Behind her Mask

Chapter One

Sweat continued to gush down the little child's face. Her doe eyes are now full of tears as she witness how her father is pleading some men while kneeling down outside the closet.

"Shh," her mother reminded her as she cover her mouth tightly. Her mother is silently crying as well, wishing that no one would know they are hiding inside.

"Where is your wife?" the man outside asked. Two men were grabbing his father behind him, in his arms and head. Another one, probably the one asking him, held his jaw tightly. "Bakit ikaw lang ang nandito? Nasaan ang asawa mo?"

Her father shook his head. "Wala! Wala sila dito! Ako lang ang nandito!"

The man just laughed. "'Wag mo akong niloloko. Saan nagtatago ang asawa at anak mo?"

The child looked at her mom who looked back at her. She hugged her mother as the latter also covered her ears.

Minutes later, the armed men brought his father out of the room, followed by the others. Her mother cupped her cheeks. "Annarih, listen to mommy."

Annarih saw her mom smiled as the latter wiped her tears. "Be strong. Avenge us."

That was her mother's last words before she brought her to the hidden passage in the floor and went out.

She covered her ears as she heard the loud thuds, and voices outside the room. She knows she needs to get out of the place but she's worried for her parents. Sneakily, she stepped one by one so lightly in the wooden floor until she reached the door. She peaked into it and her eyes widened by what she saw.

Her dad...lying on the floor, headless. She saw her mom looked at her one last time before suddenly, a head was being cut from its neck.

-

ANNARIH woke up breathing heavily. Bumangon siya sa higaan niya at tinitigan ang litrato sa lamesang katabi ng kama niya. Her parents.

She sighed before speaking. "Maipaghihiganti ko rin kayo."

She looked at the time. 3 am pa lang. Masyado pang maaga, pero alam niyang hindi pa siya makakatulog nito agad. Sa tuwing napapanaginipan niya ang masaklap na pagkamatay ng mga magulang niya, hindi niya 'yon agad maialis sa isipan niya. Nananatili 'yon at paulit-ulit siyang binubulabog. At alam niyang patuloy siyang hindi matatahimik hanggang hindi niya nakukuha ang hustisya.

Bumaba siya sa kusina para kumuha ng tubig. Kailangan niyang mahimasmasan. May trabaho pa siya kinaumagahan at kailangan niyang umayos. Naalala niyang may kaso pa siyang aasikasuhin kaya naman kailangan niya muna talagang maiwaglit sa isipan niya ang napanaginipan niya para umayos ang kondisyon niya.

Nang mahimasmasan ay agad na rin siyang umakyat sa kwarto niya. Saglit niya pang tinapunan ng tingin ang litrato nilang buong pamilya bago bumalik sa pagkakahiga.

-

ANNARIH held her head upon waking up. Napatingin siya sa wall clock niya. "Shit," bulong niya nang makitang alas-dose na ng tanghali. Agad siyang bumangon sa pagkakahiga at kinuha ang phone niya. Marami nang mga missed calls ang nandoon. "Fuck, mamaya na kayo."

Agad na siyang nagpunta ng banyo para maligo at mag-ayos ng sarili. Kailangan na niyang magmadali dahil marami pa siyang kailangang asikasuhin. Unang-una na doon ang paghahanap sa mga hayop na pumatay sa mga magulang niya.