Imee's Point of View

Sitting in front of his grave, I can feel my whole body shaking in rage. Sa tuwing naaalala ko ang araw na iyon, wala akong makuhang posibleng dahilan para gawin nila iyon kay Keizer.

But knowing how his life revolved in the Underground Empire, hindi posibleng may kinalaman ang gang na iyon sa pagkamatay niya. At yun ang hindi ko matanggap. Killing is forbidden in the Underground Empire because that's the number one rule yet they killed him.

Matapos kong magstay sa puntod ni Keizer ng halos isang oras, sakay ang motor ko, nagtungo ako sa isang lugar na matagal ko ring hindi napuntahan.

Pagkarating ko roon, I can clearly reminisce all those things whenever I am here.

The excitement when holding different weapons, the fun when you're in a gang fight, the urge to kill your opponent, the satisfaction seeing other groups kneeling down with their wouded body, everything. I just miss everything.

It's been awhile, Underground Empire.

Bumaba ako sa motor at nagtungo sa loob. Sinalubong ako ng maluwang, maalikabok at magulong lugar. Puno ng tao at lahat ay may kanya-kanyang sasakyan.

Hindi ko alam na ang battle field noon ay ginawa na pala nilang racing field ngayon. But it doesn't change the fact that people are still wearing their own masks. Of course, I do have mine too.

Isang lalaki ang humarang sa akin. He's asking for my pass. At nung wala akong maipakita sa kanya, ipinagtulakan ako nito palabas. But who does he think he is? Hindi ang panonood ng karera ang ipinunta ko rito.

Just by pushing me, itinulak ko rin siya hanggang sa tumilapon ito sa may barricade na siyang nagiging barrier sa gitna ng racing field. Dahil sa eksenang iyon, napunta sa amin ang lahat ng kanilang atensyon.

"Someone invaded our place." Tila isang napakaimportanteng anunsyo iyon dahilan para silang lahat ay mapatingin sa akin.

Isang lalaki ang lumapit sa gawi ko. Galit ang mababasa sa mukha nito. Seems like everything is happening again. Ganitong-ganito yun noon e, yung unang pagtungtong ko sa lugar na ito.

"Who are you?" Sa halip na sagutin, hindi ko siya pinansin.

But because of the wrong move he did, I found him being strangled by my left hand. Mula sa namumula nitong mga mata at nahihirapang paghinga, kaagad ko siyang binitawan.

Isang lalaki naman ang muling lumapit sa akin. Sinunggaban niya ako ng suntok but he failed. Mabilis akong umikot sa kanya at sinipa siya patalikod. Another man came. Bakit hindi sila sabay-sabay na lumapit sa akin? Do they think they're making it hard for me? They're just giving me thrill.

With the barricade cornering us, tumalon ako roon at sinalubong siya ng sipa. I just found him rolling down on the ground. I turned around and went back to my spot like nothing happened.

"Touch me and you'll die." I warned the guy who's about to hit me.

"Shit." Napatingin ako sa taong iyon. It's Jazz. Black Gang member.

Binigyan ako nito ng may nagtatanong na tingin. Hinila ako nito palayo pero may humarang na sa amin.

"You know outsiders are not allowed here Genius Hacker." Saad nito kay Jazz. "Especially if it's a girl." The guy with an eagle tattoo on his left arm stated and he emphasized the last word.

Hindi ko naramdaman na nahulog pala ang suot kong cup at ang pagladlad ng mahaba kong buhok.

That tattoo guy eyed me and I did the same thing. Hinawakan ako nito sa braso but what a wrong move to make. With my free arm, I grip his hand hard. Through my fast senses, I know he's about to kick me but I'm alert enough to stop him from what he's doing. Instead of kicking me, he's the one I kicked. Just enough for him to get hurt. Napayuko pa ito sa harapan ko.

"Never touch me if you don't want to die." I told him. Nabaling naman ang tingin ko sa mga kasamahan niya. Nakatingin lang ang mga ito sa akin.

"What?" I asked them.

Akma nila akong susugurin pero natigil iyon nang may isang magarang kotseng dumating.

The group of men who cornered me give way. Doon ay nakita ko ang isang lalaking bumaba sa kotse. Kahit na may natakip na mask sa mukha nito, kita kong nakatingin ito sa akin ng diretso.

"You got the wrong way here, lady." He said.

"Who are you?"

"You dared to ask me that?" He asked back, wearing that wicked smile on his lips.

Just by hearing that, I felt something inside me that I can't understand. Late ko na ring narealized na nasa harap ko na siya habang hawak-hawak ko ng mahigpit ang kwelyo ng damit niya.

"Who are you?" Muli kong tanong sa kanya kahit na may ideya na ako sa kung sino ito.

"What do you want, lady?" Now he's calling me lady. Nakangisi lang ito, tila wala siyang pakialam kahit halos sakalin ko na siya.

"I want your empire." Diretso kong saad.

Having his empire could help me find those people I'm looking. Gusto kong isa-isahin lahat ng taong hawak niya.

"Your asking for something I can't give." Saad nito at bigla na lang kaming magkapalit ng pwesto. He's pinning me on his car.

I saw how Jazz move but they stopped him. Muli kong itinuon ang mata ko sa lalaking ngayon ay nasa harapan ko.

With the death glare we're giving to each other, mabilis akong nakawala sa kanya. Hinila niya ako pabalik pero agad ko siyang sinunggaban ng suntok na kanya ring nailagan. Lumayo ito ng bahagya sa akin and I followed him.

We keep exchanging attacks against each other. Halos masira na rin ang mga barikadang nakaharang sa amin. Ang kaninang ugong ng mga sasakyan na maririnig mo ay napalitan ng ingay na dulot ng paglalaban namin ng taong ito.

Mula sa pagtalon na ginawa kong pagsalubong sa kanya, sabay kaming natumba at nagpagulong-gulong sa lupa. But I wouldn't let him win. Kaagad akong pumaibabaw sa kanya at sinakal siya ng mahigpit.

"I told you, never underestimate me." I emphasized, giving him a blaze look.

Tila sumusukong itinaas nito ang kanyang mga kamay kahit na nakahiga siya sa lupa habang nakangisi pa rin sa akin.

Maya-maya pa ay naramdaman ko ang paglapit ng ilang kalalakihan sa amin at agad akong nilayo sa lalaking ito. From the guy who's gripping me, someone pulled me away from him. It's Jazz. Nag-aalala subalit may galit sa mga mata nito.

Nakita ko ang pagtayo nung lalaki at tinitigan ako nitong mabuti. Naiiling siyang ngumisi sa akin.

"The Badass Queen is back." He said. Amusement is written all over his face and people around us gasped.

"It's been awhile, Death Shadow." I replied. Lalo lang itong ngumisi.

Lumapit ito sa akin. Gaya nung nauna niyang ginawa, naramdaman ko ang paghaplos nito sa aking mukha.

"I can't lend you my empire but I can give you clue about the things you're up to." Lumapit ito sa akin at may ibinulong. "The person you're looking is someone who is close to you." Tsaka ako nito tinalikuran.

Susundan ko pa sana siya pero may humarang na sa akin. Also, Jazz pulled me away. Mahigpit ang hawak nitong inilabas ako sa lugar na iyon.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Inis niyang tanong sa akin. Jazz knew what my plans are and he knew why am I doing these things.

"Still stubborn as the old Denniese." Dagdag nito. Alam kong galit siya pero wala akong pakialam.

"I'm making a way Jazz."

"But not in that kind of way Denniese. Pinapahamak mo ang sarili mo." He bawled. Tinitigan ko lang siya ng masama. "You think Death Shadow will help you? You got it wrong." Pagpapaintindi nito sa akin at alam ko iyon.

Everyone who's under the Underground Empire knew that Death Shadow doesn't care about his people. What he cares is to just enjoy sitting while watching his people fighting. He's a heartless king of his own empire.

Alam kong mali iyong ginawa ko. Alam kong kahit anong gawin ko ay hindi ako tutulungan ng taong iyon but I can't just wait for nothing.

I know Keizer's death has something to do with the gang. Black Gang was the rank 1 among the Underground Empire. Ang patumbahin kami ang alam kong isa sa pinakadahilan kung bakit nila iyon ginawa kay Kei. They want the top spot and killing the gang leader is the best way to take over the rank.

Sa gang world na kinabibilangan ko, mga gang names at code names lamang ang tanging malalaman mo. That's why I did that to Death Shadow. All I want is to have the empire on my hand. When that empire became mine, it wouldn't be hard for me to get their real names and their details.

"Ikaw na mismo ang nagsabi, babae ang pumatay sa kanya and it's you, the only girl who became part of the Underground Empire. Doesn't that make sense?" Singhal nito sa akin.

I can see rage in his eyes. He's Keizer's best friend. I know, we only have one goal here that's why he's helping me. Pero walang mangyayari kung hindi kami gagalaw.

"With the cloak covering their whole body, you think ako lang talaga ang babae roon?" I asked back causing his forehead to creased. Nagpakawala na lang ako ng malalim na buntong-hininga.

"What do you mean?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong. Now this makes sense. "Aside from you, sino pa bang babae ang meron sa empire?" Now he's eager to know everything. I gave him a stern look. He knew nothing.

"Who do you think is our top rival?" I asked.

Underground Empire is where the gang world revolves. All gangs there are not just a mere gang who involves on different gang fights. We're following a gang rules. But talking about the power, meron at merong isang tao o grupo ang gustong magpatumba sa iyo. Whether through following the rules or making their own rules, it doesn't matter as long as they will be able to get what they want.

"That's impossible. You're the only girl in the empire." Hindi nito makapaniwalang saad.

"Then you got it wrong Genius Hunter."

There's this gang who wants us to disappear in the Underground Empire. They are the Ruthless Gang. That gang is ruthless itself. Marumi silang maglaro makuha lang ang mga gusto nila. Sure, they're good at hiding but I'm not dumb to know nothing.

"Kumpara sa akin, mas matagal ka sa empire. You should have known better." I reprimanded, not minding what he wants to say and I left him there.

Pumunta ako sa kung saan ko ipinark ang motor. Akma ko na iyong paandarin pero hindi ko alam na sumunod pala siya sa akin.

"The Badass Queen is really back." He said coldly. Nilingon ko siya.

"And I want to get back to all of them. I want to get even." After saying that, with my helmet's on, mabilis kong pinaharurot ang motor palayo sa kanya.

If that Death Shadow doesn't want to cooperate, then I'll do it myself.

Ruthless Gang... I'll see you soonest.