Better an end with pain than pain without end. Better an end with horror than a horror without end.

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Elodie's POV

Martin and I were standing face to face. We were both smiling. We could feel the cold breeze of the wind coming from the calm sea. He looked so handsome wearing a white polo and loose white pants. Me? I was wearing a simple white tube dress. I matched it with white flowers on my head.

We were both holding each other hand. There were people around, but my eyes were locked up into him. All I wanted to look was his face. The face of my husband that I would grow old with.

We were getting married. And after this we will plan for our future. We will live far away from the nightmare that we had. We will have kids together. We will take them, and I will be the wife that he would always dream about.

He held my head and kissed me. But suddenly, my head felt heavy. My eyes became droopy.

And I moved trying to reach for him but he was gone. My eyes starting to open. Now I realized it was just a dream. I felt my head was painful. I was hating this feeling because it woke me up from a beautiful dream. Why does my head felt like it was splitting in half? Parang hindi naman ganito ang pakiramdam ko noon nang unang may mangyari sa amin ni Martin. I remember that time that I woke up feeling energized. But right now, I felt I banged my head somewhere. The kind of feeling like I had too much to drink last night. A terrible hangover. What the fuck was this?

I tried to move.

Only to find myself restrained on my seat.

Shit.

Seat? Ano 'to? Doon na nawala ang natitirang antok ko. Nakatali ako? Bakit nakatali ako? Nang matulog ako ay katabi ko si Martin sa kama. We made love on the bed kaya ano 'to?

"Martin!" Sobrang dilim ng paligid. At sigurado ako, hindi na ito kuwarto sa bahay ni Daddy.

Noon bumukas ang ilaw ng paligid at nanlalaki ang mata ko nang makita kung sino ang gumawa noon. Nakatayo sa may pinto ng silid si Jorge. Tumingin ako sa paligid and the nightmare that they did to me came back in my head like a flood. They raped and tortured me in this room. He was just looking at me. With so much anger in his eyes. Sinusubukan ko talagang makawala sa pagkakatali ko pero napakahigpit noon.

"I admire you." Seryosong sabi niya. "You played us all. You played it well."

Humihingal ako sa kaba habang nakatingin sa kanya. Alam na kaya niya kung sino ako? Saka paano ako nakapunta dito?

"J-Jorge. What is this?" Pinilit kong kalmahin ang sarili ko kahit para na akong hihimatayin sa takot. Dahil kahit pilitin kong patatagin ang sarili ko, ang silid na ito ang naging saksi sa kababuyan na ginawa niya at ng mga kapatid niya sa akin.

"You're still going to play the innocent Evie? Huh? Elodie?" Sa pagkakataong iyon ay tumapang na ang mukha niya.

"I-I don't know what you're talking about." Shit. I needed to get off from these restraints.

"Napakagaling mo. Kayo ni Martin. Napakagaling 'nyo. Naloko 'nyo kaming lahat. My father trusted that asshole. Paid him millions to get those who killed my brothers. And all along, it was all his doing. Just because he didn't do his job well."

"H-hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo. Please. Pakawalan mo ako. I won't tell anyone about this." Paano nangyari ito? Paano niya nagawa na madala ako dito? Martin was sleeping beside me sa bahay ni dad at siguradong malalaman namin kung may ibang taong pumasok sa bahay.

"Tama nga ang hinala ng mga kapatid ko noon. Nang bigla kang sumulpot sa kumpanya ni Cesar Valderama. Napakagaling mong umarte putangina ka." Mabilis siyang lumapit sa akin at malakas akong sinuntok sa mukha.

It was painful. It was like my nightmare was repeating itself. He did this to me before. Hitting me. Punching me over and over until my face was broken.

Hinawakan niya ng mariin ang buhok ko. Tumutulo ang dugo sa ilong ko.

"I'll make sure that I kill you this time. Ako na ang gagawa ng hindi nagawang trabaho ni Martin. 'Tangina. Kaya una pa lang talaga wala na akong tiwala sa tarantadong iyon. He killed my brothers. Double-crossed my father." Nabasag ang boses ni Jorge nang sabihin iyon.

Dumura ako ng naipong dugo sa bibig ko at tumingin ng masama sa kanya.

"For the record, I was the one who killed Pol. And I planned on killing Karl. Then you and your fucking father." Tumawa pa ako ng nakakaloko sa kanya.

Humihingal sa galit na tumingin sa akin si Jorge. Pero hindi ako natatakot sa kanya. He could do anything to me, but I'll make sure that I am going to rip him into pieces once I let go of myself from these restraints.

Pero hindi niya ako sinaktan. Maya-maya ay tumawa siya. Tumawa ng tumawa ng malakas na parang nababaliw.

"Kill me? And how are you going to do it? Nandiyan ka. Nakatali. Ako, libreng gawin ang lahat ng puwede kong gawin sa iyo. Sa tingin mo maililigtas ka pa ng syota mo? Baka ngayon, pinag-i-eksperimentuhan na iyon ni Dr. Jocas.

Napalunok ako. "What did you do to him? And how did you get me?"

"In your house. Akala ko pa naman magaling ang Martin na 'yan. Bilib na bilib pa naman sa kanya ang daddy ko. He's on the run, right? He is the primary suspect for Karl's death. How did I know? I coordinated with the police. Paid them to tell me what they know. Tracked down the witness who was telling everyone that someone helped her. It was easy to solve the puzzle." Umikot siya sa likuran ko at naramdaman kong hinila niya ang buhok ko at sinakal ako. "As for you, you should have kept your mouth shut about your true identity. You don't know people can hear you."

Napa-aray ako ng mariin niyang sakalin ang leeg ko. I was gagging from his grip. Fuck, no. I think I was losing consciousness. But he violently let go of me and I was coughing so hard I was catching for my breath.

"I heard you talking to your father. He called you Elodie. At doon ako nag-imbestiga. It was fucking you all along." Naiiling na sabi niya.

"H-how did you do it? H-how did you get me here?" Naiiyak na ako.

"Easy. Dr. Jocas helped me. We infused your house with sleeping gas kaya naman ang himbing ng tulog 'nyo. I've been following you since I've learned who you really are. And when you went home, I've waited for your dad to go out. Suwerte naman nandoon din pala si Martin." Tumawa pa siya ng nakakaloko. "And you had sex. Fuck, the smell of sex was everywhere in that fucking room. Sa totoo lang, I wanted to fuck you right there. Beside him para magmukha siyang gago na ang syota niyang katabi sa kama ay may yumayari na iba. But I've changed my mind. Magagawa ko naman iyon habang pinapanood niya. Later we will do that."

Nakaramdam ako ng kilabot sa mga sinasabi niya. The painful memory was trying to get in my head. I felt I couldn't breathe. I started to panic but I tried so hard to calm myself. Inhale-exhale. I can do this. I am not going to let that happen again.

"Where's Martin?"

"I told you he is prepped up. You see, luck is on my side. Who would have thought that he was the one Dr. Jocas was looking for throughout the years? Hindi mo ba alam ang nakaraan ni Martin? That's not his real identity. Doctors changed him to be another person. Fucking medical breakthrough. And now that the doctor found him, baka kinakatay na 'yon. Hanggang kaliit-liitang parte ng katawan niya ay pag-aaralan ng doctor na iyon. Once the doctor gets what he needs, it will be a slow and painful death for Martin. Dr. Jocas promised me that."

"Fuck you!" Nagwawala ako na makaalis sa silya na ito pero tawa lang ng tawa si Jorge.

"And whose got the last laugh now? It's over, Elodie. You are bound to die. Hindi ka na dapat nabuhay."

Hindi ko iniintindi ang sinasabi niya at talagang nagwawala lang ako sa kinauupuan ko. Kailangan kong makatakas dito.

Pero napahinto ako sa pagwawala nang bumukas ang pinto ng silid at may stretcher na ipinapasok doon. Napaawang ang bibig ko pero walang salitang lumabas. Tumulo na lang ang luha ko nang makilala kung sino ang nakaratay doon na walang malay. Si Martin. Naka-restraint din siya habang dalawang lalaki na nakasuot ng scrub suit ang itinutulak ang kinahihigaan niya kasunod ang IV pole kung saan nakasabit ang mga kung ano-anong gamot.

Ipinuwesto iyon malapit sa akin. Sinubukan ko ulit na makatakas sa kinatatalian ko. Humahagulgol na ako ng iyak. Anong ginawa nila kay Martin? Ang dami-daming nakakabit na kung ano-anong maliliit na tubo sa katawan niya.

"What are you going to do with him?" Natataranta na ako. Paano ba ako makakatakas dito?

Hindi ako pinansin ng dalawang lalaking naka-scrub suit. Panay lang ang ayos ng mga ito sa mga nakakabit na kung ano-ano sa katawan ni Martin. May mga isinaksak na kung ano sa katawan.

"Hindi pa ba magigising 'yan? Gusto kong makita na niya kung ano ang gagawin ko sa syota niya," sabi ni Jorge. Nagwawala na naman ako para makatakas sa kinauupuan ko. Naramdaman kong hinila ni Jorge ang buhok ko. "Stop trying, bitch. Hindi ka makakatakas diyan. Huwag kang mag-aalala. Mamaya aalisin din kita diyan."

"Adrenaline na itong isinaksak namin sa kanya. Maya-maya babangon na 'yan." Natatawang sagot ng isang lalaki. Pinitik-pitik pa ang manipis na tubo na nakakabit kay Martin. "Alam mo bang may sa pusa 'to? He cheated death so many times. He got shot and survived. He survived his cancer and look at him. Malakas pa sa kalabaw ang animal. I was looking for him for years para malaman kung anong ginawa sa kanya. Kung paano niya na-survive ang lahat ng ginawa sa kanya. Siya lang ang taong naka-survive sa ganoong klaseng treatment. If I could learn how, they did it, my company, my name will become famous all over the world." Tinanggal ng lalaki ang mask sa mukha nito. Hindi ko ito kilala pero sigurado ako na ito ang doctor na sinasabi ni Jorge.
Nakita kong marahang gumalaw si Martin. Doon kumilos si Jorge at unti-unting kinakalagan ako sa upuan. Iyon ang hinihintay kong pagkakataon. Nang matanggal niya ako sa pagkakatali ay malakas kong iniuntog ang ulo ko sa mukha niya. Malakas siyang napamura. Sinugod ko siya uli. Malakas kong sinipa sa mukha. Bagsak sa lapag si Jorge. Umaaringking sa sakit. Pinaibabawan ko siya. Pinagsusuntok ko. Hindi ako naaawa. Ganito rin ang ginawa niya sa akin. Dudurugin ko ang mukha niya.

Pero napahinto ako nang malakas na putok na baril ang umingay sa silid. Nang tingnan ko iyon ay ang doctor ang may hawak ng baril na pinaputok sa itaas. Tapos ngayon ay itinutok kay Martin.

"Ituloy mo pa 'yan. Tutuluyan ko 'tong syota mo," banta niya.

Tumingin ako kay Martin at unti-unting gumagalaw ang katawan niya. Nang tingnan ko si Jorge ay duguan ang mukha nito at umuungol sa sakit. Muli akong tumingin sa doctor.

"You're bluffing. You cannot kill him. Sabi mo nga kailangan mo siya para pag-eksperimentuhan. You cannot do-"

Malakas na putok ng baril ang pumutol sa pagsasalita ko. Napanganga ako dahil binaril niya si Martin sa dibdib. Malakas na napasigaw si Martin.

"Yes, I cannot kill him yet, but I can shoot him again and again. I am a doctor, and I can patch him. I'll shoot then I'll patch. You know. I can shoot him in his entire body, but he is not going to die yet. But the pain, fuck it. I am telling you he will beg me to kill him because he cannot stand the pain." Tingin ko ay demonyo ang doctor na ito. Sinenyasan niya akong lumayo kay Jorge kaya kahit ayaw ko ay napilitan akong gawin.

Dahan-dahang tumayo si Jorge at ang sama ng tingin sa akin. Nang makalapit ay malakas akong sinuntok. Katulad ng ginawa ko sa kanya, ibinabalik niya sa akin ng doble iyon.

"Gising na ba 'yan, Doc?" Tanong pa ni Jorge.

"Yes. Writhing in pain. Can you please finish what you have to do? I need to operate on this one. Problema ko pa ang blood bags na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa dumarating." Sabi pa nito.

Kahit puno ng dugo ang mukha ni Jorge ay ngumisi pa ito sa akin. Hinila ako sa buhok at sapilitan akong isinubsob sa mesang naroon. Pilit hinuhubad ang suot kong pantalon.

"Make sure that he is watching. I want him to see what I am going to do with his bitch. Hindi niya nakita kung paano ko inararo ang babaeng ito. Ngayon live show sa kanya." Ngayon ay ang panty ko na ang ibinababa ni Jorge.

No. Not again. I don't want to experience this hell again. I am not going to allow this to happen again.

I heard another shot, but this time Jorge fell to the ground. I immediately pulled up my pants and saw Gabriel on the door holding a gun. He was the one who shot Jorge. The doctor aimed his gun to him, but he fired first. Shooting the doctor to the head. The doctor's assistant drew a gun too, but Gabriel shot him too.

Hindi na ako nagtanong kung paanong nakarating dito si Gabriel. Si Martin lang ang importante sa akin. Tumakbo ako palapit kay Martin at kita kong talagang namimilipit siya sa sakit. Punong-puno ng dugo ang dibdib. Pinagtatanggal ko ang restraints niya sa katawan at ang mga nakakabit sa katawan niya. Pero muli ay nakarinig ako ng malalakas na putok ng baril. Isa. Dalawa.

"Elodie!" Boses ni Gabriel iyon tapos ay malalakas ng putok ng baril ulit.

What was happening? I felt like something stung on my back. Nanlalaki ang matang nakatingin sa akin si Martin. Pilit niya akong hinahawakan. Sinubukan kong magsalita pero may dugong lumabas sa bibig ko. I was coughing out blood. My knees felt weak and suddenly they folded, and I fell to the ground.

"Shit. No. No. Elodie. No," si Gabriel iyon at inaalalayan ako. I was looking at him. His face was worried while looking at me. And I looked at Martin. He was trying to get off from the bed, but I think he couldn't stand. Why does he look so blurry? What the hell was wrong with me?

Until I saw Martin fell from the bed. I knew he was hurt. But he was trying to crawl up to me. Gabriel was calling on his phone. He was crying. He looked so tensed.

"I need an ambulance. Fucking, please. Make it fast." His voice was trembling too.

What was this feeling? My body was feeling numb. Martin was trying to reach for him. He was crying too. Why were they're crying? I cough out blood again. I felt I was drowning.

"Please. Please, Elodie hang on. Don't die." Gabriel was calling his phone again. "Where the fuck is my ambulance? I need it now!"

Die? I am going to die? Why would I die? Martin was reaching for my hand, and I tried to reach him too. It was hard to do but I tried so hard just to touch his hand. Until I grasped it. But I knew my hand was cold.

"Don't let go," he said. I knew he was in pain. He was crying while looking at me. I could see blood pooling on the floor. Kanino galing ang dugo na ito? I knew he was trying to squeeze my hand, but I couldn't feel his hand anymore.

I felt a cold rush on my body. I don't want to let go of my gaze from Martin's face, but my eyes were automatically shutting down.

"No! Don't close your eyes!"

I didn't know whose voice was that. But I could hear them shouting. I couldn't control it anymore. My eyes closed. And my ears can only hear faint screams.

Until everything became dark and quiet.