"Ibaba mo ako ngayon din! Put me down! Jeeerk!"

I screamed while continuously struggling. I tried everything to escape away from his grip─kicking him numerous times, elbowing his gut and back, knocking him with my knees, clawing his thigh, and throwing punches─but every attempt seems had failed. I tried every potential attack to wrestle him down. But he can counter my every attack, too. However, I still didn't stop myself from fighting. 

"Stop it. Or I'll put handcuffs on you." He said threateningly. I rolled my eyes though I'm facing his back. 

"Hah! As if you brought some!" I sneered. 

I heard the glass door closed and I felt the cold night breeze touch my skin, mostly in my bare legs which Devon had pinned with his strong arm so I can't get loose. My strenuous attacks went slow and weak until both of my arms drop weakly. They're now swaying together with my hair as he walk nearer the parking lot. A moan had escaped my lips and my eyes went close involuntarily. I think all of my blood went down my head. Hell! It hurts! My energy had drained. Damn! Nakakahilo. 

I think he had sensed my suffering. His grip loosened a little and his paced went gentle. 

Minutes later, I heard a small sound flickered and a car door was opened. Mas lalo ata akong nahilo ng aksidenteng tumama ang ulo ko sa kotse ng tumalikod itong demonyo. I swear a heard a loud impact. 

"Ouch!" I snap angrily. "Watch out, bastard!" Makawala lang ako dito siguradong babawian ko ang isang to! 

I had a glimpse of three pair of shoes. Three men in a suit with guns. Right. Of course, may kasama siyang galing sa organisasyon. He ordered them briefly. I tried to eavesdrop but my dizziness forbid me. Soon, they are out of my blurry sight. We faced the car again. Devon grip my waist. I thought he'll just going to throw me, slump inside the car, but he placed me in the shotgun seat gently. Phew! Good. At least, he had learned a tiny part of being a gentleman. 

Nang makaayos ako ng upo ay pumikit ako ng mariin dahil sa pagkahilo. Pagkamulat ko ay bumungad sakin ang mukha ni Devon, nilalagay nito seatbelt sa akin. Pinanood ko siyang matapos. Bagamat may konting kirot pa sa aking ulo ang nararamdaman, isang malakas na suntok ang pinatama ko sa pisngi nito. 

"What the hell!" Daing niya. Haharap pa lamang siya sakin ay rumagasa na naman ang kamao ko patungo muli sa kaniyang pisngi. Hah! Take that! I tried it again but he caught it already. Mukhang natuto na ito. But, I still got my other free hand and that went his face. Abruptly, before I could give him my fourth punch he had held my other hand, too. I pulled them both but I can't get loose his grip. With no choice, I head-butted him hard. I heard him cursed loud. Damn! My forehead hurts, too. He gave me a deadly glare and I retaliated it with a deadlier glare. "You're a bad cat." He muttered. 

Bago pa ako makapagsalita ay mabilis itong naglabas ng handcuff mula sa bulsa nito at agarang nilagay sa aking dalawang kamay. Ni hindi lang ako nakapalag sa ginawa nito. I mean, who the hell would put some of those in their pocket?! 

Only this demon. 

"Seriously?!" I said sarcastically. "You do brought some shackles for me?" My eyes narrowed at him. 

"Yeah. It's very useful. Especially, for a rabid animal." He uttered. "Be good, kitten." He touched my cheek and I smack it away with my handcuffed hands. Do I look like a kitten here?! 

He closed the door while laughing jeeringly. I glared at him until he had reached the driver's seat. He had a lot of creative ways to annoy me. Really. 

He started the car with a flustered smirk on his face. Great. He's mocking me, I can feel it. Damn! Bat' ba hindi ko mapigilang ipakita ang inis ko sa kanya. I already mastered how to control my emotions. But, if he's around I'm failing it, becoming uncontrolled. Horrible news. No. If I want to win this battle I should be calm. 

Stay calm, Aurora. Stay calm. Remember that your misery in human form is a demon and a stranger, too. You must not be affected with his annoying remarks. 

Slowly, I take in and let out a breath. I must rather think of an escape plan. 

"I'm driving. Don't think or do any stupid actions inside the car." Devon warned. I frowned at him while his intently looking on the road. Like I don't know that! I'm not on a suicidal mission. 

"Whatever." I sniggered. 

Curiously, I scan the inside of this glorious mouthwatering car. Holy fudge! Why this demon do owned something like this? It's so damn unfair! I tapped the heavily tinted glass window. It's bulletproof. Snappishly, I tried to open the door fidgeting. Well, of course, it was locked automatically. 

"What are you thinking?" I glanced at the demon and raised my brow. He's still looking on the almost empty road. 

"Thinking about what?" I asked sounding bored. 

"About whatever deadly and stupid thoughts that your little mind produce." He told me. My bell is ringing again. Here are the mocking words coming out his filthy mouth once more. 

"Who are you?" I questioned instead, looking at him intently. 

"Oh. You're thinking about me then." He said with a silly smile. I can sense he's about to change the topic. Ang simple ng tanong ko pero bat' ba hindi nito masagot? Parang napakalaking bagay! Tss! 

"Just answer the stupid question." I said in a gritted teeth. 

"I think I answered that already." Yeah, right! He told his name and blah blah blah. 

"Position." I said impatiently. "What's your position in the Mafia?" I'm a very impatient person. Pag ito di niya ako binigyan ng sagot, wala na akong pakealam kong mapunta man ito sa suicidal mission. 

"You don't need to know." Aniya. My thin thread of patience had snapped quickly. Eyes darkened. My shackled hands swayed directly to his face in a full blow. Swiftly, he caught it with his right hand like he had predicted it. Binaba nito at di na binitawan. He's still focus on driving. 

"Intolerance, Kitten." He said while chuckling. Aaargh! He knows I'll snap and he's just playing with it. "I said I'm driving here." He exclaimed. 

"Why can't you answer it? My question is pretty simple!" I screeched. "Who are you?" I repeated the undying question again. 

"Are you tired of running away?" He retorted calmly. Ang tanong ko ay tinapatan niya rin ng isang tanong. My brows wrinkled. Great! No one will give up between us. I think we both should wear the stupid shirt with a 'Never give up' line. 

"I asked first." 

"Why can't you answer it? My question is pretty simple, too." He said coolly. "Simpler than yours even. Answerable by yes or no." I open my mouth for a comeback but then I held it. Sheez! Anong ibabato ko sa pahayag niyang iyon? 

An awkward silence roamed inside the car. Uh. Okay. Nalaman niya palang iniwasan ko ang tanong nito kanina. Now, we both don't want to answer each one's question. Sighing, I slouch, throwing my back lazily, on my seat. Fine. I'm waving my white flag. I'll retreat for the meantime. Malalaman ko rin yan. Tss. 

I glance at him. Noticing, he's driving in one hand while his other hand is holding my handcuffed hands. I pulled it slightly but he didn't let go. Glaring at him, I pulled it harder. I'm expecting him to grip it tighter as harder as I pulled. But in reality, he didnt. Resulting, with a lot of force, my elbow epically hit the bulletproof glass window. 

"Aaargh! Tanga!" I murmured to myself as I curled my upper body down. Habang dinadaing ko ang sakit ay narinig ko ang nakakainis na mahinang tawa ng demonyo. I just hissed. It's not laughable. Fudge! It felt like a lightning just hit my elbow with a burning effect. 

"Does it hurt?" He asked. Stupid question. 

"No. I'm enjoying it." I answered sarcastically through gritted teeth. I want to massage my elbow but of course I can't. Not with this freaking shackles. 

"For a prodigy like you, you're quite stupid sometimes." Hindi ko pinansin ang nakakaasar na 'stupid' remark nito sakin. Mas nakakainis isipin na marami siyang alam tungkol sakin at wala akong alam tungkol sa kanya. 

"Shut up!" I snapped while waiting for the pain to go away.

Staring at the side mirror, I noticed three to four black cars, with almost equal distance, following us from behind. As Devon maneuver to the right, they're still following. 

Convoys! 

Weird. It's too many escorts for protection. I rolled my eyes. Suddenly, I remembered something to ask. Wait a minute... "Where the hell are you taking me, demon?!" Hindi ito sumagot at parang walang narinig. "To the Mafia, right?" I concluded. He said he'll take me to hell. Hell means Mafia to me in this land. Right! San pa ba ko dadalhin ng gagong to? Of course, he'll bring me there. 

Minutes had passed, I still didn't receive answers. "You freaking liar! You said you aren't on a mission." I muttered. All I can do for now is wait. Wait until I see where he'll bring me. I'm not really sure if we're on our way to Mafia. The road is empty. I can see no houses and mostly trees. It's a secluded place. And as far as I know, this not the right way to the organization. "Saan tayo papunta?" Tanong ko muli. Still, no answers. 

Groaning, I waited for more couple of minutes. Anong lugar ba ang maihahalitulad sa empyerno bukod sa Mafia? Hmm. Hell... I can't think of any. Well, he's not talking about the hell literally, right? 

Maya-maya ay bumagal ang takbo ng aming sinasakyan. Sa di kalayuan ay may natatanaw akong ilaw. As we go nearer, I realize that I'm looking at a gate, a wide and colossal one. Behind that shining gate is a massive house, a mansion. Confusing, it was built at the end of the road. Meaning, this is our only destination. In my peripheral vision, Devon was still sitting and driving their casually. So yeah, dito talaga kami papunta. 

Armored men opened the gate. He drove the car up to the front of the house, passing through its front garden that is full of different colored roses. Woah! This is far from hell. It looks rather than heaven. We just entered the Gates of Heaven and we're now in front of this mansion made in heaven! Tss. He's really a big liar. 

"We're here." He told me after parking the car. Duh! It's obvious. 

Barefooted, I stepped outside the car. Kahit gusto kong paulan siya ng tanong ay nanatili na lang akong tahimik. Gosh! I'm too exhausted to talk. Eh wala din akong makukuhang sagot. Err. Nagugutom na rin ako. I haven't eaten for dinner. 

Planning for my emergency escape if something I don't like happen, my eyes roamed around the façade. I memorize every front windows that I can use as passage out, even the terrace. If I got no choice, I need to burn the place, find its main source of electricity and cut it. If that fails, my next plan is to run down the kitchen, Butler's pantry, get some knives and kill everyone the gets on my way. If that fails again, my next plan would be──. 

Ang aking pagpaplano ay biglang natigil ng may kumaladkad sa akin papasok. "Hey!" Reklamo ko. Nahagip agad ng mata ko ang grand staircase nito na tila sumisigaw ng karangyan, it's the mansion's pride. May mangilan-ngilang armadong kalalakihan at katulong ang nagkalat. Hindi kami pinansin ng iba samantalang yumuko na lang ang ilan. I'm about to ask why are we here when Devon suddenly stop dragging me. He faced me. Swiftly, he caught my waist and tossed me over his shoulder. Aaargh! Not again! 

"Huy! Alam kong maglakad!" Hindi ito nagsalita. Dahil na rin sa pagod at gutom ay tumigil din ako kakapalag. Tahimik lang itong naglalakad patungo sa pangalawang palapag habang bitbit ako. Pumasok ito sa isang kwarto. Maya-maya ay pabagsak akong itinapon sa malabot na kama. Damn! 

"Bat' mo ko dinala rito?" I asked with a death glare. As usual, he didn't reply. Ghad! Nagmumukha na akong tanga hah! Kanina pa ko sigaw ng sigaw kakatanong pero parang hangin lang ang kausap ko. "Answer me, demon! Or just tell me if you'd accidentally swallowed your own tongue." I sneered. 

Annoyingly, he stared at me for a few seconds and then left without talking. Naiwan akong nakatingin sa pintong nilabasan nito na may di maipintang mukha. "Ah! Nakakabwisit!" I screamed followed by an exaggerated sigh. He's doing this on purpose. 

With crumpled face, I got up out of the queen sized bed and scanned the room. Glaring at the furniture, I looked for a possible weapon. I sucked a deep breath when I found none, just a fuzzy white lampshade sat on a bedside table, a vanity table, cabinet and a dark red sofa. Ugh. I guess, I'll be fighting with my handcuffed hands. Or my kicks will do, too. 

When I felt someone is coming, I quickly went near beside the door and leaned on its wall. As the doorknob twisted and the door burst open, my knee went to the poor victim's gut quickly making him stumble on the ground. But then, I realized that my poor victim was Devon. Without glancing back, I ran fast to the balcony and reach down the staircase. Why am I running? Ahm. I dont know. I just want to get out of here. 

"Get her!" Umalingawngaw ang sigaw ni Devon mula sa taas habang ako'y mabilis na bumababa. Halos tila mga manika naman ang mga armadong kalalakihan na mabilis na kumilos para ako'y harangan sa ibaba. "Catch her but don't shoot!" Sigaw nito muli habang nakadungaw sa may railings ng balkonahe. 

As I reached the first floor, a man in a suit blocked me. Rapidly, I throw my hands straight to his face strong enough to make him fall off the ground. I jab my kneecap downward to his stomach, with all of my force and weight, making him puke some blood then later on stop breathing. 

Nakaramdam man ng pagkatakot, sumugod pa rin ang lima sa kanila habang nag-aalinlangan ang ibang nakapanood. I ran to my exit door when this five morons blocked my way again. Some tried to wrestle me down but I fought. I only tussled them with my hard kicks and knees as they fell on the ground one by one. Malapit na akong makalabas nang may isa pa muling makulit na humarang sa tinatakbuhan ko. Damn! Annoying minions! 

Sa inis ko ay mabilisan kong kinulong and ulo nito sa pagitan ng nakakadenang mga kamay ko ay walang habas na pinukpok ito sa aking tuhod na ilang beses. I lost my count. Maybe five to six times. I heard gasps from my audiences, which are probably maid and those other stupid guards. I gave the stupid minion my last attack, a rotating kick to his poor bleeding face. His neck had spun beyond its normal reach. It cracked loud and he fell dead on the floor. 

Pero wala pang isang segundo ay sumunod akong natumba ng may tumama sa aking leeg. My eyes grew wide as I can't feel my whole body. I can't move. I lay down the floor like a dead, too. Crap! What the hell just happened? 

I heard footsteps coming nearer and it stopped beside me. I recognized that it's Devon with a freaking paralyzing gun. He bent down his knees and reach something on my neck, a slim syringe. I silently cussed under my breath. 

That stupid thing is on my neck again! 

"You are really a maniac killer." Devon said as he glanced at those laying bodies and recovering men. "You killed two of my men and knocked those five down in a minute." He look down at me with clear amusement in his eyes. 

"You paralyzed me, jerk!" I retorted instead, glaring at him. 

"I don't have a choice, wild kitten." He just simply said and scoped me upward with his strong arms, carrying me in bridal style. He told the remainders to clean up the mess or dead bodies. 

"Damn you, demon." I muttered as we went back upstairs. 

"Shut up. Pinag-iisipan ko pa kung itatali ko na rin pati ang mga paa mo." Kalmado nitong saad. Duh! No need. I'm already paralyzed. 

We entered the same room. He dropped me down the bed gingerly. The soft comfy bed welcomed me with wide arms and I felt so damn tired immediately.

"Why did you brought me here?" Tanong ko muli. Pinagmamasdan ko lang ito habang tinatanggal niya na ang bwisit na posas sa aking mga kamay. Sawakas. Though it made no sense now that I'm paralyzed. Ugh! 

"I brought you here to sleep." He told me after removing the shackles. And I think I was paralyzed again. I stared him for a moment, waiting for another answer. Hmm. A more believable and workable answer than the first one. 

"Pinagloloko mo ba ako?" I retaliated to him with a sneer after not receiving a second answer. Gently, he placed the soft white bedding over my paralyzed body. Crap! He's serious?! "You brought me here just to sleep?!" I shrieked. I mean, no Mafia punishment or torture? 

"You'll be paralyze for good fifteen minutes." He informed me. "Stop talking. It's already midnight. If I were you, I'll focus on sleeping because I'll be working on a restaurant tomorrow morning." He went to the sofa and casually sat there. 

I gave him a scrutinizing look but I didn't talk back. I heave a sigh. I'm still not believing this. Perhaps, they're planning something here. Considering, I'm probably inside of one of the Mafia's lair. Different possibilities crossed my mind if I'm going to let my eyes fall. 

"Stop worrying. You're too paranoid. Wala akong gagawin sayo." He said as if he read my mind. 

"Then what the hell are you still here, watching me?" I asked while looking at him intently, brow was raised. 

"Because after fifteen minutes something might horrible happen here. Again." I stared at the gloomy white ceiling to keep my eyes from rolling. I know he's implying that Ill try to escape again. "Tulad na lang ng pagtakas at pagpatay ng mga taong walang ginagawa." Dugtong nito. I just hissed. Walang ginagawa? Duh! They tried to block my way out. If they have functioning brains, they shouldn't did that. 

After laying in the soft belt for a few minutes, I immediately felt exhausted. Ghad! It seems so inviting to sleep here. I mean, I've been sleeping on couch for a week. It's very tiring. Though I badly want to wait for that fifteen minutes to end so I can give this demon a solid punch for making me paralyzed. But it seems my eyelids have their own life and they are slowly closing out of my will. 

"Stop running away, Aurora." Is it me? Or he sounded in a plea. Like begging me to stop escaping. From what? Of course, from the Mafia.  

"Never." I found myself murmuring as my eyelids fully closed and I was drowned asleep. I know he heard me. Pero sana lang ay buo pa ang katawan ko paggising ko bukas.