-chapter eighty-six-

THIRD PERSON

Rogue Wars Online may appear as a fair game with equal odds, but it does have its hierarchy. The game is nothing but another food chain, with the strong alliances at the top and less known at the bottom. There's the Blood Vanguard and Reaper's Oath at the top, Lone Wolves and Immortal Silk at the middle, and Rogues of Revenge and Guilty Raid at the lowest rank. Then, there's the Death Crows that attaches themselves to the top part.

Right now, these alliances have started to rebel against the pyramid.

At ang unang magiging biktima ay ang nakikisabit lang sa taas.

"What the fuck. What the fuck." paulit-ulit na sambit ni June nang makitang nawala ang isa sa mga territory niya. "Sino ba ang nagbabantay doon kanina?!"

"Sina Frances ang nandoon kanina, June. Some of BV members were also around kaya nagulat kami nang biglang makapasok sina Glory." sagot ng isa sa mga miyembro niya. "I know Glory is kind of strong, but her members aren't that good to fight against the BV!"

"If they weren't capable then how were they able to steal our territory, huh?" June asked, irritated.

Hindi nakasagot ang mga ka-alyansa niya. June was already fuming with rage, kaya natatakot na rin ang mga ito na baka may masabi pa silang mali. They're apprehensive of the consequences that would follow if they try to run their mouth. They were the closest witnesses to how notorious June can be, and they also know her standing in the society. Hindi sila pwedeng umayaw lang agad-agad. They're afraid to lose their lives and the possible opportunity to make connections with June's family.

June offered them a glare. "Wala ba talaga kayong masasagot?"

"Well, baka may tumulong sa kanila? Para magawa nila ang gano'n?" suhestiyon ng isa.

Hindi nagbigay ng kung ano mang reaksiyon si June. Nagwalk-out siya sa kwarto na matindi ang iniisip. Her members, however, were shaking their heads. For a beautiful and regal-looking girl, hindi talaga nila maisip na gano'n kasama ang ugali niya. But then the Madame Velasquez wasn't a saint as well, she was even worse than a demon. Kaya hindi na rin masyadong nakakapagtaka na gano'n ang anak niya.

June walked outside of their base, arms crossed and face set in a frown. Napakarami na nga niyang problema, dumagdag pa ito. This was supposed to be an easy city, dahil marami siyang koneksiyon at wala namang tanga ang lalaban sa kanila ni Marcella. It would be suicide if they did. And the only one who have the courage to step up would be-

Nanlaki ang mata niya. Someone strong enough to help those weaker alliances take over their territory, huh? At isang tao na walang takot sa kanilang dalawa? There was only one name that entered her mind. A lone girl who is spoiled with the carefree life that she have.

Finley Lilliane. The girl she both hates and...

Well, the rest of the sentence doesn't matter. June has long detached herself from vulnerable emotions and buried herself with anger. There was no better way to protect oneself than creating a wall that would kill someone from destroying it. People aren't to be trusted and they bring nothing but harm. What better to take revenge than execute the same pain to people who haven't felt it?

Finley was a quiet orphan. Iyon ang unang nalaman ni June tungkol sa kaniya. Then as the days passed by, she could understand what was so likable about Finn – she was kind, fearless, sweet, and selfless. She thinks about other people first before acting. She always wants to do her best to help others. Her words were quiet, but her actions were loud. They were the reasons why June stayed. At first, she thought she could finally have some fun with others, but then she found comfort.

And that comfort turned to envy.

Finn was so likable, and June was unnoticeable. Mayroong apat na loyal friends si Finn, ang mga tipo ng kaibigan na gagawin ang lahat para sa kaniya. It reminded June of her family setting. How her brothers were always more pleasing than her. How her parents were always so proud and careful of them than her. It arose a sense of competition to June, at nakita niya ang distansiya sa kanila ni Finn.

How was it possible? Finn was an orphan, she should have lost everything, especially hope. She shouldn't be held up by loyal pillars. She wasn't June. June was the better one of them two. Mayaman siya't maganda. Her clothes and materials are always the latest and she has one of the best connections in the world. Furthermore, hasn't she suffered much more pain than Finn?

Kaya bakit kung tingnan siya nina Renée, Gavin, at Sebastian ay parang siya pa ang kontrabida? She was a victim all her life and they'll avoid her like she was the greatest villain? And they'd manipulate Finn into lying to her about helping?

That's when June woke up from the reality and her dreams shattered. Oo nga pala, wala na talagang makakatulong sa kaniya. And while she should have directed her anger to those who truly deserved it, June resigned on Finn. She was comfort and she's willing to help, kaya siguro ang saktan siya ay madali lang? Finn would be willing to lay her scars bare if it was to help her. And there was no way someone like Finn should be better in life than her. Kung gano'n lang rin naman, e'di magpalit na lang sila!

She'll live Finn's life like she truly deserves it, and Finn should have a taste of her pain.

It was twisted. It was bad. It was the worst kind of attachment.

But that was what June did.

And right now, mukhang babalik na sa kaniya ang lahat ng ginawa.

"She can't help you."

June narrowed her eyes at Wes. Ito ang sumalubong sa kaniya nang hanapin niya si Marcella. Wala talaga siyang masyadong tiwala sa lalaking ito. One look at his eyes when Finn's nearby, alam na kung nasaan ang loyalty nito. Wes can never get his eyes off her. At kung hindi lang kilala ni June ang pamilya nila, she would have made an insulting joke about it before.

"Bakit?"

"There have been multiple attacks in our own territories. Kaya kailangan niya munang magfocus dito. Why don't you take care of your own mess?"

June grinned. "I do take care of my own mess. Pero dahil nilinis ko rin ang kalat niya noon, kailangan niya rin akong tulungan ngayon. It's called utang na loob. Debt of gratitude sa English kung hindi mo alam."

"I know." Wes sighed. "Well, maybe she could help you another time? She's busy right now."

"I wanna hear that from Marcella herself." June declared, walking past Wes. "Ah, ayaw mo bang malaman kung anong kinasangkutan ng lider mo na tinulungan ko?"

Wes remained unmoving with his eyes fixed at the front. Inikot ni June ang mata sa kawalan ng reaksiyon nito. He's really like a stone most of the time. Kaya talagang entertaining makita ang mga reaksiyon niya 'pag nandiyan na si Finn. It's like the dead rock has finally regained life.

"What a pity. May koneksiyon pa naman 'yon sa pinaka-iniingatan mong tao."

When there was no answer after five seconds, June decided to walk away. Ngunit hindi pa siya nakakalayo nang magsalita si Wes.

"Stop causing her pain." humarap si Wes sa kaniya na may seryosong mga mata. "Stop intentionally hurting the both of you."

Napangisi si June dahil dito. "I'm not hurting anyone. This was already set in stone. Everyone should feel a certain type of pain. I'm only giving what she deserves."

There's no one fitting to order Finn's punishment than June herself. Siya, na kinikilala bilang mahina sa kanilang dalawa, ang dapat magparamdam ng sakit.

The Blood Vanguards really did not have any specific base. They made their main territory a secret. Nakalagay ang flag nito sa pinakatagong lugar at hindi masyadong nagagalaan ang teritoryo nila dahil sa mga manlalarong naglilibot dito. June saw Carly at one of the alleyways, cleaning her lance. Alam niyang may galit ang babae kay Finn dahil matagal na nitong nilalandi si Wes, but she can't really make any move when the man wouldn't bat an eye to other girls. So, June sees her as another pawn.

Like Amnesia.

"Where's Marcella?" pambungad niyang tanong.

Sandaling nagulat at napatalon si Carly dahil sa biglaang pagsulpot niya. "OMG! Pwede ba next time sabihin mo if you're approaching? You're making me nervous! Anyway, wala dito si Marcella. She's monitoring one of our territories in the North dahil tatlong alyansa ang nagsusubok na umatake doon."

So, this is what Wes means by 'she can't help her', huh. Those damn flies have started to buzz around their territories as if they could do anything.

Kahit na hindi niya pa natanong si Marcella, ay naitaga na ni June sa bato ang may pakana sa lahat ng ito. Someone strong enough to knock their members and would be fearless enough to face them. Wala na ngang iba kung hindi si Finn. The damn girl who always wants to be the hero but will end up becoming a villain as this end. They weren't able to frame her for Amnesia's murder but there are more opportunities in the future.

Meanwhile, the girl June was furiously accusing, was busy with the butterflies she was trying to catch.

Nagulat lang talaga si Finn kanina nang makita ang mga ito. Dierran has left dahil inaatake na rin ang ibang teritoryo nila. It looked like the small alliances were really serious about overthrowing the empire. At dahil nasa gitna naman ang alyansa nila ay hindi naman talaga masyadong nag-aalala si Finn. She doesn't really want to be first. Marcella can have that crown all she wants.

Kaya naman nang may masalubong na paru-paro ay ito ang binigyan niya ng pansin. There were three butterflies flying around her – a blue, white and a yellow one. The blue butterfly was just flying close by, contented with nesting in her shoulder. The yellow one was also tamer at lumilipad lang ito malapit sa kaniya. The white one was absolutely chaotic – panay ang lipad nito at pagpapahabol kay Finn. Kaya't ang 'ferocious rogue', ika nila, ay naging simpleng bata.

Maki who was waiting for Finn to arrive at the South District cannot be bothered to stop what he was witnessing.

Kung hindi siya papatayin nina Kairo at Eura sa pagtigil niya sa kasalukuyang cuteness, ay baka siya pa ang papatay sa sarili.

Although, it did end when Sapphire ran towards Finn, hands frantically waving in the air. Napatigil si Finn sa paglalaro at hinintay na makalapit si Sapphire sa kaniya. Maybe Theo was already conscious kaya nakakalabas-labas na itong si Sapphire.

"Finn! I heard what happened from Dierran."

Finn tilted her head at the greeting. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sinasabing narinig ni Sapphire. Kakawitness niya lang kung gaano ka chismoso si Dierran kaya malay ba niya kung anong chismis ang nakalap nitong isa.

"He said we should help Kairo execute his revenge."

Kumunot ang noo niya. Kairo asking for help is a bit strange but isn't impossible as well.

"?" Finn delivered her question through a very intense stare.

"Sa tingin mo ba ay bakit bumaba 'yang si June sa rankings? It was Kairo helping other alliances gain strength and steal their territories. He's trying to push her to the last rank. Dahil nga ang sabi doon sa rules ay makakatanggap ng matinding parusa ang magiging huli." paliwanag ni Sapphire.

"Revenge? Para sa'n?" tanong ni Finn, na parang hindi niya alam kung ano 'yon.

"For Ate Depore's death." she replied in a whisper. "They knew who the real culprit is, at si June iyon."

"Help?"

Sapphire nodded. "We'll help in weakening the outside guards in their main territory. Mayroon na lang tayong fifteen minutes para gumalaw kaya halika na!"

Finn followed Sapphire towards their base, her eyes glancing at the leaderboard at the sky. Fifteen minutes? Mayroon pa naman silang twenty-four hours and fifteen minutes bago matapos ang buong city. Kaya anong ibig sabihin ni Sapphire na fifteen minutes?

Doubts were running through my head, and Finn can't feel but be vigilant as she followed Sapphire. Ngunit talaga ngang dumating sila sa isang gyera. She's very certain that it was June's base, because aside from the familiar flag flying in the middle, there was also June shouting orders at the side.

That's when she also noticed the Reaper's Oath. They formed into a circle around us, hiding inside the shadows and waiting for the perfect moment to pounce. There were a lot of players fighting in the street she stopped on. Nang lumingon siya sa tabi para makita si Sapphire ay bigla itong nawala.

A noise from above stole her attention. Isang player na may planong saksakin siya ang galing sa taas. Finn stepped to the side, throwing one of the garbage bins' lid on the floor to cushion their fall. Nang makadating sa baba ay agad na siya nitong inatake, and Finn remained on the passive side, occasionally blocking, and hitting the hands away. She focused on dodging as she looked for a way to escape.

Nagulat na lamang siya nang biglang may humila sa kaniya sa madilim na parte. She immediately pulled a kunai out and directed it at the assailant's throat.

"Kitten, it's me."

Finn quickly turned around and was face to face with Kairo. His hair was disheveled and he was shortly out of breath. Halatang-halata na inubos niya ang natirang oras para lamang maisagawa ang panibagong plano.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" tanong niya.

"Help?" Finn answered in a small voice.

"Help? Anong ibig mong sabihin na help?"

A high ringing sound was heard all throughout the city as the game hit the 24-hour mark. Just a few seconds before that, the Death Crows territory was acquired by the Guilty Raid, now pushing June's alliance at the last spot. When Finn glanced at Kairo, he had this relieved look in his face. And Finn immediately knew that he was already a step closer to completing his plan.

Until they got to read the announcement.

"The first part of the game has come to its conclusion. We will offer special rewards at this point. The alliance who ranked first, Blood Vanguards, will gain immunity for the next 3 hours. And the alliance who placed last will have a special grant – they will be able to steal any territory they wish. May the next twenty-four hours be fun to you, players!"

-chapter end-

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