Heshiena's Point of View

My forehead furrowed in confusion after realizing I was at a different place. From what I remembered, Mavros and Ace were out to roam around the city. Chry was with Miss Sky. And I was left at the suite alone.

And why am I in a place where darkness seems to prevail?

"My name's Mayumi!" My ears twitched in a second after hearing that name.

Mas lalong kumunot ang aking noo. If I am not mistaken, Yumi's mortal name is Mayumi. The small steps I made earlier out of fear turned into the opposite, eager to follow that voice. Dinala ako ng aking mga paa sa dulo ng pasilyo, kung saan may dalawang seldang magkaharap.

On my left, ang dilim-dilim ng selda. I immediately assumed that no one was there. But the other was the opposite. What greeted me left me speechless. Young Chry was at the corner, minding her own business.

Her eyes looking at the girl who was innocently playing with dolls filled with insecurity, hatred, and agony.

Biglang kumirot ang puso ko.

Tila ba'y kagagaling niya lang sa isang masakit na karanasan.

Tumayo ang batang babaeng nakatalikod sa akin. Lumapit siya kay Chry. Inabot niya ito ang isang manikang hawak-hawak niya.

"I said, my name's Mayumi," the girl said.

My ears once again twitched. I was hearing right. But I don't want to jump into conclusion that she is the long-lost twin sister of Zuki. Though my instincts are telling me otherwise.

The girl's shoulder quickly dropped. Silence prevailed. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw young Chry move her jaw. A sign that she gritted her teeth.

"My name's Maica."

Nagpakawala ng isang malalim na buntonghininga ang batang babae. Her voice was shaking as if her tears were threatening to fall upon her eyes.

"I understand you . . ." Ang salitang 'yon ang dahilan kung bakit napatingin sa kaniya ang batang si Chry. "My Mom was killed in front of me." Her voice finally cracked. "We tried to escape. And lost my twin brother in the process. But somehow, I am glad we separated or else he's with me right now."

I gritted my teeth when I finally confirmed that the girl who's with Chry inside this cell was the young Yumi.

Bigla akong nakarinig ng paparating na mga yapak. Habang ako naman ay hindi alam kung saan ako magtatago. My eyes grew wider when someone went through me. I was confused for a second, but immediately understood what's happening.

They didn't saw me.

And I was inside Yumi's or Chry's memories.

This is beyond what I expect from being an offspring of Poseidon and Artemis.

Binuksan ng dalawang may malaking katawan ang selda at lumapit kay Chry. They forcefully grabbed her hand and drag her with them. Chry only shows hatred. Tinignan ko ng maigi ang dalawang lalaki.

They were wearing all black clothes with a wireless earpiece. They are almost bald with various scars on their arms and face. As if they're a member of a syndicate group.

"Maica!" Yumi called her with her mortal name on top of her lungs. Tumakbo siya papalapit sa dalawang lalaki at sinubukang pigilang kunin si Chry. "No! Please!" Sinarado ng isang lalaki ang selda. "Don't hurt her!" Yumi's painful cries rang in my ear. "I can't lose another sibling."

No matter how I tried to prevent my tears from falling by gritting my teeth, I lost. I found myself crying on the floor with the heaviness of my heart. This is so painful.

Feeling ko noon parang ako lang ang pinagbagsakan ng lupa at langit. But I was oblivious that there are others who went through an unfortunate circumstance.

Napasinghap na lamang ako nang biglang magbago ang paligid. There I saw a girl who holds a gun covered with blood all over her body. Nagtaasan ang balahibo ko sa braso nang makita ko ang hitsura niya.

What's more shocking is when she grabs the man's hair to lift his head that is kneeling in front of her, begging to spare his life, she never thinks twice to blow his head.

"Maica . . ." Yumi was in disbelief when Chry arrived at the cell. "Sinunod mo ang gusto nila! Your hands are now tainted with the blood of innocents that will probably live in your conscience forever! It will haunt you!"

Chry remained silent, staring at the void.

"Oh, dear Chry . . ." ang nasambit ko na lamang.

"Maica!" Napasinghap ako nang marinig ko ang boses ni Yumi. "Do you still have humanity in you?! How could you do this to yourself, Maica!" Lumakas ang iyak niya.

"You're a monster."

Young Chry's eyes grew wider after hearing those words. She was only looking at the young girl sobbing in the corner. My heart aches even more when Chry cries in silent. Tila ba'y mas nasaktan siya sa salitang 'yon kaysa sa pambubogbog na natanggap niya.

Nakatulog si Yumi sa kakaiyak niya. Si Chry naman ay naiwang nakatitig lamang sa kaniya. Naglakad siya papalapit dito. Inayos niya ang kumot at ngumiti nang mapait.

Kasunod ay ang paghaplos niya sa ulo nito.

"I'm sorry . . ." she whispers but enough for me to hear it. "Mom was killed right before my eyes too." Her eyes once again glowed in hatred. "But you were there when I was mourning. You never surrender of calling me your sister. And it did save me because of that."

"Thank you." Her voice started to crack.

Dahan-dahang kumuyom ang mga palad niya. Her jaw moved. Her eyes become sharper.

"I am sorry for tainting my hands." Ginawa niya ang lahat ng makakaya para lang hindi makagawa ng ingay. "But I never regret of choosing to protect you. Ikaw na lang ang natira sa buhay ko. You give me hope and purpose even the time I gave up of believing."

Walang tigil ang pagbuhos ng luha ko sa mga narinig. Chry chooses to follow their orders to protect Yumi. Totoo nga ang sabi nila na ang pag-asa nasa tabi-tabi lang. Kusa lamang itong dadating sa tuwing kailangan natin.

"Oh, what a sweet message, little girl."

Napatingin ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses. There I saw a middle aged man who wore a black tuxedo. The way he present himself, he is undeniably the ring leader. Somehow he looks familiar.

Marahil ay tila nakita ko na ang mukha niya galing sa ibang tao.

Chry clicked her tongue in anger.

The man laughed. "Calm down. I come in peace." Tumingin din siya sa kaharap na selda na sobrang dilim. "If only this idiot follow my orders just like my lovely Maica, hindi ka sana natutulog sa malamig na sahig!" His disappointed voice echoed this broad hallway. "Kung hindi lang kita pamangkin, matagal ka ng patay! At least rot in this cell, you useless idiot!"

Pagkatapos niyang pagalitan ang taong nasa kabilang selda, humarap siya kay Chry at ngumiti nang malapad.

"Don't disappoint me, Maica. Or Mayumi will end up like your mother."

Chills race down to my spine when I glance at her. The hatred within her eyes is untamable. Unti-unting naging visible ang iilang ugat sa leeg niya. This version of Chry gives me an instant fear for my life.

It's as if any minute now, she could slit my throat out. And left me on the floor, bathing my own blood.

"Who are you?!" Chry shouted, referring to the person she thought there's no one inside that cell.

We heard a soft sigh. Tila ba'y hinang-hina na ito.

"My name's Xsan Lester."

Biglang bumukas ang selda kung saan naroroon sina Chry at Yumi. Walang reaksyon si Chry nang kaladkarin siya ng mga ito palabas.

Everything went dark. I only hear gunshots, slashing of swords, the sound of something piercing in flesh, cries of physical pain, and begging. On the other hand, the smell of iron-like dominated the vicinity.

Napatakip ako sa aking bibig at tila kinakapos ng hangin.