Masakit ang kanyang ulo at parang binibiyak iyon gamit ng sampung martilyo. Kanina pa ito masakit at hindi pa rin tumitigil. Naduduwal din siyang hindi malaman. Gusto niyang masuka ngunit wala naman siyang maisuka. She was aching all over. Gusto na lang niyang magpahinga at matulog nang mahimbing, ngunit sa kasalukuyang sitwasyon ay hindi maaari.

Muli na naman siyang ikinulong ng mga ito sa silid kung nasaan siya kanina. Hindi na siya itinali ng mga ito. They all knew she was lacking enough strength to plan an unavailing escape. Bago muli siyang ikulong ng mga ito ay isang malakas at mahapding sampal ang natanggap niya mula kay Paula.

"'Yan ang nababagay sa 'yo!" was what she said.

Through the mist of her tear-filled eyes, she glanced down at her muddy hands. May mga maliliit na hiwa roon at may kaunting hapdi siyang nararamdaman. She wondered why evil always prevailed over good. Hindi ba dapat ay ang kasalungat ang nangyayari?

At paano si Wilder? Paano kung dahil sa kanya ay malagay sa panganib ang buhay nito? Paano kung siya ang maging dahilan ng pagbagsak nito? She embraced herself nang sinibulan ng matinding takot ang kanyang dibdib. Takot na hindi lang para sa kanyang sarili kun'di para rin sa binata.

Napaigtad siya nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan. Iniluwa niyon ang taong nagdulot ng lahat ng kanyang mga pagdurusa. Kaagad na nabalat ng takot, galit at poot ang kanyang puso. Gusto niya itong sampalin hanggang sa gumaan ang dibdib niya.

As he walked toward the bed, she attempted to act tough and fought hard to hide her fear. If she succeeded or not, she didn't know. Hindi niya gustong pagkalooban ito ng kahit isang tingin. She despised him from the very core of her being, and nothing would exonerate him from his wrongdoings, kahit na pakawalan pa siya nito sa mga sandaling iyon.

"I believe you still remember me, princess." He sat casually, on the edge of the bed, puffing away at a cigarette, looking down the rugged floor.

Nanatili siyang tahimik. She couldn't bear to even hear his voice. The sound of it was enough to send her blood boiling with rage. Kung hindi ito dumating sa buhay nila ay hindi sana sila nagdurusa.

Patuloy ito sa pag-ihip sa sigarilyo. In just a fraction of seconds, the smell of cigarette smoke remained perched in the small room that it was almost suffocating.

"Princess, you were never given the drug," seryoso at kalmadong pahayag nito. Hindi niya alam kung bakit pinili nitong buksan ang argomentong iyon. Sa una'y natutuliro siya, ngunit unti-unti ay nag-sink in sa kanya ang gustong iparating nito.

Dahil doon ay mabilis umangat ang kanyang ulo upang tingnan ito. Dumoble ang bilis ng kabog ng kanyang dibdib. She blinked a few times as shock lined her eyes. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang epekto ng mga salita nitong iyon. A part of her was relieved, but the other was sealed with doubt. Paano pala kung nagsisinungaling lang ito?

"Kung gano'n, bakit? Bakit nawala ang mga alaala ko?" tanong niya, ang mga mata'y parehong nagtatanong.

He puffed at his cigarette twice before meeting her eyes. Bumuga ito sa hangin at sumagot, "You tried to escape the night Christine saved you. Paula got angry and chased after you. I don't know what happened after that, but they brought you back unconscious. You were bleeding a lot. Especially on your temple."

She attempted to process everything she had heard. Hindi niya alam na nangyari iyon. Iba ang kanyang paniniwala. Malayong-malayo ang inakala niya sa totoong nangyari.

"Bakit hindi mo na lang ako tinuluyang patayin? Wala naman na 'kong magiging silbi sa 'yo," sagot niya. Sa mga sandaling iyon ay wala na siyang pakialam sa mga sinasabi nito dahil malamang ay puro kasinungalingan lang ang lumalabas sa bibig nito.

His eyes lit in amusement and his lips curved in malicious pleasure. It was so wicked that she felt chills run down her spine. Tila kaharap niya ang demonyo sa personal.

"Do you not see how much you're being useful to me now?" Ang mga mata nito ay sinusuri ang kanyang mukha, as if seeking for something.

Binawi niya ang tingin at nagsumiksik sa may headboard ng kama. She could feel her soul trembling with fear and pain. Malamang ay iyon ang nais nitong makita sa kanya: ang takot. Ngunit kahit anong gawin ay hindi niya mapigilan ang pag-usbong ng damdaming iyon, lalo na at kasamang pinag-uusapan ang kaligtasan ng lalaking mahal niya.

"Alam mo bang mangyayari ang lahat ng 'to? Pinlano mo bang magkita kami?" Tila kayhirap bigkasin ng mga katagang lumalabas sa kanyang bibig. All this time, she believed that it was fate that lead her and Wilder to each other, but she was so wrong.

Hindi pa rin nabubura ang mala-demonyong ngiti nito. "Not really. I was just observing from a distance. You all were like puppets of a show, and in all honesty... it was very entertaining," he responded as if it was the most casual thing na lumabas sa bibig nito.

Along with fear came rushing the anger. Talagang wala itong puso. Kitang-kita iyon sa mga mata nitong ni hindi man lang makikitaan ng pagsisisi. Para bang sanay na itong pagdusain ang ibang tao.

Katahimikan ang biglang bumalot sa kanilang kapaligiran. Wala na siyang lakas upang makipag-usap o makipag talo rito. Kung ipipikit niya ang mga mata sa sandaling iyon ay tiyak na tuluyan nang aagos ang kanyang mga luha. Wasak na wasak na siya. Her heart and mind could no longer bear the pain and sufferings. Kaunting panahon pa sa abandonadong lugar na iyon ay tiyak na siya na mismo ang hihiling sa mga ito na kitilin siya. She was slowly losing hope.

"I think you have every right to know what really happened to you, how all of this started," he affirmed, not taking his eyes off her.

Isang mapakla at sarkastikong tawa ang pinakawalan niya. Hindi niya alam kung nangloloko ba ito o sadyang natutuwa itong asarin siya.

"Ngayon mo lang naisip?" she spoke in a voice she herself couldn't decipher. Halo-halo ang mga emosyon na nasa kanyang tinig na hindi niya maisa-isa ang mga iyon.

Parang wala itong narinig habang patuloy na umiihip sa sigarilyo. "You probably know by now what the mafia is, what it does and what it's capable of. But you know, we're not really evil." Huminto ito at binigyan siya ng isang makahulugang titig, a look that screams sarcasm. Gustong bumaligtad ng kanyang sikmura sa mga tingin na ipinupukol nito sa kanya. The man was a blatant black-hearted villain.

"We are usually referred to as La Cosa Nostra. I was born in Italy, where the mafia originated. My dad was a mafia boss, and so I became one myself. It brought me absolute authority and power---something I've always wished to possess." She could detect amusement and disbelief in his voice, his eyes beaming with incredulity.

"I couldn't believe it at first. Everything was being served to me on a silver platter, and that was the moment I knew I was born and chosen for it," he paused, contemplating whether to continue the story or not.

"Then I had to marry." Napuna niya ang pagbaba ng tinig ng boses at may kung anong lungkot ang bumalot sa mga mata nito. "I needed a son. A son who would inherit my fortunes and to whom I could pass on my legacy. But that woman gave birth to a girl." Nagbago ang emosyong dumaan sa mga mata nito. The cold and emotionless eyes were replaced with a hint of disgust... disgust towards his own blood, towards his own daughter.

She couldn't imagine how difficult it had been for Aoife. To be hated and treated with contempt for being a girl was something that fueled her anger even more. Pero nanatili siyang tahimik na nakikinig dito.

"We tried again and we eventually succeeded." He shrugged his shoulders as if to say that he could get anything he wanted kapag ginusto niya. "My wife didn't seem happy about it. She grew disobedient and they ended up escaping away from me," he said in a voice that could cut through glass. After a few seconds, he stepped on his cigarette after throwing the remaining butt on the ground.

"They failed, though. They probably thought I wouldn't be able to track them down, but I did."

"Anong... anong ginawa mo sa kanya? Sa... asawa mo?" tanong niya na pabulong. Nailang siyang bigkasin ang salitang asawa dahil base sa kuwento ng matandang lalaki ay tila hindi iyon ang turing nito sa ginang.

"She escaped," he answered through gritted teeth. "But she probably met her demise after being shot," he said, once again, with the same evident sardonic voice.

Ang ginhawang nadama niya nang sabihin nitong nakatakas ang ginang ay kaagad naglaho. Tila may isang malaking batong dumagan sa kanyang sikmura at dibdib nang marinig iyon. She was again succumbed to the feeling of hatred. She abhorred him for his wickedness.

"So anyway, we ended up here in the Philippines where the government is so corrupt to the core." He chuckled to himself and the sound of it terrified her. "We've been working on a particular drug for decades now. My great grandfather was still a kid when they started the experiment." Nang marinig iyon ay mabilis na nabaling ang kanyang mata rito.

She gulped a lungful of air as she waited for him to continue. Her heartbeat picked up speed and she unconsciously bit her lip. "It's a drug primed to control people, to take over their minds, to rule over them."

She felt her skin crawl with horror as her body trembled with fear and uneasiness. Naramdaman niya ang paninigas ng katawan at pagpipigil ang kanyang hininga.

Why would the government even allow someone to create something so deadly? Ngunit magtataka pa ba siya gayong walang hustisyang tumutulong sa kanya? Justice should have long been served, yet the powerful and influential people, who had the power to help others, decided to turn a blind eye to everything.

"But of course, I'm not talking about the president and his underlings. I'm referring to other smaller politicians who desire for more dominance and authority," paliwanag nito na tila may gana at interes pa siyang marining ang kasuklaman ng mga taong namumuno sa kanyang bansa.

Pinili niyang hindi na muling magsalita pa. Wala rin namang saysay kung patuloy silang mag-uusap gayong magkalayo at magkaiba ang perceptions nila sa maraming bagay. Masakit na rin ang kanyang buong katawan. Namamaga ang kanyang mga palad at dama niya ang duming nakakapit sa kanyang balat. Sa mga sandaling iyon ay sobra baba ng tingin niya sa kanyang sarili. Gano'n ba siya kawalang halaga para tratuhin na parang isang hayop? Was her life worth nothing?

"How is he?" tanong nito matapos ang ilang sandali.

Muli sa pagkakapikit ay dahan-dahan niyang iminulat ang mata. Hindi na siya nag-abalang tumuwid ng upo at nanatili na lamang na nakasandal sa headrest ng kama.

She didn't catch the question and his voice came to her as muffled because of her dizziness. Umiling na lamang siya habang nakakunot ang noo. Ilang segundong nakatingin ito sa kanya bago muling inulit ang tanong.

"How's Wilder?"

Anastasha couldn't help but detect a hint of... longing in his voice. A father's yearning for his son. But she immediately brushed off the weird thought. It was beyond impossible for him to feel that way. Wala itong puso.

"Hindi ba't palagi niyong minamatyagan ang isa't isa? Alam mo dapat," she replied, avoiding to answer the question.

Sandaling tahimik ito na tila nag-iisip. Tila nga hindi nito narinig ang kanyang sinabi dahil ang mga mata nito'y nakatuon sa labas ng bintana. After a deep sigh and a short pause, he responded, "Do you know why he can't kill me?"

The question stunned her for a moment. Hindi niya mawari kung paanong napunta sa ganoong tanong ang kanilang pag-uusap. She didn't know whether to take him seriously or not, dahil baka isa na naman ito sa mga dark humour nito.

"Ano? Nanloloko ka ba?" Nasa tinig niya ang pagkaasar. Para sa kanya ay sobrang halata naman ng sagot sa tanong na iyon.

"Why? Aren't you curious about it?" balik na tanong nito sa kanya, ang mga mata'y nakatuon pa rin sa labas ng bintana.

"Hindi niya gustong matulad sa 'yo. Hindi niya gustong maging halimaw na katulad mo," saad niya na walang bahid na pagkatakot. She kept her voice firm, unwilling to give in to the mixed feelings of anger and hatred in her chest.

A low, haunting chuckle escaped his lips. "You think so?" he asked as if he was challenging her, provoking her.

"Oo. Hindi siya susunod sa yapak mo."

Sa wakas ay tumingin ito sa kanya. "The moment he kills me is the moment he takes after my position. That's how the organization works. The son inherits everything. If he kills me, he'll take my place as a mafia boss. If he refuses, the whole organization will not hesitate to annihilate him and the people around him."

Her whole body froze in her seat as a heavy feeling settled in her stomach. Every part of her mind went to a pause, her thoughts in disarray as they try to catch up to what he was explaining. Naaawa siya sa kanyang sarili dahil sa kasalukuyang kondisyon, ngunit mas matindi ang habag niya para sa binata. He deserved none of the sufferings he went and was still going through.

Hindi na niya nakayang pigilin ang sarili kung kaya't tumayo siya sa pagkakaupo at walang sabi't sabing sinugod ang matandang lalaki. "Anong klaseng ama ka!" singhal niya rito, ngunit bago pa man lumapat ang kanyang palad sa pisngi nito ay naipalupot na nito ang kamay sa kanyang leeg.

"Ah---B-bitawan..." mo 'ko. Sa isip na lamang niya natapos ang gustong ipahayag. She struggled feebly against his strength and the more she tried pushing him away, the lesser air she got. Pahigpit ng pahigpit ang sakal nito sa kanya that she was in a serious need of oxygen.

Tama na.

He yanked hard on her hair, whipping her head back and hurting her. "Ouch!" she cried out in pain.

"Tonight I'll show you the birth of a new monster," he whispered in her ear with a threatening tone.

"Ack-" Walang awang kinaladkad siya nito palabas ng kwarto at halos madapa at masubsob na siya sa paraan ng paghilahod nito sa nanghihina niyang katawan.

He harshly reached for the doorknob to open the door. Nang makalabas sila ay isang hagdanan pa pababa ang sumalubong sa kanila. Mula sa baba ay narinig niya ang takbuhan ng ilan sa mga tauhan nito. Those were rapid, scared steps. 

"Boss! Boss! Nandiyan na siya!" hiyaw ng isa sa mga ito.

May kung anong pinindot ang matandang lalaki sa malapit na dingding upang pataasin ang rolling steel door ng warehouse. Tinulak siya nito gamit ang kanang kamay na naging dahilan ng kanyang pagtumba sa magaspang na sahig. Napaiyak na lamang siya sa sakit na dinadanas niya.

Kasabay ng pag-angat ng kanyang ulo ay ang pag-angat ng steel door. And her heart almost leaped out of her chest at the sight of the man's familiar silhoutte. She was aghast as she studied him with her unblinking eyes, at hindi niya malaman kung nakatingin din ba ito sa kanya. She remained in a total state of paralysis and fear as she didn't know what could happen next between the two deadly men.

"At last, we met again, my son."