The smell of blood and antiseptic that whiffed by their noses, nearly sent the people inside the infirmary to vomit. Protacio had been itching to light a stick of cigarette, unfortunately, the cigarette he kept inside his pocket had long been soaked with blood.

"When will you read the letter?" Ernest asked from where he sat, which was the floor near the door.

"Before that, who owned those Letters, idiot?" Sebastian asked as he eyed the warden.

Protacio stopped fumbling with the wet pack of cigarettes in his hands, glared at the half-blooded Japanese, then answered, "Prisoner 247, Lucious Dualti."

"The old man?" asked Noah.

The warden bobbed his head in a mute response.

"What happened next?" asked Ernest again.

Sebastian just had about enough with the big man, so he went to the warden and took the letter which was laid on a shelf beside him.

The warden gave Sebastian a warning look, but the man went ahead and took the letter before saying, "He will never stop asking if we don't tell him what happened next."

"Suit yourselves," Protacio replied.
***

Dear Maria,

It is the 14th of February 1984; I will always remember the 14th of February. Do you know why? It was the date I received my sentence and the date you got married.

Did you know Maria, I stayed to watch you get married? Did you know I stood on the same altar as you made your vows to another man? No, I'm not a masochist Maria, but I had to do it. I had to hurt myself, enough to let you go.

I never left your side before your marriage. I actually helped a lot with your wedding preparations. When I found out that your future husband was a doctor. I knew he would be too busy to help you out.

Maria, did you know how you got the forget me not's? The flower that you wanted for your bouquet was not an easy one to find at that time. Those flowers only bloom in mid-spring or early summer. Since it was February, I knew it won't be easy to have them. I can still remember the face you made when the florist said that it was impossible to produce them. You looked so heartbroken. It was an expression that did not sit well with your current state. You were a bride to be, you're supposed to be smiling all the time. No grim line should've graced your lips. So, I knew I had to do something.

I called every florist in town, and when no one gave a promising answer, I went to find your flowers in every town near San Ignacio. Luck struck when I called a flower shop in a town called Beruga. They said they knew of a place where those flowers were cultivated even in the month of February. I asked them to call you as a response to the newspaper ad your mother made about the flowers. I'm sorry if I sound like a stalker, but I was watching you when the call came. I specifically asked them to call you at a certain time.

I positioned myself up on a tree near your house and used a telescope to peek through your living room window. I saw how bright your smile was when the call came. It was the same smile you wore on your engagement day. I felt happy for you, truly happy.

Do you remember how the wedding dress you wanted suddenly became available, despite it being booked for another bride? Well, I'm sorry but, I injured the said bride's husband. Don't worry, it wasn't a fatal injury, just enough for them to postpone the wedding. If you are wondering, they rescheduled their marriage two months after yours. So, you don't have to worry about them.

That wedding dress suited you better anyway. You deserved it more than the other bride. The tube-like top showcased your perfect shoulders and it gave your bossom a boost. Sorry for saying that, but those were your words when you came for the gown fitting. I agreed with you on that. Not to mention, the way the dress's skirt ballooned like that of a queen was magnificent, its train was long enough for them to mistake you for royalty.

The veil that came with it was perfect too, wasn't it Maria? It wasn't too thick or too transparent, it hid your face with enough mystery. I couldn't stop smiling when you had it on. I was posing as a customer at that time. I just wanted to see how you looked in it. Be the first man to see you in a wedding dress. I at least could have that, right?

When you chose a venue that your future husband didn't like, I saw how you tried to convince him otherwise. He wanted the wedding to be held inside a hotel. But that's not you Maria. You are a person who loves the outdoors, that's why you wanted to have a garden wedding. I made sure that all the hotels available for a wedding got a good electrical problem. I messed up their wirings, but don't worry. No one got hurt in the process.

If there was one thing I regretted, that was my inability to produce the butterflies which you wanted to be released when you finally walk down the Isle. At that time, I wished I was a toad, maybe, I would have had the ability to catch enough butterflies for you. But sadly, no matter how much I wanted to transform, it was impossible. I'm sorry about that Maria, I guess there were things I couldn't do too.
***

"Wait, hold up one second," Lawrence yelled, interrupting Sebastian's reading.

They all stared at him, eyes full of irritation. "If what you got makes no sense, I will ask the warden here to give his permission to kill you, ain't that right Protacio?" Sebastian asked seriously. Protacio, intelligently following the prisoner's hidden joke, nodded his head while saying, "We can tell them he was cornered by some of the inmates."

Lawrence suddenly took to his feet and gave Sebastian and the others the deadliest glare he could ever procure whilst murmuring, "I won't go down without a fight."

A sudden burst of laughter erupted between Protacio and Sebastian while muttering in unison, "It was a joke moron."

Lawrence glanced at them, one after the other, then replied, "Oh, so your best friends now huh? You think this is funny?"

Noah interjected, "Stop being such a drama queen, what was it you wanted to say?"

Lawrence shook his head, rubbed his temple then asked, "Were they, former lovers? I mean, if he was willing to do all those, then she and him must have had a pretty tight relationship, right?"

"He didn't mention that in his other letter, just said he came back for her," Sebastian answered, while he too began to wonder.

"She never knew of his existence," the warden replied.

His words were met by agape mouths and eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. "She what?" Noah questioned, amused by the revelation.

"Are you fucking with us right now?" Sebastian asked the warden. Protacio shook his head and replied, "Nope, that's the truth."

"I'm a bit confused," Lawrence murmured. Noah chuckled then answered, "You're always confused."

"The letter," Ernest scoffed. Sebastian could only shake his head. He proceeded to read the rest of it, pacifying the big man's curiosity. Well, maybe all of theirs.
***

(Letter Continuation)

But I have to apologize for the shoes. You chose something that was lacking heels. It did not fit well with your dress; you were risking stumbling over your gown. I had to destroy that shoe before your wedding. But don't worry, I made sure the store had something better to offer and ready before your big day. It fitted you perfectly, didn't it? Just enough height to keep you safe.

Those two weeks of preparation were one of the happiest moments of my life Maria, except when the 13th of February came. I went to sleep, wishing and praying that the following day will never arrive.
Maria! Another Christmas has come. How are you? I wish you are happy, that's all I ever pray for every Christmas, that's the only gift I would ever ask for. I wish for your happiness and safety.

As for me, I'm not going anywhere, I will always be here Maria. Always...

Love Forever

Your Silent Knight.