c h a p t e r 3

VANCE.

"YOU CAN'T change my mind. It's not gonna happen, Atalia," a woman with a natural curly black hair said.

Her brown almond eyes are logy. Halatang nabitin ang tulog niya nang pinatawag sila ni Atalia.

Matapos ang biglaang alarm sa buong silid. Iniwan ako ng kasama ko at pagbalik niya, kasama niya na ang ibang preso rito sa C.I.U.

Hindi ko alam kung anong pumasok sa kokote ng babaeng 'to at naisipan niya kaming kausapin nang sama-sama.

At ayan nga, isa kaagad ang umaapila.

"Why would I waste my time and energy just for a bunch of douchebags?" the woman spoke once again, she then, yawned.

"Olivia Colt!" dumagundong ang boses ni Atalia sa silid.

"I won't tolerate that kind of language in my premises," mariin niyang saad habang matalim na nakatingin sa babaeng kausap.

The woman just shrugged her shoulders and didn't even say sorry. Atalia ignored her behavior. Malala na 'yong babaeng 'yon. Pati sa mas matanda sa kanya walang respeto.

"Again, prisoners." Atalia faced us. "I will send you on a mission," she said.

This will be my perfect chance to escape. I immediately agreed to her after she announced it to us few minutes ago.

The grand explosion happened in National Prison Camp is not a joke for them. They must do something to retrieve those prisoners who has escaped.

Atalia explained to us that our first mission is to retrieve the prisoners. Secondly, we need to find out who's the culprit behind it. Lastly, we must surrender the culprit to her, whoever it is.

At first I was hesitant. Syempre, hindi naman ako member ng Avengers para makipagharap sa unidentified culprit na nagpasabog sa Prison Camp. Ayoko rin i-risk ang buhay ko 'no.

"Gaya nga nang sinabi ko sa inyo kanina, we already tracked down their location," Atalia explained.

Pinaliwanag sa 'min ni Atalia na ang mga preso sa Prison Camp ay may tracker sa loob ng katawan nila. Kaya gano'n na lang nila kabilis nalaman ang kinaroroonan ng mga preso na nakatakas.

"Past nine kanina naganap ang pagsabog. Walang duda na may naganap na inside job," dagdag pa niya.

This is my chance.

Pero kung walang sasama, at hindi sila papayag sa utos ni Atalia, hindi na rin ako pupunta. Gaya nga nang sabi ni Colt, sayang sa energy.

Did I just agreed with her? Hell no!

Nabaling ang tingin namin sa gawi ni Ryde nang magtaas siya ng kanang kamay. Kanina pa siya tahimik gaya ko. Nakaupo siya sa puting monobloc sa tapat ng pwesto ko.

"What is it, Harrison?" Atalia queried.

Ryde put down his hand and crossed them against his chest. He took a deep breath before he speak.

"Your mission. . ." he uttered and stopped for about seconds, "That's absurd."

Atalia gave him a perplexed look. "You are literally have no choice Mister Harrison, whether you like it or not," she said, sharply looking at his eyes intently.

"Bakit? Papatayin niyo kami 'pag hindi kami pumayag?" giit ni J2 na nakasandal sa pader malapit sa pwesto ko.

Yumuko si Atalia at nakita kong ngumisi siya nang patago. She's insane! This woman is insane!

"I'm sorry, my bad, may choice pala kayo," saad niya matapos iangat ang ulo.

Napailing ang dalawang kambal. Malamang naiisip na rin nila ang na sa isip ko.

"You can choose between two options," she said as she raised her two fingers, showing to us and started pacing back and forth.

"First option, you will accept the mission. As soon as you accomplished it, you will be able to live." she stopped from walking and continued, "Second option will be morbid. You have the freedom to decline the mission. You will live and stay here, but after three months. . ." an intensive pause. "All of you will be executed. Pick your choose," she added and gave us a playful smirk.

"Harrison, please accept the mission," J1 initiated to speak, trying to convince Ryde.

Sumenyas ang isang kambal sa kapatid para siguro makigatong sa pangungumbinsi.

"Oo nga, Harrison. 'Tagal mo na rin dito. Ayaw mo ba magpahangin sa labas?" natatawang saad ni J2.

The room was swallowed by a deafening silence. We all waited for his response. Seems like he's contemplating everything carefully.

A minute had passed before Ryde stood up and came closer to Atalia, "I would rather prepare my own grave than obey your nothing but pretentious mission," he firmly said.

"There's no way you can refuse Harrison. I am appointing you to be the leader of Illicit Task Force," Atalia retorted back.

They gave each other a piercing stares. If stares could kill, Atalia was murdered already.

"You can't command me. No one dares to." He glared at her.

Atalia glared back. "I dare to command you, Ryder Harrison," Major Commander persisted.

Ryde looked away, seemingly hopeless.

Atalia is indeed, authoritative. Lahat kaya niyang gawin gamit lang ang mga salita. I wonder kung ilang taon siya nang maging isang ganap na major commander ng C.I.U.

Hindi na muling umimik si Ryder matapos iyon sabihin ni Atalia. At dahil napapayag ni Atalia si Ryde, no choice na rin 'yong si Colt.

Pabor sa 'kin ang mission na 'to. Gagawin ko ang lahat para makatakas.

After the meeting with Atalia. She brought us outside the Unit. Hindi lang sa labas kung saan kami kumain. Hindi ko inakala na kung anong lawak sa loob, mas doble o baka triple pa ang lawak ng sa labas!

Sumakay kami sa isang glass elevator. At mula rito sa itaas, tanaw ko ang paligid ng buong labas. Na sa loob kami ng isang malawak na compound. Tanaw ko mula sa loob ng elevator ang mga nagtataasang pader, na sa palagay ko, mayro'ng mataas na boltahe ng kuryente.

Ilang minuto na rin kaming nakasakay sa loob ng elevator. At halos mapasinghap ako nang makita ko 'yong floor buttons. 111 floors?

Nag-umpisa na akong makaramdam ng kaba. Damn it. I was distracted by the view and I didn't notice we were going up, freaking high. I hardly closed my eyes, my breathing suddenly became unusual.

"You okay?" J2 asked from my side.

"I w-will be okay, don't mind me," I said, trying not to pass out.

I heard someone chortle.

"Someone here is afraid of heights," a woman's voice commented, teasingly.

It's her.

My nervous vanished in an instant. I looked upon her and when I found where she's standing, a ding sound stopped me from arguing with her.

Unable to refute her, we followed Atalia as we get off from the elevator.

"Where are we?" Ryde suddenly asked, curiously. He peek and panned his head around the place.

"We are in the other side building of Classified Investigatory Unit, Harrison." Atalia gestured us to enter a room.

Sinadya kong magpahuli na pumasok. I observed the place attentively.
Nang makapasok na kami sa loob, isang malaking upuan ang bumungad sa 'min. Anong gagawin sa upuan?

Bigla namang may tatlong lalaki na nakasuot ng puting lab coat ang pumasok. May in-operate ang isa sa kanila na switch red button na naka-attach sa pader na malapit sa pinto.

After clicking the button, the ceiling above us opened widely and an apparatus came down slowly.

It is a computer. More advanced computer, I suppose. They operated it by touching its screen. The three guys began to access something in front of the computer.

Tinawag ng isa sa kanila si Colt at pinaupo sa upuan. Inilapat nila ang mga braso niya sa gilid na hawakan ng upuan. Hinigpitan nila iyon para hindi makagalaw gamit ang bakal.

What is really happening right now?

Bakit nila pinaupo ro'n si Colt?

I immediately peek around for Atalia's gaze. When our eyes met, she explained why she brought us here.

"You are now working for the C.I.U," she said as she walked towards beside Colt. "That means, you are prohibited to escape the mission."

An injecting sound followed.

My eyes widened after seeing the guy on a lab coat used a metal syringe as he injected it on Colt's arm.

Colt did not flinch. There's no sign of discomfort in her face. She's literally straight face right now!

Manhid ba siya? Ang laki no'ng karayom at syringe na ginamit sa kanya, pero bakit parang 'di man lang siya nasaktan?

"We will attach a built-in microchip trackers inside your bodies. The trackers we'll gonna use are different from the trackers of Prison Camp." Atalia handed Colt a clipboard with bunch of papers and a pen.

She signaled her to sign the papers attached to the clipboard. Colt signed it anyway.

"As soon as the microchip tracker is activated, and it detects an attempt of escaping. . ." Atalia faced us, "It will explode automatically."

"So, it could definitely kill us?" J1 asked while signing the papers. Kakatapos niya lang ma-injention-an.

Atalia nodded casually.

Tama si Ryde! Her mission is freaking absurd!

Bahagya akong napaatras. As much as I tried to grasp the situation right now, fear is creeping into my system. This can't be!

Someone snapped a finger at me, it's J2. "Turn mo na, Vance."

Wala akong naisagot kung hindi sunod-sunod na iling. My heart is pounding hard inside. I tried to catch my breath. I might pass out any minute by now. Shit.

He patted my right shoulder to comfort me. "Tara na Vance, samahan na lang kita," anyaya niya at wala na akong nagawa pa.

Mariin akong napapikit habang dahan-dahang umupo sa malaking upuan. Naramdaman kong hinigpitan nila ang braso ko. I am now unable to move. Damn it!

I felt someone's hand is holding my shoulder. It's definitely, J2's.

"Breathe in, Vance. . ." J2 said and so I did.

I hold my breath for about seconds and after that I finally felt something has injected inside my body.

"Fuck," I cussed as I felt how it terribly stings.

"Pwede ka na ulit huminga, Vance. It's done and you're still alive."

I let out a deep breath after I opened my eyes.

Bwisit na injection. When I will be able to overcome my fears to needles and heights? Sigurado akong nakangisi kanina si Colt habang ako ang inaasikaso ng mga doctor.

I hate the fact that these people learned my weakness. They might use it against me.

"Mawawala rin 'yang takot mo sa heights at karayom once you get older." J2 accompanied me to sign the papers.

"Sana nga, J2," I uttered as I hold the pen and start signing the Condition Paper.

"It's Jake, Vance. Just call me Jake," he replied as he flashed a wide smile, his eyes formed into thin line.

"O-okay, thanks for that, Jake," I awkwardly replied, pertaining to what he did back there.

We left the room and use the elevator to get back to our designated building. Atalia said to us to prepare to depart.

I stayed silent the whole time inside the elevator, but suddenly Jake came closer to me. "No'ng bata pa lang kami ni Jade, mahilig kami sa mangga," panimula niya.

Even if I find it random, I let him narrate his story and kept my eyes away from the glass wall of the elevator.

Jade pala ang pangalan ni J1. It suits her. She's undeniably gorgeous as jade.

"One time, harvest season iyon ng mangga sa lugar namin," He slightly chuckled, "Nakipag-agawan ako sa mga nag-ha-harvest ng prutas. At kung titiyempuhan ka nga naman ng malas. Sa sobrang bilis nang pangyayari, 'di ko namalayan na nahubad ko pala 'yong tsinelas ko. Ayon, nakaapak ng pako ang masiba sa mangga."

"N-nakaapak?"

"Oo, de-quatro na pako ang bumaon sa talampakan ko." napahawak siya sa batok, bahagyang hinimas ito.

"Sa lumang kulungan ng baboy kasi ako nakipag-agawan ng mangga. Disgrasya talaga," dagdag pa niya.

"I'm glad you're still alive," I commented, relievedly.

"Syempre, masamang damo," saad niya at muling tumawa.

Bahagya rin akong napailing at napangiti sa sinabi niya.

"Pinagamot naman ako ng magulang namin. Seven injections of anti-tetanus."

"Ang dami naman ata?" hindi makapaniwala kong tanong.

The elevator's door opened and we immediately get off. I walked beside him as I continued listening to his story.

"I almost died, but either heaven or hell isn't yet ready to accept my ass back then, I luckily survived," he concluded and winked at me.

Sira talaga.

I guess, we'll get along. Hindi naman siguro masamang makipagkaibigan kay Jake. I hope so.

⚜⚜⚜

SEVERAL HOURS have passed after we signed the condition papers, Atalia accompanied us to the heliport.

A force of wind start to strike against our skin when the engine of the chopper began to work. We will use the chopper as our transportation to get in to the location of the prisoners.

Lahat kami ay nagsimula nang pumasok sa loob. Nang lahat kami ay nakapag-seat belt na nang maayos, isang lalaki ang lumapit kay Atalia mula sa baba ng heliport.

May sinabi iyon sa kanya na hindi namin narinig mula rito sa itaas. Mabuti na lang at naisipan niyang magdala ng megaphone. Talagang handa siya sa lahat ng oras.

"Prisoners!" she shouted, "One of my staff reported me just now, that the trackers of the N.P.C prisoners were already gone. Check your bag Harrison, you have the location there," Atalia explained.

Ryde immediately checked his bag.
He gave Atalia a thumb's up upon confirming the information.

Hindi na rin masama ang mission na 'to. Kanina binigyan kami ni Atalia ng kanya-kanyang credit cards. Iyon daw ang gagamitin namin para makapag-adjust sa lugar. Isang isla raw kasi ang location ng mga preso.

Malaking isla iyon, at paalala sa 'min ni Atalia na maraming nakatira roon na sibilyan. Hindi kami maaaring mandamay nang kahit na sino sa mga naninirahan doon kaya kailangan namin munang makihalubilo, bago umpisahan ang pakay namin.

Before the chopper takes off, Atalia said her last command for us, "Don't fail me, Illicit Task Force."

I heard Jade replied, "We won't."

As soon as the chopper takes off, Atalia vanished from our sight too.

It's been almost half an hour since we departed. I'm half asleep when Colt suddenly cussed across my side. Magkatapat lang ang inuupuan namin pero kanina ko pa siya hindi pinapansin.

Nang imulat ko ang mga mata ko, halos mapamura rin ako sa nakita.
The sunrise is astounding.

I fixed my posture on my seat to see the sunrise clearly.

"What island exactly we are going right now?" Colt asked from her seat, I saw a glimpse of her fingers trembling.

Anyare sa babaeng 'to?

"Uh, Dezvouz Island," sagot ni Jade mula sa upuan sa harap ko.

"Shit," bulong niya sa sarili at biglang napahilamos sa mukha gamit ang dalawang palad.

"Bakit Iya? Is there anything wrong?"
nag-aalalang tanong ni Jade.

She slowly tilted her head and looked upwards. I can visibly see the worry in her eyes.

"I'm not suppose to be here," she said, almost whispering.

Hindi ko na napigilang hindi magtanong, "What do you mean?"

Without looking at my direction, she answered, "This is my hometown. . ."

My heart skipped a beat. I tried to open my mouth but no words came out.

"And here lies my greatest murder."