———

Sandra was under the lamp post, hugging her knees, shoulders heaving—She's crying. But when Sandra saw Lyca approaching her, Sandra stood up instantly.

"I'm not crying!" The younger wiped abruptly the sparkling tears on her cheeks. She even moved backwards when Lyca tried to advance towards her.

"What happened?" Lyca asked, concerned.

"I told you I'm not crying!" Sandra pouted a bit. "Hindi ako iyakin tulad ng iniisip niyo ng loser na 'yon!"

"I know, Sandra. You're a big girl." Tuluyan nang nakalapit si Lyca. "Anong nangyari?"

Sandra sniffed, still trying to holdback her tears. "Nawawala si Sunny."

Sandra twisted her lips and unconsciously bit it, probably to avoid herself from crying thru her mouth. "Nandito lang siya kanina tapos nawala na siya."

Lyca sighed. "Where did you last saw her?"

It's passed 12 already. Madilim at tahimik ang paligid habang tinatahak ang eskinita. Hindi iyon pamilyar sa kaniya at nakalayo na rin sila sa Seven Eleven. Napatikhim siya habang nakasunod pa rin kay Sandra.

"Are you sure this is the right way?" she asked.

Head fixed ahead and feet in a straight phase, Sandra didn't mind facing her. "I told you I saw her walking this way! Alam kong nandito siya."

She sighed, heaving her shoulders slightly. "Why don't we go home first? Baka bumalik si Sunny sa bahay?"

At dahil mukhang nawawala na rin sila.

"No!" Sandra hissed.

"Gabing-gabi na Sandra. Bukas na natin ituloy ang paghahanap--" she was cut off.

"You're evil!" Sandra cried. Tears formed in her eyes and it'll likely fall anytime soon—It did. Sandra's tears fell from her eyes, tracing her cheeks falling completely to her neck.

"I know you're evil! Alam kong gusto mo akong mamatay! Tapos ngayon si Sunny gusto mo rin siyang kunin? Gusto mong pabayaan ko siya ngayon para mamatay siya! You evil-- you are bad! I hate you!" Sandra's sudden outburst caught Lyca off gaurd. Hindi niya alam kung anong sasabihin. So she settled herself looking at her crying.

She sighed. "Sandra, hindi ko siya kukunin."

"Liar! Alam kong kukunin mo siya! Pati si Kuya Gab at si Aling Dhalia!" Sandra wailed, she sat slowly, embracing her knees. "Siguro ikaw din ang kumuha ng ate ko! Bad ka!"

Lyca's knees wobbled as she kneeled before Sandra. Hindi niya alam kung bakit ngunit biglang may bumara sa lalamunan niya. Her eyes hurt too. Parang may gustong kumawala roon.

"I'm s-sorry... I didn't mean to." She swallowed hard. She tried to touch Sandra's head.

Umiling-iling si Sandra at itinaboy ang kamay niyang nakapatong sa ulo. Patuloy na umiyak ang bata habang nakaluhod si Lyca sa tabi nito. Doon na sila tumayo nang marinig nila ang pamilyar na kahol ng aso.

"Sunny?" Sandra was first to ran towards the loud bark. It echoed hard. Lalo na't tahimik ang buong lugar.

Agad sumunod si Lyca. Naabutan niya si Sandra sa loob ng isang eskinita kung saan madalas tapunan ng mga basura.

"Si Sunny?" She asked.

"She's not here." Mabilis na sagot ni Sandra.

Lyca nodded.

Napapitlag pa siya nang gumalaw ang kalapit na garbage bin. Agad itong tinakpan ni Sandra ng isang garbage bag na punong-puno ng basura.

Ngunit hindi nakaligtas sa kaniya ang isang kahol na kumawala.

"Wala siya rito," pag-uulit nito. She looked away and pointed a much darker alley. Naglakad pa palapit si Sandra roon. Madalim man ngunit maaninag ang isang pinto sa hindi kalayuan. "I think nandoon siya... sa l-loob."

Lyca cleared her throat and swallowed the huge lump inside. "Okay I'll get her."

She was half way there when Sandra called her suddenly. "P-papasok ka ba talaga?"

She smiled and nodded. "Don't worry. I'll be quick."

Pumasok siya sa loob. It was very dark inside. Pitch-black and obscure. She couldn't see things but she knew she's in a very small, confine space. The thought of staying for a couple of seconds inside that room made her dizzy. Lyca felt utterly, completely trapped and suffocated. She badly wanted to get out immediately. Buti na lang isang kahol ang narinig niya.

"Sunny?"

It was definitely Sunny. Na sa labas ito. Aalis na sana siya ngunit agad na sumara ang pinto-- sinara ito ni Sandra.

"Open the door Sandra!" Sigaw niya.

"No!" Tugon ni Sandra habang dinig na dinig niya ang mga kaluskus sa labas. Sinubukan niyang buksan ang pinto... but it was locked. She even tried to push it but it didn't move a bit. Sandra must've piled something behind it to make sure she couldn't get out.

"Sandra! P-please!"

"You will just kill Kuya Gab and Aling Dhalia!"

Patuloy siya sa pagkalampag sa pinto. She tried so hard until her breathing hitched, her shoulders heaved harshly as she felt her heart throbbed real fast.

"P-please... It's s-suffocating here..." for a second she thought of summoning her scythe-- maybe she could use it. But she felt so weak and was running out of breath. Shortly, she collapsed in tears, totally consumed by an appalling sense of dread. Her vision was blurry so as her mind, all she thought was she's in a damn close space and it's driving her crazy. It suffocates her.

Lyca's lids grew heavy, she was about to close it but before she did, a loud thump from the door stopped her from doing so.

"The fuck!"

A cuss was the last thing she heard before she completely blacked out.

--

Bright sun, flowers in full bloom, soft chirps of birds leaping from tree to tree, warm air almost smelled like flower and honey combined, It was a nice day. That was the first thing Lyca thought when she opened her eyes.

At first it was beautiful and peaceful.
She's  always been in love with the simplicity brought by nature. It didn't miss to mesmerize her. She even caught herself unconsciously smiling from ear to ear as she roamed her eyes around.

Hindi iyon nagtagal hanggang biglang nilukob ng kadiliman ang buong paligid, nagdagsaan ang mga tao at natumba siya nang mabangga ng isang tumatakbong babae. Sa paglapat ng katawan niya sa lupa ay madiin siyang napapikit, ngunit pagbukas na pagbukas ng mga mata... gone the beautiful view, it was now replaced by a dark place, small confine dark space. She felt trapped. Suddenly, something woke inside her.

Lyca panicked.

Fret and an unexplainable dread crept through her. Hot tears pricked in the back of her eyes as she started screaming. She fumbled frantically for the closing walls to open.

"Hey! You okay?"

Isang tapik ang naramdaman niya. Malakas iyon para tuluyan siyang magising.

"Damn. You're shaking."

Napasapo siya sa noo nang hindi lang yugyog ang ginawa nito, may kaunting hampas din ito sa ulo niya. Slowly, she lifted her gaze and drifted to the man before her.

Plain shirt and sweat pants. His hair was odd. She's used to see Judge in his loose bun but now it was just down, hanging freely just inches away before reaching his shoulders.

Nakatayo si Judge sa harap niya bahagyang nakayuko at nakapatong ang kamay sa magkabilang balikat niya dahil sa ginawang pagyugyog kanina.

Judge? Why is Judge here?

Nagtagpo ang paningin nila. Agad na tinanggal ni Judge ang kamay nito sa balikat niya, para bang napapaso.

"Gising ka na pala akala ko nabaliw ka na diyan." He cleared his throat and looked away.

"N-nasaan ako?" Tanong niya habang inilibot ang buong paligid. Hindi pamilyar sa kaniya ang kwarto na lulan siya ngayon.

Judge handed her a glass of water. "You're in... uh... room? Kita mo naman."

Judge looked at her, examining her face a bit, stopping himself to ask something stupid. "I brought you here, I saw you lying on the ground unconcious," he paused. "You were locked up there."

Sandra...

Napatayo si Lyca nang biglang sumagi sa isipan niya si Sandra, ngunit agad din siyang napaupo ulit dahil sa pagkahilo.

"What the hell?" Napabulalas si Judge, may kaunting inis sa tono ng boses nito. "Gusto mo pa talagang tumayo sa lagay na 'yan? Jesus! You're pale as fuck!"

Napabuntong hininga siya nang itulak pabalik ni Judge pahiga sa kama. Tumayo si Judge nang may kinuha ito sa kalapit na drawer at bumalik lang din ito sa pag-upo sa gilid ng kama.

"Your hands please," Judge said, but Lyca didn't move an inch, instead she sported a confuse look.

"Akin na ang kamay mo," ulit ni Judge. "Marami kang sugat sa kamay."

"S-sorry," Bulong ni Lyca.

Agad na hinawakan ni Judge ang kamay niya. Doon nakita ni Lyca ang ilang mga sugat niya sa kamao at may iilan din sa braso. Mukhang nakuha ni Lyca ito sa desperadong pagkakalampag sa pinto kanina para makalabas.

Judge was very gentle as he damp the cotton balls against the wounds. Maybe Lyca was numb. She couldn't feel any pain from her opened flesh or maybe Judge was just very delicate. Either way, Lyca loves watching Judge closer.

"What's with the lines?" Biglang tanong ni Judge, habang nakatitig sa itim na ugat sa braso niya. Though it wasn't that eye catching yet it was still visible.

"N-nothing," Lyca said, slowly getting her hands from Judge's grip. Judge didn't resist. He let Lyca hid her hands under the blanket.

After that, Judge closed the door but eventually opened it afterwards.

Lumikot ang mata ni Judge. "I know its weird but... what's your name?"

Nanatiling nakatitig si Lyca sa nakatayong bulto ni Judge sa hamba ng pintuan at hindi siya agad nakasagot.

Judge sighed. "You know what, forget it--"

"Lyca!" Napatikhim siya. "M-my name's Lyca."

Tumango-tango si Judge at agad sinarado ang pinto, ngunit nabigla siya nang bumakas uli ito.

"I asked your name not because I wanted to but because... its weird to talk to someone nameless," Judge said. "Are we clear?"

After that he slammed the door.

--

Judge told her to rest, though her eyes were closed but her whole system was fully awake. Minutes passed, Lyca gave up and stood up. It's no use. Ayaw pa rin dumapo ng antok sa katawan niya. And besides her mind were completely clouded by Sandra.

Slowly and as quiet as possible she got out. Lyca knew it's rude to sneak out without even thanking Judge for his kindness but... madilim at nag-iisa lang si Sandra. Baka kung anong nangyari na rito.

Maybe she could thanks him next time?

Or probably not.

Mabilis siyang umatras nang bago niya buksan ang pinto ay may nauna nang bumukas non galing sa labas.

At first she thought it was Judge but the piercing and the screaming red hair says he wasn't.

"Sneaking out may look rude. S-sorry pero kailangan ko na talagang umalis--"

"I don't care."

Napayuko siya.

Pumasok si Jeru sa loob, sandali lamang iyon at lumabas ulit. "Lock the door when you're done."

Lyca closed the door. Nakita niyang  lumuhod si Jeru habang pinapakain ang kalapit na pusa. Napahinto si Lyca nang dahan-dahang lumapit ang pusa sa kaniya. Dahil dito natuon ang attensyion ni Jeru sa kaniya.

She bends down and slightly pet the fury gal. After that, she stood up.

"Saan ka pupunta?" Tanong ni Lyca nang makita si Jeru na naglalakad paalis.

"Seven eleven."

"Seven eleven sa may bus stop?" Lyca asked.

Jeru sighed. He must've realised what she wanted to do. "You can tag along. I won't mind."

Napatango-tango si Lyca at mabilis na sumunod sa lalaki. Medyo hindi niya kabisado ang daang ito at siguradong mawawala lang siya ulit. Lalo pa't madilim pa ang paligid. Having this guy as her compass is a pretty nice idea.

Sa paglalakad niya ay napahinto si Lyca sa maingay na tunog na nangagaling sa relo niya...

She gasped— No way!

Just like before, it displayed the fleeting red lights but unlike those past scenarios, the watch didn't display the hologram. It somehow did, but in her mind instead. Flashes of scenarios came gushing uncontrollably.

Bullets. Judge. Men. Blood.

Napaluhod siya dahil sa sakit ng ulo, pero hindi nakaligtas sa pandinig ni Lyca ang malakas na sigaw sa hindi kalayuan.

It was Judge.

Lyca was certain... it was his voice

###