I am not the Seventh Victim.

I'm pretty sure that's what they're thinking as to why they all looked at me. We may be at seven Enhanced inside the Lab but I'm not part of them. That's for sure. Papaano mangyayari iyon kung ako mismo ang gumigising sa kanilang lahat?

I scoffed at them unbelievably. "Do you really think I'm the last child?" I asked Supremo.

Itinaas ni Supremo ang dalawang kilay nito at ngumisi na animoy tinuturing walang kwenta ang mga sinasabi ko ngayon. "I know how to count. I'm not dumb enough like you."

"That's what I'm actually thinking." Bara ko rito habang humihinga ng malalim. Now that the Diaperno wore off, sedative will be taken place. I only have few minutes left before it consumes me. We need to move out really quick.

"I watched your mother's crest, Premiere." He insisted of believing the lie. "Your mother speaks of nothing but you on the last cylinder."

Hindi ko alam kung paano nito napanuod ang lahat ng nasa cylinder na may pitong hati pero isa lang ang dapat kong pagtuunan ng pansin ngayon.

I tried to stand up. Hindi na ako tinulungan ng malaking lalaki na lider ng Action Force Unit kuno. Now that the betrayal had been revealed. It only means na walang Action Force Unit na nag-e-exist. He's part of Alastair's plan. Part of deceiving me.

And it hurts like hell!

I looked at Alastair's eyes when I was able to stand up on the ground with the help of Nikkadorpha. He's just looking at me intently. Without any emotions that he had shown before. It was purely blank like a paper. Like he's always been used to. He only proved to me that he faked everything. He faked even his sentimental words that made my heart skipped. He made me fall in love with him.

I scoffed once again when I realized that now.

Love. It surely does weaken anyone, makes you vulnerable to pain. Has the capability to do something crazy and can take your rational and logical away.

How monstrous this man can be? He's surely the man the Aldeguer Mafia has been waiting for. The perfect Heir that fits this irrevocable world.

"Maximo," he called out the big guy and he's not removing his stares at me. "Cage them both. We need them alive for the Apollo's revival."

This is all about the Apollo. Yeah, it surely does the reason for all of these mess. Its power that contains chaos. Something that Privus Trata hadn't known.

"That will never happen... Heir." I said with rage and conviction.

"Hindi ninyo magagamit ang sumpa ninyong lima unless you kill me." Anas ni Aarav sa akin habang sinisiguro nitong hindi namin magagamit ang kahit na anong sumpa na pupwede kong ipanlaban sa kanila.

Nilipat ko ang tingin ko kay Aarav. Kahit ramdam ko nang ilang minuto nalang ay mawawalan na ako ng malay ay nagawa ko pa ring bigyan siya ng babala.

"Siguraduhin... mong... ligtas ang kakambal mo sa akin, Aarav. Dahil sa oras na makawala ako. Uunahin ko siya at papatayin sa harapan mo."

I saw how Aarav stepped back from the deep tone voice that I used to warn him. Pero mabilis iyong nawala nang masiguro kong galit naman ang namutawi sa nararamdaman nito. Aarav tried to attack me but Alastair was able to make him stop.

"Stay where you are, Aarav." Utos ni Alastair. I didn't feel his compulsion when Alastair ordered him. It's Alastair being their leader speaking.

"Oh, feisty," napalingon ang lahat kay Supremo nang purihin nito ang ginawa kong pananakot. "Still brave even though you can't do anything right now?"

I can totally see that. Dalawa lang kami ni Nikkadorpha. Halos singkwentang katao kasama na ang mga nakakulong pa ring Enhanced ang nasa loob ngayon ng laboratoryo.

"Make me your hostage, Nikka." Bulong ko sa babae na hanggang ngayon ay hawak pa rin ako. Ramdam ko ang pagtataka sa mukha nito.

"This is not the right time for me to kill you, idiot." Nikka hissed at me.

"No, this is the right time." I insisted.

"What—" Nikka was about to refute when she finally got the escape plan.

"I don't have anything here." Bulong nito sa akin.

I poked her something behind my back. Agad naman nitong nakuha ang gusto kong sabihin.

"Someone will give us some time to do this, so execute everything perfectly." I hissed out.

"Get them! They're planning on something." It was Maximo— the big guy, the one who ordered the guards.

"You two, now!" sigaw ko, Claude and Austin finally responded. Rinig ko ang pagod sa kanila nang maghabol ito ng hininga. They might have been chased by Supremo's puppets. Mabuti nalang at nakaligtas sila.

"Fucking done! Now, let's control everything inside of that freaking Lab." Claude hissed on the other line and I heard her clicking something hard.

Alarms have been activated at lahat sila ay natuon sa paligid. Smoke was now covering the whole area and most of them are coughing. Including us.

"Release them!" utos ko kina Claude at Austin.

"Yep, sakto nasa timing ako! Containment pods are now being dispatch from its emergency exits. Try to keep yourself sane, Asia! I'll give you the map where to go with Nikka so both of you can escape as soon as possible!" sigaw ni Austin.

Hinihila na ako ni Nikka paatras. Nang malapit na ang ilang guards, si Alastair at Aarav sa amin, ay biglang itinutok ni Nikka ang patalim na binigay ko rito sa aking leeg.

"Sige! Lumapit kayo! At papatayin ko itong babaeng ito!" Nikka ragingly acted. Though, I'm not so sure if she's acting or was it real.

"Don't do anything!" rinig nilang sigaw ni Supremo sa lahat nang makita ang ginawa ni Nikka. Just as I expected. "Make sure that both of them will not be harmed!"

Lahat nang nalapit sa amin ay biglang tumigil. Even Aarav and Alastair.

"Both of you are underestimating me." Alastair hissed at us. His eyes were pitch black and I can sense that he is mad.

I know what you're going to do next, Alastair.

"Release her." Alastair compelled his order to Nikka.

I heard Nikka grunted when her hands are moving away from my neck.

I gave my all to make him see my evil grin. My turn, asshole.

I grabbed the knife away from Nikka and put it on my neck. "Yeah, Alastair. I think, I am really underestimating you." I smirked at him after that.

Natigilan ito nang gawin ko iyon. For one moment, maaaring niloloko man ako ng aking mata ngayon but I think I saw how his stares became susceptible. But I immediately erased that as I don't want to be deceived again. Once is fucking enough from this brute!

"You want us alive right?" wika ko sa mga ito when I saw how they became less offensive. "You know Alastair can't compel me. Aarav's curse is also useless, physically."

"Hindi mo kayang patayin ang sarili mo, Premiere." Supremo said with his serious face. He's trying to observe if I really can't. Trying to read my mind. Unfortunately, there's no way you can read me, old hag.

Narinig ko ang ilang pagsinghap ng ilan when I stabbed the right side of my torso and I screamed in pain. Muli ko iyong hinugot at muling itinapat sa leeg ko.

"Try me, Supremo. The next stab will be on my neck and there's no way I will let someone to wake the Apollo thru me."

I saw how their faces flinched upon seeing the blood dripping on the floor. Nikka tried to stop it but I'm pushing her hand away. "You'll die gaga ka!" she hissed at me.

"Cut yourself with something, Nikka." Utos ko rito.

"Huh? Pero bakit—"

"Just do what I say!" sigaw ko rito. When Nikka finished cutting her fingers I looked at them again.

If I want Nikka to be released from the compulsion of Alastair, she needs to feel pain. The compelled brain is only following what the compeller wants. Once the body feels pain, the connection between the compeller and the victim will be divided to the nerves that reacts to the pain and the one who manipulates.

"Let us leave or I'll die with too much bleeding..." then I craned my neck to someone. "You choose, Alastair." I gave the burden to their heir at walang emosyon ko siyang tiningnan.

Ilang sandali pa itong tumingin sa akin. Trying to read me just like what the Consigliere had done. Tapos ay huminga ito ng malalim. "Let them leave." Napatungo ito at sinabi iyon sa mahinang tono. Enough to hear by everyone.

"Tara na." utos ko kay Nikka habang nananatiling nakalagay sa leeg ko ang patalim na hawak ko.

Malapit na halos kaming dalawa sa labasan nang matumba ako sa lupa.

"Asia!" Nikka called out.

I think we are now safe. Hindi na kaya ng katawan ko. The sedative and the pain coming from the stab that I created are mixing up badly. I don't know what happened next but my eyes closed and I drifted off.

* * *

I'm hearing some people whispering and arguing. Dahan dahan kong binuksan ang mga mata ko and darkness welcomed me. Am I blind again? No, I'm not. I can clearly see the leaves, trees and the dragonflies who are lighting up the surroundings.

Napadaing ako nang biglang kumirot ang aking ulo at sugat sa tagiliran when I tried to stand up.

"Prof Asia!" I heard Archilliah.

"Lower down your voice, Arch." Wika ni Arnold habang sumunod ito kay Archilliah nang lapitan ako.

I gasped when I felt Archilliah hugged me. "You're safe." Bulong pa nito habang mahigpit ang pagkakayakap sa akin.

Medyo nag-react na ako ng bahagya kasi nahihirapan na akong huminga sa paraan ng pagyakap nito.

"You're killing her, Arch." Rinig naming dalawa sa sinabi ni Arnold. I nodded at him as a sign of giving him thanks.

"Oh, I'm sorry." Paghingi ng paumanhin ni Archilliah tapos ay napasalampak ito sa lupa habang nagpupunas ng luha. "I thought you died because of what I saw when I'm dreaming."

Napabuntunghininga ako sa sinabi nito. Nilapitan ko ito ng kaunti tapos ay inalo alo ko through tapping her shoulder. "I'm fine. Don't worry. Ako dapat ang magpasalamat dahil walang masamang nangyari sa inyong lahat."

Umabot sa tainga ko ang pagtutol na ungol ni Nikka sa hindi kalayuan. She's crossing her both arms over her chest while rolling her eyes at me.

Tiningnan ko sila isa-isa at ang lugar kung sa'n kami napadpad. All of them are wearing white sandos and white trousers. Pero may bahid na iyon ng putik dahil kakatapos lang ng ulan at maputik ang kagubatan na pinasok namin. Madudungis ang mga ito lalo na ang mga paa dahil mga walang suot na tsinelas o sapatos man lang.

"Thanks for saving my life, Nikka." I gave her a faint smile before I felt the pain on my gut. Damn, I almost forgot that I stabbed myself.

May tela nang nakabalot sa sugat ko pero bakas ro'n ang dugong patuloy pa rin na nagdurugo.

"Don't give me that line, bitch. I still hate you to death." Masungit na tugon ni Nikka pero nabakasan ko iyon ng kaunting hiya na tila gustong mamula ng pisngi nito dahil sa ginawa kong pagpapasalamat. "I didn't help you to survive. I did that for me to escape."

I grinned at her while I'm acting as if I believe of what she has said.

"Nasa'n tayo?" I asked them all. Napalingon ako sa bandang lugar ni Jake dahil nakaupo ito sa isang sasakyan na itim na pick up van. His feet are placed on top of the wheel while he's smoking.

"We're at the center of the Vexigo forest called Selva." It was Arnold who answered me. He's fixing his broken glasses while looking at me. "I hope the bonfire we created can hold for an hour. Kakatapos lang ng ulan and according to the last weather update, it will rain again over the midnight."

"Save your energy, nerdy. We need that tomorrow morning to survive." Anas ni Jake na kakababa lang ng sasakyan at kumuha ng isang folding chair at umupo ro'n. He looked at me with his cocky and intense gaze. "Now, Miss Anastasia Graham— the Last Victim. Care to fill us some explanation as to why these are all happening?"

I was about to talk when Nikka— the short-tempered Professor interjected. "Ano pa ba ang dapat i-explain ng babaeng iyan? It's clear for us that she made us kidnapped again at nilagay sa mga pods na iyon and studied our curses. I've seen it! I've seen the weapon they created for us to be annihilated."

Bahagya akong napalingon kay Archilliah when she put a white blanket on my shoulders. I murmured thank you before I faced them again.

"Nikka said was true." Pinutol kaagad ako ng babaeng ito.

"See—?"

"But it wasn't my plan of you guys being contained! I will never do that!" I defended because it's true.

Nikka scoffed as if she's not really convinced. "Talk to my middle finger, girl."

"I'm not going to stab myself there, Nikkadorpha if it was my plan. Ako nga ang natraydor 'di ba? Siguro naman nakita mo rin iyon?" segunda ko rito na may halong pagkainis.

Sorry, I really have a short rope of patience for closeminded people.

"You got betrayed? By whom?" tanong ni Archilliah sa akin.

"By her lover-boy which turns out a fake lover." Nikka grinned at me while emphasizing it.

"Si Alastair? No! He won't do that to you." Hindi makapaniwalang komento ni Archilliah.

"But he already did, kiddo." Napapikit na ako ng mata sa pagsingit ni Nikka.

"So, now you believe that this wasn't my plan?" I mockingly asked her and now it's her turn to be serious.

"I might, but that doesn't mean that it changed the fact that it was you who started all of these! Kung hindi dahil sa'yo wala kami sa ganitong sitwasyon! That we should be living a quiet life outside of this hell! You ruined our lives! At bagay lang sa'yo ang nangyayari ngayon but we didn't deserve any of these!"

"Hey hey, chill." Bulong ni Jake kay Nikka habang pinipigilan itong sugurin ako.

Nagbaba lamang ako ng tingin sa lupa habang sinasabi niya lang ang mga salitang iyon. I didn't stop her from blaming me from these mess that my parents had created.

"I know what you all feel." Mahina kong wika pero mabilis na umentrada si Nikka.

"Oh really? Bakit parang hindi naman? You're the famous Anastasia Graham in business world for pete's sake. You have the money and connections already. Iyon ba ang sinasabi mong feel mo kami?"

"Enough, Nikka." Suway ni Jake na naririnigan ko na ng tono ng pagkaseryoso.

"Enough? No! Why would I stop slapping her the truth of our sufferings? Bakit ako titigil ipamukha sa kanya na kasalanan niya ang lahat ng ito? Does she even know the pain we dealt? The discrimination that we have felt because of this... unusual abilities we all have? No! Hindi niya alam! And this is the right time for us to make her feel that!"

I didn't say anything. Wala akong karapatang ipagtanggol ang sarili ko ngayon. I know that this time would come. I know that this is the only moment that I'm foreseeing myself being weak and vulnerable. Hindi ko hinayaan ang iba na makita nila kung gaano ako kahina. Sila lang ang may karapatang makita iyon.

"So, don't you dare stop me, Jake! Dapat malaman niya na matapos ang pag-kidnap na nangyari noon, our families treated us differently when they saw the markings on our skin. They treated us nothing but a child with demons inside. Pinandidirihan na akala mo may sakit! I was at the moment of reaching my father's approval! Anak lang ako sa labas ng nanay ko sa ibang lalaki and my father was almost there... to accept me! He even got worried about my welfare when I was abducted. But few months after we moved somewhere far? The mark was slowly showing on my skin and he saw that! When he found out that I'm different? He kicked me out! He treated me like an animal! Sa kulungan ng mga manok o minsan sa kulungan pa ng mga kabayo niya ako pinapatulog dahil iyon raw ang nararapat sa akin! To be treated the same with his farm animals!"

Hindi ko na ang napigilan ang hindi maiyak sa buhay ni Nikka matapos ang abduction na nangyari. My tears are flowing fast the same of how fast I felt the pain she experienced.

"I'm s-sorry." Iyon lamang ang kaya kong sabihin. Hindi ko alam kung paano o ano ang dapat kong gawin para mabawasan ang sakit na naramdaman nila ng araw matapos ang pag-kidnap na nangyari noon. Nasasaktan ako ngayon. The pain that I felt when Alastair betrayed me? Walang wala iyon sa sakit na naramdaman ko sa kwento ni Nikka sa buhay nito.

Pinapatahan na ni Jake ang patuloy pa rin sa pag-iyak na si Nikka.

"You're still lucky than me." Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Arnold habang seryoso itong nakatingin sa dalawa nitong palad. His hands are shaking. It was like whenever he's trying to remember the past, pain and horror resurfacing.

Nilapitan ni Archilliah si Arnold. It seems like his past was traumatic enough for him to shake too much.

"A-After the a-abduction..." panimula ng binata pero mabilis na inalo ni Archilliah ang binata.

"You don't have to share it if you can't." Pag-aalo nito.

"No, I c-can. It's better to share it with h-her." Tugon nito tapos ay tiningnan ako diretso sa mata.

"After the abduction... nilayo ako ng mga magulang ko sa Pilipinas. We went back to China and decided to stay there for good. Ilang buwan matapos ang nangyari, the mark has shown slowly like Nikka. And my parents were terrified upon seeing it. They're asking me what it was but all I can do is to cry and tried reaching for their hands, reaching for their help. Gaya ng magulang ni Nikka, they tortured me like I'm no longer a human for them. They chained me in a chair, hands and wrists were both tied on the desk and even my feet. Kapag hindi ko sila sinasagot ng tama, to satisfy their curiosity, ay lagi nilang pinapalo ang mga kamay ko ng latigo. I couldn't answer them either. Dahil hindi ko rin alam kung ano ba ang nangyayari sa akin. Wala akong matandaan sa nangyaring pag-kidnap at iyon ang ayaw nilang paniwalaan."

Walang habas ang paglabas ng luha ko sa narinig na kwento ni Arnold. He's too young that time and yet he was physically tortured by his own parents? I couldn't believe it!

"H-How did y-you survive?" I asked, hindi napigilan lumabas ang pagkapiyok ng aking boses sa mga oras na iyon. I am too hurt upon hearing their stories.

"My uncle saved me. He's a merchant and drug seller in China and he's the only one who saved me from my own death. Akala ko do'n na natapos ang kalbaryo ko ng mga oras na iyon pero hindi pa pala. Uncle used me with his drug business trading, kapalit ng marangyang buhay na pwede niyang ibigay sa akin. Kumapit na ako sa patalim ng mga oras na iyon dahil ang gusto ko lang mangyari ay mabuhay ng tahimik. But it didn't happen, one day, Uncle trade me with some syndicate which is part of Privus Trata. He sold me with them because his business has been comprised. And that's how I ended here in Vexigo. Those thugs who bought me, they want someone who can study inside. Para sa kanila, swerte ako na pwede nilang magamit para umangat."

Namayani ang hikbi naming mga babae habang si Jake ay nananatiling nakatingin sa apoy na ginawa sa gitna ng dilim.

"Of all the victims of that night, tingin ko ako ang pinakaunang bata na nagpakita ng mental prowess even before you awake me." Pare-parehas nalipat ang tingin namin kay Jake at parehas na nagulat sa sinabi nito.

He was able to use his ability to torture minds even before of his awakening?

"And because of that, I killed my parents few months after the abduction."

I gasped when I heard his confession. Pero... ang sabi sa mga report...

Tila nabasa ni Jake ang nasa isip ko.

"The report was just to cover up everything, Asia. I told them that someone wants to kill them because I need a reason to stay mad at you. I'm blaming you why I got mad at them because they're arguing about the Annulment they're both planning. Akala ko noon, no'ng malaman nilang na na-kidnap ako, magkakaayos sila. Akala ko that the event can somehow heal them and decide to be full-time parents for me. Pero mas lumala lang. They're both blaming each other dahil hindi raw ako nabantayan ng ayos ni Mommy. And Mommy was blaming Dad because he's too busy with his mistress and forgot that we have a father and son time sa araw ng na-kidnap ako. They're arguing nang ihahatid na nila ako sa school noon. I got mad... too mad at them. It triggered something inside me at hindi ko sinasadyang pasakitan ang utak nila sa mental torture na mayroon ako. After that? Car accident happened. Nagising nalang ako sa bahay ng taong katiwala ng kompanya ni Dad. But I found out that he's one of those people who celebrated when my Dad died and used me as a tool for his take over in the company. Pero nang magkautang ito sa isa sa myembro ng Privus? I offered myself as a payment dahil natuklasan kong may ganitong school system ang organisasyon na ito. In Vexigo, I can find a way to know what happened before and who are those people abducted me. And it leads us to you."

Namayani ang katahimikan matapos magkwento ni Jake. I needed more time to digest everything. Masyadong masakit sa puso ang mga nangyari sa kanila pagkatapos ng pag-kidnap na nangyari. Mas nasasaktan pa nga ako sa narinig kesa ang malaman ang ginawang panggagago sa akin ni Alastair.

"Hindi mo ba i-s-share ang nangyari sa'yo, Archilliah kay Asia?" Arnold asked her.

Umiling uling ito at nakangiting tumingin sa akin. "She already knows that when she visited my visions. And no, if you will ask me if I'm blaming her from what happened to us? Hindi ko siya sinisisi. She's the one who saved us remember?"

Napanganga ako sa sinabi nito when she mentioned it. Naalalala na nila?

"She saved us? No, impossible." Hindi makapaniwalang wika ni Nikka sa sinabi ni Archilliah. Nikka looked at Jake and Arnold to ask for support.

Pero ang dalawang binata na kasama namin ngayon ay umiwas lamang ng tingin at tingin ko'y namula ang mga pisngi.

So, they all remembered. The memory drug already eroded.

"Kailan niyo lang naalala ang lahat? As in, lahat ng nangyari sa kwartong iyon?" I probed.

It was Archilliah who replied. "Yes, all of it."

"P-Pero ba't ako? W-Wala pa rin? It's still fragments." Bakas sa mukha ni Nikka ang pagkainggit dahil mukhang siya na lang ang hindi nakakaalala.

"Maybe it has something to do with the water of the pods." Napalingon sila kay Arnold. "When we got out, I somehow tasted it. It seems it healed something inside us."

"Hindi ka lubos na nakababad sa tubig na iyon, Nikka. Naudlot siguro nang ilabas ka ng maaga kanina." I told her.

"Okay, whatever with that. So, ano nang gagawin natin ngayon? Our curses were gone or something that Aarav did to disable it. And it seems we are now being targeted by the Supremo of Privus. At totoo ba ang narinig ko kanina? He needs us so we can awake a certain Apollo?"

Nilingon nila akong lahat to explain and I nodded.

"Ano iyong Apollo?" Jake asked.

Tiningnan ko sila isa-isa. Hindi man nila totally sa akin sinabi na napatawad na nila ako sa mga nangyari noon pero para sa akin ay sapat na nakakaalala na sila. I'm still blaming myself kung bakit sa kanila nangyari ang mga iyon, they may not be as mad as before dahil for sure naalala nilang hindi naman ako ang nagpa-kidnap sa kanila, still, I felt like I was able to escape from a certain pain na dala-dala ko noon magpakahanggang ngayon.

Biglang gumaan ang pakiramdam ko.

And now that they're asking about the Apollo. This is the right moment to tell them all. It's their right to know everything about the Apollo because they became part of it.

"It was the one who gave us the curses that we have. The root cause why you have been abducted... fourteen years ago."