c h a p t e r 1

VANCE.

TWELVE HOURS EARLIER.

I TWISTED the door knob and as I stepped inside our apartment, I heard Zane is whispering to her phone.

"Whom you are talking with, Zane?" I walked towards her, but she quickly ended the phone call and threw her phone to our bed.

She gave me a hug and a peck of kiss on my cheek. "Kapatid ko lang," she answered and I nodded as reply.

Her brother was convicted eight years ago. According to the prosecution, he was charged as guilty. I don't know the whole truth about the crime he committed.

My girlfriend never disclosed it to me. I'd rather just shrugged it off, perhaps she's ashamed about it. Besides, I don't want to meddle with him.

Zane's peers tend to say, he is over protective to his younger sister, and apparently he has no idea that his precious sibling has a boyfriend.

Pero swerte siya dahil sa 'kin napunta ang kapatid niya. He must not worry anything.

I took a quick bath before heading to the bed. Medyo nakakapagod magpanggap na janitor kahit ilang oras lang. Magpanggap, tama.

Tomorrow morning, an entrance exam will be held at one of the most well known and exclusive university in the country. Wala naman akong pakialam sa university na 'yon. What matter to me are the test takers. I had a deal with some of them. It is the batch one, to be specific.

Since most of them were privileged, they can use their wealth to pay someone whose skilled enough to steal the answer keys. I will help them, and in exchange, they will pay me.

The entrance exams will be done yearly, two months before the end of last semester. Yrad University is on my lists and it is quite challenging for me to trespass their school premises because their security system is advanced. Pretty advanced but still not enough.

When I disguised as a newly hired janitor in the university, I got there just as piece of cake.

Naalarma lang ako nang dumaan ako sa harap ng guard. He told me that maintenance personnel are not allowed to use the front gate.

I explained to him that I'm newly hired and I barely know about it. Mabait 'yong guard actually. He guided and lead me to the back door, which the staff and workers usually use.

As I bid him goodbye, I thank him for his kindness. I smoothly get in to the Yrad University. It took me some time to roam around. The university is pretty huge compared to my alma matter. Well, I only graduated from our local university. Hindi kalakihan, at madalas pang magkalase sa tabi ng banyo ang mga estudyante dahil crowded ang bawat rooms. Samantalang 'tong school na 'to, sagana sa facilities.

Ang tagal ko ring nagmatyag malapit sa registrar office habang dala ang mop at isang balde na may lamang tubig na may sabon.

I tend to listen in every conversations of the faculty staff. I need to gather some information, where they exactly kept the answer keys.

Minutes passed, and I think a saint heard my prayers. I overheard a professor who will be the proctor for the batch one of test takers talking about the answer keys.

I got able to alter and hack the codes at the registrar office effortlessly, and the rest is history.

I sat down on our bed beside Zane. Busy siya sa laptop niya. Graduating pa lang siya at ako ang nagpapa-aral sa kanya.

My job isn't clean, and unfair as hell. I should have got a proper and decent job instead of stealing. Instead of negotiating with well-off people.

Taking advantage of their wealth to sustain our daily living is something I should never brag. But I grew up doing illegal ways, and I am used to this. I was trained by my late master who's my uncle. He died year ago because of an accident. I am living with Zane for almost a year now.

I stared at her face. I tucked the strands of her hair over her left ear. With that, she paid her attention to me.

I smiled widely, "You're stunning. Can I kiss you?" I asked a permission.

"Not now, Vance. Thesis defense ko na bukas," she glared at me when I tried to stop her fingers from typing on the keyboard.

I surrendered my arms upwards. Alam kong wala akong palag sa babaeng 'to kapag oras ng pag-aaral niya.

She faced the monitor of her laptop and starts typing again.

I had to stop bothering her and rest earlier than my usual sleeping schedule. Maigi akong humiga sa kama at bumuntong hininga.

"His parole got approved," Zane suddenly spoke.

Napaayos ako ng upo dahil sa narinig. Ibig sabihin makakauwi na ang kuya niya? Hindi ko alam ang dapat na maramdaman.

I should be glad about her news, but why am I feeling the opposite?

"G-good to know," I replied, trying not to sound insincere.

I rest my body on our bed and closed my eyes. I did not bother to ask her how his brother's parole got approved.

Perhaps, they got mercy.

⚜⚜⚜

"Awat na sa kakabuntong hininga, Vince," a man on his thirties, sitting a few feet away from my place said, "Malapit mo na kaming masinghot dito," he chuckled.

"It's Vance, not Vince." I rolled my eyes and let out a deep sigh for the nth time. I can't blame him. Siguro naiirita na siya sa ginagawa ko.

Ngayon lang nag-sink in sa 'kin kung bakit at paano napirmahan ang parole ng kapatid ni Zane.

It all make sense to me now. She definitely helped this Classified Investigatory Unit and tipped them about my thing. She didn't hesitate to bargain her own boyfriend—the one who supported and loved her, just for the freedom of her sibling. Her brother who's never been around during her hardships.

I sniffed.

Then it was followed by my silent sobs. I try hard not to cry in front of these people. I can't show them my vulnerable side. I wiped my tears before it start bursting out.

As I stood up, the woman who approached me few hours ago was standing in front of me. Her arms were crossed against her chest. She's taller than me, and her short dark brown hair fits her fair skin complexion.

"Time for dinner." she paused and didn't lose an eye contact with me, "Which means, we have to go outside." she signals her head to the door.

My eyes widened. Paanong nagkaroon ng pinto rito? Eh halos gawin ko na ang lahat ng klaseng pangangapa, mahanap lang ang labasan ng kwarto na 'to. Wala naman akong nakita kanina?

This place is indeed, controlled with the used of advanced and high technology.

Bago ko tuluyang sundan ang babaeng kumakausap sa 'kin, lumingon muna ako sa loob ng silid. Tulog pa rin ang dalawa sa magkabilaang bahagi ng kwarto.

"Susunod din 'yan sila, mauna na tayo," tawag sa 'kin ng kasama ko.

Agad ko siyang sinundan at gano'n na lang ang pagkamangha ko sa nakita sa labas.

The place is huge. Yet, it was empty. Kaming lima lang ba talaga ang nakakulong dito? Bakit walang ibang preso?

When we reached the spot where we are all gonna have our dinner, the woman beside me extended her right arm to me.

"Call me, J1," she introduced herself and shook her hand with mine. "That's my twin brother, J2." she looked at her brother's direction.

J2 just waved his left hand on us as reply.

What's with their names? Are those even their real names? Or some sort of code name?

"Sit." she gestured her hand to the long metal bench, "Hindi ka na tatangkad sa edad mong 'yan," komento pa niya na naging dahilan para mapakunot ang noo ko.

Minutes have passed, and J2 came with our food. Binigyan niya ako ng malawak na ngiti matapos iabot sa 'kin ang tray ng pagkain ko. Halos mawala ang mata niya dahil sa pag ngiti.

Tinitigan ko lang ang pagkain sa harapan ko. Samantalang sila, nag-umpisa nang kumain.

I looked around. Gaya nang pinanggalingan naming silid, gano'n din ang labas. Walang bintana, walang pinto. Kung walang air ventilators na naka-attach sa mataas na kisame, baka na-suffocate na kami rito.

Nang ibalik ko ang atensyon sa tray ng pagkain ay nagulat ako sa taong nakatayo sa tapat ko. She's staring at me, expressionless. Babae pala 'yong isang tao na natutulog kanina.

"That's my spot," a petite woman with a tan skin, spoke to me.

Her left ear caught my attention. She's wearing a hoop earring, but wait— is that a piece of cassette tape?

I suppose, we have the same height. I instantly got prejudiced with her natural curl bangs. It somehow annoys me because it's blocking her face.

"Move," she sharply said as she glared at me.

Napakunot ang noo ko sa narinig. Hindi na lang ako nagsalita at lumipat sa pinakadulong parte ng mesa.

Sino ba siya? Pareho lang naman kaming mga kriminal dito. Kung makaasta akala mo anak siya no'ng Commander Atalia.

Sa inis ko, bahagya kong naibagsak ang tray nang ilapag ko. With that, they all gave me a puzzled look.

I just ignored their reaction. It's not going to happen that I will get along with them. I will escape this place immediately.

"Hoy, bata," tawag sa 'kin ni J2.

I took a deep breath and turned my gaze at him, "What?" I annoyingly asked.

For Pete's sake, I'm not a kid! This guy is really testing my patience!

"Spot 'yan ni Harrison," paliwanag niya.

"Wala bang pwesto rito na hindi pagmamay-ari ng kung sino man?" iretable kong tanong.

Narinig kong umismid ang babaeng nagpaalis sa pwesto ko.

"At ikaw!" I exclaimed as I drastically stood up. I pointed my right index finger at her direction. "Never command anything to me."

She immediately stood up from her seat. She came closer and grabbed my polo's collar.

She's going to punch my face?!

Luckily, I dodged her left fist. Damn! That was close! What the hell is her problem?

The woman pierced her gaze at me. "Then don't you dare point your sinful finger at me," she said and wipe her hands off her jacket.

Unbelievable. This woman has an attitude, huh? Ngayon pa lang, alam ko nang walang tiyansa na maging kaibigan ko siya. Kahit sino naman sa kanila, 'di ko bibigyan ng pagkakataon na mapalapit sa 'kin.

"Sinful finger?" I scoffed in disbelief and walked back to my seat. "Aren't we all here are criminals? Huwag kang magmalinis, baka mas mabigat pa 'yong krimen na ginawa mo kumpara sa 'kin." I smirked.

She ignored my statement and got back to her plate. Akala mo kung sinong magaling.

At last, I didn't ate my food comfortably. I even lost my appetite because of that uncultured woman.

A man in his late thirties suddenly showed up. He has well built body. I think he's six footer. His hooded dark brown eyes are intimidating. I presumed, he's the other person sleeping inside.

He walked towards me and said, "You can use my spot for the mean time," a deep voice conquered the deafening silence between us.

The embroidered numbers on his navy blue polo caught my attention. He's wearing the inmate uniform for sure.

002

Woah, hold on. I just noticed by now. The other woman has 001 on her jacket.

The twins have the embroidery on their sleeves too. J1 got 706, while J2 got 707.

What does it mean?

"The numbers embroidered on our clothes are the value of the crimes we have had committed," the man explained as though he read what's on my mind.

"The smaller the amount of the assigned number, counterparts a huge crime," he added which made me think and realized something.

He stepped closer and leaned to my left ear. "I'm a former hired assassin," he whispered with his smoky voice.

He then, stepped back and looked at my eyes intently, "Do you mind?"

For a moment, I am stupefied.

If this man is a serial killer. . . What crime did the prisoner double-o-one had committed?