The tires screeched as I stepped on the brake. After a two-hour drive, I arrived at the house where I am supposed to stay.

I turned off the engine. Saglit akong nanatili sa pagkaka-upo habang pinapakiramdaman ang paligid. Everything screams silence which made me comfortable at least.

I, then, pulled myself from the seat and stepped on the green lawn. Tinanggal ko ang aking shades at ikinabit iyon sa aking damit. It's five in the afternoon and the sky is shady. Kung kanina lang sa sentro ay nakita ko pa ang araw, ngayon, natatakpan na iyon ng maitim na ulap.

Nagpasya akong maglibot sa paligid. I guess it's a habit that I have developed throughout the years. I have practiced to secure the parameter first before settling in comfort.

Nagpunta ako sa likod ng bahay. Tumambad sa akin ang madilim na kagubatan. Hindi nga nagbibiro si Gesa nang sinabi niya sa akin na pinakahuling bahay ng Winston ang titirhan ko.

I decided to go further in the forest. Wind blew stronger and colder than usual but I never halted. Hindi ako makakatulog ng tahimik kapag hindi ko nasiguradong walang sabit sa paligid.

After few minutes of walking, droplets of rain began to pour in my way. The branches of the tall trees around began swaying with the wind. Mas dumilim narin ang paligid kaya't nagpasya na akong bumalik. Besides, I got days to stay.

Mas lumakas ang ambon nang nakabalik ako sa bahay. But then, I also need to check the front.

"What a way to welcome me." Bulong ko sa hangin habang isinusuot ang itim na cap. I guess I need to double my time since the weather is making me miserable.

Ilang lakad mula sa bahay ay narating ko ang kalye. Maputik iyon dala ng tuloy-tuloy na pag-ambon. The street became vacant, emptier than its usual view. I look up at the gloomy sky and let the rain pour into my face.

There's something in the rain that I admire. Maybe the coldness of the weather it brings or the serene feeling I get while I watch it drop into the land which reminds me of something - that wherever you will go, you will always return to where you came from.

Ang malas nga lang dahil ngayon pa napili ng kalikasan na umulan. But then, I don't want to waste time thinking about something I cannot undo nor control.

The ring of my phone snap me out of my thoughts. I took it off my pocket, not caring if it will get soaked in the rain, too. It's waterproof anyway.

"Ba't wala ka pa sa bahay?" The person on the other line asked. Umirap ako kahit na hindi niya nakikita. Here she goes again.

"Still outside." I answered as I continue to walk. So far, wala pa naman akong nakikitang mali. I guess that will make me feel secure for now.

"Ipinapatanong ni Chief kung nakita mo na ba iyong ipinadala ko sa 'yo." she added. I absentmindedly popped my gum as I heard her typing something. Hindi ba sumasakit ang mata niya? Parang wala na siyang ginawang iba kundi magbabad sa trabaho.

"Not yet. I'm still on way home. I got stuck in the rain." I answered.

"Anong gamit ng kotse mo? Kung ayaw mong gamitin, ibigay mo na sa 'kin. Saka, huwag mo nga akong ini-english! Nasa kabilang district ka lang!" she shouted. Napailing-iling ako.

She's still the same nagging machine. Akala ko pa naman magbabago siya kapag wala na ako sa Headquarters.

"Whatever you say. Sige na at kailangan ko pang magmasid." Ani ko bago itinapon ang bubble gum.

"Mabuti pang umuwi ka na para makita mo iyon, naghihintay si Chief ng reply." bilin nito bago pinatay ang tawag. I returned the phone in my pocket and decided to go back.

Tumuloy ako sa paglalakad. May kadiliman na ang paligid at makikita na ang bahagyang paglitaw ng buwan. I glanced at my wrist watch. Napahaba yata ang oras ko sa pagbababad sa ulan at ngayon ay tinatamad na akong bumalik lalo na't may kalayuan pa naman ang bahay.

Suddenly, a small growl came behind me. Lumingon ako at nakita ang isang itim na lobo. My insticts kicked in as I saw it in the position of attacking. Sa palagay ko ay naamoy na ako nito. It let out a growl again, this time attacking me. Mabilis akong lumihis upang maiwasan ang mga kuko nito. Bumalik ito at agad na umatake, this time more ruthless. Akmang kakagatin ako nito nang umupo ako para kunin ang kutsilyo sa baba ng aking pantalon.

It growled. From its stance, I'm sure this is an ordinary wolf. I have encountered hundreds of them already that I have memorized which is a rogue and which is not.

I flipped my pocket knife when it walked closer. And by the time it attacked from above, I jumped to level my body to its head, aiming for it. I precisely yet quickly threw the knife between his eyes.

I landed on the opposite side. Lumingon ako upang matignan ang lobo. Bumagsak ito sa lupa at hindi na muling gumalaw.

That's what you get from messing with me.

Nilapitan ko ito upang kunin ang aking kutsilyo. I leveled my body on it as I pulled the knife out of his head. Fresh blood flowed from the wound, mixing with the muddy street. Kumuha ako ng dugo nito at ipinahid sa kanyang katawan. I wrote a capital letter 'A', short for Assassin.

I cannot lit it on fire, not when its fur is too wet from the rain. Iniwan ko ang bangkay ng lobo at tumuloy sa paglalakad pabalik, nagbabaka-sakaling may imbak ng gas sa bahay.

Saktong sampung minuto ang nakalipas nang makarating ako sa bahay. I searched for faucet at the backyard and washed my hands. Kinuha ko ang susi mula sa aking bag at in-unlock ang main door. Tinanggal ko ang aking sapatos at inilagay iyon sa kahon malapit sa pintuan. I can't step inside with muddy shoes, not with this kind of house. Masyado akong pagod upang maglinis ulit.

I immediately searched for gas to use for the wolf. Dumiretso ako sa bodega at hindi na rin nahirapan. I grabbed a galloon and returned to the murder scene.

Pinaliguan ko ng gas ang katawan ng lobo bago iyon sinindihan gamit ang posporo. I watched the flame as it grows, burning the lifeless body. If this wolf is by itself alone, I'm good. Pero kung may mga kasama ito sa malapit, siguradong naamoy na nila ang usok at nagsisimula ng hanapin ang pinanggalingan noon.

I may be doomed if that happens. But then, they will, too.

Agad akong nagpasok ng gamit pagbalik sa bahay. Gabi na at hindi pa ako nagluluto. By times like this, I am secretly wishing for the Headquarter's foods. Kung pwede lang magpadala ng pagkain ay tinawagan ko na si Prestel.

I first took a quick shower and put my sleeping clothes on before walking to the kitchen.

So far, the interior of the house amazes me. Sa labas ay tila isang ordinaryo itong bahay. I cannot even call it a house but more of a cabin. But then, it got complete facilities. I say this is the best place that I stayed on mission.

The porch has its own swing. The living room is quite a view, too, with all the fresh plants-on-vase inside. The coffee-colored couch and the glass table matched the whole place. May mini bookshelf din iyon sa isang tabi at lampara sa isang sulok. It has its own television as well that I don't know what for. As if I'm going to watch?

The kitchen is complete, too. May microwave, coffee maker, electric kettle, toaster, a refrigerator full of foods, and some basic utensils as well. Even the wooden dining table with a good lighting is captivating.

And the bathroom has a hot shower and bathtub, too! Para tuloy nasa isang bakasyunan lang ako at hindi sa isang misyon.

Except that it is full of twist. For example, behind the couch is a box full of knives and guns. Maging ang lamesa sa kainan ay pwedeng kabitan ng kutsilyo. The cabinets on the bathroom has some secret knife storage as well. Hindi ko pa man tuluyang nakikita ang mga silid ay nasisigurado kong ganoon din ang mga ito.

Nagpasya akong kumain na lang ng banana bread at uminom ng gatas. I am in no mood of cooking a meal. Besides, I am getting myself ready for an attack. Hindi na ako magtataka kung may biglaang patayan ang magaganap dahil sa ginawa ko kanina.

Nang matapos ay dumiretso ako sa napiling silid. The house has two rooms which makes it quite wide for me to live alone. Ngunit mag-iinarte pa ba ako?

Agad kong inihanda ang mga gamit na ibinigay ni Gesa kanina. I opened my laptop and sent her a message using the cellphone she gave, telling that I'm seconds to reading what she sent.

I opened the file and read everything. It is a detailed outline of my mission, its terms and conditions, and the prize I can get if I succeed.

It says that I am given six months to finish it on my own. I smirked at the duration. Ang pinakamatagal na pamamalagi ko sa isang misyon ay dalawang buwan. This mission is just a piece of meat, given that I have killed the Alpha of Riwenford already.

Tumunog ang telepono at agad ko iyong sinagot. Ikinabit ko ang earpiece sa tainga at sumandal sa headboard ng kama.

"Done reading?" Tanong ni Gesa sa kabilang linya.

"Yes, just the usual terms and shit." I replied as I minimized the tab.

Napatawa ito sa naging sagot ko.

"I heard that there is a duel at Riwenford two days from now. Apparently, you killing the Alpha revealed some secrets on their district." Mahaba niyang paliwanag.

"Secrets?" Pag-uulit ko.

"Yes. The Alpha has two sons from different women. They'll be fighting for the title via duel." Sagot niya. Napatango lang ako kahit na hindi niya nakikita.

Nagtanong-tanong siya sa opinyon ko tungkol sa bahay. I gave her nothing but the truth: that I like everything in here. Except that I skipped the part about my first encounter with a rouge werewolf.

We bid good-byes after a thirty-minute talk. Itinabi ko ang mga gamit at muling kinuha ang itim na envelope. Ngayong mag-isa na lang ay malaya kong matititigan ang larawang nakapaloob doon.

It is a side-photo of a man's upper torso covered in a black shirt with a dog tag hanging on his neck. And just by staring at his photo, I knew I'll be seeing more of him anytime.

Soon, Alpha. Soon.