THE cold wind slapped against my face. Along with the chilling sensation, it brought about trembling due to intense anxiety. My palms began to sweat on their own. My knees grew weak.

I froze for a moment.

But it was quickly replaced by panic when I saw the boss. He was now walking towards that man. His fists clenched, and I could see the veins in them. He was ready to attack.

I immediately followed him, tears streaming down my face, trying to stop him. I grabbed his arm, but he was strong. He managed to push my hand away. I tried to stop him again, but the same thing happened. He easily pushed me aside.

I just stood there, watching him walk away from me... closer to danger. I had to cover my mouth as he drew the gun from behind him..

"You fucking stop right there or I will shoot you to death."

I witnessed how terrifying boss's demeanor had shifted. How much of a stranger he had become to me.

With what boss did, the man halted. He turned in our direction. His eyes widened as he voluntarily dropped the sack to the ground. He raised both hands.

"W-what? W-Why?!" The man's voice trembled. Coconuts spilled from the sack.

He wasn't Chan... Boss slowly lowered his gun without a word. He turned away from the man. Our eyes met. From that moment on, I could clearly see the sorrow reflected in his stern brows.

I swallowed hard.

I didn't know whether to be relieved because it wasn't Beatrice I thought was in the sack, or to continue being consumed by anxiety because up to this hour, Chan still had my sister in his grip. She was still in danger, in the clutches of that demon.

I couldn't help but cry once more.
I was paralyzed.

I kept getting colder.

Until...

"That fucker!" Boss shouted. His face turned red with anger.

I quickly looked in the direction where his gaze was fixed. And there, I saw a car emerging from behind the convenience store.

Its window was open.

Chan was inside, wearing a disturbing grin that sent shivers down both our spines.

Hour Three

"Do whatever it takes to take that bastard down!" Boss said from the car. He was speaking to the person on the phone again, the same person he'd talked to just moments ago.

Tension filled the air. Aside from Boss, all of us inside the car seemed paralyzed by shock. No one spoke. No one uttered a word. It was as if speaking would be deadly, as if none of us had the courage to say anything that would strengthen each other's resolve.

Boss, frustrated, lowered his cell phone, and his sharp eyes remained fixed on the road. We were now on our way to the most remote part of the province, chasing after Chan. I could see his car in front of me.

Then, I was taken aback when suddenly, three helicopters appeared in the sky. I widened my eyes as they all illuminated Chan's car.

When I looked in the rear-view mirror, that's when I realized that there were many cars following us as well. They were all black.

"They came here to help," Boss said when he noticed me looking at him. When our eyes met, his gaze pierced into my soul, "the last thing that I want to see tomorrow is you mourning for Beatrice. I will do everything to save her, just trust me."

I swallowed hard, and along with the rapid beating of my heart, tears welled up in my eyes. "Thank you, boss," I said, avoiding eye contact. I kept my eyes on Chan's car. Hope surged within me.

We could still rescue Beatrice.

We could definitely do it...

I glanced left and right inside the car when I realized that we were now neck and neck with the vehicles that had been following us earlier. They began to accelerate quickly, overtaking us. They were getting closer to Chan's car. And in just a few minutes, he caught up with them.

"Geez, it's like I'm watching an action film..." Badette exclaimed, her eyes wide as she watched the events unfolding right in front of us.

I focused my attention back on what was happening in front of us. Now, I could clearly see how the black cars were surrounding Chan's vehicle. There were some in front, some on the sides, but none at the back.

"Boss, what if something happens to Beatrice!" I gasped, my hand covering my mouth as they started ramming Chan's car.

I was afraid they might have forgotten that my sister was also in the car. If something bad happened to Chan, Beatrice would be affected too.

"They know what to do," Boss replied firmly, gripping the steering wheel tightly.

I decided to stay silent, and to trust.

But all my hope shattered in an instant. The events unfolded so rapidly. It seemed like fate was truly testing my sanity.

I saw the side of Chan's car open, and from there, Beatrice emerged. Her mouth was taped shut, her hair in disarray, and there was terror in her eyes.

And then...

And then, a gunshot rang out from inside the car. Blood sprayed from Beatrice. Like a piece of paper, my sister fell from the car.

I was left gaping in horror.

My eyes widened, and I couldn't utter a word. Tears streamed down my face continuously. Until Beatrice's body rolled limply onto the road, shattered into pieces.

I was on the brink of losing consciousness from the pain.

I was nearly dying from grief.

When Boss's car came to a stop right in front of Beatrice's lifeless body, I immediately got out of the vehicle. My knees were trembling as I approached her.

And I nearly went mad with the intensity of my wails when I saw the hole in her shoulder. Blood continued to flow steadily from it.

"Beatrice! Damn it! Beatrice!" I collapsed, sobbing uncontrollably. I pounded the pavement, screaming until my voice cracked.

My sister was gone.

She was gone...

Amidst my shock, while cradling Beatrice in my lap, the deafening sound of gunfire erupted. It came from the black cars surrounding Chan's vehicle.

"Let's take her to the hospital!" boss's voice trembled.

Those were the last words I heard before I lost consciousness...

Lost in pain and confusion, it was as if everything suddenly crumbled right before my eyes. I wanted to move. I wanted to scream in agony. I wanted to wail. I wanted to run towards the operating room to make sure my sibling would survive. I wanted to do everything for them. But I couldn't. I couldn't do it. Why couldn't I move? It was as if, in those moments, I was completely drained. There was nothing left of me except shock and numbness from the pain. I felt like I was floating in a dark haze. Fumbling. Lost. Confused. Hurt. Shattered. Because of my state, it was Boss Rustan and Kuya Peter who took care of Beatrice. I was accompanied by Badette and Shobe. They would periodically pat my cheeks. "Girl, what's wrong? We're getting worried about you," Badette said tearfully.