There is a big chance that I might make my last breath here. I already accepted it, not ranting about my coming unpleasant death. Knowing the real story behind my parents' death and my wrong decisions for how many years made me accept it easily and wholeheartedly. The reason why am I here, suffering from deep pain, is all my fault. I brought my goddamn self here. Devon tried to prevent this, but it seems it is an ill-fate already.

The pain I am feeling right now is already dreadful, but still I’m not shedding a single tear about it. I longer lost my ability to cry since my parents’ ambush. Naibuhos ko na ata lahat nong gabing iyon. Ngayon ay hindi ko alam kung ang susunod na pangyayare ang magpapaiyak saking muli. Tsk, why am still thinking of that? I’m almost dying in pain here already…

Nang humupa ang bahagyang pagyanig ng gusali ay binalewala na ito ni Barbie at muling itinaas ang latigo. But again, she got interrupted by another explosion. And, it seems louder than before.

“WHAT THE FUCK IS GOING ON?”

Barbie shouted at the guards startled outside the prison. Naging alerto sila, ngunit kababakasan pa rin ng pangamba dahil sa biglaang pagsabog.

“B-Bomba po, Ma’am,” sagot ng isa.

“I know, you idiot!” sigaw muli ni Barbie. “I’m asking why are bombs exploding in this fucking building!”

Marahas na naibaling ni Barbie ang kanyang mga nanlilisik na mata sa akin ng ako ay munting natawa. Akala ko ay mamamatay ako dahil sa lasong tinatarak nila sa akin o kaya ay ang pagkaubos ng dugo dahil sa pagsaksak ni Armand sa aking hita. Ngunit, mukhang sa bomba o ang paggunaw pa ng gusali ako malalagutan ng hininga.

“Stop laughing, Psychotic Bitch!”

“It looks like we’re all gonna die here,” ngisi ko sa kanya. Itinapon niya mismo ang latigo sa akin na aking binalewala lamang ang pagtama nito sa aking katawan.

“Huwag kang mandamay!” galit nitong saad at pinakiramdaman kung ano ang susunod na mangyayare.

To her dismay, numerous gunshots protruded the place followed by another explosions. All the sounds came rushing above us, the floor above us. Kahit hindi namin nakikita ay alam naming isang matindi at madugong laban ang kasalukuyang nangyayare roon. Nag-uumapaw ang mga matitinis na sigaw na parang ito ay nakaratay sa matinding paghihirap bago ito biglang mawawala. We just kept our ears on it while the people around me stood shocked.

“Bakit hindi pa kayo kumikilos?!” Barbie broke the ice with her screeching voice. “Did you freaking know that we’re all in an underground floor? Paano kung masarahan ang lagusan natin palabas!”

“Mahigpit na ipinag-uutos na bantayan namin ang sildang ito. Hindi kami maaring umalis,” saad ng pinakapinuno sa kanila.

May sampung nakabantay sa akin. Habang ang ilan pa ay nakakalat lamang sa paligid. Kita ko ang takbuhan ng iba upang tumugon sa gulong nangyayare sa itaas.

“Mukhang nasundan kayo ng kalaban sa pagpunta niyo rito,” dagdag niya na agad nagpatuliro kay Barbie.

“What?” nagsalubong ang kanyang kilay na pawang ayaw paniwalaan ang sinabi ng kausap. “That…That is impossible!” she forced herself to laugh and it is very obvious that she became anxious of the news. “W-We are careful on our way here.”

Another bombarding sound came. We all abruptly looked up at ceiling as it shook. Even the chains that hanged me wiggle with its impact. The bomb just exploded on the floor on top of us. And whoever causes the chaos from above is so near to our place right now.

“Shit!” Barbie exclaimed.

Pinanuod ko lamang siyang nagmadaling lumabas sa aking kulungan. Without a glance, she run to the other side of the hallway.

“You are really brainless,” I whispered to the air, hoping she could actually hear it. It really suits her nickname to me. Barbie, a brainless one.

One last explosion and it finally came to this floor. The monsters from above already reached the place. A thick smoke and dust rapidly covered the hallway, including the room I am confined with. A strong sweep of air hit us because of that strike. I can’t help myself but to cover my head with my arm and step back due to the force.

And then, ire silence. The place is muted that you can only hear the fast breathing of the people around me. I just cough the dust I accidentally inhaled. The guards around my room quickly raised their guns to the empty hallway. We are at the end of it, so we can clearly see who’ll enter this direction.

They waited patiently. I did, too. We are all looking at the hallway, waiting for monsters to show up. There is a little part of my mind guessing, wishing it was him. Maaari nga kayang kagagawan niya ito?

Then, footsteps came after a minute of silence. It was made by a single person. And whoever that person is, had no intention of hiding his or her presence. Tila normal lamang itong naglalakad palapit sa kinaroroonan namin. And usok ay meron pa rin kaya’t hindi pa namin nakikita kung sino ang paparating.

When the person finally turn to our direction. We saw a small figure hidden by the smoke. Nakatayo at nakaharap lamang ito sa amin noong una hanggang nagpatuloy itong naglakad muli. Unti-unti namin siyang natatanaw ng mas maigi at nakilala ko ito agad sa kulay ng kanyang buhok.

“Hi, I’m April!” she said enthusiastically with a big smile. Tuluyan itong lumantad mula sa makapal na usok. “April is friendly,” she added. Like before, it seems she forgot to learn the use of pronoun on her sentences. Napailing na lamang ako sa kanya.

She looks harmless with her black cocktail dress and midnight blue hair. The guards still remained alert even she is just holding a small teddy bear with her arms. She put another step forward, but they shouted her not to, ordering her to back down.

“Why? April is friendly!” she answered back. Tsk, I can't believe this kid. Sumugod ba ito dito ng walang armas?

The guards around me felt the danger. And it was fueled more when six another figures came to our sight. They are walking monstrously, covered by the dust. The atmosphere became more heavier just by their presence. Their footsteps brought another ire silence. We waited again. And when they passed by that same thick smoke, their faces became visible and illuminated by the light. With the different dashing weapons of five unknown people, they serve to protect the guy who brought nothing but his self only.

I suddenly became breathless as I stare at the man leading in front of them wearing a black tuxedo. I stood their unmoving while looking at him starring back at me from afar. My heart beats fast automatically. I was utterly shock even though I already had a wild guess awhile ago. I can’t believe he would really come here…

The Dark Clan’s guards didn’t waste their time and started shooting at their direction. His assassins quickly countered. I just watch them. I just watch him walk without a weapon and completely armless. Wearing a thin line on his lips, I met his dark eyes. He boldly walk to my direction not minding the chaos around him. His assassins were all carefully protecting him, after all.

April helped him destroy the lock of the metal door by putting a small bomb on it. Devon just kicked it away. Pabigat ng pabigat ang aking nararamdaman habang patuloy ito sa paglapit sa akin.

I can feel his dark aura as he finally stood in front of me. I see different emotions running on his eyes. He looks so mad, especially when he glance at my wounds and the dried blood on the floor. I wonder what is he thinking. And, I wonder how battered I look right now, too. I look totally weary and a mess with the ruined black dress I wore for days. My bruises and fresh wounds were exposed to his eyes. The whip Barbie used to me was just on the ground, even the empty syringes.

I remained wordless and stared back at him weakly like my strength got knocked away completely.

Later on, I felt his hands wrapped around my body delicately into a hug. He was careful not to cause me pain with his touch.

“I’m sorry I was late,” he whispered to my ear. I closed my eyes and feel his warmth. I just let my head rest on his shoulder as an answer. For the first time since I got here, I felt comfortable.

One of his assassins removed the shackles with a metal cutter. I got off balance momentarily out of support, but Devon held my waist. Sinunod nilang tinanggal ang nakakabit sa aking mga paa. Agad akong binuhat ni Devon at lumabas sa aking naging kulungan.

I winced every move. I placed my hand on his chest, clutching his tuxedo. My head stayed leaning on his broad shoulder.

“Don, ano ang susunod ninyong ipag-uutos?”

I heard someone asked while my eyes were closed. Devon carries me effortlessly with his arms. I felt relieved and secured unknowingly.

He just saved the evil damsel in distress.

“Burn the building to the ground. No one of them should get out of here alive,” mahinang pahayag ko gamit ang aking natitirang lakas. My voice came dry and weak. Armand Sy and that Barbie should die in this place with their burning bodies. I want their remains turn into an ash like they never existed.

“You heard her,” Devon told them.