55: Their Game

"How are you doing?"

"We are glad to get trapped here," said Talia in sarcastic way as the old man Deguzman went inside the tight room. They both stood up and looked at the man with a sharp gaze. Who would be happy if you see the person who trapped you, inside a room, right? An underground room.

"Good to hear that," the old man nodded his head and chuckled in irony. "I want you to stay here longer as how long my son rots in jail."

They were both in disbelief. So what? They will live there in their entire life?

"Your son deserve to stay there," said Talia and turned her palm into fist. "And we don't. Let us go because this is nonsense. Do we ever deserve this? What did we do, huh? What did we do to you?"

"It is all about my son, young lady," he said and started to walk back and forth in front of them. Kiel held Talia's hand to make her feel that she is not alone. That she does not have to be nervous because he is with her.

"Your son kills people," Kiel then interfered and Talia gripped on his hand. "And we are opposite of your son. Why are you doing this? Give us another reason because what you said is not valid and nonsense."

With the man's scrunches, he pointed Kiel. "You think you are innocent?" he fired and pointed Talia after. "And you think you are too?"

They were both silent even though they know to themselves that they are. They are innocent and they did nothing wrong that is off the line. They know their limitations and their places. So, do they deserved to be locked there?

"When my son get off in the jail, I will let go the two of you too," he continued and went in the door, ready to leave. But before he went off, he looked to the both of them. "Your life will change starting today. You will thank me for this someday."

"Heh, no way," Talia hissed, now staring at the closed door. She then looked at Kiel hopelessly. He cupped her face, chain is still in their hands. "What if we will live here forever?"

"I will find a way out," he said and kissed her forehead. "There is no way my wife would live here."

She bit her lower lip then sat at the edge of the bed. "We can not call anyone outside, he took our phones. How can we connect outside, Kiel? And how about your work?"

"Worry less about our work, Tal. We need Liah, she will help us to get out."

She looked at him, biting her lower lip. "How? Can she disobey her grandfather, huh? She is just a kid –"

"A kid with a heart," Kiel added and caressed her back. "I know she can help us, Tal. Trust me."

***

"Why Kiel is not answering my call?" Margo asked herself because she kept on calling her brother in the phone but he was not even answering. It rings but then no one picks up. She then called for the last time and creased a brow because this time, it was off. The phone was off unlike earlier that is ringing.

She then thought that maybe, he is with Talia which is true. But not the way she think that they are in their house and are having a good time. She is staring to notice that something is off, that there is something weird.

She shrugged it off and called Talia after. But again, it was the same as Kiel's. That is when she started to doubt of something happening to them. She bit her lower lip and started to walk back and forth in their garden.

"Why are you still up there?" Hanz went by and saw his sister acting weird and problematic. Margo looked at him with her sagged shoulders.

"Kiel is not answering my call," she said.

Hanz then hissed and sat on the bench. "He is with Talia."

"Talia is also not answering the phone," she added. She expect Hanz to worry but he just chuckled like he thought of something funny.

"Do not bother them, they are probably making out."

"Really, Hanz?" she looked at him with disbelief while he did not care at all. Hanz was just not noticing weirdness about feeling bad of how Talia and Kiel was not answering the phone. In her mind, she think of if they are really making out, then why not bother to answer her once and tell her to shut up because they are having a good time and not that they would just reject the rings and turn the phone off later on.

"No, I have to go to them," she said in finality.

"Suit yourself," Hanz said and shrugged his shoulders off. Margo looked at him with great disbelief in her eyes but again, Hanz does not care because he thought that they are just fine and are not needing any help from anyone.

"Are not you going with me?" Margo could not help but ask him that.

"Nah, I am good here," Hanz simply uttered. "If you want to go and visit them, then go on. I am already sleepy. Just inform me if something is wrong."

Margo hissed and rolled her eyes afterward. Since Hanz is not coming, she get her keys and went off by herself. While she is on the way of getting to the house of Vionna, she can not keep herself calm just like what she used to.

As the car stopped in front of the house, she beeped once and Plian went out who expected that who came was Talia and Kiel. But when Margo went off of the car, Plian let out a sigh. She has been waiting for the two to come yet it is already evening and they are still not there home.

"Is here where Talia and Kiel live?" Margo asked for assurance. Plian then nodded her head as a response. "Can I ask where are they? I am Kiel's brother by the way."

Plian creased her brows, then she shakes her head. "I have been waiting for them too," she answered. "They left in the morning yet they are still not home."

Margo gulped as she felt her heart started to race. "Where did they go? I keep on calling them but they are not answering."

"I am not sure but to a park or mall," Plian answered. "Can I go with you? I can not let something bad to happen on Talia. I am starting to worry about them."

But Margo does not want her to come. She forced a beam then she shakes her head. "Do not worry, Ma'am. I will take them home safe. You should stay here and have a rest."

Plian then refused. "I can not rest knowing that they are not safe home. I will go with you. And besides, I might can help to bring you to where they went."

Margo has no choice but to let Plian go with her since she see that she might can really help because she is ancient and can know every maze of their place. Margo started to drive and Plian was just silent in the passenger's seat. Plian just talk when Margo needs any direction. There is just one mall in their place so they would avoid confusion about the way they are going to.

"How many hours already pass when they left?" Margo asked to break the silence between them. Plian was focused to watch the road and other cars that are crossing the street.

"For already ten hours," Plian simply said. "They can not stay longer in those places, especially that it is already dark."

"So, what do you think is up to them?" Margo asked, raising her left eyebrow.

"Something bad," Plian said with a sigh. "They once told me about the man who killed Talia's parents and I have a feeling that what is happening to them is connected to that man."

"Cage was in a prison," said Margo. "How come? I am sure that he can not escape –"

"It might be his friends or family," Plian cut her off. "That wishes to get avenge."

"That makes sense," said Margo. She was about to continue driving when she accidentally glanced at the park area where Kiel and Talia went by hours ago. She clicks her tongue first and traced the place from the park to another place that is straight to the sight.

"They came here," said Plian. "Continue the engine, and slowly drive with the light on."

Margo nodded her head and followed what Plian said. She turned again the engine and started to drive slowly, feeling the atmosphere and the place around them. They did not struggle to see what is around since there are posts in every road side that is lighting the place.

"How can we find them?" she asks, hissing. "This place is huge –"

"There," Plian said, making Margo to stop and looked at what the old woman is pointing. "Talia loves nature and they probably went inside that garden. No one is allowed there and only reckless will do. That place is a harm."

Margo swallowed. "What do you mean that that garden is a harm? That something there will eat someone?"

Plian looked at her. "The owner of that garden is a grandfather and a girl, they say that they are creepy and is living in an underground. Let's get there."

Plian was about to open the door but Margo stopped her. "Wait, you said that that place is dangerous. What if something will happen if we go there?"

"I know what to do."

Margo then nodded her head multiple times. "All right, then. Tell me what to do."

"I will take care entertaining the owner and the traps. You get your knife and gun. We have to get their attention and gain trust so they will let us in in their house and there we can find Talia and Kiel."

Margo was hesitant for a second but she ended up agreeing with Plian's plan. But she is kind of curios about how did she knew that she has a knife and gun with her? She did not bother to ask anymore because Plian opened the door and started to slowly walk towards the garden. Margo did not think of any second and followed her. She just hid the knife and gun inside her jeans in her waist area.

As soon as they were already in front of the entrance of the garden, they looked at each other and both nodded. They heaved a deep sigh first then continued to walk, heading inside the garden. It is not that dark because of the lights around and also because of the moonlight hitting on the ground.

They keep on walking until they reached the tree that is near the river. Margo was about to talk when someone talk behind them that made them to almost jump in horror.

"It is already dark, what are you doing here?" it was Liah who is looking at them worriedly. Margo then held her chest upon seeing the fifteen year old girl.

"Uh, we are here because –" Margo said but Plian did not let her to finish a sentence.

"Where is your grandfather?" Plian asked without hesitation. Liah stared at them for a second before she gulped as her eyes twinkled.

"Are you here to get the woman and the man?" Liah asked in monotone, making sure that no one will hear other than Margo and Plian. Margo then creased her brows, a little bit confused while Plian already know what the girl is talking about.

"Yes, we are," Plian said with a nod of her head.

"I need your help to get them out," Liah said with a forced smile on her lips. With just her eyes, they could see how sorry she is. "I do not know how to because my grandfather is watching me. I do not want Talia to stay there especially that she should take care of herself well."

Margo and Plian looked at each other first and nodded their head to one another for the second time. They can see that the intention of the girl is genuine and she has a pure heart. Liah then lead the way, heading to their small house where her grandfather was in inside and cooking for their dinner. They have a secret ground room, source was from the stock room where the door is in the floor and when you open it, there is a ladder where you get down and you will see another house that worth billion. And the room where Talia and Kiel is was in the last room out of ten rooms. That is what Liah told them while they were on their way.

"Grandpa!" Liah called her grandfather as they went inside the small house. She then made the two sit in the couch. "I found two women outside while I am outside the street. They were hungry and is cold. I decided to bring them here so they could have eat for dinner with us. You cooked hot soup, right?"

Margo and Plian was quite taken aback as they heard the lies of Liah. Well, that is the only way that her grandfather would not doubt about their presence. They can not just say to him that they went there to get Talia and Kiel because they might be another prisoner of another room trying to harm his plans.

The old Deguzman then went out from the kitchen to see who just came. "You little girl, you really like helping people in need," he said and tousled Liah's hair. She then looked down while the old man get near Margo and Plian. "So, you met my nice granddaughter? She is Liah by the way. I have hot soup here and you might like to take a sip."

"Sure," Margo smiled as the man handed them a tray of soup. They both had the cup and Deguzman went back to the kitchen to prepare their food for dinner.

They were about to sip on the hot soup when Liah mouthed them; "just sip a little because that has a poison."

Margo cleared her throat and acted like sipping but did not open her mouth, she even acted like she gulped the soup so Deguzman would think that she is taking it.

Liah then put the trays of food in the table so they can start to eat with Margo and Plian. While her grandfather is out to the kitchen again, she exchanged Plian's cup of soup to Deguzman so he would be poisoned instead of them, her.

Margo's lips then curved. So, this is their game, huh?