17:  Coincidence

I can't believe I am here. My hands were cold as ice, and my knees wobbled like jelly with every step. Hindi ko lubos maisip kung ano ang nagtulak sa akin na pumayag sa kasunduan naming ito ni Wolff. What do I even get in return for doing this, anyway? There wasn't even time to relax dahil napakabilis ng mga pangyayari.

I didn't get a good night's sleep until I managed to crawl my way here. Madilim na ang paligid. Maingay ang mga makinang nagmumula sa loob ng Zone Z, ngunit mas maingay ang pintig ng dibdib ko. It felt like it would burst any moment now.

I have no idea where Wolff is right now. Hindi ko rin siya macontact gamit ang receptor. He's probably sleeping, or at Bane Lab, or somewhere else—not sharing the intense anxiety that's attacking me right now.

Ano ba ang nakain ko at pumayag ako sa kasunduang ito? Ni hindi ko man lamang inisip kung ano ang maaaring maging resulta ng pinaggagawa ko kung sakaling mahuli ako.

And come to think of it, Wolff and I never discussed what would happen if this plan fails. Ganoon na ba ang tiwala niya sa akin o sadyang may tiwala siya kanyang plano?

The latter seemed believable, dahil ayon nga sa kanya, he knows better than to trust anyone other than himself. Malaki ang tiwala niya sa plano niyang ito. And because it was his plan to use me, he also established confidence in using me.

Tama, I know he's just using me. When things go wrong and everything falls apart, it will be me who will face the consequences. There are many possible outcomes, one of which is my permanent residence in Zone Z. Just thinking about it scares me to the bone.

Naramdaman ko ang malamig na hangin sa batok ko. I didn't get enough sleep, but surprisingly, I was wide awake. Sinulyapan ko ang suot kong relo, and it was five minutes before the gates would open. Malinaw pa sa alaala ko ang bawat kalkulasyon ni Wolff.

That the gates would be open for two minutes and forty-seven seconds and he had 2.54 seconds to lower the resolution of the surveillance cameras, and that I had my whole life at stake if this failed. The maps he showed me were also engraved in my mind, as if I had known the place for a long time.

Hindi ko pa rin mawari hanggang sa mga sandaling ito kung bakit ako pumayag sa kalokohang ito. What do I care if this has something to do with Wolff?

Isang bahagi ng isip ko ang nagsasabing iyon ay dahil sa gusto kong maliwanagan. I can have my peace of mind if I can finally conclude that Wolff and Seven are two different persons. Saka ko na lamang idadagdag sa isipin ko ang tungkol kay Odin kahit pa halos mabaliw na ako sa isiping posible bang nagkataon lamang na magkamukha silang tatlo.

Another cold breeze hit my face, and when I glanced at my watch, its almost time. Did I trust Wolff so much for me to be here, waiting for the perfect hour to infiltrate Zone Z? Tila may sariling utak ang mga paa ko. I slowly crept towards the dark side of the gate. Coming here was never easy but I guess Wolff already made plans before I even said yes to this.

Kung ibang pagkakataon ay baka nagduda na ako sa mabilis na pagdating ko rito. But nope, Wolff prepared a boat for me and everything is perfect. Now it's up to me to keep it that way— iyon ay kung matagumpay na mapapasok ko ang Zone Z at mailabas si Bean.

The plan is only on how to get in and how to get out. Wolf didn't tell me exactly how to blend inside, find Bean and what to do for the idle 6 hours I have to wait before 6AM kung kailan maaari kong hanapin si Bean , convince him to escape with me and what awaits if we succeed or fail this plan.

See, this plan is raw but at the same time it seemed so well-cooked.

I heard loud buzzing and it was a cue for me to be attentive. Tila naririnig ko ang bawat segundo na tumutunog ang gate buzzer, ang sigaw ng commanding officer at ang mga padyak ng sundalong papalapit na makapal na bakal na nagsisilbing harang. My heart beat heavily dahil sa takot. In that disorienting moment, I could hear Wolff's voice echoing through my thoughts, calm and composed despite the chaos around. He was sitting before my vision.

"Relax, Dani. The receptor may get broken kung ganyan kabilis ang tibok ng puso mo," mahinahong sagot niya. Hindi ko siya sinagot at kinalma na lamang ang sarili, slowly rolling my eyes.

I could clearly hear the sound of the huge steel gates cracking open at ang maingay na tunog ng mga papalapit na sasakyan. The ground shook as the amphibious vehicles approached.

It's not every day that I get to see these huge vehicles. These war trucks always inject fear sa tuwing pumaparada ito sa sentro ng Sanip. When these war trucks are present, people always conclude that there might be a possible uprising, an internal conflict, or a sign of bloody war.

But no, these vehicles passed me without effect, at sa katunayan ay tila nakatulong pa iyon upang mas mapadali ang pagpasok ko. I could see that imaginary countdown in my head, turning so fast that it seemed to warn me to run for my life. I knew I was shaking, but surprisingly, my legs were standing still. Halos mabingi ako sa lakas ng pintig ng puso ko hanggang sa makapasok ako sa loob.

Wolff's instructions about the locations of the surveillance cameras resonated in my head. Mabilis na tiningnan ko ang bawat sulok na kung saan nakapuwesto ang mga camera. The map of the location was so clear in my head, and I entrusted Wolff in his words about manipulating it for just a matter of seconds.

As the vehicles approaching near, I carefully rolled my way towards the entrance. Halos mapugto ang hininga ko sa bawat segundong lumilipas hanggang sa tuluyang makalabas ang mga war vehicles. My mind was calm as a lake ngunit ramdam ko ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

"Is everything in the map the same?" tanong ni Wolff.

"Y-yes."

"Good, then that means proceed as planned," mahinang sabi niya. "Keep calm, Dani. I'll do my part here as well."

It felt like the map that Wolff showed me was so clear in my mind and I naturally moved to avoid getting caught in the surveillance cameras. I trusted Wolff when he said he'll do some tampering sa loob lamang ng ilang minuto. Napatingin ako sa gwardiyang nakabantay at napansin na nakangiti lamang ito habang nakatingin sa cellphone.

The first part of the plan was a success, I could say, ngayong nandito na ako sa loob. Having less attentive guards was a blessing—at least for this moment. And let me remind myself again, this is where the first part of the plan ends. Walang binigay na instruction sa akin si Wolff kung ano ang maari kong gawin sa halos apat na idle na oras bago ang ala-sais ng umaga.

Yes, the next part is few hours apart and that's when I'll blend in with the prisoners and find Mint Marave.

What if infiltrating Zone Z was this easy but finding Mint wasn't? I know I was so rushed when accepting this job, at kung ano man ang mapapala ko rito, iyon ay hindi ko pa tiyak. Will Wolff keep the end of his bargain? I hope so.

There was a loud chirping static sound. Napapikit ako at tinapik ang sintido. His virtual image in my vision flickered. "Wolff?"

Walang sumagot. I began to panic. I think I just lost connection with Wolff.

"Wolff?"

Wala pa ring sumasagot. A warning message flashed across my field of vision: Signal Lost.

Panic set in as I tapped on my temple a few times ngunit nawala lamang lahat sa paningin ko. Even the sound that was in rhythm with the beat of my heart. Naramdaman ko ang pagluha ng mga mata, feeling so helpless at the moment.

I can go cry about it and return home, ngunit iyon ba ang gusto kong gawin? I peeled off the device from my temple at tiningnan iyon. Even the tiny flickering red light was gone. Gagawin ko pa rin ba 'to? Ilang beses kong sinabi sa isip ko na maaaring guilt ang nagtulak sa akin upang gawin ito. When I was wrongfully locked inside Zone Z and Seven helped me escape with Mint—na nagpakilalang Bean, he sacrificed himself so at least one of us would be free.

I have to get that man out no matter what.

Tinago ko sa bulsa ang receptor at pilit na kinalma ang sarili. Determined to get Bean out of this place, I started walking around. It was a long walk of silence. Tahimik ang paligid at tila walang gwardiya but I know there were some who were probably on their rounds. Tila napakalayo ng nilakad ko hanggang sa marating ang laundry building kung saan may mga uniporme ng mga detainee. I never imagined myself wearing one, but I guess it can't be helped. Halos gapangin ko na ang maliit na daan kung saan nakaharang ang isang tulog na gwardiya. I was fast but careful as I slipped inside and changed into the faded detainee clothes.

Nang makaalis ako roon, hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. I'll probably spend the remaining hours pondering why I got myself involved in this, or maybe I could devise a plan so our escape would be smooth.

There was a deafening silence as I passed through the huge steel wall of Sanip's largest prison. The place smelled rotten, mixed with the sea breeze that caused me to feel nauseous in one way or another. Maaring dulot ng labis na kaba ang nararamdaman ko, or maybe this place is making me feel all the worst emotions packed into one. I removed the watch from my wrist, glancing at its face for the last time before tossing it into the ocean. It's 3:15 AM, and based on the time frame that Wolff prepared for me,  that's my cue to officially do what I have to.

With all my might, I tossed all things to the ocean, mula sa relo hanggang sa tali ng buhok ko, even the broken receptor.  Wolff was so keen on every detail that even a single rubber band I tied in my hair must go. Ayon sa kanya, may unipormeng tali sa buhok na binibigay para sa kababaihan ng Zone Z and definitely, and my black rubber band isn't it.

Details. Those tiny details that Wolff didn't miss just made it more frightening than ever.

I can hear the sound of the waves crashing the shore. Other than that and the heavy drumming of my chest, there was no noise at all. Nakakita ako ng malaking tipak na bato so I abruptly decided to stop and sit.

I was caged all my life, a cage I purposely entered myself. Nagkasya na ako sa pamumuhay na kasama si Lola, I spent my younger years questioning why my own mother despises me but I cannot remember anything as silly as this that I did back in the day.

Niyakap ko ang mga tuhod. The prisoner's clothes doesn't provide much comfort but it was enough to hug me through the dawn. Naramdaman ko ang mga mainit na luhang dumadaloy sa pisngi ko. It was a cry of confusion, I know because I feel no pain in my heart but I felt the urge to cry. Marahil ay dahil iyon sa labis na kaba. I don't know, I'm not even sure if I make it out alive.

"You know it's good to cry like that but taking in consideration the hour, the serene surrounding and the possibility that a guard is roving around, I suggest you tune that down."

Napapiksi ako nang marinig ang boses at agad na napatayo. It was a guy, in the same Sanip uniform as I am at may dala siyang piraso ng papel at bagay na sa tingin ko ay lapis. He wore a rugged beret hat, fixing it a bit as his eyes scanned me from my head to my foot.

There was something in his eyes, and I immediately moved away in fear of him realizing I was an intruder.

Turns out, he already did.

"Most people wanted to escape this hellhole, and here you are," he said in his monotonous voice. Tumayo siya at naglakad papalapit sa akin. My natural response was to take a step backwards but his strides were big that he reached me in no time.

He was tall and slender, tipong titingalain and I began to panic.

Damn, Wolff didn't tell me something like this could happen.

Or I could have preempted this.

But no I didn't.

"What are you doing here?" tanong niya ulit.

"H-ha?" I know taking another step backward is futile. The man was determined to ask question and all I have to do is buck up. "What am I doing here...? H-hindi ko alam kung ano ang ibig mong sabihin."

"Repeating questions before answering them and speaking in fragments is an early sign of lying," he said, with his eyes immediately turning to my hands which was playing with the tip of my hair. "And if I may add, that grooming behaviour of playing with your hair as we spoke is another red flag of deception."

What.

Ibinaba ko ang kamay, trying to stand straight as I could so I would not draw any suspicion. Ngayong mas nakikita ko na siya dahil sa liwanag, I noticed that the something I noticed in his eyes was actually its color. His left eye was hazel and the other was green.

"Based on the things that I observed, I have drawn three possible conclusions to explain your behavior." Itinaas niya ang hintuturo. "One, you're a new detainee. Two, you're a cop in disguise. Three, you're a defector."

Napalunok ako at mabilis na nag-isip ng maaring isagot ngunit muli siyang nagsalita.

"Possibility one and two can easily be eliminated, dahil una, no new detainee arrived today. Using the historical data of Zone Z, new detainees usually arrived every third week of the month, mostly Monday or Friday. The second one, cop in disguise. Nangyayari ito kapag may umiikot na balita tungkol sa abuse of power o anumang maaring ikasira ng pamumuno ng kasalukuyang General. That possibility is eliminated because a cop in disguise would prefer to go in the crowd to blend in and see for himself the circulating news or do random investigations, hindi gaya ng ginawa mong umiyak sa tabi."

Kung ibang pagkakataon ay baka na-impress na ako sa talino niyang iyon, but no, this situation is serious. I was only in the beginning of my mission here ngunit pinagdududahan na ako.

"So you must be an intruder. Who are you working for?" tanong niya sa akin.

I tried my best to sound firm. "Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo."

"Holding on to what you wanted to convey, I see," wika niya. "Do you want me to show you how I was right about you?" Hindi pa man ako nakakasagot ay bigla niyang hinawakan ang braso ko.

He gripped my arm hard and before I could yell for help, I was saved by the bell.

A literal bell.

Biglang pumainlang ang malakas na tunog ng kampana, na sinundan ng warning sound. Nagbukas ang mga ilaw sa paligid, including the lighthouses stationed not too far from Zone Z.

Red and blue lights beamed from above. Kasunod niyon ay ang malakas na tunog ng fire alarm. Natigilan ang lalaki at napatingin sa paligid. Hindi kalaunan ay umingay ang paligid dahil sa mga taong nagsilabasan mula sa sleeping quarters.

"Shit, what is it this time?" narinig kong wika ng lalaki. Akala ko ay bibitiwan na niya ako upang makiusyoso kung ano ang nangyayari but unfortunately, that wasn't his plan. He grabbed me towards the area where the crowd gathered.

To avoid suspicion, hindi ako nagpumilit na makawala at sa halip ay hinayaan siya. We walked towards the crowd, hanggang sa unti-unting dumami ang mga tao sa paligid. Nakatingin silang lahat sa nasusunog na gusali. I heard murmurs and worried conversations but I kept in mind what I came here for.

Inilibot ko ang paningin sa paligid, with hopes of finding Mint Marave ngunit sa dami ng tao sa paligid, it seemed like finding him was in vain. Huge fire trucks passed at mabilis na inapula ng mga firefighters ang nasusunog na gusali.

Heck, this wasn't predicted by Wolff too!

Biglang napatigil ang lalaking mayhawak sa akin nang matanaw kung aling gusali ang nasusunog.

"Damn, it's that guy again!" bulalas niya. He sounded mad and annoyed sa kung sino man ang tinutukoy niya. I tried to wriggle free from his grip but then again he didn't let me escape.

There were murmurs around about whoever guy was inside the building nunit hindi ko iyon masyadong narinig dahil sa ingay ng mga tao at ang sirena ng mga bombero. The guy then turned to me, looking pissed.

"Well, he's least of my concern now. I have to deal with you first. Sino ka at bakit ka nandito?" tanong niya sa akin. I can hear him loud enough kahit maingay ang paligid. Bumilis ang tibok ang dibdib ko dahil sa labis na kaba. I have no idea how to reason out.

Looks like this guy isn't just an average thinker at kung magkamali ako ng sagot, tiyak na uusisain niya ako. It seemed like he's convince about the idea that I am a defector—or whatever things he has in mind right now.

"Sumagot ka---" bigla siyang napatigil nang may humila sa akin palayo sa kanya.

I was caught off guard and almost lost my balance. Nabangga ako sa isang matigas na bagay, and when I looked back, it was a man's chest.

"Terrorizing newbies like always, Kruger. Scaring people with your deductions and mind games like you always did." He tapped me on the head at bahagyang ngumisi sa lalaking kanina pa ako kinakaladkad. By what he called him, his name is Kruger.

"Seven," taas-noong sagot sa kanya ni Kruger. "Akala ko ay natupok ka na ng apoy."

It was dry and by how they both sounded, there was tension between them.

Seven scoffed. "Akala ko rin. But lady luck is always in my side that when the fire started, I was a minute early to come out of the solitary confinement."

Mapaklang natawa si Kruger. "Another coincidence huh? You can fool everyone, Seven, but not me. I was almost certain you started the fire yourself."

I confirmed that the tension was hate and whatever egoistical behaviour the two display towards each other.

"Really?" tanong ni Seven.

"Given that your work assignment is on mining, I know you know which area is most certainly filled with natural gases or the locations of any pipeline containing gaseous product where there could be a possibility of leakage, a contrived one," sabi ni Kruger sa tonong tila siguradong-sigurado siya. "It's easy for you to do that."

"You said it yourself, Kruger. Almost. You were almost certain. Kruger, naniniwala ako sa mga obserbasyon. I know everyone's entitled to their thoughts pero alam mo kung saan ako mas naniniwala? Ebidensya. I believe in proof more than anything, Kruger. And a detective who accuses without any proof is just a liar."

I know coming here was a bad idea, but what's happening right now screams the worst.

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