FIVE.

FACING TARTARUS' MONSTERS (PART ONE)

☽︎ᴥ︎︎︎☾︎

"SHE MADE A contract with me,"Saku said confidently.

A strange feeling washed over Willhelmina, kind of like the tense moment before a storm hits. That sound seemed to shake the very ground beneath them.

Aki strolled into the crosswalk from where he was, quiet and a bit intimidating, like he was about to hand down his verdict.

"That's a forbidden thing to do," his voice echoed with them like a blade cutting through their loose.

Willhelmina's heart raced. Of course, he'd come here.

Hindi niya pinansin ni Nana, ngunit nanatiling nakayakap ang mga braso nito at ayaw siyang pakawalan. Sa kabila ng lahat, patuloy pa rin siyang nabibigo sa bawat pagtatangkang makuha ang atensyon nito.

"Aki..." She spoke, her voice trembling with urgency. "Please, I'm begging you, stay out of this."

With a firm voice, he declared, "I have every right to do this," before gently but insistently pushing her away.

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It was clear this wasn't mere jealousy. His presence went far beyond simply being Willhelmina's classmate or Annemarie's ex-boyfriend. Each step he took was shrouded in a cloak of dark magic, an aura that hinted at something far more sinister. You could feel the menace radiating from him, warning all who dared to cross his path.

Wilhelmina could sense the palpable tension lingering in the air around them, a heavy shroud cloaking her heart. It astounded her that she had found herself in such a position, forging a pact with someone she once considered her adversary. Yet, here she stood, resolute.

For the sake of Mudned's future, she was willing to embrace the danger that loomed before her. This was the very reason she had come, ready to risk everything for what lay ahead.

She was no damsel in distress, passively awaiting rescue. Instead, she stood tall, ready to confront her own challenges and walk away without a hint of regret. Those who saw her as weak were mistaken; their narrow perspective blinded them to her true strength. Drawing herself up with confidence, she locked eyes with Aki, determined to face him head-on.

"Did you actually forge a pact with the son of Hades?"

"I don't quite understand what you mean," Wilhelmina replied, striving to maintain her composure amid the tension. She directed her eyes toward Saku, opting for silence rather than offering an explanation. Hindi na siya puwedeng lumusong muli sa panganib ngayon na ramdam na ramdam niya ang kapangyarihan na nakapaligid sa kanila.

"I will forge my own destiny," she proclaimed with fierce determination. "You won't hold me in your grasp."

"Show me the contract—"

Wilhelmina shot back fiercely, her voice laced with annoyance. "Absolutely not! You're not my father or anyone with that kind of authority, so who do you think you are, trying to babysit me? Aki, I'm not a little girl anymore."

"Remember your place, Teras. I am the daughter of Hebe, and your destiny lies in my grasp!"

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Wilhelmina's voice echoed deep within him, vibrating through his very core. As she directed her gaze, finger outstretched towards him, Aki found himself unable to meet her eyes. He averted his gaze, realizing that there was nothing left he could do to stop her impending resolve.

Naiinis siya sa mga tingin ng iba na para bang isa lang siyang babaeng puwedeng balewalain. Mali sila. Hindi man niya kayang ipagsigawan, taglay niya ang kapangyarihang hindi nila kailanman maiintindihan, lalo na kung patuloy nila siyang huhusgahan.

Ngayon, nasa kanya na ang lahat ng kaalaman niya at wala nang sinuman ang may kakayahang humadlang sa kanya.

Tapos na siya sa mga tao na palaging nagdidikta sa buhay niya at nag-aaką ng mga desisyon para sa kanya. She had reached her breaking point. And yes, that included Aki too.

"You're behaving more like a domineering parent than a soldier of Ethead," she said, her voice laced with ice.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, his eyes darting away from hers. "I crossed a line I shouldn't have."

"Oh, you didn't just overstep the line, sir," she said, rolling her eyes dramatically. "You've crossed boundaries that should never have been breached."

Aki raked his fingers through his hair, tousling it into a chaotic jumble, while a knot of tension coiled tightly in his shoulders, heavier than it should have been.

"I only wish to keep you safe," he murmured softly.

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Wilhelmina folded her arms defensively and let out an exasperated sigh, rolling her eyes once more. "Your opinion isn't necessary," she declared firmly.

Being an Archduchess is more than like a curse to her title. Sa naalala niya noon, tinapon siya ng ama niya sa Phanteon Academy para maprotektahan siya at inasahan niya na ganoon din ang tingin ng iba sa kanya pero nagkamali siya. Aki isn't protecting her. He was also blinded by fate just like the rest of them.

Yet, she was different from the rest. Or at least, that was how she saw it.

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Nang gabing 'yon, damang-dama ni Willhemina ang pagod na hindi niya inaasahan. Just like the weight of the world rests heavy on her mind and heart. Isama mo pa na kailangan niyang bumalik sa laboratoryo, dahil napakaraming eksperimento ang nakatambak na dapat niyang tapusin. Hindi biro ang buhay kolehiyo.

Bago pa man siya makapasok sa kwarto niya, bigla na lang hinila ni Nana ang braso niya. Mahirap ilarawan kung ano'ng nararapat niyang sabihin sa sitwasyong 'to.

"Ano bang meron sa inyo ni Aki, ha?" tanong niya, nanginginig sa galit. "Mang-aagaw ka!"

"Hindi sa gano'n—"

"Edi, sabihin mo na kung ano talaga ang katotohanan!" sigaw ni Nana sa kanya, ang boses ay puno ng emosyon. "Bakit parang sobrang sweet niya sa'yo? OA naman kung makaprotekta sa 'yo."

࿇ ══━━━━✥☭✥━━━━══ ࿇

Bago pa man nagkaroon ng pagkakataon si Willhelmina na magbukas ng kanyang bibig, bigla na lamang dumating si Cienne. People often called her Lucienne, but to her friends, she was simply Cienne. Kakabalik lang niya mula sa tutoring. She let out a little sigh at the sight of them, and her bangs fell softly as she walked in.

"Wala akong kakampihan sa inyong dalawa."

With that pivotal moment, Cienne took her first decisive step forward.

"What's the matter with you two!?" she exclaimed, her voice sharp with irritation. "Magkaibigan ba kayo talaga? Ano? Magsasabunutan kayo sa harap ko ngayon? Aba, sige, mag-away kayo! Mukhang dito kayo talaga magaling, ha!"

Nana tightened her fist, the muscles in her hand coiling with determination. "Tell me the truth! Why does it seem like my own friend is deceiving me? You know everything about them, but I know nothing! I can't help but feel like a complete fool because of this."

Wilhelmina's heart plummeted into a chasm of despair. Clarity washed over her like a tidal wave; she grasped the source of her anguish—the sting of betrayal. It was a familiar ache, one she had once experienced herself during the countless lifetimes she had traversed in this world.

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She understood the weight of the destiny that had been bestowed upon her. A sense of urgency surged within her; she had to intervene before he sullied his soul with the crimson mark of violence. What emotions stirred within her at that moment?

Deep down, she grappled with a haunting uncertainty—could she ever find the strength to forgive those capable of taking the lives of countless innocents? The thought weighed heavily on her heart, and she found herself lost in contemplation, unsure of how she would respond if faced with that terrible reality.

With a determined gaze, she confronted her, "What I carry is far more than the burden of a single life. You can't begin to imagine the heaviness that drags at my very soul."

"Edi, sabihin mo na ang totoo! Bakit ba ganun ang pakikitungo sa 'yo ni Aki? Nag-aalala na ako kasi wala akong makuhang sagot, at para akong tanga kakaisip dito!" wika ni Nana sa kanya.

Matiim ang titig ni Wilhelmina kay Nana, diretso sa mata, taglay ang katahimikang may bigat at seryosong pahayag. "Ayusin mo muna ang sarili mo, Nana. Hindi tayo puwedeng mag-usap habang ganyan ang hitsura mo."

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"H'wag mo namang ibahin ang usapan! Ayan ka na naman! Ano ba talaga? Mahal mo ba si Aki o hindi?"

Willhelmina could feel the heaviness of the moment pressing down on her. With a firm grip, she steadied herself. This was all so absurd. Was she even drunk? Was that why these words were spilling from her lips? Siya'y huminga ng malalim, kumuha ng baso mula sa mesa, at maingat na ibinuhos ang tubig kay Nana.

"Gusto kong iparating na wala akong inaagaw sa 'yo," malamig niyang sinabi. "Ikaw itong kung anu-anong sinasabi! Wala akong gusto kay Aki. Mula't mula pa, si Saku lang ang laman ng puso ko. Siya lang."

Her words wielded a power unique to her, cutting with a sharpness akin to steel. She stood firm, undeterred by their intensity.

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Once it is said, when a certain door swings wide, the destinies of two souls intertwine. From that moment on, their lifelines will weave their own paths towards Atropos, the inevitable weaver of fate. Both divine beings and wise scholars alike will take heed of this unfolding story. Yet, beware—for meddling with the tapestry of your own destiny may draw danger into your life.

"You truly are a fascinating person, Archduchess." the voice reverberated through the air.

Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind swept in, crashing against her with an unstoppable force.

As Wilhelmina descended, the earth opened up beneath her, pulling her into its depths. She felt an overwhelming force envelop her, dragging her into the inky blackness that lay below.

Behold, the Abyss awaits.

The Fortress of the Titans.

She descended into the depths, enveloped by an all-consuming darkness. Light eluded her grasp, and silence reigned supreme. There was nothing—only an infinite void.

And a shadow of peril loomed just ahead.

☠︎︎༒︎☠︎︎

𝐂 𝐇 𝐀 𝐈 𝐍 𝐄 𝐃    𝐖 𝐈 𝐓 𝐇   𝐇 𝐀 𝐃 𝐄 𝐒

Betrayal's Game Series #1

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