Chanel sighed. Umupo siya sa tabi ni Chersh. Tiningnan niya ang maliit na nilalang na busy sa pagbabasa ng dyaryo. Who could've thought na mayroong newspaper sa impyerno? Sinillip na rin ni Chanel kung ano ang binabasa ni Chersh. Sa headline pa lang ay kumunot-noo na siya.

WHO AMONG THE SEVEN PRINCES WILL SUCCEED THE THRONE?

"There are seven princes?" tanong ni Chanel at tiningnan kung tama ang nabasa niya.

Umiling si Chersh. "Walo ang prinsipe. Dosena naman ata ang anak ng Haring Ronan."

"Walo?" Hindi makapaniwala si Chanel sa narinig.

Kung ganoon, walo ang dapat niyang nakawin na relics? Walong prinsipe, mga nilalang na mayroong mataas na katayuan sa buong Hellas, ay ang kanyang pagnanakawan. Muli na lamang siyang napabuntong-hininga. Kung walo ang dapat niyang makuha, magiging matagumpay nga kaya ang gagawin nila ni Night? Makakaalis pa nga ba siya rito sa Hellas at makabalik sa mundo ng mga tao?

Napansin naman ni Chersh na sunod-sunod ang pagbuntong-hininga ng dalaga. Tiningnan niya si Chanel at nagtanong, "Malaki ba ang problema mo? Ang lalim ng buntong-hininga mo."

"Malaki," sagot agad ni Chanel. "Sobrang laki ng problema ko."

Ibinaba ni Chersh ang dyaryo at nakipag-usap ng masinsinan kay Chanel. "Nagkausap kayo ni Night 'no? Anong inalok niya sa 'yo kapalit ng anong bagay?"

Magsasalita na sana si Chanel nang dumating si Night. Ito na rin ang sumagot sa katanungan ni Chersh.

"We are to find the relics and steal it."

Kumunot-noo si Chersh. "Relics? Ang mga simbolo sa bawat ring? Nahihibang ka na ba?"

"Do I look like I'm going crazy?" tanong ni Night sa dalawa. Agad na tumango ang mga ito. Napangiti na lamang ang binata saka ito naglapag ng isang scroll sa lamesa at Ibinuklat ito.

"Ang una nating misyon. Hindi na tayo lalayo pa. Unahin na natin dito sa Para," umpisa ni Night saka niya ipinakita ang mapa ng buong Paradise City. Itinuro niya ang palasyo at tumingin sa dalawa. Nagkatinginan sina Chersh at Chanel saka muling tumingin kay Night.

"Mayroong Black Army at mahigpit ang seguridad sa palasyo. Paano tayo makakpasok doon?" tanong ni Chersh.

Tumingin si Chanel nang hindi makapaniwala kay Chersh. She was expecting na tumanggi man lang sana ito sa gustong mangyari ni Night pero nakikipagtulungan pa ang bulinggit. Tiningnan niya ito ng mariin. Kung ganito makipagtulungan si Chersh kay Night, hindi lamang siya ang inalok ng binata sa usapan na 'to. Lumipat ang tingin niya kay Night. Naglabas ng invitation card ang binata at ibinigay ito sa dalawa.

"Magkakaroon ng pagtitipon sa palasyo two days from now. That's the perfect time para mahanap at makuha ang relic sa palasyo."

Huminga ng malalim si Chanel. "Kung ganoon, magiging mahigpit rin ang seguridad n'yan sa palasyo. Tell me something about what you said, Chersh. Ano ang Black Army? I know some things about them. You explained some before we were chased by them. Besides that, what they can do?"

Nagpaliwanag si Chersh habang sinusuri pa rin ng mabuti ang mapa na inilapag ni Night sa lamesa. "Iyon ang namumuno sa seguridad ng buong Paradise at ng palasyo. Kampon 'yon ng prinsipe. Alagad at mga loyal niyang tuta."

"Are they good?" tanong ni Chanel sa dalawa. Tumango naman ang mga ito.

"They are well-trained to defend the city and castle from intruders, as well as to protect their prince. You know what they can do and how many are they. You've witnessed it," sagot ni Night sa kanya.

One huge obstacle is the Black Army. Nawawalan na ng pag-asa si Chanel sa balak ni Night. How could the three of them fight with well-trained soldiers? For sure ay hindi magdadalawang isip na pumatay ang mga 'yon para lamang sa prinsipe nila. She somehow managed to fight and escape from them. But she was just lucky last time. How about the next time she encounters those black soldiers? And even if they could go past through the guards and soldiers, how would they steal a valuable and most important treasure of the prince?

"Anong plano? Paano tayo makakalusot sa mga sundalo at paano natin makukuha ang relic o simbolo na 'yon?" tanong ni Chanel kay Night.

"Paradise is a labyrinth of houses. We can use this for our escape. Like what I did to you. If you still remember," Night answered with a smile.

Was he teasing her? Yes. And did she look like she was enjoying it? No. Lalo na sa ginawa ni Night sa kanila. They were peacefully eating in that diner pero biglang sumulpot si Night at pinagtripan sila. Chanel had no choice but to forgive the man for always teasing her. After all, ito lamang ang makakapitan at mapagkakatiwalaan nito dito sa mundong wala s'yang kaalam-alam. There would be a time na makakaganti rin si Chanel sa lahat ng kagaguhan na ginawa sa kanya ni Night.

"This is the castle," pagpapatuloy ni Night saka niya itinuro kung saan nakatayo ang palasyo. It was in the middle of the city, barricaded with high walls.

"We weren't here. Anong meron sa loob?" tanong ni Chanel sa dalawa.

"It's a place for the highborn, they call it Oasis. Sa labas naman n'yan, d'yan tayo galing. City Labyrinth, ika nila, sa dami ng mga taong nakatira doon."

"So ang mga mayayaman lang ang puwedeng tumira sa loob at ang mahihirap ay sa labas? Bakit?" tanong muli ni Chanel.

"Bakit hindi natin tanungin ang magaling na prinsipe ng Paradise kung bakit niya ipinaghiwalay ang mahihirap sa mayayaman?" sagot ni Chersh.

"So even classism exists here?"

Tumango ang dalawa. "It's evident. Sa structure pa lang ng buong siyudad."

"May mga taong naghihirap pa rin ba sa siyudad na 'to?" tanong muli ni Chanel.

Muling tumango ang dalawa. "Kahit saang parte ng Hellas, mayroong taong naghihirap. After all, this world was built to punish people," sagot ni Night sa kanya.

Natahimik na lamang si Chanel habang nagpatuloy sa pag-uusap ang dalawa.

"Hindi kayo basta-basta makakalabas ng Oasis. Bantay sarado palagi ang mga pader na 'yon ng mga sundalo. Pagkatapos niyo makuha ang relic sa palasyo, dadaan kayo sa malalaking sewers sa ilalim ng Oasis palabas sa City Labyrinth."

Lumunok si Chanel. "Saan naman natin mahahanap ang relic na 'yon sa isang malaking palasyo?"

"Give me a day. After that, I will tell you where," sagot ni Night.

"And how will you do that?"

Ngumisi sa kanya si Night. "Connections, angel."

May kinuha si Night sa kanyang bulsa at naglabas ng isang itim na card. Ibinigay niya 'yon kay Chanel na siyang ipinagtaka naman ng dalaga. Kinuha 'yon ni Chanel at tiningnan mabuti.

"At para saan naman 'to?" tanong niya sa binata.

"You will be going to a party. You need something to wear, a dress." Inayos ni Night ang kanyang gamit ngunit iniwan niya ang mapa sa lamesa.

"Use it to brainstorm. Nakasasalay d'yan ang pagtakas ninyong dalawa palabas ng palasyo." Utos naman niya kay Chersh. Hindi sumagot ang bulinggit ngunit sinunod n'ya ito at sinuri mabuti ang detelyadong mapa ng buong Paradise.

"And use the card to buy whatever you need," wika naman nito kay Chanel.

Muling tiningnan ni Chanel ang hawak-hawak niyang card. "How do I use it?"

"Ipakita mo lang sa kahera and she'll know what to do. I have to go," paalam ng binata sa dalawa.

"At sinong sasama sa akin papunta sa siyudad?" Nagsalubong na ang kilay ni Chanel. If she went out, sino ang makakasama niya sa labas upang makabili ng dress para sa pagtitipon na iyon? Who would protect her? Chersh? Tumingin s'ya sa maliit na nilalang na ngayon ay nakatingin na rin pabalik sa kanya. Umiling ito sa kanya. No, not Chersh. The last time they were outside together, they were almost caught by the black soldiers. The small demon couldn't protect her.

"Manda will assist you," sagot ni Night.

"And who's going to protect me if you're not here?"

Nakita niya ang pagngiti ng binata. "Easy, angel. No one's going to harm you."

"I am human and well alive. The minute I step my foot out there, monsters and creatures would die just to get their hands on me. Kahit ang mga black soldiers ay naghahanap pa rin sa akin sa siyudad. How can I enjoy shopping with this card kung nakabalandra ako sa mga taong gustong makuha o kainin ako?"

She was frustrated with all what he demanded. First, he wanted the relics. Now, he wanted her to go out there and buy herself a dress for a party. How could she do all of that kung mayroong patong sa ulo niya?

Night looked her straight to her eyes. "Easy, angel. Relax."

Huminga ng malalim si Chanel at sinubukang pakalmahin ang kanyang sarili.

"Just tell me if you don't want to go out. I'll order Manda to buy new dresses and you can choose with what she bought. Or go outside, take a look at Para, and see the beauty of it."

See the beauty of the city... Night was giving her a chance to have a tour inside the city. Na siyang hindi niya nagawa dahil she stayed here inside the house, afraid that the black soldiers could find her the moment she go outside.

"I want to, but I am worried. I can't protect myself out there and I'm a food in other's eyes."

"All right. Do you want me to go with you?"

The two looked at each other and no one was saying anything. Nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ni Chersh sa dalawa, naghihintay rin sa sagot ni Chanel. The girl was demanding for Night to stay and now that Night offered to go with her, the girl was not answering at all. Pambihira, sa pag-iisip isip ni Chersh. Bumuntong-hininga na lamang siya.

"Yes, yes. Gusto ni Chanel na sumama ka. Kaya sige na, lumayas na kayo."

The two broke their gaze at each other at tumingin parehas kay Chersh.

"Ano pang hinihintay ninyo? Layas," wika muli ni Chersh saka niya inilahad ang kanyang kamay at ngumiti ng pagkatamis-tamis sa dalawa.

Chersh gestured his hand shooing those two. Night chuckled habang napa-irap na lamang sa kawalan si Chanel.

***

"You need cars here in Hellas," mungkahi ni Chanel habang nakasakay sa carriage patungo sa Paradise City. While watching the sceneries outside, Night told her that they were just outside the city. They could walk, but Night preferred to ride a carriage for her safety since there were other creatures lurking in the area too.

"Cars? How will you do that?"

"'Di ba souls come here after they died? Aabangan ko 'yong mga taong gumagawa ng kotse at pagtra-trabahuin ko sila rito. There aren't too many differences between Hellas and the human world," sagot ni Chanel while still looking outside. Same landscape, same air, same sceneries. There was no difference. Puwede nang masabi na mundo rin ito ng mga tao. Minus the out of this world na creatures, castles, soldiers, and monsters.

"I will also build skyscrapers. It's time for modernization sa impyerno. Don't you think?" Chanel looked at Night and saw him smiling, really smiling. Like he's enjoying and he found her ideas good.

"Do you think it's impossible?" tanong ni Chanel, not sure about what his smile implies.

"No, I think it's a good idea," sagot ni Night.

"But there are creatures that do not like changes. There are still rebels in every rings who don't like the king sitting in the throne," dugtong pa nito.

"So there are rebels here too." Tumango sa kanya si Night. "Loyalists and faithful attendants, servants, and followers of the devil, these are the rebels."

Muling tumingin sa labas ng bintana si Chanel. The place might look like her home, the human world, Earth, Hellas was still far worse than the world above. Chanel forgot that this place was hell, the sanctuary of evilness, the home of the devil.

"But he is not sitting on the throne. He's not the king anymore. So maybe there is still a chance for this place?"

Night didn't answer so Chanel looked at him again. She saw him looking afar, thinking deeply.

"It might or not. Just between those two," sagot ni Night at muling tumingin kay Chanel.

"But someone who have ideals and goals as you might make it possible," dugtong ni Night.

"And who among the people here in Hellas who has that vision for this world?" tanong ni Chanel.

Night smiled and answered, "No one."

Tumango si Chanel. What could've she expect? Of course, no one in this damn world would have dreams to make this world more progressive. After all, this was hell. And hell was supposed to be evil, a wasteland, and nothing but ruins.

"No one but you," dugtong ni Night kaya't napatigil si Chanel.

"No. I am not dreaming to make this world a better place because it is not and it will never be."

"But you just did."

The two again looked straight at each other's eyes. Reading, eyeing, and anticipating what was the other person thinking.

Biglang huminto ang karwaheng kanilang sinasakyan. Night broke off from Chanel's look at sumilip sa labas. Nakarating na sila sa sentro ng bilihan at ang kilalang street ng mga tindahan sa buong Paradise City.

"We're here," anunsyo ni Night saka nito binuksan ang pinto at lumabas. Huminga ng malalim si Chanel at sinundan ng tingin si Night na ngayon ay nakatayo na sa labas habang naghihintay ito sa kanya. Sumunod siya sa binata at bumaba ng karwahe. She looked around and smiled as she saw the busy streets of the city. Paradise City never failed to amaze her.

"Let's go and buy you a dress," wika ni Night saka nito hinawakan ang kanyang kamay at hinila patungo sa sentro, papasok sa magulo at maingay na daan ng Para.