Made Man's Death Game (La Mano Nera #1)

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Isla Cadena

Katya

I never knew that one's life could possibly be wrapped up in just a span of 48 hours. I've spent years and years building the life my parents envisioned... then now, they're all just receipts. Just some memorabilia that I could bring out for the following years and wonder how it became possible.

Ang bilis lang talaga ng mga pangyayari.

Siguro nga baliw na talaga ako. I trusted a man whom I once saved, asked for a ridiculous favor that could make or break me... and then he granted it like it was nothing big.

Ni hindi ko nga natanong ang pangalan niya. So crazy! Pero alam kong hindi siya basta-basta. I still remember every bit of what happened four years ago. He followed me while I was on my way home and just barged in into my apartment, fucking bloody and almost dying, then demanded me to save him. Dahil gusgusing intern pa lang ako sa Oasis noon, wala akong dalang mga medical tools– kasi sino ba naman ang mag e-expect na may ganoong mangyayari sa akin?

That man even rewarded me with tons of money– which I chose to use and help in the skid row. May natabi naman akong pera, pero ginamit ko para pambayad sa bagong lilipatan. That was the first thing I did in the morning after the woman handed me the briefcase. Hindi ako napanatag ng ilang araw noon, pero nawala rin naman ang mga kaba habang tumagal.

Now, my life is in his hands.

When I told him what I wanted, he did not even ask why I wanted it. Sinagot niya lang ako ng "Okay. You have 48 hours to leave everything behind." He ended the call after that. Isang oras ang dumaan, a text message popped out from the same number. There were instructions for me.

And that hit me... I made a deal with someone I barely knew.

The morning after that, I did everything I was told to do.

I resigned from Oasis Hospital, sold my car, terminated the lease contract for my apartment, and cut off any means of communication with my family.

Since I am going to restart my life, live somewhere far away, and be my own person, I don't think connecting with them will still be up on the list. They were the main reason why I needed the restart anyway.

Hindi rin naman sila tumawag o gumawa ng kahit anong hakbang para kausapin ako sa nangyari noong isang araw. Siguro nasa isip na naman nila na nag-iinarte lang ako at baka mahimasmasan lang din gaya na lang dati.

Pero hindi na ngayon! Hindi na ako magpapaalipin pa sa kanila. Bahala na talaga!

Nang magising ako kaninang umaga, I received another message. And here I am now, packed and ready to leave.

I am just waiting for someone to show up. Iyon din naman ang sinabi sa akin na may susundo lang sa akin at ihahatid ako sa lugar na kung saan ay pwedeng-pwede ako magsimula muli.

Again, I trusted the man. The same man who pointed a gun at me while almost dying.

I didn't even ask the question of where I was headed to... I just accepted the fact that I would be given a chance to start my own life.

Habang naghihintay, ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na mag-isip kung sino ba talaga iyong lalake.

He is rich, that's for sure. Pero ano ang trabaho niya? I don't think he comes from clean money— he was shot twice and managed to cheat death. He suddenly disappeared and sent someone to casually hand me tons of money plus a chance to wish for anything. Anything. One wish. Like a genie in a bottle.