Swiftly playing the last keys of the piano, Ayla stood up with elegance and pride and faced the crowd who stares at her with adoration. As they witness the end of her performance, thousands of people crowding the concert hall stood up with admiration as they applaud at her with a satisfied grin.

Her heart is still thumping widely inside her chest, beads of sweat glistening on her forehead, she was exhausted but she still maintained a smile as she lowered her head to show her gratitude and the sheer bliss she was feeling for her success.

It was the dream she was living for twenty four years... until she woke up unto a nightmare.

"No, please. Spare us, please!"

Trembling on one corner, she clutched her knees and stifled a sob of despair. She was helplessly hiding behind the vanity table at her room as she listen to the cries and pleas of every people she values, losing their lives like a tree at fall, they were falling one by one while they beg to be spared.

"Please, I'm begging you-" She heard her Nana Marie's voice before she was silenced by a loud gunshot that rang at all corners of the mansion.

She gasped and a lone tear escaped from her eyes. The woman was one of their maids and the one who took care of her when she was a child. Plain grief embracing her thoughts as she loses everyone she loved and cherished.

It was passed midnight. The area was very tranquil except from their house. Rain of bullets, cries and mourns, blood filling the tiled floor, blood stains splattered on the walls, continuous crashing of glasses and broken ornaments. She felt like a stranger to her own home. The mansion was unrecognizable.

"No! Ed -"

Shouts of pain reaching her ears, cries of anguish as they beg for their life, but their pleas were unheard. Never were they given mercy from the men who barged into the mansion possessing loads of firearms that silenced everyone to death. But no authorities dared to help.

The murder was planned to be buried.

"Search for the daughter! She can't escape alive or I'll fucking include your bodies with these corpses!"

A shiver runs down her spine as she listens to the ruthless man's voice. They were looking for her!

No, please just stop.

Please, tell me this is just a dream. Somebody please wake me up from this nightmare.

Could somebody please hear my pleas?..

In every passing minute of despair, she was gradually losing her sanity. Her palms felt ice cold as she trembles in one corner.

"Ayla?" She felt her heart sank when someone called her name. She stiffened and covered her mouth, trying to not make any noise as she peek from the vanity table. A cold drop of sweat flowed from her temple down to the side of her face.
The door slowly opened with a creaking sound of wood and the person entered barefooted. Her feet filled with slits and wounds, her night dress stained with blood and her face was wearing the same fear as she has.

"M-mom?" The sight of her mother gave her a glint of hope as she run towards her with a tight hug. The tears she kept containing fell uncontrollably.

"Shh, be careful. They might hear us." Her mother whispered and dragged her back behind the vanity table. "Listen to me, no matter what happens, you must get out of here."

Tears flooded her eyes as she shook her head in disapproval, "No, mom. We'll both get out of here." She pleaded, clasping her mother's hands tightly with her cold ones.

"No, dear, it's too risky. I will just slow us down."

"Mom, please. You are all I have left."

No, I can't lose her too.

Her mom just faintly smiled at her in return and wiped her tears using her thumb, "I love you, my princess. Always remember that." After saying those sincere words, she planted a gentle kiss on her forehead with her own tears flowing from her eyes and murmured her next words, "Find him, Ayla. He will be on your side."

Tears constantly fell from her eyes and her mother's words didn't register on her mind. Her heart was being torn apart by the thought of sharing her final embrace with her mother. Gunshots still could be heard outside the room as they hug each other tightly while silently praying for a miracle.

But to their trepidation, the door broke open followed by evil laughs of men.

"I know you're in here. Show yourselves bitch and let us get this over with!" One of them shouted as they laugh and roam around hunting for their prey.

Crashing of glasses and things thrown as they search for them. Their cold, menacing eyes roaming around while holding their large guns now drenched with blood.

Somebody please save us.

Amid her silent prayer, the footsteps suddenly stopped along with the loud beating of her heart. She instinctively lifted her head and instantly froze in fear as her eyes locked at the man leaning at the vanity table while grinning like a madman, "Got you."

Since that night, the pianist Ayla Davis died along with the perfect life she pictured to have. All that's left are broken fragments of her life and a future full of pain and violence. She gave up and chose to be reborn. With her new identity, she's striving to find answers...

-Aya Fernandez

Inside one of the gigantic and luxurious buildings of Metropolis, a man at his mid-forties is trying to win a deal with a man sitting across the long conference table. He doesn't even know what he looks like nor is his name; he could only see his silhouette from his seat.

The large room was very dark, only the streaks of moonlight passing through the large floor to ceiling glass window provides a little shed of light. But he could also feel beneath the darkness that he is not alone at the room with the anonymous man-they are surrounded. He is well aware that in one wrong move, a bullet will create a hole on his head.

So this is how to transact with the Phantom. He thought. He has a very strong reputation but stayed hidden all these years. I bet if we're about the same age. Gaining this much power and influence. Just sitting across him gets me on cold feet. A very intimidating presence.

The ruthless man who kills behind the shadows. One of the feared leaders of the underground. A very aloof and indifferent man. After all, only one thing gets his interest. And he can't even guarantee if he can walk out of that building alive. But he is his last resort, and he needs to play the game wiser than him... to save the young women whose about to face death.

He is known for his cruelty, his keen for bloodshed. He slaughters everyone who gets on his way. He is cold, merciless, vicious and a very powerful mafia boss. Even the authorities never dared to mess with him. He is an utterly dangerous man you'll never wish to cross with.

"Please, you have to save that poor kid. If you won't save her, then she will die tonight."

His only chance to win this deal is the hint of compassion from the cold man's heart... if he still has any.

The arrogant boss just let go of a quiet laugh. It was just for a mere second, but the cold man felt shivers down his spine as he listens to his cold voice.

The mysterious man seemed very relaxed and composed. Still sitting calmly across him, not moving a muscle yet still exuding an air of dominance while the atmosphere across them grew icier.

"Do you take me for a fool?" the voice sounded very calm, yet he felt the menacing eyes looking at him beneath the shadows and fear started enveloping his body. "Why would I heed to your idle words? Why would I waste my time saving a woman? What would I gain with this damn proposal?"

He was lost on words as he listens to his steely words. His mere voice makes him shudder as he clasps his trembling hands. He should choose the right words or he will snapped and take his head.

"If you don't have any that will take my interest, then you may leave." He continued dismissively.

Countless silhouettes suddenly emerged and crowded him around the spacious dark room. They were about to get him out and he felt agitated for he realized that his time to convince him is running out. It will all be over once they successfully throw him out.

"P-please, you need to save her. You-"

"Silence." The tone of his voice sounded a bit alarming and hostile than before, "Don't come back or I'll take your life instead."

Two men grabbed his arms and started dragging him out from his seat. He felt helpless. With the last straw of hope he felt, he uttered those words at him that successfully made him stop. "That woman holds the last key towards the thing you were searching for."

The room fell silent for a second. The arms dragging him loosened and he heard that cold voice again.

"Speak."

It was just a single word but he knows at that moment that he won the deal. She will be saved.