I felt relieved when he slowly put the gun down. But my heart is still fast beating as my tears continuously flowing on my cheeks.

"Madali ka naman pa lang kausap," wika nito. "I never thought that you would actually beg for someone's life, Aurora. Things did change on you, ha. Begging? Crying? That's fucking new," he laughed sarcastically and started walking to my direction.

Ang malabo kong paningin ay nakatutok lamang kay Devon na hawak ng kanyang mga tauhan. Nakayuko ito at kita ko ang mabagal na pagtulo ng dugo sa sahig galing sa mga sugat nito. Alam kong mas malakas siya sa akin, ngunit pawang naupos lahat ito dahil hindi na siya makakilos upang kumawala. He just stood their unmoving like he's trying to regain his strength. I hope he's fine. But, damn! Of course he is fucking not!

Look at me, Devon. At least one look for me to know if I made the right decision.

Inagaw ni Max ang aking atensyon ng maramdaman ko ang lamig ng kanyang baril na lumapat sa aking pisngi. Masamang tingin ang ipinukol ko sa seryoso nitong mukha.

"Why him?" he asked that I didn't understand. "I was by your side from the very beginning. Bakit siya? Anong ginawa niya sayo para lumambot ka ng ganito? You used to be the hardest person to please back then. Merciless, brutal and rebellious. But now, it seems like he had turned you soft and good that doesn't suit my liking. Are you sure you're going to join us?"

"S-Sasama ako, pero kailangan niyo siyang pakawalan," my voice cracked, but it was marked with finality.

The pyscho just laughed at me even though I didn't put a single hint of humor in my answer. Ang ipinapangamba ko ay ang hindi niya pagsunod sa magiging kasunduan. I'm extremely resisting the sarcasm of my replies to him. I don't want to add boils to the mind of this lunatic traitor. Kailangan kong magpakabait sa ngayong ako ay baldado ng mga malalamig na bakal sa aking kamay at paa.

"Pero kabisado na kita," he drew near me and reached my face again. "Once I released you, you'll try to slaughter me. I can see the hate in your pretty eyes, Aurora. You can't fool me," he said and grinned at me. He lifted his gun again and pointed it to Devon's direction without breaking the eye contact.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa naging hatol niya, "No." Iyon lamang ang tangi kong naibigkas sa mga segundong ito. Halos hindi ko pa narinig ang sarili kong boses dahil sa lakas ng tibok ng aking puso na pawang sasabog sa kaba.

Ngunit, biglang bumukas ang pinto. Napunta lahat ng atensyon roon at bumungad ang isa sa kanyang mga tauhan. Agad itong lumapit kay Max at may ibinulong. Hindi ko alam kung ano sinabi nito, pero labis-labis ang aking pasasalamat ng ibinaba niya ang kanyang baril at hinarap ang lalaki. Isang mura ang kanyang pinakawalan at muling humarap sa akin.

"It seems like we got a little interrupted. Tie him back," saad niya sa kanyang mga tauhan habang ito ay nakatingin sa akin. They dragged Devon to his seat in front of me again and brought back the metals around his wrists and ankles. "My bait got loose. Sad to say, kung mahanap namin siya, siguradong hindi niyo na siya makikita. I ordered shoot-to-kill around the premises. She better hide really, really well," aniya bago niya ako tinalikuran at agad na lumabas sa silid. Sunod din ang mga tauhan nito sa kanya hanggang kami na lang ni Devon ang muling naiwan.

Katy escaped? I hope she could get of here before they could find her.

"Devon," I sobbed. For the second time, I'm in front of him while shedding tears. Nanghihina at walang magawa kundi umiyak.

"Don't cry. I'm fine," mahinang wika nito. He tried to hushed me even though he's the one who is battered.

"I...I'm sorry," my voice broke trying to conceal the extreme emotions I'm feeling right now. "I'm sorry I didn't listen to you again, but I have to do this. Nabulag ako sa galit sa pagkawala ng mga taong tanging meron ako nong bata ako. All I want is a normal life, having a normal family. But then, after the ambush I learned that I don't have any of those. My parents are assassins, killers. I have their blood running in my veins so it might mean I'm like them, too. And, I blame Clemente Mafia for that. Sinisi ko sa kanila lahat pati ang pagkamatay nila. Masyado akong galit sa mundo para alamin ang totoong dahilan sa trahedyang iyon. I'm so sorry for implicting problems to you and your family who did nothing wrong on me. I'm sorry, Devon, and this is my pay for every--,"

"Ssh. Dammit, Aurora, don't you ever finish that," he exclaimed that left me muted. "I've been protecting your life after you escaped three years ago. The underground society feast when they received the news. Hindi mo alam kung gaano karami ang gustong kumuha sayo upang sumama ka sa organisasyon nila. Dark Clan is just one of them. Everyone wants to have you and it's driving me mad because I couldn't even get your attention back then. But now that I have you, I don't want you off my sight again. Hindi kita ibibigay sa kanila," pahayag niya. I just stared at him with my eyes continue to shed tears and he gazed back. "Please, stop crying. It's more painful to see you that vulnerable and I couldn't even hold you."

I bit my lip and tried to stop myself from crying. Hell, Aurora, you are not fucking like this! Kailangang bumalik ang tapang ko. Kailangan kong makawala dito. Pero paano?

Silence enveloped us for a few minutes. Sa mga oras na ito, wala kaming ibang kayang gawin bukod sa maghintay makabawi ng lakas. Ilang minuto ring nagpabalik-balik ang tingin ko sa pinto. Sa muling pagbukas ng pinto ay hindi ko alam kung anong panibagong hirap na naman ang ibibigay samin. I feel anxious just by staring at it.

Whenever I look at Devon, I'm trying to memorize every detail of his face because I don't know if this would be the last. I was a broken glass and this man held on me even though he is going to get hurt.

Are we going to end here? I can't deny that I'm losing hope.

When the door finally opened, I held my gasp and prepared to see Max smirking. But, I was wrong. Instead, an unknown man wearing a cap entered the room with his face slightly hidden. Mag-isa lamang siya kaya bahagyang nasupil ang aking kaba. Hindi ito nagpakilala at diretso ang lakad nito patungo sa kinauupuan ko.

"Anong ang gagawin mo sa kanya?" naging alertong muli si Devon.

"Sino ka?" bigkas ko. Nagulat ako ng lumuhod ito at naglabas ng susi upang tanggalin ang mga bakal na nakapulupot sa aking mga paa. Nang matanggal niya ito ay tumayo siya upang isunod ang nasa aking mga kamay. Doon ko lamang nasilayan ang mukha nito at ako ay labis na nagulat, "Chris," mahinang tawag ko. At narinig ko ang pagkatanggal ng metal sa aking mga kamay.

My eyes widened when I realized I was loose already, but before I could even produce an attack, he held my arms with one hand while the other motioned me to keep quiet.

"I'm about to free the two of you. I'm hoping I will not be killed in return," he told me.

"What?" gulat sa narinig.

"Pinapatakas ko kayo para manggulo rito," seryosong saad nito. "Sa pagkakataong ito, hindi ako ang inyong kaaway." Dahan-dahan ako tumango at kanyang inalis ang hawak nito sa akin.

I lifted my hand and touched my bruised wrist, soothing both of it. "Why are you doing this?" I asked, shocked. Pinunasan ko ang mga luhang dumaloy sa aking mga pisngi.

"Monteverdi killed my sister," sagot nito at hindi na nagpaliguy-ligoy. Sister? He's pertaining to Barbie? "I know you thought she was killed by the fire in that building, but actually she was shot before she could escaped. Xam Monteverdi ordered to shoot her," he narrated and I could still see grievance in his eyes.

Tumayo ako habang hindi pa ring makapaniwalang ako ay malaya na mula sa malalamig na metal. "Bakit niya gagawin iyon? She's one of his agents," I questioned.

"Because they reported to him that she whipped you," sagot nito. What? "That's not one of his orders so he immediately instructed them to extinguish her. Another is that, she got tailed by Clementes that's why they found you. I hope you're now aware that that man is crazily obsessed with the idea of you," he told me.

Crazily obsessed? Like his father to my mother. I noticed that already. History is trying to repeat itself. Bloodier this time.

"Ikaw? Bakit mo kami pakakawalan?" Hindi ba dapat ay magalit siya sa amin?

"I want you to kill Monteverdi. Sa palagay ko ay ikaw mismo ang makakagawa non," aniya at inabot ang hawak-hawak nitong mga susi. Nang maanalisa ko na para rin ito sa kandado ng kay Devon ay agad akong tumakbo sa kanya at nilagpasan si Chris.

"Can we trust him?" tanong ni Devon sa akin habang tinatanggal ko ang nakakabit sa kanyang mga paa. Nanginginig pa ang mga kamay ko sa pagmamadali.

"I don't know, but I think I will." We don't have much choice at this very moment. Ang mahalaga ay makaalis kami rito. "I saw betrayal in his eyes that I once felt of destroying everything connected to the mafia. Sa tingin ko ay nagsasabi siya ng totoo," saad ko. Minsan din akong nasa kalagayan ni Chris noon.

When I removed the last lock, I met Devon's eyes who's already staring mine. Emotions came rushing in our sight. I can see hope. Finally, we got freed. Inalalayan ko siyang tumayo at humarap kay Chris.

"We only have five minutes before he would get back here," he told us, pertaining to Max. "Ako rin ang nagpakawala kay Katy at inutusan ko siyang magpakalat ng gasolina sa lugar."

"Where is she?" tanong ko. Sana ay hindi pa ito nahuhuli. May binunot itong itim na bagay sa kanyang bulsa at ibinato sa amin na akin namang sinalo.

"That's a radio and it is connected to her. You only need to press the number one," he instructed and I nodded immediately. "We don't have much time. Hanggang dito lamang ang kaya kong ibigay na tulog. And, uh, by the way, if you still aren't aware," he said with a pause. "We are in a ship."

A what? For a few seconds, I felt disoriented. Why are we in a fucking ship?

"Katy is on the upper deck. Hindi ko alam kung andoon pa rin siya. Kayo na ang bahala rito," aniya at mabilis na nagtungo sa pinto. Pero agad ko rin siyang tinawag.

"Chris." Natigil ito at lumingon sa akin. "Salamat," saad ko. Isa itong malaking utang na loob.

He nodded, "Just kill him and escape." Then, he left the room.

Hindi ako makapaniwalang nakawala nga kami. At the verge of giving up, someone showered us with hope. We were given a chance to win this battle. We better use the time wisely. I held Devon's hand tightly and guided him to walk out of the room. I locked it close first before we finally leave the area. That would at least prolong us to escape.

"We need to clean your wounds. The blood is quite dripping on the floor. They might trace us by that," I told him and he just nodded. He could handle walking and I think is he gaining strength.

The hallway is quiet and empty. Good thing they're busy looking for Katy. Nang mahagip ng mata ko ang isang washing area ay agad kaming pumasok roon. I didn't bother closing the door since I'm no longer afraid of encountering a short fight. I would be more willing to kill them now that I'm free.

I was untangling the buttons of his white polo shirts that was stained with his own blood when he held my hands that stop me on track. Doon ko napansin ang maliit na distansya namin kaya bahagya akong lumayo at bumitaw sa aking ginagawa.

"What?" I raised my eyebrow. "I'm just removing your shirt," I told him and a smirk formed on his lips.

"I know," aniya at siya na ang nagtuloy. Inirapan ko siya at tumingin na lamang sa salamin. Mugto ang aking mga mata at namumula ang aking ilong. Damn.

I washed my face on the sink and used my shirt to dry it. Pagkatapos ay pinunit ko ang laylayan nito at halos mangalahati ang suot ko. Agad ko itong binasa at humarap kay Devon. Sanay na ako sa mga hubad na katawan, ngunit 'di ko alam kung bakit bahagya pa akong nagulat sa kanya. Goddamn. Good thing I remained stoic and drew near him like nothing.

"Careful," paalala niya ng lumapat ang tela sa kaniyang mukha. Tumango ako. Later, my posture stiffened when I felt his hands resting on my waist that were exposed. "You're showing too much skin. You could've used my shirt," he said.

I resumed. "It's filled with blood, moron," And my shirt is cotton so it absorbs fluid better than his. "You have too many bruises. Can you manage to run?" tanong ko. It was all over his stomach area and some were on his arms.

"It's painful, but I think I can." Good.

We didn't falter a bit when a lady guard suddenly came in. I guess she doesn't notice us yet since she walk straight to one of the cubicles.

"Close your eyes," I whispered to Devon then started gently cleaning the small bleeding cut on his right eyelid. We're almost done.

Later, we heard a flushing sound and the lady guard come out and went to the sink near us to wash her hands. I saw a gun and a pack of bullets hanging on her waist. Nagkatinginan kami ni Devon at sa palagay ko ay alam niya na ang iniisip ko. Binigay ko sa kanya ang hawak kong tela at naglakad patungo sa pinto upang isara ito. I locked it and eyed the woman who's still unaware of us. She seems pretty occupied that she didn't notice that I'm already behind her. Pag-angat niya ng tingin sa salamin ay saka ko malakas na pinihit ang ulo niya hangang sa marinig ko ang pagkabali ng mga buto nito. She tried to scream, but she dropped down dead fast.

"Still deadly," komento ni Devon habang nakahalukipkip at pinagmamasdan akong ikinakasa ang nanakaw kong baril. I just wink at him and threw a swiss knife that I got in her pocket. Ibinulsa ko rin ang mga bala.

"We better get going," saad ko. I gazed on the radio that Chris gave me and press the number one. A raspy sound produced like it's getting signals so I put it on my ear. "Katy," I called.

I took a few calls of her name before I heard a loud breathing that shudders like the receiver is about to cry, "A-Aurora?" she whispered.

Napabuntong-hininga ako ng marinig ang boses nito. "It's me. Asan ka? Kailangan na nating umalis," saad ko.

"Sabi ni Chris, u-upper deck daw 'to. Hindi ko alam...Hindi ako umalis sa pwesto ko," she started sobbing. Her voice is low like she's afraid someone's gonna hear her. "Aurora, na...natatakot ako. Malapit na sila sakin. P-Paano tayo makakaalis? Asa gitna tayo ng dagat," aniya. I think she covered her mouth that her cries became muffled.

I tried to hushed her down, "It's okay. Papunta na kami. Gagawa tayo ng paraan. Diyan ka lang. Where are you exactly? Do you have a gun or any weapon with you?" tanong ko.

"Wala... Pumasok ako sa isang cargo box," she answered and I ended the call immediately. We have to hurry. She's freaking armless.

We went out of the washing area and a loud alarming sound rushed all over the whole place. Napatigil kami at nagkatinginan ni Devon.

"I guess they already found out that we escaped," aniya. Iyon rin ang palagay ko. The alarm signals everyone to search for their loose prisoners. 

"What's the plan?" I asked him.

"Find a small boat and escape," maikling sagot nito. Iyon lamang?

"How about put this ship into a slaughterhouse?"

Nagsalubong ang kilay nito habang pinagmamasdan ako. I know he would disagree, but we are in a ship. We could turn this into an advantage to kill all of them at once without giving them a chance to escape.

"We have to ensure our safety first. Hindi natin alam kung ilan ang kalaban nating nakapaligid lamang dito. Kailangan nating maging maingat," he dismissed and I didn't argue anymore.

With that, he held my hand and we started hovering to the look for a way up this ship. It might be hundreds of meters long and wide. This ship is huge that we are having a hard time absconding. All I know is that we are taking all the stairs up. Maingat ang bawat hakbang at pagliko sa mga hallway. Hanggat maaari ay hindi ako magpapaputok upang hindi makalikha ng ingay. Labis na lamang ang aming pagtago kung may makitang mga tauhang nakapaligid.

We are in a midst of taking a third stair that we found when someone spoke behind us,

"Sa tingin niyo ba makakatakas kayo?"

Agad kaming napatalikod upang harapan ito at mabilis kong inangat ang aking baril. Devon and I were in full alert to face the enemies, but we found no one behind us. Rinig ko ang kabog ng aking puso sa pagkagitla.

"Nice try, but try harder," it was Max's voice. And it's coming from the speaker hanged at the corner of the hallway. I silently cursed and relaxed. Ganoon rin si Devon. "We are in the middle of an ocean. I hope you've practice swimming for kilometers long to reach a land and totally escape. Welcome aboard," halakhak nito. It echoed all over the area.

This man is really damn crazy.

Ang pag-akyat namin sa hagdan ay muling naudlot ng makarinig kami ng mga yabag sa itaas na palapag at patungo ito sa hagdanang aming kasalukuyang kinatatayuan. Agad kaming bumaba upang hindi namin sila makasalubong. Pumasok kami sa isa sa mga kwartong aming nadaanan upang magtago. Madilim at amoy alikabok. Mukha tambakan ito ng mga kahon-kahong mga bagay.

We waited for the footsteps to subside, but apparently it didn't. Instead, it's going to our direction. Goddamnit. I pulled Devon and lurk at the corner beside the door to hide. A few seconds and we heard a beeping sound.

"Central port, clear."

"Central starboard port, clear."

"Aft port, clear."

Devon held me close to him when they're coming nearer to the room we're hiding in. He's behind me and facing my back so I would be the one to first attack and welcome the dimwit.

"Hand me the knife," I whispered to him and gave the gun I'm holding. We need to execute this as silent as possible.

When the knob twisted and the door opened, it covered us for awhile. An armed man came in and pointed his gun from left to right. However, it's too dark so he started searching for the light switch. I slowly push the door closed without causing a single sound. And, before he could press it on, Devon grabbed him and forcefully covered his mouth shut while I stabbed him from the neck and wretched it out. Blood splattered on my face and on Devon's chest. He created a dying sound, but like him it died fast too.

I tsked and wiped the blood on my cheeks. "I washed my face already," mahinang singhal ko habang kinakapa ni Devon ang bulsa ng lalaki at nilalamas ang pwede pakinabangan. Bukod sa isang air rifle at mga bala ay may dala rin itong pistol. Lahat ng ito ay aming kinuha.

"Forward port?"

"Forward port?"

Muling tumunog ang radyong dala nito. Pinulot ito ni Devon at siya ang sumagot, "Forward port, clear."

"Good. Everyone, start moving to the upper deck."

Nagkatingin kaming dalawa. Shit. Si Katy! Nagmadali kaming lumabas sa silid na iyon at bumalik sa hagdanang aming nakita. Patuloy lang kami sa pagtakbo pagtungo sa itaas na bahagi ng barkong ito. Nakasukbit and rifle sa kanyang balikat habang hawak ko ang dalawang pistol at tila alintana ang bigat. Dahil naririnig namin sa radyo ang ginagawa nilang paghahanap ay madali kaming nakakaiwas na makasalubong sila.

Later, Devon pushed a heavy steel door open and we felt the cold wind started kissing our skin. I closed my eyes and heaved a sigh. Finally, we made it at top of the ship. Paglabas namin ay malakas na hampas ng hangin ang bumubuno sa amin kasabay ng bahagyang pagdilim na kalangitan na tumatakip sa araw. Munting patak ng mga ulan ang nagbabagsakan.

"I found them at the Forward starboard stairwell. I repeat, I found them at the Forward starboard stairwell," Devon said to the radio to mislead them.

"All the personnels, go to the Forward starboard stairwell," their leader responded.

We both smirked at each other. Nagawa namin silang ilayo sa upper deck.

Ngayon ay halos makita na namin ang kabuuang estraktura ng barko. It was a cargo ship floating on the middle of vast water. Sa laki nito ay hindi ko alam kung saan kami mag-uumpisang maghanap kay Katy.

"Asaan ang patungong upper deck?" tanong ko kay Devon. Mukhang marami itong alam sa iba't-ibang bahagi ng barko.

"I see the capstan. Malapit na tayo," sagot niya.  Tumango ako at nag-umpisa ng maghanap.

"It smells like gasoline on this side," I told him after a while. I went closer to that place. Baka ito na iyong ipinakalat ni Chris kay Katy.

"Aurora!"

Napatingin ako sa gilid  at doon siya nakita. Magulo ang buhok, luhaan at may mga sugat sa braso. We quickly ran to her place. Sinalubong niya ako ng yakap. Tulad ng una kami nagkita sa isang convenient store at pinagpilitang sinagip ko ang buhay niya, niyakap niya ako at tumanaw ng utang na loob. She cried heavily on my shoulder and I can fell her shaking in fear. But, not like in our first encounter, this time I didn't push her away.

"Ssh. You're safe now," I said to her. Sa ilang araw na nabihag siya ng kampo ni Max ay hindi ko alam kung ano ang ginawa nila sa kanya. She looks extremely terrified.

"A-Akala ko pababayaan niyo na ko dito. Maraming salamat at dumating kayo, Aurora, D-Devon," hirap nitong saad habang pinupunasan niya ang kanyang mga luha. 

Out of the blue, a red dot flickered on her shoulder. It was moving up to her neck, tracing her cheeks and...

"Duck!" Devon pulled us down abruptly. Then, we heard multiple gunshot to our far right. It roared around the premises and dust of sement showered on us. It hit the wall beside us and it specifically targeted Katy's head.

Shit! Andito na sila.