Twenty hours earlier...

"Akin na nga iyan!" sigaw ng batang babae na nakasuot ng jumper habang may subo itong lollipop sa bibig. Ang buhok ng bata'y nakapuyod gamit ang isang taling may disenyong ubas.

"Ang damot mo naman!" nabaling ang aking tingin sa isang batang lalaki na nakasuot ng isang yellow polo shirt na sarado ang butones hanggang leeg. May suot na malaking salamin ang batang lalaki habang ang buhok nito'y balot na balot ng pomada.

"Pangit ka naman!" ani ng batang babae.

"Hindi ka naman maganda!" pang-asar na wika naman ng batang lalaki dahilan upang umiyak ang babae. Busangot ang mukha nito at halatang wala itong balak tumigil sa pag-iyak.

"Ang sama mo! Bad ka! Bad ka!" sigaw ng batang babae tapos tuluyan na itong umiyak ng malakas.

"Austin," tawag ng isa pang bata na busy sa pagbuo ng card castle ilang metro ang layo sa dalawang bata. Sinamaan nito ang batang nagngangalang Austin.

Young Austin hissed and pouted his lips. Bakas sa mukha ng bata ang walang kawalang magawa sa paraan ng pagtawag sa kanya ng batang babae. Lumapit ito sa batang naiyak at ito'y sinubukan patahanin.

Ang batang babaeng na busy sa pagbuo ng kastilyo gamit ang mga baraha'y seryosong seryoso sa ginagawa hanggang sa silang tatlo'y nakaramdam ng paglagabog sa labas ng kanilang tinutuluyan.

"What's that?" tanong ng batang babae na umiyak.

"I don't know as well, Claude." Tugon ng batang Austin.

Napakuyom ang pangatlong batang babae dahil nabuwag ang ginagawa nitong kastilyo. Ilang buwan niya kasi iyon ginagawa tapos ay nasira lang ng gano'ng kadali.

"Anastasia! Anak? Where are you?"  napamulagat silang lahat nang bigla may sumigaw na ginang sa ibaba.

"Asia, Mommy Lucilla is calling you." Wika ng batang si Austin sa tinatawag na si Asia.

Napangiti ako ng malungkot. Hindi ko alam na makikita ko muli sila. Makikita ko ang batang bersyon namin. Ang panahong wala pang kahit na anong kaguluhan. O kung may kaguluhan ma'y magaling iyon natago sa amin upang makapamuhay ng tahimik.

"I'm coming, Mamma!" tugon ng batang ako. Hindi ko lubos akalain na makikita ko ang sarili ko sa pinakainosente kong anyo.

My younger version walked out on the room, leaving the two kids behind. Young Austin and Claude followed her.

Sinundan ko rin silang lahat. Sa paglabas ng kwarto'y doon ko napagtanto ang mismong bahay.

Ito ang pinakapaborito kong rest house namin sa may Mountain Province. Nasa gitna kasi ito ng kakahuyan at medyo malayo sa kabihasnan.

Nang kami'y makapunta sa sala ng bahay ay napalaki ang aking mata sa nakita. May kasama ang aking ina. Nakaupo ito sa may sala habang nasa kandungan nito ang isang batang lalaki na walang malay at tila gutom na gutom dahil sa pamumutla. Sugatan ito ngunit halatang nakuha niya ito sa mismong kagubatan. Katabi ng aking ina ang isa pang lalaki na halos kahawig ng batang walang malay.

Kambal?

"I need your help, Baby. Get some meds in our kit." Utos nito sa batang Asia. Doon ko napagtanto ito ang panahon kung saan may paningin pa ako. Ngunit napakuyom ako ng bahagya ng maalalang ito ang mga panahon na malapit na iyong mawala.

Sumunod sa batang Asia sina Claude at Austin. Noon ko lang naalala na madalas ang dalawang iyon dito sa kanilang rest house kapag walang pasok sa ekswelahan. Dito sila namamalagi upang makipaglaro sa akin noon, ngunit alam kong hindi iyon ang totoo.

Naroon sina Claude at Austin dahil mas ligtas sila sa lugar namin. Malayo sa gulong mayroon ang kani-kanilang pamilya. Upang makaiwas sa muling pagkakadakip nila.

"Are you okay?" napalingon akong pabalik sa aking ina nang magtanong ito.

"Magiging okay lang po ba ang kapatid ko?" tanong ng batang may malay.

My Mom gave her assuring smile. A smile she usually giving me whenever she feels I'm not okay.

"Your twin is brave enough, Kiddo. Don't worry about him. I'll treat his wounds, a'right?" Mom replied. "What's your name by the way? Why are you guys in the forest?"

The kid is brave I must say, kita ko mula rito ang pagpipigil nitong umiyak dahil ayaw nitong ipakita na natakot siya sa nangyari sa kanila.

"My name's Oliver, Madame. And he's Aarav." Pauna nitong sagot na nagpamulagat sa akin kung bakit ako nasa sitwasyon na ito. I am in Oliver's memories. "I don't know what happened but the last time that I remembered was were kidnapped."

My Mom caressed Oliver's head and tapped him with gentleness. "You're a brave brother, Oliver. You never let your twin harmed. I'll treat your wounds as well. It seems like you fought on something."

"I fought with a Boar, Madame." Pag-amin ng batang Oliver na nagpagulat sa kaniyang ina. "And... I think I killed it."

Doon na nagsimulang mamuo ang luha sa mata ng batang Oliver.

"I killed a living thing... I killed someone." Then Oliver started to cry severely.

Sinubukan ng aking ina na patahanin ang batang Oliver dahil mukhang ngayon lang rumehistro sa bata ang nangyari sa kanila at maging ang ginawa nito.

"Mommy Lucilla, why is he crying?" The young Claude asked when the three kids went back from the place where they need to get the medicinal kits.

"Kid, don't cry! You want me to teach you how to use a computer?" the young Austin tried his best as well to make Oliver stop from crying.

"You're weird." Napalabi ako sa naging tugon ng batang ako.

Muntik ko nang makalimutan, naging bugnutin pala ako noong kabataan ko. Masungit sa madaling sabi. Tanging sina Austin at Claude lang pala ang nakatiis sa akin noon.

Ito kasi iyong panahong may natuklasan ako sa aking ina.

The view changed suddenly. Now, I'm standing behind a door. I saw younger self hiding behind it. I'm peaking on something and that's what I did as well.

I saw someone inside the dark room. My Mom, a two ladies na hindi ko masyadong tanda kung sino at may dalawang lalaki rin ang nasa likuran nila at tila may kinakalikot na kung ano.

Lahat sila'y nakasuot ng Lab gowns. Madali ko lang naman natandaan ang aking ina dahil kabisado ko ang kabuuan niya kahit pa malalaki man ang suot nitong damit.

"What are you doing with him?! Let go of my friend, Monsters!" sabay kaming napatakip ng bibig ng batang ako sa isang batang lalaking nagsalita sa loob.

Biglang nanikip aking dibdib sa eksenang ito. Ito ang isa sa mga bagay na gumugulo sa akin gabi gabi. Ang mga ganitong pagkakataon kung saan may ginagawang kababalaghan ang aking ina at ang mga kaibigan nito.

"Let them go, io Mostro! Don't lay any fingers on them or I will surely kill you all once I manage to escape from this! Per favore, Signore! Signora! Non toccarle!" nagsimulang umagos ang aking luha sa alaalang ito.

No, stop! Please, bakit pati sila?

Ang batang nagmamakaawa sa loob ay walang tigil sa pagsigaw at pagmamakaawa. Halata sa tono ng batang iyon na matagal na siyang naroroon.

Hindi! Bakit ito pa?

"Make him stop from talking, Lucilla. The more na nag-iingay iyan, the more na mas napapatigil tayo sa ginagawa. We can't afford to stop this now. Kung gusto mong hindi ang anak mo ang maging vessel ng Apollo." Malamig na tugon ng isa sa mga ginang na nasa loob.

Rinig ko ang malalim na pagbuntong hininga ng aking ina.

Mom, please. Kahit memorya lamang ito, subukan mong buksan ang isip mo na pakawalan ang mga bata! Hindi nila deserve ang ginagawa ninyong pag-eeksperimento.

"George, please. Put him on the chamber." Utos ng aking ina sa isa sa mga ginoong naroroon.

Sinundan namin ng tingin ng batang ako ang gagawin ng tinawag na George. Halata sa mukha ng ginoo na labag rin sa loob nito ang ginagawa dahil sa pagtigil nitong busalan ng bimpo ang batang lalaki. Ang batang lalaki naman na sumisigaw ay masama ang tingin. Kita sa mata nito ang galit sa mga nakakatanda.

"Tutti voi faro soffrire—" hindi na natapos ang gustong sabihin ng batang lalaki nang takpan na nito ng bibig ang bata.

"Sorry," huli kong rinig sa George na iyon bago ko napansing wala na sa tabi ko ang batang ako.

Napalingon ako sa kaliwa, at doon ko siya nakitang may hinahanap na kung ano. Nang sa wakas ay makita iyon, ay mariin niyang itinapon sa bandang dulo ng hallway ang nakuhang bagay.

Lumikha ng malakas na tunog ang latang nakuha ng batang ako.

Dahilan iyon upang matigil sa ginagawa ang mga tao sa loob ng kwarto.

"An intruder, move!" rinig kong sabi ng isa sa kanila at mabilis na bumunot ng baril at sabay sabay na nagsilabasan.

Nakita ko ang batang ako na biglang nagtago sa isang malaking container na malapit sa kwarto. Nang masigurong umakyat na sa itaas ang mga tao kanina ay mabilis itong pumasok sa loob ng kwarto at mariin na tinulungan ang mga bihag na bata.

Pumasok rin ako at sinundan siya sa ginagawa.

Napaharap ako sa isa sa mga kambal na lalaki. Kita ko na nakadilat ito ngunit malayo ang tingin. Nilagyan na nila ang bata ng matinding gamot.

"Hey, wake up! Weird and weirdo! Wake up!" sigaw ng batang Asia sa mga ito.

Sinubukan ng batang ako na tanggalin ang pagkakarehas ng dalawa sa kamang metal. Ngunit lahat ng iyon ay pawang mga metal rin na kailangan ng susi.

"Mabuti pala't kinuha ko ito." Ani ng batang ako nang may dukutin ito sa bulsa at doon ko nakitang hawak na nito ang susing sa pagkakakadena ng dalawang bata.

Habang busy sa pagtulong ang batang ako ay lumapat ang paningin ko sa isang bagay na nasa loob ng kwarto.

Nanlaki ang aking mata nang makita ang Apollo X49 iyon. The stone has been placed to a transparent and secluded container. The beauty of the stone is indeed admirable and ethereal. Napagawi naman ang tingin ko sa batang nakakadena sa kamang metal na nakatihaya. Parang isang dartboard iyon na ang subject ay ang bata. Nakabusal ang bibig at kita ko sa mata nito ang pagkakahinga ng maluwag nang makitang may isang tao ang tumutulong sa mga kaibigan nito.

Nang tuluyan nang matanggal sa pagkakakadena ang dalawang kambal ay doon namroblema ang batang Asia. Hindi nito kakayanin ang dalawang iyon. Unang una, bata pa ang mura nitong katawan at paniguradong mahuhuli sila dahil tila wala sa katinuan ang mga ito.

Nagtagpo ang mga mata ng dalawang bata. Ang batang siya at ang batang iyon. Tumango ang batang lalaki sa kanya. Senyas na iwan na siya nito at unahin ang dalawa nitong kaibigan. Naunawaan ng batang siya ang gustong sabihin ng batang lalaki.

Nang aalis na ang batang Asia ay doon sila naabutan ng mga matatanda at kasama roon ang aking ina.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo, Anastasia?" tanong ng isang ginang sa bata.

"Sabi na nga ba may alam na ang anak mo rito, Lucilla." Wika pa ng isang ginang.

Hindi nagsalita ang batang siya habang akay akay nito ang kambal. Masama ang tingin nito sa lahat. Galit na galit ito sa kanilang lahat. Kitang kita ang pagkamuhi ng batang Asia maging sa ina nitong may pagsusumamong matang nakatingin sa kanya.

"Anastasia, anak. Please let Mamma, explain everything—"

"Don't you even dare touch me or come nearer!" sigaw ng batang siya nagpagulat sa lahat.

"Anak," tawag ng ina nito sa kanya.

"I won't forgive you anymore if you won't let me leave together with these two kids." Banta nito sa mga ito.

"Lucilla," tawag ng dalawang ginang na nasa likuran nito.

"Let me handle her Leonna, Althea." May pagtatagis na wika ng kanyang ina sa mga nabanggit na ginang.

The First Generation of Royalties.

"You listen to me, Mom! You need to do what I say or you wouldn't like what will happen!" mariin na tugon ng batang Asia sa kanilang lahat.

Kitang kita ko ang pangigilalas ng tatlong ginang nang may makitang kung ano sa batang Asia.

Napagawi rin ang aking tingin sa batang sarili.

The moment she said the last words, the triple crescent moon tattoo is visibly showing on her chest. Napahawak ako sa aking sariling dibdib. Ibig sabihin, ang tattoo na ito ay hindi lumabas nang mawalan ako ng paningin?

"The Ceres Curse." Rinig niyang tugon ng isa sa kanila.

"Yes, they can leave." Tugon ng aking ina na nagpatangis sa dalawa pang ginang.

"Lucilla!" sigaw ng isa.

"Sigurado ka?" tanong naman ng isa.

"The Ceres is a curse of Manipulation of Fate given to the rightful vessel of Apollo. It is to protect the vessel from any harm. If we neglect to follow her order under the Ceres Curse, then the curse would transverse to those who didn't follow." Pabulong na paliwanag ng aking ina.

"Huwag mong sabihin..." hinuha ng isa sa kanila.

"One of the Trump Card of Apollo."

Napagawi ang tingin ko sa batang lalaki na nakakakadena ng patihaya. Umungol ito sa nakatalikod sa kanya na si Asia. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang frustration ng batang iyon na kunin na ang pagkakataon na maialis ang mga kaibigan nito sa lugar na iyon.

"Asia!" marahas akong napalingon sa batang Asia. Bumagsak ito sa sahig kasama ang dalawang kambal.

"What happened to her?" tanong ng isa sa mga ginang.

"This is the first time it occurred. For sure, it exhausted her body too much." Paliwanag ng kanyang ina.

"Does this means we already failed on our mission, Lucilla?" tanong ng isang ginang na seryoso ang mukha at bakas ang kawalan ng pangamba sa nangyayari. She resembles of someone I know who can be too serious.

"Not yet," tugon ng aking ina.

"Then we need more kids for this experimentation." Ani ng isa pang ginang na may pagkastrikta ang mukha ngunit halata ang pagkataklesa kung minsan. Now she resembles of someone as well.

"We've already contained few of the Curses to several kids. We only need one more for this to stop temporarily. The Apollo reacts too fast more than we could ever know. One more subject for the wave then the transmutation of the Curse would be halt completely."

"Bakit hindi ang isa sa mga kambal nalang?" tanong ng isa.

"Althea, you know it's impossible lalo pa't protektado na ang dalawa ni Anastasia." Wika ng isang ginang and I supposed she's Leonna.

"Then why not this kid?" muling suhestyon ni Althea habang hawak hawak ang baba ng batang nakatihaya sa metal na kama. The boy glared at her with rage.

"I don't know what have gotten into you, Lucilla but this kid is not compatible to the Apollo." Paliwanag ni Leonna nang tila may naalala ito.

"I beg to disagree, Leonna." Napagawi kaming lahat sa tinuran ni Althea.

"WHAT DID you do?!" sigaw sa akin ni Oliver nang tumilapon kaming dalawa matapos kong tingnan ang kanyang alaala. Parehas kaming hingal sa nangyari.

Pagod ko siyang tiningnan at nginisian ng bahagya.

"I wanted to know why you attacked me that night." Pagdadahilan ko sa kanya.

"Iyon lang? And you did that stunt to us?! The reason why I attacked you is simply because you're doing something with Dasha!" sigaw nito sa akin, nakikipagsabayan sa kulog sa labas. "I wanted to warn you and ask you to stop of doing it!"

Dahan dahan akong tumayo pero ramdam ko pa rin ang panghihina. Surely, it's really exhausting to use this curse.

"You love her," I told him not to ask. It' a statement that I'm sure.

"It's none of your business." Tugon nito sa akin na nagpaangat ng labi ko.

"I didn't do something on Dasha, Oliver. I just need to make her stop revealing the ability that I possess."

"Tanggalin mo iyon sa kanya at ako nang bahala sa nalalaman niya. I can handle her more than you do." Anas ni Oliver sa kanya na nagpatawa sa akin ng bahagya.

"You're still weirdo as ever." Bulong ko.

"What did you say?" he asked me with rage.

He doesn't remember me, I see. I'm pretty sure that the drug that my Mom injected on them are for memory loss. They know how to make sure that those kids wouldn't remember anything from what happened. But I'm not sure, how long it lasted or it will last.

"Nothing, Oliver. Don't worry, I'll remove it once she finishes the job that I asked her to do." Seryoso kong anas sa binata while I'm groping my hair. Basang basa ako nang dahil sa ulan.

"What job?" he asked curiously. I know what would happen next once I reveal what I asked to Dasha to do. "Let me do that, instead of her."

See?

"Stop negotiating, Oliver of Elite. It's something that Dasha can only do. Now, if you really keep on negotiating, then how about do whatever I want you to do in exchange of Dasha's freedom from me?"

I saw how he gripped his short underneath. "I don't follow any orders except from the Mafia, Asia."

"Oliver, I don't really mean the word negotiating with you. What I want you to do is absolute. You will follow what I tell you..."

Then the Triple Crescent Moon showed again on my chest.

"Y-Your tattoo is familiar." Reaksyon nito nang makita ang simbolong nasa dibdib ko.

The drug is wearing off?

"Madali lang naman ang ipapagawa ko sa'yo. It won't hurt Alastair of course." Pag-iiba ko ng topic sa gusto niyang pag-usapan.

"What's that?" he asked.

"The murderers of the students are just with us, Oliver." I confessed that caught his attention.

"You know them already? Who are they?" he asked seems interested already. "You should have told this to Alastair earlier."

"Nope, I don't know them yet." I replied.

"Then, what do you mean by what you have said?" he asked with curiosity.

"I have assumptions who they are but I don't have any evidence to prove that they really are the murderers." Simpleng paliwanag ko sa kanya.

"What do you want me to do then?" he asked me now with his full attention.

I grinned at him. "I thought you're not going to follow anyone aside from the Mafia?" I teased him.

"I am the Cleaner of Aldeguer Mafia, Asia. I will do anything just to clean the mess of those murderers have done. They infiltrated our home and it's my job to do whatever I can to keep the system intact." He explained to me as if I don't get what he meant. "And I'm not dumb enough to know why you are showing me your tattoo. It only means death for me, and I don't want to die yet."

Mas lalo akong napangisi dahil sa tinuran niya. I know I can trust this man. Not that I don't trust his twin—Aarav, but in terms of position in the Mafia and their usefulness, I'd prefer having Oliver get this job done.

I grabbed the towel on the right-side portion of his room. I started wiping the wetness of myself so I can feel better. I'm freezing. "I want you to inform Alastair that this idea came from your brain. Inform him that he needs to find a way to invite the people whose involve from this case in a Christmas Eve gathering."

I saw how his forehead crumpled. "Which is tomorrow?" he confirmed.

"Yes," I replied. I sat on the nearest chair that he has in the room while still busy wiping myself and giving him the instructions. "Much better that you need to have the emergency meeting tonight between the Elites to talk about this. Dapat nandoon kami, sina Claude at Austin na kapwa ko propesor na tutulong sa pag-iimbestiga, sina Nikkadorpha at Maxwell, kayo at ang Investigativo Club."

"Then what will happen next?" he's anticipating the climax of the plan.

"Set a bonfire tomorrow for the highlights of the trick, Oliver. Act natural as well. Someone would act as a drunk person to start the conversation of catching them." Sunod kong utos. "Our hot seat tomorrow night would be the Investigativo Club."

"Why them? They're just kids." Anito

"Because they are not really looking for the murderers, Oliver. Tingin ko naman na alam mo na kumakalat na sa lahat ng nakatira sa Vexigo na ang haka haka diumano'y, ang anak ng mga Royalties ang nagpapasimula ng patayan. You know that the existence of the Royalties is a myth for all members of Privus Trata and it brings fear upon them." Paliwanag ko sa kanya.

"Why they're after with some rumors?" takang tanong nito.

I rolled my eyes on him. "Oliver, they're using Investigator's instincts. They are considering everything to solve a case and this one got them fully."

"Point taken, so how do we impose—" napangisi ako nang tila na-realize na nito ang gusto kong mangyari.

"We need that drunk person to open up the topic so all of them would sing. Once they did, then we would know who the murderers are." Pagpapatuloy ko sa gusto niyang sabihin.

"But this means, the murderers are from them? Because they're the ones we need to corner." Paglilinaw nito sa akin na iling naman ang ibinigay kong sagot.

"No. Again, I don't know who they are, Oliver. I'm just using my instincts as well to know. Besides, lahat ng iimbitahan niyo ay suspek." Wika ko kasabay ng isang pag-angat ng balikat at pag-angat ng dalawang kilay.

Tila nagulantang siya sa sinabi ko.

"Ibig mong sabihin, kahit sino sa atin ang..."

Tumango tango ako. "I'll be giving you the liberty to choose kung sino ang i-s-suggest mong aarte ng lasing. Dahil iyong aarteng lasing ang mapagsasabihan ninyo ng plano. It's not my fault anymore kung ang mapipili mo ay ang isa sa mga suspek."

"You're giving me a suicidal decision." He hissed at me.

"I know," then I stood up. Preparing myself to leave. "Hindi ko naman sinabi na nasa iyo ang huling desisyon, Oliver. Remember, sasabihin mo sa kanila na ikaw ang nakaisip nito. Your Boss can do the decision making as well. I trust your judgement though. It's your choice."

"Paano ako makakasiguro na tutuparin mo ang sinabi mong pakakawalan mo si Dasha?" he asked when I started walking towards his veranda.

Nilingon ko siya and I replied, "Mafia are following promises as they were all honed to be disciplined. Even if I'm not part of your world, I know how to follow promises."

Iyon lamang at doon ay tumalon na ako sa pinakamataas na puno na malapit sa kwarto nito at tuluyan nang nilisan ang dorm ng mga lalaki.

When I'm almost few meters away, I connected my earpiece to someone.

"Dasha, are you almost done with the task that I'm asking you to do?" I asked her while I'm walking towards our Villa.

A screeching sound happened before I could hear her answer. "You are asking me to make miracle, Asia. *Kami dehanaidesu!" Tugon nito sa akin. *I'm not a deity!

"I know that you are not. Their genes are quite impeccable from human genes. We need something that can restrain them. Alam mong ikaw ang nakakaalam sa nangyayari." Tugon ko sa haponesang ito.

"Kung hindi lang ito sa ikaliligtas ni Boss, I would do everything that I can to remove this curse you put upon me." I can sense that she's gritting. "You know that I hate abnormal humans!"

I just rolled my eyes and said. "Just finish it so we can save your Boss from those Enhanced."

"Wakarimasu." I understand.

"FOOLS!" sigaw ni Nikkadorpha sa amin matapos nitong tumawa kasama si Jake. "Hindi ko inaasahan na magiging ganito kadali ang lahat."

"Nikka..." I heard Maxwell's growl and everyone are now preparing their stances once these two move on their own.

Tumayo ang nasabing dalaga at muling tumawa. Mas tinawanan nito ang nanggagalaiting si Maxwell. "Isa kang hangal, Maxwell. Hindi ko alam na sa kabila ng katangahan at kawalang saysay mo, mapapatawa mo ako ng ganito."

Maxwell immediately went towards the woman but Nikka was expecting to do that and she immediately activated her curse.

Paralysis Inducement.

Maxwell stopped from moving. His posture was nearly hitting Nikka straight on her face but eventually stopped few inches from her skin.

Nikkadorpha grinned with evil.

"You wicked fucker!" nahihirapang wika ni Maxwell habang masama ang tingin nito sa dalaga.

"And I love how you fuck me. What I hate the most are stupid person. At kasama ka roon."

I heard a rapid heartbeat of Maxwell's heart and it turned vastly slower from Nikkadorpha's statement. It surely hit something inside the arrogant man.

The Elites and the kids of Investigativo stood back from their position. Halata sa tibok ng puso ng mga bata ang kaba at pagkagulat sa ginawa ni Nikkadorpha.

"Jake! What are you doing there?! She's so mapanganib!" sigaw ni Yannah but Jake remained his posture sitting while drinking the last sip of vodka in it.

"C'mon, man! Get up!" rinig kong hiyaw naman ni Marc na ngayon ay nasa tabi ko na.

Alastair and I are keeping our inside intact from what's going to happen next. We both know the capability of these two and the others are not.

"Mga tanga! Tumawa nga siya kasama ko hindi niyo pa rin nakuha? She's with me, idiotic investigators!" hiyaw ni Nikkadorpha habang busy ito sa paghasa ng hawak nitong patalim at tapos ay inilalapit sa mukha ni Maxwell.

"B-But h-how?" takang tanong ni Inah. "We've been in this school for like three years now, Jake! What's the meaning of this? We deserve your explanation!"

Lahat kami ay napatingin kay Inah nang bigla itong napasigaw ng husto habang nakahawak ito sa ulo nito. She's now lying on the ground while screaming the pain she's feeling right now.

"Make this stop!" sigaw pa nito tapos ay dinaluhan na ito ng iba pa nitong kamiyembro.

"Oh gosh, what's happening, Inah!" Yanna asked while she's shaking terribly. She doesn't know how to help, Inah. Maging sina Marc at George ay walang magawa.

"Too noisy." Simpleng saad ni Jake habang nagsasalin ito ng alak sa kopita.

Ang sunod na nangyari ay si Yanna naman ngayon ang nakakalalasap sa ginagawa ni Jake sa utak nila.

Neural Impulse Manipulation.

He's using his capability of controlling neural impulses, the electrical discharges that travel along the nerve fibers within the organisms. He's using it to stimulate targets sensitivity to pain and to mimic electric shocks or even compel themselves to cause harm on their minds.

Usually, mas mahirap itong gawin kapag walang physical contact. Nonetheless...

"Marc, George." Tawag ko sa dalawang binata. "Remove an accessory which Jake had given to them. He's using it to easily cause pain without physical contact." Utos ko sa dalawa.

Mabilis na sinunod ng dalawa ang ginawa ko ngunit bago pa man din nila iyon matanggal ay nadamay na ang dalawang binata.

"Too slow..." komento ni Jake habang nakatingin ng seryoso sa apat nitong kasama na ngayon ay tinatraydor na. "You forgot that you are wearing my friendship earrings that I gave you all."

"Stop it, Jake!" rinig naming sigaw ni Aarav then immediately charged to attack Jake.

Stupid, you forgot who's with him.

"Ikaw ang dapat na literal na tumigil sa paggalaw." Nakangising anas ni Nikkadorpha na ngayon ay nakangising nakatingin kay Aarav.

"This is becoming boring..." bahagya akong nagitla nang marinig kong magsalita si Jake matapos nitong tumayo. "All of you, feel the pain!"

Everyone groaned in pain when they all felt that Jake immensely amplifying its mental torture except to the three of us.

"Alastair, Asia. P-Protect Archilliah at all cost!" rinig kong paalala ni Claudette sa amin.

I immediately held Archilliah's arm and pulled her behind me.

"As expected, kayong tatlo lang talaga ang natitirang hindi naapektuhan sa sumpa ni Jake." Nakangising wika ni Nikka sa aming lahat dahilan upang mapatingin ang mga naapektuhan sa amin.

"You moved too fast, Asia Graham. You know na maapektuhan pa rin kayong tatlo sa sumpa ko but you immediately reverse the effect that I did to protect those two. Bakit hindi silang lahat?" nakakatakot na ngisi ang bumungad sa akin when I re-opened my Lenses. "It seems like your artificial sight is now on."

"You should be glad that you were able to see us now, Hidden Nightmare." Segunda ni Nikkadorpha matapos nitong sampalin si Maxwell at hayaang maramdaman ang sakit ng mental torture ni Jake.

"Maiintindihan nila na pinrotektahan mo ang Boss nila na si Alastair. Pero ang protektahan ang isa pang estudyante, isn't unfair for these kids out there?" Nikka mocked at me.

"Stop this." Rinig kong maawtoridad na utos ni Alastair sa dalawa ngunit wala iyong naging epekto.

"We are in the same curse, Boss Alastair, your compulsion doesn't work if we are using it." Paglalahad ni Nikkadorpha na tila nakaisa ito sa binata.

"Then why are you doing these?" I asked them kahit na alam ko ang dahilan.

"Is that the right question that you need to ask, Anastasia? Handa ka na bang sagutin ko iyan habang naririto sila?" mapang-asar na tugon ni Nikka sa akin.

Nanlamig ang pakiramdam ko nang bigla akong makaramdam ng panghihina. Fuck, not now. I know that holding off their curses would be fatal and risky but not now, self. Huwag ka munang bibigay. Kung hindi maapektuhan parehas sina Alastair and Archilliah ng mga sumpa nila.

I spitted blood but I was able to manage to hold on my protection.

It's a battle of enhanced brain after all. Hindi ako nagpapatalo sa ganyang larangan.

"What's the matter, Anastasia? Seems like you can't hold it off anymore." Wika ni Nikka.

"Bella, take it off. It's hurting you." May pag-aalalang sagot ni Alastair.

These two... I can't really defy their curses without using mine but it's too risky to use it sa harapan ng lahat. As I've said, I'm limiting the people who would know about my curses. Mas magiging mapanganib sa akin kapag marami ang nakakaalam.

The information about the heirs of Royalties are vastly scattering.

The tattoo that I have was part of those myths. Kaya kung mas marami ang nakakaalam. Mas madali nilang matatanto at mabubunyag ang tunay kong pagkatao.

Alam ng dalawang ito na iyon ang iniiwasan ko kung kaya't unti-unti nila akong inaasar sa ginagawa kong pagpipigil sa aking sarili na gamitin iyon.

I spitted another liter of blood after a while. Parehas nang nakaalalay sa akin sina Archilliah at Alastair habang patuloy naman ang pagsigaw ng iba dahil sa sakit na nararamdaman nila. Most of them have bloods on their noses and ears. Kapag nagpatuloy iyon, paniguradong magkakaroon ng fireworks party ng mga sumabog na ulo kapag wala pa akong ginawa.

Alastair can't do something about it this time. He knows when to use his compulsion. Actually, even without the compulsion, his superb combat skills would really save them from what's happening right now.

I can't find them in combat right now. Ngayong nagpapatuloy ang panghihina ko, tanging si Alastair lang ang kailangang gumawa no'n. Lalo pa't nakadepende sina Nikka at Jake sa mga sarili nilang sumpa.

I smirked in front of Nikka and Jake. Kahit patuloy ang paglabas ng dugo sa aking bibig ay nagawa ko silang asarin ng bahagya.

"Do you r-really think I'm n-not prepared for this?" nahihirapan kong wika bago ko tinanguhan si Dasha.

Dasha immediately released few needles underneath of her sleeves. She immediately aimed Nikka by one of those.

"No!" anas ni Nikka nang ito naman ang tumigil sa paggalaw ngayon.

Dasha aimed another one to Jake but the man has good reflexes kung kaya't mabilis nitong nailagan ang karayom ni Dasha.

Idiot, that's what I'm waiting for.

"Alastair." Tawag ko sa binata ang he immediately went towards Jake.

Jake was shocked when Alastair is now in front of him. Alastair has good speed to handle. He immediately punched and kicked Jake that made the man stumbled a few meters away from us.

That's what I just needed. A couple of nanosecond for Jake to dismantle his curse para makagalaw ng malaya si Alastair habang literal na napatigil sa paggalaw si Nikka.

Natigil ang pagsigaw ng mga kasama namin habang nagngingitngit sa galit si Nikkadorpha.

"What did you do to me?!"

Dasha walked towards her and slapped her face once. "You must have forgotten that needles can do what you're doing. Ancient way of immobilizing person using needles with few changes due to your abnormal genes."

"Put them on the chamber." Utos ni Alastair habang hawak nito si Jake. Ibinato ng binata sa kanila.

"A-Ah, Boss? Sorry b-but I do not want to experience his mental torture again." Nag-aalangang wika ni Aarav.

"They said that I won't be able to compel them if they're using their curses. So, I did it first. I ordered him to behave." Pagbibigay kasiguraduhan ni Alastair.

"Wooo! Buti nalang. Tara kambal, kunin na natin ito." Tugon ni Aarav sabay lapit sa nakatulalang Jake.

"Can I help you instead?" Austin offered to Aarav.

"Nah, we can handle them." Pagtanggi ni Aarav sa alok nito.

"But your brother and Maxwell would handle Nikkadorpha." Ani ng binata na nagpatingin kay Aarav sa kambal.

"At talagang iyan ang nilapitan mo, Oliver, uh." There's a glint of mockery behind his statement.

"Shut the fuck up and accept his help." Masungit na tugon ni Oliver habang nagsimula na sila ni Maxwell na akayin ang walang magawang si Nikkadorpha matapos itong utusan ni Alastair.

"Bella Cieco, let's go." Anyaya sa akin ni Alastair habang nakahawak na ito sa baywang ko.

Wusus, nanantsing pa 'to.

Umiling ako sa kanya. "Stay with them. They need you there the most. Kami nang bahala ni Archilliah at ni Claude ang maghatid sa mga batang investigators."

"I can't leave you like this." I can sense his frustrations for me because I'm being stubborn.

I touched Alastair's face. "You knew that it's my plan, right?" I asked him when I realized something.

Alastair gave me a smug look. "Oliver is a cleaner and he never gave any ideas before. He was trained just to be a cleaner of the Mafia and it was Aarav who's in-charge of the planning whenever there's a problem arises."

Wrong choice of person then? Nah, it's my intention actually.

"Why you didn't talk about it with me instead?" Alastair asked with a childish tone on it.

It's my turn to give him a smug look. "I just want to know how smart the future Mafia of Aldeguer, that's it."

"You cunning woman," bulong nito then he pulled me on his broad shoulder and kissed my forehead.

We heard someone cleared her throat. "Okay, tama na muna ang lambingan at baka dito pa kayo gumawa ng milagro." Segunda ni Claudette sa aming likod at mabilis akong inihiwalay kay Alastair. She's smirking at me with pure evil and I just want to erase that dahil hindi ko kinakaya ang mangyayari kapag nagsimula na itong iinterogate ako.

"Tsk, be safe Bella Cieco. Go to the Infirmary. I'll go there once we are done interrogating the suspects." Alastair said then he gave me one last peck on the lips.

Can... can he just stop it! Kainish 'to.

"Ang landi... ang landi landi talaga kahit kailan!" nakangising irit sa akin ni Claude nang maiwanan na kami rito.

I rolled my eyes on her, "Let's just assist the kids on their rooms."

Marc, George, Inah and Yanna. Lahat sila ay nakatulala sa malayo. Kitang kita ko ang panginginig ng kalamnan nina Inah at Yanna habang panga naman ang sa dalawang binata.

"They got traumatized from what happened," komento ni Archilliah matapos yakapin ang dalawang babae upang mapakalma. "We need them to be treated first."

Tumango tango ako sa suhestyon ni Archilliah.

"Kayo niyong maglakad?" rinig kong tanong ni Claude sa dalawang lalaki na tanging tango lamang ang isinagot sa kanya. "That's better. C'mon, let's get going."

Ako ang nakaalalay kay Inah habang si Archilliah naman ang nakaalalay kay Yanna.

When we started walking away from the beach we all stopped when someone is in front of us.

A man wearing a hooded jacket and black face mask. Inside of his jacket, he's only wearing a black sando and he's wearing skimpy jeans and black shoes.

Ano'ng ganap ng taong ito?

"Going somewhere?" he asked us with his deep auto-tune voice.

"A-Asia? I t-think we are all in t-trouble." Kinakabahang wika ni Archilliah matapos nitong itago ang mukha ni Yanna sa dibdib nito. She's preventing to occur the trauma from the girl.

"This is not good, Asia." Komento naman ni Claudette.

"Stand behind me." Utos ko sa kanila.

This aura that he's emitting... In just one glance I know that he's different. The aura that I'm currently feeling right now is the same when Nikka and Jake used their curses to us. Pero ang kanya, mas malakas.

Don't tell me... he's one of the Enhanced? Is he the Fifth Wave victim? Then what mental prowess that he possesses?

"What do you want?" I asked the man while I'm preparing myself if ever he would attack.

"The life of those kids you are with." He replied.

Mas lalo kaming naalarma nina Claude at Archilliah sa nais ng lalaking ito.

"You're the killer of those students in front of Villa Tradimento." Anas ko rito stating fact and not an assumption. "Why did you kill them?"

The man started to walk towards our point and that doubled our awareness.

"Because they're all foolish to think that they're all going to achieve something." Pauna nitong paliwanag. "I just gave them a dream they've been wanting to happen and it lost their focus. How dumb they are losing their stance when I challenged them."

He gave them a dream?

Wait, don't tell me...

I gasped hard when he's now in front of me. Hindi ko iyon inaasahan at mas mabilis siya kesa sa inaakala ko.

The man tilted his head on me then he ordered us to...

"Dream... dream and kill me there if you all want to survive from my nightmare."

* * *

Disclosure: The pictures used in this chapter are from google. Also, I changed the design of Anastasia's tattoo. You would see the difference if you are going to back-read. Thanks!