⚠️TRIGGER WARNING⚠️
This chapters contains scenes that some readers may find triggering and disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.
Jaize Annarih Vera's POV
"THAT..."
I can't be wrong with that. I know that thing. That's... That's...
Napalunok ako. "That's what they used on my parents," bulong ko habang itinuturo ang samurai sa lamesa. That's what killed my family.
My heart raced as I took in the sight of a samurai sword, leaning against the wall. Even though it had been years since the tragedy, the memories rushed back to my head like an avalanche.
I could feel my breath quickening and my body quivering as I remembered the sound of my parents screaming out in agony. Tears welled up in my eyes and I wanted to scream out in despair. But I know I should control myself.
Taking a step forward, I picked up the samurai sword, feeling its weight in my hands.
Once again, I could hear my parents' voices. They were screaming in pain. They were pleading for them to stop and just let them go but they did not. They showed no mercy.
I was holding it tightly that I did not even notice na nasusugatan na pala ang kamay ko. Hindi ko naramdaman ang hapdi. Wala akong maramdaman ngayon kung hindi nag-uumapaw na galit.
At hindi lang 'yon. I saw a familiar watch. I am certain that I have already seen this before. That night. It was the watch worn by one of my parents' killers.
"Annarih," Alcher uttered.
I clenched my fists. Muling bumalik sa akin ang lahat. Mula sa pagpapahirap nila sa mga magulang hanggang sa walang awa nilang pagpatay sa kanila. Napapikit ako. Sobra pa sa dinanas ng pamilya ko ang ipaparamdam ko sa kanila. Dudurugin ko sila, iyong tipong sila mismo ang magmamakaawang patayin na lang sila.
"Anong plano mo?" tanong ni Alcher kaya't napatingin ako sa kanya.
Napakalakas ng galit sa loob ko at halos hindi ako makapagsalita. Ngunit kailangan kong magpakalma upang magplano. "Si Boss."
"It is imperative that we conduct a thorough examination of this object and ascertain its rightful owner," I said.
It may hold vital clues or significance in relation to my investigation.
He nodded. "Areglado."
He went out to call our Boss. A man exudes a commanding presence and carries himself with an aura of independence and strength. He is widely acknowledged as our head, perhaps even possessing the title of boss. He has an authoritative persona. Regardless of that, he is known to be a benevolent figure who takes pride in assisting and empowering us, his subordinates, helping us in achieving our objectives and fulfilling our goals.
I took a deep breath. I redirected my gaze towards the samurai sword and wristwatch. These two objects, which had previously evoked a profound sensation of agony and fury within my soul.
I will seek justice, and I am prepared to undertake any measures necessary to achieve it.
I live because my parents gave up their lives. It's the least I could do.
Justice.
"Annarih," maya-maya'y tawag ni Alcher kaya't napalingon ako sa kanya. He walked towards me and spoke. "Tayo na. Sa opisina na natin pag-uusapan ang lahat."
I nodded.
—
"I am sorry, but I don't think matutulungan kita. There was no fingerprint recorded in the samurai." Our boss, Migz Owein, voiced unperturbedly. I shut my eyes in annoyance.
"But, Sir," tugon ng isa sa mga tauhan niya. "May fingerprint kaming nakuha mula sa relo," aniya na ikinatigil ni Boss. Maging ako ay natigilan.
"Totoo?" I asked in disbelief. Pakiramdam ko'y nabunutan ako ng tinik sa lalamunan.
Tumango siya.
I looked at Alcher. Nakatingin lang din siya sa akin.
"We can use the fingerprint found on the watch-"
"To track the IP address of the owner. In that case, we will know who he is and we will be able to get information," putol ko sa sinasabi n'ya.
Tumango siya. Nanatili akong nakatitig sa kanya. Ngumiti siya kalaunan. Alam kong naiintindihan na niya ang dapat niyang gawin.
—
"I got it." Napapikit ako nang marinig ko ang mga salitang iyon ni Alcher.
"Lucas Montero, 41 years old, may business sa banking," Alcher explained habang nakatutok sa computer. Naroroon ang lahat ng impormasyon tungkol sa may-ari ng relo.
Lucas Montero...
I will find you.
May nakita rin kaming mga pictures niya. Maging ang address ng bahay niya ay nahanap namin.
Thanks to his watch, madali naming makakalap ang mga detalyeng kailangan ko.
"Ang kailangan na lang nating gawin ngayon ay maghanda," aniya pero umiling ako.
"I am perpetually prepared for any and every eventuality that may arise, Alcher."
Tinalikuran ko siya.
I shall actively pursue the attainment of justice and retribution, holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
Mom, Dad, this is all for you. I will sacrifice everything for you.
I will not stop. No one can stop me.
I sighed.
"Then let's go. I don't think we have much time left."
I wiped my tears when I felt Alcher behind me.
"Umiiyak ka ba? Okay ka lang?" I frowned.
"No."
"Umiiyak ka, eh-"
"Alcher, I am not crying. I don't cry," I cut him down. I am trying my best to control my temper. "Now, sasamahan mo ba ako o hindi?"
He remained quiet although I am certain that he wanted to say something, he knows pretty well that it is not part of his job.
He looked at me for a moment and nodded.
"Good," I uttered.
I turned my back from him and began walking out. I sighed deeply as I tried to keep my posture.
Crying?
They say if you cry, you are strong.
No, you are not.
Not for me.
The act of shedding tears is reserved for individuals who lack strength and fortitude, who are deemed as inferior or unsuccessful in some way.
However, I, on the other hand, am not one of those people. I possess the resilience and emotional maturity to handle even the most trying situations, and thus do not succumb to the need to cry as a means of coping.
Crying is for losers.
—
Alacher Dee Reyes' POV
"What the..." bulong ko. Agad akong napatingin kay Annarih na nasa back seat. Magkahalong gulat, galit, at lito ang nababasa ko sa mukha niya. Sino ba namang hindi?
Kararating lang namin at ni hindi pa kami nakakababa sa kotse pero parang alam na namin ang posibleng nangyari.
"Annarih!" sigaw ko nang padabog niyang binuksan ang kotse at lumabas.
Aish! Kahit kailan talaga.
Pinark ko muna ang kotse. Nagmamadali akong bumaba at sinundan siya. Doon lang namin nakita ng maayos ang sitwasyon ng bahay ni Lucas.
The lawn was unkempt and overgrown, with weeds growing everywhere. The bushes were haphazardly trimmed, and the flowerbeds were filled with dead flowers and plants.
The front porch was cluttered with old newspapers, empty soda cans, and discarded food wrappers. The doormat was torn and stained, the door was left open, and there were several cigarette butts lying on the ground.
The messy exterior of the house only added to our suspicions that something had taken place. Something terrible.
It's like a haunted house. Iyon bang uri ng bahay sa mga pelikula na matagal nang inabandona ng may-ari tapos may multo palang pagala-gala sa loob.
Woah.
Halatang may nauna na sa amin. Kahanga-hangang mabilis nilang nauunahan ang bawat kilos namin.
I looked at her. She's trembling in anger.
"Annarih-"
"It appears that we have once again become the target of an attempted obstruction," seryosong aniya.
I wasn't able to stop her anymore. Naglakad siya papalapit ngunit napatigil rin sa tapat ng pinto. Lumapit na rin ako para samahan siya. Nakatitig lang siya sa roon ng ilang minuto, malalim ang iniisip.
I saw how she clenched her fists as she walked inside only to be met with a chaotic and disheveled living room.
Napakunot ang noo ko. Woah.
The furniture was overturned, and there were broken picture frames and shattered glass scattered across the floor.
I looked at her and to my surprise, our eyes met. She gave me a serious glare na madali ko namang naintindihan. I nodded at her bago namin sabay na tuluyang pinasok ang bahay.
Jaize Annarih Vera's POV
It became apparent that the mess wasn't limited to the living room. We decided to roam around the house. Every room was in disarray, and it looked like a tornado had blown through the place.
In the kitchen, there were dirty dishes piled high in the sink, and several moldy food containers were left open on the countertops. The garbage can was overflowing with trash, and there were flies buzzing around it.
The bedroom was no better, with clothes strewn across the floor and the bed unmade.
It was all messy.
However, my attention was not primarily drawn to that particular detail.
What caught my attention were the dried bloodstains that were haphazardly scattered on the floor.
I followed the trail of blood. The stains led me to the bathroom, and my stomach lurched at the sight of the open door. I glanced at it for about a few minutes. The door was slightly ajar.
I hesitated for a moment before stepping inside, the sickening feeling in my gut growing stronger with each step.
I creased my forehead as I continued walking. As I pushed it open, I was hit with a putrid odor. The stench of blood and decay hit me like a wave. I gagged and covered my mouth, trying to block out the smell as I surveyed the scene before me.
The bathroom is in a complete mess.
In the corner of my eye I noticed something strange.
There were more bloodstains on the tiles and sink, and a large pool of it had collected around the toilet bowl. My eyes then fell upon the object that was lying in it, and I recoiled in horror and shock. It was a human foot, detached from its owner's body.
I stepped backwards. Before I knew it, my foot had kicked something solid, and I looked down to see what it was.
My heart skipped a beat when I realized in horror that it was a human head.
I stumbled backwards in shock, trying to distance myself from the gruesome sight before me. My mind raced as I tried to make sense of the situation. How did a human head end up here?
I-is this...
"Lucas," I whispered.
When my senses came back, I tried to step forward and look at it.
The head was still attached to some strands of flesh, but the face was unrecognizable due to the brutal mutilation it had suffered.
The eyes had been gouged out and the mouth hung open in an expression of anguish, with jagged pieces of teeth scattered around it. The hair was matted with dried blood, and there were deep gashes on the forehead and cheeks indicating that it was some kind of weapon.
I tried to look around. I cannot believe what I am seeing. I am standing, eyes wide and mouth agape, as I take in the horrific sight before me. The bathtub is filled with blood- not water- and I can make out the shapes of human skulls and bones poking out from beneath the crimson liquid. It's not only that. I saw the internal organs of a person, most likely the kidney and heart if I am not mistaken, floating in the bathtub. Blood-stained clothes are also present, while the other foot was found in the sink. I am frozen in place, unable to move or take my eyes away from the macabre scene.
My stomach churns as I spot a severed arm resting on the edge of the tub, its pale fingers still curled into a fist. The sight of it makes me feel sick.
I shut my eyes. I felt like my chest was hammered. I fell down. I put my hands on my ears as I hear those familiar voices, their evil laugh, the way they mocked my parents after successfully ending their lives. It was all coming back.
"Annarih!"
—
Alcher Dee Reyes' POV
Ganoon na lang ang panlalaki ng mga mata ko nang makita siya sa banyo ng isa sa mga kwarto rito sa bahay. Animo'y wala sa sarili.
"Annarih!" sigaw ko at mabilis siyang nilapitan.
"Umalis na tayo dito," sabi ko at inalalayan siya. "I will kill them. P-papatayin ko sila. H-hayop sila," bulong niya. Kitang-kita ko ang magkahalong galit at sakit na nararamdaman niya habang nakatitig sa kabuoan ng banyo.
Doon ko lang din napansin ang sitwasyon nito... at "Si Lucas."
Tiningnan ko siya. Nanginginig ang mga kamay niya sa galit. "Kailangan na nating makaalis dito," tugon ko.
Napalingon naman siya sa akin at umiling. "H-hahanapin ko sila. Ipaghihiganti ko sina mommy and daddy," lumuluhang aniya. Tumango ako. "O-oo, oo. Maipaghihiganti natin sila," pagpapakalma ko.
Shit! Hindi ko talaga siya kayang tingnan ng ganito.
—
Bumalik na lang kami sa opisina.
Alam kong dismayado siya.
Sobra.
Sino ba namang hindi? Ako nga halos gusto kong magsumigaw ngayon, eh. Siya pa kaya?
Ang buong akala niya ay mahahanap na niya ang sagot pero hindi pala.
Sa totoo lang, nakakaawa rin ang sitwasyon niya. Naaawa ako sa kanya.
Pinipilit kong intindihin siya. Alam kong kailangan niya ng taong makakaintindi sa kanya. Alam kong kailangan niya ako kahit pa sabihin na tauhan lang ang turing niya sa akin. Para sa akin, parte na siya ng buhay ko. Sa kapakanan niya at sa misyon niyang makapaghiganti na umiikot ang buhay ko ngayon at hindi ko hahayaang mapahamak siya nang dahil doon.
Poprotektahan ko siya kahit pa sabihin niya sa aking hindi niya kailangan iyon.
Dahil alam ko na kahit hindi niya sabihin, alam kong hirap na hirap siya. Pinapakita niyang malakas siya ngunit ang totoo ay hindi.
Nabalot lang ng galit at sakit ang puso niya nang dahil sa kagustuhan niyang makamit ang hustisya pero tao pa rin siya at kailangan niya ng taong makakaunawa sa kanya, ng taong maaasahan niya sa kahit na anong bagay.
We may sometimes think that pain can go away but if we let go of it but no. Pain is not a transient visitor that will simply vanish without leaving its mark.
Rather, it is a lingering guest that demands an ample amount of time to be fully addressed. The idea of "fixing" oneself is a fallacy that creates the illusion of a pristine and faultless existence.
True healing is not synonymous with repairing all the broken pieces of oneself. Instead, it involves the acceptance and integration of the wounded parts, the acknowledgement of the scars that will inevitably remain, and the ability to navigate life with grace despite the continued presence of pain.
Kasama namin si Boss, pinag-uusapan ang tungkol sa naabutan naming sitwasyon kanina. Maging siya ay hindi makapaniwala. Sino ba namang hindi magugulat?
"How come there weren't any fingerprints found on the samurai?" maya-maya'y bulong niya kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. Malalim ang iniisip niya, marahil ay tungkol doon sa fingerprints. Oo nga naman. Paano nangyaring sa relo lang may fingerprint pero sa samurai wala? Imposible.
"Their ability to obstruct and impede progress is alarmingly effortless." Tumawa pa siya habang umiiling. "As if that will prevent me. Hindi nila ako mapipigilan."
Desidido talaga siyang maghiganti, para sa mga magulang niya.
Napailing na lang ako.
—
Jaize Annarih Vera's POV
I must look for other evidence and information. Hindi ako pwedeng tumunganga lang at walang gawin.
I closed my eyes when I understood that every piece of information I receive is useless. It was always a dead end.
Parating may hadlang. Dahil sa kagustuhan nilang takpan ang totoo.
I shut my eyes and took a deep breath for a moment at tsaka muling nagmulat ng mata.
"Boss." I stood up and faced him.
He looked at me, waiting for another word.
"Will you help me?" I asked, hoping I could get his approval.
His eyebrows raised in surprise, and he seemed taken aback by my sudden question. "Help you with what, Annarih?" he asked, sounding genuinely curious.
"You know exactly what I need," I responded.
He is thinking twice.
He appears to be exhibiting a level of indecisiveness, suggesting that he is undergoing a period of reflection and reassessment as he contemplates whether he will agree to help me or not.
My boss looked at me for a moment, his expression unreadable. The room was filled with loud silence for a couple of minutes before he finally nodded.
"Anything for you."
I nodded, flashing a smile on my face. "Thank you."
"I know someone who could help you." I frowned. "Who?"
He looked at me for a moment before answering. "You will know."