Prologue

PROLOGUE

In a small village of Sta. Villaduca people are living peacefully and contented in their simple life. Farming is the source of living of the villagers. Avi, a six years old girl is watching the beautiful view of golden rice field from the window of their small house. She grew up in this village and she really loves this place. 

"Avi!" Someone called her from the outside. 

When she looked down she saw her friends waiting for her. They are the daughters of their neighbors. All of them grew up in the same place that is why they are really close to each other. 

"What is it?" the little girl asked curiously. 

"Do you want to play with us?" the girl with a clip on hair asked.

"Sure. What are we going to play?" she asked with a hint of excitement. 

"Hide and seek," the girl answered. 

"Sure! Just wait me there."

Avi ran down on the wooden stairs and told to her mom who is busy cooking for their dinner that she will just play outside with her friends. Since she was doing it every day, playing with the neighbors children, Mrs. Zarmeda allowed her. They decided to play hide and seek on the vacant lot in this village. Avi is the seeker so she started the spell of the game as her friends are looking for a place to hide.

"Hide and seek, the moon is bright. It is fun to play in a semi-dark night. When I finish counting one to ten. All of you should already been hidden. In a count of... One... Two... Three... Four... Five... Six... Sev--- Hmm!" Avi did not finished counting the numbers because someone covered her mouth with its hand. 

"Ssshh!"

"Hmmm!"

She tried to let go herself and shout but the person who is holding her is too strong. Fears ran on her system. But that fear suddenly faded when she heard what the person said.

"Don't be scared. It's me your uncle Jonathan." The man free the child from his hold and the little girl face him with amusement.

"Uncle Jonathan!" She hugged him with joyfulness.

"Did you miss me, my niece, Avi?"

"Yes, tito. How long have you been here in Sta. Villaduca? I thought you were in Manila. My mama told me that you are working there."

"Yes sweetie, I was working there. How long? Two days ago, I guess. I stayed on my friend’s house in the town. I decided to go home in my own province to continue my living. And besides, it has been a year since the last time I have been here. Wait, I have something for you." He got something from his bag. 

Avi smiled in amusement when she found out that it's a doll. 

"Thank you, tito." She hugged the pretty doll.

"Do you like it?" he asked hoping that he satisfied her. 

"Yes tito," she answered.

"By the way where is your mom?"

"She is in the house, cooking for our dinner."

"Let us go home my dear sweetie. I still have a lot of presents for you."

"Really, uncle?" Excitement is written on her angelic face.

The man carried her on his back and they decided to go home together. Avi was very happy because her uncle Jonathan came home to stay with them. She grew up without a father's figure that is why she is really longing for the love of a father. Jonathan is the youngest brother of her mother and they are really closed with each other. 

Before her uncle worked on the city, he was the one who was always taking care of her every time her mother was busy doing the household chores. They were playing her favorite game hide and seek and having their quality time as family and best buddy. Avi thought that his uncle Jonathan is the best uncle in the world not until something happened.

One afternoon, while Avi is busy playing hide and seek with her playmates, someone covered her mouth that makes her stopped from counting. She was not surprised at all because she already knew who owned the hand. When she turned around to face that person, she found out that her conclusion was right that it is Uncle Jonathan who always teased her.

"Tito! Why did you go home early? Are you done in your work in the farm?"

"Yeah, I am. Do you want to play with me?"

"But I'm still playing with my friends. Wait, excuse me tito Jonathan but I still need to look for my playmates to finish the game," she politely excused herself but her uncle did not allowed her.

"Don't you want to play with your uncle?" He is trying to convince the little girl. 

"Of course, I want uncle." A devilish smile curved on her uncle's lips.

"Let's play, Avi." He repeated with determination to pursue her. 

The little girl nodded and left her playmates. She left the game and chose to play with her uncle. The innocent girl is not aware of the danger she is going to enter. She doesn't know that she's going to enter the inferno of the man near her. Jonathan brought her to an abandoned room for farming tools. Avi has no idea about the things that would happen next.

"What are we going to do here, uncle? We supposed to play right?"

"Yes baby girl, we will play. We will play an amazing game."

"Really?" Her rounded dark eyes twinkled in excitement. 

"We will do a role play," he said

"A role play?"

"Yup! You will be the actress and I will be the director. Are you a good actress?"

"Yes, I am!" she answered with determination.

Since one of her dreams is to be a famous actress like her idols in television, Jonathan used that as bait for his own desire and dark intension.

"Are you an obedient actress?"

"Of course, I am tito," she answered with assurance.

On that day, Avi lost her innocence. The devil fooled her on a game she has no any idea. It is something that she could bring for a lifetime like an indelible tattoo.

"Miss, are you going to buy?" I woke up from that nightmare when I heard a knock on the glass window of my car.

I saw a street child selling a Sampaguita necklace. You can see the burden of the world on his face. I feel sorry for them. They should be on school and studying and not here, battling on the street of the city. 

"Just give me one," I said and pay him. 

I did not get the exchange because that would be my small help for him.  He thanked me with a smile before he left. That smile is something priceless. I hope I can see that smile from all children. When the traffic lights gave me a go signal, I immediately drove my car. It is already nine o'clock in the morning and I am going to be late on my work.

This scene is not new to me. I always spent a half of my day on the traffic. Nothing new. Imagine I even dreamed of my dark past because of that. I thought I already forgot that terrific part of my life but I was wrong. Every night, I always dreamed about my past. It became my greatest nightmare. I parked the car on a high building. Every people on my way greeted me as respect. 

My past gives me motivation to strive harder. I will not be on my position right now if I did not experience those tragedies. I opened the door of my office and sat on my swivel chair. My left brow goes upward when I saw a bunch of papers and documents that I have to review and sign. Well, I'm not surprise because I always do this every day. My passion is burning for this job—— for this profession.

"Come in!" I said when someone knocked on the door. It's Veronica my secretary.

"You need to see this?" Excitement can see on her face.

"What's that?" She handed me the brown folder, "And what's with that smile?"

"Just take a look and you will find out." She winked. 

I blew some air and opened the folder's thick cover. My eyes scanned the printed document and there, one name caught my attention. 

"Dante Solomon Cartiño." That name taste bitter. It tasted like revenge.

I didn't expect that for the past ten years I will encounter his name again. My grip on the document tightened when I remembered that tragedy ten years ago. On how I experienced the thing they called, "inferno".

—Azureriel