-Alexi-

"N-nasan ka?"

I was stiffened on my standpoint and that's the first response left me to say. It was a mix of joy and worry that weighed on my chest. I'm happy that I'm connected to her. Worried because she seemed in danger, asking for help. Taimtim akong nakinig sa kabilang linya at naghihintay ng susunod niyang sasabihin kasabay ng pag-alis ko sa pinagtataguan. My eyes were alert for possible attacks that might surprise me. Nahigit ko ang paghinga nang madaanan ang lalaking nakadapa. By the sight of him, I knew he was dead already. I bent my knees and got the knife in his hand. I hid it inside my jacket, hoping I wouldn't need to use it later.

"Fare, can you hear me?" I asked when the other line went dead. "Fare?"

"I'm here, hiding. 3rd floor. I don't know what building it is, ate Al. Nasa labas sila," Her voice is shaking, signifying how scared she is and endeavoring to form clear words in her mouth.

Agad akong tumalima at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. "Got it. Manatili ka lang dyan. Papunta na ako. I need you to stay on the line, okay?" I tried to sound assuring that help was on the way, hoping it would lessen the panic at least.

I add the speed on my pace with my eyes roaming around, reminding myself I need to stay alert. "Saan sa tingin mo malapit ang building na 'yan? Is it D swing? College department or what?"

"I-I don't know. I'm in a classroom"

I sucked on my breath. Okay, she's in the classroom, so she's one of the College Department building. That would be closer to D swing. Magkakadikit doon ang mga College Department. I run towards there. It would be time-consuming for me to scale all of the College Departments because there were lots of them. "Fare. Just hold on okay? Now tell me if are you able to see the window"

"O-oo"

"Ngayon ilarawan mo sa akin kung ano nakikita mo sa labas ng bintana" I instructed.

"I can barely see it but..." It took her a few seconds before she responded. "Outside there's a lamp post beside the...Gymnasium building"

"Got you there" I muttered as I successfully picture in my head what building she could be. Between the Gymnasium building is the Archery Center and Maths and Numeracy. I let out a long sigh and made my way there. Pinilit kong hindi madistract sa mga taong naghahabulan at kumapit sa dilim para maitago ang sarili sa mga mata ng maaaring makakita sa akin. Laughter and screams filled the surroundings. The walls are painted with blood. It's a splash stain indicating that someone was probably slitting someone's neck and his blood spurted out on the wall. The sight of it made my stomach twist, even though it wasn't the first time I saw gore things.

"Hello, ate Al.." she made a low noise.

"What is it? I'm on my way"

"I think they found out I'm in this room. T-they trying to break the door" she's whispered shakily.

Gumapang ang kaba sa aking dibdib at alam kong hindi ito ang oras para mataranta ngunit iyon ang nararamdaman ko ngayon. Parang bumabagal ang pagtakbo kahit anong pilit kong ihakbang ito ng mabilis. I run as fast as I could. I took the knife out of my jacket and gripped it tightly. I don't think my conscience can handle it if something bad happens to Fare. This happened to me before. When I was trying to save Sally, I know I could have done better but I failed. I don't want to repeat the same mistake. Not being able to save someone. Dumiretso ako sa Maths and Numeracy department. Muntik nakong madapa nang bumungad sa akin ang nakahandusay na bangkay pag-akyat ko ng hagdan. I held my breath and immediately retreat myself from the shock.

Luck is on my side at the moment because it's quiet there and no one's around until I reached the 3rd floor. Nagtago ako sa gilid ng hagdan at tiningnan ang tatlong nakatayo sa isang pintuan. I think they're the ones who's chasing Fare. Dalawang babae at isang lalaki. They're holding weapons which I didn't know where they got. Dalawa Ang may hawak na tubo at ang isa naman ay palakol. Nakatayo 'yung isang babaeng mahaba ang buhok sa tapat ng pintuan.

"I know she's here" she concluded.

"Why not chase others?" Sambit ng isa pa nilang kasama na babae. She's the one who's holding an axe.

"I want to kill her. She bit my arm" the girl 1 said. I suddenly feel the urge to vomit because of her lousy reason. It's too much to take that she's saying that as if it's not a big deal to do. Porke Friday ngayon at parang hindi kasalanan ang pumatay. I thought Ghettos and Red Lady or other school admins were the most evil people who existed in this place. Meron pa palang mga taong gaya nila.

The girl 1 started to hit the doorknob with the pipe, trying to break it.

"Are we allowed to break that door?" The guy behind them asked.

"Wala namang sinabi na hindi pwedeng manira ng gamit. Ang sabi lang, pwedeng pumatay ng kahit sino ngayong gabi" the girl 2 said. She joined on breaking the door, hitting it with the pipe as well.

"Fare?" tawag ko sa kabilang linya. "Still there?"

"Y-yes"

I couldn't fight them by myself. I might end up killed, so I came up with this plan. "I'm going to lure them out para makaalis sila sa harap ng pinto. As soon as they're gone, get out of there, okay?"

"O-okay" her voice is still shaking.

Lumabas ako sa pinagtataguan at nagpakita sa kanila. I walked slowly, carrying a confident look despite of hands trembling. "Hey, idiots" pagkuha ko sa atensyon nila. Agad naman silang napalingon. Nilaro ko ang kutsilyo sa kamay ko at ngumisi. "Wanna play?"

The girl 1 looked at me with her eyes glinted, as if she found another prey to catch. Her thin lips formed a curve, eyes filled with excitement. She stepped forward in the middle. "Mukhang matapang ang isang to" she muttered with thrill in her voice.

"What game do you suggest?" The second girl butt in.

"Simple," I answered, not breaking the confidence I built to face them. "Let's test who among us will stay alive until sunrise"

Pagkasabi ko ng huling mga salita ay binato ko ang kutsilyo na parang boomerang. Nakita kong dumaplis ang talim no'n sa braso ng babaeng nasa gitna, dahilan kaya gumuhit ang dugo sa balat nito. With that, I run immediately.

I don't know if my feet were trained enough to run faster because I've always been in this running episode since ever. Hindi ako lumilingon sa likod ngunit alam kong nakasunod sila. I fixed the device on my ear. "Fare get out of there" I reminded her.

Nakalabas na kami ng building at patuloy kong tinatakbo ang malawak na open area ng Sonkan. Lumiko ako sa likod ng building. Bahala na kung saan dalhin ng paa. I could barely hear everything. Even my heartbeat. All I know is I'm running for my life. Escaping the death once more. But it wasn't my feet who failed me. I felt someone's hand grabbing my hair causing me to fall. Kusang sumalampak sa lupa ang dibdib ko dahilan kaya ako napangiwi. Sinubukan ko agad tumayo at mga tuhod ko palang ang dumidikit sa lupa nang makaramdam ako ng matigas na bagay na humampas sa kaliwa kong sintido.

Seconds before I realized, they caught me.

I can barely open my eyes. My sight became dizzy. Nakatayo sa harap ko ang tatlong tao na ngayo'y nagiging doble sa paningin ko. I smell a metallic rust on my head. It was my blood. That pain was doubled when the girl who acted as their leader held my hair, gripping it tightly to make my head lift upward while I was lying flat on the ground.

"Why running? I thought we were going to play?"

Hindi ako makapagsalita. Hindi pa ako nakakabawi sa sakit ng hampas sa ulo ko. Though I was hurting, my eyes lit up when I saw Fare hiding on the other side across this building. Nagtatago ito sa dilim. She muttered some words which I couldn't hear. She's blurred on my sight but it's evident on her face how much she wanted to help me at the moment. I opened my mouth to form a word without a sound.

"Run" I told her.

Naramdaman kong hinawakan nila ako sa magkabilang braso para paluhurin sa lupa. Nakita ko ang malawak na ngiting puminta sa kanyang labi kasabay ng paghugot ng kutsilyong tinatago niya sa likod. She squatted to level my face and placed the knife on my cheek. "Ito na 'yon? Is this the game you want to play?" She let out an evil soft laugh. "You bore me, girl"

Umayos ito ng tayo at kinuha ang tubo sa kasamang babae na nakahawak din sa akin. As she took it, she lightly tapped the pipe on her palm, assessing if that metal was hard enough to smash someone's head. "Maybe we can break your skull first before we skin you alive, how's that sound?"

She looked like a serial killer telling how she'd brutally kill her victim. I didn't give her the satisfaction that I was scared, so I held my chin up, looking sharply into her eyes. I saw Fare, still standing in her hiding spot. I know she wants to step out in the dark to help me but I hope she won't. I feel at ease because because she's safe. Her hands were covering her mouth while crying. I formed a warm smile on my face, telling her it was all right. Bumwelo ito at hinihintay ko nalang ang ilang segundo na bumasag sa ulo ko ang tubo.

I held my breath when the girl stopped moving in midway. Parang may nagturok sa kanya ng tranquilizer. Nanlalaki ang mata nitong nakatingin sa akin at maya maya'y napasinghap ako nang bumagsak siya sa lupa nang may nakatarak na kutsilyo sa kanyang likod. I looked at two people who's holding my arms. They're both frozen. Bigla nalang silang bumitaw sa akin at sabay na bumagsak. Like the first girl who passed out, they have both knives pierced on their backs. Did someone save me?

Paglingon ko sa harapan ay bumungad sa akin ang pamilyar na mukha. I was stunned by his presence. He's the least person I expected to see tonight. His hairstyle is still the same with his earing dangling on his ear. Halata ang mga pasa sa kanyang mukha na nasa proseso palang ng paghihilom. Nakangiti ito ng nakakaloko. Nagsitaasan ang balahibo ko dahil doon. Sa mga tingin niya palang ay kinakabahan na ako dahil tiyak akong ang hatid niya ay kapahamakan. He didn't save from that lady for nothing.

"Ardizonne"

______

The last thing I remember is Ardizonne standing in front of me until someone hit my nape causing me to passed out. I slowly opened my eyes as I felt my hands were lifted in the air. My head is still aching. Nang mabuksan ang mga mata ay nilibot ko ang tingin sa paligid. I assessed the surroundings and it seems I'm in the abandoned warehouse. There were tires, hollow blocks, drum and other junk things. Amoy semento din. Isang bumbilya na warm light ang nakalambitin sa taas para magsilbing liwanag kung saan ako nakatayo ngayon. My eyes shifted on my hands. Both of them were cuffed. Nakaposas ang dalawa kong kamay sa magkabilang mahabang kadena.

Where am I?

Mula sa dilim ay biglang lumabas si Ardizonne. I shoot piercing stares at him. I'd never like his presence. The normal impulse for me to burst my fury is to pull off my hands from the cuff even if it hurts. "Let go of me!"

"What do you need from me?!" I shouted at him. Ngumisi lang ito.

"I don't have issue with you, personally" sambit nito at pinasadahan ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. "Except to the person you are associated with"

My first thought is Coleen since they were siblings.

"It's not my sister if that's what you think" he answered the voice in my thoughts. Nanatili lang na masama ang tingin ko sa kanya. He slowly paced forward and held my chin as if he's assessing me. Mariin kong nilingon ang ulo ko pakabila para matabig ang kamay nito.

"I see. Reigan, have a taste." My eyes dilated when he mentioned his name.

"Just kill me if you won't let me go" I spat at him.

Marahan itong ngumiling suot ang malawak na ngiti na tila may isang bagay na umaayon sa gusto niya. I want to ask Coleen. How come they were siblings. They're totally different. He's the type of person that you can never convert to do good things. "Dadating din tayo dyan. Wag kang mainip"

Binitawan na nito ang baba ko at umatras ng kaunti. Saka ko lang napansin ang mga kasamahan niyang Ghettos sa gilid. Nagsisilbing guard sa kanya. They're all holding a pipe.

"What do you need from me?" Muli kong tanong.

"Nothing" he answered casually. "Just want to teach him a lesson. He put me in extreme humiliation" his tone sharpened. He must be referring to his previous fight with Reigan in Mortal Combat. "It's unpardonable," then he smiled like a madman. "I see you are his special person. I guess he moved on from his old love. Let's see how it would break him while watching you die"

Tumingin ito sa isang Ghetto na nasa bandang kaliwa niya, indikasyon para lumipat doon ang tingin ko. She's holding a jigsaw. Its machinery sound nagging my ear. Maybe he wants to see my terrified reaction but I didn't give him that. If he only knew how many times I escaped death. I stared blankly at that direction and shifted my eyes on him. Umangat ang gilid ng labi ko upang mainsulto siya. "It's a great match actually. You should be thankful he didn't actually kill you"

I squinted my eyes to make him more insulted. "Just accept it. You will never defeat Reigan no matter how hard you try. You'll stay no match to him--"

Isang malakas na sampal ang nakuha ko sa kanya dahilan kaya tumagilid ang ulo ko. Sobrang sakit na tila namanhid ang kalahati ng aking mukha. I even taste the blood on the side of my lips. Imbis na ipakitang nasaktan ay tumawa lang ako. I never imagine that annoying someone could be this enjoying. I looked straightly at him while letting out soft chuckles.

Nakita ko ang paglabas ng ugat nito sa leeg at pagyukom ng kanyang kamao. Matatalim ang binabato nitong tingin at tila nagtitimpi lang ngunit sabik na akong patayin. Muli itong lumapit at sinakmal ang leeg ko. His eyes were blazing with his teeth gnashes. I couldn't breath. My mouth left hung gasping for air. I feel like my eyes going to cry blood and I wouldn't last any longer.

"Wait until I kill you both"

Para akong nastuck sa malalim na tubig at nakaahon sa sa wakas nang bitawan niya ang leeg ko. I exhaled deeply and cough hard. I thought I'm going to pass out any moment. I know his hand leave a mark on my neck. The braveness I'm carrying to hide my fear slowly fading. I am scared. Bumalik ulit ang dati kong pakiramdam na ang dali ko lang mamatay. Na parang isa lamang akong kuting na madaling malapa ng leon. Like a hopeless cat who couldn't do anything to save herself.

"Enjoy your remaining moments. Later, your organs will be chopped and you'll be nothing but a dead lady on the grass. You'll be put on a stretcher, and no one will remember your death." his eyes were sparkling as if he already imagined that to happen while looking at me menacingly. "And as for Reigan, I'll make sure he'll experience the most humiliating death including his members" saka ito tumawa na parang nababaliw.

He's really evil. Binabawi ko na ang sinabi ko kay Coleen na posible niyang makumbinsi si Trevor na pumanig sa amin. He looks like there's no room of goodness in his heart.

He lightly patted my head and smiled devilishly. "Happy Friday night"

Agad kong niliwas ang ulo ko dahil sa paghawak niyang 'yon. Nanatili lang itong nakangiti at tumalikod saka nagsimulang maglakad palayo. I don't know how long he'll keep me alive, but my remaining seconds are numbered. Since I'll die anyway, better to provoke him to kill me now. I don't want Reigan to come here because surely, Trevor wouldn't waste the opportunity to kill him tonight, especially when he got me as his bait. He knows that I'm special to Reigan and he will take advantage of that. Like what he did during purging days. He deceived him.

"Let's say you killed both of us" pahabol kong sambit dahilan kaya saglit itong napatigil. "You're still nothing but a puppet of Dean. You don't deserve the title Leader of The Ghettos. You're just dependent on the Dean"

He turned around to face me. I know it got him so I fueled more. "You'll end up dead also. Dean will kill you when you're no longer use for him"

A moment of silence passed by before he spoke. "Take it back. Take it back" umangat ang mata nito sa akin at nanlilisik ito. Biglang lumakas ang tibok ng puso kasabay ng pagtaas ng balahibo ko. My tongue back down. He looks scary. I'd never feel scared at him not until this moment. Kinuha nito ang tubo na hawak ng isa sa mga nagbabantay na Ghetto. His jaw clenched as he gripped the pipe tightly. Now I'm dead. He's going to kill me.

"Bawiin mo ang sinabi mo!!" He shouted like a thunder as he walked faster towards me. Ang sigaw niyang 'yon ay dumagundong sa buong warehouse. Para itong leon na nag-aapoy sa galit. He's like a storm ready to destroy the entire island. Inangat niya sa ere ang tubo upang bumwelo. I know he's going to hit me and it would break my skull in one blow so I just closed my eyes. Waiting for my end.

Ilang segundo ang lumipas at hindi ko naramdaman ang matigas na bakal na humataw sa ulo ko. I heard a loud thud as if someone was slammed on the concrete. Dahan dahan akong nagmulat ng mata at nagulat nang makita ko si Reigan. My heart almost leap up. I was staring at him with a surprised look. It never occur to my mind that I would see him on the edge of my death. He's standing before Trevor who was lying on the cement, barely moving. His nose were bleeding while struggling to breath.

"Reigan" I muttered with delight in my voice.

**********

Thanks for reading!