Chapter 4

I DROPPED the card when I heard a noise coming from outside. I slowly stood up and was about to take a step towards the door when it suddenly sprang at me. I fell to the floor and was stabbed by a piece of wood from the destroyed door.

Pilit kong inaabot ang kapirasong papel ngunit pinulot iyon ng lalaking nakaitim na maskara. "S-sino ka?" I stuttered to ask him. The man slowly walked towards me.

Sinubukan kong gumapang palayo sa lalaking nakakatakot ang mga tingin. Ang mga mata niya... tila puno ng lungkot at galit. I gulped in fear and my knees were trembling in pain... but my heart was even more suffering in pain as it was slowly breaking down and continuing to be crushed into pieces.

My wound on the left side of the abdomen was bleeding. I tried to stand up and fight the armed men but they were too strong and numerous. With the amount of blood, I suddenly lost consciousness.

I woke up in an unfamiliar place, a dungeon- dark and smelly. I am still weak and scared this time... I feel like I'm in hell and waiting for a painful death.

Pero nalilito na nga ako kung ano ba ang mas masakit at nakakatakot- ang mamatay o ang mabuhay.

I've been locked up in this hellish cell for a few days... No food or water. I feel like I'm being punished by the above. It will become easier if I just end my life but I'm not ready to die yet- not now. With each hour and second that passed I became weaker and weaker. It seemed that it was intentional to torture me little by little until I die.

"Matibay ka... Buhay ka pa din pala hanggang ngayon."

I looked at the cell gate... I tried to get up to approach him even though I was struggling so hard. I almost ran out of air from suffocation "Let me out!" I said in a whisper. I slammed the iron gate and forced it to open. "Why did you treat my wound if you are going to do it like this!. Y-ou should have just killed me."

He smiled at me as if he was glad to see me struggling. "That's exactly what I'm going to do, but it's more painful and satisfying if you will die little by little."

I couldn't help but scream and kick the iron gate in intensifying rage "H-halimaw ka!."

He gripped my neck so tightly that I could barely breathe. "Dapat pinili mo na lang mamatay kasama ng mga magulang mo" he said emphatically.

"I-kaw-Ikaw ang pumatay sa magulang ko?!" nahihirapan kong sambit dahil sa higpit ng paghawak niya sa leeg ko.

"Sana nga ako na lang. I would be happy to end your parents life... But even so, I'm glad they're gone... but I would be happier if you also disappeared in this world" he uttered.

I'm trying to remove his hand from my jaw but he is too strong. I almost ran out of breath at the tightness of his grip on me. I choked and almost collapsed "P-pakiusap b-itawan mo ako... K-ailangan ko pang m-abuhay" with each plea he tightens his grip on me.

"You shouldn't be here, you should have chosen to die with your parents- But you choose this so you suffer" he laughed slightly and stared at me more sharply.

Parang inaapakan ang puso ko at unti unting nadudurog dahil sa mga salitang binibigkas niya. I seem to be to blame for everything "what have I done wrong to you? I don't even know you."

"Ikaw wala pero ang tatay mo- malaki ang kasalanan niya sa akin."

I saw his eyes full of anger. "Hindi siya naawa sa anak ko noong nagmakaawa din siya tulad ng ginagawa mo ngayon. Ang anak ko... wala siyang naging kasalanan. Pero pinatay ng tatay mo ang anak ko ng walang kalaban laban kaya papatayin din kita... Damhin mo ang paghihirap na naramdaman ng anak ko!. Pay for the sins of what your parents did!" he screams at me.

"H-have mercy on me" I stuttered saying, I was so scared and didn't know what to do.

"Wala akong dahilan para buhayin ka!" Bakas sa kanyang mukha ang sakit at paghihirap ng isang ama na nawalan ng anak. Sa bawat salita na lumalabas sa kanyang bibig ay puno ng puot at pagdurusa ng isang magulang.

I feel pity for him but the fear overflows even more... "W-e both just l-ost a loved one, isn't that enough compensation?- Whatever my father did, it's not my fault so please let me go-"

I was shocked when the blood splattered on my face... The man let go of me and my knees trembled even more in fear when I saw him lying on the floor. I see the image of my parents who both died that way. A man opened the gate and held out his right hand in front of me "Are you alright?" He said.

Hindi ako makapagsalita ng maayos at hirap makahinga "T-tulong-" hindi ko na natuloy ang sasabihin ko ng mawalan ako ng malay.

The man who had saved me was the first I saw when I opened my eyes. His eyes were emotionless and were just sitting in the chair... holding a glass of liquor. "You're awake," he said.

"Who are you?" I asked.

"Your father... was my most trusted bestfriend. And your Mom was one of the most important person in my life- I owe them something so I saved you to pay them. It's just sad because they are dead." He said and looked at me "And you're asking who I am?- that doesn't matter anymore. Natulungan na kita kaya't makakaalis ka na."

I immediately got off the bed and knelt in front of him "If you consider my parents a friend - help me find who killed them."

He drank wine first before speaking up "What if you find him? What will you do?."

My fist clenched and I took a deep breath "I will kill him-"

When I said that, he threw a dagger on the floor ... in front of me "Pick it up" he said.

I didn't hesitate and immediately picked up the dagger "Anong gagawin ko?."

"Stab me" He commands me. My gaze shifted to the dagger I was holding and my hand trembled. "W-hy would I do that?."

He grabbed my hand holding a dagger and pointed it at his chest."How can you kill him if you can't hold a dagger?!-Try to stab me ... now!."

My heart was pounding and still shaking. I can't do what he asks me to do ... I'm scared, but I'm more scared to live helplessly. "What if I do not want to?-" I asked him.

"Then leave and don't ask for my help. I can't help you if you can't help yourself. You can't handle him if you're weak- hinding hindi mo siya matatalo" he said sharply.

"Mananalo ako, kakayanin ko-"

"I can kill him... That's what you should imprint on your brain. Kill him if you want revenge-" he uttered.

I gulped hard and tried to resist the trembling of my hand. I took a deep breath and gripped the dagger tightly "Yahh!!!" I shouted and tried to stab him. He grabbed my hand and without flickering, he was behind me-holding the dagger that I was holding earlier. While I was already on the floor and unable to move. It happened so fast and I almost didn't know how it happened. "You still need a long training, you are so weak. Didn't your father teach you ?!- You are no different from the others I have killed. They are just like you, weak and unworthy to live."

"Even if I am not worthy to live, I will force myself to be worthy. Help me ... please, I will do everything-" He left behind me and spread his palm to help me stand up.

"I'm Regan, the Tyrant of the Tyrantes and member of the Triad."

"Triad?" I'm familiar with that word... That's what was written on the card I received.

"I sent you an invitation if you don't remember... I'm waiting for your answer but I found out that someone kidnapped you- He's just one of our enemies so don't be surprised... Are you willing to join the organization?. The triad can help you with what you desire. Hindi madali ang kalaban mo. Ngayon pa lang ay sinasabi ko na, kailangan mong matutong humawak ng patalim para mabuhay at makapag higanti."

My dad asked me not to hold a knife but I had to disobey to live longer. Sorry dad but I can't do what you ask me to do. "Teach me- Teach me everything you know, how to fight and kill... I was determined to join the Triad-"

I saw his smile when I said that. He's scary though but I have to do this thing. I have to trust him if I want revenge. I joined the triad and swore allegiance. I found out that my parents had been part of the triad and had been spies in another organization. As I requested, he taught me to hold a knife and fight. But I didn't expect to be swallowed up too much by anger.

"You have to be monster Agatha!Kill him!" Papa Regan yelled at me. I considered him as my second father ever since he proved to me that he was my only ally.

I took a deep breath and gripped the dagger even tighter. This was my last test before starting my mission to enter the Agercia and find the person who killed my parents. Agercia was the organization that mercilessly took my parent's life. One of the three Archons is the killer I need to find. After three years of preparation, this was the final test and when I won, I was ready to enter the world of the enemy.

"Kill him!!" Papa Regan yelled at me again. I was already holding the man's neck and pointed my dagger on his neck, all I had to do was end his life. He was the strongest soldier on the triad, but I had to stab him for me to win. "Sorry but I have to do this" instead of stabbing him in his neck, I stabbed him hard on his chest and pressed the dagger even harder like Papa Regan wanted. My hand was covered in blood— my tears inevitably helped but I still tried to be tough and show that I had no fear. "I won," I murmured.

I dropped the dagger and looked at my bloody hands.

"Ara?!- Ara!! Ayos ka lang ba?" When I heard Salem's voice I came back to my senses.

"Huh?" I looked at her.

"Kanina ka pa kase tulala. Ayos ka lang ba talaga? Kaya mo ba talagang sumama sa amin sa misyon?."

"Ah... Yeah, I was just thinking about something but I'm fine." I hope so, dinampot ko ang baril at saka lumabas ng sasakyan kasama si Salem. Hindi ko na naman natupad ang pangako ko dahil sa hindi inaasahan na misyon. I'm sure by this time Papa Regan was waiting for me.