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"ARE you sure that's what you want to do?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Ysabelle sa anak na dalaga. Hindi niya ikinukubli ang matinding takot at pag-aalala sa gusto niyang pag-atake.

Tumango si Alice nang ilapag ang mapa sa harap nina Ysabelle, Kyle, at Ysiquel. It was the map of the Brixton's manor.

"Yes, mom. Sigurado."

Lumingon si Ysabelle sa asawa na tahimik na pinagmamasdan ang mapa. Hindi pa niya sigurado kung aangal ang asawa sa gustong mangyari ng anak o sinusuri talaga ang mapa.

"Dhie..." she called out.

"Are these points the only exits?" tanong ni Kyle sa panganay sabay turo sa mga pulang bilog.

"Yes, dad," sagot ni Alice.

"Dhie!" Napalingon silang tatlo kay Ysabelle.

Kyle held Ysabelle's hand firmly, giving it a squeeze. "Mhie, trust your daughter on this. Alam na niya ang dapat gawin and should there be any danger, we'll be there," pagsisigurado ni Kyle bago hinaplos ang pisngi ni Ysabelle.

"Pero..."

Naiintindihan ni Kyle kung bakit matindi ang pag-aalala ni Ysabelle sa anak. To be together after almost a lifetime is surreal and if time would permit, hindi rin niya hahayaan ang anak na bumalik sa kampo ng kalaban. Ngunit kasabay nito, hindi nila mapipigilan ang bagay na 'yon. They're part of a dangerous world... and this would just be similar to those missions they've done before.

But Ysabelle's maternal instincts are kicking in and she doesn't want to risk it. Ayaw niyang dalhin muli ni Alice ang sarili sa kapahamakan gayong nailayo na nila ito. Bilang dating pinuno ng Skull Rose, alam niya kung gaano kadelikado ang gagawin ng dalaga. At kung tutuusin ay mas delikado pa ngayong alam na ni Salvador ang katotohanan na alam na ng mga Fuentes ang tungkol sa existence ni Alice.

"Mom, let Ate Kylien do it," segunda ni Ysiquel na gumulat din kay Alice. Akala niya ay pipigilan din siya ng kakambal. Pero mukhang mas marami silang pagkasusunduang mga bagay.

Alice felt a warm thug on her chest as she listened to everyone. 

This... This was what she had been long dreaming for—a family.

*****

ISANG ORAS na magmula nang umalis si Alice sa HQ. Sakay sa kanyang paboritong Ducati at dala ang isang pistol sa ilalim ng kanyang vest, Alice was making the greatest gamble of her life Alam niyang malaki ang posibilidad na maging isang madugong entablado ang pinagtataguan ng kampo ng mga Brixton.

Bumaba siya sa kanyang Ducati at tinanggal ang suot na helmet. Her hair flowed smoothly. Kinuha niya ang ponytail at tinali ang buhok ng mataas.

Pagtalikod pa lang niya ay sinalubong siya ng limang mga tauhan ng kanyang tito. She looked at every single one and some were familiar to her eyes and memory. Hindi 'yon ang mga kakampi niya.

"I need to see my uncle. Where is he?" malamig niyang tanong sa nasa harapan niya.

Tinitigan siya ng lalaki mula ulo hanggang paa bago inilahad ang kamay para ituro ang direksyon papasok sa manor. "This way."

Every step that  Alice took was torturous. May takot na bumabalot sa kanyang dibdib pero pilit niyang isinasantabi 'yon. She learned from a very young age the art of hiding her feelings. Hindi 'yon madali pero sisiguraduhin niyang walang makikitang kahinaan si Salvador sa kanya.

The halls were dark and dusty. They were just men around. But she wasn't afraid that the manor was filled with the opposite gender. She was afraid if she could pull the plan that she's hoping would finish it all.

Pinagbuksan siya ng pintuan ng lalaki at naroroon si Salvador na nakaupo sa harap ng kanyang mesa at may hawak na tabako. May ilang lalaki rin na nakapalibot sa mesa. Napatingin silang lahat sa direksyon ni Alice. Animo'y inaasahan ang kanyang pagdating at parang hindi siya kinidnap ng mga Fuentes nitong nagdaang araw.

Sumandal si Salvador sa kanyang upuan at nagbuga ng usok mula sa tabako. "Leave us be," he announced with a poker face.

Nagsitayuan ang mga lalaki at isa-isang lumabas ng silid. Alice could smell both tobacco and an unfamiliar stench from them. Nasisigurado niyang may ginawang ilegal ang mga 'to. The Brixton's gang have been dealing with illegal stuff and since she was doing most of the labor work, her name was associated with it... At isa na 'yon sa dahilan kung bakit matagal din siyang ginamit ni Salvador. Once her identity was known, that she was, in fact, a Fuentes heiress, it would tarnish the family name.

Nobody knew the Brixton's but everyone knew of the Fuentes. But the Brixton's were making a name underground where people make immediate and lasting connections. Mas madaling masisira ang pangalan mula sa underground at mabilis namang kakalat sa media na siyang magiging dahilan sa pagkasira nila.

As soon as they left, Alice shut the doors and rested her back on it.

"I've returned," she whispered."

"So, I see." Tumayo si Salvador at pumuwesto sa may mesa bago humithit sa hawak nitong tabako. "Took you a while though. Were you having aa good time with your false family?"

Muntik nang kumuyom ang mga kamay ni Alice sa narinig.

"What do you mean? You know I wasn't going to play house with them. Now that they knew who I was, I had to grab their full trust so I can take them down."

"I did not picture your insolence to reach this level, Alice," matalim nitong ani sabay lagay ng tabako sa ashtray.

"Uncle, please. Believe my words. The Fuentes... they trust me already! So, please, allow me to lead the gang and..." Bago pa siya nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita ay nakita na niya ang nakalolokong ngiti ni Salvador bago kinuha ang baril sa kanyang baywang. Kinasa niya ito bago itinutok kay Alice na nabigla sa kanyang kinatatayuan.

"Do you really think I'm that stupid that you can manipulate and play around with?"

"Uncle..."

"I told you I hate liars. I told you I hate failures."

"What are you talking about?"

Humakbang palapit sa kanya si Salvador at hindi pinuputol ang kanilang titigan a mata ng isa't isa.

"Paris mission, you failed big time. They were at your grasps but you let them escape."

"I did not let them escape, uncle," pagsisinungaling niya upang matakpan ang katotohanan. "They are gangsters as well. Of course, they would be very vigilant about their surroundings."

"Because you left your trail."

Nangilabot si Alice sa narinig. Maayos niyang nagawa ang kanyang misyon pero may bakas na naiwan? 

"What?"

"I got the CCTV of that hotel and you did tamper the records properly. But one video showed how you were walking out of the building with a lighter bag."

"That's impossible."

"Really? Do you really think I'm that stupid?" aniya sabay turo ng baril sa mukha ni Alice. "I can shoot you now and things would just be as how it is."

"You're making a grave mistake, uncle."

"Why? Because you've already told your fake family about this location? Oh, well. It won't be a long time before they come here to try and save you and I'll hit the button and everyone will just tear apart."

"You won't do that," matalim na sagot ni Alice. Pilit siyang nakipagsusukatan ng tingin sa tiyuhin.

"You really think I won't do that?" Biglang humalakhak si Salvador. He heartily laughed as if hearing a very stupid remark from Alice. "You might have forgotten already who took you during the times that they were enjoying the birth of your brother."

"You stole me from them."

Ngumisi si Salvador. "It seems like they've already brainwashed you, Alice. How disappointing." Bumuga pa ang matanda ng malalim na paghinga. Animo'y may malalim na inisip. "Why don't we play mice. Hide all you want around the manor until your dear family saves you... if they can." Biglang pinaputok ni Salvador ang baril. Hindi nakailag si Alice at direktang tinamaan ang kanyang binti.

"SHIT!" Hindi niya napigilang mapadapa dahil sa biglaang pagpapaputok. She should have seen it happening. Hindi ang ulo niya ang babarilin dahil agad niya itong ikamamatay. Hindi rin ang dibdib niya dahil nakasuot na siya ng vest. But her legs were only covered by her pants. There was no protective gear on them.

"I can't believe how weak you've become! Is this what that Hatcham boy did to you?" 

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Alice sa narinig. "What did you do to him?" pinagpapawisan niyang tanong sa matanda.

"Oh, I haven't done anything to him... not yet. But I might start making his life miserable. After all, he kept you hidden for some time."

"Don't you fucking dare!" sigaw ni Alice. Hindi niya hahayang may mangyari kay Eiffel. He was nothing but good memories to her. He saved her even though she didn't deserve all the goodness from him.

"Why don't we play a game then? Why don't you start looking for the bombs we've planted around the manor, Alice. You've got twenty minutes before this whole place pops and your remains will be buried with it. You do know you won't be able to escape outside even if you try," ani Salvador na may nakatatakot na tingin sa dalaga.

Gone was the ambitious man she knew since her childhood. Only the devil stood in front of her, looking down at her existence.

Mahigpit na hinahawakan ni Alice ang natamong sugat. The bullet was still insider her and she couldn't stop the bleeding.

"Aren't you going to hide yet? It would be harder to run with two bleeding legs," kalamadong aniya.

Mabilis na tumayo si Alice. At kahit na sobrang sakit ng kanyang binti at patuloy na umaagos ang dugo mula roon, lumabas siya sa silid ng tiyuhin. Walang tao sa paligid kaya't iniisip niyang planado nga ang lahat ng ito.

Alice was dragging her feet to safety. Mabilis niyang kinuha ang isang panyo at itinali sa sugat.

"Alice... Oh, Alice..." Nanlamig ang kanyang buong katawan dahil sa paraan ng pagtawag ni Salvador.

It was creepy. It was scary. And she knew that once he catches her, it's dead end.

It was evident that her infiltration was expected. He has decided her fate as soon as she agreed to play the devil's game.

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PrincessThirteen00 © 20 12 2020