Tasha

        I could hear the sirens blaring. Shades of blue and red lights are peeking through the door.

        My heart is at it's heaviest as I follow the paramedics who are trying to keep her alive. One of them is pushing the stretcher where Kleya lies bleeding and clinging to life. The other is keeping her heart from losing it's beat. She's lost a lot of blood and she already lost consciousness.

        "I can't lose her! Please save her!" I kept pleading to them over and over again as I follow.

        Not a moment to soon, we finally got out of Cosima's enormous doors. I was immediately greeted by the sight of numerous swat vehicles and ambulance. We're all saved and surrounded by those who has the power to help, but that's not enough to get rid of the fear in my heart.

         Kleya is still fighting for her life.

         "Ma'am hanggang dito lang ho kayo." One of the paramedic says as he closes the door of the ambulance. I wanted to defy their orders. I wanted to get in and hold Kleya's hand. But before I could say anything, they drove away left.

         I covered my mouth and sobbed repeatedly. I turned around and saw Wolfgang and Shawn being wheeled out in stretchers and treated for their gunshots. Just like Kleya, they were  immediately rushed to the nearest hospital.

          My knees weakened as soon as I saw body bags being carried out of Cosima. There were too many casualties. 

         "Python, asan ang mga anak ko?! Ayos lang ba siya?!" 

          Napalingon ako nang marinig ang boses ng isang babaeng tila ba kararating lang.

         They stood there not too far from me. She was crying right in front of Python. She's still wearing her dress and veil. My memories of her is still vague but I already know who she is. My mind may be a mess but what Kleya told me earlier is enough for me to figure out the pieces of our puzzled lives.

         "With my brother no longer a threat, I believe it's time for you to know who Alison is... And this is the time for you to be a family again..." Python said as he turned to look at me.

          Following Python, she looked at my direction and froze. She looked at me with so much longing and sadness as she gasped. "Alison?"

         That was her. She was the nun who raised Alison and I.The nun who loved us like we're her real children. The nun who took care of us ever since we could remember.  She's our real mother all along.

       I found myself walking fast towards her but before I could even say anything, she pulls me into a hug. The kind of hug that brought me sobbing like a little kid. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" That was all I could utter. I'm sorry for leaving Kleya when we were kids. I'm sorry for letting Kleya sacrifice her life just to save me.

       "Alison, wala kang kasalanan. Anak, mahal na mahal kita. " She said in between her cries as she caresses my head. It was enough to bring back all of my memories of her.

****

       "Anak, magpahinga ka muna. Sasamahan ka ng mga tauhan ni Python." Mom said but I continued staring at the operating room doors. I've been sitting here for God knows how many hours but the doctor still hasn't come out. 

        Mom knelt right in front of me and held my hands while looking at my eyes. "You're injured. Please let nurse put first aid on you." Tears are brimming on her eyes and I could tell that just like me, she's worried as hell. Maybe she's more worried than me, after all she's our mother. And nothing can surpass a mother's love for her children.

        "W-why?" I couldn't help but ask. "Why did you sent me away? Why did you let another family adopt me? I don't blame you but I just can't help but ask why did you let me live a life away from you and Kleya."

        Mom took a deep breath and looked into my eyes with nothing but pain and regret. "Alison, I was once a nurse who worked in this same hospital when I met your father. He was looking for some patients so I helped him... but then he abducted me and..." Mom choked up crying. "Your uncle Python saved me. When I learned that I was pregnant, Python told me to run away because he knows what his brother is capable of. I was once an orphan so I decided to go back to the orphanage where I was from. The nuns allowed me to pretend just like them to hide my identity. I was scared of what your father might do when he finds out you're his children so I decided not to tell you. But Alison, you and Alicia are the love of my life."

         I nodded as I wiped my tears. I believe her. She never failed to make us feel loved. 

        "When he took Alicia, I was scared. I know the horrors that Alicia would face at your father's hands. I know about his evil twin experiments. I also know that he won't kill Alicia because he wanted you to kill each other off. Even if it was hard, I sent you away to be adopted by another family. With the help of Miller's Father who specialized in Hypnotic therapy, he erased your memories of me but not Alicia's because I want you to always love your sister. Python was the only person who knew about your location. I didn't ask where you were because I know that you are safer that way. God knows how much I wanted to see you and be with you but you were safer away from me." She hugged me as we both sobbed. 

         "I don't want Kleya to die! Babawi pa ako sa kanya!" I cried as I hugged Mom tight.

          "Your sister is tough. She will get through this." Mom said tearfully as she sat right next to me and let my head lie on her shoulder. "I thought I would never get to see Alicia again but I was wrong. Thank God I was wrong. Python found them and rescued them. When I got Alicia back,  I decided it would be best to transfer to another orphanage. But before that, I asked Miller's father again to hypnotize her so that she will forget about all of the horrible things that happened to her while she was held captive. I wanted to protect her from her very painful memories. But I didn't want her to forget about you or your memories together. I also didn't want her to forget the threat of Dr. Muerte's existence so that she will always be careful. We all thought it would be better for her to believe that she's Alison, that she's the one who survived and didn't suffer. After making her believe that she's Alison and not Alicia, I asked her to change her name to Kleya, pretending that it's a way of evading the serial killer who once kidnapped her sister."

          Nahinto kami sa pag-uusap ni Mommy nang lumapit sa amin ang isang nurse.

         "Ma'am kayo ho ba ang pamilya ni Wolfgang Santander?" tanong niya.

         "Ano pong nangyari sa kanya?!" bulalas ko agad.

         "He's out of surgery po. Hinahanap niya po si Natasha," wika ng nurse kaya napalingon ako agad kay Mommy.

          "Go to him. Ako na ang bahala sa kapatid mo," Mom said with a re-assurin smile.

           "Babalik ako agad," paalam ko.

***

          "Wolfgang!" Bulalas ko agad nang madatnan ko siyang nagpupumilit na bumangon mula sa kanyang kama. He's wearing hospital clothes but I could still see the bandage in his abdomen. It's a good thing Aaron shot them with a safe aim. Even at his brainwashed state, Aaron still didn't aim for the kill shot. It was like Aaron unconsciously didn't wanted them to die so he shot them were it won't damage their internal organs.

          "Hey, I was about to look for you." He said weakly but with a smile on his face. 

          "It's Alison," I smiled while forcing myself to look okay. "My name is Alison."

          "Something's still not right," he said, making me feel worried.

           "What is it?" My forehead creased.

            Nagpumilit parin si Wolfgang na bumangon kaya wala akong nagawa kundi lumapit sa kanya at umalalay. Akala ko saan siya pupunta pero tinungo niya lang ang sofa at brown paper bag na nakapatong sa ibabaw nito. Nakita kong ang damit pala niya kanina ang nasa loob. May kinuha siya mula sa bulsa nito at nagulat ako sa nakita.

            "You dropped this earlier." Wolfgang smiled while holding my white flower crown in his hands. It was dented and a little out of shape so he pulled it for a rounder shape. 

              I kept staring at his eyes as he gently placed the flower crown above my head. I still had my hairpins in my head and he used it to attached my flower crown. I couldn't help but sob especially when he smiled and told me those three words again.

          "I love you," he said while cupping my face gently. "Alison, or whatever the fuck your name is." He added as he kissed my forehead.

          "My real mom is a nun so stop cussing." I joked even if I was still crying. "And Kleya's my fraternal twin sister. Kleya may be a punching machine but she hates cussing too."

           "I always thought you looked similar but it never once crossed my mind that you could be relatives, let alone sisters." Wolfgang chuckled. "How's that crazy sister of yours?"

           My breathing hitched remembering the severity of her condition. Napailing ako habang humihikbi. "She's still in the operating room."

           Masuyong hinawakan ni Wolfgang ang kamay ko "Hey, she'll be okay. Your sister will be okay. She's one scary girl. Death is probably scared of her. How about Shawn? Where's that idiot?"

          "Resting." I wiped my tears.

           "How about Miller?"

            At the mention of his name, my knees weakened as my tears began to drop. "He didn't make it." I sobbed while shaking my head. "He lost too much blood. Th-they tried to revive him--" I couldn't finish what I was saying as I began to have trouble breathing from crying too much.

           Wolfgang hugged me in his weak state. "Shh... It's going to be okay..."

           "How am I going to tell my sister that Miller's dead?!" I sobbed repeatedly. "Kleya's gonna get hurt again. I don't want her to get hurt again."

           Wolfgang just hugged and let me cry on his shoulders. We were just like that for awhile until my breathing went back to normal, until there was a knock on the door.

           All of a sudden there was a knock on the door.

           Inalalayan ko si Wolfgang paupo sa kama at saka ko binuksan ang pinto. Nakita ko si Python na may dalang dalawang kape.

           "Python," wika ko.

           "It's uncle." And for the first time ever since we met, Python smiled at me. "Marami tayong pag-uusapan, Alison."

****

        "Has my dad always been like that?" Tanong ko kay Python nang kapwa kami nasa labas ng private room ni Kleya. Nakaupo sa hilera ng mga upuan. Nakalabas na mula sa operating room si Kleya at kasalukuyang nasa ICU. Hindi parin siya nagkakamalay kaya nasa loob lang si Mommy at nagbabantay.

         "Always been what?" tanong ni Python saka uminom mula sa kanyang tasa.

         "Evil," wika ko habang nakatingin sa kawalan.

         "Believe it or not, I used to be the mischievous one in the family while your dad was the smart one." Python chuckled. "But everything changed when our parents separated. I guess we were 7 or 8? Napunta ako sa nanay namin, siya naman sa tatay namin. Simula nun nawalan na kami ng koneksyon sa kanila. Nawalan na kami ng balita sa kanya. Ang nanay ko naman kahit nangungulila, hindi niya magawang mag-alala kasi alam niyang doktor si tatay at kayang-kaya nitong ibigay ang lahat ng pangangailangan niya. Mas mayaman kesa sa kanya.  Ang hindi namin alam, nalulong si Tatay sa droga at alak, he became abusive, violent, and delusional. My brother was there to recieve all of his abuse. Lumipas ang napakaraming taon, ni minsan ay hindi kami nagkita ng kapatid ko. wala kaming kaalam-alam sa mga pinaggagawa ng tatay ko sa kanya. Nakamit ko ang mga pangarap ko. Naitaguyod at naipalago ko ang simpleng negosyo ng nanay ko at napangasawa ko si Cosima." 

            Agad akong napalingon kay Python sa putong iyon at sa isang iglap ay nakita ko ang matinding lungkot at galit sa kanyang mga mata.

          "W-what happened?" Kinabahan ako sa magiging sagot niya.

          "One day, I received a call from Mom saying my brother arrived in our house. I went home to find my mother and my wife dead. What's worse is that my wife was pregnant with your cousin." 

           "I'm so sorry for your loss..." Naninikip ang dibdib ko sa narinig.

           Ngumiti si Python at tumango. "I used all of my resources to look for him. Hired private investigators. We were able to discover his hideout but he already escaped. We found many captive women and children in his lair, some were even kids with razor-like teeth. We also found your Mom."

         "You saved her.." I smiled while wiping my tears. "Thank you for saving us."

         "I'm sorry for not able to find your father and kill him before he got to your sister." Napabuntong-hininga si Python. "Nagsisi ako nang malaman kong nakuha niya si Kleya. Sa sobrang pagsisisi ko, naisipan kong magpatayo ng isang sangktwaryo para sa mga biktima ng kapatid ko--Ang Alicia sanctuary. Kalaunan, pinatayo ko na ang Cosima."

         "You saved so many lives, Uncle." Paalala ko.

         "I have one more thing to confess," aniya kaya napakunot ang noo ko.

         "Your father made a bounty amongst serial killers on who  could find you first. They weren't supposed to find you but the taxi woman hacked into our system and found out the last name of your adoptive parents. She went on to hunt and kill everyone who fit the profile. I should've been more careful with my files, I'm really sorry Alison."

         Para akong nanlamig dahil sa mga narinig ko. "So that's why I survived but my family didn't? Because they want me? M-my family died because of me..."

        "No they didn't." Umiling ako. "They died because a serial killer like the taxi woman exists. They died because of the person who killed them."

        Hindi ko na napigilan pang mapahagulgol. Hindi ko sila totoong pamilya pero minahal nila ako ng sobra... at mahal na mahal ko rin sila.

       "I want you to find that woman and I will kill her myself." Nagngingitngit kong sambit habang pinupunasan ang luha ko.

       "You can't do that," paalala ni Python. "Just torture her but don't kill her. You can't be a murderer like your father. There's no point for the cycle to continue."

        Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa. Tama siya.

       "Alison, I also wanted to talk to you about Aaron," aniya kaya agad akong napatingin sa kanya.

        "Where is he? You didn't kill him right? He's good now.  We told you already, he's on our side." Paalala ko. Kanina pa namin ito sinasabi sa kanya mula nang makarating sila sa Cosima.

         Kinilabutan ako nang maalala uli ang nangyari kanina.

          "C-can you guys still fight?" Tanong ni Shawn nang sumulpot muli sa harap namin ang napakaraming kalaban.

         Bago pa man kami makapagsalita, biglang naglakad si Aaron papalapit sa mga kalaban. 

        "Kakampi natin sila. Nakumbinsi ko silang pumanig sa atin. Wala na si Dr. Muerte kaya ngayon ang anak niyang si Alison ang magpapatuloy sa sinimulan niya." sabi ni Aaron at nagulat ako nang ituro niya ako. Pero mas nagulat ako nang sabay-sabay silang napatingin sa akin.

          Sa isang iglap, bigla silang tumango nang sabay-sabay na para bang binabati ako.

         "Pinuno, dumating na ang mga kalaban. Susugod na ba kami?" Lumapit ang isang binatilyo kay Aaron at ipinakita ang isang tablet.

          "Hindi. Papasok kayong lahat sa glass cage. Walang aalis. Walang mag-iingay. Walang papatay," maotoridad na sambit ni Aaron. "Maghintay kayo sa susunod kong utos."

          Nagulat kaming lahat nang sinunod nga nila ang sinabi ni Aaron.

         "He's here. He was begging me to see Kleya." Sabi ni Python at bago pa man ako makapagsalita, nakita kong bumukas ang elevator hindi kalayuan mula sa amin at lumabas mula rito si Aaron.  Nakaposas ang mga kamay nito. Hindi siya nag-iisa. May dalawang apat na pulis na nakapaligid sa kanya, dalawa sa kanyang unahan, dalawa naman sa likuran.

         Bago pa man ako makapagsalita ulit, biglang bumukas ang pintuan mula sa kwarto ni Kleya at lumabas ang doktor. 

        "How's my sister?" tanong ko agad.

        "I think it's best for you to stay with her at all times." Tipid na sambit ng doktor na para bang iniiwasan niya akong masaktan. Kinabahan ako  sa inasal niya kaya pumasok agad ako sa silid.

         "Mom?" Parang pinipiga ang puso ko nang madatnan ko si Mommy na umiiyak habang nakatingin sa walang malay na si Kleya. "Mom, what did the doctor say about her condition?"

           Lumingon sa akin si  Mommy habang pinupunasan ang luha niya. "It doesn't matter. We just have to pray, Alison."

          Lumapit ako kay Kleya at lumuhod sa kanyang harapan. Humarap ako sa tenga niya habang hinihimas ang noo niya nang marahan. "Alicia, gumising ka na ha? Babawi  pa ako sa'yo diba?"

         Paulit-ulit ko itong ginawa hanggang sa bigla kong napansin ang paggalaw ng daliri niya. Para bang sinusubukan niyang gumising.

         "Mom!" Napasinghap ako dahilan para mapalingon din siya kay Kleya.

         "Kleya, anak?" Mom cried as she went over to us. Both of us were crying as we saw how Kleya weakly opened her eyes. And as soon as she saw us, a faint smile appeared on her face. She looked so weak and tired but I could tell she was so happy to see us.

         "M-mom.." Kleya's voice was almost a whisper. Dahan-dahan niyang itinaas ang kamay na para bang gusto niyang yumakap kay Mommy. 

         "Baby," agad na yumakap si Mommy kay Kleya. Iyak siya ng iyak habang pumikit lamang si Kleya at ngumiti.

         "I love you," sambit ni Kleya sa kabila nang labis na panghihina. 

         "Mahal na mahal ka rin namin ni Alison," sabi ni Mommy saka siya humiwalay kay Kleya at hinawakan ako. "Anak, si Alison. Andito si Alison."

          Idinilat ni Kleya ang mga mata habang may ngiti parin sa kanyang mukha. Iminuestra niya ang kamay na para bang gusto niya akong yakapin. Hindi na ako nag-aksaya pa ng sandali,  habang nakaluhod parin sa kanyang gilid, yumakap ako sa kanya nang may pag-iingat upang wag ko siyang madaganan.

        "Baho mo." Narinig kong bulong niya kaya natawa ako kahit pa patuloy ako sa paghikbi.

         Humiwalay ako mula sa yakap namin at tinitigan ko ang kanyang mukha. "Sorry, Kleya sorry sa lahat ng mga nagawa ko. B-babawi ako, pangako babawi ako." Pinilit kong magsalita sa pagitan ng bawat paghikbi. Nahihirapan ako kasi as inuunahan ako ng emosyon ko.

         "I love you." Sambit ulit ni Kleya. 

          Tumango-tango ako at hinawakan ang kamay niya. "I love you. Sorry kung napakatagal kitang nakilala. Sorry kasi lagi kitang inaaway at tinatarayan."

         "T-tasha... S-sorry--"

         "Shh... Don't talk too much okay? Hinang-hina ka pa," giit ko na lamang. She doesn't have to apologize for anything. Ako 'tong may napakalaking kasalanan sa kanya.

          Nakita kong napatingin si Kleya sa flowe crown na nasa ibabaw ng ulo ko. Ngumisi siya na para bang tinutukso ako kaya natawa ako. Dahan-dahan kong tinanggal ang flower crown mula sa ulo ko at ang mga pins na nakakabit dito.

          "I always thought you'd  look cute with this." I said as I placed the white flower crown on top of her head as I fixed her flowing curly blue hair. "See? It even suits you better."

          Napalingon ako kay Mommy, wala akong kamalay-malay na kinukunan niya pala kami ng litrato gamit ang cellphone niya.

          "Come here, Mom. You have to be with us." Hinila ko siya papalapit sa amin ni Kleya. Kinuha ko ang cellphone mula sa kanya at ako na mismo ang kumuha ng litrato naming tatlo habang magkakasama. It was our first family photo after a very long time. 

            Pagkatapos naming kumuha ng litrato, napansin kong parang may gustong sabihin si Kleya. Hindi ko na halos marinig ang boses niya kaya binasa ko ang galaw ng labi niya.

            "Aaron." Iyon ang basa ko.

            "You want to talk to him?" tanong ko at marahan siyang ngumiti.

***

           Pagkalabas ko pa lang ng silid, nakita ko agad si Aaron na nakaupo sa waiting area kasama si Python. May posas parin sa mga kamay si Aaron at parang malalim ang pinag-uusapan nila.

           "Kleya's awake." Kuha ko sa atensyon nila. Napatayo naman agad silang dalawa.

           "Uncle, Kleya wants to talk to Aaron. You have to take his handcuffs off." Nakita ko kung paano nagliwanag ang mukha ni Aaron dahil sa sinabi ko.

***

            Nakatayo lamang kami ni Mommy sa isang tabi habang pinagmaasdan sila.

            "Kamusta ka na?" Mabilis na lumuhod si Aaron sa gilid ni Kleya upang maging magkapantay ang mga mukha nila.  Nakita ko kung paano tingnan ni Aaron si Kleya, punong-puno ito ng pananabik at pagmamahal. He really loves her.

            Kleya smiled as she reached for Aaron's face. She gently caressed his cheek. "Thank you, Aaron."

            Aaron held Kleya's hand as it rested on his cheek. "Hindi kita na protektahan, Alicia. Patawarin mo ako."

           "Y-you saved me, you saved them. Thank you." Pag-uulit ni Kleya habang nakatingin nang malamlam sa mga mata ni Aaron. "From now on, live happily. You have to."

             Instead of saying anything, Aaron reached her face and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Get well first and then we'll talk," sabi ni Aaron. "Hinang-hina ka pa,magpahinga ka muna."

            "Tasha..." Napatingin sa akin si Kleya. Sinenyasan niya akong lumapit kaya iyon ang ginawa ko.

             Naupo ako sa gilid ng kama ni Kleya at hinawakan ang kabila niyang kamay. "May problema ba?"

             "W-we can't keep hiding... we have to fight and save.. those.. those.." Nagsimulang mapasinghap si Kleya parang nahihirapan na siyang magsalita kaya kahit si Mommy  ay lumapit din.  

              "Kleya, stop talking and just rest okay? Tatawagin ko muna ang doktor," sabi ni Mommy pero gumalaw muli ang kamay ni Kleya na para bang ayaw niyang umalis si Mommy.

              "Kleya anong problema?" tanong ko ulit pero pumikit si Kleya at bigla nalang napaubo. Nagulat kami nang may lumabas na dugo mula sa bibig niya. I saw nothing but pain in Kleya's face. She's struggling and having trouble breathing.

               "Shit!" Narinig kong sumigaw si Aaron at mabilis siyang tumakbo palabas upang humingi ng tulong.

                Mom and I both held her hands. We couldn't help but cry as we watched her struggle. We were helpless as she continued to cough up blood. Kleya's hands began to tremble.

           "Kleya?" Napahagulgol ako.

            Kleya was having trouble breathing but even if she was at her weakest, a smile appeared on her face as she looked at us. Her eyes were half closed, as if she's trying her best to stay awake. 

            Kleya moved her lips as if she was trying to say something.

            I knelt and moved close to her face as my tears continued to fall. 

            "I... I'm going on a date with Miller..." she smiled and whispered as her eyes slowly closed.

             "Kleya?" I gasped as my tears fell uncontrollably.

              All of a sudden, Kleya's body began to tremble. I froze at the sight of her seizure. 

             A loud sound blared across the room as my mom cried and screamed. She ran towards Kleya, begging for her to wake up. Next thing I know there were doctors surrounding Kleya.

             I could still hear mom crying but I still couldn't move a muscle. I was still on the floor, watching helplessly as the doctors tried to revive her. 

            All of a sudden, I felt someone dragging me away. I got up on my feet but my eyes remained at Kleya. It felt like I was in a daze as memories came flooding back my mind. Memories after memories. Good and bad. 

            A different kind of sound blared across the room, snapping me out of my reverie. I looked at the machine right beside Kleya and I saw nothing but a flat line.

To be continued...