I can barely feel my hands because of these chains tied to me. I was laying on the cold cement floor of this cell. I don't know what happened but all I can remember is after seeing that man, my eyes went blur then I lost consciousness. The moment I opened my eyes, I was chained here in this dark cage. The only source of light is the torches with blue flames on them. I'm still dumbfounded by the sudden events occurring. First, why am I here? I don't remember being kidnapped or anything, it's still clear in my memories that I got home safely.

And what is that strange blue light at my house? Am I hallucinating? Maybe, I was too exhausted, I must be imagining things right now.

I can't slap myself to wake me up because of these chains so I just bite my lips until it bleeds. When I opened my eyes, everything was still the same. The blue flames, the cage, and the darkness, everything was still there. That's when I realized that I am not dreaming. All of these are real!

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi para pumapasok sa isipan ko ang mga nangyayari. Gusto ko lang naman makauwi agad at makapagpahinga. And guess what, I don't even know what time it is or how long have I been unconscious. Mayroon pa akong meeting bukas at alam ko na hindi magandang ideya ang paghintayin si President Kim. I'm sure that once I'm late, he'll scold me to death. And not to mention, I am freaking hungry right now! Kanina pa kumakalam ang sikmura ko pero kahit pagtayo ay hindi ko magawa. There is some strange force that is preventing from standing. No matter how hard I try to use my legs and stand up, it's still no use. Idagdag mo pa ang matinding init dito sa kinaroroonan ko, patuloy ang pagtulo ng pawis mula sa noo at sintido ko pero hindi ko man lang itong magawang punasan dahil sa mga kadenang nakatali sa kamay ko.

Naputol ang pagrereklamo ko nang marinig ang yabag na nagmumula sa 'di kalayuan. Malumanay lang ang tunog nito pero sa bawat paghakbang na aking naririnig ay kakaibang takot ang dinadala nito sa sistema ko. Hindi ko alam pero alam ko na agad kung kanino nanggagaling ang mga yabag na 'yon.

The man earlier, if I heard it right, he said that he's name is Hades, and he's the- what? Underworld God? Nababaliw na ba siya? Maybe, I was abducted by a psychopath who calls himself a god.

Huminto ang mga yabag sa harap ng selda ko, nanatili akong nakahiga sa malamig na semento at tanging paa lamang ng taong nakatayo ang nakikita ko.

"So, you're still alive, human." Dumagungdong sa buong pasilyo ang boses ng lalaki, Nabasag niya ang katahimikang kanina pa bumabalot sa buong paligid.

"Sino ka? And why am I here? Anong gusto mo sa 'kin at kailangan mo pa akong ikulong?" Hindi ko alam kung saan ko nakuha ang tapang ko para sagutin siya nang gano'n pero wala akong mapagpipilian, gusto ko na makaalis sa lugar na ito hangga't maaari.

"I commend you for having guts to talk to a god like that, human," he chuckled.

"God? Are you kidding me? Please stop this childish act, habang nakakapagtimpi pa ako," buong tapang kong sagot. Panandaliang nabalot ng katahimikan ang paligid hanggang sa bahagyang napatawa ang lalaking nasa tapat ng selda ko. Nagpatuloy siya sa pagtawa hanggang sa lumakas ito nang lumakas, gusto kong takpan ang tenga ko pero pinipigilan ito ng mga kadena sa kamay ko. The man laughed maniacally as if he heard something hilarious.

Huminto siya sa pagtawa at naglakad papasok ng kulungan ko. Hindi ko alam kung namalikmata lang ako pero nasilayan ko ang asul na liwanag na bumalot sa kadena na nagsasara sa rehas ng kulungan. Ilang segundo lang ay nagliyab ito at unti-unting nalusaw. Nang makapasok ang lalaki ay nakaramdam ako ng kakaibang init sa paligid na para bang biglang tumaas ang temperatura ng lugar na kinalalagyan ko. Gusto kong isipin na ilusyon lamang lahat ng nakikita ko dahil kahit mga nakikita ng mga mata ko ay 'di ko na rin mapaniwalaan.

Sa bawat paghakbang ng lalaki palapit sa akin ay tila napapaso ang balat ko sa matinding init na dala ng hangin. Ano ba kasing nangyayari?

Napatingala ako sa kinaroroonan ng lalaki matapos niyang iluhod ang isa niyang binti upang maging kapantay ako. Nakita ko nang malapitan ang mga mata niya na nag-aalab na asul.

"You wasted my candle, didn't you know? I regret summoning you here, and now I can't think of any way to dispose you," he said coldly.

I frowned and looked at him intently. "Dispose? Me? So, you're a killer, a psycho one to be specific, calling himself a god," I responded and sarcastically laughed at him.

Nanahimik ang paligid ng ilang sandali habang taimtim na nakatingin sa akin ang lalaki na tila ba sinusukat ng kaniyang mga mata ang buong pagkatao ko. 'Di nagtagal ay sumilay ang malokong ngiti sa gilid ng kaniyang labi.

He stood up and turned his back on me, "Let's see how long you can keep up with that attitude," he mumbled but loud enough for me to hear.

"You must be hungry, human," he added and slightly turned his head on me to give me his stern look.

"Obviously yes."

"Let's eat, I daresay," he replied and about to leave me there, but I immediately stopped him in panic.

"Hey, are you crazy? Do you think, I can eat with these damn chains?"

"Oh, my bad," sagot niya at ikinumpas ang kamay niya sa direksyon ko. Napatulala na lang ako nang makita ang mga susunod na nangyari. Nabalot nang nagliliyab na asul na apoy ang mga kadena na nakabalot sa akin, sisigaw sana ako pero hindi ko na ito natuloy nang wala akong maramdaman na kahit ano. Hindi ako napapaso? And wait, these chains are flammable? How the heck did this happened?

Matapos maglaho ng mga kadena ay binigyan ko nang nagtatakhng tingin ang lalaki. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga nakikita ko, hindi ko alam kung nababaliw na ba ako o dahil lang 'to sa matinding pagod ko sa trabaho.

"Save the talk later. Get up to your knees or else I'll lock you here and won't let you eat for a century," he uttered with his cold voice.

Nanginginig man ang mga paa at tuhod ko ay pinilit kong tumayo. Kumapit ako sa rehas ng selda para suportahan ang pagtayo ko. Puno ng galos ang hita at binti ko samantalang ang braso at kamay ko naman ay puro pasa dahil sa pagpupumilit ko na makaalis sa mga kadena kanina. Nang makalabas ako sa selda ay doon ko lang napagtanto na iba na ang suot ko.

I am currently wearing a black one-piece frock. The color of the dress almost fades because of its age and the gaunt fabric can be easily ripped off by a single hand. We continued walking through the dark alley, I can't see where we are heading but all I can do now is to follow him. I don't even know if I should trust this man given that he locked me up in that dark and cold cell. I'm trying to convince myself that everything is not real, from that burning chains to this man who is casually walking as if he did nothing to me. I am looking around in every step I take, looking for a place where I can escape but I found nothing. All I can see are those thick bricks and the blue torches on the sides of this dark path.

Huminto sa paglalakad ang lalaki kaya ako ay napahinto rin. Bahagya akong gumilid para makita ang nasa harapan niya. Agad na kumunot ang noo ko nang makita na isa itong pader. A dead end? I am sure that I looked in every part of the alley and I saw no doors.

I was about to talk when the man placed his palm on the brick wall. Suddenly, the lines on the bricks glowed in blue and burnt into flames, blue flames to be exact. Moments passed, the wall disappeared, and a new path opened. I was too stunned and speechless, so I just followed the man without any word.

Sa pagpasok namin sa bagong daanan ay agad akong napahinto nang makita ang kabuuan nito.

The place where we are is a castle, no doubt. I was mesmerized by the interior design of it. Inside the castle are the pitch-black pillars covered with elegant linings written in glowing blue color. The great hall was surrounded by statues of different mythical creatures and the windows were stained with paintings. The royal blue curtains were elegantly arranged on the pillars and the floor was covered by a soft furred blue carpet. The ceiling was high enough to emphasize the large crystal blue chandelier hanging suspended in the middle of the aisle.

The man continued walking until he reaches the center. He turned to me while I was dumbfounded. The light glowed brighter as the man stood still. He stared at me before spreading his arms and said the words that sent shivers to my spine.

"How was it, human? The feeling of entering the Underworld Palace." 

The psychotic man laughed and the entire place was filled with malice.