A lady wearing a red gown ran in the hallways of the castle. Guards were after her. She could only hear her breathing, the footsteps of the guards, and their screaming voices.

"Get her! Get her!"

"Over there!"

Sa pagmamadali niyang tumakbo ay hindi na niya napansin ang babaeng nakabangga niya.

"Sorry Miss—"

Natigilan si Chanel saglit nang mahawakan niya ang kamay ng babae. The lady was wearing a black gown and mask. Her hair was styled in a beautiful bun. They had the same height and color of hair too. Dito nakuha ng babae ang kanyang atensyon.

Red hair.

"It's okay. Are you all right?" tanong nito.

"Y-yes—""

"There she is!" sigaw ng mga sundalo.

Hindi na nagpalaam pa si Chanel sa babae at dali-daling tumakbo papalayo. It was like when she first got here in Para. The Black Army was after her and right now, she found herself again running away from them. She stripped the hem of her skirt so she could finally run easier. Tinanggal niya ang kanyang sapatos at tumakbo ng nakaapak. She searched where the kitchen was. Salamat sa pag-explain ni Chersh, she easily knew her way out of this big castle.

When she finally found it, madali siyang lumabas sa kastilyo gamit ang daan sa kusina. Sa likuran nito, isang malaking butas ang nakikita niya, kasya na ang isang tao. Dumapa siya at gumapang papasok sa loob. She didn't mind the smell and even the dirty water running on the floor.

She crawled faster before the guards could get her. When she reached the end of it, tumingin siya sa ilalim kung saan ang daan patungo sa ibaba. Ginamit niya ang ladder na gawa sa bakal pababa at tumalon. Tumalsik pa ang tubig sa kanyang damit at kahit sa kanyang mukha. Muntik na siyang maduwal na amoy dito sa ilalim.

Tinapkan niya ang kanyang ilong. Muli siyang tumakbo at binaybay ang daan patungo sa exit sa kanilang plano.

"Sa ilalim! Dito!" Rinig niyang sigaw ng mga sundalo. Nang lumingon siya ay nakita niyang isa-isa nang tumalon mula sa itaas ang mga sundalong nakasunod sa kanya.

"Shit!" Muli siyang tumakbo gamit ang natitira niyang lakas at tiningnan mabuti ang mga marka na iniwan ni Chersh. Nang siya'y nakakita ng bilog na marka sa pader ay doon siya agad lumiko. Nakasunod pa rin ang mga sundalo sa kanya. When she finally thought she was far from their hands, laking gulat niya nang makitang mayroong mga sundalo sa harapan niya. Agad siyang lumiko at nagtago. Sumilip siya sa daan kung saan dapat siya dadaan. Nandoon pa rin ang mga sundalo at nakatayo.

Paano siya makakaalis? Pano siya makakadaan?

Tumingin siya sa daan kung saan siya galing kanina at naririnig na niya ang mga yabag ng paa ng mga sundalong nakahabol sa kanya.

Bumilis muli ang tibok ng puso niya at muling tumingin sa mga sundalo sa harapan.

"Umalis na kayo please... Umalis na kayo..."

When she saw them running in a different direction, she immediately ran toward the way where Chersh left a mark again. Natatandaan niya ang pagkakapaliwanag ni Chersh dito. Diretso, unang kaliwa, diretso muli, pangatlong kaliwa, unang kanan, diretso, at pangalawang kanan.

Nakalagpas na siya sa mga sundalo na nakaharang sa daanan niya kanina. Muli niyang nakita ang marka ni Chersh at kumaliwa sa pangatlong daan. Pagkadaan doon ay agad siyang kumanan sa unang daan at muling tumakbo ng diretso. Nakikita na niya ang pangalawang daan sa bandang kanan. Iyon ay ang huli niyang dadaanan upang makaalis siya rito.

Nang malapit na siyang makaliko, laking gulat niya nang mayroong humawak sa kanyang braso. One guard caught her. Sinubukan niyang kumawala ngunit ang higpit ng pagkakahawak sa kanya ng sundalo.

"Huli ka!" sigaw nito.

Gamit ang kaliwa niyang kamay ay marahas niyang sinalpok ang hawak-hawak niyang korona sa mukha nito. Sunod niyang sinipa ang tiyan ng sundalo. Dahil dito ay nakawala siya sa pagkakahawak nito. Kung inaakala niyang makakatakbo na siya papalayo ay nagkakamali siya. Naramdaman niya ang mahigpit na pagsabunot nito sa kanyang buhok at hinatak siya gamit ito.

"Ahhhh!" sigaw ni Chanel sa sakit na kanyang naramdaman sa paghatak ng sundalo sa kanyang buhok.

Inuntog niya ang ulo niya patalikod sa mukha ng sundalo at muli siyang nabitawan nito. Nang siya'y nabitawan nito ay agad niyang hinawakan ang magkabilang braso nito at sinipa ang pinaka maselang parte ng katawan nito.

"Ahhhh!!!!" Isang katakot-takot na sigaw ang pinakawala ng sundalo. Napaluhod ito sa sakit. Tumalikod si Chanel at akmang tatakbo na ulit nang mahawakan ng sundalo ang kanyang paa na naging dahilan upang siya'y sumubsob sa daan. Tumalsik muli ang tubig at bumalandra ang mukha ni Chanel sa nakakasulasok na amoy nito.

"Tangina ka talaga!" Galit na galit na sigaw ni Chanel at muling sinipa ng malakas sa mukha ang sundalo. Tumayo si Chanel nang iika-ika dahil sa sakit ng kanyang pagbagsak. Bago pa man siya umalis ay siniguro na niyang hindi na siya muling mahuhuli ng sundalo. Muli ay sinipa niya ang ulo nito at doon na tuluyang nawalan ng malay ang lalaki.

Hingal na hingal na si Chanel. Ang sakit na ng kanyang katawan. Pagod na s'ya sa kakatakbo. At sobrang baho na rin niya dahil naligo na siya sa tubig dito sa sewer. Naglakad si Chanel patungo sa huling daan kung saan siya'y tuluyan nang makakatakas. Kumanan siya rito. Nakikita na niya liwanag ng buwan. Malapit na siya. Sobrang lapit na.

Naglakad pa siya patungo dito. Naramdaman niyang siya'y tuluyan nang nakalabas nang maramdaman niya ang ihip ng hangin at ang simoy ng gabi. Nang buksan niya ang kanyang mata ay sumulubong sa kanya ang napakagandang liwanag ng buwan.

Nang bumaba ang tingin niya sa daan ay wala ang inaasan niyang makita.

Wala si Chersh.

Wala si Night.

Wala ang karwahe na dapat na gagamitin nila papaalis dito.

Ang tanging nakikita niya ang isang batalyon ng sundalo na naghihintay sa kanya. Nanginig sa takot si Chanel. Tila nawalan siya ng lakas sa nakikita.

"Do you think you can run away from me?" Narinig niya ang nakakatakot ng boses ni Razerus.

"No, my lady. No one can escape me," wika pa nito.

Someone grabbed her foot. Muli siyang sumubsob sa lapag. Nabitawan niya ang koronang hawak-hawak niya. Nakita niya ang dalawang pares ng paa sa kanyang harapan kaya't tumingala siya. Nakita niya ang mukha ng prinsipe. Kitang-kita niya ang inis at galit sa mga mata nito ngunit nanatiling kalmado ang mukha ni Razerus.

Yumuko ito at kinuha ang koronang ninakaw niya mula sa prinsipe. Before she could say anything, she felt a tug on her foot. Nakita niya ang pagtayo ng prinsipe at ang paglakad nito papalayo. Mas lalo siyang natakot sa susunod na mangyayari.

Was this her end? Hanggang dito na lang ba?

"Ahhhh!!!!" Laking gulat niya nang mayroong humatak sa kanya muli papasok sa sewer. Papasok sa napakadilim at napakabahong lugar na 'yon.

Someone was here and she couldn't distinguish what it was. Hinatak lamang siya ng hinatak nito hanggang sa ito na mismo ang tumigil. She felt relieved when it stopped, but the pain won't go away easily and she could feel it on her skin and every part of her body.

She had enough.

"You...." She heard an unnatural voice. Like a voice she heard before, but she couldn't remember what it was.

"Where's the real you?" Galit na galit nitong tanong.

"Where are you!!!" sigaw nito sa kanya.

Chanel couldn't smile even though she felt so triumphed. Because what she was seeing right now, she thought that she shouldn't have seen it. There was a monster underneath the castle and the people didn't know anything about it. No one knew but her.

Was it really a monster?

Or another being that should be sealed and forgotten?

"WHERE ARE YOU!!!"

Iyon na lamang ang tanging narinig ni Chanel bago siya mawalan ng malay. Finally, it was all over. She could finally rest. Just like that. Her mission was done.

And it was....

***

Chanel furrowed her brows when her head bumped on the wood. Hirap na hirap niyang idinalat ang kanyang mata at tumingin sa labas ng bintana. Sobrang sakit ng ulo niya.

"Feeling ko na sobrahan ako sa wine," wika ni Chanel sa dalawang lalaking nasa loob ng karwahe.

"Sino ba kasing nagsabi na uminom ka pa ng isang basong wine?" wika ng lalaking katabi niya rito sa karwahe.

Sobrang sakit ng ulo ni Chanel at sobrang napagod siya sa kanilang ginawa ngayong gabi. Napadami nga ata ang pag-inom niya ng alak. Well, she was happy and they had all the rights to celebrate.

Why?

Because what they did tonight, it was damn amazing.

And their heist was freaking successful.

Chanel could only smile. Tumingin siya kay Night. He was peacefully sitting in front of her, he had his arms crossed while his eyes were closed. Mukhang nagpapahinga rin ito.

"You're a genius," wika ni Chanel sa binata. Dumilat si Night at tumingin sa dalaga. Nakita niya ang pagngiti nito.

"All I did was to instruct. You did everything."

"But without you, hindi ko 'to magagawa ng mag-isa."

"And without you, I couldn't have done it too."

Chanel again smiled at both of them. She was really happy. Chanel leaned on her seat and inhaled sharply. She couldn't help herself but smile while thinking of those things that they did earlier. That was mission impossible right there and they pulled it off.

It was that night that they planned this. At ang hindi pagtulog nang gabing 'yon ay worth it.

"Here's the real plan," Night said.

"Chanel and I will walk in the party, like normal guests, and we're going to walk out of there like how we get there too," paliwanag nito. Nakakunot-noo ang dalawa. Hindi maitindihan ang binabalak ni Night.

"We'll act. You and I will talk, dance, and enjoy the party like the rest. The action will start when we find a perfect chance. All you have to do is to follow me, angel," paliwanag ni Night.

Chanel and Night went to the party that night, riding a carriage, and walked to the front door. Talked and danced like ordinary people.

"Follow my lead, Chanel," Night said.

"What will I do? And how will I know when we will start?" tanong ni Chanel.

"Are you ready, angel?"

"Ready for what?"

"The moment I let go of your hand, that's when we will start."

Nagulat na lamang si Chanel nang bigla siyang bitawan ni Night kaya't dire-diretso ang pag-atras niya. Dahil na rin sa pagtulak ng binata ay nawalan siya ng balanse. Nang mararamadaman na niyang matutumba na siya ay laking gulat niya nang mayroong humawak sa kanyang magkabilang braso. Nang siya'y lumingon ay mas lalo siyang nagulat kung sino ang sumalo sa kaniya. He helped her to get up and looked at her from head to toe. It was the prince who helped her. She was damn lucky.

"And what am I going to do?" tanong muli ni Chanel.

Night smiled and answered, "We'll use your charm."

"My charm?" Tumingin si Chanel kay Chersh. "Do I even have a charm?"

"So, what she will do?" Chersh asked curiously.

"Chanel will seduce the prince and we need to find a perfect chance to make it work."

"Are you okay, Miss?" tanong ng prinsipe sa kanya.

She forced her smile and answered the man, "Yes, thank you."

Mas lalong napabuntong-hininga si Chanel nang makita ang mantsa sa puting suit nito. Ngunit umarteng pa rin siyang tila nag-alala rito.

"Pero 'yong damit mo..."

Natahimik saglit ang binata at tumingin sa suit niya.

"Ahh, it's okay."

"I can help," alok niya. Ngumiti siya muli. "That is if it's all right for you."

"How?"

"I-I can wash it?"

Nakita niya ang pagngiti ng lalaki. "Sure, follow me."

"Okay, after that, paano ko makukuha 'yong crown?" tanong ni Chanel.

Sumagot si Chersh sa dalaga, "Use your charm. Be mysterious and seductive. Use your body!" mungkahi nito.

"I don't even know how to seduce a man," sagot ni Chanel. She could only frown.

"Okay, tell me the process. How?"

"Make him hungry for you. Seduce him with words until you can finally remove his crown on his head," sagot ni Night.

"At paano ko masisiguro na walang mangyayari sa 'min ng prinsipe?"

"That's Chersh's cue to make an entry. He will start a fire and make an explosion at the east wing of the castle."

It was like everything was in slow motion. She could see Razerus aiming for her lips. He leaned closer and closer until she could feel his breath. Wala nang ibang iniisip si Chanel kung hindi ang magdasal na sana magpasabog na si Chersh upang hindi matuloy ang nangyayari ngayon. When the prince was about to kiss Chanel, they heard a loud explosion. Agad na napatingin si Chanel sa bintana sa gulat. She could see black smoke in the building right in front of them.

'Finally. Finally. Thank you so much, Chersh! You saved me!''

"And after that?" tanong ni Chanel.

"Razerus will definitely check it. He doesn't like it when something happens in his territory. And knowing that there is a silent war between him and his brothers, he will leave you."

"You're so sure about this I'm starting to be scared," sagot ni Chanel and Night could only smile.

"Before he leaves you, request someone to get you a drink. That's the time when I will come in."

"How will I know if it's you?"

"We'll use something for you to distinguish if it is me."

"Then an earring will do," sagot ni Chanel.

"Earring?"

Tumango si Chanel. "A black earring."

Back to the room where Chanel was patiently waiting for Razerus. A waiter came inside the room and served her a wine.

"Come in," she answered when she heard a knock on the door.

A man, wearing a waiter uniform, went inside with a serving cart. Tiningnan mabuti ni Chanel ang lalaki. She needed to make sure that he was the right man. She was looking for a sign. Palatandaan sa kanilang plano.

"My lady, would you like me to pour you a glass of wine?

Chanel smiled at the waiter. "Yes, thank you."

Tumingin si Chanel sa waiter at napansin ang suot-suot nitong hikaw sa kanang tainga nito. That earring, she recognized it. She smiled. That was an earring that she chose for Night. Ito ang paraan nila upang makilala nila ang isa't isa habang sila'y naka-disguise.

"I love your earring. Where did you get that?" She asked to continue the conversation at upang walang mapaghinalaan sa kanila. Tumayo si Night na nakadisguise bilang waiter at nagtungo sa lamesa kung saan ipinatong ni Chanel ang korona kanina.

"My wife gave it to me, my lady," sagot nito habang busy ito sa pag-iinspect sa korona. They had to turn off the tracker and Night had to do it without someone detecting that there was magic here.

Wife? Chanel was really surprised but smiled, almost laughed.

"I guess your wife is really beautiful and lovable," komento ni Chanel, dagdag sa pagbibiro para naman hindi siya gaano kabahan sa kanilang ginagawa ngayon.

Natigilan saglit si Night at muling nagpatuloy sa ginagawa. He slowly disabled the track using a little bit of his magic. He replaced the crown and put Razerus' track on the fake crown. Hawak-hawak ang totoong korona, lumapit si Night sa serving cart at itinago ito sa ilalim. Night then poured Chanel a glass of wine and answered.

"She is, indeed, really beautiful, my lady. She's not hard to love." Chanel was very surprised to hear that. Was that valid? Was that true? Or were they still doing a roleplay here?

Chanel took a deep breath and smiled at the waiter. Kinuha niya ang glass na inabot ng waiter at uminom dito. She needed a drink. She wasn't ready for that answer. Not really.

"Thank you," is all that she could answer.

"Okay. Kapag nakuha mo ang korona, paano naman ako tatakas? For sure, sa gagawin kong pang seduce sa prinsipe, hindi niya ako basta-basta pakakawalan," tanong ni Chanel.

"Get the crown and ran for your life," sagot ni Night.

"Is that even fair?" Chanel shook her head in disbelief.

"I will make your doppelganger" Nagkatinginan si Chanel at Chersh.

"Doppelganger?"

"Yes," Night answered and once again smiled. "Your doppelganger is going to be the distraction so we can get out of the castle without anyone suspecting us," Night explained.

Chanel took the crown and ran for her life. Sa pagmamadali niya ay mayroon siyang nabanggang babae. They had the same height and color of hair, but it was the total opposite of her. The lady was wearing a black gown and mask. Her hair was styled in a bun. While she, on the other hand, was wearing a red gown and she let her hair down naturally.

When they touched their hands, through magic, they automatically switched places. Chanel was now the lady wearing the black gown and her doppler was the lady wearing the red gown.

Right after they bumped at each other, her doppler ran again without saying goodbye to her as she heard the guards. Muling kinalma ni Chanel ang kanyang sarili at naglakad papalayo. Dinaanan siya ng ilang mga guards ngunit hindi nag suspetsya ang mga ito. Busy ito sa paghahabal sa kanyang doppelganger.

Bumalik siya sa party, kumuha ng isang basong wine mula sa waiter, at uminom. After a few drinks, Chanel acted as if she was already drunk. Lumapit siya sa isang lalaki at ipinulupot ang kamay niya sa braso nito.

"Take me home, honey," wika nito sa estrangherong lalaki. Sakto lamang ang height nito. Kulay brown ang buhok nito pati na rin ang mga mata nito. The guy looked ordinary ngunit puwede na, sa isip-isip ni Chanel.

"Miss, okay ka lang ba—" Napatingin ang lalaki sa paligid nang pagtinginan sila ng mga tao.

"Yes, honey. Iuuwi na kita. Lasing na lasing ka na."

Inalalayan siya ng lalaki hanggang sa makasakay sila ng karwahe. Nang tuluyang masara ng lalaki ang pinto ay bumalik sa ulirat si Chanel.

"Pwede ka nang maging best actor, Chersh."

Si Chersh, na naka-disguise bilang isang tao, ay ang taong naghatid kay Chanel patungo sa karwahe. At sa kanilang harapan ay nakaupo na si Night, hawak-hawak ang korona na kanilang ninakaw.

Ang Crown of Bones na isa sa mga relic sa mga rings.

At matagumpay nilang nanakaw ito sa prinsipe at ligtas na nakaalis ng palasyo.

Now she wondered what happened to her doppelganger. Night was the one who was controlling it.

"What happened to my doppelganger?"

Hindi agad sumagot si Night sa tanong ni Chanel.

"Gone, as it was supposed to be."

Tumango-tango na lamang si Chanel. She then again closed her eyes. She needed to sleep because it was going to be a long journey again.

After all, they were now going to the next ring and they had to steal another relic from a prince again.