Loki roam his eyes around and found it amusing, a secured room underground? That was just insane. The room is a complete package as if he was living in a condo unit, there is a small kitchen, a dining table, sala set and a huge fridge with loads of foods. Ang kanyang mata ay tumama sa pintuan ng isang kuwarto, Agustos said that Atlas is inside sleeping. It was the only room with a bed in here.

"Why didn't you leave the country?"

Loki sighed, muli siyang bumaling kay Agustos na tinatahi ang sariling sugat, he was seems to get used in this kind of violence, pain and death. Why not? He is part of Mafia and he is the Boss. But aside from being the most dangerous man in the world Agustos has a soft spot for his daughter and grandchild.

"I just want to make sure Atlas is okay."

Agustos scoffed. "Why do you care about her?"

Loki shrugged his shoulder and smile while remembering Atlas.

"I just care and you can't stop me."

"When did you learn how to fight like that?" Curious na tanong ni Luhence. "I mean I thought you were busy in business and planning your devilish plan to— yeah when did you learn that?"

Loki sighed, he work so hard to be professional for nothing he was fooled by his own mother. Akala niya ay hindi makabasag pinggan ang ina, Lucille was the most kindest mother to him not knowing what she's doing behind his back. So he work so hard to be a professional assasin he wants to kill Agustos in his own hand because of what he thought Agustos did.

"Self thought, I use my grudge and frustration in building my skills and strategies."

Luhence nodded, tumayo siya at lumapit sa fridge upang kumuha ng pag kain. Nakaramdam siya bigla ng gutom sa nangyari sa kanila kanina lang.

"Does it hurt?"

"I'm stitching my wound without any anesthesia right? It doesn't hurt it just sting." Sagot ni Agustos. "I'll survive."

Hindi na kumibo si Loki, isinandal niya ang likod sa sofa at panandaliang pumikit ngunit hindi na niya namalayan na nakatulog na siya. Nagising na lang siya ng may humaplos sa kanyang mukha, it was Atlas whose pinching his cheeks smiling from ear to ear.

"Hi Atlas..." Masayang masaya niyang wika habang nakatingin dito. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Atlas shook her head and smile, she took her pen and paper and write something on it. Tahimik at matyaga niyang hinhintay ang mga sasabihin ni Atlas as if he was really interested on everything she's doing.

"Why are you here Loki?"

Loki chuckled, marahan niyang ginulo ang buhok nito at kinuha ang papel ni Atlas then he wrote something on it.

"Because I was worried sick that you are hurt."

Atlas snatch the paper on his hand and write something.

"I'm okay but scared, is Uncle Leonardo there?"

Loki frown, why would Atlas mention Leonardo. What does she mean?

"Why? No Leonardo is not here."

Tila nakahinga ng maluwag si Atlas, Loki was bothered to on why Atlas looks so scared to Leonardo. Did he do something to the kid Atlas is a very sweet child.

"Why are you scared?"

Atlas sighed but eventually wrote something on the paper.

"Uncle Leonardo planned to abandoned me far away from my home."

Tila nakaramdam ng galit si Loki sa narinig, he abandoned Atlas?! That son of a bitch, Leonardo also plans to kill Asia. Good thing that Keira finally got away from him before anything happens.

"Why would he do that?"

Atlas shrugged. She doesn't know why, Leonardo seems so sweet and kind to her but he suddenly changed. He became so aggressive and violent against her.

"It's okay , he is not here and besides I'm here I'll protect you."

Tila nabuhayan si Atlas sa narinig, her small hand immediately wrapped around Loki's neck.

"Atlas..."

Agad na lumayo si Atlas kay Loki ng tawagin siya ni Agustos, ngunit hindi ito umalis sa kanyang tabi.

"Come here sweetheart it's time for your meal."

Atlas looks back to Loki then she wrote something on her paper.

"You are not gonna leave right?"

Loki smile and nodded, ginulo niya ang buhok ni Atlas.

"I won't,"

Malapad na ngumiti si Atlas then she jump out of the sofa and run towards Agustos. Dali dali naman siyang binuhat nito at sabay na nag lakad patungo sa dining table, Loki watch Atlas eat her meal. Ang cute lang nito habang ngumunguya dahil sa mataba niyang pisngi. Habang busy sa pag kain si Atlas ay lumapit sa kanya si Agustos, mukha itong hindi nabaril sa binti dahil diretsyo parin itong mag lakad. He was surprised that he sat next to him a few inch away.

"You can't promise her something you couldn't take responsibility of."

"What do you mean?" Loki said still looking at Atlas, katabi na ngayon ito ni Luhence na kumakain.

"Atlas she has no family other than me... She was once a very jolly and talkative lil kid but Leonardo happened I almost lost her."

"What do you mean?"

Agustos sighed.

"He tried to kill Atlas thinking that she is Asia's daughter, he want power he wants my position I would gladly give it to him if he just wait, I don't want to burden Asia the way my parents burden me she's just so precious to me. You were right, Asia is indeed my weakness."

Napakyuko na lang si Loki sa kahihiyan if he would known he would never do that to Asia, but it still possible because of his condition.

"Loki I don't think I can keep her here."

"What do you mean?"

Agustos looks at him and sighed in frustration.

"Atlas would be in danger if she would stay with me any longer, I-I need you to take her back to the Philippines with you after this."

"What?! Atlas is not a toy that you will just give to someone!"

"I'm not giving her to you! If I have another option I wouldn't let Atlas stay with you, I can't trust anyone around me here."

Loki sighed, he watch Atlas eats happily.

"So you trust me?"

"I trust you with her life, happiness and safety Loki. You are the only card I have, take Atlas with you and leave this country."

Hindi kumibo si Loki, he wants to but it will be a big change for Atlas. She looks so attach to Agustos.

"How can I? She'll be sad to leave."

Agustos nodded, napangiti na lang siya habang nakatingin kay Atlas na kumakain at nakikipag kulitan kay Luhence.

"I know she will, but atleast she would survived and will have a normal life that she wanted."

-----

NANG MASIGURO NA ANG kaligtasan sa muli nilang oag labas ng basement ay saka lang iyon binuksan ni Agustos, they were stuck inside for a week before Agustos let them leave, agad niyang binuhat si Atlas at lalabas na sana ng mag pumiglas itong bumaba. She run towards the close door but it was already lock at that time.

"Atlas come, it's time to go."

Atlas shook her head and started crying. Mabilis naman na lumapit si Loki sa bata at lumuhod sa harap nito, Loki wipe Atlas face and smile sweetly to her.

"Why did you leave something inside?"

Atlas shook her Head and started banging the door, agad naman siyang pinigilan ni Loko dahil sa ubod ng tigas ang pinto na iyon, it would just hurt her.

"It's okay, you can tell me what is it."

Atlas sniff and run towards the couch she took her paper and pen and was about to write something on it when Agustos and Luhence came in.

"What's happening here?"

Loki sighed. He pointed at Atlas.

"She wants to get inside that door. She won't just leave."

Agustos face pale, he walk towards Atlas and gently tap her head.

"Sweetheart what is it that you want?"

Atlas wipe her tears and write something on the paper.

"It's okay, let's get back after everything bis okay. But first you need to leave with Loki don't you wang that? He will buy you an Ice cream."

But Atlas refuse and run towards the door started banging it again.

"What's inside? Can't you let her in?"

Luhence agreed and asked the same question.

"Just let her—"

"No!" Malakas na sigaw ni Agustos making Atlas flinch. "I-Im sorry."

Mabilis na tumakbo si Atlas palabas ng basement.

"Atlas!" Sigaw ni Loki at mabilis na hinabol ito. "Atlas! Stop running."

But she didn't listen and run towards her room, malakas niyang binagsak ang pinto at ni-lock ang sarili sa loob.

"Atlas, open the door."

But she didn't open, malalim na napabuntong hininga si Loki at naupo sa tabi ng pinto ni Atlas.

"It's okay Atlas, I'll just stay here till you open the door."

Loki was sitting beside her door waiting for Atlas to open it.

"You know what, I can really see my self to you back when I was just a child." Nakangiti niyang wika.

He can see his old self to Atlas, a jolly and just a happy kid with his family. He was stubborn too just like Atlas.

"My Dad will always scold me, I thought that he didn't love me but when I get old I realize how my Dad loves me."

Mangiyak-ngiyak siya habang sinasabi ang katagang iyon, how he wish that he could turn back the time and be with his father again.

"I-I was sad because all I did is to get mad at him."

The door click and slowly open ngunit hindi ganoon kalaki ang bukas non enough go see Atlas sitting inside.

"Feeling better?"

Atlas slightly nodded. Pinatong nito ang ulo sa tuhod at tumingin sa kanya.

"I'm happy you are feeling okay now... I'm actually thinking about taking you with me for a vacation what do you say?"

Atlas eyes brightened, all her life she is not allowed to even be at the garden alone to look at the flowers. Or even play with the kids her age or go to school. Do stuff like other kids do or even go on a vacation.

"Your Grandpa already agreed, and I'm wondering if you would like to come with me?"

Malawak na binuksan ni Atlas ang pinto at tumakbo palapit sa kanya she hug Loki tight making his heart flutter in happiness.

"Is that a yes?"

Atlas nodded.

"Okay, so we should go back to your grandpa. He is worried sick."

Atlas pout but eventually nodded, binuhat ni siya ni Loki. Nag lakad sila pabalik sa basement ngunit nakasalubong na nila si Luhence at Agustos.

"Atlas!"

Mabilis na lumapit si Agustos sa kanya at kinuha si Atlas he hugs her tight and kiss her forehead.

"I'm sorry I shouted."

Atlas wrapped her arms around him and nodded. She mouthed him sorry too. Agustos looks back at Loki and mouthed him thank you, galit man siya dito ay malaki parin ang utang na loob niya dito.

"Can I buy you an ice cream as a bribe?"

Atlas nodded excitedly. Sabay na lang nilang pinagmasdan ni Luhence ang mag Lolo na nag lakad patungo sa kitchen.

"So, you are taking Atlas with you?"

Loki nodded and smile.

"It's a huge responsibility Loki."

"That's the least I can do for everything I have done. I need to protect her with my life."

"So you are just taking her out of guilty?"

Loki shook his head.

"No, I'm taking her because I want too. Because I felt like I have to protect her at all cost."

----

Atlas entered the room holding her ice cream, she has no idea what's in that room as it was her first time getting inside. The beeping sound of the machine attracts her attention but the toys on the couch attracts her more that she immediately run towards the couch and pick up the toy.

She played their for a while till the beeping sound of the machine keeps on bugging her. Tumalon siya pababa ng couch at hinanap ang tunog, nang gagaling iyon sa likod ng kurtina na nakasabit. Atlas hand slowly reach for the curtain, tinabing niya iyon.

Agad niyang na bitawan ang hawak na laruan ng makita ang nasa likod ng kurtina. It was a woman lying on the bed, madaming tubo ang nakakabit dito. But then she realize something that shocks her.

"Mom..."