'That foolish girl!' I think when I finally decipher the intricacies of the ship's system. I go out of the ship and find out that I am in a cave. No one is around. I look back at the ship and see that it's invisible to the eye. I reach into my pocket and retrieve the silver metallic ball. I find the tracker inside it that Jade is talking about. And thankfully, there is a slot on the ship where it can be disabled. It is now on hibernation mode and looks like an ordinary pendant that I can hang around my neck.

I come out of the cave, only to be greeted by the sea. I am a few meters away from the shore. I secure the ball into my inside pocket and jump into the ocean. I am never a swimmer but I do like the pool. Compared to the ocean, the pool's perimeter makes me feel safe. I can't understand why Jade loved the sea so much. It is boundless and intimidating.

My arms start to complain from the exertion but I continue, my limbs flail wildly at the water. If I see Jade again, she'd be damned if she is not prepared to confront me, that is, if I ever see her again. It's been a couple of days.

I make another clumsy lurch into the water and pull my body towards the shore, hoping that no monster will welcome me.

As I played around with the ship's control, I realize Jade's plan and her thinking. She knows that Migo will be chosen to be sent to Fuhua. But to go back to our time, we need Migo's technical prowess. Without him, we are all doomed. But more than that, she is worried for him, no matter how smart Migo is, he is not in his top mental fortitude right now. He will not be able to handle becoming a slave in the mainland.

Instead of choosing me, Renz or Cielo, she chose herself as the sacrifice and it pisses me that she did not even ask for my opinion. I'm sure we could think of a better solution. I laugh, letting the water into my mouth. I gasp for air. It is fortunate that I am already close to the shore, else that laughter could have been the death of me.

Once my feet can reach the seafloor, I find myself crawling towards safety. For the first time, I am grateful for the sandig's training. My stamina has improved but still, a few meters of swimming can still make me catch my breath.

After I calm down, I stand up and make my way towards Hiraya's inner area. I need to go to my room and change. Then, my thoughts return to the time Jade and I separate. I watched unfamiliar men approach her, watched when they beat her up and was relieved when Laya came to save her.

But now, my main concern is Migo. If everything went according to Jade's plans, I wonder how he's coping with the situation? I'm certain it will take time before he can forgive her for hiding the truth from him. And worse, she sacrificed herself to save him!

When I reach the inner part of Hiraya, where our room is, it seems oddly quiet, except for the Cleaners who are busy vacating the rooms used by the Mainland guests. Then I catch sight of Cielo. When she sees me, she run towards me.

"Where have you been?!" she scolds. "We've been searching for you!"

I look around and notice some of the Cleaners loitering around. "Strolling around the island," I lie.

"For days?!" Cielo takes a deep breath and asks, "And Migo? Is he also strolling with you?"

"No. Why?" Aren't she going to ask why I missed the farewell feast? Or ask why my clothes are still wet?

"Have you seen him anywhere?"

"No. After I change my clothes, I am planning to talk to him."

"Well, we can't find him! Laya is helping with the search since yesterday but still no luck," she informs. She looks panicked and agitated.

"What's wrong with you? Why do you look so afraid?" I ask.

Fretfully, she looks around. "I am not afraid." Yet, her voice trembles.

"Aian, Cielo?" It's Isagani. "The Rajah finally wants to see you." Cielo grabs tightly on my arm and looks apprehensive of Isagani.

"Can I change clothes first?" It's a bit crusty and uncomfortable.

"No," Isagani answers and ignores the way Cielo clings on my arm. "This way," Isagani adds.

When we enter the room, Rajah Sinagtala is sitting behind a desk. His features are darkened and the charming smile he always display during feasts is absent. Close to him is Bagwis, lounging close, in case the Rajah have some orders.

Renz is also in the room. When he sees us, he goes to Cielo to try to calm her down. It's not working though.

"I need an honest answer from the three of you," Rajah Sinagtala starts. His voice is flat and cold. Cielo jumps in fright and goes behind me and Renz. "Do any of you talked to Migo after the Farewell feast?"

I shake my head and Cielo croaks a 'No'. Why is she so afraid of the Rajah?

Rajah Sinagtala stares at us. "Do you know how to travel from Fuhua to here?"

Is he referring to the small ship that Jade had stolen from the Mainland guests? I shake my head again.

"I ignored this before, but now I am asking you, how did you get here in Hiraya?"

"We told you before, we can't remember," I answer. "We just woke up and—"

Rajah Sinagtala slams the desk. "See here, your name is Aian, right?" I nod. "I am losing my patience and I need an honest answer. Where did the five of you came from?"

I stare back at him and says, "I told you, the last thing we all remembered is waking up by the shore."

He clenches his jaw. It's obvious that he's mad. "The only way you can enter Hiraya is through Ablution, and the five of you, never undergo that process."

"I heard about it."

"And now, I am very concerned how people, with no memories, come in and out of my island without permission. So I am giving you one last chance to answer me honestly. Where did you come from and how did you get in?"

I stare back at him. Jade might have trusted him but there's no reason for me to trust him. So calmly I answer, "We woke up by the shore. Other than that, I don't know."

We stare at each other, then he calls, "Bagwis, see to it that Aian, Renz and Cielo will be under close observation until one of them speaks the truth."

I did not make any move against Bagwis. It won't amount to anything anyway. My mind is racing. We have three years to figure out how to escape Hiraya. But to do that, we need to prepare. We need information. Then, I realize that the Rajah did not mention where Migo is, not even about what happened to Jade.

"Jade, where is she?"

"In Fuhua," he answers curtly. Bagwis takes hold of my arm and gestures me out of the room. As I thought, I am late, her plan to be the sacrifice works out well.

I look back at the Rajah and ask again, "And Migo, what do you plan to do to him once you found him?"

"Found him?" the Rajah smirks. "There's no way of finding him now. He already left the island."

I frown. How will Migo be able to do that? It's not possible! Unless he had help. I look at the Rajah, finally understanding his concern. He is worried of the security around the island. He could not understand how illegals could come and go Hiraya undetected.

But most importantly, that f*cked up Migo left us without saying a single word to us! How could he left and abandon Jade's plan!? When it is the same plan that cost her her freedom?!