CHAPTER 29

"ARE YOU ALL serious right now?" tanong ni Nate sa kanya, kina Blaze, Night, Parisi at Racini habang nakasakay sila sa malaking van na pag-aari din nito. "We're going to war with no guns? Are you all fucked up in the head?"

Tumaas ang kamay ni Racini. "I'm on vacation and I have a no gun policy from my wife when we're on vacation," sabi nito. "And a happy wife is a happy life."

"Same," sabad ni Parisi. "When my wife says don't carry a gun, I don't carry at all."

Bumaling si Nate kay Night. "Eh, ikaw, ano'ng dahilan mo? Wala ka namang asawa."

Every single person in that van knew about Knight and Night. Kaya hindi niya pinatawagan sina Phoenix, Titus, Khairro at Andrius, mas magiging magulo lang.

"I hate guns," Night murmured. "It's noisy."

"Me too," sabad ni Blaze.

Napatingin naman sa kanya si Nate. "How about you Blake? Why no gun?"

"Ahm..." Tumikhim siya. "I was hoping to live a new peaceful life here without this that's about to unfold today, so, I left all my guns in Italy."

"New life?" Nate snorted. "In our lives, there's no such thing as peaceful. Kaya huwag na kayong umasa dahil hahabulin at hahabulin tayo ng mga nakaraan natin."

"That I agree," sabi ni Racini, "I'm still being chase. But, boy, my wife is scarier than my past."

Parisi chuckled. "Same."

Blake, Blaze, Nate and Night all murmured together. "Can't relate."

Blaze sighed. "Do we have the address?"

May ipinakita si Night sa cell phone nito. "I hacked into my brother's laptop and I got this. He has lots of secrets here in Asia."

Napatingin siya kay Night. "Is this okay, you, hacking into the count's laptop?"

"No." Night smiled. "But if it'll piss him off, then it's okay with me. I can handle him. At saka alam ko naman na 'yong itinatago niyang lihim, eh. He told me a week ago when I arrived from Cuba."

"He's the boss," paalala ni Nate kay Night.

"So am I," sabi ni Night na nagkibit-balikat lang. "I can handle him."

Racini chuckled. "You know what, we should call Daemon. Ang alam ko nasa Malaysia siya ngayon dahil may importante siyang meeting."

"Daemon Cox is in my brother's house as we speak," sabad ni Night. "Pinag-uusapan nila 'yong human traffickers na lumipat mula sa South America patungong Asya. It's a huge syndicate that's why they're having a hard time ending it."

Parisi frowned. "How huge?"

"It has branches all over the world," sagot ni Night.

"In Europe?" Racini asked, alarmed.

"They have three branches there," sabi ni Night. "Hindi pa nga lang sinasabi sa inyo kasi may ginagawa rin kayo."

"Fuck." Parisi cursed. "We should clean up, Racini."

"Pagbalik natin sa Italy," sabi ni Racini na nakatiim ang mga bagang.

"Deal," sabi ni Parisi, saka tumingin sa kanya. "What's the plan?"

Umiling siya. "None. Let's enter and fuck their brains out."

Nate grimaced. "Bakit ba hindi na ako nagulat na wala kayong plano? Ba't n'yo pa ako tinawagan? Hustisya naman sa 'kin. I'm just a thief and a courier."

Blaze eyed Nate. "So, you, being a Sicario was just a rumor?"

Nate just smiled and change the topic. "After we enter, what's next?"

Itinuro siya ni Night. "Didn't you hear Blake? He says we'll fuck their brains out."

Nate looked at them flatly. "At paano natin gagawin 'yon nang wala tayong mga baril?"

Blake pulled two knives from his boots and showed it to his friends. "Like the old times."

Racini grinned. "Fuck. I love a bloody fight."

Parisi chuckled before pulling a knife hidden on his left boot. "I miss the old times. My kind of fight, messy."

Napailing na lang si Nate. "Whatever. Ang gagawin ko lang naman ay maghanap ng importanteng papeles." He tsked. "Fuck. I don't even know what I'm looking for." Tumingin ito kay Night. "What kind of papers am I looking for anyway?"

"Anything important," sagot naman ng huli.

"How will I know if it's important?"

"It'll shine for you, you motherfucker!" Night hissed. "Of course, you have to read it!"

"Don't shout at me!" Nate hissed back. "You're not my boss."

Night just grunted. "This is why I didn't accept Europe. Hindi kayo madaling pasunurin."

Napailing na lang silang lahat at natahimik hanggang sa tumigil ang sasakyan.

"We're here," anunsiyo ni Night, ang designated driver nila, saka nilingon sila na nasa backseat. "Let's enter without a fuss. Kill in silent. Attack stealthy. Our goal is to not make a mess and rescue Bailey and whoever her mother is... Well, you don't know who the mother is, but I do and I'm not telling you so don't fucking ask."

Nakita ni Blake ang paninigas ng kapatid niya na umaasa na si Cassie 'yon.

"Marami bang kalaban?" tanong ni Paris na itinutupi ang manggas ng polong suot.

"Kind of," sabi ni Night na hinubad ang leather jacket na suot at itinira lang ang itim nitong T-shirt. "Well, marami naman tayo, wala naman sigurong mamamatay sa 'tin." Isa-isa sila nitong tiningnan. "May balak ba kayong mamatay ngayong araw? Kung mayroon, huwag ka nang sumama. Walang magbubuhat ng bangkay mo palabas ng mansiyon na 'yan mamaya."

Nate heave a deep sigh. "I hate killing people."

Hinubad ni Racini ang puting polong suot at iniwan ang itim na boxer shorts. "You're a thief, right? Isipin mo na lang na ninakaw mo lang ang buhay nila."

"It's still the same," Nate grumbled.

"For a Sicario..." Blaze took off his jacket. "You're a softy."

"Don't be fooled." Night tsked. "He's deadly."

"All of us are," sambit ni Nate, saka bumuga ng marahas na hininga.

Nang makalabas sila ng van, nasa gilid sila ng mataas na pader na nakapalibot sa mansiyon.

"That's freaking tall," reklamo ni Racini. "Mas mataas pa yata 'to kaysa sa pader ng bahay ko sa Italy."

"The wall surrounding your house in Italy has traps and electrical thingy," sabi ni Parisi.

Walang pag-aalinlangang inilapat ni Racini ang kamay sa pader. "Hmm. My house is deadlier. Good."

Lihim siyang napailing. Ayaw talaga ni Racini ng nauungusan sa kahit anong bagay.

Night started tapping his phone then he looked at them after a couple of second. "The CCTV of this house just started malfunctioning and it will continue for the next thirty minutes."

Tinapik niya ang balikat ni Blaze, saka pabulong na kinausap ito. "Ingat ka."

Blaze nodded before climbing the tall wall using a rock-climbing equipment from Nate. Agad din siyang sumunod at sabay-sabay na umapak ang mga paa nila sa likod-bahay ng malaking compound.

Unang pumasok sa bahay ay si Nate. They could hardly see him as he maneuvered his way towards the mansion.

"He's really a thief," Night murmured.

"Yeah," he murmured.

Sila pa lang yata ang grupo na pumasok sa isang bahay na mataas pa ang sikat ng araw.

"We could have waited for nightfall," sabi ni Blaze na isa-isang tinitingnan ang mga guwardiyang nakapalibot sa buong bahay.

"Knight will find out and nothing will happen," sabi ni Night, saka naglabas ng dalawang kutsilyo mula sa likod nito. "Let's make them bleed."

Bago sila makaalis, nauna si Night na mabilis ang kilos. Sanay talaga itong umatake nang walang ingay. Narating nito ang posisyon ng mga kalaban na wala man lang nakakapansin. At segundo lang ang binilang para mapatumba nito ang mga iyon gamit lang ang dalawang kutsilyo.

"Show off," Parisi murmured.

Racini tsked. "I like showing off."

Sabay na umalis ang dalawa at tinungo ang kabilang parte ng malaking compound. Tulad ni Night, hindi rin mahirap sa mga ito ang patumbahin ang mga bantay.

Para lang naglalaro ang dalawa ng batuhan ng kutsilyo kung makapatumba ng kalaban. Hindi man lang binibigyan ng pagkakataon na maiangat ang mga baril na hawak ng mga ito.

Sila naman ni Blaze ang sunod na gumalaw at pumasok sa kahabayan. Handa ang kutsilyo na hawak niya sa magkabilang kamay. Kaya nang may humarang na lalaki sa harap nila ay awtomatikong lumipad ang kutsilyong hawak niya at bumaon 'yon sa leeg ng lalaki.

Hmm. I still got it.

Umuklo siya tabi ng lalaki para hugutin ang kutsilyo, saka ipinikit ang mga mata para pakinggan ang mga yabag sa loob ng mansiyon.

"I can hear ten people walking," sabi niya kay Blaze na nakapikit din.

Blaze opened his eyes and looked at him. "Three on the south, two on the north, three in the east and two on the west."

"Yes." He nodded. "I'll take the south and the west."

"North and east," sabi ni Blaze.

Nang maghiwalay silang magkambal, umayos siya ng tayo, saka humugot ng malalim na hininga.

He hated taking lives, this was what broke his soul, it was not easy. But if it was for his family's safety, he had to endure because family was family.

Humigpit ang hawak ni Blake sa kutsilyo, saka malakas na ibinato iyon sa lalaking nakasalubong niya na may dalang baril. Kapagkuwan ay mabilis niyang tinakbo ang pagitan nilang dalawa para saluhin ang katawan nito at hindi lumikha ng ingay kapag bumagsak sa sahig

When the man grunted, he stabbed him again, this time in the heart to make sure.

Dahan-dahan niyang ihiniga ang katawan ng lalaki, saka umikot nang nakaluhod nang may marinig na kaluskos sa likuran niya. Agad niyang ibinato ang dalawang duguang kutsilyo sa lalaking akmang kakalabitin na ang gatilyo.

His two knives hit the man's neck and heart.

Before the man hit the floor, he ran towards him, pulled his knives out of his body then threw it to another man coming his way.

Blake blew a loud breath when the two men dropped to the floor simultaneously.

Nang mapasakamay uli ang dalawang kutsilyo, pinakiramdaman niya ang paligid. Wala na siyang marinig na yabag.

Seconds later, his trained ears heard footsteps. It was too light, the sound kept on disappearing and appearing to sense where it was coming from.

That footsteps—either it was Nate, Night, Racini, Parisi or his twin.

At tama nga siya, may lumikong bulto at nagtama ang mga mata nila ni Night. Duguan ang hawak nitong dalawang kutsilyo.

"Tapos na ako sa labas," sabi nito na parang wala lang. "Same with Racini and Parisi. Hurry up. Look for the mother and child." Pagkasabi n'on ay agad itong nawala sa paningin niya.

Lahat ng bantay sa labas ay bagsak na at wala man lang isang baril na pumutok.

It was really a silent attack.

Huminga si Blake nang malalim, saka napatigil sa paghakbang nang makarinig ng kaluskos mula sa kaliwa niya.

He was ready to attack when he saw a kid peaking in a slightly parted open door. Agad niyang itinago ang kutsilyong duguan sa likuran at pinakatitigan ito. Hindi niya makita ang kabuuan ng mukha nito dahil kalahati lang ang nakasilip.

Was this Bailey? He couldn't tell.

"Bailey?" pasigaw pero pabulong niyang tanong sa bata. "Is that you?"

Unti-unting bumukas ang pinto at lumabas doon ang hinuha niya ay mahigit sampung taong gulang na sigurong bata. At tama si Lucky, kamukha nga nila ito ni Blaze.

"Close your eyes," utos niya sa bata at mabilis na ibinato ang kutsilyong hawak sa likuran kung saan may lalaking nakatutok na ang baril sa kanya.

When the man dropped on the floor, Blake looked at the kid again and saw him watching him.

"I told you to close your eyes," sabi niya sa malumanay na boses.

The kid just shrugged. "I'm used to it."

Mabilis niyang hinugot ang kutsilyo sa katawan ng kalaban, saka nilapitan ang bata. "Hi. I'm Blake Vitale," pagpapakilala niya.

"I know," sabi ng bata habang titig na titig sa kanya. "I saw a picture of you in Mom's phone. She said you're a friend."

A friend? Is it Cassie? "Where's your mom, Bailey?"

"Not here." Umiling ito. "She went out with Dad and Uncle Leo to attend an opening party."

Fuck! Ngayon pa talaga lumabas ang mga ito! "I'm Lucky's fiancé. You remember her?"

Tumango ito. "I helped her escape. Dad and Uncle Leo will just hurt her and she's sick."

"Yes. And I'm thankful... that's why I'm getting you out of here—"

"But Mom—"

"Babalikan namin ang mommy mo. Sa ngayon, ikaw muna, okay?"

May pag-aalinlangan sa mga mata nito. "Mom will be worried."

"Babalikan namin ang mommy mo para iligtas din siya, pangako 'yan." Inilahad niya ang kamay rito. "Let's go?"

Nakahinga nang maluwag si Blake nang tanggapin ng bata ang kamay niya.

"Bakit parang magkamukha tayo?" tanong nito habang naglalakad na sila at nakatingala sa kanya.

"I don't know, kiddo." Ginulo niya ang buhok nito. "But we'll find out later."

Mahigpit ang hawak ni Blake sa kamay ng bata habang naglalakad sila. At nang may makasalubong silang kalaban, hindi na niya kailangang patumbahin iyon dahil naunahan na siya ni Blaze na nasa likuran ng kalaban.

And when Blaze saw Bailey, he was frozen in place.

"Is it him?" Blaze asked.

"Yeah."

Dahan-dahang lumapit si Blaze sa kanila, saka lumuhod sa harap ni Bailey para magpantay ang mukha ng mga ito. "Hey, kid," sabi nito habang hinahaplos ang mukha ni Bailey. "How are yah?"

Bailey smiled. "I'm fine. You're Blaze, right? I saw you in my mom's phone too."

Bumaba ang kamay ni Blaze at humawak iyon sa magkabilang balikat ni Bailey. "W-where's your mom?"

"She left with Dad and Uncle Leo."

Blaze jaw tightened. "Is your mom okay?"

Bailey nodded. "Yes."

"Was she happy?"

Umiling ito. "No."

Lalong nagtagis ang mga bagang ni Blaze. "Let's get you out of here then we'll come back for your mommy, okay?"

Bailey nodded. "Okay. Mom always told me that you can be trusted."

Pareho silang natigilan ni Blaze sa sinabi ng bata. Alam niyang pareho sila ng nasa isip, nagtatanong pareho kung si Cassie ba ang ina nito o hindi.

"Let's go," sabi niya.

Kinarga ni Blaze si Bailey samantalang siya naman ay nakahanda para sa mga puwedeng umatake sa kanila. Pero lahat ng nadaanan nila, kung walang tao ay wala nang buhay ang mga bantay.

"Your kill?" Blake asked Blaze.

Blaze shook his head. "My first kill in this house was the man trying to shoot you earlier."

Must be Night, Parisi and Racini. Those three were deadly. Kaya nga hindi siya nagplano, nasisiguro kasi niyang hindi nila kailangan 'yon.

Halos tumakbo sila palabas ng bahay. At nang makasakay sila sa van na nasa labas na ng gate at naghihintay, agad na pinaupo ni Blaze si Bailey bago sila.

"What took you so long?" tanong ni Night sa kanila na nasa driver's seat.

"Hinalughog ko ang buong bahay," sagot ni Blaze. "I didn't see any picture."

"Mom hates taking pictures," sabad ni Bailey.

Lahat sila napatingin sa bata maliban kay Night na nagtanong kay Nate.

"Papers?"

May ibinigay si Nate kay Night na nakalagay sa folder. "Everything in there was in the vault."

Night grinned. "Great."

Bumaling siya kina Racini at Parisi na nag-uusap sa mahinang boses. "Ano'ng ginawa n'yong dalawa sa loob?"

"We killed everyone we saw carrying a gun," sagot ni Racini at tumango naman si Parisi. "Our definition of bad guy."

Blake sighed before looking at Blaze who was staring at Bailey who was looking outside as the van moved.

Tinapik niya ang tuhod ng kakambal. "We'll figure it out."

Blaze nodded and whispered at him. "Wala akong nakitang larawan ng babae sa loob ng bahay na 'yon. If Cassie is alive..." Kumuyom ang kamay nito. "I don't know what I'll do. Mababaliw ako."

"We'll figure it out," ulit niyang sabi. "Tayo pa ba? Kaya natin 'to."

Blaze just nodded and continued staring at Bailey.

Naaawa siya sa kakambal niya. Kung may magagawa pa siya para dito, gagawin niya. Pero wala siyang magawa sa mga oras na 'yon kundi ang maghintay sa araw na babalik sila sa mansiyon na 'yon para ang mommy naman ni Bailey ang iligtas nila sa kamay ng mga demonyong 'yon.

Natigilan silang lahat nang tumigil ang van sa isang park. They all frowned at Night.

"Ano'ng mayroon?" tanong ni Nate kay Night.

"Give me a minute," sabi nito, saka lumabas ng sasakyan.

And when Night returned, he was holding two cones of vanilla ice cream.

"Seriously? You stopped for that?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Nate.

"Yeah. Ice cream is life," sagot ni Night na parang wala lang, saka iniabot ang isa kay Bailey. "Want some, kid?"

Agad naman iyong tinanggap ni Bailey na nakangiti. "Thank you."

Night smiled back before returning his attention on the wheel.

Ang una nitong ihinatid ay sina Racini at Parisi, saka si Nate at sinabing ibabalik na lang ang van ni Nate bukas kasi may gagawin pa raw ito. Sila ni Blaze ang pinakahuling ihinatid ni Night sa ospital.

"Kayo na muna ang bahala sa batang 'yan," sabi ni Night. "Kamukha n'yo naman. I have to talk to Knight. He'd been calling me nonstop. Mukhang alam na niya ang ginawa ko."

"Why did you even help us knowing your brother is against it?" Blaze asked, frowning. "Just to piss your brother off?"

Napatingin si Night kay Bailey ng ilang segundo bago sumagot. "Let's just say that I know what it feels like to be caged at a very young age." May awa sa mga mata nito habang nakatitig kay Bailey. "My childhood was not as free as my brother. Our similarities ends with our faces." Napailing ito, saka kinuha ang atensiyon ni Bailey na agad namang tumingin dito.

"Po?"

"You're a brave kid, okay?" sabi ni Night. "Live your life the way you want it, kid. Don't be afraid to go against your dad. Don't be like me, you'll regret it."

"I'm not afraid," Bailey replied. "I'm just small that's why I can't fight him."

Gumuhit ang natutuwang ngiti sa mga labi ni Night. "That's great. Kapag sa tingin mo tama ka, ipaglaban mo 'yon. Kapag masama na ang ginagawa sa 'yo, sumalungat ka at labanan mo para hindi ka magsisi sa badang huli."

Nakangiting tumango si Bailey at humawak sa kamay Blaze habang pababa ito ng van.

At nang silang dalawa na lang ni Night sa loob ng sasakyan, tiningnan niya ito sa mga mata. "You can still change your life, you know that," sabi niya.

Mapakla itong tumawa. "What life?"

"Midnight—"

"I was born to be Knight, not to be me." Humigpit ang hawak nito sa manibela. "Alam mo ba ang pakiramdam na 'yong mga taong itinuturing mong kaibigan, hindi naman talaga ikaw ang kaibigan? Those lunatics calls me Knight, it's sounds the same as my name, but I know it's not me. Iilang tao lang ang nakakaalam ng tunay na ako. Now tell me if I have my own life and if it's worth living."

May kinuha siya sa bulsa na isang pack ng gummy bear at inilapag iyon sa dashboard. "Someone told me that one gummy bear a day keeps all the negativity away. Try it with your ice cream."

Mahinang natawa si Night, saka napailing. "Call me when you need anything. It's the least I could do for sending your beloved to the operating room."

Tumango siya, saka tinapik ang balikat nito bago lumabas na ng sasakyan at pumasok sa loob ng ospital kung saan hinihintay siya nina Blaze, Bailey... at ni Lucky.

CECELIB | C.C.