The Hans family are in anguish. Pangatlong araw ng nawawala ni Emy. But up until now, hindi pa rin nila ito nakikita.
Even Shin and his family ay mabilis na nagpunta ng Grey City ng malaman nila ang nangyari kay Emy. Poor girl! All her life puro misfortunes na lang ang nararanasan niya. From her mother's death up to her kidnapping.
Even Shantal could not say if she will feel pitiful or be amazed dahil sa mga nangyayari kay Emy. Mabuti na lang kamo at Winter vacation nila sa Royal City kaya nakasama silang tatlo ngayon.
Shin and Francis, though, worked hand in hand sa paghahanap kay Emy. But it was still a no news for them.
Not for Sebastian, though...
***
Emy was in dark again. Diana put her blindfold back bago ito umalis at hindi na niya iyon maalis dahil wala na ang blade niya to free her hands.
Anyway, she just had suffered in Kelly's hand again. This time, hindi lang mga sampal ang inabot niya mula dito. The said of her lips is bleeding after she received a cut there nang masubsob siya sa sahig after siyang itulak ni Kelly.
May mga gasgas din siya dahil ng matumba siya ay agad siya nitong kinaladkad. She could even feel pain on her knees and waist. Mukhang napasama ang bagsak niya kanina.
Kelly really didn't hold back.
Napahinga siya ng malalim. She wants to massage herself but her hands are tied.
Nagulat naman siya when her blindfold was suddenly gone. She opened her eyes pero napapikit din agad siya. She needs to adjust from the light of the room.
"Wow... Kelly really did a good job." Cherry said as looked at her. She even touched her chin to look at her both cheeks carefully.
"You're lips are even bleeding." Then she chuckled cheerfully.
"It was not enough though."
Napatingin si Emy kay Cherry as she took out a knife.
"Let's paint you red more."
Cherry slashed at napangiwi na lang si Emy when she felt the knife touched her arms. It was a bit deep and she started to really bleed.
"Ooops. Hindi pantay!"
Then she did that on the other side naman.
Emy knew that among the two, Cherry is mental. Kelly is brutal as she is. But Cherry can pretend that she is nice and after that she will be lethal.
She couldn't stop groaning as she felt her wound on her left arm to be deeper.
But she immediately held her breath when Cherry took the bloody knife at dinikit nito iyon sa pisngi niya.
"I hate you, you know. I really do."
Hindi nagsalita si Emy. She watched the knife carefully as it started to move on her face, tracing her jaw line.
"You are just like my overbearing cousin, Samantha. Just because she was smarter than us, kinakaya kaya na niya kaming dalawa ni Kelly."
Naramdaman ni Emy ang gigil ni Cherry dahil biglang dumiin yung kutsilyo sa may leeg niya. Napangiwi na lang siya as she felt her neck started to bleed.
Cherry looked at her. Ginamit pa nito yung kutsilyo para patingalian siya. She placed the knife on her chin and lifted her face up.
"And you are just like her, Emy."
Tiningnan ni Cherry ang dumudugo niyang leeg at mga braso at saka ito napangiti.
"Do you still remember your question to us about the Natural Selection?"
Nang hindi sumagot si Emy ay ibinalik ni Cherry ang kutsilyo sa may leeg niya. It created another wound.
"Answer me!"
"Y-yes..."
Napangiti si Cherry. Her grip on the knife loosened up.
"Repeat it." She told Emy habang nakatingin sa mata ng dalaga. "I want to hear that again... from you."
Emy was conflicted kung sasabihin ba niya o hindi. Either way, baka ikamatay niya lang.
"Say it." Cherry coaxed her.
"If you will be a variable in Natural Selection, do you think you will be a survivor?"
Napapikit si Cherry. That day, sa gigil niya kay Emy ay halos hindi siya nakatulog. But now, she will have her revenge.
"You even told us that we can not be considered as fittest. You were too much that day, Emy. It was more than the insult we have taken from Samantha."
Umayos ito ng tayo at tinuunan pa nga nito ang kanang braso niya na may sugat kaya napangiwi siya. Tapos ay punwesto sa harap niya.
"I'll make you pay for that."
Cherry slashed the knife in front of her. Impit na napasigaw si Emy when the knife slashed her front dress at ganun din ang balat niya sa parteng iyon. Her skin started to produce red liquid and it flowed down to her chest.
Cherry laughed out loud tangka nitong uulitin yun sa kabilang parte ng chest ni Emy when suddenly a hand grabbed her hand na may hawak noong kutsilyo.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Cherry when she saw who was it.
"F-fifth Prince."
Tiim-bagang na kinuha ni Sebastian ang kutsilyo saka niya ibinalya si Cherry. Tumama ito sa may mesa that made her unconscious.
Agad niyang nilapitan si Emy at halos napapikit siya sa itsura nito.
She was still catching her breath after that last pain at saka siya tumingin kay Sebastian.
"Free me."
Agad namang ginawa iyon ng binata. He cut on the ropes na mahigpit na nakatali sa mga kamay at paa ni Emy. Even those had left marks on her.
Sebastian gently touched her hands. Saka tiim-bagang na pinunasan ang mga dumudugo nitong sugat.
Then his hands reached her face. Hindi pa man gaanong nalapat ang kamay niya sa pisngi nito ay napangiwi na agad ang dalaga. Nabawi na lang niya ang kamay niya saka iyon naikuyom.
"I'll make them pay for every wounds and injuries they have caused you."
Tumayo si Sebastian para lapitan si Cherry but Emy held his hand.
"Do it accordingly. They have physically hurt me and I have to give it back to them twice. They also plan to sell me at the next city's brothel."
Napahigpit lalo ang mga kamay ni Sebastian sa pagkakakuyom.
"We can't go easy on them."
He saw the fire in Emy's eyes at naintindihan niya ang gusto nitong mangyari.
Napatango na lang siya. He took off his cloak and covered her.
Saka niya pinapasok ang mga tauhan niya saka inutusan ang mga ito.
"Capture that girl and also, chase after that Kelly. Then bring both of them at the dungeon."
Agad na kumilos ang mga ito.
Sebastian then looked at her.
"Can you stand?"
"I'll try."
Emy used Sebastian's hand as leverage but she winced as soon as a sharp pain covered her hips and knees.
Napansin iyon ng binata at agad niyang niyakap ang dalaga to support her. Saka niya inilagay ang darili niya sa bewang ng dalaga.
"What do you thing you are doing?"
"I am checking kung may bali ka. Did you fall?"
Emy nodded.
Napahinga ng malalim si Sebastian para kalmahin ang sarili niya. Saka siya nagcrouch sa harap ng dalaga.
"Hop on."
Hindi na umangal si Emy at pumasan na siya sa likuran ng binata. Hinang hina na rin naman siya eh.
"Where are we going?"
"I'll bring you in my house. You need to be cured first bago natin pag-isipan kung paano ka iuuwi sa inyo."
Emy nodded saka niya ipinatong ang ulo niya sa balikat ni Sebastian.
"I am hurt and tired, Sebastian."
Natahimik ng sandali ang binata dahil sa pagtawag nito sa mismong pangalan niya.
"I know."
***