I craned my neck as I opened my eyes. Kadiliman ang unang kong nakita. I waited and adjusted my sight but still, all I can see is darkness.

"Can someone explain me what's happening!" A familiar dangerous voice thundered that made me stopped. That's Mirae.

I tried to move but I realized I'm tied while there's something in my head, covering my face. Ang dalawang kamay ay nakatali sa likod. Nakatali rin ang aking mga paa sa paa ng aking kinauupuan. I felt the strands of my hair resting at my back. I can still feel the prosthetics on my face.

"She's awake." Nahigit ko ang aking hininga nang marinig ang boses ni Archer.

Someone removed the black cloth that's covering my head. Agad na namilog ang aking mga mata dahil sa una kong nakita.

"Fuck," I silently cursed when I saw the fake Dellany standing near me. Beside her is Archer.

I swallowed the big lump on my throat when I remember what Archer said. That he'll kill the real Dellany after finding her.

Damn! Paanong nakalabas siya sa warehouse? It was fully secured.

Mariing akong napapikit nang maalala ang kausap sa telepono ni Creed nang maabutan namin sila sa labas ng mansyon kung saan nakatago si Mommy. Siguro ay ang babaeng ito na ang kausap niya!

I sighed when I remember my mother. Sana lang ay naihatid na siya sa amin.

My eyes darted at Astrid when she gasped, with her opened mouth while looking directly at me. She doesn't know anything too. I glanced at Creed who's standing beside me.

They're all holding a gun except for Astrid.

Mirae frowned with her lips parted a bit. Siya ang nakatayo sa karap ng aking kinauupuan. She glanced at the fake Dellany before fixing her eyes on me.

"What the fuck is this?" Mariing tanong niya, hindi para sa akin ngunit nasa akin ang mga mata. Tila ineeksaminang mabuti ang aking mukha. Nang walang sumagot ay nahuli ko ang paggala ng tingin ni Mirae sa mga kasama.

"That's what I'm telling you." It was Creed who answered but looks like for Mirae, it's not enough.

"Let me go," kalmado ngunit mariing sambit ko. Though I know right now, its nonsense.

"Who the fuck is this woman? Last night we're with Dellany. Now you'll tell me that you found her already?" Naguguluhan pa ring tanong ni Mirae. "Archer! Creed!" She demanded answer from the two as she glanced at them.

"Dellany Mallari, the real Dark vanished four years ago-"

"What?" Astrid interrupted Archer's words.

"That was a few months after she entered Cosmos," Mirae frowned and continue. "Then who's the hell is the Dellany that's with us the past four years?"

"Matapos ang ilang linggong paghahanap sa kanya, hindi ko siya nakita. That's when Creed thought of a plan. To hire and train someone that can replace Dellany while we're searching for her. She undergoes a plastic surgery, copying the real Dellany's face."

Mirae's mouth parted. I looked at Archer but he's not even glancing at me.

"The fuck? Why didn't you tell me! Sino-sino ang nakakaalam ng nangyari?"

"Archer and Dasher, including me. Plano naming sabihin sa inyo, kapag nakita na namin si Dellany."

Marahas na bumaling si Mirae kay Creed dahil sa sinagot niya.

I felt my chest heaved. I'll surely die, no questions ask. But I just can't! Hindi ko kayang iwan ang anak ko!

If death is the consequence for all that I did, I'll accept it. But everytime that I'll remember Rye, I just can't. I need to live for my son.

"Now after four fucking years, y'all finally found her?" She raised her brow up on Arch and Creed. "Nice!" There was a hint of sarcasm on her voice.

"We want to find her first and know her reason," Mariing sambit ni Creed.

"And kill her after. I'll kill her, Mirae," Archer muttered that made my heart clenched. I bit my lower lip.

I'll probably die even before he can kill me. Why is he even desperate to kill me?

Nanatiling nakikinig ngunit walang imik si Astrid. I shut my mouth too. Hindi ko rin masyadong maigalaw ang aking katawan. Hindi ko alam ngunit siguro ay may epekto pa rin ang itinurok sa akin ni Creed. I don't even know how many hours I slept, o kung inabot na ako ng ilang araw. Ngunit siguro ay oras lang dahil na rin sa kaninang narinig ko mula kay Mirae.

She slowly walked near me as she leaned. Inilagay niya ang hintuturo sa ilalim ng aking baba upang bahagyang itaas ang mukha. She stared at me before turning to the woman who has the same face with me. Hinarap niya ito ngunit hindi ko na nakita kung ano ang ginawa niya dahil natabunan iyon ng kanyang likuran.

Ilang segundo lang ay nilingon ni Mirae si Creed, matapos ay si Archer.

"Now who's the real Dellany? The Dark that I trained? How can we make sure that she's the real one," Mirae muttered while slowly walking with no particular direction while there's still danger in her eyes. "We're not sure if the Dellany that joined our mission last night is the real one, the one who vanished four years ago. Or this woman..." She trailed off as she pointed the fake Dellany. "Is fooling us."

The woman shook her head. "I'm not-"

"Shut it."

I almost shiver in Mirae's cold voice. Kalmado ngunit ramdam ang panganib doon. Wala kahit isang nagtangkang magsalita maliban kay Mirae.

"Her tattoo, Mirae."

My lips parted a bit as I heard Archer's words. Sumiklab ang pait sa aking dibdib.

A smirk slowly formed in Mirae's lips. "Nevermind. I can figure it out."

She turned to the woman as she pointed her gun on her.

"Mirae," saway ni Astrid. Akmang lalapit siya ngunit agad ring pinigilan ni Archer.

"Let her."

I caught Astrid sighed as she slowly shook her head.

"What was the first thing that I told you after letting you join Cosmos?" Mirae asked while looking at the fake Dellany.

"I don't know-"

Napatigil ang babae nang ikasa ni Mirae ang baril. Bakas na sa mukha ng babae ang pagtataka.

"You don't?"

"Yes-- fuck."

I shut my eyes closed when she pulled the trigger while pointing the gun on the woman.

My lips parted when I saw blood gushing down the woman's shoulder.

"Fuck it, Mirae. I hired her. She didn't know anything!" Creed walked towards Mirae, akmang kukunin ang baril nang magsalita ako.

"It'll be my death if I betray you."

What's the use of shuting my mouth? I can't escape anyway. After seeing Mirae shot the fake Dellany, the one who didn't betray her, the one Creed hired, I should expect the worst for me. Paano ko bang nakalimutan iyon? Mirae can kill anyone. What a heartless woman.

Hindi ako pwedeng magmakaawa at sabihing may anak ako upang hindi patayin. Baka kunin niya pa ang anak ko at isunod sa akin.

Though I didn't do anything against her. I didn't betray her. I vanished, but I didn't do anything against Cosmos.

Mirae stopped, ganoon din si Creed. Napunta sa akin ang atensyon ng lahat. I didn't bother looking at Archer's direction. She turned to me with a smirk in her face.

"Exactly!" She muttered as she turned to me, malamig ang mga titig. She pointed her gun towards my direction.

I let the side of my lips rose as my eyes remained perilous even though I can already feel my tears at the side of my eyes.

"Kill me. Not Archer," I slowly shook my head. Mapait ko siyang nginitian. "Kill me, Mirae."

She quickly glanced at Archer as she smirked at me. "Why?" Mirae asked but she was interrupted when the fake Dellany spoke.

"There's no Dellany."

Mirae rolled her eyes as she gave her a bored look.

"What are you talking about?" Creed asked.

"There's no Dellany Mallari. Una pa lang, niloloko na niya kayo."

"What?" Archer frowned. Kasabay noon ang pagtunog ng kanyang telepono. Noong una ay hindi niya pinansin ngunit nang tumagal ay kinuha niya iyon sa kanyang bulsa.

"I'll answer this," he muttered before slightly walking away.

"Shut your mouth," banta ni Mirae sa akin habang idinikit niya ang dulo ng kanyang baril sa aking noo.

Walang kahit isa ang nagsalita matapos sagutin ni Archer ang tawag. Mirae's looking at his direction. Si Astrid naman ay kunot noong nakatitig sa akin.

"Attorney Gallardo." Marahas akong napatingin kay Archer nang marinig ang sinambit niya, hindi alintana ang baril na nakadikit sa aking noo. I met his cold eyes. Igting ang pangang nakatingin siya sa akin habang may kausap sa kabilang linya.

Is that Prestin? Ilang Atty. Gallardo ba ang kilala niya? Why would he even call Arch?

"What?" I watched Archer as his expression change. A frown slowly formed in his lips. Ngayon ay hindi ko na mabasa ang kanyang mga mata.  "L-last night?" His voice trembled as it softened. "I'll find her."

What was that?

Natapos ang tawag at agad na napahilamos si Archer sa kanyang mukha. Matapos ay agad na naglakad patungo sa labasan.

"What is it?" Mirae asked but Archer continue walking.

"Arch!" The woman called. Even in my situation, I can't help but rolled my eyes on her.

"Archer!" Mirae shrieked.

Marahas na bumaling si Archer at malamig na sinagot si Mirae. "Auriese's missing. I need to find her, Mirae."

I gasped and everyone heard it. I bit my lower lip as I avoided everyone's gaze.

"You don't have to find her, Archer."

Mariin na akong ng napapikit nang marinig ang mga salita ni Dellany. My eyes darted at Arch who's now frowning a bit.

"Look at this first." The woman set her eyes on me as she walked towards my direction.

"Fuck! Auriese is missing. I need to find her!" Sumisikip ang aking dibdib sa hindi makapaghintay na sambit niya.

"Just a minute, Archer."

Napabuga si Archer sa hangin at wala ng nagawa.

"Fuck you," I silently cursed when the woman stood behind me. Bahagyang unatras si Mirae at hinayaan ang babae sa nais na gawin sa akin.

I heard the woman smirked as she started pulling my hair. Bahagya pa akong napatingala dahil sa marahas na paghila niya ngunit hindi natanggal ang kulay abong buhok.

"What are you doing?" Astrid asked. Nahihiwagaan itong nakatingin sa babaeng humihila sa aking buhok.

"Stop that-" Naputol ang sasabihin ni Creed nang sa paghila ng babae ay sumama na ang mahabang buhok. I felt my real hair cascaded down my shoulders.

The woman immediately blocked my eyes when she stood in front of me. Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang aking panga at maiging sinuri iyon.

"Fuck off," I cursed when she started peeling off my prosthetics. 

Ilang minuto ang itinagal noon bago siya tuluyang lumayo sa akin at ngumisi. I know she removed all the prosthetics I have except my contact lens to reveal my face.

I heard Astrid gasped as Mirae immediately pointed her gun on me. I saw a frown formed in Creed's forehead. I didn't dare look at Archer's direction.

"Auriese," I heard Arch whispered.

"You can't find her because there's no Dellany Mallari. The Dellany you know is Auriese Gallardo."

Namilog ang aking mga mata nang marahas na itinutok ni Archer ang baril niya patungo sa direksyon ng babae. He started walking towards my direction without tearing his eyes off the woman.

"What are you doing, Archer?" Mariing tanong ni Mirae habang nakatutok pa rin sa aking ang baril.

"This woman's fooling us," he coldly said with his dark eyes.

"I'm not. Totoo ang sinasabi ko-"

"Fuck off!" He shouted as I saw his grip from his gun tightened. "Shut your mouth, whoever you are," banta niya bago tuluyang bumaling sa akin.

His eyes softened as he met mine. "Aurie," he whispered as he kneeled in front of me. My eyes automatically shut closed when his palm gently landed on my cheek as he caressed it.

"Arch, don't kill me," I pleaded. Sa sobrang hina ng pagkakasabi ko ay muntik ng hindi marinig iyon. I can hear Creed and Astrid talking but I'm too focused on Archer to mind it.

"I won't, you're now safe, huh?" He tilted his head as he smiled at me.

I nodded as I let my tears sprung free.

"Don't cry, fuck. I'll make sure you're safe," sambit niya bago sinimulang kalasin ang tali sa aking mga kamay at paa.

"Archer, stop that!" Mirae commanded but Archer seems like he heard nothing and continue untying me.

"Put your gun down, Mirae." Mariing utos niya, na kahit nakatalikod ay alam niyang nakatutok pa rin sa aking ang baril ni Mirae ngunit hindi siya natinag sa pagkalas sa mga taling nakakabit sa akin.

"Put that gun down first, Mirae." It was Creed.

"She's Dellany Mallari!" Matigas na sagot ni Mirae, ngayon ay bahagya ng tumaas ang boses. "Now, get off. I'll kill that woman!"

I sobbed as I saw Archer's jaw clenched. He finally faced Mirae. "Auriese is my girlfriend. What the fuck? Put that down, Mirae!"

I wiped my tears as I shiver at the coldness of his voice.

__________