Zai's bare feet are creating faint clicking noises against the moist bricked floor. Every cell she passes by, she receives abhorrent gazes from the eyes behind those cold bars yet she never returned their stares once. Nanatiling diretso ang kaniyang tingin habang suot ang madalas na ekspresyon.

Only when she recognized a familiar person, her prideful orbs glided to the side. Her gray eyes were met with brownish gold irises of a seated man in one dark prison cell, who was silently responding to her direct observation as well. A moment was all it needed to confirm the person's identity.

Garo's teeth gnashed against each other. "You..." His glare became more hostile. "As promised eight years ago, my service requires payment. Don't back down on your words now, Hevrion."

Zai showed no reaction and completely went past him. Garo's sharp eyes closed after Zai was out of sight. Mariin niyang ikinuyom ang kaniyang kamay at nagtangis ang kaniyang panga. Nang buksan nito ang mga mata, his hostility changed into an eerie sensation.

[Eight years ago; before the havoc in the Capital began]

"Nandito ka lang pala," Garo's hand stopped from peeling the banana's rind upon hearing the voice of the peachy-pink haired boy from his back. He looked over his shoulders to him with a sharp warning, yet he doesn't know whether the guy is dense or simply an idiot who can't recognize such threat. Walang hiya nitong itinaas ang palda ng suot na uniporme at pinaypayan ang mga hita. "Sa lahat ng lugar na pwede mong puntahan, talagang sa tuktok pa ng pinakamataas na tore ng palasyo."

Ibinalik ni Garo ang kaniyang mga mata sa hawak na saging at pinagpatuloy ang pagbabalat nito. "Did you tell that woman what I ordered you to say?" Hindi na nito hinintay ang sagot nito at kinagatan na lamang ang prutas. "If you did, then I have no use of conversing with a midget."

"Yeah I did," Garo stopped chewing when Shane's carefree tone suddenly had a hint of humor. Ipinagpatuloy ng binata ang kaniyang mga salita. "Zai gave you a reply."

Sitting on the tower's parapet wall, Garo can vividly feel the cold wind passing by and yet his back was chilly for a different reason. Muling inangat ni Garo ang saging sa kaniyang bibig at ito'y kinagatan muli. "My words didn't require a response."

"Yes, but to also tell you, Zai said she has no spare time to give to a being who has no significant value even in eight years' time." Mabilis na binigyan ng masamang tingin ni Garo ang binata. In reponse, Shane raised his hands. "I'm merely delivering her words, good sir. Bata pa ako at may pag-asa pa ang kinabukasan."

Garo clicked his tongue and tossed the unfinished food to the trees beneath. "If that's all, then get the hell out--"

"But you are not entirely insignificant, she said." Marahan na ibinaba ni Shane ang kaniyang mga kamay habang isang ngiti ang naglalaro sa kaniyang mga labi. His eyes playfully stared at the back of the man who's clearly waiting for his next words. "Months ago, Zai declared in front of Westernia's king and council members that she'll gather ten people but we arrived here with one missing person."

Garo's eyelids slowly fell as his gold orbs glide to the side. Shane showed a corporate smile. "Do you understand now of what you have to do to make her spare some time for you?" Shane's eyes smiled. "Fill the seat, Garo."

All were startled when the whole dungeon shook. Garo grated his teeth before yanking the connected chain off the wall. Hinawakan nito ang kadenang nagkokonekta sa shackle na nasa kaniyang leeg at malakas itong binatak patagilid. Breaking off the chain of the other hand didn't even require much effort.

Lalong nagitla ang mga tao noong marinig nila ang malakas na pagbagsak ng bakal na pinto ng isang selda at ang ginawang alingawngaw nito. Garo stepped out of his cell barefooted. He moved his neck around after yanking the metal off.

Nilingon niya ang direksyon na tinungo ng babae and clenched his fist with the memories of the past years, merely taking orders under his command. To vent his anger, he aggressively pulled the shackles off his wrists and dropped them on the ground. He clicked his tongue before striding towards the opposite direction. "Don't treat me like some pushover, fucker." The gap between his eyebrows folded as his teeth create grating noises. "No matter what, I'll tear that big head off your shoulders." Shane Wault!

--

Ero was in the middle of washing the blood off his hands when he heard a faint groan behind him. He raised his hands from the basin of red water and shook the water off before grabbing the towel on the side. Habang pinupunasan ang kamay, nilingon niya ang binatang ngayo'y nakahawak sa kaniyang noo. "Waking up immediately after all that injuries, you're a creep."

Nang marinig ng binata ang hindi pamilyar na boses, akmang tatayo ito but he was stopped by the tip of a crutch on his shoulder. Ero nonchalantly tapped his shoulder lightly with the support material bago niya ito inilayo at isinandal sa tabi ng kamang kinahihigaan ng binata. "Relax. I'm not an idiotic doctor who'll harm a person he just treated, sayang ka lang sa oras kung gano'n."

Nanatiling nakatungkod ang mga siko ng binata habang ang mga kilay nito ay magkasalubong. Sunod nitong nilingon ay kabuuan ng silid at ang posas na nasa kaniyang bukong-bukong. His eyes sharpened. The palace dungeon?

"Yeah," Ero answered after noticing the expression on his face. Ibinagsak ni Ero ang kaniyang pang-upo sa kalapit na kama ng clinic at nagsalin ng tubig sa isang baso na nasa kaniyang tabi. "Your punishment will be handled by His Majesty himself since Frēo delivered you here. O mas gusto mong ibigay ang kustodiya sa academy? I wouldn't recommend that though." Ininom nito ang tubig mula sa baso at nang maubos ay mabilis ring ibinalik sa tabi ng pitsel. "Well, let's discuss that later. Magsimula tayo sa pangalan mo. Mind giving it, kid?"

Saglit siyang tinitigan maigi nito bago ito umiwas ng tingin. Umupo ang binata at sinapo ang gilid ng ulo. "Cohen." he grumbled.

"Cohen...?"

"Sho."

Hm, Cohen Sho. "I heard many things 'bout you. What was that cringy name again? Notepad? Notebook?" Mabilis na napansin ng doktor ang biglang panlalaki ng mga mata ng binata. Cohen immediately turned and looked for his belongings but saw nothing aside from medical equipments. Noticing his uneasiness, Ero nonchalantly informed him about what he's currently searching for. "Lodrian burned the notes and I think he said he tossed the bag somewhere. Knowing that idiot, he won't remember where so give it up."

Nagtangis ang panga ng binata sa narinig ngunit nanatili na lamang itong tahimik at kinuyom ang kaniyang kamay. Saglit na katahimikan ang namayani sa pagitan nila before Ero hummed and asked. "Is my name written there?"

Cohen's red orbs glared at his direction. "Nine of you are written."

Ero sneered. "Then you must be frustrated. Being treated by a man on your list," Tumayo na si Ero at kaniyang isinuksok ang mga kamay sa mga bulsa ng suot na lab coat. "Rest for now and soon you'll be transferred to your cell. The prison doctor would tend to you from now on until you fully recover."

Cohen suspiciously watched him walk away. This guy... he's leaving even though he clearly have business with me.

Tinitigan lamang ng binata ang kaniyang likod habang siya'y naglalakad patungo sa pinto, he didn't bother asking any more. Ngunit bago ito lumabas, Ero stopped and turned to him again. "I heard Zai was on the top of your list, but surely that's just your frustration to a dead target." Cohen glared at him but Ero's lips only curved. "So would it be good news if I tell you that Zaivrin Hevrion is currently walking through the dungeon hall?"

Despite the big news, Cohen's expression didn't change one bit and Ero found it boring. "What a drab personality. Is that a trend nowadays?" Bumuntong-hininga ito at tuluyan ng lumabas ng pinto. "Well whatever, I'm going. Don't be stubborn like the other battle-headed guys or I'll lock you up on that same bed."

Nang sumara ang bakal na pinto ay napuno ng katahimikan ang silid. Cohen looked down to his bandaged hands and clenched them. When he raised his head, his eyes squinched in determination. So that eerie feeling I got when they announced her death... was truly 'doubt'.

When Ero stepped out of the clinic, his expression immediately changed into a stern one. Saglit siyang tumayo sa harap ng pinto ng pagamutan at pinakinggan ang katahimikan ng espasyo. Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto pagninilay, nilingon nito ang isang pasilyo at nagsimulang tahakin ito, opposite to the way out. The heel of his shoes are clicking against the floor as his eyes only stare forward. No matter what, you really aren't the type to waste one valuable asset huh?

After a few minutes of walking, Ero finally caught a glimpse of a familiar steel door he hasn't glanced at for almost five years now. His eye twitched with the recollection of what the detained man did years ago. He slaughtered his patients, no matter their age or gender.

The door is at the right side of the hall and in front of that door is another passageway where he could vividly feel the girl's approaching presence. He was the first to reach Bonzo's quarter but he paid no attention to it and instead, he faced Zai's direction and stared back at the woman's ever cold eyes. "With your current state, we both know if we were to face head on right now, you'll be the one walking away with fractured bones." Walang pagbabago ang nangyari sa ekspresyon ng dalaga habang patuloy ang kaniyang paglalakad. Ero didn't cower before the woman's superior presence. "If I have to use force to extract informations from you, I'll do so."

As she gets closer, Zai slowed down before she stopped in front of him and stared up to his eyes. Saglit na napuno ng katahimikan ang pagitan nila before Zai broke the silence with a casual topic. "I saw Asta earlier. It seems you two haven't progressed one bit after eight years." The doctor showed no reaction. Zai continued nonetheless. "And it's clear as crystal you are the problem, old quack."

Eyes squinched, Ero asked. "Are you trying to deviate from the topic?"

"Is it working?"

He sighed. "Why does this headache seems so nostalgic?" Muli niyang tiningnan ng direkta ang mga mata ng dalaga. "Zai--"

"Why do you require such information? I believe our alliance has come to an end after you got your revenge." she cut him off. Zai's gray orbs is as cold as usual as she return his gaze. "Would you still assist me? I believe you have no reason to nor do you desire to do so. You have no ounce of intention to lend your skills to me again, have you? If that is so, you no longer have any reason to snoop around me."

"That might be true but you owe us answers. Surely, you haven't forgotten the fact that you also dragged us down to a dire situation we knew nothing of. This is a very small price to pay for," Ero squinted his eyes bago niya ito binigyan ng sunud-sunod na mga katanungan. "What is this all about? Why are you cooperating with the king and for what purpose? How come His Highness knew something from the very beginning? What are your objectives now?"

"Ero," Zai called his name. Walang ibang selda sa koridor na kanilang kinalalagyan maliban sa pintong nasa likod ng doktor. Dahil dito, nakakabingi ang katahimikan ng lugar. Zai's voice sounded like a whisper but due to the unfilled stillness, it was audible. Zai gazed with a strange glint in her austere eyes. "I'm merely fulfilling my duty as God."

Mabilis na nanliit ang mga mata ng doktor sa narinig. Nagtangis ang kaniyang panga habang mahigpit niyang ikinukuyom ang mga kamay. "Zai, you..." Puno ng panggigigil ang boses nito but Zai was untroubled by his hostility.

Ero was about to open his mouth again but he was interrupted by the sudden lift of Zai's palm to gesture his stop. Ipinagtaka ito ng doktor ngunit katulad ng sinasabi nito, nanatili siyang tahimik. Zai's eyes squinched when she smelled a certain pungent scent. She immediately turned to the direction where it's coming from. Inignora niya ang kaharap na doktor at nilagpasan ito. She strode towards the door that has been awfully silent despite their presences in front of it.

Nang maabot niya ang pinto, mabilis na napansin ni Zai ang dugo sa ilalim ng pinto. Zai's brows created folds on the space between them as her nose crunched with a certain thought. Are they idiots...?

Ero turned, "Zai--"

"What were they feeding him?" Ero's words were cut off with her question. Napansin ni Ero ang pagtitig ng dalaga sa kaniyang sariling paanan. She then sneered. "No matter what it is, it doesn't seem healthy."

Zai lifted her eyes at the rusty condition of the door's lock and latch. When did they even open this? Zai's eyes squinted before she broke the rusty lock in one pull. Ero was even more baffled with the woman's strange behavior. She struggled to unfasten the latch but when she was finally able to, she immediately kicked the door open.

Nang bumukas ang pinto, Zai covered her nose without delay. The sickening thick scent of blood can trigger vomiting to one person in an instant but the sight of the room could do more. There's no window because the dungeon is located underneath the palace so the stench of blood couldn't escape except through the small gap beneath the steel door. The room is filled with blood — either dry or fresh. The walls, the floor, and even the ceiling are stained. Zai has been covered by blood many times in the past and she has seen many scenes that resembles bloodbath but this room took it too literally.

Zai's already squinching eyes squinted at a fresh forearm of a human at the side. Mabilis na lumapit sa pinto si Ero and just like Zai, his reaction was the same. Pagkaraan ng ilang segundo, muling sumeryoso ang mukha ni Ero at kaniyang idiniretso ang tingin sa madilim na kwarto.

Their eyes searched for the person who has been locked up for eight years in that very room. It's dark, there's no source of light, but because of the torches on the hallways they could somehow see what's inside but there's no sign of him. That could only mean that he is in the corner or under the only furniture.

Zai raised her palm in front of Ero, telling him to step back. Tahimik naman na tumango ang doktor at sinunod ang utos nito. He decided to leave after giving her back a last glance. Zai slowly put her hand down before she calmly spoke. "Bonzo," Her stern face remained unfazed. "Are you sane or not? Either way, show your face in front of me rude bastard. Know how to greet your guests."

"Zai," Zai's orbs glided to her right when Bonzo appeared on the corner of the doorway. His head is hung low and his ragged long hair is stained with blood along with his whole figure. He's wearing no top, only bloodstained and tattered trousers. He's leaning against the wall as his big hand covers his mouth. "I need a bath, Zai."

Bonzo remained unresponsive when the woman wrapped a lab coat over his shoulder. Zai clicked her tongue as she turn her head away. "You look pitiful, bastard."

Saglit na nanahimik ang lalaki bago siya muling nagsalita. He mumbled, "It was terrible. It was good at first but later on... it backfired."

Zai gave him a glance. She could tell that the man is not pertaining to any of the events that happened inside this cell. Just from staring at his gaze that he raised to her, she immediately knew what he did. Muling narinig ng binata ang pagpalatak ng dalaga. "In other words, you did something I did not order you to." Tumalikod na ang dalaga at naglakad palabas ng silid. "You were aware from the very start, right? Those who already have Hellion DNA coursing through their veins are not compatible with the genetic material of our kind. A full-blood at that, don't push your luck."

Sinundan ito ng binata palabas ng silid. His eyes squinched from the light of the torches. "Then how about that kid? I'm pretty sure you learned at the very end what silver-eyed people have in their genes. I also happened to read the page which contains the info." Walang reaksyon ang ipinakita ng dalaga. Bonzo proceeded. "How come he is compatible with yours?"

"I also don't know." she truthfully answered. Zai's eyes sharpened. "I have no idea."

Hinayaan na lamang ito ni Bonzo at pagkaraan ng ilang minutong paglalakad ay naabot rin nila ang hagdan paalis ng piitan. At the bottom of the stairs, Ero is waiting for them to arrive on that spot. Tinitigang maigi ni Ero ang kasunod na lalaki ni Zai and he glared. Bonzo just stared back at him with no emotions whatsoever. Ero gave his lab coat to Zai at kaswal naman itong kinuha ng babae bago ito patuloy na umakyat ng hagdan.

Bonzo stopped when he sensed that the doctor has something to say. His ever confident eyes looked at Ero's. "I won't apologize." Bonzo turned his feet to completely face the older man. "If you can't bring yourself to do it, then I will. That is what I am supposed to do."

Ero clenched his hand and gnashed his teeth together. "We wouldn't have to result to a massacre if only you gave me time, you shitty brat!" Hindi na nagulantang ang binata sa pagtaas ng boses nito. "I told you I'll create a cure no matter what, didn't I!?"

"Yeah you did, but time wasn't generous at that moment," Bonzo's eyebrows met. "We were in a situation where we could barely scavenge any medicine for thousands of injured ones, the enemy's lab is lacking and so as the people with healing attributions. How would you create an effective vaccine against an unknown disease that could cause an epidemic in a little amount of time? Huh, Dr. Tenzou?"

Ero yanked on the lab coat he's wearing and glared. He grumbled, "Of all times, why did your humanity suddenly took over you at that moment. It's a cringe reaction from a person like you." Ero knew what spot he just hit but he could care less at the moment. "Those people asked for my help, not yours!"

Bonzo didn't respond after that. Pagkatapos niyang bitawan ito, nilagpasan lamang siya ng binata at iniwan sa pwestong iyon.

Eight years ago, after a war where corpses of various species including Hellions are left everywhere, it was expected that a disease can manifest. Bonzo, who was staying at the same medical center where it began, and Ero who has been assigned to look after all patients were the first ones to notice the development of the illness.

The human body couldn't possibly battle against the contaminated genes of demon species so the effects are pretty much extreme. The infected would only lasts at the maximum of two weeks and the disease is spreading rapidly. Their hands in the medical field are decreasing due to the highly infectious illness. Time is running out and soon all survivors of the war could die from that sickness. Maski ang mga taong kayang magpagaling ng mga ito gamit ang kanilang magical capability ay hindi magawang tuluyang pagalingin ang mga 'to.

Even if everyone deny it, it was evident that in the corner of their minds, they have to cut the rotting tail. That's when Bonzo came into the scene. He was the only person who could hold the blade without any hesitant quivering and also as a human who is compatible with those genes, he was the perfect man for the job. He was willing to do the dirty job. And so, the ailness didn't spread much further and the guilt was on him.

Despite knowing his reason, many still called him 'murderer', 'demon', 'heartless', and 'inhumane'.

Ero's fist clenched tighter as he recalls the scene of the boy being dragged on the floor into prison like a beast in shackles and covered in lash wounds from hours of whipping. The kid literally has demon genes coursing through him and yet he seemed more humane than those who shoved their guilts into him. How is it so hard to be human?