THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS.
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Important Warning:
This chapter contains dark and heavy themes that could be potentially triggering to victims. Abuse will not be described in graphic detail to avoid glorification. However, it is still strongly advised to proceed ONLY with extreme caution.
Awareness is an important step towards prevention and detection. These things happen in reality, and should not be treated lightly. Irresponsible jokes and comments will not be tolerated in the comments section.
#DDMS36 Part 3
❧
FEUILLE
Five Years Ago
'YES. I am here. I'm trapped in this mansion . . . with our son.'
It was hard for me to digest that revelation. I wanted to ask a lot of questions to Flumerys, but I do not want to push the wrong buttons. She has already been through so much. What she needs is an ally.
She has saved me before. Now, it's my time to save her.
I took out my pen and scribbled my message. I then folded my paper into an azalea origami and replaced the one she left for me. 'During my escape, you told me to find and go to Villa Vouganville. How did you know about the professor's place?'
Hindi mabilis ang naging pagtugon sa akin ni Flume. Umabot ng dalawang linggo bago niya ako nasagot. Sa tingin ko ay dahil nagiging maingat siya na hindi kami mahuli. Nang mapansing nag-iba ang posisyon ng iniwan kong papel na bulaklak ay alam ko na agad na galing kay Flumerys iyon. Agad ko itong binuksan at binasa ang nakasulat:
Just like you, I also wasn't allowed to go outside of this mansion. But because I'm working as a maid, there were less eyes and ears on me.
Isang beses ay narinig kong nagbubulungan ang ibang mga katulong . . . may isang propesor daw na lumulutas ng mga kaso.
Sapat na iyon para gumawa ako ng plano, ngunit nasundan pa ang kanilang tsismisan ng nakakagulat na impormasyon galing sa isang katulong. Ang propesor na iyon daw ay ang nawawalang Guivellnova, ang tiyuhin ni Zilvane.
Pagkatapos no'n ay kinaibigan ko ang katulong na iyon. Napansin ko agad na gusto niyang napupuri't napagkakatiwalaan siya ng iba. Kaya naman pinakiusapan ko siya na magbigay ng liham papunta sa Villa Vouganville.
It was the case report of missing identical women every five years. Yes, I was the one who instigated the start of the professor's investigation. Iyon at pati ang pagtakas mo . . . kasama iyong lahat sa aking plano.
Simply escaping from Zilvane is not enough. It was impossible, even. I tried escaping with you that night, but he made sure I got wounded so I couldn't follow you. Pero hindi ako nawalan ng pag-asa. Alam kong sa tulong mo at ng propesor ay masasagip niyo rin kami.
'Kami' ang ginamit niyang salita. Hindi lang siya ang nangangailangan ng tulong. Ang nanay ni Zilvane, pati ang anak ni Flumerys. Lahat sila ay kailangan kong masagip sa mansyong ito.
I wanted to ask more from Flume. Gusto kong tanungin lalo na ang tungkol sa kaniyang anak. Where is the boy? Is he with Flume? Is he safe? Maraming katanungan ang dumadaloy sa isip ko, ngunit isa lamang ang napiling isulat ng mga kamay ko. Isang tanong na makakapagsabi sa akin sa tunay na kondisyon at kalagayan ni Flumerys.
With a heavy heart, I wrote, 'How old is your son?'
Alam kong matatagalan bago ako masagot ni Flume. Siguro ay alam niya kung ano ang totoong intensyon ng tanong ko. Umabot ng higit isang buwan bago dumating ang inaabangan kong papel na azalea. Ang papel na azalea na may dala-dalang mapait na katotohanan.
'Five.'
That one simple word made my stomach turn. It means that Zilvane has impregnated Flumerys while she was still under hypnosis as Feuille. Putangina. Imagine how confusing and damaging that must be for her during that time, thinking that he's supposed to be her older brother. Ganoon kasahol si Zilvane . . .
Gumuhit sa aking tiyan ang nakakaliyong pakiramdam at dumiretso agad ako sa banyo para sumuka. You are a fucking disgusting monster, Zilvane Guivellnova. I hated myself for not noticing that at all while I was still living with you.
***
MONTHS passed by quickly like leaves being blown by the wind. Flumerys and I have been exchanging messages in secret through folded azalea origami flowers. They were perfectly hidden among the other origami flowers in my vase display.
Kahit maraming mensahe na ang aming pinagpalitan, napapansin kong matipid pa rin si Flume sa mga impormasyong kaniyang bibinigay. Hindi ko rin naman siya masisi, siguradong nag-iingat lamang siya para sa kaligtasan niya at ng kaniyang anak.
Lahat ng mga impormasyong nakukuha ko ay isinusulat ko sa notebook na maigi kong itinatago. Isa sa mga nalaman ko ay ang tungkol sa sikretong hagdan patungo sa pinakatatagong kuwarto ni Zilvane. The surgery room where all the operations on the past Feuilles happened.
Sa tulong ni Flumerys ay natagpuan ko ang daan patungo rito. Habang siguradong walang nakakita sa akin ay binisita ko ito. Pagbukas ko ng ilaw, kita ang kaputian ng buong kuwarto. Nakapaskil din sa dingding ang iba't ibang mukha ng mga babae.
There were traces, dotted lines, repeating circles, directional arrows, and cross marks written over those printed images of faces. One would agree that Zilvane indeed studied the facial features of numerous women.
Sinuri kong maigi ang buong kuwarto, at isa sa mga nahanap ko ay ang log book kung saan nakaulat ang mga babaeng ginawan ng operasyon ni Zilvane. Nakita ko agad ang pangalan ng mga nawawalang biktima kada limang taon.
"Jackpot," I murmured while noting down the names of Celina Abuevo and Maria Julianita Gomez that I found on the log book.
Nakakapagtaka . . . wala rito ang pangalan ni Flumerys. Instead, a name of a different girl is written in her place.
Bigla akong nakarinig ng mga yabag na papalapit. Isinauli ko agad ang log book kung saan ko ito nakita at palihim na tumakas sa lugar na iyon.
That was weird.
Inulat ko agad kay Flume ang nalaman ko, at tulad ng inaasahan ay natagalan muna siya bago makabalik sa akin. Nang basahin ko ang sinulat niyang liham ay nagtaka ako dahil hindi niya man lang pinansin ang sinabi ko tungkol sa log book. Ang tanging nakalagay lamang sa mensahe niya ay mga direksyon papunta sa isang lugar.
At the end of the hall past the third staircase of the annex, go northwest. He's waiting for you inside the hidden room, the door is behind the painting.
He? Sinong 'he' kaya ang kaniyang tinutukoy? Kinakabahan ako. Pero hindi ako maaaring mag-back out. Bumalik ako sa mansiyong ito upang makahanap ng mga pruweba tungkol sa mga pinaggagawa ni Zilvane. Marami na akong naipong impormasyon, hindi ako maaaring sumuko ngayon.
Nang dumating ang araw na wala ulit si Zilvane at ang kaniyang mga tauhan, nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataong sundan ang mga direksyong ibinigay ni Flumerys.
Dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa tapat ng isang kakaibang painting. Ito ay larawan ni Zilvane noong bata pa lamang siya. Siguro ay mga limang taong gulang pa lamang. May hawak siyang libro at may inosenteng ekspresyon sa kaniyang mukha.
While staring at the gorgeous face of the innocent child in front of me, I couldn't help but wonder for a while . . . If Zilvane's father didn't abuse him repeatedly in the past, would he have kept this innocent face? Would he not have turned into a monster?
Yumuko na lamang ako. Kahit nakaranas siya ng pang-aabuso, hindi iyon sapat na dahilan para mang-abuso rin siya ng iba. Habang umiiling ay inangat ko ang larawang iyon at nakita ang tinutukoy na pintuan sa sulat. Pagkabukas ay bumungad sa akin ang madilim na hagdanan patungo sa isang basement.
"Xanti . . . I'm scared." I rested my palm over my nervous chest. "What should I do, Mr. Stranger?"
I imagined Xantiel's silhouette embracing me, providing even a glimmer of warmth in this mansion filled with coldness and cruelty. 'The little lady I know isn't afraid of a little danger. I know you can do it.'
My legs gained the strength they needed to proceed. As I descended with every step, light from outside became weaker and weaker. Pagkalipas ng maraming hakbang, hindi ko na alam ang diperensya kung nakapikit pa ba ako o sadyang madilim lamang. Tanging ang pagkapa lamang sa dingding ang gumagabay sa akin sa pagbaba.
With the absence of light, I lost sense of time. What time is it? How long have I been descending? Is it evening already? Has Zilvane returned? I have no idea.
Nanunuyot na ang lalamunan ko sa sobrang kaba. Akala ko ay mababaliw na ako sa sobrang takot at pagkabalisa nang makakita akong muli ng liwanag.
It was a faint light coming from what looks like a glass-walled room. From this distance, it looked like a huge aquarium. I kept on walking towards it like it was my North Star.
As I got closer, the view started to become clearer—yet my mind became even more confused, unable to comprehend what the hell it was seeing.
There inside the aquarium-looking room, is a bed-ridden child, emaciated beyond belief. Long tubes are injected in his arms and sides, which are connected into beeping machines. Is this . . . a hospital?
Nang makalapit ay saka ko lamang siya naobserbahang mabuti. The child is having a hard time breathing, the respirator being his only source of oxygen. The tubes injected in his side seemed to provide him some kind of nutrition.
"H-Hello?"
My voice seemed to wake him up. His eyelids fluttered weakly before he was finally able to open his eyes. And those eyes startled me—because they were in a peculiar shade of purple.
"W-Who are you?" Naaawa kong tanong sa bata. "What's your name?"
Nakarinig ako bigla ng ingay mula sa malayo. Naku, kailangan kong makaalis! Tumango ako sa bata at mabilis na tumakas. Kahit hinihingal at kinakabahan pa ay inipon ko ang lahat ng lakas para makaakyat muli sa mga palapag. Nahanap sa wakas ng mga palad ko ang dulong pintuan na agad kong itinulak para tuluyang makaalis.
***
I WASN'T able to sleep for days after that. Flumerys hasn't replied to my messages for quite a while. I wonder who that was? Kailangan kong mag-imbestiga.
Una kong naisip na puntahan ang mga computer para mag-research sa internet, ngunit naalala ko kung paano ako nahuli ni Zilvane noon. Nope, too dangerous! I must stay away from computers inside this mansion.
It's not yet completely hopeless. After all, there's still that option to go old school. I went to the haven of information before internet was invented—the library. Buti na lamang ay maraming library rito sa mansyon ng mga Guivellnova.
Inipon ko ang mga librong kailangan ko at nag-umpisang magbasa-basa. Maliban doon ay inaral ko rin ang history ng mga Guivellnova. Nakakakilabot, lahat sila ay likas na mga henyo. Mga halimaw sa talino.
Studying and researching took me weeks. Sometimes, I try to visit the child secretly, during the same time in the day when I know that it's safe. I also visit our mom at night, calming her down during her hysterical episodes.
The weeks became months, and the months became years. Until finally . . . I was able to wrap my head around everything, every information and every clue that I have gathered so far.
It was my fifth year—my last year as Feuille. And I now know Zilvane for the monster that he truly is.
***
HABANG abalang nagtatanim ang isang babaeng katulong ng mga bulaklak sa hardin, lumapit ako sa kaniya't tinapik ang kaniyang balikat. Nagulat siya pagharap sa akin, tila ba nakakita siya ng multo.
"Long time no see, Flumerys." I greeted her with a smile.
In front of me is a woman around my age, her face resembling mine a little. Faint freckles spread across her cheekbones and button-like nose. Her bangs are thick and full, almost covering her even thicker brows.
Hindi siya agad nakasagot sa akin. Tumingin muna siya sa paligid bago magsalita. "H-How did you find me . . ."
"Well, tulad nga ng sabi mo, madadaldal ang mga katulong dito," paliwanag ko sa kaniya sabay angat ng balikat. "I asked around which housemaid was in charge of paper supply and decoration, which housemaid seemed to be distant with others, and so on. You get the rest."
She lowered her head, her eyes becoming teary and blurry.
"Flumerys . . . you already sent the missing women report to the professor. Why didn't you tell him everything when you had the chance?" tanong ko sa kaniya na may maingat na boses.
Her lips curled up before responding. "I-I'm afraid . . . one wrong move, and Zilvane might—he might . . ." sinisinok niyang sabi. "A-ayos lang sana kung ako lang ang sasaktan niya, pero a-ang anak ko . . ."
Dahan-dahan akong tumango. "I understand. You've been hostaged in this mansion for far too long. I can't imagine how scared you must have been. Alam kong hindi naging madali para sa iyo ang pagsulat sa akin gamit ang mga papel . . . sa bawat mensaheng sinusulat mo, tiyak na inipon mong maigi ang sapat na lakas na loob para lang maihatid sa 'kin ang mga ito."
Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko't huminga nang malalim. Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Flume at unti-unting ginagabayan siya na sundan ako sa paghinga para makakalma.
"It's not easy for you to talk about this, it's not easy for anyone in your situation at all. That's why instead of telling me directly, you were slowly guiding me through clues and hints here and there," pahayag ko sa kaniya. "Ngayon ay naiintindihan ko na kung bakit wala ka sa listahan ng mga biktimang nakalagay sa log sheet ni Zilvane. Ikaw lamang ang naglagay ng pangalan mo sa report kay professor, hindi ba?"
Mahina ang kaniyang pagtango. It's okay, because I don't want to overwhelm her.
"The poor bed-ridden boy in that secret room . . . I read about his condition—conditions, rather." Hinaplos ng kamay ko ang nanginginig na kamay ni Flume upang ipaalam na kakampi niya ako. "Hindi man ako doktor, sinuri kong maigi ang mga sintomas na nakita ko sa kawawang bata sa mga librong nabasa ko. Cystic Fibrosis, heart problems, physical deformities, intellectual disabilities . . ."
Namumuo na ang mga luha sa mga mata ng aking kaharap. Hinawakan niya pabalik ang mga kamay ko, tila ba palihim na humihingi sa akin ng saklolo.
"Yet the biggest hint was right there, staring back at me. His purple eyes. After researching about the Guivellnova's history . . . I learned that having purple irises is part of the Guivellnova clan's recessive genes," pagpapatuloy ng namamaos kong boses.
Habang tumatagal ay nahihirapan akong harapin ang mapait na katotohanan. "Do you know how the professor found out that I'm not the real Feuille? Because when he was young, he saw the eyes of his niece when she was just a baby. They were russet-colored, but when hit by the sunlight, her irises glinted a peculiar shade of purple."
Mariin kong kinagat ang mga labi ko, dahil ang mga susunod kong salita ang pinakamahirap bitawan sa lahat.
"Children born from incest have a higher chance of inheriting the recessive gene from the parents." Umangat ang tingin ko kay Flumerys. "And in that poor boy's case, the Guivellnova's purple eye color."
Humigpit ang kapit sa 'kin ni Flumerys at sinalubong niya ang paningin ko ng mga matang walang tigil sa pagluha.
"Flumerys, you weren't kidnapped like us, were you?" my voice softened. "Because the real Feuille Guivellnova isn't dead. She's still in this mansion, held captive by Zilvane."
My own eyes gave up from holding back the tears that have long been wanting to join hers. "It's you. You're the real Feuille."
The sun blazed high and bright above the garden. And when its rays passed between our shadows, Flumerys' eyes reflected a subtle color of purple, confirming my words.
"O-Our mom doesn't know the truth," paglahad ni Flumerys. "In fact, no one knows. That's how Zilvane wanted it. The world was cruel to him, so he created his own twisted world. N-Noong bata siya ay walang araw na lumipas na h-hindi siya binubugbog at inaabuso ng kaniyang ama. Zilvane was beaten countless of times. It was all because his dad—our dad, was too obsessed with the idea of having a daughter. Hanggang doon lamang ang alam ng nanay namin . . ."
Niyakap ko si Flumerys at marahang hinahaplos ang kaniyang likuran. Habang umiiyak ay kinuwento niya ang buong katotohanan.
"It was true that I was frail and weak as a child, but I actually survived. After learning hypnosis at a very young age, he has controlled the hospital doctors into telling our parents that I have died," she continued between loud sobs. "And as a twisted form of revenge to his parents—his dad that always abused him, and his mom that never cared for him . . . Z-Zilvane had developed a sick pleasure in taking everything out on me—his sister who was the favorite, h-his sister whose mere existence caused him to suffer . . . He found a warped fantasy in secretly abusing me right under the noses of our clueless parents . . . i-in our very household."
Bumigay ang mga tuhod ni Flumerys. Hinigpitan kong maigi ang pagkakayap sa kaniya. "Flume, pangako. Ililigtas kita. Ililigtas ko kayo. Pinapangako kong makukulong ang hayop na 'yon. He's a fucking devil that deserves to rot in the lowest level of hell."
***
NAGSIMULA na ang aming plano. Para siguradong walang nakatagong listening device, doon ako pumunta sa sikretong kuwarto.
I tested it a few times, and I learned that Zilvane has placed a communication firewall surrounding the whole estate. It also blocks off any gps or external wifi. Kaya kahit anomang subok kong kontakin ang propesor ay imposibleng makarating sa kaniya. Hindi rin gumagana ang tracker nito. Ngunit mayroon pa rin akong natatagong alas. My great Xanti created this device with an offline recording function.
"H-Hello . . . this is Feuille Guivellnova speaking." Tinapat ko ang comm-button sa 'king mga labi at nagsimulang mag-record tungkol sa lahat ng mga impormasyong nalaman ko sa loob ng mansyon. "If you're listening to this recording, then prepare yourself from what you are about to hear."
Kinuwento ko ang tungkol kay Zilvane, kung saan mahahanap ang mga pruweba, ang lokasyon ng mga sikretong kuwarto, ang tungkol sa mga Guivellnova. Lahat ng magagamit namin laban sa kaniya ay inulat ko habang binabasa ang mga sinulat ko sa 'king kuwaderno.
Pagkatapos ma-record lahat ay sinunog ko ang kuwaderno kasama ng mga papel na naglalaman ng mga mensahe namin ni Flumerys sa isa't isa.
Buo na ang aming plano. Ilang araw ay mawawala na ang mga alaala ko kaya nagsimula na kaming kumilos. Si Flume ang nag-tattoo sa akin ng mga salitang 'she seizes his' malapit sa aking tagong nunal na alam kong mahahanap ni Xantiel.
Gamit ang koneksyon sa mga kapwa kasambahay, inutusan namin ang ilang mapagkakatiwalaang tauhan na iburol ang comm-button sa eksaktong lokasyon ng coordinates. Bilang pag-iingat na hindi madiskubre, hindi namin ipinaalam sa kanila kung para saan ang utos na ipinakiusap namin sa kanila. The less they know, the better.
Everything is going smoothly according to plan. Hinihintay ko na lamang lumipas ang nalalabing mga araw.
Finally, my last day came. While waiting for the few remaining hours that I could still remember everything, I wondered how my Xanti was doing.
During the five years that I spent in this hellhole to gather evidences against Zilvane, I wonder if Xantiel is eating well. Does he remember to shave, to sleep on time? Is he wearing that signature smug smile he always looked annoyingly good in?
Habang iniisip siya ay unti-unting kumakalma ang puso ko. Sana ay hindi puro karne ang kinakain mo, Deux. Sana ay naaabutan mo ang paborito mong palabas tuwing hapunan. Tiyak, magtatampo ka na naman buong gabi na parang bata kapag hindi mo iyon napanood.
Sana ay palagi mong nakakasama sina XV at Doc . . . Sana ay lumalabas ka ng kuwarto mo, Xantiel . . . huwag mong ikulong ang sarili mo gaya ng kalagayan ko ngayon.
A lump of air clogged my throat, and that's when I noticed tears rolling down my cheeks.
Who the fuck am I kidding? I know you're not smiling right now. You're probably sulking every night, holding on to the empty bed sheet I left you with.
"I-I'm sorry, Xanti . . . I'm sorry for leaving you, my love." Niyakap ko ang nanginginig kong katawan. Kapag naiisip kong umiiyak siya't mag-isa, nahihirapan akong makahinga. "Wait for me, please. K-kaunting tiis na lang, makakaalis na ulit ako rito . . . And when I do, I hope I find my way back to you."
The next time you meet me, I would probably act like a different person. I would probably try to push you away, just like the first time we met. But don't give up, love.
I trust my heart more than anything. I know for sure that it will remember you no matter what. It will surely recognize the immense love I have for you.
Unti-unti nang lumalabo ang aking mga ala-ala. Isa-isa ko nang nakakalimutan kung ano ang mga nangyari nitong nakaraang limang taon.
A-Ano nga ba ang paboritong ulam ni Xantiel? A-Alam ko, karne iyon eh . . .
Ang paborito niyang kulay?
His birthday . . . December 1, right? Ahh, that's right . . . He was always boasting about it. Oktubre pa lang ay nagpaparinig na siya agad.
Iyong paborito niyang palabas? Ano nga ba ulit? Tangina . . . tandaan mo, please. Para 'pag nagkita kayo ulit ay mapanood niyong magkasama.
Ah . . . ang kulay ng kaniyang mga mata . . . nasa gitna ng kulay asul at . . . Shit, I can't remember anymore.
Xanti, my sweet little puppy . . .
My love . . .
Mahal na mahal kita. Sobra pa sa sobra.
Gusto kong maikasal sa 'yo. Gusto kong makabuo tayo ng sariling pamilya.
Gusto kong tumanda kasama ka, kasama ng mga pilyo mong hirit at nakakaasar mong ngiti . . .
Gusto kong . . . maging Vouganville.
Gusto kong makasama kayong lahat . . . at bumalik sa mansyon kung saan ay sama-sama tayong gagawa ng maraming mga alaala . . . kapalit ng mga alaalang unti-unting naglalaho ngayon sa isipan ko . . .
My dearest Xanti, the next time we see each other, you will be a Mr. Stranger once again . . .
Before I closed my eyes, a memory of Xantiel Vouganville being reckless as usual flashed in my mind. It was my last memory of him.
Weakly, my voice whispered the two repeating words that I have always yelled at him as a warning when he's about to do something dangerous.
"Danger, Da—"
But I wasn't able to finish the second word. My senses have become too weak to continue.
Napadilat ako nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng aking kuwarto. Ang mukhang lumitaw mula sa dilim ay nagdulot ng matinding takot sa 'king buong katawan.
"Hello, little sister." Zilvane fixed the tie of his white suit and slightly cracked his neck. "Looks like you've trusted the wrong person again, huh?"
What?
What is this monster talking about?
"Nagtiwala ka sa mga tauhan ng mansyong ito? Nakalimutan mo yatang kayang-kaya ko silang bayaran." May nakakalokong ngiti sa kaniyang mukha.
Tinakpan ni Zilvane ang isa niyang mata at humalakhak na parang nawawala na sa sariling katinuan. "The messenger you trusted is about to bury your precious little device right now. Ah, looks like you're gonna deliver Deux to me after all."
Habang walang tigil sa pagtawa ay umalis nang muli ang nadedeliryong si Zilvane.
Gamit ang natitirang lakas ay inabot ko ang ballpen na nakatago malapit sa kama. Isinulat ko ang mga salitang Villa Vouganville sa loob ng aking palad.
"I . . . I have to warn Xanti about the device," naghihikahos kong sabi habang tuluyan nang nawawalan ng lakas. "I-I can't do anything anymore."
My memory ends here . . .
It's your turn, Folie.
#DDMS36 Part 3
#XVSeriesFinale