CHAPTER 36

NANG IPARADA NI KING ang sasakyan sa labas ng mansiyon ng mga Vitale, napakurap-kurap si Happy nang makita ang mga sasakyang nagkalat sa paligid. At lahat ng mga sasakyan na naroon ay may sinasabi, lahat ay nasisiguro niyang mamahalin.

Blaze and Knight's friends, she guessed.

Yesterday, Blaze and Knight called their friends who could help them and today was the day that they would break out Valerian and Shun. Kinailangan pa kasi nilang hintayin ang iba dahil nasa ibang bansa ang mga ito, lalo na ang ibang tutulong sa parte ni Knight.

They have to work together if they wanted this to be successful. Hindi biro ang kalaban nila.

Natigilan si Happy pero hindi na nagulat nang pagsalikupin ni Blaze ang kamay nilang dalawa. It was one of his gestures that she liked. Pakiramdam kasi niya, ipinagmamalaki siya nito sa lahat ng nakakakita sa kanila.

Not only that, Blaze was also very showy. He didn't care about public display of affection. He would touch her, kiss her and hug her when he wanted to. At natuto na siyang hindi magulat at hayaan na lang ito kasi alam niyang naglalambing at nagpapalambing lang ito sa kanya.

And she liked babying Blaze. Who didn't love a badass who want to be babied by his girlfriend?

"Baby?"

Tumingin siya kay Blaze. "Hmm?"

"I love you."

Napatitig siya sa kasintahan. He really liked saying I love you to her. Walang araw yata na hindi ito nag-I love you sa kanya.

And she liked that about him.

She smiled at Blaze. "I love you too."

Hinalikan siya sa noo ni Blaze bago magkahawak-kamay silang pumasok sa mansiyon. Nasa unahan nila si Knight at nasa likuran nila si King.

Nang makapasok sila, agad na tumuon ang mga mata niya sa kalalakihan na nasa sala.

She knew these men.

The Basagulero Gang. As Reigo called them.

"Where's the war?" tanong agad ni Phoenix Martinez nang makita sila. "We came here as fast as we could."

"This better be entertaining," sabi ni naman ni Titus. "We were in Sicily, on vacation with Nix's family when you called."

"This is a bad idea," sabad naman ni Nate Moretti na napapailing pa. "I have so many cakes to make today. And I have a wedding cake for tomorrow. Fuck. This better be good."

"Since when did going to war is a good idea?" tanong ni Khairro Sanford, saka tumingin kay Knight. "She's safe, by the way."

Knight nodded. "Thanks."

"I'm just here to supply you with guns," sabi ni Andrius Salazar. "Apparently, that's what I'm good at these past few months. No to war na ako."

"That's good enough," sabi ni Blaze.

"If you need a sniper, I'm just here," wika ni Pierce Muller na nagbabasa ng magazine.

"So, what's the plan?" Titus asked. "Don't die?"

"Nadagdagan na," sabi ni Blaze na ngayon ay yakap siya mula sa likuran. "Break Valerian and Shun out, don't die and guns blazin.'"

"That's not a good plan," sabad ni Khairro. "But it'll do."

"Kailan ba tayo nagkaroon ng maayos na plano sa mga ganitong pagkakataon?" napapantastikuhang tanong ni Titus na napapailing pa. "We should buy a book on how to make a plan when going to war for dummy."

"You guys really don't like planning, huh?" sabad ni King na nakikinig lang kanina.

"Because it's a waste of time, bud," wika ni Pierce. "Kahit pa anong plano namin, hindi naman nasusunod kaya huwag na lang magplano."

Everyone nodded.

"Hey, lunatics." Boses iyon ni Yrozz mula sa itaas ng hagdanan at mabilis itong bumaba.

Sinalubong ito ni Knight at inilahad ang kamay rito. "I won't do it again."

Yrozz chuckled and accepted Knight's hand. "That sounds like an I'm sorry to me. Apology accepted, moron."

Both men laughed and did a man hug, tapping each other's shoulders.

"Yrozz..." It was Khairro. "We're going to war and we don't have a plan. Hindi naman tayo mga baliw, 'di ba?"

"No worries." Inilapag ni Yrozz ang laptop na dala at projector sa ibabaw ng center table at naupo ito sa sahig. "If we get out of this one alive, I am reserving a room for us in the mental hospital because apparently this friendship makes us all not right in the head."

They all laughed.

"So..." Yrozz took a deep breath. "I went inside the Organization's system to pull the blueprint of the HQ below Racini's Hotel, and this is it." Inayos nito ang projector na nakaharap sa pader.

Yrozz was about to continue explaining when they heard cars pulling over outside the house.

Agad na inilabas ni Blaze ang baril na nakatago sa likod nito at itinutok iyon sa pinto ng mansiyon na bumukas.

The men who entered immediately drew their guns and pointed it at Blaze.

It was so fast, but Happy saw it. Midnight trained her to see fast movements.

And then Titus pulled something from his duffel bag. "I suggest you drop your guns, a-holes." Itinutok nito ang grenade launcher na hawak sa tatlong bagong dating. "Or I'll blow you up. It's been a long time since I used this bad boy. I missed it."

Before someone pulled the trigger, a man stepped inside the house.

"Luther!" Blaze looked happy to see the man. "'Buti nakarating ka."

The man named Luther shrugged. "You invited me, unlike your brother who didn't invite me to his fucking wedding!"

Natawa si Blaze. "Still haven't moved on from that?"

"Yes," Luther grunted, irritated. "I'm still insulted." Sumaludo ito kina Titus at Phoenix. "Hey, a-holes." Then he glanced at the three men who came before him. "New faces... definitely not lunatics."

Pumagitna si Knight sa bagong dating at sa mga kaibigan nito. "They're with me. They're here to help."

"Oh." Ibinaba agad ni Titus ang grenade launcher at nagpakilala na parang wala lang nangyari. "Titus Morgan, nice to fucking meet you."

And the introduction started between Knight and Blaze's friends and Knight's three friends.

Then four set of eyes settled on her.

"Your woman?" the man named Luther asked Blaze.

Hinalikan siya sa gilid ng noo ni Blaze bago sumagot. "Yes. She's my baby and she's here to help."

Luther grinned. "Finally! I'm happy for you, man!"

Lumapit sa kanya si Luther, saka akmang hahawakan siya sa kamay nang magsalita si Blaze.

"I hate it when men touched her," sabi nito. "It makes me so fucking jealous and it makes me wanna kill that man."

Natigilan si Luther sa paghawak sana sa kamay niya, saka ngumiti. "We're really friends. I feel you, man. Don't worry. I'm not touching your woman. Masyadong mahigpit ang hawak mo sa baril mo, baka mabaril mo na lang ako bigla."

Blaze just smiled.

"A woman in our midst?" Damon Cox, the head of South America, said like he disagreed of her being there.

Kumawala siya sa yakap ni Blaze at walang sabi-sabing inatake ang lalaki.

Punches after punches, she used her arms and elbows, delivering fast and furious blow after blow of attacks while her feet didn't falter to move forward. And when she saw an opening on his defense, she jumped, turned around mid air and her leg flew and made contact with Daemon Cox's face—making his lips bled.

Napaawang ang mga labi ni Daemon habang sinasalat ang pumutok nitong labi at napatingin sa kanya.

Happy smiled and asked. "Did I pass?"

To answer her, Draco Russ, head of Australia attacked her but she was quick to block, faked a turn, squatted and kicked his knees. When he wobbled at the strength of her triple kick, she did a handstand, quickly wrapping her legs tightly around his neck and she used all her strength to flip him in the air.

Pareho silang bumagsak sa sahig sa ginawa niya.

But she landed on her knees—in perfect balance—while Draco Russ landed on his back, grunting a little.

"Fuck." Draco hissed. "I underestimated her."

Happy flipped her hair before standing up and facing Chaos Aronov. "You wanna go next?"

Chaos smiled and subtly shook his head. "I like my ego intact, Miss Quinn."

A sweet smile appeared on her lips. "Great. Then we're all good that I'm here? Walang reklamo?"

Lahat positibo ang naging sagot, kasama na ang dalawang nakalaban niya para patunayan ang sarili niya.

Samantalang sumipol naman si Luther. "You know how to pick a woman, Blaze."

Blaze just smiled proudly at his friends.

"Damn..." Draco cussed. "Where did you learn to fight like that?"

"I had a good teacher."

Daemon tsked as he tried to touch his own busted lips. "I know that move. Midnight trained you?"

Ngumiti lang siya, saka bumalik sa tabi ni Blaze at kinindatan ito.

He pressed his lips against hers and whispered over her lips. "You're a badass."

She kissed Blaze's back before turning her back on him and wrapping his arms around her waist from behind.

"Okay." Yrozz clasped his hand. "Now that we settled that, I need your attention on the projector, motherfuckers."

Lahat sila ibinigay ang atensiyon kay Yrozz.

"First problem is here." Itinuro nito ang sa labas ng Racini's Hotel. "Hindi n'yo mapapansin 'to pero may mga guwardiya sa labas na nagmamasid lang."

"That's right." Sumabad si Knight. "There are ten men outside. They all look like normal civilians but they aren't. Hindi naman ganito kahigpit ang seguridad ng HQ pero dahil nandito ang ama ko, doble ang security nila ngayon."

Pierce raised his hand. "I'll take care of them."

"I'll help with the clean up outside," sabad ni Khairro.

Happy interjected. "Can we not use real bullets? Those men, they're just following orders from your father." Sinulyapan niya si Knight bago nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. "Huwag natin silang idamay. They're still part of the Organization. Naiipit lang din sila."

Sumang-ayon sa kanya si Daemon. "She's right. Let's not make it bloody. Let's not kill our own."

Sumabad si Phoenix. "I have a tranquilliser bullet in my house. Pierce can use it."

"How many?" Pierce asked.

"Ten," sagot ni Phoenix.

"No room for error, bud," sabi ni Khairro na tinapik ang balikat ni Pierce. "Hindi naman sa pini-pressure kita pero parang ganoon na nga."

Mahina silang nagtawanan.

"And the second problem is here." Itinuro ni Yrozz ang papasok sa hotel. "Another twenty men inside before anyone can reach the elevator."

Titus smirked. "I take care of the ten. I'm good at suffocating people without killing them."

"And I'll take care of the rest," Phoenix added. "I'm good at making my enemies unconscious."

"Good. Problem three," sabi ni Yrozz, saka itinuro ang elevator. "May dalawang elevator assistant sa loob pero miyembro sila ng Org. They're the elevator guards. Someone needs to replace them and guard the elevator for us so while we're down there, no one can come down."

"I'll do it," sabi ni Nate.

"Great." Yrozz moved her laser pointer pen below the elevator. "And then there's the double door security."

"And?" Daemon asked when Yrozz stops talking. "What's the plan there?"

"The plan stops there," nakangiting sabi ni Yrozz at ini-off ang projector. "The security system will not let you in, bumukas man 'yon, hindi n'yo mararating ang gusto n'yong puntahan dahil kontrolado ng ama ni Knight ang lahat ng pinto. And I'm pretty sure your codes will not work because—well, you're going against the Organization is the obvious reason and I don't think Knight's father is dumb not to notice that."

Luther glanced at Knight. "You have a plan?"

"Break our friends out and don't die." Si Blaze ang sumagot.

"Great." Draco let out a loud breath. "Good plan," puno ng sarkasmo nitong sabi.

"At least there's the don't die part," sabad ni Chaos.

"And then guns blazin,'" dagdag ni Khairro.

"Hell, yeah," Luther whispered.

Everyone sighed.

"Worst plan," sabi ni Chaos.

"Ever," dagdag nina Draco at Daemon.

"Guys," kuha ni Phoenix sa atensiyon nila. "You do realize that we're going to go against a very old and powerful Organization. This is not just some bad men and syndicates and powerful families. This is a huge underground law organization—a vigilantes—who has their own laws and punishments. Even if we manage to get Shun and Valerian out of that building, there will be repercussions from Knight's father. Are we all ready for that?"

Titus sighed. "Nix is right. It'll be hell after this. Your father..." Tumingin ito kay Knight. "He will not let this slide. He will make us pay. That's for sure. Especially you, the bosses. It'll be hell."

Luther nodded. "And telling the others about the Organization..." He glanced at Knight and Blaze. "You will be punished. This is hell... on earth. For all of us after this shit."

Knight glanced at her before answering his friends with a smile. "Thankfully, we have a plan for that one."

"So, what's the plan?" Chaos asked. "Besides from break them out and don't die?"

Tumingin sa kanya si Knight. "Trust her."

Lahat napatingin sa kanya.

"What do you mean by trust her?" Daemon asked.

"She's the plan," Knight said with so much trust on his voice. "Whatever she says, do it."

"And why would we do that?" Draco asked, looking at her skeptically. "We're not just risking our lives here, also our positions and our families. We're here because a fellow boss asked for help and the fourth Arkhon is making some shady decisions. And we need more than the word trust her to trust her, Count Velasquez."

"Then trust me," sabi ni Knight. "Kaya 'di ba nandito ka, kasi may tiwala ka sa akin at pareho tayo ng ipinaglalaban?"

Draco sighed. "Fine. This better work."

Namaywang si Knight. "It will. Now... Andrius..." Bumaling ito kay Salazar na nakikinig at tahimik lang. "The guns? Do you think your mom has special bullets like Phoenix?"

"I'll ask. How many do you need?" Andrius asked.

Chaos answered. "How many can you provide?"

Andrius let out a soft breath. "How many do you need and I'll provide it. I mean, my mom would. She owns the guns."

"What kind of mother do you have?" Daemon asked.

"The badass kind," sagot ni Andrius.

"Andrius here is Ivy Gonzaga's husband," imporma ni Knight sa tatlong kaharap.

"Oh." Daemon looked surprised. "Gonzaga Family... the family of badasses."

Andrius smiled proudly. "That's my wife. Badass."

Luther interjected. "As many guns as you can provide would be nice. And lots of suppressors too."

"Noted." Inilabas ni Andrius ang cell phone, saka may tinawagan. "Mom... yes, I need it now. Wait... do you have a tranquilliser bullet? Yes. Yes, the kind of bullet that doesn't kill—Oh! Okay. That's nice. Thanks." He ended the call and faced all of them. "Three sacks of guns and one sack of special bullets. Would that be enough?"

Draco grinned. "Tell your mother she's an angel."

"Angel from hell, you mean?" Andrius tsked.

Lahat sila ay nagtawanan hanggang sa magsalita si Knight.

"Yrozz, hindi ka ba sasama sa amin?"

Umiling si Yrozz habang abala ito sa harap ng laptop. "Dito lang ako. I'll be monitoring you guys and deleting every footage they have on you so they can't use it against you in the near future... like what they did to me. And, guys?"

Lahat sila ay tumingin kay Yrozz.

Yrozz smirked. "Give them hell."

They all nodded in unison and silence fell on them until King broke it.

"Who wants some beer? It's cold."

Nagkanya-kanya ng "I want one" ang naroon habang iginiya naman siya ni Blaze paalis ng sala, patungo sa ikalawang palapag, sa kuwarto nito.

Nang makapasok sila sa kuwarto, magtatanong sana siya kung ano ang ginagawa nila roon samantalang dapat nasa ibaba sila at nakikipag-usap sa mga karagdagang plano nang bigla na lang nitong siniil ng halik ang mga labi niya at isinandal siya sa nakasarang pinto.

Blaze kisses... his kisses were only like this when he wanted to make love and be intimate with her.

"I'm worried of you," bulong ni Blaze sa mga labi niya habang inaangkin 'yon at sinisipsip. "Calm me down please, baby?"

Sa sinabing 'yon ng lalaki, siya na ang naghubad sa pang-itaas nito at tinugon nang mapusok ang halik nito. Pareho silang sapo ang leeg ng isa't isa habang parang mga uhaw na naghahalikan. Hanggang sa itulak niya ito paupo sa mahabang sofa.

"Okay..." Hinubad ni Happy lahat ng saplot sa katawan bago paharap na umupo at pinaglandas ang mga labi sa leeg ni Blaze, pataas, patungo sa mga labi nito at bumulong, "let your baby calm you down."

Binuksan niya ang butones ng pangalon nito at ibinaba ang zipper, saka inilabas ang kahabaan nito. She didn't hesitate, she slid his length inside her, making both of them groaned.

Her body arched in sheer pleasure.

And then she rode him... and rocked his world.

AT EXACTLY 10:30 PM, Happy, Blaze, Knight, Luther, Draco, Daemon and Chaos were already in the air, inside Phoenix's soundproof helicopter. King stayed on the mansion to protect Yrozz if the Organization tracked and found him while hacking their system.

As Happy looked around the helicopter, she smiled inwardly. She was the only flower among the thorns. Never in her life did she even dream of this. To use what she learned from Midnight this way.

She thought it was all about self-defense, but now she understood why Midnight trained her strictly.

Knight spoke to Yrozz via a micro-earphone. They all have one so they could communicate easily. Puwede nilang i-on o i-off ang microphone n'on sa loob pero maririnig pa rin nila ang nasa kabilang linya kasi microphone lang naman nila ang nakasara.

"Is Muller in position?" tanong ni Knight.

"Yes," sagot ni Yrozz.

"Fuck!" Khairro hissed on the other line. "Don't just start shooting, Pierce! Wait for me to be behind them so I can catch them before they fall!"

"Two," Pierce counted.

"Fuck!" Khairro cussed.

"Three."

"Fuck!"

Hindi alam ni Happy kung matatawa siya o mapapailing habang pinapakinggan si Pierce na nagbibilang habang si Khairro naman ay panay ang mura at reklamo na ang bilis daw gumalaw ni Pierce.

Pierce just answered. "The wind is in my favor."

"Did you miss?" tanong ni Luther kay Pierce nang lumipas ang isang minuto na hindi na ito nagbilang.

"Ten," sabi ni Pierce kapagkuwan. "FYFI, I don't miss."

"Gotcha!" Khairro hissed. "Done cleaning up. Your turn, motherfuckers."

"Hell, yeah," sabay na sabi nina Titus at Phoenix sa kabilang linya.

Then they heard loud grunts and hissed from the other line.

Nakikipaglaban na sina Titus at Phoenix.

"I'm walking in." Si Nate 'yon. "On the way to the elevator—fuck! They're on me! Repeat, they're on me!"

Nawala ito sa kabilang linya.

Knight tsked. "Pierce, is the rooftop clean?"

"No. Seven men," sagot ni Pierce.

"Great!" Chaos smiled. "One for each."

Lumapag ang helicopter na sinasakyan nila at nang makalabas silang lahat, may nakatutok nang baril sa kanila.

Daemon's eyes sharpened as he smirked. "Sorry, I don't like it when someone is holding a gun at me." Then he attacked.

All of them followed.

As what Chaos said, one for each.

Madaling napatumba ni Happy ang kalaban at nang lumingon siya kay Blaze, wala nang malay ang kalaban nito.

When she neared him, he automatically intertwined their hands as they walked towards the elevator.

"Come on, Nate..." Draco whispered as he pressed the button for the elevator to go up. "You better be inside, you motherfucker."

Nang tumigil at bumukas ang elevator sa harap niya, lahat nakahinga nang maluwag nang makita si Nate.

"You all look happy." Puno ng sarkasmo na sabi ni Nate.

"We can take the guards down but the elevator needs a guard so no one can enter uninvited," sabi ni Daemon. "And that's you."

"Yeah, yeah," sabi ni Nate na parang walang pakialam habang nagte-text.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo?" Blaze asked Nate.

"Replying to my client because her cake is still not ready and her wedding is tomorrow."

"Speaking of cake... I want one," sabad ni Knight. "I haven't had a cake since my wife left. Fuck! I miss cake and sex at the same time."

"Me too," sabad ni Chaos, "I'd been so busy with work that I haven't had sex for a while."

"I wanna get laid after this," sabi ni Daemon.

"Two women fucking me would be nice," Draco said in a tired voice.

"I can't relate," nakangising sabi ni Luther. "I just had fill before I leave."

"Fuck you," sabi nina Draco, Daemon, Chaos at Knight kay Luther.

Blaze whispered over her ear with his deep baritone sexy voice. "Can I have you later? In the bathtub?" He licked her earlobe. "I want you again."

Mahina siyang natawa at napailing. Nasa gitna sila ng labanan pero iyon ang usapan ng mga kasama niya.

And finally, they arrived.

Tiningnan ni Happy ang relong pambisig.

11:05 PM.

Nang bumukas ang elevator, may mga nag-aabang na sa kanila sa labas. Sampung kalalakihan.

Binitiwan ni Blaze ang kamay niya, saka bumulong, "Show them how to be a badass, baby."

Happy nodded and she attacked first, the rest followed. Loud grunts filled the room and one by one their enemies dropped to the floor. Nang mapatumba ang mga kalaban, lumapit si Daemon sa malapad na screen at may pinindot doon.

"Searching for?" sabi ng boses na nanggagaling sa monitor.

"Valerian Volkzki and Shun Kim," wika Knight.

"Please enter your passcode," sabi ng boses.

Chaos entered his password.

"My apologies, your password is not on the system," sabi ng boses, saka nagtanong uli. "Searching for?"

"Searching for myself," Daemon said in sarcasm as he put a small magnetic device on on the side of the monitor—given by Yrozz before they left—so he could hack into the security system of this underground building. "I'm lost. Too much handsomeness. Can you find me?"

Moments later, Yrozz spoke. "I'm in, motherfuckers. Let's roll."

Hindi alam ni Happy kung paano 'yon nagawa ni Yrozz pero malapad siyang napangiti nang bumukas ang pinto.

Pagkatapos bumukas ng unang pinto, bumukas pa ang isa pang pinto na gawa rin sa metal bago sila tuluyang nakapasok sa loob.

"I'm sure they're keeping Valerian and Shun in the dungeon," wika ni Knight, "Yrozz, open all the doors."

"Yes, Your Highness," natatawang sabi ni Yrozz mula sa kabilang linya bago sunod-sunod nilang narinig ang pagbukas ng mga pinto na nakakonekta sa kung saan-saan.

At dahil sa pagbukas ng mga pinto, madali silang nahanap ng ibang miyembo ng Organisasyon na ngayon ay tumatakbo na palapit sa kanila habang may mga hawak na baril.

Blaze wrapped his arm around her waist before turning her and claiming her mouth in a hard then soft lingering kiss. Then he whispered, "Be, careful, okay? Don't make me worry too much."

Tumango si Happy, saka mahigpit itong niyakap bago tumakbo pasalubong sa mga kalaban at agad na dinisarmahan ang mga nakakasagupa.

Happy's movements were quick and precise. Every move was calculated and well-planned. Sunod-sunod na putok ng baril ang humabol sa kanya. Wala siyang oras para ipakita ang tattoo niya, lalo na sa mga kaganapan.

She knelt as she slid on the floor while pulling the gun from her thigh holsters, then she turned around on her knees before shooting her shooters.

Three bodies dropped. But they were not dead, just unconscious.

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa baril at kinalabit ang gatilyo hanggang sa maubusan 'yon ng bala.

"Shit," mahina niyang sambit bago kinuha ang bagong magazine sa thigh holster niya at pinalitan ang magazine ng baril.

Happy could see Draco and Luther fighting side by side. Knight and Blaze were fighting off a head of hand-to-hand combat fighters and Daemon and Chaos were shooting, just like her.

Pero marami pa rin ang kalaban nila. Mas parami iyon nang parami at lahat magagaling makipaglaban.

"Go! Get Valerian and Shun! I'll make a way!" Blaze hissed. "Take Happy!"

"Let me help you with that," sabad ni Luther.

"I'll help," sabi ni Daemon na nagpapalit ng magazine ng baril at bumalik na naman sa pakikipagbarilan.

"Be careful!" Blaze shouted at her. "Go! Go! We'll make a way! Valerian and Shun are running out of time! Go!"

Together, Blaze, Luther and Daemon, side by side, they fought skillfully and made a way for them towards the elevator.

Tumakbo si Happy patungo sa elevator habang pinipigilan nina Blaze, Luther at Daemon ang mga kalaban na maabutan sila.

When the elevator door closed, it was just her, Knight, Draco and Chaos. They were all catching their own breath.

"They'll be okay." Siya ang kinakausap ni Knight na para bang pinapagaan ang loob niya. "Blaze will be okay, Miss Quinn."

She smiled at the Count. "I'm not worried. I know my man is a badass."

Knight nodded and they all moved their bodies in a fighting stance when the elevator stopped.

The last floor.

The dungeon.

Bumukas ang elevator pero walang bantay sa labas. Siguro dahil nasa itaas lahat.

Tiningnan niya ang relong pambisig.

11:40 PM. Malapit na.

The repugnant smell filled her nose as they walked inside the dungeon. Mabilis niyang tinakpan ang ilong habang malalaki ang hakbang na pumasok sa loob.

"Val? Shun?" tawag ni Knight sa mga kaibigan nito. "Val! Shun!"

"Valerian! Shun!" Pati si Chaos ay tumutulong na rin sa pagtawag sa pangalan ng mga kaibigan ni Knight.

Siya naman ay inisa-isa ang mga kulungan mula sa unahan patungo sa pinakadulo hanggang sa may mahagip ang mga mata niya.

The familiar face of an unconscious man. Paano niya makakalimutan kung inatake niya ito sa sarili nitong pamamahay?

"Knight! In here! Shun is here!" sigaw niya.

Mabilis namang lumapit sa kanya si Knight at malakas na napamura nang makitang passcode protected ang selda.

"Yrozz," kausap ni Knight kay Yrozz na nasa kabilang linya. "Yrozz! Are you there?!"

"Fuck!" Yrozz hissed from the other line. "Someone's in the house. Fuck! King is fighting them—fuck! What is it? What do you need?!"

"Cell 0010. Open the lock," utos ni Knight.

Yrozz was silent for a couple of seconds before he spoke. "I can't."

Natigilan silang apat.

"What do you mean you can't?!" singhal ni Knight.

"I lost my control," sabi ni Yrozz. "Fuck! They're controlling their own system again. Fuck! They are purging me!"

"Fuck!" Nasuntok ni Knight ang pinto ng selda.

"Let me," Chaos said, then he pressed some number combination.

The door opened.

Pareho silang napatanga ni Knight kay Chaos.

"I was an ultor," paliwanag nito. "It's part of my job. And they haven't changed the passcode combination."

"Thanks," sabi ni Knight, saka pumasok sa loob ng selda para tingnan ang lagay ni Shun. "He's unconscious." Ilang beses nitong niyugyog si Shun bago ito nagising. "Shun! Shun, wake up!"

"K-Knight... I-is that you, bud?" Nanghihina ang boses ni Shun. The cell was dark so he couldn't see.

"It's me, bud. It's me," sabi ni Knight, saka tinulungang makabangon sa pagkakahiga sa sahig si Shun. "I'm here. I'm getting you out of here. I got you!"

Shun coughed. "I-it's okay...Val... si Valerian..."

Knight tensed up. "Where's Val, Shun? Nasaang selda siya?"

Napahawak si Shun sa rehas ng selda para balansehin ang katawan, saka huminga ng ilang beses bago sumagot. Hinang-hinang ito. "T-they took him to the hall."

"Punishment..." Chaos and Knight whispered in dread.

"Fourth floor," Draco said.

"Blaze? Luther? Daemon? Can you hear me?" tawag ni Happy sa mga nasa kabilang linya habang naglalakad siya pabalik sa elevator. "Meet us in the hall. Please... answer me, Blazey... Blazey!"

Kinakabahan siya habang hinihintay na marinig ang boses ni Blaze sa kabilang linya.

And then he spoke. "Hey, baby. Your fiancé is still alive—fuck, that hurts—don't worry."

Malapad siyang napangiti. "Good. Meet us in the hall. Fourth floor. I love you!"

"Love you too, baby," sagot ni Blaze bago ito nawala sa kabilang linya.

Habang inaalalayan nina Knight at Draco si Shun patungo sa elevator, si Chaos naman ay may inilabas na cell phone sa bulsa nito at ibinigay iyon kay Shun nang makasakay silang lahat sa elevator.

"What's that?" Shun asked in a weak voice.

"A cell phone, I guess?" Chaos answered.

Shun glared at him. "I just got beaten up, so you better answer me without sarcasm."

"Yrozz gave it to me," paliwanag ni Chaos. "He said it's for emergency and you'll know what to do." Then he handed Shun a micro-earphone. "Here."

Inilagay ni Shun sa tainga ang earphone. "Hey, Track," sabi nito.

"It's good to hear your voice again," sabi ni Yrozz sa kabilang linya. "You got the phone?"

"Yes."

"Good. I lost my control on their system but I left a small backdoor for you. Hack your way out, Shun Kim. I know you can."

Shun chuckled. "You bastard. Thanks for the phone."

"Yeah. You're gonna pay for that. That's expensive."

Tumawa lang si Shun, saka nag-umpisa nang gumalaw ang mga daliri nito habang hawak ang cell phone.

His fingers were so fast and when he looked up at them, he had news.

"Valerian." Ipinakita nito ang screen ng cell phone na hawak kung saan naroon si Valerian at nakaluhod sa gitna ng malaking hall. "Nag-umpisa na sila."

Knight paled. "No... no..."

Then the elevator opened.

So many enemies outside. Waiting for them. And it was just five of them. But she could see fear in their enemies' eyes. Especially when they looked at the bosses beside her.

These men... they feared Knight, Chaos and Draco.

"Go," sabi ni Draco habang hinuhubad nito ang suot na T-shirt. "I'll take care of them." Pagkatapos ay nilingon siya. "I know you're a badass but your boyfriend will be very devastated if something bad happens to you so go with Knight. He can protect you."

"I'm staying too," sabi ni Chaos. "We'll make a way for all of you."

Huminga nang malalim si Happy at inihanda ang sarili.

This mess. This Chaos. Blaze was right. This would be her life after tonight.

I have to get used to this!

"Let's go," sabi niya kina Knight at Shun nang mag-umpisa nang gumawa ng daan sina Chaos at Draco para sa kanila.

Happy, Knight and Shun ran as Chaos and Draco made way for them to reach the hall.

And when they did... her eyes widened.

"Jesus Christ!"

Two men from each side stood while a man was kneeling in the center, being lashed, and his back was bleeding profusely.

"Valerian!" sigaw ni Knight, saka tumakbo patungo sa lalaking nakaluhod na lalatiguhin uli. "Nooo!"

Dahil humarang si Knight, ang hagupit ng latigo ay tumama sa likod nito. Dalawang latigo ang tumatama sa likod nito dahil dalawang tao ang nagpaparusa kay Valerian nang sabay. At hindi man lang tumigil ang mga ito kahit si Knight na ang tinatamaan.

This violence... this was the first time she had seen this. It rendered her capability to move. She was shocked at the brutality in front of her.

"Stop this!" Knight begged at the man who was just standing there, meters away, watching.

The fourth Arkhon.

"Stop this! Please!" Knight begged while being lashed because he was covering Valerian. "Please! Stop! Stop! Please! Stop hurting the people I love! Stop! Please! I beg you! Stop already!"

But his father was cold as he shouted at Knight. "I taught you to never beg for anything. So don't beg! You are not born to beg or to spare a life! Do. Not. Beg! You are a Velasquez! You should be put in a pedestal! I'm doing this for you! Fifty more lashes for disobeying me!"

Happy lips parted open, stunned and afraid.

Then out of nowhere, Blaze came and tried to get Knight and Valerian away from the lashes together with Shun.

But the lashes also got Blaze before he could attack the punisher.

"No... no..." she whispered in anger and fear when she saw the lashes beating Blaze's back while he was trying to stand up and fight. "Blaze..."

Kahit ilang beses itong tinamaan ng latigo, nakatayo pa rin si Blaze at ngayon ay nakikipag-agawan na ng latigo sa tagaparusa.

And then she saw the other punisher lashed Blaze from behind.

"Nooooo!" she screamed and attacked the man who was hurting her fiancé in blind anger.

Hindi niya ito napatumba kahit ilang sipa at suntok ang pinatama niya pero sapat na iyon para makatayo si Knight at ito ang umatake sa lalaki na ilang beses nitong inihampas ang ulo sa sahig.

Nang makita ang nabitawang latigo ng lalaking pinatumba ni Knight, mabilis niya iyong pinulot at iwinasiwas sa ere, sa uluhan niya, bago iyon ipinatama sa lalaking kalaban ni Blaze.

One lashes. Two lashes. And the last lashes hit the floor loudly.

"Stoooooooop!" she screamed and lashed the floor near the fourth Arkhon's feet. "I said stooop!"

She was so angry and so scared. Her hands were shaking. All she wanted at that moment was to stop the fight and stop hurting each other.

"We're on the same side!" she shouted in so much frustration. "Why are we hurting our own?!"

"Who do you think you are, woman?!" Knight's father, the fourth Arkhon, shouted at her. "Who do you think you are to come here and say that to me?! The head!"

Happy moved her hand holding the lashes to move and slammer its tips in front of the fourth Arkhon's feet. "I said, stop." Kalmado na ang boses niya.

Sa gilid ng mga mata ay nakita niyang natigilan ang lahat na naroon. Pati ang mga kalaban nila ay napatigil dahil sa ginawa niya.

Si Blaze, ang kalaban nito ay tumigil na rin, pati si Shun, si Knight, si Valerian, sina Draco, Luther, Daemon at Chaos. Lahat ng mga ito ay nakatingin sa ama ni Knight at sa kanya. Nagtatanong ang mga mata kung sino ba siya na malakas ang loob na kalabanin ang ikaapat na Arkhon.

"Answer me! Who do you think you are?!" Palakas nang palakas ang boses ng ikaapat na Arkhon na nanlilisik ang mga mata na nakatingin sa kanya.

Bahagya siyang tumagilid at gamit ang kamay na may hawak pang latigo, hinawi niya ang buhok na tumatabing sa batok niya para ipakita sa lahat ng naroon, lalo na sa ama ni Knight kung sino ba talaga siya.

"This... this is my insignia," sabi niya sa kalmadong boses. "And I..." her sharp eyes glared at the fourth Arkhon. "I am the second Arkhon."

CECELIB | C.C.