Happy Birthday Jots Siaotong and Rose Villavicencio. ❤️

And happy birthday to Min Yoongi from Mrs. Min Frances Kyrene ❣️

CHAPTER 56

THE WALLS were burning, it was like the fire had a mind of its own as it grew and crawled over everything it touched. At habang naglalagablab ang bahay nila ay naaamoy niya ang amoy ng gasolina.

Someone lit up their house! Not just bombed it!

Blaze immediately took off his shirt, fold it thickly before he covered her nose with it. "Don't breathe!" pasigaw nitong sabi. "The baby! Hold your breath!"

Mabilis na tumango si Happy pero nagsalita muna bago sundin ito.

"Si Mommy Beth!" sigaw niya nang makitang kumakalat na ang apoy. "Si Bailey! Go, get them! I'll be okay!"

Blaze was about to run towards the fire to get Mommy Beth and Bailey when Daddy Von shouted to stop Blaze.

"Take care of your wife! I'll take care of Beth and Bailey!"

Bago pa may makapagsalita, sinuong na nito ang apoy na tumutupok sa labas ng kusina.

Oh, God! Oh, God!

"Let's go!" Uncle Klaus shouted. "Follow me!"

"Si Dad! Si Mommy! Si Bailey!" sigaw ni Blaze na ayaw umalis. "What about them?!"

"Von knew another way!" sigaw ni Uncle Klaus. "Take cover! Take care of everyone!"

Nagulat na lang si Happy nang may pumalibot na mga basang damit sa uluhan niya, pababa sa batok, sa likod niya at sa magkabilang balikat.

Hindi niya alam kung naiiyak siya sa usok o naiiyak siya dahil hinubad talaga nina Kane, Lyf, Deth, King at Yrozz ang mga damit, saka binasa para ipalibot sa kanya, para hindi siya madaling kapitan at mainitan ng apoy.

"Come on!" sigaw ni Uncle Klaus. "This way!"

The sprinkle system couldn't take down the fire. And the Team Oldies each had fire extinguishers that they kept on firing to clear the way.

"Head down, baby! Down! The smoke is harmful to you and the baby!" sigaw ni Blaze sa kanya habang hinahawakan nito ang ulo niya para magbaba ng tingin. "Trust me! I'll guide you!"

Sinunod naman niya ang asawa at nagbaba siya ng tingin habang hinahayaan na igiya siya.

Happy could hear debris falling around them, she could hear hisses of pain around her but her head remained down. She wouldn't risk her baby's health! Smoke was bad for a pregnant woman!

"Fuck!" she heard Blaze hiss before covering her head with his body. "Fuck!"

"Mom!" Si Kane naman ngayon ang nasa harap niya at ginawang pananggalang ang katawan sa kung ano mang tatama sa kanya.

"Is everyone okay?!" It was Knight.

"The Triad is out there!" It was Parisi. "They're all waiting for you outside!"

"We killed some of them but they're too many and ready!" It was Niccolo. "We have to look for another way out!"

"We have another way!" sagot naman ni Uncle Klaus.

Then someone encircled their arms around her waist to guide her body. Nararamdaman niya ang init ng paligid dahil natuyo na ang mga basang damit na nakapalibot sa katawan niya. Mahigpit ang hawak ni Blaze si kamay niya hanggang sa maramdaman niyang nag-iba na ang pakiramdam ng hangin.

She looked up and saw the stock room.

"Why are we in the stock room?" nag-aalala niyang sagot.

The fire could reach them there.

But before Happy could voice out her worry, Uncle Klaus and King opened a secret door then they ushered them in.

Nang makapasok silang lahat doon, bago pa maisara nina Uncle Klaus at King ang pinto sa likuran nila, may nagpasabog niyon sa labas dahilan para masira ang pinto at pumasok ang apoy.

"Why the fuck is this house so easy to destroy?!" iritadong reklamo ni Niccolo.

"The security system has not been updated and this house is a bit old. I told Master Dominick to renovate with high powered walls, but we've been out and about, and he doesn't want to stand out so he bought an old mansion instead," sagot ni Uncle Klaus.

"Come on!" sigaw ni King na pinapauna sila papasok sa mahabang pasilyo.

"Hurry! The fire will catch up on us! We don't have much time," sigaw ni Uncle Ruthgar. "I already calculated the probability of this basement hallway burning in less than five minutes and we have zero percent of survival if we don't get out of here!"

Malalaki ang hakbang niya habang hawak ni Blaze ang kamay niya at ayaw bitawan. Gusto niyang tumakbo pero inaalala niya ang bata sa sinapupunan niya kung pipilitin niya ang sariling tumakbo nang mabilis.

But she didn't want to hold back anyone who was waiting for her to pass them.

Sorry, baby. We have to be safe!

She ran.

Pero nang makita ni Blaze na hawak niya ang tiyan habang tumatakbo, bigla siya nitong binuhat.

"Blaze—"

"The baby," sabi nito habang malalaki ang hakbang. "It might harm the baby."

Happy just let her husband carry her for the baby's sake. Hanggang sa dumating sila sa dulo ng hallway kung saang mayroong dalawa pang pinto, karga-karga pa rin siya nito.

Finally, Blaze put her down.

Nilingon niya ang pinanggalingan. Nararamdaman na niya ang init ng apoy na humahabol sa kanila na tiyak na nakapasok na sa pasilyo na tinahak nila.

"Hurry!"

Binuksan ni Uncle Klaus ang pinto na nasa gilid. Bumulaga sa kanila ang iba't ibang uri ng baril, mga bala at mga pampasabog.

"Sweeet!" Lyf exclaimed before hurriedly picking a gun and putting bullets on its magazine.

Ganoon ang ginawa ng lahat, kasama na siya. Ilang magazine ang nilagyan niya ng bala at gumamit siya ng thigh holster para doon ilagay ang magazine at ang dalawang baril na napili niya.

Maliliksi ang bawat galaw nila.

Nang bumaling siya kay Blaze ay napatanga siya nang makita ang likod nito. Worry consumed her as her hand reach to his burned back.

"First degree burn," sagot ni Blaze habang nilalagyan ng bala ang magazine ng rifle. "Don't worry, baby. I'm fine."

"This is because of me..." she whispered as she remembered how Blaze covered her head while manoeuvering out of the fire.

Blaze faced her. "Baby, I'm fine. Don't worry about me." Sinapo nito ang mukha niya. "Huwag mo akong isipin. Isipin mo ang anak natin. He's counting on me and you to survive this, okay? And we will not fail him."

Tumango siya. "Okay."

"Good." Blaze kissed her senseless before going back to the guns and bullets.

Happy could see everyone getting ready with serious faces, sharp eyes and fast movements. Agad ang mga itong natapos sa paghahanda, saka lang binuksan ni Uncle Klaus ang isa pang pinto.

Painit na nang painit ang pasilyo.

The fire was getting closer!

The door led to a room that had stairs made of steel that connected the floor and the ceiling. And above them was a metal door that had a word "exit" written on it.

Isinara ni Uncle Klaus ang pinto sa likuran nila. "That could hold the fire a little longer," sabi nito.

Agad na umakyat si Blaze, saka dahan-dahang itinulak pabukas ang pinto na nasa kisame para sumilip sa labas.

"Fuck!" Mabilis nitong isinara ang pinto at hinarap sila. "They have the whole area surrounded."

The first Arkhon took a step forward. "We have no choice. Anyone has a plan?"

Knight answered. "Guns blazin.'"

Then Blaze added. "And don't die."

"Not a nice plan," sabay-sabay na sabi ng Team Oldies.

"You have better ideas?" Knight asked the Team Oldies. "We're open for suggestion. If you have any that'll make sense in our situation."

"We fight... or we burn," she said the choices out loud.

"Guns blazin' it is," sabi ng unang Arkhon na ikinasa ang baril na hawak. "For Dominick's house."

"For my babies," sabi ni Blaze na titig na titig sa kanya.

"For our family," sabi ni Kane.

"For our family," ulit ng lahat bago naglabasan sa metal na pinto na nasa kisame.

Gunfires filled her ears.

Nilingon ni Happy ang pinto na alam niyang mainit na. Nararamdaman na niya ang apoy sa labas.

"Blazey..." sambit niya sa pangalan ng asawa.

Blaze held her hand. "I'll keep you safe. Cover your ears and only use your gun if necessary. Loud gunshots like this can affect the baby."

Tumango siya.

"Stay behind me."

She nodded again. "I'll take care of our baby."

Tumango si Blaze, saka hinalikan siya sa noo bago ito ang unang lumabas. Pagkatapos ay sumunod siya na pasilip-silip muna bago tuluyang lumabas ng basement na 'yon.

Agad siyang nagtago sa likod ni Blaze habang nakatakip ang mga tainga.

Nakikita niyang nag-aapoy din ang labanan sa gitna nila at ng Triad. Hindi pahuhuli sina Knight, Racini at Parisi na tigdalawang rifle ang hawak habang nakikipag-ulanan ng bala sa kalaban.

Then her attention got caught by someone hiding in the bushes, gun pointed at Blaze.

Mabilis niyang kinuha ang baril na nasa thigh holster, saka binaril ang kalaban na nagtatago sa malaki at malagong halamanan.

"Mom!"

And then someone grabbed her arm to pull her away from a bullet travelling towards her direction

It was Kane.

Now, she had Blaze protecting her front and Kane protecting her back while she took care of the middle.

Nakadipa ang mga braso niya habang may hawak na baril ang magkabilang kamay niya. Mahigpit ang hawak niya sa baril dahil sa panggigigil at galit. Walang bala na lumabas sa baril niya na walang tinamaan.

King and Uncle Klaus was fighting back-to-back.

Uncle Vent, Lyf and Deth were forming a circle as they fired their rifles at the enemies.

Uncle Ruthgar paired with Yrozz, taking down enemies. Back-to-back, they fought together and protected each other's back.

While the first Arkhon and his hippeis, Denver, fought side by side.

And the three bosses, Knight, Racini and Parisi were on the front line, guns blazin' with smug smirk on their faces.

A grenade was thrown at Yrozz and Ruthgar but before it reached them, someone threw a knife at the bomb— Blaze—making it explode midway.

"Motherfucker!" Lyf hissed before throwing his own grenades at the enemy line.

As the grenade exploded, disorienting the enemies, they used it to change magazines before attacking again.

It took them minutes to took down every Triad member in the vicinity. Pero kahit ganoon, pinatalas pa rin nila ang pakiramdam.

"Head count!" sigaw ng first Arkhon. "Is everyone okay?!"

Lahat sila tumingin sa isa't isa bago sumagot ng "okay."

"Good. Now." Tumingin sa kanya ang unang Arkhon. "Your decision... what do we do next?"

Pinalitan niya ng magazine ang Baretta 92 niyang baril na hawak, saka ikinasa. "Let's kill those other sons of bitches."

"Guns blazin,'" nakangising sabi ni Knight. "I always like that plan."

"Me too," sabi ni Niccolo.

"We all do," sabi ni Blaze, saka tumingin sa kanya. "You okay, baby?"

She nodded. "Let's finish this."

Tumango ang lahat, saka hinalughog nila ang labas at paligid ng mansiyon. Nasa unahan niya si Blaze at nasa likuran niya si Kane.

Halos hindi niya maiputok ang baril na hawak dahil mas mabilis ang mga kasama niya.

Ang ginagawa na lang niya ay sinusuyod ng tingin ang buong paligid para siguruhing walang nagtatagong kalaban.

Nakahinga lang siya nang maluwag nang maikatlong ikot sila sa buong mansiyon at wala na silang kalabang nakita.

Tumuon ang atensiyon niya kay King na ihinaplos ang dulo ng daliri sa basang semento at inamoy 'yon.

Agad na dumilim ang mukha ni King. "Gasoline."

"Kaya mabilis na natupok ng apoy ang bahay," sabi ni Niccolo.

"But how could they scatter the gasoline without us noticing?" tanong ni Uncle Klaus. "We could have smelled it when we came in."

Blaze looked up at the sky before returning his attention to them. "Drop from the sky. I heard a roar of a helicopter earlier when we were in the kitchen. I thought it was just passing by. It was already too late for us to smell it."

Bumuga ng marahas na hininga si Happy. "So, a helicopter poured a gasoline on my house and lit it. Then the Triad members just barged in."

"They bombed your house's gate first," sabi ni Knight. "Nakita namin. Hindi lang kami agad pumasok kasi napapalibutan nila ang buong bahay at kulang kami ng bala."

Hinilot niya ang nananakit na sentido. "We have to get out of here."

"But where's Dad, Mom and Bailey?" Blaze asked, worried.

"If Von Per got out from the secret tunnel on the rooms—"

"I don't want a what if, Uncle Klaus!" pagalit na sabi ni Blaze. "It's my dad, my mom and brother we're talking about! No what if!"

"Then let's go. If they got out, they'll be in my house by now," sabi ni Uncle Klaus.

"Kung ganoon bakit hindi na lang 'yon ang dinaanan natin?" nagtatakang tanong ni Yrozz.

"It's only connected to the rooms," sagot ni Uncle Klaus na may kinukuhang kung ano sa bulsa. "The kitchen is connected somewhere else." May inilabas itong susi mula sa bulsa, saka pinindot ang gitnang buton.

Lahat sila ay gumalaw palayo sa swimming pool nang bigla iyong nahati sa gitna. At sa unti-unting pagkawala ng tubig sa swimming pool, tumaas naman ang isang platform na may lamang itim na van.

"I think we'll all fit in there," sabi ni Uncle Klaus na confident sa sasakyan.

They all sighed.

"Wala ka bang sasakyan na mas mabilis pa riyan?" tanong ni Yrozz.

"Nope. That's it. This has been our car since the old days," nakangiting sabi ni Uncle Klaus.

"I'll drive," boluntaryo ni Knight na parang excited. "I heard that the second Arkhon's car is something out from a James Bond movie."

Umiling si Uncle Klaus. "Sorry, kiddo, only I get to drive the van."

Bumagsak ang mga balikat ni Knight, saka sumimangot. "Ako na yata ang malas. Muntik na akong masunog, mabaril at mabombahan, hindi ko pa rin nakikita nang personal ang idol ko."

Doon tumawa ang unang Arkhon. "Yes, I remember, your information was sent to me when you got selected to be a boss even though I left the Org already." Napapailing pa ito. "What caught my attention was your role model. Dominick Quinn." The first Arkhon shook his head. "I mean, if you really know him, you'll be very disappointed. But he does have his moments and I think that's what caught you ... and also me."

"Come on, let's hop in," sabad sa usapan ng hippeis ng unang Arkhon. "We're still not safe here."

Agad namang isa-isang pumasok ang naroon pero siya ang pinauna ng lahat dahil buntis daw siya.

And everyone—including her—who entered the van gaped at the inside of the car.

Maluwang ang sasakyan na hindi niya inaasahan, may kumportableng upuan para sa lahat. Walang siksikan. At ang armrest ay may tatlong buton kada isa.

Ang una ay para sa ilaw na nasa uluhan niya na nakakabit sa bubong ng sasakyan. Nang pindutin niya ang pangalawang buton, nagulat siya nang bumukas ang kabilang armrest at nakita niyang mga bala ang laman niyon at mga granada na nakalagay sa safety box. At nang pinindot niya ang pangatlong buton, nagulat siya nang bumukas ang inaapakan niya at nakita ang nakahilerang mga iba't ibang uri ng baril.

And when Happy looked around, she saw that everyone was doing the same thing she was doing. Checking out everything—every button.

Si Knight ay lahat ng puwedeng pindutin, pinindot. At dahil nasa shotgun seat ito, malapit lang dito ang iba pang buton. Tulad ng disco lights na bigla na lang lumabas sa uluhan nila, maliit na TV na lumabas mula sa bubong ng van, sa harapan ng mga upuan nila.

"Fuck! This is so cool!" Knight sounded so excited. "What does this button do?" sabi nito, sabay turo sa walang label na buton na kulay-pula.

"That's war mode."

"Meaning?" Knight excitedly asked.

"Push it," Uncle Klaus urged.

"Fuck," Knight whispered in utter excitement before pushing the button. "Hooooly fuck!" He cussed again when different kind of guns came out from the hood of the car and a controller came out from the dashboard. "Fuck! This car is very awesome!"

"Yes, it is," sabi ni Uncle Klaus na binuhay na ang makina ng sasakyan at pinausad 'yon.

"Let me drive!" sabi ni Knight.

"Nope," iling ni Uncle Klaus, saka may pinindot dahilan para bumilis ang sasakyan.

"This is cool as fuck!" Knight was grinning from ear to ear.

Panay ang pindot ni Knight sa mga buton na nasa harap nito. Kaya hindi na sila nagulat nang bumukas ang likod ng van at may machine gun na lumabas.

And Knight was just laughing his ass off.

"Stop it already!" Yrozz hissed at him. "It's annoying!"

Tawa lang nang tawa si Knight kaya pinabayaan na lang nila ito. Hindi na sila nagugulat tuwing may bumubukas o sumasara o kung ano-ano pa man.

Thanks to Knight and his craziness.

Natigilan si Happy nang maramdaman niyang hinalikan siya asawa sa balikat.

"Baby, are you okay?" mahina ang boses na tanong nito. "Hindi ba sumakit ang tiyan mo?"

Umiling siya. "Hindi naman. Pero mas mabuti sigurong magpa-check up ako after this just to make sure."

"Of course," sabi nito habang hinahaplos ang tiyan niya.

Tiningnan niya ang katawan nito, lalo na ang parteng baso nitong nasunog.

"I'm sorry, Blazey. I'm sorry."

"Sshh..." He kissed her forehead. "I'm okay. Don't worry about me. It's just a first-degree burn. I can endure. Ang importante sa akin walang nangyaring masama sa iyo at sa anak natin."

Tumango siya at akmang babaling kay Kane para tanungin kung ayos lang ito nang biglang may sumagasa sa sasakyan nila.

But to her shock, their car didn't take a beating. Ganoon pa rin ang hitsura n'on, walang pinagbago at walang nasaktan sa kanila na nasa loob. Ang sasakyang bumangga sa kanila ang siyang nasira.

"Sorry, motherfuckers..." sabi ni Uncle Klaus. "This car is not owned by a legend for nothing." Pinausad uli nito ang sasakyan na parang walang nangyari.

Napasipol si Knight. "Fuck! I love this car. I want one! My kids would love it!"

"Dominick's house should be replaced with a good security," kapagkuwan ay sabi unang Arkhon. "If it's well secured like this car, this shouldn't have happened."

"I'll handle it," sabi ni Niccolo. "I don't like weak houses."

Monti chuckled. "Yes. Because the only thing that can destroy your house is a nuclear bomb."

"Of course." Niccolo sounded proud. "My family lives there. It has to be indestructible as much as possible." Then he looked at her. "No worries, after I'm done with your new house, you don't want to leave there."

"Thank you," sabi niya na nakangiti. "Kailangan namin 'yon, lalo na't buntis ako."

Niccolo nodded. "Leave it to me."

"Maybe Phoenix can help," suhestiyon ni Blaze. "Grabe rin ang bahay ng isang 'yon."

Bago pa makasagot si Racini, nagsalita si Uncle Klaus.

"We're here."

Lahat sila sumilip sa labas ng bintana. Nasa mansiyon na nga sila nina King.

Agad silang lumabas nang tumigil ang sasakyan. Nang makapasok sila sa bahay, may mga nakahanda nang damit para sa mga naghubad kanina at may nakahanda na ring first-aid kits.

And Happy felt relieved when she saw Mommy Beth on the living room together with Daddy Von who looked like hell and Bailey who was playing on the phone.

"Mommy!" sigaw ni Blaze bago sinugod ng yakap ang ina. "Thank God you're okay."

"I told you to leave it to me," sabi ni Daddy Von.

"Dad." Ito naman ang niyakap ni Blaze, saka nagtapikan ang dalawa ng balikat. "Thank you."

Daddy Von smiled before glancing at her. "All good?" Then he looked at everyone." Everyone okay?"

Tumango si Happy, saka tumingin sa asawa. "Blazey, your burn, kailangang magamot 'yan."

Tumango si Blaze at akmang lalapit kay Uncle Klaus na siyang may hawak ng isang first-aid kita nang pumasok sa sala ang ama niya na nakaupo sa wheelchair at itinutulak 'yon ni Mommy Henreitta. Nasa tabi nito si Clev.

"Dad?" She was shocked to see him. "Hindi ka pa magaling. Why are you here?"

"We got attacked." Si Blake ang sumagot na kasama ng tatlo.

Happy looked around, looking for someone. "If you're all here, where's my sister? Who's taking care of Lucky?"

Blake looked at her, she could see desperation and pure anger in his eyes. "Two nurses took her. Sila ang nurse ni Lucky simula nang pumasok siya rito kaya kahit paano ay panatag ako sa kanila pero bigla na lang nilang kinuha ang asawa ko. Hindi ako nakalaban. They injected me something that makes me groggy, but I managed to subdue one of the nurses."

"And we found out that the Triad had their families. Kaya nila nagawang tulungan ang Triad. Nadamay lang din sila sa gulong 'to," sabi ng ama niya. "Hindi lang ang puwersa natin ang lumalakas, pati na rin ang sa kalaban natin. This is them retaliating. This is them trying to take us down—personally. Because without the Arkhontes and the bosses' connections, the Organòsi will not stand a chance."

This was the reason why her father left the Organization. Pamilya nila palagi ang delikado. Hindi basta-bastang kalaban ang Triad. Kasinlakas—o baka nga—mas malakas pa ito sa Organòsi. Kung ano man ang mayroon sila, natitiyak niyang mayroon ding ganoon ang Triad.

The first Arkhon spoke. "The Triad is not called an organized crime syndicate by the Organòsi for nothing."

"Looks like they hit all of us at the same time," sabi ng hippeis ng unang Arkhon.

Tumango ang ama niya. "They're getting desperate. Especially my ex-wife."

Nanghihinang napaupo si Happy sa sofa habang hawak ang tiyan niya. "Bakit si Lucky pa? She's in a very critical state right now! She has to be protected at all costs!"

"Because of this." Lumapit sa kanya si Blake at may ipinakitang video mula sa cell phone ng ama niya.

Happy's lips parted in fear and anger when she saw Lucky strapped on a chair with a ticking bomb on her chest. She looked so weak with her half-hooded eyes.

"Hi." Helena came into view. "As you can see, Dominick, your daughter is slowly dying so I will let you choose. Happy or your very weak pregnant daughter." Nagbigay ito ng address. "Be there with Happy in an hour and I'll return Lucky. I swear. Cross my heart." Matamis itong ngumiti. "I just want Happy, my daughter. And if anybody from that fucking Organization of yours pull a stunt while we're doing the exchange, I will kill Lucky. Trust me, I can and I will."

Nanginginig ang kamay sa galit na humarap siya sa ama. "Let's do the exchange," sabi niya. "Now."

CECELIB | C.C.