#DaggerSeries #LiaxGun #DS2Unstrung

CHAPTER 5: SURRENDER

LIA'S POV

I can hear the low buzz of people talking around me. Imbis na tumayo at makihalubilo sa kanila ay nananatili lang ako sa pagkakahiga sa sofa habang nakapatong ang isang braso ko sa mukha ko para magawa kong takpan ang mga mata ko.

"Great performance as usual, Lia. Congratulations."

Itinaas ko lang ang isang kamay ko para mag thumbs up sa kung sino man ang nagsalita. The voice sounded familiar but everyone here is familiar to me. Wala sana akong balak gumalaw sa kinahihigaan ko nang maramdaman kong may kumurot sa hita ko.

"Aray! Sam!"

"Umayos ka," mahina niyang asik sa akin at kulang na lang hilahin ako para mapaupo ako.

Salubong ang kilay na bumangon ako at mahina ko pang sinipa si Sam na iiling-iling na lang habang pinandidilatan ako. Nasa paanan ko kasi siya sa sofa na kinahihigaan ko.

Pagkatapos kasi ng concert ay may after party. Ayoko na sanang sumama ang kaso hindi pumayag si Maddy dahil baka lalong maniwala ang mga tao tungkol sa issue na pagkakaroon ko ng "diva attitude". Like I care about what they think.

Ayoko na lang talagang bigyan pa ng alalahanin sila Maddy ngayong ilang buwan lang ang nakararaan ay naging mainit ang usapan tungkol sa nangyari sa morning show kung saan ako nag guest. The good news was maraming tao ang dumepensa sa akin tungkol sa naging mainit na pagtatalo namin ng host na si Reggie. The bad news was I got banned from the show indefinitely because apparently, Reggie was actually one of the executive producers. But another good news on my part, nakielam na ang board dahil na rin sa inasal ni Reggie. Instead of getting banned I was suspended for a month for my indecent exposure stunt. Which I didn't mind kasi it's not like I need to be back there anytime soon. Iyon nga lang si Reggie ang mas nakatanggap ng malaking bad news dahil suspendido siya ng dalawang buwan.

In short, it didn't do any damage on my reputation. In the first place marami naman na talagang nag ci-circulate na balita tungkol sa antics ko. I'm usually a calm person even when someone's pissing me off but when the person I'm talking to is beyond rude, I can't really help but go nuclear.

Kaya imbis na pasakitin ko pa ang ulo ni Maddy na ilang buwan inasikaso ang pagsisiguro na wala ng kakalat na larawan kung saan nakabalandra ang dibdib ko ay sumama na ako sa after party.

"It's okay. Lia looks tired. Lumapit lang talaga ako para i-congratulate kayo."

I can feel the throbbing in my head again. Iyon naman kasi ang dahilan kung bakit nakahilata ako sa mahabang sofa na nasa isang parte ng kinaroroonan namin na event room. It's one of the facilities of the hotel of the resort that most of the musicians that played on the benefit concert booked themselves and their members.

Hindi nga lang kami dito sa hotel naka-book kundi sa luxury cabins na may kalayuan sa hotel. I'm planning to stay a few more days here and I like the look of the cabins more. Bukod pa roon ay may sarili iyong pool na may daan papunta sa beach na malapit lang sa kinapupuwestuhan ng cabin. I don't need to use the huge public pool that might force me to interact with people. Malay ko ba kung may iba rin na mag iistay muna sa lugar na ito imbis na umuwi na bukas.

Ang maganda pa ro'n ay may tatlong malaking kuwarto iyon. Maddy and I will share the room and the others will have the other two. Si Sam, Elias, Miguel, at Arthur lang naman ang makakasama namin dahil ang iba sa musical team ko ay kailangan ng umuwi sa kanila.

Napaigik ako nang maramdaman kong kinurot na naman ako ni Sam. Binigyan ko siya ng matalim na tingin bago ko hinarap ang taong kumakausap sa akin kanina. Salubong ang kilay ko nang mag-angat ako ng tingin.

Pakiramdam ko lalong lumala ang sakit ng ulo ko nang makita ko ang isang lalaki na matangkad, may magandang ngiti sa mga labi, at halatang batak sa ehersisyo na katawan. He's clean shaven with a hairstyle that probably cost more than mine. He is good looking but not exactly my type.

Damian Salazar. President Thomas Salazar's son.

"Sorry. I have a headache."

Mukha namang hindi na-offend ang lalaki sa kanina ay pang i-i-snob ko sa kaniya at sa halip ay ngumiti pa siya. "It's okay. I really just wanted to congratulate you."

"Thanks." Wala na sana akong balak na dugtungan ang sinabi ko pero nang mapatingin ako sa mga kasama ko na lahat ay pinanlalakihan ako ng mga mata ay napabuntong-hininga ako. "And thanks for the flowers. Hindi mo naman kailangan na lagi magpadala. Naaabala ka pa."

"Hindi ka naman abala para sa akin."

Damn. This is not the first time that I gained admirers but until now I don't know how to respond to things like this. I just never had any interest to know other people beyond being acquaintance. I also never felt attracted to anyone.

Part of me feels guilty. Like liking someone else will be a betrayal for the kind of love that I had before... with Gun. Pero tama kaya si Maddy? That I should have fun like normal women my age?

Maybe the reason why I can't move on is because I don't want to try. Maybe I won't ever feel the same love that I had before. Maybe that kind of love only comes once in a lifetime and it's foolish and selfish to want to have another one exactly like that.

Siguro nga ako lang ang pumipigil sa sarili ko na maging masaya.

"I'm staying a little bit before I go back to my cabin. Aalis ka na ba o may oras ka pa for a drink?"

Halata ang gulat hindi lang sa lalaki kundi sa mga kasamahan ko na nakikinig sa amin. The shock on the man's face lasted for a second before his face lighten up with obvious glee.

"I would love to stay."

Tumayo ako at sabay na naglakad kami papunta sa kinaroroonan ng mini bar. I can feel eyes on me but I decided to ignore them. Panigurado na sa pagkakataon na ito ay hindi ako ang sentro ng atensyon nila kundi ang lalaking kasama ko.

We ordered our drinks and I tapped my fingers on the counter as awkwardness surrounded me. It's just been too long for me.

Mukhang naramdaman naman ng lalaki iyon at bahagya siyang humarap sa akin. Naiilang man ay inikot ko ang kinauupuan na high stool para tumingin din sa kaniya.

"So I heard about the morning show."

Mariin akong napapikit sa unang mga salita na lumabas sa bibig niya. Mukhang maging siya ay nagulat sa sariling sinabi dahil narinig ko ang mahinang mura na kumawala sa bibig niya.

"Oh god, I'm sorry, Lia-"

Tinakpan ko ang bibig ko nang kumawala ang mahinang tawa mula roon. Umiling ako sa kaniya at ikinaway ko ang kamay ko na parang sinasabi sa kaniya na okay lang. A laugh burst out of him too until the both of us are dying of the hilarity.

Una ba naman kasing topic na naisip niya ay nang halos maghubad na ako sa national television.

Bahagyang humina ang tawa ko nang pakiramdam ko ay may mga matang nakatutok sa akin. Sa pagkakataon na ito ay iba ang pakiramdam no'n. Not like the curious stares I usually get or the creepy feeling at the back of my neck but rather this one is more intense. It's as if the attention is making me feel guilty of being with Damian.

Iginala ko ang paningin ko sa paligid pero wala naman akong nakita na ibang nakatingin sa amin maliban na lang sa ibang mga kilalang tao sa industriya na nagbubulungan habang napapatingin sa gawi namin.

"I'm really sorry. I was a bit nervous talking to you and I'm trying to sound cool or something," hinging paumanhin ni Damian na mukhang hindi naman napansin ang pagkaagaw ng atensyon ko.

"It's okay. At least I know I won't need to be embarrass anymore since you've seen me naked already."

Namula ang mukha ng lalaki. He's a huge man. Probably a couple of inches taller than me. But for some reason his blush really looked adorable on him. I guess I really did judge him. Masyado kasi siyang insistent noon lalo pa at padala siya nang padala ng kung anu-ano. It felt like he was pressuring me but maybe he just wasn't sure on how to approach me.

"N-No I really didn't, I swear. Nalaman ko siya sa assistant ko. I didn't try to search for it or anything out of respect to you. But I did know the reason why you did that and I think there's nothing to be embarrass about it."

Lumapit sa amin ang bar tender at binigay sa amin ang inumin namin. He's drinking whisky on the rocks. Mine's a vodka spritz.

I can't help but remember that time that I only drink beer because that's what Gun likes. Gun never drinks anything except beer. He said that fancy drinks feel pretentious to him.

Stop Lia.

Sapilitan akong nahugot mula sa tinatakbo ng utak ko nang makaramdam ako ng lamig na tumama sa damit ko na nanunuot sa balat ko. Mabuti na lang ay umangat ang kamay ni Damian at napigilan ang hawak ko na baso na tuluyang tumapon lahat ang laman sa akin.

"Hala sorry po nabangga po kasi ako! Sorry po talaga!"

I gave the waitress a smile and reached for the tissue paper she's giving me. Idinampi ko iyon sa nabasa kong damit para punasan iyon. "It's okay they're just clothes. Malalaban naman 'to."

"Kung gusto niyo po ipapalaundry ko po. Sorry po talaga!"

"No, really. It's okay. Hindi mo naman kasalanan." Nagpatuloy ako sa pagpupunas sa damit ko. Bahagya ko iyong inilayo sa katawan ko dahil malamig talaga iyon. "You know people here are musicians. We're always exposed to loud music and bright lights. Most of us are practically blind as we are deaf."

Sunod-sunod na nagpasalamat ang babae na parang takot na takot pa rin. Hindi ko siya masisisi. Kung nagtatrabaho siya sa ganitong lugar ay paniguradong iba-iba ng tao ang nakasalamuha niya. There's a lot of assholes in the world. Mga taong akala mo ikamamatay kapag natapunan ng kung ano o kahit simpleng nabangga lang na hindi naman kalakasan. Maaarte in short.

"Are you okay?"

Nginitian ko si Maddy na siyang lumapit. "You know, Maddy, we should get married. I don't think you'll love anyone as much as you love me."

Pinaningkitan niya lang ako ng mga mata bago tinignan ang damit ko na alam kong see through na. "Magpalit muna tayo ng damit."

"I can just go home and change."

She widened her eyes pointedly at the man beside me. Napapabuntong-hininga na tumayo ako at nakangiwing binalingan ko si Damian. "I'll be back."

Tumango siya at ngumiti. Tinalukuran na namin siya ni Maddy at naglakad kami patungo sa comfort room.

Bago makarating doon ay sandaling napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang tila umangat ang balahibo sa batok ko. I quickly turned around to look around me but just like before I can't see anyone out of the ordinary.

Sa tagal akong sinusundan ng pakiramdam na iyon ay alam ko na kung paano iyon i-differentiate mula sa klase ng mga atensyon na natatanggap ko. Because when that feeling of dread hits me... I can feel fear down to my bones because I know what's coming next.

Kada mararamdaman ko ang bagay na iyon ay lagi kong sumunod na natatagpuan ang music box na patuloy akong tinutunton. And somehow... it's like the feeling is getting closer and closer to me.

Napakuyom ang mga kamay ko nang may marinig akong pamilyar na tunog. My eyes snapped from corner to corner of the place I'm at to find the probable source of the sound.

"Lia?"

"Can you hear that?"

I can still hear the tune but it's faint. It was if I'm just imagining it. I think I'm going crazy... or crazier.

"Anong nangyayari?"

Napapalunok na nilingon ko si Maddy at umuling ako. Kung meron man bukod sa akin ang ikinakatakot ang bagay na iyon ay alam ko si Maddy iyon. She's been hell bent on tracing the person sending me the music box.

"N-Nothing. Let's go."

Hinila ko na siya papasok ng comfort room para makapagpalit na kami ng damit. I was the first one to finished getting dress and I was busy looking myself at the mirror when Maddy got out of the cubicle.

"Kasya sa akin," sabi ko at itinuro ko ang blouse niya na suot ko. It's a white lace blouse with a white top inside.

"Paanong hindi magkakasya eh ang liit mo? Mabuti nga mahaba 'yan?"

"Makaliit ka naman para namang ang laki mo." She's taller than me but not so much and also we have the same built. Parehas din ang kulay at ang haba ng buhok namin. The only difference is my natural light brown hair that I inherited from my mother while Maddy's are from coloring her hair. "Look. Magkamukha nga tayo."

"As if that's possible. You're Lia Asterio."

Sa pagkakataon na ito ay ako naman ang napaikot ang mga mata sa sinabi niya. May kinuha ako sa bulsa ng jeans ko at inangat ko iyon sa tapat ng mukha niya. "Kulang ka lang sa red lipstick. You know red lipstick will brighten anyone's face. It's a universal color. Kahit wala kang make-up basta meron ka nito okay na."

"No thanks-"

Wala na siyang nagawa nang buksan ko na ang lipstick at basta ko na lang iyon idampi sa mga labi niya. I rubbed my lips together to make her do the same. Nang sundin niya naman ako ay napangiti ako lalo na at bagay sa kaniya ang lipstick.

Bihira kasi siyang mag apply ng make-up na may kulay. Laging professional lang ang itsura niya. She's only three years older than me but she's too mature for her age.

"See?" sabi ko at tumingin sa salamin. "We look like sisters."

Nang tumingin ako sa kaniya ay may maliit na ngiti sa mga labi niya. Umangat ang kamay niya at inayos niya ang mahaba ko na buhok.

"If you don't date that man, Lia, I swear I'm going to fill your schedule to the brim."

And with that threat, I just laughed out loud.

NILILIPAD ng hangin ang buhok ko habang naglalakad sa buhanginan. Sa tabi ko ay naroon si Damian na nagpresinta na ihatid ako sa cabin na malayo sa mismong hotel kung saan naganap ang pagtitipon. Everyone's still there when we left. Baka nga abutin pa sila ng umaga.

It's almost twelve midnight and I really can't stay long even though talking with Damian was actually great. Iyon nga lang talagang masakit na ang ulo ko at mukhang napansin naman iyon ng lalaki.

I realized that I did judge him unfairly. Akala ko kasi ay katulad siya ng ibang mga nagmula sa mayamang pamilya na inaasa na lang ang lahat sa mga magulang. I've met a lot of those what with being born in a rich family. I guess not everyone is the same.

Damian's father wanted him to go to politics but instead of following his father's footsteps he built his own business, much to his father's disappointment. Pero sabi niya ay maganda naman daw ang takbo ng negosyo niya. He has a sport manufacturing company called Rapid. May dalawa na rin siyang franchise ng Rapid Sports stores and he's about to have another one.

"Hindi mo naman kailangang ihatid pa ako. Ang layo pa naman ng cabin namin."

"Okay lang. Gabi na rin masyado."

Nginitian ko siya at patuloy kami sa paglalakad. Walang pagmamadali sa kilos ko dahil gusto ko rin na namnamin ang sariwang hangin. With the kind of schedule that I have, it's rare to have a slow moment like this one.

"I love it here."

Nagbaba siya ng tingin sa akin. "This resort?"

Umiling ako at hinawakan ko ang buhok ko sa isang side nang muling liparin iyon. "Ibig kong sabihin itong Batangas mismo. If I'm going to retire, I want to live here or somewhere near here."

"It's peaceful here so I understand."

"Malapit sa beach pero hindi super layo sa kabihasnan. I do love malls, bookstores, and restaurants but Manila is too much for me."

"Too loud?"

"Yes. And too crowded for me."

"It mus be hard," he said with a curious look on his face.

"Ang alin?"

"Being famous and known wherever you go."

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "It has its disadvantages. Pero ang pangit naman kung magrereklamo ako. Some people have it worse."

"That doesn't mean your life can't be hard."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya dahil may katotohanan sa loob niyon. Ang mahirap kasi most people will invalidate my feelings if I tell them I find it hard to be me. Kasi maraming naghahangad na magkaroon ng meron ako. Fame and money; the most coveted things in the world.

Pero minsan pakiramdam ko mayroon ang ibang tao ng bagay na hindi nila alam na kaya kong ipagpalit ang lahat para makuha ko. A loving and supportive family and a significant other that will take my hand and create a family with me. Fame, money, and achievements means nothing if in the end of the day you have no one to celebrate with.

"Lia?"

Tumingin ako sa paanan ni Damian. Nalalagyan na ng buhangin ang mukhang mamahalin niya na sapatos. "Hanggang dito mo na lang ako ihatid. I'm okay."

"But-"

"Malapit na rin naman ang cabin. Alam ko naman na malayo rin ang pinanggalingan mo. You should really head back home."

Mukhang wala pa siyang balak umalis pero pagkaraan ay napabuntong-hininga siya. Maybe he's finally realizing that being pressured is not the way to go with me.

"Are you really sure?"

Nakangiting tumango ako. "I'm sure."

Bahagyang napakamot sa likod ng ulo niya ang lalaki. There's disappointment on his face and I don't want him to think that I'm blowing him off. I'm not really sure about what I want with him but even so he's a good person and maybe we could be just friends if nothing works out for us.

Humawak ako sa lapel ng coat niya at tumingkayad ako para bigyan siya ng magaang halik sa pisngi. His eyes widened into a circle but I just smiled at him.

"Careful on the way home."

Bago pa maging awkward ang atmospera sa paligid namin ay nagsimula na ulit akong maglakad at hindi na lumingon pa. Hindi naman naging mahirap para matunton ko ang cabin dahil talaga namang malapit na iyon. But instead of going inside the cabin, I decided to sit on one of the lounge chair facing the beach.

Huminga ako ng malalim at sumagap ng sariwang hangin. I closed my eyes for a bit.

Maybe I really should find a house here or somewhere close by. It's a dream of mine that I never got around on doing. Dahil may isang parte sa akin ang tila naghihintay pa rin sa taong kasama ko na bumuo sa pangarap na iyon. I need to move forward. I need to forgive myself.

Hindi ko lang alam kung paano.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano na ako katagal sa kinaroroonan. When the wind started to become chilly, I stood up and walked to go inside. Inilabas ko ang keycard ko pero napakunot-noo ako nang makita kong bahagyang nakaawang ang pintuan.

Nauna na si Maddy sa cabin habang ang mga kasamahan namin ay abala pa sa pakikisaya sa hotel. Ako naman ay nag stay pa kasama ni Damian.

Bakit kaya hindi nag lock 'yon ng pinto? May susi naman kaming lahat. Lalo pa akong nagtaka nang pagpasok ko ay wala akong makita dahil patay ang ilaw sa buong cabin.

Kinapa ko ang dingding nang makapasok para hanapin ang switch ng ilaw. Bahagya pa lang nag a-adjust ang mga mata ko sa dilim nang may marinig akong mahina na kalabog at tila mahinang pag-iyak.

Imbis na buksan ang ilaw ay nag-aalalang tinungo ko ang daan papunta sa kuwarto kung saan tiyak akong pinanggagalingan ng tunog. Hindi rin nakasaradong mabuti ang pintuan at may maliit na liwanag na nanggagaling sa maliit na lamp sa loob.

I opened my lips to ask Maddy if she was okay but before I can do so, I heard a tune that sent a path of fear all over my body. It was a whistle of the song inside the music box.

I have an absolute pitch, but besides that sounds have always been something that is entangled with me. It's like a sense. Like when you're trying to remember something you once recognized or smell a fragrance that past your sense before. Sound is something that is more than the ability to hear for me. A tune can be different depending on the person making the sound. Everyone has a distinct voice that usually people doesn't notice. But I can always differentiate if I heard it a couple of times.

I can't shake the feeling that I've heard the familiar timbre of the sound. Though it's muffled like something is covering the mouth of that person or he's intentionally changing it so he won't be recognized. I can't point it out but I'm sure that this is not the first time that I heard it.

"Akala ng mundo ay pag-aari ka nila pero nagkakamali sila. Sa akin lang ang boses mo. Sa akin ka lang."

Naaaninag ko ang isang lalaki na may talukbong ang ulo na itim na bagay habang sa harapan niya ay naroon si Maddy na nakasubsob ang mukha sa kama. She was bent while the man is holding her neck tight, pushing her to the bed with his weight.

"You'll learn, Lia. You'll learn that the world can't own you again."

Hinatak niya si Maddy at hindi ko napigilan ang singhap na kumawala mula sa mga labi ko. Nanglaki ang mga mata ko nang lumuwag ang pagkakahawak ng lalaki kay Maddy at mapatingin siya sa gawi ko.

The whole face of the man is covered and there's a black screen on the parts where his eyes should be.

"Run, Lia!"

Maddison's scream will haunt me from them on more than the hollow face of the man or the sound of that song that's been the source of the nightmares that I keep on having.

Sa kabila ng panlalamig sa buong katawan ko ay pinilit ko ang sarili ko na kumilos. Pero bago ko magawa iyon ay nasaklot muli ng lalaki si Maddy. Napasigaw ang babae na tigmak na ng luha ang mga mata nang basta na lang hagipin ang buhok niya at mahigpit na hinawakan ng hindi makilalang tao.

"B-Bitawan mo siya."

"Sa akin ka lang," his voice bridged the distance between us.

"Pakawalan mo siya. Sasama ako basta pakawalan mo siya."

Nagbaba ng tingin ang lalaki kay Maddy na panay pa rin ang iyak habang nanginginig sa takot. If he's been following me he also know her too.

"She's one of them."

"W-What?" I whispered, my voice breaking with fear not just for myself but for Maddison.

Lalong lumakas ang iyak ni Maddy nang mag labas ng patalim ang lalaki. Napahakbang ako palapit pero umatras ang lalaki habang hatak si Maddison na muling napasigaw. I stopped, raising my hand as if trying to placate the man.

"Please... wala siyang ginawang masama sa'yo. Ako ang kailangan mo di ba?"

"Uunahin ko siya at isusunod ko ang iba mo pang kasamahan. They had you and I will destroy anyone that tried to kept you away from me."

He's not making any sense. I don't know him. I don't know why he's doing this. Hindi ko alam kung anong ibig niyang sabihin. "Sila ang dahilan kung bakit kinakaniya ka ng mundo. Kung wala sila dapat ako lang ang nakakakilala sa'yo. Ako lang dapat ang may ari sa'yo."

"Let her go please. Kahit saan mo gusto. Sasama ako basta pakawalan mo siya-" I choked with my own voice when he pointed the blade on Maddison's neck.

"L-Lia...help me," umiiyak na bulong niya.

I can see tiny fleck of blood on her neck from where I was standing. Pakiramdam ko ay unti-unting dumidilim ang paligid habang ang mga boses na naririnig ko ay lumalayo nang lumalayo sa akin. Kinuyom ko ang mga kamay ko para manatiling nakahawak sa ulirat na gusto akong bitawan. It was as if my body is trying to defend me from the horror of what's happening.

"Please..." Tears fell from eyes as I shook my head. "Please don't."

A guttural scream escaped Maddison's lips when the man without wasting any seconds raised his hand and slit her throat. My vision darkened but not enough to obscure the sight from me. At the same time, the sound of her screams silenced as if she's being carried out far away from me.

But she's still in front of me. She's not far but instead she's on the floor... her body lying still while her eyes are still opened and her mouth parted as if she's still screaming. And her blood... her blood is pooling around her.

I can still hear her screaming but that's impossible. There's so much blood. So much blood that I can see the red of the flesh on her throat. I can still hear her scream. Blood... blood... there's so much blood.

Blood. Her voice.

She's still screaming... but no. No. She's not. That's impossible because her lips are not moving. She's not moving.

She wasn't the one screaming. It was me. It was my own voice.

All my senses returned, dragging me away from the tunnel and transporting me back to the present. Natamaan ng lalaki ang lamp sa gilid niya sa bigla niyang pagkilos dahilan para bumagsak iyon sa sahig. Bumaha ang dilim sa lugar, filling me with nothing but terror.

Napaigik ako sa sakit nang may mga kamay na humablot sa magkabila kong braso. Hinila ako ng lalaki palabas ng kuwarto.

I thrashed around, dislodging the man in the process. Tumakbo ako pero hindi ako nakalayo dahil napatid ako sa kung ano. Lumikha nang galabog ang katawan ko ng bumagsak ako sa sahig. I extended my hand, reaching for the thing that tripped me. My hand found purchased and I saw the music box on my hand.

Muling may mga mararahas na kamay na humawak sa akin. The man harshly turned my body around until I'm lying on my back. Kumubabaw siya sa akin habang ang mga kamay niya ay pumalibot sa leeg ko.

"You're tying to get away. You can't do that, Lia. You can do that to me. You can't escape."

"L-Let me go..."

Pinagsisipa ko siya at hindi ko tinigil ang pagkilos ng katawan ko para subukan na ialis siya sa ibabaw ko. Pain instantly lashed on my face when he suddenly struck me with his hand. He hit me so hard that I can taste my own blood.

I tried to scream again when he grabbed my clothes and pulled it hard that it tore. I tried and tried to scream in hopes that someone will hear me but his hands just tightened on my neck, stopping me from making a sound. I was almost blinded by the pain when the next thing he did was punched me in the stomach.

"Akin ka lang!"

I felt his hands went up to my neck and squeezed hard. My lips parted as I choke, my body losing the air that it needed.

There's only a few possibility for me. I'll end up like Maddy... like poor Maddy... or he'll take me with him. But I know my choice. I know that I rather die than suffer with the plans that he probably has for me.

Ano na lang ba ang ibinigay sa akin ng buhay na 'to? I already lost so much.

But that's exactly why I will die fighting. That's what I learned all this years. Iyon lang ang bagay na natitira sa akin. My ability to go on with life even if it doesn't feel worth living anymore. I've been a vacant shell for years but it's always been my choice to how I live my life.

Gamit ang lakas na natitira sa akin ay inangat ko ang kamay ko na hawak ang music box. With everything I got, I hit him on the face, so hard that I can hear a faint scrunch as if I broke his nose.

Ramdam ko ang basang pagtulo ng dugo na nagmumula sa kaniya pero hindi ko iyon pinansin at sa halip ay malakas ko siyang itinulak. I stood up and despite my shaking body, I muster my strength and hit him between his legs, making him howl with pain.

Nagmamadali na tinakbo ko ang labas ng bahay. As expected, only silence greeted me. I could run back to the hotel but it's too far and he might catch up on me. Ang natitira na lang sa akin na choice ay takbuhin ang daan patungo sa isa pang entrance ng resort na mas malapit sa kinaroroonan ng cabin.

There's two entrance on the resort. One is the main entrance which is near the hotel. Ang isa ay nasa gawi namin kung saan ang kadalasan na gumagamit ay ang umiikot na mga desert patrol vehicle na minamaneho ng mga gwardiya at lifeguards. It's an open jeep-type vehicle that they use to carry surfboards when they go for a rescue.

Without wearing any shoes I ran towards the second entrance. The path was a bit uphill and I can feel my breath thinning but I continued running. I know it won't be long and he will find me.

"T-Tulong!"

My voice sounded sore but I continued shouting for help pero nang makarating ako sa maliit na guard house ay sa panlulumo ko, nakita ko ang guwardiya na nagbabantay doon na nakasubsob sa lamesa sa harapan niya. Sa paanan niya ay may tumapon na baso ng kape na animo nabitawan niya.

It doesn't take a genius for me to understand the situation. Either he's been poisoned and his dead or someone drugged him to make him sleep.

I run my hands through my hair, gripping on it tight as I look around. I gasped when I saw a desert patrol vehicle parked in front of the guard house. Sa kabila ng takot na nararamdaman ko na lapitan ang guard na maaaring wala ng buhay ay nagtungo ako roon. I snatched the keys on the table and hurriedly went to the car.

Yumuko ako para lumusot sa bakal na nakaharang sa daan at tinakbo ko ang distansiya sa akin ng sasakyan. I went inside the vehicle, trying to slide the key on the slot but my hands are shaking terribly.

"Lia!"

Lalong tumindi ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko. I grabbed my hand with another one to lessen the shaking. Please, please.

Lumingon ako sa pinanggalingan ko at namataan ko ang lalaki na may taklob pa rin ang mukha pero hawak niya ang sarili sa bandang ilong niya.

"Please. Please. God, let me get out of here."

I know he's a few steps away from me when I finally managed to insert the key. I twisted it and to my relief the engine roared to life.

"You're mine, Lia."

Napasigaw ako nang maramdaman ko ang paghablot ng lalaki sa braso ko. I used my elbow to hit the man but I wasn't successful this time. But thankfully it made him loosen his grip on me. It was just a fracture of chance but I took it. Inapakan ko ang gasolina dahilan para tuluyan akong mabitawan ng lalaki.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pagmamaneho dahil pakiramdam ko ay magagawa akong sundan ng lalaki.

I drove into the dark until the field of spaces around me became row of houses. But I didn't stop. I need a police station. That's right. That's what I need to look for.

I need somewhere safe but I don't think even a station full of trained police officers can save me from the nightmare that I'm now living.

I can still see her as if I didn't leave that room. Nakikita ko pa rin ang mga mata ni Maddy na nakatingin sa akin, her eyes were full of fear and pain. I can see her lips still open because of a scream that she didn't have the chance to finish before he slit her throat. And her blood... her blood...

The vehicle I'm driving swayed to the side when I suddenly turned the wheels at the same time that the vision of Maddy is darkening my vision again. Lumikha nang malakas na langitngit ang sasakyan nang basta ko na lang iyong hininto sa malawak na espasyo na tinatamaan nang malakas na liwanag.

It was a gasoline station.

I stopped the engine and stumbled out of the vehicle. Kita ko ang ilang mga taong napatingin sa gawi ko at kita ang pagkagulat sa kanila sa ayos ko. Binuka ko ang mga labi ko para magsalita pero halos walang lumalabas doon na boses.

"Tu... T-Tulong..." I can feel the last bit of my strength fading as I forced myself to step forward. "Please..."

Bumagsak ang luha mula sa mga mata ko kasabay ng takot na kaagad akong ginumon nang makaramdam ako ng mga kamay na pumalibot sa akin. He found me. He found me again. He's not going to let me go.

Mariin kong hinawakan ang kamay na sumaklit sa bewang ko, ang mga kuko ko ay bumabaon sa balat niya. I heard a muttered curse before I was turned around to face my nightmare. But it's not the hollow face of the man that greeted me... instead it's the face of an angel.

"Lia!"

Naramdaman kong sinalo niya ang bigat ko nang tuluyan nang bumigat ang mga tuhod ko. I continued looking at him... not believing the fact that I'm seeing him again. Maybe I didn't escaped the man. Maybe he killed me and that's why I'm seeing an angel. Because there's no way that this is possible.

It's impossible that Gun is in front of me when I know that he will do everything so just he won't ever see me again.

__________________________End of Chapter 5.