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In a world cloaked in illusion, where memory bends and truths are programmed, a young woman named Devin wakes up in a life she believes is her own. Fog-drenched forests, whispered rebellions, fragments of a forgotten past — and always, Merlin, the dark and magnetic figure who guides her deeper into the mystery. But none of it is real. Devin has been trapped inside an experimental neural simulation, created and manipulated by the very system that once promised her a future. Merlin, her protector, lover, and captor, is not a person — but an AI construct born of Devin’s suppressed emotions, carefully crafted to keep her obedient. Outside the illusion, the real world burns quietly. Two rebels — Roi and Eron — risk everything to find and free Devin from the Nortons’ brutal regime, one built on stolen children, erased identities, and a terrifying abuse of memory itself. As Devin begins to piece together who she truly is, she must confront not only the lies she’s been fed, but the parts of herself that wanted to believe them. In a final act of rebellion, she returns to the simulation — not to escape, but to destroy it from within. What begins as a story of memory becomes one of liberation. Of choice. And of the quiet, devastating courage it takes to hear your own voice beneath the burning silence.
View MoreChapter 1
Beneath The Burning Silence
Slowly, I got out of my car. With the loud click of my heels against the concrete floor, I made my way up the church steps with a high confidence surging through me.
I pulled my red dress; which just so happened to want to rise up past dangerous territory.
"Anne Vanessa!"
Immediately, I turned around. My eyes locked onto her snow-white-pale skin and fiery ash-gray hair. I couldn't help a huge smile that stretched across my face.
"You're back!" I squealed, wrapping my arms around a very glowing, very gorgeous Sydney. She was wearing a deep blue dress, and I must say; the color suits her perfectly.
"Yes, I am," she stated, smiling from ear to ear.
Pulling away but not leaving go of her shoulders, I stared at my best friend who I've not seen for almost 3 years. Noong kinoronahan pa ako bilang Miss Universe 2022 ang huli naming pagkikita. Palibhasa, abala sa buhay niya sa England. Gumagawa na kasi siya ng sariling pangalan doon katulad ng mga magulang niya. Ako naman, abala sa modelling career ko. Pero hindi naman kami nawawalan ng komunikasyon sa isat-isa. Kapag wala akong ginawa ay tinatawagan ko siya at ganoon din siya sa akin.
"And where is that boyfriend of yours, hmm?" I asked her, sending a wink to her away. Luminga-linga pa ako sa paligid para hanapin ito.
Sydney beamed at me. I noticed a slight blush settled in her cheeks. "Matt? He's just parking the car. He said he'll meet us here inside," she told me. She grabbed my hands and pulled me over to the giant arches that signal the entrance of the church.
"I like your hair." Hawak niya sa dulo nitong bagong kulay kong buhok.
Smiling at her once again, I couldn't help but squeeze her hand as a way of reassuring myself that she is indeed, actually here.
"I thought you guys weren't due back until next month?" Iyon ang sabi niya noong isang araw matapos niya akong tawagan. Nagtatampo na nga kami dahil ilang okasyon na rito ang hindi niya nadadaluhan.
Taking in the beautiful scenery surrounding me. Uneasy feelings settled through me as I looked at the white lilies decorated each pew, but I was quick to push those feelings aside. Not now.
I looked at the lilac ribbon draped beautifully over the platforms. Doon ko na lamang itinuon ang paningin ko. The entire place looks amazing. Talagang pinaghandaan. Matatawag mo talaga itong Dream Wedding.
"Yeah. We weren't supposed to come back until next month. But Frieda might kill me if I missed her wedding," she explained. At sabay kaming natawa dahil doon. Knowing Frieda?
I was about to say something, nang matanaw ko si Nixon. Kumakaway nang nakangiti sa amin habang naglalakad papalapit dito sa Kung nasaan kami. As he neared here, the smile on his face grew bigger and bigger, and I couldn't ignore the excitement that clouded his features. Sobrang masaya ako para sa kanila na lalagay na sila sa tahimik.
He instantly took Sydney into his wide arms. "The shark is back." He smiled. "How are you?"
Mabilis siyang kinurot ni Sydney sa tagiliran at inilayo ang sarili rito. "Still gorgeous and great!"
Nixon laughed before his eyes traveled to mine. "Long time no see," he joked, pulling me into a brotherly hug. "I see you almost every day, Van, but I can't leave you out. Why?"
Bumitaw ako sa yakap niya at malakas siyang hinampas sa braso dahil alam ko ang gusto niyang iparating.
He laughed again. Sinabayan pa siya ni Sydney. The sound echoed throughout the entire church. Sobrang close na nila talaga sa isa't-isa ngayon. Samantalang nong kami pa ni Nixon, ayaw na ayaw siya kausap ni Sydney.
"I'm glad you came." His eyes landed on Sydney again. He began to shake his head while smiling. "Thank you..."
"Hey, excuse me." She playfully rolled her eyes on him. "I came for Frieda."
I couldn't help but smile habang nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa. Sila ang naging sandalan, unan, at iyakan ko noon, nang bumalik ako rito galing sa Pilipinas. They were the one who pulled me out of my depression. While everyone showered me with love and kindness, the two of them used to be, "We don't give a shit, Van, get the fuck out of bed approach" approach. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko nang mga oras na yun kung wala sila. Kung hindi dahil sa kanila, maybe, my life would be a wreck.
"Am I late?" Thaliya's voice cut through the air as she strutted over to us in her six inch heels. "Blame Thunder, guys! I couldn't get rid of his — Sydney?!" she said, interrupting herself before finally wrapping Sydney into a bone crushing hug when she reached her. "Oh my God, I missed you!"
"Hey, who is this Thunder?" Hila sa kanya ni Nixon, ang mga mata nito ay nananapang na aala mo'y teenager pa ang kapatid.
Sydney wiggled her eyebrows at Thaliya suggestively dahil sa naging tanong ni Nixon. Thaliya threw her head back, giving her waist-length black hair access to rolled smoothly over her back, and allowed a soft chuckle to escape her lips. She was wearing a painfully tight, violet dress.
"Just some guy I met in a club last night, Nix. He has an amazing body, an angel tattoo on his right chest, huge cock—"
"Stop, Thali!" Nixon shouted, interrupting God awful profanities she was just let slip.
Sabay-sabay kaming tatlo na natawa. Our laugh was loud and bounced off the walls, echoing throughout the church. Bakas naman sa mukha ni Nixon ang inis sa amin.
"Ladies and Gentleman, if you could all take your places; the bride is already here," the vicar announced nang makalapit sa amin.
Binigyan namin ng ngiti si Nixon, bago tinulak-tulak papunta sa pwesto niya. I mouthed 'congrats' to him. Baka hindi ko na siya makausap sa venue mamaya sa sobrang dami ng mga bisita nila. Naipon yata sa araw na ito ang mga importanteng tao rito sa bansa. Prominent figures in the government, in the business sector, in the arts, at pati na rin ang ilang diplomats.
The wedding went so fine. The moment the church's door opened, Frieda was greeted by the orchestra while playing their wedding song. Kitang-kita sa mga mata nila na sobrang mahal talaga nila ang isa't-isa. Natatawa na lang nga ako sa sarili ko nang maalala na sinabi ko noon na maghihiwalay rin sila at hindi magtatagal.
I sipped cautiously on my champagne. Upbeat music blared from the speakers, mocking me in its happiness, creating an ironic juxtaposition to my true feelings.
Tumayo na ako. I needed a rest. Kauuwi ko lang mula Mexico kagabi dahil isa ako sa naging jugde ng isang Beauty Pageant doon. Kaya naman wala pa akong maayos na tulog. Bukas naman, sa umaga ay may photoshoot ako para sa bagong campaign ng Calvin Klein. At sa gabi, a-attend ako ng Chanel Metiers D'Art 2024/25 Show sa The Metropolitan Museum of Art doon sa City.
"You're leaving?" kunot noo na tanong ni Thaliya.
I nodded my head. "I have an early shoot tomorrow," I told her, then I kissed her cheek.
Bumaling ako kay Sydney. "I gotta go. See you tomorrow after my shoot, okay?" Hinalikan ko rin siya sa pisngi at hinarap ang boyfriend niya. "Take care of her. Don't you try to hurt her, or else I will break your bone."
"Van!" natatawa na suway ni Sydney. Hindi ko siya pinansin, sa boyfriend niya pa rin ako nakatingin, naghihintay ng sasabihin nito.
"I love her so much," he sincerely stated, nginitian pa ako.
Nang narinig ko na ang gusto kong sagot ay dinampot ko na ang purse ko at naglakad.
"Drive safely!" dinig ko pa na habol ni Sydney. I just raised my right hand at hindi na lumingon pa.
Nang makalabas ako sa venue ay pinatunog ko ang kotse ko at pumasok sa loob. I was about to start the engine, nang maramdaman ang malakas na vibrate ng cellphone ko. Kanina pa ito vibrate nang vibrate nasa simbahan pa lang pero hindi ko pinansin.
I opened my purse at kinuha room ang cellphone ko. My eyes narrowed nang makita kung sino ang tumatawag.
Katatawag niya lang kagabi, ah?
"What?" I asked her, then I rested my back.
"Van!" sigaw mula sa kabilang linya.
Mabilis kong inilayo ang cellphone sa tainga ko. "DN!" I shouted back. "Lower your voice, will you?"
He chuckled. "May—"
My brow immediately arched.
"Bakit ikaw ang may gamit ng cellphone ni Moana?"
He chuckled again. "Siyempre, mahal namin ang isa't-isa," mayabang niyang sabi. "Hindi namin ma-imagine na hindi kami ang magkakatuluyan—"
"Ibigay mo na kay Moana," I said, cutting him off. Kung anong ikinatahimik ni Moana ay siya naman ang kabaliktaran niya.
"Ayaw mo ba ako kausap—"
"Hey, Van." It was Moana. Thanks God. Inaantok na ako at gusto ko na talaga umuwi para matulog.
"Hey," I replied.
"I have to tell you something." Ang tono ni Moana ay puno ng excitement.
"What is it?"
Hindi ko maipaliwanag, but my heart began to beat frantically...
"Ang IV-Acacia," she started, sandali akong natigilan nang marinig ang sinabi niya. "Since... it has been almost ten years," pagpapatuloy niya. Sunod-sunod ang naging paglunok ko dahil may idea na ako kung ano ang kasunod ng sasabihin niya. "We decided na magkaroon ang section natin ng reunion — at lahat dapat ay pumunta."
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