The Paramount Code (The Odd Ones, Book 1)

069. Eight

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"You're dazed... You must be thinking about how much of an asshole you are, isn't it?" Narinig niyang saad ni Helga habang nakatayo siya sa harap ng chamber kung saan nakakulong ang babae.

After Helga and the others were taken by Tariq, they were immediately placed in separate chambers. A few minutes later, Benjamin, Lara, Janus, and Daniel appeared at the strange place.

The first three checked on them and then left afterwards, but Daniel stayed, and stood right in front of Helga's chamber. Daniel knows that she is furious at him, and he does not even know how to deal with it since he is also feeling guilty about what happened to them and their plans.

Napahinga nang malalim si Daniel. "Hindi ngayon ang oras para pagtalunan natin 'to, Helga –"

"Oh? At kailan ang tamang oras, Daniel? Kapag patay na kaming lahat?" Isang sarkastikong ngiti ang sumilay sa mukha ng babae, "Tingnan mo nga ang paligid mo... Elise and the others are also placed in chambers, wearing these stupid collars on their necks... All because of you. At matutulungan mo ba kami? Syempre hindi. Hindi mo 'yun gagawin dahil kasama ka na nila at natatakot ka –"

"Hindi ko kayo basta matutulungan," bulong ni Daniel habang nagmamasid kung posible bang may makarinig sa kanya na guwardiya, "Hindi ko alam ang lugar na 'to. Hindi ko 'to kabisado. This is a different laboratory from where Benjamin took me before. At kapag tinulungan ko kayo, baka saktan ni Benjamin ang mga pamilya ng mga bata..."

Helga bit her lower lip angrily, before slamming her fist against the strong glass barrier. "Fuck you, Daniel... Lahat ng pagpaplano natin, mapupunta lang sa ganito? This is pathetic... Extremely pathetic and unacceptable."

"Ayokong may masaktan, Helga... If the families weren't involved, I would just have let Benjamin kill me," Daniel then heaved a sigh of despair, "Hindi ko na dapat 'to ginawa... Hindi ko na dapat sinimulan 'to... Dapat nakinig na lang ako kay Isagani."

"Nangyari na ang nangyari, kaya wala nang kwenta 'yan. Ngayon, sina Jacob na lang ang pag-asa natin..." malamig na tugon ni Helga, "Right now, all we can do is wait."

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Pagkatapos tumakas, agad silang dumiretso sa bahay nina Gwen kung saan nila inabutan si Felix na naghihintay sa pagdating nila. Once they are complete, they all gathered at the living room, while Antoine's living mannequins brought them food, drinks, and a first aid kit just since some of them obtained wounds because of the whole commotion that happened.

"Sinusubukan kong tawagan sina Daddy pero walang sumasagot..." nag-aalalang saad ni Emma habang hawak ang phone na hiniram niya mula kay Bullet.

"Hindi mo ba nakita 'yung mga nasa screen kanina?" Nico then said in a frustrated tone, "Hawak nila ang mga pamilya natin. Syempre hindi nila sasagutin ang tawag mo."

"Paano kung mapahamak sila? Paano kung saktan nila ang mga pamilya natin?"

"I don't think they will," Bullet responded to her, "Benjamin won't get anything from killing them, and he's the type of person that only does things if he will get something from it. He's not going to hurt them for fun."

"And besides," dagdag ni Vladimir na tila malalim ang iniisip, "He wants us to go there and save our families. If they're going to hurt or kill them, then they it's useless for us to go there, right? They need us to go and get them ourselves."

"Kailangan nilang gawin 'yun para makuha ako," ani Jacob, "Ako lang naman ang kailangan nila pero nadamay pa kayo at ang mga pamilya ninyo."

"Pero bakit?" tanong ni Sketch, "Bakit kailangang umabot sa ganito? At para saan? At kayong apat... Ano ba talaga ang pinaggagagawa ninyo kasama si Sir Daniel?"