Chapter 4

Punishment

I stared at the man who had said that for a long time. My brain has not yet processed what I heard.

His brows shot up giving me the 'that's the truth' look. I want to stop and speak but no voice comes out of my mouth.

Debt payment? Are you fucking kidding me?!

I turned to my father to look for explanations but he still looked the same, head down and unable to meet my anger.

"Woah..." I exclaimed angrily.

I took a step back when I couldn’t feel my strength.

"What the fuck?" I cursed in the air. "Really, dad? You can do that to me?" I whispered full of resentment.

"Almene, I-I’m so-"

"Ha!" I couldn't stop crying in anger. My body is also shaking.

"Almene, h-have mercy. T-They're going to put me in jail," he said, losing strength. "B-Believe it or not, it's also against my heart to do this... But where can I get ten million to pay-"

"Why did you have such a big debt?!" I shouted at the top of my lungs.

Another tear fell freely down my cheek. Here is the man I looked up to the most since I was a kid, my father, and my only family left. What I thought was a strong wall that nothing could break. But all that changed when Mama disappeared. Everything crumbled when our only light was taken from us.

I can't even blame him for breaking down like that. She was our light and since she disappeared, the future has become dark for me and my father. And I can see how broken my father is until now.

"D-Dad," my voice broke. "Why do you have to do this to me? Don’t I matter to you anymore? Am I not important to you? I'm your daughter!"

"I'm sorry." He tightly closed his reddened eyes.

It was as if something clenched my heart when I saw him on the verge of tears. That despite the anger I feel for him, the love is still there. He's my only family now. Can I bear to see him in prison?

But what about me? All my life I have struggled to support myself alone. I am barely holding on. And now that Francis is in a bad state, how can I handle it all?

I turned to the man in front of me. I violently wiped away the tears and bravely faced him. Surely there's another way out of this situation. I will beg, on my knees if possible.

"What do you guys want from us?" I bravely asked, shaking.

"My boss just wants you to come safely with us. Otherwise, we have no choice but to take your father instead."

Take me? Where? Oh my god, don't tell me these men are involved in a trafficking syndicate?!

He was about to touch me when I pulled back again. I couldn't utter anything out of shock. My brain still can't seem to process what's happening.

Why the hell is this happening to me?!

The man's brows shot up and signaled to those holding Papa. My father wriggled in pain when they forced and pulled him closer to a black car.

"Stop! Please!"

I screamed in shock with fear and concern for my father. He looked so weak and to experience this thing I can't bear to see. Even though my heart is full of anger for him, I can't just leave him alone. He's my only family now. I can't lose him either. But that doesn't mean I can easily forgive him for what he did. I'm very angry and I can't promise I'm gonna forgive him anytime soon.

But am I sure of what I will do? I might even face hell if I do this.

"Almene," he said shaking his head but I was no longer in the right position to think well. With everything crumbling down on my feet, what else can I do?

"I-I'll go with you," it barely came out of my mouth.

The man near me escorted me curtly toward the car. My father called me several times but I didn't look at him. I even saw in my peripheral how he struggled to get out of the men's hold.

"Let my father go, please."

I whispered when I finally got into the car. The man nodded and with just one look at the other men, they let him go.

That's when I started crying again. It seems that only then that my decision sink into my mind. It was only a consolation that we were not attacked and taken by force. But I know better, what lies beyond this for me is hell. It was much even better if it was death instead.

"Who is it?" I asked them coldly.

I calmed myself down. What's left in me is numbness. The man driving gave me a slight look in the rearview mirror. The person next to me turned to me. I continued watching the view outside the window.

I smiled sarcastically when I realized they were not going to answer me. Why would I even ask? I don't have to know who was it. All I need to do now is to think of a solution to get out of this situation.

"You'll know when we get to the mansion."

I scoffed. I heard the gentle whisper of the man who answered. He seemed to be the closest to their boss to think that he could make other men follow him.

"What do you think he's going to do with me? Make me his slave? Or sell me?" I asked. If that happens, I'd rather die then.

I bit my lower lip when the realization hit me. What if that happens to me? How can I get out? And Francis... Oh my god.

"I don't think any of those will happen, Miss Villareal. You don't have to worry. My boss is quite a decent man-"

"Whatever," I cut him off. "It doesn't matter to me."

Silence prevailed again until I felt the weight of my eyelids. I drifted off to sleep and was only awakened by a few noises around. I briefly opened my eyes. I was still slightly dizzy from suddenly waking up.

"How are you feeling, dear?" An old woman came to my bed.

Oh god! What happened? How am I in a bed?

I roamed my eyes around the room, unfamiliar. I could see antique furniture around and the whole interior was a mixture of Spanish classic style with touches of modern and minimalistic design. Even the queen size bed is sculpted with a classic design. I looked again and noticed that there was another person inside the room.

"Where am I? Who are you?" I asked, still light-headed from sleep.

The old woman stopped coming and lowered her hands.

"I'm Mely, the head house help here. This is Ella, my granddaughter," she smiled.

I looked at the younger girl and she smiled lightly when our eyes met.

"Where am I?"

The last thing I remember was I slept in the car with those men.

"What about the men who took me? Where are they?"

"Are you talking about Raul? They're downstairs. You're here at the Martins' mansion. You're in Masbate, dear." Her smile never fades.

I held my head when I realized what she said. Masbate? Why am I in a far province? How did I reach Masbate without even realizing it?!

"This is the ancestral house of the Martins here in Masbate but they are now living in Manila."

I quickly got up from bed and headed towards the door. I need to talk to those men. Why am I here when their boss is in Manila? What do I do here? Will they lock me up? Hell!

"Wait! Where are you going?"

The old woman followed me in a panic as well as her granddaughter who was carrying a paper bag. She gently held my arm but I struggled. I tried opening the door but it was locked. I slammed the door several times in anger.

"Is there someone there?! Open the door!"

"Hey! Oh my god! Calm down dear! Lideon said to get you dressed before going out. We have some clothes for you."

I stopped banging on the door because of what the old woman said. Dress up? For what? Ella handed me the paper bag she was carrying and from there was a white tube dress and a pair of shoes.

Another paper bag contains jewelry. I gritted my teeth even more upon seeing those. What kind of game does their boss is playing?

Sighing, I put down the paper bags and calmed myself down. Right, I came here voluntarily so whatever they want me to do, I have no right to say no. I looked at the clothes again and decided to take a shower and get dressed so I could get out of there.

"Is your hand okay, dear?"

Aling Mely looked at my hand closely. I smiled a little. I realized not everyone here is as bad as I think.

"I-It's fine. I'll just get dressed."

"Yes, all right. The bathroom is in that door," she pointed to the far door at the other end of the room.

I nodded and went there slowly.

The bathroom is quite spacious, too. There is a private bathtub on the right side that can be seen as soon as you enter. The shower area is at the end and next to it is the wide sink where there are different kinds of soap and whatnot. I locked the door behind me and started stripping.

Everything poured over me again as the cold shower hit me. I started planning what I have to do. For now, I will follow everything they want. I'll then find a way to get out of here. I'm worried Francis would wake up and I'm not by his side.

Francis...

My heart hurts at the thought of him. I miss him so much. Oh god. Why are these things happening to me?

I went out right after I took a bath and got dressed. Aling Mely and Ella remained standing by the door. They turned slightly when they sensed my presence.

"You are beautiful, dear. The dress and shoes suit you," exclaimed Aling Mely in amazement.

"Here. Senyorito wants you to wear them too," Ella said as she handed over another paper bag.

I sighed and accepted it. I was putting them on when Aling Mely came to help me put on the earrings and necklace.

"What is your name, dear?"

I stopped putting the earring on my left ear. I caught Ella staring at me, too. She seems to be waiting for an answer, too.

"Almene," I sighed.

They accompanied me into going to the dining area. I secretly braced myself to see who their boss was but no one was there but the men who had brought me here. They were standing around the dining area.

Some are sitting in front of the far sofa while reading magazines. Some are standing in the corners of the dining room. Only the one who looks like the leader is near the dining table and arranging the food.

"Good morning, Miss Villareal. I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself to you yesterday. I'm Raul Gomez, head of security of the Martin family," he smiled slightly while walking in my direction.

"Where's your boss?"

I was expecting to see him so I could slap him at least once. At least ease the anger I feel.

"He had to leave early a while ago. Uhh... he's waiting for you somewhere else."

"Where?"

"I bet you're hungry. You didn't eat yesterday. Why don't you eat first? Lideon asked you to eat before we go to him," he explained without hesitation.

I just answered with a snort and marched to the table. I looked at all the food. It seems that all that was just for me because only one plate was prepared. I roamed my eyes to look for Aling Mely and Ella but they were nowhere to be found.

"These have no poison or drugs, right?" My eyes narrowed in suspicion.

He chuckled a little but immediately became serious. I heard some of the men clear their throats.

"You're thinking too much, Miss Villareal. Of course not, I could only imagine what would happen to us if we poisoned your food," he said seriously.

I blinked and went to the food. Was I too overacting? They can't blame me! I don't trust them nor do I know what they plan to do to me.

"Where are we going?" I asked as we left the mansion.

I didn't realize this ancestral mansion would be that big until I went out. I was overwhelmed by the size. Their garden is wide and well maintained too. Beyond the back of it is a vast land. I don't see any neighbors near, only woods at the end. Do they also own those?

I didn't notice Raul's hand support for me. I remained in awe staring at the mansion and its surroundings.

"To Lideon," he said when he got into the passenger's seat.

Only then that I come to my senses. I didn't answer and kept looking outside. Now that I am meeting him, I can't help but be nervous. I calmed myself with the desire to get out of this punishment.

To be continued...