I don't have a lot of faith in humanity. All the people I met, save for my brother Blue and my sister Yelle, wanted me because of my skills or my looks. From a young age, I've learned that life is not a bed of roses and fairy tales are stupid. I know that I can lose anything and everything that I have in the blink of an eye.

Even the almighty Jaguar is just a man, and while I admire his talents and respect his authority, I don't trust him. I know he is only doing this because he thinks he is making a difference in this world.

Well, he's in for a rude awakening.

Because while he may have started with good intentions, every agency that I've seen, heard, or dealt with have their own agendas. They only care about how to save their asses.

One person's terrorist is another one's freedom fighter. That's from Die Another Day. Nobody's black or white. Morality exists in a gray fog.

"Miss Stein, please come with me."

I raised an eyebrow at the woman in front of me. A nurse. Another one. I already sent the last one away. What is with them and the word no?

"No."

Red bloomed on her cheeks. "B-but..."

"Where's the release form?"

Her eyes darted to my side, particularly my arm. "We have to check your injuries."

I flexed my jaw. No broken bones, just bruises and scrapes. I'll live. "I'll sign a release form."

"I'll go get the doctor." She scurried away. Finally.

I shifted my foot as I stood on guard outside the surgery room. For what reason, I don't know.

There are rarely any times when I do things for no reason. Growing up on the streets, I've learned to make every opportunity count. You learn to capitalize on your chances or somebody else will take your kill.

"Red, puwede kang umupo."

I looked at the owner of the voice. He looked grim with harsh lines on his handsome face. His hair looked tousled like he'd run his hands through them multiple times. Those dark, dark eyes are the same color as Jaguar's, but they didn't have the same dangerous glint. This one does not make the alarm bells ring.

He looked angry. Not the Jaguar-silent-killer deadly. He didn't look like he'd like my head on a platter for putting his little brother in danger.

I don't understand them—these Zabala men.

I didn't grow up in a proper home. I can barely remember anything of my parents. I was too young when they were murdered. Blue was too young then to keep me and Yelle. We were separated from him at foster care and it took a couple of years before we got reunited.

It was a short reunion before he was taken away.

That day a hole was torn in my world. Huge. Unmendable. Yelle tried, but it was never enough. You know once someone is gone, a tear appears and there's no filling it up once it's there.

I wonder how I'll mend the world if they lose a Zabala because of me?

Hang in there A4, I still haven't figured out how to mend torn skies.

***

The corridor we are in reeked of age. Dust rose in a cloud of motes at our passing. The air smelled dry and stale. It's been a while since we saw any light. Our night vision goggles lent everything a green sheen. Fresh prints on the floor guided us. They couldn't be too far.

The way narrowed until only two people shoulder-to-shoulder could walk. The claustrophobic confines made it feel like we've been walking for hours instead of a few minutes.

"Boss," Yellow cautioned. She put a hand out and tapped in front of us. "Solid stone."

I put my hand out to the sides and tapped. The sides are equally solid.

"They can't have vanished."

There are clear footprints where we stood. They were here.

Yellow placed her hand flat on the wall and searched the surface for any edges, any sign of an entrance or exit. I pointed my penlight on the ceiling, searching for something—a button, trap door, or finger prints. I turned back to where we came from, and where we now stand. The footprints we are following end here. A step before where we stand right now.

I placed my hand on the floor. There is less dust there. As if someone had recently swept a hand on it.

"Step back," I told Yellow. I pushed the floor but it didn't budge. I tapped and there's no hollow sound. They came through here. I know it.

They have to have come out in this spot.

"Any luck of getting a signal from the outside?" I asked Yellow. She shook her head.

"Dunno why. We aren't too far below for Icen not to track us but even the private lines can't get through."

I slashed my hand and let my blood drip on the floor. The drops immediately scattered on command, searching for any cracks on the walls. The particles fanned out in ever growing circles until the entire area glistened in a red-blood web.

"That's freaky," Yelle whispered with wide eyes.

"There." The lattice-work of nanobots stopped in a laser-cut circle around the entire wall. The particles seeped inside the wall to seek the mechanism's inner workings. There was a low hum before the floor started vibrating. I put a hand out to steady Yellow on her feet. An entire section of the floor started descending.

"What the hell... how could it not sound hollow?"

The descent was accelerating until we've dropped down maybe a couple of floors.

"The floor is too thick."

The descent stopped and another barely lit corridor lay open for us. Recent footsteps marred the dust on the floor.

"What do you think they use this place for?" Yellow whispered as we stepped forward. The section we just came from rose up as if on cue. The thick stone section made the entire floor vibrate as it settled back in place. I commanded the particles of the Myght to study the automatic mechanism. As the floor rose up, another corridor on the other side opened. Glass covered the walls. I stepped inside to peek beyond the glass. An enormous cavern filled with laboratory equipment greeted my eyes.

"I think that's our answer."

"Good underground spot near the airport, right smack in the middle of a hub the goes through several cities," Yellow ticked off the obvious answers.

"We don't have time to investigate further. Take photos for now." Yellow nodded and proceeded to take the photos with her smart phone. After she was done we got back to our real agenda.

Thankfully, the corridor didn't branch out anymore but rather ascended steeply and opened up to a wider area that served as a delivery dock.

"They're gone." Yellow touched the floor. "It's still hot from the exhaust. They couldn't be far."

"We have signal." The light static from my ear told me that the comms are back up but not enough to penetrate completely through their scrambler.

The sound of helicopter blades answered the question playing on my brain.

"Well no shit," Yellow cursed softly.

***

We emerged in a mad scramble to the surface. The wind flattened our clothes and hair. Grass and debris rose up as the helicopter blades stirred the air. Fat drops of rain fell from the weeping sky. Any sane pilot would know this is madness.

I got madness of my own.

"Jaguar!" I could hear Yelle scream as I sprinted across the grass. The helicopter couldn't gain altitude too fast as it fought with the wind. I slipped a knife from my booth, reversed the edge, and threw it hard enough to penetrate the metal of the helicopter. It landed with a hard thunk just as the helicopter careened dangerously close to an electric post. My heart jumped and my blood roared on my ears loud enough to drown out the sound of the pounding rain.

I don't know if I want them to crash down or let them fly in this weather. None of these choices sound sane.

I felt Yelle skid to a halt beside me. The water ran in rivulets as we watched the helicopter right itself and rise up to the air. A ribbon of lighting arced across the sky like a bad omen.

"Do you have a clear line?" I asked Yellow.

"Yes, Icen has broken through their system."

"Good,"the static cleared, "Icen, track them." 

***

We watched the lights from Tiu's helicopter wink out of view before we moved. It was a long trek in the downpour before we got to the car. Jaguar was in a heated conversation with the HQ the entire time.

I've been on this assignment for months and just can't wait to finally put Tiu and his men behind bars, or buried under a bridge—whichever is convenient at the time.

We reached the car and I strapped myself on the passenger seat while Jaguar continued to argue with whoever is on the other line. I caught an image of myself on the glass.

"Ugh." My hair is a mess. I could feel the rain sloughing off my jacket to drip on the upholstery of the car. I got some tissue from the glove compartment to wipe my face and my bangs.

The anger I can understand, yes. Tiu has managed to hurt Jaguar's family and that is enough reason for him to seek revenge and defy the agency. I'd rather think that is the reason why he is hell-bent on this pursuit without including 43 in the equation. Truth be told, we can regroup first and go back to surveillance until they resurface again. That is the more logical course of action.

I've never seen Jaguar this impatient.

"They are changing course," Icen informed me through our link. "I think they are trying to make an emergency landing."

"Tch, I hope they do it soon. This fucking weather is not helping visibility." I pushed back my bangs off my forehead. Ugh, not only is my hair not okay, my eyebrows are definitely not okay.

"Pfft. Mukhang nakalagpas na sila ng Luzon island. Kung mag-eemergency landing sila sa Visayas na."

"You think they'll push it anywhere remote?"

"Nope. They gotta refuel. I have a feeling they're going to their HQ in Singapore or Hong Kong."

"Those are obvious places to go to Icen."

"They're not the best at being subtle right now. And frankly, our government is not inclined to go after them at the moment. Extradition's out of the picture and you and Jaguar are on your own."

I hate it when Icen gets into serious mode. Sa lahat ng kabute siya lang ang nakakapag-joke kahit sobrang serious na. It seems Jaguar and I have no room left to maneuver. At first, nakakakilig na ako ang kasama ni Jaguar, but I'm starting to doubt my choices. He is not in his right frame of mind right now. 

We're gonna be chasing phantoms all night.

Or are we the actual phantoms?

***

I watched his receding figure swallowed by the rain and darkness. I could feel the icy fingers of fear clutch at my breast.

Alistair.

The whirlwind of events leave me reeling and hollow inside. Bakit kailangang mangyari ang mga bagay na ito? How did we end up in this kind of mess? I've never been involved in any of the business transactions of my family. In fact, kusang shinelter kami nila Papa at Mama mula sa business side ng family dahil gusto nilang gumawa kami ng sariling desisyon sa kung ano ang gusto naming i-pursue.

This is as far away an outcome as I can imagine.

Paanong nadamay kami sa drug syndicates, conspiracy theories, at Chinese mafia? We are an old family, but we are decent people. Ahma is a hard woman, but she is not evil.

I don't think she is evil. Maybe my uncles and aunties are greedy with the money, but Ahma always thinks about the family. Hindi niya ipapahamak ang reputasyon ng buong angkan.

And this man, Alistair.

I am drawn to his mystery. I am drawn to the fact that he is the forbidden. That he opened up an entire world of possibilities for me.

But do I really know him?

Anong alam ko kay Alistair Damien Zabala, other than his name and his seeming ideal family?

Are my fledgling feelings enough to make me throw all caution to the wind? Hindi ba ako nabibigla lang?

I've always been encouraged to think by my parents, but lately all I've been doing is being led around by my emotions.

Very, very strong and dangerous emotions.

Alistair is a dangerous man, I am now sure of that.

I just have no idea which is more dangerous between him and my fiancé Brian.

At least Brian I can understand. I know his motivations. I know at least how this works.

Ali...

I don't know Ali. Not after this night.

Maybe, not at all.

-End Chapter 28-

A/N: Nag-update ako! :D No one is more surprised than I am right now. It's been exactly a year and a day since I last updated. :) If you are still reading, drop me a line or two to say hi!