eyes filled with rage, glaring intensely at me.

"Hexia! I'm coming to you!" I heard Helios shout through the earpiece.

"No!" I yelled back. "I'll handle this." My eyes stayed locked on the man in front of me.

I thought we had taken out all of Perses' men here, but it seemed one had managed to survive. I braced myself for his next move, and just as I expected, he charged straight at me.

I ran forward to meet him head-on. He threw a punch, and I managed to dodge it. I blocked each blow using my forearm. Masakit ang mga suntok niya; inaamin ko 'yon pero natitiis ko pa. Pero wala pa ito sa mga suntok ni Oceanus sa tuwing nag-i-isparring kaming dalawa.

"Done?" tanong ko sa mapang asar na tono habang hinihingal.

My question only seemed to enrage him further. His glare darkened, and without saying a word, he lunged at me again. I sidestepped and jabbed his arm before grabbing his head and slamming my forehead into his. Pain shot through my skull, but I ignored it.

He groaned in pain and stumbled back. I didn't give him a chance to recover and followed up with a powerful punch to his face. He couldn't react quickly enough as I launched a flurry of fast punches.

Isa sa mga kahinaan ng mga malalaking tao ay ang pagiging mabagal nila. Their sizes make them sluggish, kahit na sobrang lakas nila.

"Thought we wiped all of you out, but here you are," I growled, my voice dripping with anger as I kept striking his face.

I drove my elbow into his nose, hearing a faint crack that I guessed came from the bone breaking. Hindi siya sumagot, na mas lalong ikinainis ko. I grabbed his hair and slammed his head against the white tiles of Helios' mansion floor.

"Sumagot ka!" I shouted, slamming his head repeatedly.

Still, there was no reply. My chest heaved as I finally stood up, looking down at him. He had lost consciousness from the beating.

I turned and walked away without a second glance.

"Asshole," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head as I left the mansion to find Atlas.

▄︻デ══━一

"Stop running, Perses. No matter what you do, you won't escape. Every possible hiding spot and escape route is already secured by us," Atlas said firmly as he arrived at our position.

Kumunot ang noo ko dahil doon. Hinihingal pa rin ako, hawak hawak ko ang dibdib ko habang pinagmamasdan sila. Tinakbo ko na simula sa mansion nila Helios hanggang dito sa puwesto nila.

"Hexia," I heard Helios call my name.

"Hey," I replied softly as I approached him.

My eyes widened when I found myself wrapped in his arms, his soft lips pressing a gentle kiss on my forehead.

"Yuck," Oceanus suddenly remarked.

Bumitaw agad ako sa yakap ni Helios at matalim na tiningnan si Oceanus dahil doon. Kaya ngayon para siyang tanga na sumisipol sa gilid at hindi pinansin ang naging reaksyon ko sa kan'ya.

Sabay-sabay kaming lahat na lumapit kay Perses na ngayon ay nakasalampak at nakasandal sa malaking puno. Habol na ang hininga at madumi na ang suot na damit dahil sa dugo at putik.

Pain was etched across his face, evident from the gunshot wounds on both his legs. Blood continued to seep from the injuries, pooling on the ground beneath him.

"We'll wait until Cronus finds out that you're one of the traitors he's been searching for," I said coldly, glaring at him. "Then he'll have you nailed to the wall in Sanctuario Seguro. You've been playing it too safe for too long, Perses."

Instead of looking afraid, Perses burst out laughing, his voice ringing out around us. Despite the fear visible in his eyes, he managed to project a facade of bravado.

"End this madness, Perses," Helios said from beside me. "You've spun too many lies to manipulate me, and it's time to stop."

"No!—Ah!" Perses cried out in a trembling voice when Helios pressed his foot against one of his wounds.

"You lied to me. Everything I ever believed about you was a lie," Helios said, his voice cold and emotionless.

"You're so ungrateful! Sa lahat ng ginawa at sakripisyo ko para sa 'yo, ito lang ang matatanggap ko!? I should've just abandoned you—ah!"

"Don't you dare speak that way to my son, especially while I'm standing right here in front of you, Perses!" Atlas roared, his voice filled with anger. "Wala kang karapatan na pagsalitaan siya ng gan'yan!"

Atlas stepped closer, his tone a menacing growl. "If you say another word like that to him, you'll have to deal with me, Dante Marquis Zevallos. And trust me, you won't like what happens next."

Perses' eyes were full of anger, then he suddenly laughed like a crazy person in front of us. He smirked as he looked back and forth between Helios and Atlas, his face showing nothing but bad intentions.

"You think I'm the only one at fault here?" natatawang tanong ni Perses. His gaze shifted to Helios, who stood with furrowed brows and a glare sharp enough to cut through steel.

"Why don't you ask yourself why it took so long for you to meet your father?" Perses sneered. "You don't even know that he hurt you far worse than I ever did. You should be thanking me for stepping in as your parent! Because that so-called father of yours abandoned you and left you with me!"

SHANGPU