The Underworld Prince Next Door

PROLOGUE

As a kid, I dreamed to be in a place with green meadows with families that are happily playing under the sun. I also dreamed to be with my parents every Christmas and New Years, eating my mom's home made ham with pineapple on top of it. And open the boxes of gifts they prepared when the clock strikes twelve.

As a kid, I simply dreamed that every night, my mom will read me fairytale stories while my father will be sitting beside me while tucking me on my bed until I grow old. I only dreamed for a peaceful world. But, little did I know, those dreams will only go down in vain.

Sa lahat ng mga matitirang alaala sa aking isipan, ang tanging naaalala ko ay ang pangyayari noong gabing iyon. Sa ika-walong buwan ng ika-labing siyam na araw ng taong 3115. Sa araw ng aking ika-limang kaarawan, limang lalaking naka-itim ang biglang pumasok sa bahay namin na may hawak ng malalaki at mahahabang baril sa kanilang mga kamay.

"Sino kayo? Anong ginagawa niyo dito?" Sigaw ng aking ama na may hawak pa rin ng kutsilyo para sa cake na gawa ng aking ina.

Mabilis na nilapitan ako ng aking ina. Hinila niya ako papunta sa kusina habang kaharap pa rin ng aking ama ang mga hindi inaasahang mga bisita. Habang ako, hindi nawawala ang aking tingin sa mga lalaki na nagpapanginig ng buo kong kalamnan.

Sa panahong ito, ang mga batang edad apat na taon ay natututo at umaakto bilang matatanda samantalang ang mga taong edad 50, kadalasan ay binabawian na ng buhay. Kumpara noon, mas maikli na ang buhay ng mga tao.

Sa pagtingin kong muli sa aking ina, nakangiti siya habang umiiyak sa aking harapan. Dahil sa ingay na nagmumula sa labas ng aming bahay, hindi ko na narinig pa ang pagbulong ng aking ina sa aking tenga. Pilit kong inusisa ang kaniyang sinabi, pero hindi na niya ako nagawang mapansin dahil sa pagmamadali.

She pulled a lever that I thought, it's just a simple candle holder. Our floor shook and a door opened. My mom pushed me into it while crying.

"Mom! Don't leave me!" I cried as a transparent wall started to seperate us.

"Sorry baby." The men in black came and held my mom captive. They tried to take me too but the transparent wall don't budge at all.

I saw how frustrated they are. They shoot the wall for how many times I can count, but in vain. They confront my mom and dad but they kept their mouth silent. They looked at me and mouthed, "I love you." Before the door completely closed and they were taken away.

Wala akong magawa kundi ang umiyak at tawagin ang aking mga magulang. Takot akong mag-isa, takot ako sa kadilimang bumabalot sa kapaligiran.

Kung alam ko lang na mangyayari ito, kung malakas lang ako, siguro nandito pa rin sila na kasama kong nakaupo sa silid sa ilalim ng bahay namin na pinasadya nila. Siguro, kung malakas lang ako, hindi sila mahuhuli ng mga lalaking iyon na naka-itim.

"Little girl. Are you alright?" I heard a man's voice asked me behind the closed door.

I didn't respond due to the fear that it is a bad guy who will capture me like what happened to my parents.

"Little girl, what is your name? May I have it?" He asked again.

I stood up from my bed and slowly walked toward the door that I don't know how to open.

I thought, 'If I give you my name, then I would be nameless.'

"Little girl. Don't be afraid. I am here because your parents told me to rescue you." He said once again.

My heart lightened when he mentioned my parents. I feel a sudden happiness with a glimpse of hope that they are alive and well.

"Are you sure?" I asked him.

"Little girl, I know that you're afraid. But I am not a bad guy. I swear." He said against the wall door.

"W-where is mom and dad?" I asked again.

"Honestly, I don't know. The day before they were captured, they sent me a secret message that something will happen and I need to rescue you within a week. Or else, you will die in starvation."

I feel my world crumbled down when he said it. I want to cry once again until my eyes went dry. But, if they all were captured, it means, they're alive! I need to find them!

"How can I trust you?" I asked him.

I can't trust people so easily. Or else, I may end like what happened to my family.

"I am Chrys. I live in Eternity Temple at the Eastern Valley. I am a friend of your parents. You may not trust me, but I hope you can believe me." He replied.

"Chrys?"

"Yes. Why?"

"I heard stories about you. My mom said that you are the one who wrote the fairy tale books she collected for my bookshelf. You are a writer, right?"

My mom always telling that this Chrys is a kind man that they met in the Eternity Temple to pray for peace. They said, he is a writer who especially writes stories about the ancient time. People believes that he is a god, some people says that he is a time traveler, and so on. But my mom and dad only believes that he is the karma God sent to us.

"Yes, I am. Why? Do you want to write stories like me?"

"Yes! Yes I want to be a writer like you!" I replied cheerfully.

"Then, open this door. It is hard to teach you if we will stay here."

"Oh. But there is no switch in here." I said, sadly.

"I see. I'll find the switch right away. Please wait for me." Then, he disappeared.

I thought, he left me. But he opened the door and embraced me. I cried my heart out until I lost my energy.

He carried me to the east by his back while we are looking around the place. The neighborhood that once lively and full of people around, is now desolated and like a ghost town that only leaves can be the only thing that may call that is full of life that lingers in the streets. Who would have thought that a full change can exist in here, overnight?

"Remember this. If you want to save your mom and dad, learn and study more. Learn how to fight, and study your opponent. I will support you." He said with a smile on his face.

Maybe, it is not that bad that this thing happened. It is a blessing in disguise because I met my master— Master Chrys.

"Yes, master. I will do my best to be worthy to be your disciple. I will avenge my parents and also... Build you a palace, and maybe, if you'll not dead when I grow up, I will be your forever companion as your... Wife." He chuckled and shake his head.

"No need for a palace. Just stay with me, everything will be okay." He replied. "I am not a p********a, little girl. Just be my student, that's all." He added.

I simply smiled with what he said. With his words, I decided to make a mission for myself, and that is to live my life to be able to find my parents and repay my master's kindness.