Death Maiden

Chapter 02

At the party

This is exactly the reason why she doesn't like anywhere near at a party, much more to be in it. Ang raming tao that she didn't even know at ngayon niya pa lang nakita.

How can she make it here tonight?

Pumunta siya sa bar at umorder ng isang red wine. Naramdaman niyang someone's behind her, which she knew exactly who, pointing a metal thing sa may tagiliran niya. Perhaps a little sharp knife? Instead of being frightened and run for her life, she just shrugged her shoulders as if it's just nothing.

"You should do better than that. If you want to kill me," she said in a whisper na alam niyang narinig naman nung tao gumambala sa kanya.

"Gosh. Gusto lang kitang surpresahin. Surprise?" The other woman said with sarcasm. Umupo ito sa isang stool sa tabi niya. "Same drink as hers," sabi ng babae sa bar tender.

"Should you be anywhere far from me?" Swirling the red wine on her glass.

"Nah. I got bored on my table. Besides I'm waiting for the others," the other girl replied.

She immediately stopped and stared at her drink. 'Yes. Of course. They will be here. All of them will be here. What do I expect?'

"I don't care. Just go anywhere far from me as possible. I don't want you here, Scarlett" she said in a cold tone. Scarlett was just calm like she's already expecting what she said.

"Suit yourself." Tumayo na si Scarlett at tumalikod sa kanya. Bago pa siya tuluyang lumayo, Scarlett said something behind her back. "I'm really looking forward for this night. You know, the ten of us will be here. I just can't wait what the hell we will do to prevent ourselves from killing each other," Scarlett chuckled, mixed with excitement in her voice at tuluyan na itong lumayo.

But of course. They practically hate each other. Hate to the point that they are willing to kill each other if they're given a chance. The only reason that they are still alive right now is because their job and missions are keeping them busy all the time to the point na mawawala na sa kanilang isipan ang mga plano to kill anyone of them. 

Biglang dumilim ang paligid sa loob ng silid. Lahat ng atensyon ay nasa harap na. Magsisimula na ang party. She stood up at pumunta na siya sa isang table malapit sa bar.

"Good evening everyone," the master of ceremony just said.

Pinakiramdaman niya muna ang paligid. After a minute, she smirked. 'They're here. No doubt about the aura of a killer they're emitting. The 'Angels of Death' are all here.'

"Here is your food ma'am," sabi ng waiter sabay lapag ng pagkain sa mesa.

She can feel a very strong presence of someone right now just right behind her. Aura ng isang killer! The waiter! She looked around pero nawala agad ang presensya ng waiter sa likod niya.

'He must be one of us.'

Although they are different in all other things, may pagkakaparehas naman sila. They are ordered to kill and they kill anyone who tried to stop them from what they are doing. And they kill without leaving any evidence or trace that will eventually lead the authorities back to them.

No mercy.

No lies.

No pity.

Just kill.

They keep our identity hidden from anyone and they very much hate each other. The only relationship that they have is rivalry.

They are enemies. They are rivals.

And most especially, They can NEVER EVER get out of the organization even if they wanted to. If they will, then death will only be waiting for them. Like what happened to Shadow.

'Shadow.' He used to be among the 10. He is supposed to be the oldest member and the most experienced- the veteran killer. Twenty-six years in the organization. He used to be the greatest among the Angels of Death kaso he just suddenly disappeared at hindi siya mahanap-hanap kahit nino kahit si Tracker. He specializes in hiding. Kahit kailan daw hindi mo siya makikita hanggang hindi siya magpapakita like a dark shadow. He made a simple mistake kaya nahanap siya ng org leading eventually to his death.

A representative of the Corporation made a speech in front. Hindi na niya pinakinggan ng maayos. Hindi naman kasi importante eh. Tsaka that person making a speech might be just a person in disguise or a hoax made by the Corp.

Nagpalakpakan na ang lahat pagkatapos niyang magsalita.

"Okay. It's time to grab some foods! Please help yourselves with the foods prepared....just for you," the M.C. declared but he got her attention especially when he said 'just for you'. Nawala na agad ang M.C. bago niya pa man makita ang mukha nito. 

The people started to line up for their dinner pero hindi siya kumuha ng pagkain dahil sa hindi pa naman siya gutom and she hate eating in a place na hindi siya komportable.

Nung bumalik na ang mga ka-table niya, may napansin siya kaagad. They all brought with each of them a small pink box for females and a blue box for males. She quickly looked at the direction where they're serving dinners at nakita niyang may nagbibigay nga ng small boxes sa mga guests.

"Ang cute ng souvenirs, 'no?" Tanong ng katabi niya. It's the first time that she looked at the person's face. This person is definitely a beauty especially her eyes pero isa lang siyang normal na tao. Lahat ng tao busy na kumakain pero hindi niya alam kung bakit pero iba talaga ang pakiramdam niya sa gabing ito. 'Wait! There it is again! This feeling. This very weird feeling that shouts, 'danger'!'

She looked around to find Scarlett, who was just laughing with her companions in her table. 'Wala ba siyang napapansin? Even Sweet Venom does nothing!'

Naging alerto siya paligid niya. There was nothing suspicious going around the room. Everyone is busy with what they're doing. Siya lang ata ang nagiging paranoid.

"Ladies and gentlemen," panimula ng MC, "after you had your dinner, we will open the gifts we have for you." 'Wait. Bakit parang iba yung MC kanina.'

Naghiyawan at nagpalakpakan na ang lahat.

"1....2.....3....!" They all opened the boxes at hindi niya akalain ang sunod na nangyari.

Everything happened in an instant. Bombs after bombs ang sunod na sunod na pumutok sa loob ng silid. Isang bomba ang sumabog malapit sa kanya at nahagip ang kanyang kanang braso. She winced in pain pero mas nangingibabaw padin ang adrenaline rush niya. Natilapon siya ng bahagya. When she looked up, she can't hear anything at all! People were running away for their lives in a slow motion.

After a few seconds, nanumbalik na ang pandinig niya. Biglang nag-apoy ang silid plus may madikanais-nais pa na amoy siyang na-aamoy. Tumayo siya agad at kinuha ko yung table napkin and covered her nose with it then dropped to the ground so that hindi niya malalanghap ang nagbabagang usok.

She crawled herself slowly on the floor kahit masakit ang kanang braso niya at parang nahihilo na siya dahil sa naamoy niya na something poisonous.

She saw dead people suffocated because of too much smoke they inhaled. People were shouting and screaming! Dead bodies are all over the place. As she was crawling, burnt, dismembered and helpless bodies were facing her with so much horror in their faces. They were poisoned.

She couldn't remember what happened next. She just stared at the moon. 'Why couldn't I remember it? Is it because of the poison I inhaled?'. Then she remembered something, people were shouting, pleading for help, running for their lives. They were jumping off from the windows on the 10th floor.

Hindi na niya pa masyadong maalala pa ang buong nangyari sa gabing 'yun basta alam niya may isang bagay na nasusunog at nahagip nito ang binti at paa niya.

'Why was my memory of that night so vague and incomplete?'

She saw someone at the stage. That someone was definitely a man. He wasn't moving. He just stayed there watching everything that's happening! He was smiling but it wasn't a genuine and kind smile, it was evil and creepy! He looked like a demon smiling on his burning den.

Ilang minuto lang ang lumipas pagkatapos nun at may mas malakas, no, ang pinakamalakas na bomba pa ang sumabog and it brought the whole place down.

'Ano ba ang sunod na nangyari? I remembered that I was walking with so much agony on a cold dark night.'

And now, here she was, lying alone and dying in the middle of nowhere. She let out a chuckle.

"This is it, huh?" She asked the moon in a challenging tone. "You were there when I first opened my eyes in this world. You were there when and after I've done my killings and now, you're here on my last minutes, still watching me," she let out a small laugh.

This is it. Sabi nga nila you'll become emotional when you're at the death's door. You will remember and realize everything you've done in this world.

Everything flashes in her mind. Everything.

The happy and sad moments.

The people she've hurt when she killed their loved ones. Their innocent cries and pleas for help. Their shouts for justice, na hindi parin nila nakakamit hanggang ngayon, and curses towards the murderer, towards her. She can see them sobbing with so much pain and hurt right before her very eyes but she just turned the other cheek. No pity. No remorse.

'Why am I thinking about them in particular?'

Hindi niya na namalayang nagsimula na palang tumulo ang mga luha luha niya for the first time in so many years. Tears of pain, agony and maybe regrets? She's not sure. 'Was I such a bad person? No. I wasn't bad. I was a monster! A devil! I took away their dreams of a happy family.'

"Open you're eyes, look within. Are you satisfied with the life you're living?"

Why is she hearing his words now?

"If not, then take this advice, only a life lived for someone besides you is a life worth living."

'Stop!' She quickly shut her eyes dahil ayokong mas lalo pang tumulo ang luhang ngayon ay nagsimula ng tumulo.

'Shadow.......' She can't believe she's hearing him right at this moment.

"A life worth living....huh?" She whispered.

She guessed she didn't have that kind of life.

Pathetic, isn't it?

Nagsimula na niyang naramdaman ang pagod and the great need for a very long rest.

'Mom and Dad, if ever you're still there watching me above the skies, I wanted to say, I'm sorry.'

She closed her eyes for the last time and planned to never open them ever again. Finally, a girl needs her real good rest, right?

'Sleep well, Death Maiden.'