I’ve lost my count on how many hours or, most probably, days I have spent in this prison. My limbs were already trembling. My body hurts like hell, especially my wrists. They are my main support for days of standing, hanging on this fucking chains. Pasa at sugat ang aking natamo oras na may pumapasok sa aking kinalalagyan. They would hit me every sarcastic comments I would answer to their questions. And I would just accept it ‘cause I don’t have any choice. I wouldn’t let them get answers to me easily since the questions were stupid, anyway. They kept getting information about Devon that even I, mostly don’t know the answer.

“Do you even know what you are saying?” sita ko sa lalaking ipinadala nila upang kausapin ako. Ilang metro ang inilayo niya sa akin. “Come near me and I’d whisper to you the answer,” dagdag ko ng may ngisi sa aking mga labi. Even I can’t clearly see his face, I can smell fear in him.

“Just admit that you’re the Don’s woman and I would leave you peacefully,” saad niya.

That is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard. Humalakhak ako sa sinabi niya. He’s been implying that with his questions awhile ago. Now, he finally put it into words that is really idiotic.

“Come near and I would whisper to you the answer,” I told him again.

Imbes na sumagot ay lumabas na lamang ito at iniwan ako. Kinausap ang nakabantay sa akin at maya-maya ay pumasok ang walo dala ang lason. They were careful with their movements as they come near me. I know this drill. They’ve been doing this to me numerous times already. Almost all of them held me firmly as I try to hardly resist. I screamed as another shot of poison got inside of me again.

Pumasok si Armand sa silid na may hawak na aparato at nakatapat ito sa kanyang tenga. Tahimik muna ito at tila naghihintay habang pinagmamasdan ako hinihingal sa sakit na dulot ng lason.

“Maaari ko bang makausap si Devon Henderson,” aniya kinalaunan na aking ikinagulat. “Kung ako sayo ay hindi ko ibaba ang tawag,” halakhak nito at naglakad palapit sa akin. “May isang magandang dilag na nais ko sanang ipakausap sa iyo. Mukhang kailangan nito ng tulong dahil sa matinding sakit na dulot ng lasong nasa kanyang katawan.”

Inilapit nito ang aparato sa akin. The guy behind me pulled my hair as I try to avoid the phone on my ear. Naglabas naman si Armand ng patalim at itinapat sa aking leeg.

“Magsalita ka, Binibining Aurora.”

He purposely told my name to hear Devon’s reaction. Agad niya naman itong nakuha.

“Aurora?” Devon’s dark voice protruded. “What did they do you?” his asked furiously. Everyone in this room heard how mad his voice is since he is on loudspeaker. Mariin kong itinikom ang aking bibig upang hindi makagawa ng inggay. “Aurora, talk to me! Say a word!”

Armand deepened the blade on my neck until it stung. Determinado itong ako ay mapasalita. Kinagat ko ang aking labi bago tuluyang bumigay.

“It’s a fraud. I am perfectly fine—” my words were cut off by own scream as Armand stab my right leg with his knife. “UGH! DAMMIT!” Napapikit ako ng mariin at ininda ang panibagong sakit. Kahit hindi ko ito tignan ay siguradong nag-uunahan na ang pagdaloy ng dugo sa aking paa.

“Aurora! What the fuck is going on? Tell me where—”

Armand pulled the phone and turn off the loudspeaker. He is smirking evilly, satisfied at his mad reactions. Umalis ito upang hindi ko marinig ang kanilang pinag-uusapan.

Fucking hell!

They left when they had made sure I’m too weak to move. Sinisigurado nilang hindi ako makakagawa ng kilos upang makaalis sa kadena. Kapag napapansin na nilang bumabalik ang aking lakas ay kikilos sila agad upang ako ay lagyan ng lason. Palaging ganito. Paulit-ulit. Physically and mentally exhausting. My mind can endure the pain itself, but I don’t know how long my body can handle the chemical they’ve been putting in me.

It is probably a slow poison. It is pushing me into a very slow and painful death. I mostly find myself wincing and howling because of the ache and I just try to sleep it off.

The next day came, I heard the metal door opened again. Inanggat ko ang aking ulo upang tignan ang muling ipinadala upang inisin at patawanin ako. Isang lalaki at babae ang unti-unting lumapit sa akin. Noong una ay hindi ko sila maaninag, pero ng isang metro na lamang ang layo nila sa akin ay bahagyang nanglaki ang aking mga mata sa gulat at pagtataka.

I was utterly shocked to see them together in this place. I didn’t show any emotions as I let it internalize in my mind. What the hell is the meaning of this? Ano ang ginagawa nila rito?!

“Do you still remember me, Fugly Slut?” maarteng tanong nito sa akin.

“How about you, do you still remember me?” I gave her a sly grin instead. Inunahan ko ito bago makasagot. “Of course! I gave you a remembrance. That cute little cast on your nose suits your ugly face,” I beamed sarcastically.

The mocking confidence on her face abruptly dissolves as I implied what I did to her last time we met. She tried to attack me, but the guy beside her quickly stopped her.

“Stop it, Stella. Wala iyan sa ating trabaho.”

My eyes shift to him. I can’t believe this. It is really him. Andito silang dalawa sa aking harapan at isa lamang ang ibig-sabihin nito. Mga mapagpanggap. They were actually members of Dark Clan. Seriously?

“This dummy Barbie is understandable,” I glance at her with my brows furrowed. Muli kong ibinalik ang aking tingin sa lalaking kaharap. “But, you, you seems a normal man who showers money on random people. I knew your acts were fishy,” I told him deliberately.

“What did you fucking call me?” Barbie first reacted and tried to reach me again, but he held her firmly, too.

“Aurora, this is—”

“Is Katy with you too? Magkasabwat ba kayong lahat upang makakuha ng impormasyon sa akin at sa mafia? Ito marahil ang dahilan kung kaya’t pinatira mo kami sa bahay mo. I knew your generosity means something else. And this is that something else I should know, right?”

“Katy is out of my job. I just used her innocence to get you. Sakto lamang na kilala niyo ang isa’t-isa,” deritso at kalamado nitong sagot.

“We are Dark Clan’s agents. That’s the only thing she should know,” sabat ni Barbie. Agents? Napangisi ito. They are only capable of getting information like Gazelle, but can’t stand a battle. I can easily kill them with my bear hands without this shackles. Kahit mismo sa kalagayan kong ito.

“What stinky wind brought you here?”

“We are just here to give you precautions. Stop resisting and we’ll make sure you won’t suffer.” Chris said. “I will assure you, Aurora. Kakausapin ko sila at ilalagay ka nila sa mas maayos na lugar,” dagdag pa nito na agad kinontra ng katabi.

“Oh, stop!” she rolled her eyes. “She totally deserves everything she’s feeling right now.”

Sinamaan ko na lamang sila ng tingin at hindi na muling nagsalita. Do they honestly think that I would listen to them? Tsk, they’re wasting their time showing up here.

“Aurora,” Chris called me, but I gave him a glare.

They left afterwards when they realized I will no longer entertain them. Chris pulled Barbie out my prison when she badly wants to hit me. The place went silent and I’m alone with my own thoughts again.

Asan na kaya sila Katy at Gazelle? Alam na kaya nila ang totoong trabaho ni Chris? Maaring nakatira pa rin sila roon sa kanyang rest house ng walang kaalam-alam. I wonder if they are looking for me? Maybe yes, maybe not.

I rolled my eyes when the door opened again after a few minutes. To my surprise, Barbie went back holding a whip. She faced me with a devious grin placed on her lips.

“Bilib na rin ako sa galing mong mang-agaw ng atensyon, Silvestre. You even got my brother, Chris, to play on your side. Kailangan ko pa tuloy muna itong paalisin,” aniya. So, they’re siblings, ha. “Why do they want to protect a creature like you, ha?” pinatunog nito ang latigong hawak.

Pinagmasdan ko lamang siyang mag-inarte sa aking harapan. What an insecure dummy bitch.

“Dagdagan natin yang sugat mo sa hita,” humalakhak ito at nag-umpisa na itong manghampas.

I can’t help but to wince every time the tip of her whip touches my skin sharply. It sent burning pain as it creates a snappy sound.

“Cry, Bitch!” sigaw habang patuloy na tinatawanan ang aking kalagayan. She’s giggling every time I cringe, feeling the pained area. “Beg for me to stop!”

Unti-unti itong nainis ng hindi niya nakuha ang nais nitong lumabas sa aking bibig.

“Ugh!” sigaw niyang muli at mas lalong inihanda ang sarili sa malakas na tira.

Eventually, the torture stopped. She got interrupted by a loud bombarding explosion on the floor above us. We both felt the ceiling and floor shook because of the strong impact.