Last Chapter.

Epilogue will be the Prologue of Part 2. Thanks. 

M A R S H A N

Masakit ang ulo kong bumangon mula sa kama. Wala na si Monique sa tabi ko. Umuwi sina Waldrin at Maxene sa mga Zekovia kagabi kaya hindi na namin sila kasama. Lumabas na ko ng guest room nina Christian at bumaba sa hagdan. 

I think gising na rin sila base sa ingay na nagmumula sa baba. 

"M-My daughter! She's alive!" Nakababa na ko ng hagdan ng marinig ko ang boses ni Tita Clarisse. Lumapit ako kina Raven at Monique na nasa gilid at pinapanood sina Christian. 

"What's happening?" I whispered to them.

"See that box? May nag-iwan daw niyan sa harap ng bahay nila at laman nun yung damit na suot ni Christine nung nawala siya, even some pictures." Monique whispered to me. Nacurious tuloy ako tungkol dun sa box kaya nakinood na rin ako habang patuloy sa pag-iyak si Tita Clarisse at nasa tabi nito sina Christian at Tito Christopher. 

"CHRISTINE!!! ANAAAK!!!" She sobbed. Napansin ko ang sunflower dress na yakap-yakap ni Tita Clarisse. 

T-That dress...

Hindi ko namalayang nakalapit na ko sa kanila at sabay-sabay pa silang napatingin sakin. 

"T-That dress... W-Why do you have it?" I asked them. Christian held my arm. 

"M-Maxene gave them to us, these are Christine's belongings. Buhay ang kakambal ko Marshan! Buhay siya!" He said happily while tears are forming in his eyes. Nahigit ko ang braso ko at umiling-iling sa kanya. 

"N-No... Hindi totoo yan..." I said unconsciously. Umiling-iling ako na parang wala sa katinuan. My mind cannot comprehend what he was saying. This is not possible. Impossible...

"A-Anong sinasabi mo Marshan?" 

"Impossibleng sa kakambal mo yan because those stuffs are mine! That dress is what I was wearing when I met Maxene. Kaya impossibleng sa kakambal mo yan!" Natigilan sila sa sinabi ko. Mabilis na umalis si Christian at pumasok sa kwarto niya. 

I glanced at Tita and Tito Christopher na gulat na gulat pa rin sa mga sinabi ko. Hinablot ko ang dress na hawak nila and put it inside the box. Andito pa yung headband at sapatos na suot ko ng araw na iyon. A picture of me and Maxene pero burado ang mukha niya dito. 

My tears started to fall. Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa mga nangyayari. Hindi ito totoo! This is just a fcking nightmare. Naramdaman ko ang paghigit ni Christian sa braso ko at pinaharap ako sa kanya showing me a picture.

"Marshan, look at this! This is the last birthday we celebrated together! Tell me, ikaw ba si Christine?! My twin sister's name is Christine Marshan Logan!!! You are her, right? Ikaw yung kakambal ko." He was crying... 

If there's one thing I remember about my past is that my name is Marshan. Muli akong umiling sa kanya. Hindi yun totoo... Pero ako yung bata sa picture na ipinakita niya sakin. 

"W-What's happening? H-Hindi ko na maintindihan..." I held my head dahil sa matinding pagkirot ng sentido ko. 

"C-Christine... You're our Christine!" Tita Clarisse tried to hold me pero umiwas ako. 

"How can you call me that?!" Ang pananakit ng ulo ko ay sinabayan na ng paninikip ng dibdib ko. "Then who's Maxene?! It is more obvious na kapatid ko siya kaysa kay Christian! Now tell me! Who is Maxene, then?!!!" 

Muli silang natigilan sa tanong ko. I was biting my lips furiously habang patuloy ang pagbagsak ng mga luha ko. Naramdaman ko ang mga kamay ni Raven sa balikat ko. I am totally confuse right now. I no longer know what to think of anymore!

Napatingin ako kay Tito Christopher and I lost my control. Hindi na nila ako napigilan ng sugurin ko siya at kwelyuhan. 

"Y-You sold her, right? We're not just twins... We're triplets... But you sold her... You sold her to those monsters!!!!" Raven pulled me away. Naghyhysterical na ko at nagwawala I didn't even realize I was already strangling Tito Christopher.

Nanghihinang napaupo si Tito Christopher sa couch. Habang hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin samin si Tita Clarisse. Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak sakin nina Raven at Christian dahil hindi ko na talaga kontrolado ang sarili ko ngayon.

"S-She was so weak... Halos walang tigil ang pag-atake ng epilepsy niya. The doctor even said that there's no hope for her anymore." Tito Christopher started to sob. "Clarisse almost died giving birth at ayoko pa siyang masaktan at mahirapan kapag nakita niya ang sitwasyon ng dalawang anak namin. I don't want her to blame herself!" 

"Wala ng pag-asa para sa kanya noon... The doctors gave up on her. And Christian is also suffering, I had to make a choice. I had to give up on her to save Christian. I asked Primera to take care of her, to delete all her records para hindi malaman ni Clarisse na namatayan kami ng anak---"

"YOU'RE A MONSTER!!! ANONG KLASE KANG AMA!!!" I was crying so hard habang nagpupumiglas ako sa hawak nina Christian at Raven. My heart was just torn into pieces upon learning the truth. 

"What are you saying Christopher?" Tita Clarisse asked him. 

"I-I'm sorry... I'm sorry..." 

"MAXENE!!!" 

Marahas na pumasok ng bahay si Waldrin. He looks so stressed, tired and even dirty. Napasabunot ito sa buhok niya upon seeing me. 

"W-Where's Maxene?" He asked in a shaky voice. I wiped my tears at binitawan naman nina Raven ang braso ko. 

"Why? Diba magkasama kayo kagabi?" I asked him. 

"Pagkagising ko wala na siya sa tabi ko, she even left a note a-and her wedding ring." His voice broke. I took the note he was talking about. 

I love you but I have to leave you. 

Binundol ng kaba ang dibdib ko. My hands are literally shaking while holding that tiny piece of paper. 

Sana mali ang hinala ko.

I took out my phone and dialed Blake's number. Napatingin ako kay Waldrin na pinainom na nila Christian ng tubig para kumalma. 

"Hello---"

"Where's Maxene?" I cut him off. Narinig ko ang kanyang pagbuntong hininga sa kabilang linya. 

"I'm sorry, this is confidential..." 

"Tell me, this is not it... Tell me Blake!!!" There was a long pause before he answered me. 

"It is, Marshan..." 

Nabitawan ko ang phone ko and I almost lost my balance kung hindi lang ako nahawakan ni Raven... 

"W-What is it? Where is Maxene?" Waldrin held my arm and slightly shake me. Ramdam ko ang panginginig niya. 

"W-We have to find her... This is her last mission, Waldrin... She will kill every leader of Venom. The death of Venom is also the death of hers... W-We have to stop her..." Naramdaman ko ang paghigpit ng hawak ni Waldrin sakin kasabay ng panlalaki ng kanyang mga mata. 

"I cannot allow you to do that..." It was Kuya Spencer. Agad akong lumapit sa kanya and held his arm..

"Kuya, si Maxene---"

"It's Code Red, Marshan. And we cannot interfere..."

"Pero kuya! Alam mong ikakamatay iyon ni Maxene! Kuya! Yung kapatid natin mamamatay dun---"

"Maxene is dying." Nanghihina akong napabitaw sa kanya. "All those sessions she went through are preparations for this day Marshan, lumaban man siya o hindi, bukas o sa makalawa mamatay pa rin siya. Her time is over and we must accept that." He said coldly. 

"TAKE THAT BACK!!!" Waldrin grabbed Kuya Spencer's collar. Napasandal na lang ako sa pader sa sobrang panghihina. My head is starting to get cloudy. Hindi na ako makapag-isip ng matino at maayos... 

"I'm going to find her..." Waldrin stepped out of the house pero napigilan siya ni Kuya Spencer. 

"Sa lawak ng Pilipinas, alam mo ba kung saan siya hahanapin?!" Kuya Spencer shouted at him. 

"Why can't you just tell us where she is?!" Waldrin shot back.

"It's Code Red! At kahit sabihin ko sa inyo, hindi na kayo aabot---"

"Kuya please! At least, let us see her one last time..." I held his hand at lumuhod na sa harapan niya. 

"Marshan, don't---"

"Kuya please!!! I still haven't given her my message yet!" I cried so hard while holding his hand firmly. Namula ang mga mata ni Kuya Spencer as he was clenching his jaw. He sighed and pulled me up. 

"Then tell her that I love her so much and that I am so glad, she's my sister maybe not by blood but by heart." He kissed my forehead before giving me a piece of paper kung saan nakasulat ang address na kailangan namin... 

"Let's use our chopper..." Raven said before we went out...

M A X E N E

My vision is getting blurry. Nakatago ako sa likod ng pader. It's getting dark, this will end before this day ends. Patay na silang lahat at dadalawa na lang kami ng Lord of Venom ang natitira. I can't expect less from the demon who made me into a monster. 

"Maxene... Maxene... Maxene..." He was laughing crazily. Hindi ko na rin matantya kung gaano karaming dugo ang nawala sakin. My body is starting to get numb. My hands are shaking while holding my gun na konti na lang ang natitirang bala. 

*bang!*

I gasped ng tumama sa gilid ng mukha ko ang bala. 

*bang!* *bang!*

I immediately rolled over at pinaputukan siya sa direksyon kung saan ko siya naaaninag. I was holding my arm that was hit by a bullet at muling nagkubli. I checked my gun at ubos na ang bala nito. 

"Sh*t! I'm out of ammo!" I cursed. I pulled out my katana at lumabas mula sa pinagtataguan ko. I'm pretty sure wala ng ibang buhay na Venom dahil ang mga tauhan na namin ang nagligpit sa kanila. It is my job to kill the leader at hindi na nila trabaho ang tulungan ako. 

Ang liwanag mula sa papalubog na araw ang tanging nagbibigay ng liwanag sa loob ng abandonadong pabrikang ito sa kasuluksulukang isla ng Palawan. 

"I should have just killed you before. YOU UNGRATEFUL B*TCH!!! AFTER EVERYTHING I DID TO SAVE YOUR LIFE!!!." He hissed. Bumubuhos na rin ang dugo mula sa ulo niya. At iniinda rin niya ang tama ng bala sa kanyang sikmura. 

Itinutok niya yung baril niya sakin. But I held my guard up using my katana. 

"DAPAT NGA TALAGA PINATAY MO NA LANG AKO!" I greeted my teeth. 

"DIE MAXENE!!! DIE!!! DIE!!!" He shouted.

*click*

Napalunok ako ng pumalya ang hand gun niya. He pulled the trigger again. 

*click* *click*

"BULLSHT!" He cursed and pulled out his katana. Everything I know in this world is taught by him. He taught me how take lives with my own hands, with my hand gun, or with my katana. 

Sumugod siya sakin but I was able to block him. I groaned when I felt the strain in my arm. 

"You will die Maxene! Not me!!!" He's hysterical as he kept on attacking. Nasasangga ko naman siya but my strength is no longer enough kaya napapaatras ako. I learnt everything I am doing right now from him kaya nahihirapan ako because he can read my moves. 

*clang!* *clang!* 

Our swords were clashing as our bloods are dripping on the floor. 

He lost his balance and I took that chance to cut his left hand off. 

"AAAAHHHH YOU B*TCH!!!" He screamed. 

"That's for Marshan and Paeng..." I hissed. 

"Wala ka ng batang mailalayo muli sa kani-kanilang pamilya!" I slashed my sword on his chest pero mabilis niyang nakaatras  kaya nadaplisan lang siya nito.

I jumped back when he was about to stab me on my chest. We started trying to slash and stab each other. Wala na rin akong pakealam kahit nagkukulay dugo na ang paningin ko. All I need to do is to kill him. I don't care whatever happens to me as long as I kill him.

He tried to runaway pero nahabol ko siya and slashed off his right leg... "And that's for those kids who suffered and died because of you."

He was groaning in pain, kasabay ng pag-agos ng masaganang dugo mula sa kanyang katawan. Nakahilata na siya sa sahig at naliligo sa sariling dugo habang nagpupumiglas. I kneeled besides him and raised my katana over his chest..

"WAAAAAHHHHH!!!!" I screamed when I successfully stabbed him in his chest na tumagos sa kanyang likod. 

"It's checkmate..." He grinned kasabay ng pagbulwak ng dugo mula sa kanyang bibig. I pushed him off my sword. My tears fell when I saw his sword pierced through my stomach kasabay ng paglabas ng masaganang dugo mula sa aking bibig. 

Hinugot ko ang katana niya mula sa aking katawan. I was holding two blooded swords as I watch the sun sets. 

Naglakad ako papunta sa may pintuan ng warehouse. 

How are you going to free a bird in a cage?

Kill it...

And this is how I set myself free. Free from guilt, from pain, from grievances, from hatred. Malaya ka na Maxene. This is the end of the life you never wanted to have. This is the end of everything. 

This is the end of you.

"MAAAXXXXEEEEENNNNEEEEE!!!" Napatingin ako sa labas ng warehouse. I saw Marshan running towards me from the van. Ngumiti ako sa kanya kasabay ng pagharang ng mga tauhan namin. 

"NOOOO! Maxene! Hindi ko pa nasasabi sayo lahat ng gusto kong sabihin! Maxene! Salamat! Salamat dahil hindi mo ko pinabayaan! Salamat kasi ikaw ang naging kakambal ko! Maxene salamat!!! Salamat!!!" She was crying so hard na napaupo na siya sa lupa kakaiyak. 

"M-Maxene, l-let's go home." It was Waldrin. Hindi sila makalapit sakin dahil pinipigilan sila ng mga tauhan namin. My body's starting to freeze as I am watching them. "Please! Hindi ko kayang mawala ka Maxene! Please! I love you so much! Maxene!" 

Napapikit ako ng mariin before watching the sun sets again. Nagkukulay dugo na ang kalangitan or is it just my vision? I can hear ringing inside my ears, ramdam ko na ang pagbagal ng tibok ng puso ko, ang pagkapos ng aking hininga.

My time is at last... over. I can now rest in peace.

Tuluyan ng nagdilim ang paningin ko. Hindi ko na rin masyadong naririnig sina Marshan. 

*BOOOOOOMMMMMM!!!!*   

I heard a loud explosion... I opened my eyes and the last thing I saw was fire crawling unto my skin. 

And it was painless... 

-End of Part 1-

With Love,

Author-sama