Chapter 25

"V-Valerie..."

I could hear the roars of my heart, pounding wildly inside of my chest. Nakatayo siya sa harapan ko, hawak ang cellphone. For the first time, I am actually terrified of her. The fact that she had killed so many people before makes me want to run, just breathing in the same room with her.

"Alam mo bang ikaw nalang ang hinihintay sa baba?" she rolled her eyes.

I stared at her, dumbfounded.

"Huh?"

"What's taking you so long? Bumaba ka na at mamaya na makipag-telebabad sa kung sino man ito!" she threw my phone to the bed and then held out something. A shining black mask with glitters of silver and gold surrounding the intricate shape.

"Wear this. It's a masquerade party. It'll go well with your dress."

Hindi ko pinahalata ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko at inabot ang mask mula sa kaniya. I smiled tightly, kahit na parang kinukuyumos ng kung ano ang sikmura ko.

"Be down in 10 minutes. You're not the celebrant..." she said irritatingly, heading towards the door and then shutting it behind her.

I almost collapsed the moment she was gone. Pinilit ko ang sarili na kumalma at inabot muli ang cellphone na ihinagis niya sa kama. I tried calling Tito Cristophe again but I can't reach his number. Doon na nagsimula ulit ang kaba ko. A knock sounded on my door. Napatayo si Barin sa narinig na katok.

I remained standing silently, and watched as the door slowly opened. It revealed Samantha in her deep-red satin dress with a long slit. Sa kabilang kamay ay hawak niya ang isang puting mask.

"Samantha..."

Walang sali-salita siyang lumapit sa akin at hinablot ang braso ko.

"Strip."

I stared at her, shocked. Despite all the things that have happened today, everything still puts me into confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"Just strip, for fuck's sake! Tinutulungan lang kita!"

Hindi pa rin ako kumilos. Irita na akong tiningnan ni Samantha at inilagay ang dalawang kamay sa magkabilang balikat ko saka ako niyugyog.

"Tangina naman eh! Makinig ka sa akin, Anna!"

"But I don't understand!"

"My mother is planning to kill you tonight! You need to escape!"

Naputol yata ang hininga ko at sumabog ang panghahapdi sa buo kong dibdib dahil sa sinabi niya. Nagsimula na akong manginig habang nakatitig sa kaniya.

"All exit points of the mansion are guarded by her men. Savannah, mamamatay ka kung hindi ka aalis sa pamamahay na ito ngayon din!"

"But..."

"Makinig ka sa akin, kahit ngayon lang. Please... hindi na kaya ng konsensiya ko ang ginagawa ni Mommy. For once, I want to do things right."

Napaluha ako habang isa-isang tinatanggal ang pearl earrings saka hinubad ang suot na damit. Samantha nodded encouragingly, and then she stripped her own dress too. Inabot niya ito sa akin.

"Let's change clothes."

"Pero Samantha..."

"Mom picked out the dress and mask for you so she could easily spot you tonight. She wanted to make it look like an accident and invited a lot of people for witnesses to make sure that the crime is perfectly concealed. You need to act normal. You need to act like me! Doon ka dumaan sa likod ng mansion, tapos dumiretso ka na sa kakahuyan! From there, nobody's on the look for you."

I nodded, tears slipping from my eyes. Kahit na nanginginig ay isinuot ko pa rin ang pulang dress ni Samantha. I zipped the lock on the sides. She deftly pulled my hair loose from the braid and handed me the white mask. Itinali niya rin ang buhok niya nang kagaya sa akin kanina.

"Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta..." naiiyak kong wika at naalala si Tito Cristophe. "Tama! Si Tito Cristophe..."

Her face fell upon the mention of his name. Halos hindi na siya makatingin sa akin.

"Samantha?"

"I only heard bits and pieces of their conversation but I think my mother arranged something for Blake and Cristophe Sobreval. Alam niyang pupunta sila ngayong dalawa. I heard her men talking about it earlier, and then they were gone. Hindi ako sigurado kung anong nangyari sa kanila, Anna."

I could feel my entire world shattering as I listened more to Samantha. Pati siya ay naiiyak na rin, pero mas matapang siya at nilalabanan ang kaniyang luha. She swallowed hard.

"All you need to do tonight is escape for yourself, okay?" she said, smiling weakly and reaching for my arms. Pinisil niya ito nang marahan. "You're a good person, Anna. You don't deserve this..."

Pinunasan ko ang mga luha at isinuot ang mask. Binalingan ko ang alaga. "Si Barin. I need to bring Barin with me."

"Don't be an idiot. Everybody knows that you're the only one with a pet puma here. Malalaman nilang ikaw yun kapag nakita nila si Barin!"

Inignora ko siya at kinabitan ng collar ang alaga. I patted his head.

"Be a good boy tonight, okay?"

"Anna!" protesta sa akin ni Samantha.

I turned to her, and then smiled weakly.

"Sam, si Barin nalang ang mayroon ako. Hindi ko siya pwedeng iwan dito."

She stared at me, not believing her ears.

"You will get caught..."

"I won't. I'll be careful." Binalingan ko si Barin na nagtataka kung bakit biglang may suot na siyang collar sa leeg. "We'll be careful."

Napailing na lamang siya. Inayos niya ang suot na dress atsaka nagpunta sa pinto. Binuksan niya ito nang kaunti at sumilip sa labas.

"Kailangan na nating lumabas, Anna."

I nodded and gestured Barin to stand up. Nilapitan ko si Samantha sa may pintuan.

"Mauuna ako. dumiretso ka kaagad sa likod ng mansion, ah?"

Tumango ulit ako.

"Sige na..." she was about to go when I suddenly grabbed her arm. Napatingin siya sa akin.

"Thank you..." I said sincerely.

"Tss. Hindi nga sigurado kung makakatakas ka dito." Ismid niya.

"Still..." I shook my head. "You're saving my life right now. Thank you, Sam."

"Kathleen." She said in a murmur.

"Huh?"

"My real name is Kathleen." She confessed, her eyes twinkling with happiness as I've found for the first time. "You're the first person I've told this. Make sure to keep yourself alive, Savannah."

Hindi na niya ako binigyan ng pagkakataong makasagot. She rushed into the grand staircase while I remained standing by the door. I heard a clap from the crowd, followed with cheers from the people downstairs. Naghintay ako ng ilang segundo bago ako lumabas kasama si Barin. I don't know what her men would look like, so I'm going to treat every guest inside the mansion as my enemy.

I slipped down the stairs, and managed to avoid some people. Nakikita ko si Kathleen na nakikipag-usap sa iilan sa mga kaibigan ni Valerie at nakikipagtawanan.

"Samantha!"

My heart leapt to my throat when I heard the sharp familiar voice calling my name. When I turned, I saw Valerie gesturing for me to come. May kasama siyang dalawang lalaki at isang eleganteng babae na nakatingin din sa akin.

"Come here. I'm going to introduce you to some of my friends..." she said over the crowd.

Kinakabahan kong binalingan si Barin. Kinukuha na niya ang atensyon ng mga tao malapit sa amin. Although he remained his fangs hidden, his sharp eyes were enough to spend them away.

Inignora ko si Valerie at binilisan ang paglalakad. I heard her call her daughter's name once again, in a demanding voice, so I started to run.

Barin also ran next to me, while we threaded through the crowd of people. Some of them stared at my pet with amazement, and some even tried to spot me so they could pet him. I ignored them all. If I stop now, I would be risking my life. I only have a few minutes before Valerie realizes that I am not her daughter. Kathleen could only buy me some time.

Focus, Anna. In this dangerous game where your life is at great risk, losing focus means losing my life. I couldn't afford to lose it. Not right now when I've come to a realization that I must avenge myself and my family against that wicked woman.

"There you are."

I almost yelped when someone grabbed my waist. Kinaladkad niya ako sa madilim na parte ng mansion at isinandal sa pader.

"I've been looking everywhere for you, Sam..." a husky voice filled in and loomed over me. Manlaki ang mga mata kong nakatingin sa kaniya. Gumapang ang kamay niya mula sa baywang patungo sa tiyan ko. Then he leaned closer and started kissing my neck!

"T-Teka!" I pushed him away with all my might and when Barin sensed that I was in danger, he started growling at the guy in front of me. Halos iniipit na niya ako sa pader sa sobrang laki ng katawan niya.

"What the hell is this?" iritado niyang tiningnan si Barin. Confused, he turned to me again.

"I need to go." I said in a murmur, and then pushed him away. This time, he stepped back, still staring at me with suspicious eyes.

"Hindi ikaw si Samantha."

Wala na akong panahon pa upang magulat kaya't tumakbo nalang ako. When he tried to chase after me to grab my arm, Barin leapt to him. He fell into the ground, eyes wide with fear while my cat growled.

"Barin! Let's go!" I demanded, and run faster. Nakikita ko na ang maliit at kinakalawang na gate. This is my only hope. Kapag nakalabas na ako sa gate na yan ay balak kong puntahan sina Tito Cristophe. I'll be safe in their house. I just needed to get away here for a while.

"Ayun! Habulin niyo siya!"

Horrified, I turned and saw three bulky men in black chasing after me. Muntik pa akong madapa nang lingunin sila. Barin is running faster than me, but he slowed down when he sensed the people chasing after us.

My nails scratched at the rusting metal and I pounded as soon as I made my first contact with the gate. Fumbling with the lock, my panic rose up above my head when the three shadows grew larger and larger. Nang sa wakas ay nabuksan ko ito ay saka ko pa naramdaman ang kagat ng isang kamay sa braso ko.

"Let go of me!" I almost screamed. Upon hearing my anguished voice, Barin leapt to the giant and buried his fangs on his beefy arm. This time, he's the one who screamed and quickly shoved me away. I fell and hit my head against the hollow blocks surrounding the mansion. Kahit na nahihilo ay tumayo pa rin ako at ginapang ang gate. Mabibigat ang hininga ko. When I heard Barin yelped, I turned and almost died when I saw the man hitting him with a huge pipe.

"No... no..." tears sprung to my eyes as I pulled myself up. I can't leave to let my pet die here! Barin tried to scratch them, but the man has vented his anger and focus to hitting him with all his might. "Barin!"

A flash of black shadow appeared in front of me and the next thing I know, the man hitting my puma fell into the ground with a huge thud. Napanganga ako. I turned and saw a familiar bulky figure.

"Diba sabi ko sa iyo, ganda, na huwag kang lalapit sa mga lalaki dahil mga tarantado 'to?"

When the scarred giant turned to me, I almost cried. Barin, still licking his wounds, limped towards me.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito..." I choked a sob.

"'Sensya ka na, ha? Hindi ko naman alam na ikaw pala ang pababantayan." He snorted a laugh. It dawned on me that he is one of Valerie's men! "Ako na ang bahala dito. Takbo ka na!"

I nodded, still crying as I gestured Barin to come with me. Lumabas ako ng gate at ini-lock ito. Ipinikit ko ang mga mata. I did not dare imagine what would happen when the man regains his consciousness. It would be two against one.

Kahit na nanghihina ako ay pinilit ko ang sariling tumakbo. My throat is dry. It feels like someone had run a rusted chain throughout my windpipe. Nang balingan ko si Barin ay bumagal din ang takbo niya. He's still limping as we entered the woods.

I stared wildly at the pitch-black forest. Ang tanging naririnig ko ay ang mga mga insektong nag-iingay sa dilim ng gabi. I felt safe, even in this wild forest, because Barin is with me. I know he did not grow in the wild and he's used to humans, but I've seen how he protected me back there. Humans are more dangerous and monstrous than any wild animals in here.

Pabagal nang pabagal ang paglalakad ko. I stopped for a while and then started taking off my shoes. Nilibot ko ng tingin ang paligid. I know they're going to follow me here. I left the shoes in the opposite direction of where I'm going. Sakaling makita man nila ito ay yun ang daang tatahakin nila. It would buy me some time.

"Come, Barin. Let's go..." I said in almost a whisper as we threaded deep into the forest. Lumalamig ang hangin. Sharp twigs and branches scratched against my skin and my cheeks but I couldn't care less. I let Barin lead me the way out, as his instincts inside a forest is sharper than mine.

My head is still a mess as we continued to find our way out the forest. Maputik na ang suot kong damit at bumibigat na ito. I wanted to stop, but I couldn't. Natatakot akong mapunta sa wala ang sakrispisyo ni Kathleen at ng lalaking hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa alam ang pangalan.

It was the smell of kerosene that had alerted me. I could hear voices from a distance. My heart pounded again and just as I was about to go the opposite way to avoid them, I heard an explosion.

It was just a few seconds, but it was deafening and terrifying.

I have to cover my mouth to keep myself from screaming. Even Barin was disturbed by the sudden explosion. Against my own will, sinundan ko ang amoy ng gas hanggang sa makalabas na kami sa kakahuyan.

The sight of the car burning sent me to the ground. Tigagal lang akong nakatingin sa pamilyar na kotse ni Tito Cristophe na sinusunog ng dalawang lalaking naka-itim. I watched in horror as the fire engulfed the car. The street is deserted. No one can see their crime except for me. Clutching my chest, I cried hard without any sound. Para na akong malalagutan ng hininga sa sobrang iyak at pigil ng tunog mula sa aking bibig. Barin sat next to me, and returned to licking his wounds.

I spent a few minutes there, unable to move and crying until I was senseless. Weakly, I picked up myself and then went back to the forest before they could spot me.

Why is this happening to me? One moment, I am living a fairytale life and the next, I'm running for my life from the evil witch.

Hindi ko na maramdaman ang kaliwang paa ko sa haba ng nilakad namin. We took the hard way of threading out of the forest until we finally reached the end and my toes felt the hard pavement of the road.

Umihip ang malakas na hangin. The beautiful scenery of the beach near the pier is teasing me. How can it look so peaceful when so many lives are in danger in this very moment?

I glanced at Barin. He looks tired as well. I probably looked like someone who stepped out of a gory film with the way I looked right now. Nanlalanta akong tumawid ng walang katao-taong daan at inilibot ang tingin.

Una kong nakita ang maliit na cargo ship sa di kalayuan. I glanced back at the forest. Hindi ko na tanaw ang mansion mula dito. Maging ang usok sa sinusunog na sasakyan ay hindi ko na makita. Binalingan kong muli ang cargo ship. Walang katao-tao sa pier. Everyone is probably asleep by now.

Desperate to escape and save my life, I continued to move forward. Tito Cristophe, Blake, Kathleen, and that guy all sacrificed for me. It would be a waste if I get killed in the end. I have to stay alive.

"Come on, Barin..." I cooed him. Pumuslit ako sa cargo ship at laking pasasalamat nang makakita ako ng daan patungo sa loob. Pinauna ko ng sakay si Barin hangga't wala pang tao. I didn't even bother to check where the cargo ship is heading. I just need to get away.

What was last of my valor strengthened me to snuck into a cargo ship and hid myself among the sacks of rice and potatoes. It was uncomfortable and the floor is so cold. Barin curled up next to me the moment we settled down.

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko, nakatitig pa rin sa buwan. I could feel the cargo ship slowly starting to move. I need to sleep and regain my strength but I couldn't.

Nanatili akong nakaupo habang tinatanaw ang pagliit ng bayan kung saan ako pinanganak.

Tears swelled in my eyes again. I hugged and comforted myself. I wish this is just a bad nightmare but it isn't.

As La Union vanished before my eyes, I knew that my fairytale life is over.

And with my escape, I also vowed to myself to be back. I will be back and I will avenge my family and all the loved ones Valerie have stolen from me.

It was when I realized that this life of mine is made for this vendetta. Serviré venganza.