"I'll buy some groceries later." Ani Ruby habang sumisimsim ng kape.
"Okay, here." Sabay abot ng debit card ni Diamond. "Or do you prefer cash?"
"No, I got this." Tanggi niya. "Nakikitira na nga ako ng libre sayo dito kaya ako na ang sasagot ng groceries natin."
"It's not a big deal, sister. Kahit dito ka pa tumira ng ilang taon, walang problema. But I'm sure that wasn't your plan coz you have your family back home. Andito ka lang naman para magpalamig diba?" Ani Yasi habang sumusubo ng tinapay.
"I don't know." Sabay yuko. "Ang nasa isip ko lang ay makalayo muna sa kanila. I almost put my kids in danger and I've hurt Sephy, I shouted at her and now she hates me to the core."
"I'm sure she doesn't hate you that much. Your daughter loves you and she looks up on you." At tinapik ang kanyang balikat kaya't nag-angat na siya ng tingin.
"I hope so." Napabuntong hininga. "But for now, I need to stay here. I need to focus on how to fix myself."
Tumayo naman si Yasi mula sa upuan at tumabi sa kanya. "You're not broken, you can't fix yourself, Ruby, you just have to accept that your past is a part of who you are." At saka hinaplos ang ulo niya gaya ng madalas nitong gawin noong mga bata pa sila sa isla. "You can stay here for as long as you want, but please, go out of the house, explore and meet new people. Hindi yung nagpapakaburo ka lang dito sa loob ng bahay at inuubos ang oras sa kakaisip ng kung anu-ano. You've been here for three weeks and you only went out of the house once. At dahil lang yun sa pagbili mo ng mga groceries."
Tiningnan ni Ruby ang kapatid at halata na niya ang malaking pagbabago rito. Diamond is not that reserved anymore as she was before. She isn't stiff and aloof as she was always been. She can now mingle with other people and is living normally.
"Alright, I'll go out later. Maybe I'll go to the park near here, or go to the mall before buying groceries." Sabi na lang niya upang tumigil na ito sa kakatulak sa kanya na lumabas na.
"Good!" At saka nito iniligpit ang pinagkainan. "I'm going to the headquarters now, if you need anything or if something goes wrong-"
"Yes, I will call you or your headquarters for help." Putol niya. "Seriously, stop babysitting me, Diamond. I'm not a child anymore who used to cry a lot. I can take care of myself."
"I know that. But you're here in my house and you're my responsibility." Mabilis nitong balik.
"Whatever!" Iyon lang ang sagot niya habang naiiling. Palabas na si Yasi nang muli niyang tawagin. "Uhmmm, has Percy called your office and asked for me?"
"We didn't receive a call from him. Isang beses lang siyang tumawag kay Ellis sa Pilipinas at sinabi ko sayo na tinanong lang niya kung sa akin ka ba tumutuloy. After that-" nagkibit balikat lang ang kapatid.
"Uh okay. I'm sure he's busy with work and with the kids so he didn't have time to check on me." Aniya na hindi alam kung ang kapatid ba ang kinukumbinsi o ang sarili niya.
"Do not overthink again and don't stress yourself out, okay. I really gotta go. See yah." At saka tuluyan nang umalis.
Saglit napatulala si Vix nang mapag-isa. Iniisip niya ang kanyang pamilya at kung kumusta na ang mga ito lalo na ang mga anak niya. She's hating herself because sometimes she felt she misses them but mostly, she doesn't feel anything at all. No anger, no fear, no love. Nothing at all. But right now, she doesn't know what to feel, knowing that her husband had only asked about her once. She's couldn't stop herself from imagining worse scenarios like- Percy and Lovely are now living together and the woman had already replaced her position as his wife and as the mother of his children.
Vix shook her head to erase her worries in mind and started tidying Yasi's place.
Lumabas siya ng bahay at nagdesisyong pumunta sa Six Flags over Georgia. It's the largest amusement park in the state and is dubbed as "The Thrill Capital of the South". Ang lugar na iyon ang gustong puntahan ng anak na si Sephy at ngayon nga ay naroon siya ngunit mag-isa.
Nag-ikot ikot siya at sinusubukang aliwin ang sarili ngunit sa tuwing ibabaling niya ang paningin sa paligid ay pulos mga pamilya na masayang magkakasama ang nakikita niya. Everyone around her is happy and it made her feel as if she's living in another world where happiness doesn't exist.
She bought a corndog to eat because it's Seph's favorite. She even ate popcorn too, for Sedi. Then she rode some of the park rides and it's not for her kids but it's for herself. She didn't experience this when she was little or maybe she doesn't remember her memories from her previous life before her days on the island. She's also wondering who she was before FLAW corrupted her.
Sumakay siya sa carousel at pumikit habang umiikot iyon. Pagdilat niya ay tila ba nasa isang panaginip siya dahil malabo ang paligid. Napatingin siya sa isang ginang na panay ang kaway sa kanya at sa bawat balik ng ikot ng carousel ay wala itong tigil sa pagkaway at pagkuha ng litrato sa kanya. Napabaling naman siya sa isang batang babae na lumapit sa kanya nang tumigil na ang pag-ikot ng sakayang kabayo. Inaaya na siya nitong bumaba at magpunta sa ibang sakayan naman. Nilingon saglit niya ang ginang na kumakaway sa kanya ngunit may kausap na rin itong isang ginang kaya't wala na ang atensyon sa kanya. Inilahad ng batang babae sa kanya ang kamay nito at nang akmang kukunin na niya iyon ay mabilis siyang napadilat dahil may tumapik sa kanyang balikat.
"Excuse me, Miss, but you need to get off now." wika ng operator ng ride. "If you want to ride for the second time, you have to fall in line again."
Napalingon siya sa paligid at nakita na siya na lamang ang naiwan roon sa carousel. Nagtataka man ay sumunod naman siya sa lalaki at lumabas na.
"Did I fell asleep?" tanong niya sa sarili habang nakatunghay sa carousel na umiikot nang muli mula sa kinatatayuan ng ginang kanina sa kanyang panaginip. "What was that dream all about? Was that my mom?" patuloy niya sa pagtatanong sa sarili. "Damn it! I can't even remember my mom's face because I was still too young when I was transported on the island." Palatak niya at saka hinawakan ang ulo dahil medyo sumasakit na iyon.
Ruby decided to just forget it and exited the park. She went to the grocery shop to buy before going home. Sanay na siya na walang eksaktong oras ang pag-uwi ng kapatid na si Diamond dahil sa trabaho nito bilang isang special agent. Ganoon din ang mister na madalas ay hindi nila nakakasamang maghapunan na mag-iina dahil sa trabaho nito. Their responsibilities to protect people takes away a huge amount of time from themselves, from their family, and sometimes she wished that Perseus wasn't an agent and just a regular man who can spend time with them.
Pagkatapos na pagkatapos niyang makapagluto ay saka naman dumating ang kapatid kasama ang fiance nitong si Agent Tracker. Paminsan minsan ay nagpupunta roon ang lalaki at maayos naman ang pakikitungo sakanya kaya't wala siyang maipipintas sa nobyo ni Yasi.
"You're right on time. I just finished cooking chicken and pork adobo sa gata." Anunsiyo niya.
"Tamang-tama pala dahil gutom na ako." Si Bricks. "I just got back from a nerve-wracking assignment."
"Thanks Ruby- I mean Vixyn." sabay bawi ni Diamond. "I keep on saying your name wrong. I'm used to calling you-"
"It's alright. I'm getting used to it. You can call me whichever you preferred." At saka naghain na.
Pinagsaluhan nilang tatlo ang pagkain habang nagkukwentuhan. Nakikinig siya sa mga plano ng dalawa tungkol sa kasal. Nagbibigay din siya ng payo mula sa sariling karanasan sa pag-aasawa at sinabi niyang hindi madali.
"I never imagined myself bowing down to a woman, but for you, I will not just going to bow down, I'll kneel before you and even kiss the floor for you, Baby." Ani Brickley na kinindatan pa si Hyacinth.
Nakita niyang dahan-dahang napangiti si Diamond na halatang kinilig sa sinabi ng nobyo. Masaya siya para sa kapatid at nararapat lang na maging masaya na ito nang tuluyan sa buhay.
"You still use cheesy lines plus a wink to flirt, Officer Larson." Ani Yasi. "Is that a skill for being an ex-FBI and a secret agent at the same time?"
"I guess so. It worked, right? It got you." na malanding ngumiti pa.
"Oh, will you quit that-" naputol sa pagsasalita si Diamond nang magring ang telepono nito. "unknown number." anito bago sagutin ang tawag. "Hello?" habang pinakikinggan ang kabilang linya. "Who is this?" at biglang nanlaki ang mga mata. "Saph??!" Bulalas nito.
"Sapphire?" ulit naman ni Ruby.
"Where are you? We're tried to locate you before. How have you been? Why are-" saglit itong huminto. "Okay, give me an address." at muling nakinig sa kausap. "Got it. Give me an hour, I'll meet you there." at saka ibinaba ang tawag. "I need to go now. I'm meeting up with Saph, she has something to tell me about Madame Pearl."
Pagkarinig sa pangalan ng dating amo ay nakaramdam ng panlalambot si Vix ngunit kaagad niyang binalewala iyon.
"I'm going with you." aniya.
"What? Why? No!" Mabilis na sagot ng kapatid.
"And why is that? She's my sister too and if she has new information about Madame then the more reason I should go." Pag pupumilit niya.
Bumaling naman si Yasi sa nobyo para humingi siguro ng tulong.
"We should all go." Wika ni Tracker. "I'll be your lookout in case you are all being watched or followed. I'll set parameters and I'll notify you if something is not right." Suhestiyon pa ng binata.
"Fine." Iyon lang at pare-pareho na silang naghanda para umalis.
They went to Macon, a city in central Georgia and it is just an hour's drive from Atlanta City. They stopped at the front of Rose Hill Cemetery.
"Dito niya gustong makipagkita?" Si Bricks.
"It's far from the crowd and we can easily disappear when trouble arises because it's dark." Sagot ni Yasi. "I have my earpiece with me, notify me if you see anything suspicious." Utos nito sa lalaki.
"I will." sagot nito. "But if you sense too that something isn't right, run and I'll meet you at our rendezvous point."
"noted." At tuluyan na silang bumaba sa sasakyan.
Ruby and Diamond are both walking side by side, going through the entrance of the cemetery. The eerie ambiance together with the unknown sounds that are audible everywhere, plus the pathway is dark with few lights from a nearby post and that tombstone that surrounds them will scare any normal people away.
"Didn't I tell you to come alone?" Narinig nila wika sa may bandang kaliwa nila at mula sa isang sulok ay lumitaw roon ang dalaga. "Does your agency still after me?"
Sasagot sana si Diamond nang unahan na ni Vix sa pagsasalita.
"It's me, Saph." And she took one step closer.
"Ruby?" Anito na naglakad na palapit upang makita na nila ang isa't isa. "What are you doing here? Bakit ka narito sa US?"
"I need a break." Sabay kibit balikat. "But that's not important right now, I came here with Diamond because you said you have something about Madame."
Tinitigan muna siya nang mabuti ng kapatid bago nagsalita.
"I saw her in the Philippines."
Malakas na tumambol ang dibdib ni Vixyn roon.
"Ano? Nakita mo siya sa Pinas? Saan? Doon ba siya nagtatago? May alam ka ba sa mga ginagawa niya?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong.
"I saw her in Quezon Province, accidentally. After that, I tried to follow her and I tracked her down. She flew here last week and I followed her but I lost her the other day."
Sabay sila ni Yasi na napabuntong-hininga. Mukhang wala na naman silang mapapala at magagawa. It's like searching for a needle in a haystack.
"So it's a dead end?" Tanong niya.
"I wouldn't say that." Ani Sapphire na nagpabalik sa kanilang interes. "The last time I saw her, she was talking to this big-time Italian Mafia boss. I bet your agency knows him because he's an international crime boss- Salvatore Mancini."
"Mancini?" Ulit ni Yasi na halatang kilala ang tinutukoy ng kapatid.
"Who's that?" Tanong ni Ruby dahil siya lang ata ang hindi kilala ang lalaki.
"A powerful man in Italia." Si Saph. "I'm not sure if he has a business with Madame or if she's asking help from him, but either of the two, it is not good. I can sense it."
"Where did you last see her with Mancini?" Si Diamond.
"In Boston."
"That's where most of the Mafia Lords are located here in the US. I think she's arranging reinforcements from her allies to continue what she and her brother started."
"Do you still think she can continue with the Syndicate's operation?" Si Ruby kay Diamond.
"I'm not sure. Pero marami pa rin silang mga kaalyado at kakampi sa iba't ibang panig ng mundo at nasisiguro kong susubukan niyang ituloy ang proyektong naudlot tungkol sa drogang Crimson Death."
"It has been introduced already in the black market and we know what could happen next if those fall to the wrong hands." Si Sapphire. "At iyon ang gustong mangyari nina Joshua Weber at Madame Pearl noon, ang kontrolin ang mundo sa pamamagitan ng drogang iyon."
Nahulog silang tatlo sa malalim na pag-iisip. Inakala nila na natapos na ang laban nila nang sinugod na nila ang kuta ng sindikato noon. Hindi pa pala natapos sa kamatayan ni Weber ang lahat dahil nariyan pa ang kapatid nito na nagsisimulang gumalaw na naman nang palihim.
"We have to stop her." Si Vix. "We must stop her because we know what she is capable of. Dapat ay wala na silang mabiktima pang iba ng dahil sa droga na iyon. Let's track her down." Suhestiyon niya.
Parehong napatingin sa kanya ang dalawang kapatid.
"Are you sure you're in, Ruby?" Paninigurado sa kanya ni Yasi. "You have a family and you're-"
"I am one hundred percent sure." Putol niya agad. "I need a distraction for now and this is a good one."
Nagpalitan ng tingin sina Diamond at Sapphire bago parehong tumango sa kanya.
"Okay, we'll start again in Boston." Si Saph. "We have to observe Mancini, I'm sure he knows where Madame is."
"But we have to be careful, Madame is a cunning woman. She's always one step ahead of us and might set us up on a trap." Si Hyacinth. "We have to track her down silently." Pagkatapos ay lumingon sa bukana ng sementeryo kung saan sila bumaba kanina. "I'll have Agent Tracker to do that."
"Then we better start moving so we can get after her." Aya niya sa dalawa.
Nagtulong-tulong sila sa paghahanap at pagmamatiyag sa mga ka-alyado ng dating amo. Ilang araw din sila nagmasid at nagpapalitan ng mga sinusundan ngunit walang Madame Pearl silang naaabutan.
"I got a hit." Anunsiyo ni Brickley sa kanila. Nasa laboratoryo sila ng isa sa mga safe houses ni Yasi. "She's in Chinatown."
"Chinatown?" Ulit ni Vix. "What is she doing in there?"
"Business." Si Diamond. "This time, she's dealing with the Triads."
"She's gathering more allies, isn't she?" Tanong ni Ruby. "She's really planning for a comeback, huh?" At ipinagkrus niya ang mga braso niya sa dibdib.
"Maybe." Si Sapphire. "But knowing her, she's up to something- something crazy and dangerous."
"What could it be?" Tanong niya sa kapatid na nagkibit balikat lamang.
"I got another hit." Si Tracker ulit. "This was taken yesterday in downtown Miami." Sabay turo sa monitor. "In this footage, she's with the Yakuza."
"What the hell?!" She cursed out loud because she was confused. "Is she looking for an ally? Pero bakit ang nilapitan niya ay puro magkakaaway na grupo?"
"American Gangster na lang ang kulang dito, rambulan na." Dagdag na komento ni Agent Larson sa kanya.
"Something doesn't add up." Ani Saph. "I don't think she's looking for reinforcements."
Alam nilang tuso ang matandang babae at hindi basta-basta kumikilos nang alanganin. May plano ito at pinag-isipan iyon nang mabuti nito. Hindi pa man naaalala ni Ruby ang lahat ay tila ba kilala niya kung papaano mag-isip ang ginang at nabasa na niya kaagad ang kilos nito.
"Yeah, she's not." Aniya na nakatulala sa monitor. "She's creating chaos." Sabay lingon sa mga kasamahan. "Madame is having them turn against each other."
Tila naliwanagan din ang iba at naniwala sa sapantaha niya.
"Pinag-aaway away niya ang mga ka-alyado niya, pero bakit?" Tanong ni Bricks.
"Because they left her alone when The Syndicate and the FLAW had fallen. She felt betrayed." Si Yasi.
"She wanted revenge?" Ang binata ulit.
"No." Ani Vix. "Her world has fallen apart and she wants them to fall with her. She's pulling their feet into the grave like hers."
"She doesn't want to be left alone." Dagdag pa ni Saph.
"Then what are we supposed to do now?" Aniya. "Are we going to stop her from doing that or we'll just let her be since that would be an advantage for us, right? Lalo na sa mga tulad niyong nagtatrabaho sa ilalim ng batas, hindi niyo na kailangang kumilos dahil sila sila na ang magpapatayan."
"That's not how justice works." Si Striker. "They need to be apprehended, they need to pay for what they've done. Pagbabayaran nila pang habang buhay sa bilangguan ang mga kasalanan nila. That's crueler than easy death for them."
Nagpalitan sila ng mga taningin at saka nagsi-tanguan bilang pag-sang ayon. They started to create a plan on interfering. They found out that Madame Pearl has offered each of her allies access to Crimson Death which they can use towards their enemies without knowing that it's a trap. She sets a place and time where they will meet but it's a trap because that's where chaos will happen once they started killing each other.
"All agents in position." Ani Striker sa earpiece.
Humingi na sila ng tulong sa mga kapwa agents ng SIATT kaya't nasa kanya-kanyang posisyon na sila sa lugar. Naka-earpiece din sina Ruby at Sapphire at nakaantabay din sila sa paligid.
"Hopefully, we can catch Madame today." Ani Saph na di kalayuan kay Vix.
"Sana nga para tuluyang matapos na ang kasamaan nila." Tugon ni Vixyn sa kapatid. "They're here." Anunsiyo niya nang may matanaw nang papalapit na mga sasakyan.
Nasa isang tila desyertong lugar sila na kakaunti lamang ang mga gusali sa paligid. Open area iyon na talagang sinadya upang walang mapagtaguan ang mga gang.
Unang dumating at lumabas roon ang grupo ng mga Chinese Triads. Sumunod ang mga American Gangster na nakipagtutukan na din ng baril sa nauna. Sinundan ng mga Yakuza at ang huli ay ang Italian Mafia.
Nang mapansin at mapagtanto ng mga grupo na isa lamang iyong patibong ay nagsimula na sa pakikipagpalitan ng baril kaya naman mabilis na sumugod na din ang mga Agents ng SIATT para umawat at hulihin ang lahat.
"Something isn't right." Mahinang saad ni Ruby na hindi niya alam kung narinig ba ng mga kasamahan dahil abala sa trabaho.
Luminga-linga siya sa paligid. Sinubukan niyang kunin ang atensyon ng kapatid na si Sapphire ngunit naging abala na rin ito sa paghabol at sa pagpigil sa mga tatakas sana na grupo.
"Where is she?" Tanong niya sa sarili na ang tinutukoy ay si Madame Pearl. "I'm sure she's watching from afar." Aniya.
May namataan siyang munting kislap na di kalayuan sa pwesto niya at alam niyang isang sniper scope iyon. Pinanonood sila ng ginang na halatang planado ang lahat. Mabilis niyang tinahak ang papunta sa pwesto nito ngunit hindi lang pala siya ang nakakita rito ngunit isa sa mga leader ng grupong hinainan ng bitag- si Salvatore Manicini.
Nasa sasakyan ang lalaki at mabilis na pinapaharurot iyon upang maabutan ang ginang. Nang ma-korner ni Mancini si Madame ay saka lamang bumaba ang lalaki sa sasakyan.
"You betrayed us, Bitch!" Sigaw ng may edad na lalaki. "You lured us here. You turned against each of us." Sabay tutok ng baril. "You thought I was that stupid, huh?" He's mocking her. "That I would fall for your stupid trap?! I know an enemy when I see them and I saw it in you when you offered me Crimson Death. I knew you wouldn't just let anyone have that drug, you wanted it for yourself, you Whore!"
Nakatago lang si Ruby sa isang gilid habang pinagmamasdan ang paghaharap ng dalawa. Alam niyang wala nang kawala si Madame roon at dapat ay matuwa siya ngunit iba ang nararamdaman niya.
"Crimson Death will change the world and no one should possess it except a true Weber." Turan ng matanda.
"Cut the bullshit!" Sigaw ni Mancini. "As if you're a true Weber. You're just Joshua's half-sister and you're not fit to rule the Syndicate. I'm the one who should be the next ruler of the organization."
Sarkastikong ngumiti naman ang ginang.
"You?" Sabay tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. "How can you rule the org when you're an imbecile?"
Hindi nagustuhan ni Mancini ang sinabi patungkol sa kanya kaya't mas lalo na nitong itinutok ang baril sa matanda.
"I'm gonna rip your filthy mouth open after I shoot you in the head!"
Hindi naman tuminang si Madame Pearl at tila ba hinihintay na lang nito na iputok ng lalaki ang hawak na baril. Dapat hinahayaan na lang iyon ni Ruby dahil iyon ang nararapat ngunit tila ba may sariling utak ang katawan niya dahil mula sa pinagtataguan niya ay mabilis siyang tumakbo papunta sa kinatatayuan ng dalawa. Kaagad niyang inagaw ang baril mula kay Mancini dahilan para mabalian niya ito ng buto sa braso kaya't napahiyaw sa sakit.
"What the fuck?!" Sigaw ni Salvatore. "Who the fuck are you to meddle between-" hindi na nito naituloy dahil inihampas na niya rito ang inagaw na baril.
Ruby just stared at the man who is now lying on the ground, unconscious. She didn't even move to check if he was still alive and just stood there.
"I knew you wouldn't let him hurt me. I was waiting for you to move."
Dahan-dahang lumingon si Vixyn nang magsalita sa likuran niya si Madame. Hindi tulad noong huli silang nagkita, hindi siya nakaramdam ng panlalambot o ng kakaibang pakiramdam. And the most intriguing part is that she doesn't feel any threat towards the woman.
"I don't want you dead, I want you alive so you can spend your remaining years in prison." Sagot niya.
"Do you have the strength to take me in?" Madame said and stepped closer to her. "You might forget some memories but I know you remembered who I am to you." And she caressed her face.
Napapikit si Vix at nakaramdam ng pamilyar na emosyon.
"What I remembered is enough for me to know that you are a monster!" Sikmat niya na umatras.
"I am a monster and I never hid that from my Gems- from you. But I was also your mother for all purposes. I made you who you are today-"
"-a monster like you." Putol niya agad.
"No, a soldier. A precious soldier. I made you tougher, wiser, almost perfect." Pagmamalaki nito.
"You made our lives like a living hell on that island!"
"Why, do you think there is a paradise here on earth? Wake up, Ruby, there is no such thing. I made you who you are so you can face the world without fear, so you can survive." At itinagilid pa ang ulo ng kaunti. "But among all of you, you shouldn't be the one to complain because I made your life easy."
"Easy?" Sarkastikong balik niya.
"You still can't remember, huh?" Na lumapit pa para bumulong. "My Baby Ruby."
Napakurap siya roon dahil may naalala siya kahit papaano. Mga tagpong ngayon lang din niya naalala.
"I treated you like my own daughter and we kept it as a secret that even your sister doesn't know about it." And caressed her again. "Coz you're still yearning for a mother's love and I gave it to you."
Madame Pearl slowly walked away to escape because several people are approaching them.
"That's why I know you wouldn't let me get hurt. You wouldn't let me rot in prison. You will let me go." And then she just disappeared and Vix let her.
Ruby just stared and fell into her own mind bugging questions inside her head. It's as if something has triggered a new bomb in her brain and she couldn't tell any of her sisters about it.
"Did you see Madame? Where is she? Where did she go?" Diamond asked her upon arrival with Sapphire.
She knew she should tell them the truth about what happened there and in the past. But there is a part in her that is telling to keep it as a secret between her and the old maid and that she should keep it that way. So instead of telling where the woman has run off, she just shook her head and lied.
"No, I didn't. She escaped while I was dealing with Mancini. She escaped on her own. We are back again to square one."