Captive

Masayang pinagmasdan ko ang mga batang nagsasanay. The weather is good for today's training. Hinaplos ko ang paborito kong baril. This was a gift from my father. It's a gold gun with my name on it. "Rebel," Nakangiting nilingon ko si Zero. He's my best friend and my fiance. My father wants me to marry him and I don't have any choice. Zero is a good man so I think marrying him is a good idea. "Why are you here? Are you already done with your training?" Tumango ako. "Yep, I'm done. Maaga akong nagising kaya maaga akong nag-aral para mas lalong gumaling sa pagbaril." Sagot ko. Ngumiti ito at hinaplos ang buhok ko. "Dad already approved the day off that you asked for the children." Lumiwanag ang mga mata ko. "Really?" He chuckled and nodded. "Yes, are you happy?" "Super!" I answered. His father and my father were business partners. We live on a mountain and my father is the leader. We don't belong to the government because we have ours. We are trained to protect our home, this mountain. A lot of people want to harm us so we trained harder just to protect our beliefs and home. "I'm glad that you're happy," he sincerely said. Zero is a sweet person. Madaling mahulog sa taong katulad n'ya. He's everyone's perfect man and I should be grateful that he's my fiance. "Look at them," turo ko sa mga batang nagsasanay sa pakikipaglaban. "Nang dumating sila rito, puro pagsasanay na lamang ang ginawa nila. They deserve a rest." Hinawakan nito ang kamay ko. "That's why I talked to, Dad. May mga bagong recruit pa na darating kaya sila muna ang sasanayin." He said. "Our family is getting bigger and I'm so happy about that." "You're right, I can't wait to grow old here with you. This mountain is our home, we will protect it together." I was about to answer when someone called my name. "Rebel!" Tumingin ako sa ibaba at doon ko nakita ang isa ko pang kaibigan. "Tracey," She rolled her eyes. "Let's go?" Kunot ang noo ko na tumingin dito. "Saan?" "Your father is waiting for you, he wants to talk to you." She answered. Nanlaki ang mata ko. "Oh, I forgot that he will say something to me," ani ko. "I need to go, Zero." Tumango ito at itinaas ang hawak na dagger. "Alright, I will start my training, then. See you later." I smiled sweetly and nodded. "See you!" "I want you to do something for me, Rebel." I looked at my father and smiled. He's my role model. He's a responsible man, this mountain and its people are on his shoulder. I want to be like him, a responsible leader. A strong and a good leader. "What is it, Papa?" I am willing to do everything he asks for. He's my father and he's the one who trained me. Everything I have is because of him. Ngumiti ito. "Dr. Albert is doing a big invention. It will protect our family more, we will become more powerful because of it." He explained. "And I want you to be the first person to try it." A new invention? Dr. Albert is Zero's father. He's a good man too and I trust him so I must obey my father. Tumango ako. "I will, sabihin n'yo nalang po sa akin kung kailan." Tumayo ito at pinagdikit ang noo naming dalawa. Ngumiti ako, this is one of his sweet gestures to me. When I'm still a kid, he always does this to me. An act of fatherly love. "I'm so proud of you, Iha. Your mother and I are proud of you," he whispered. I closed my eyes. This is one of my greatest achievements in life. Every child's dream was to make their parents happy and proud. I'm so glad that I'm fulfilling that. As long as I'm breathing, I will make them proud. I will protect our camp, I will fight for it until I die. I can still remember when I pledged my loyalty before. "I, Rebel, will protect and be a good leader herein, Mt. Kalasag. I promise to protect it for the rest of my life. This mountain and its people will be my responsibility from now on." My father smiled at me at kinuha ang mainit na pantatak. The skull with a snake as a crown is the mark that I am the heir of this camp. I didn't flinch even if it hurt. I must act strong in front of them. I shouldn't show any weaknesses to my people. Sa akin sila kukuha ng lakas, I will be their strength in this camp. Ako dapat ang maging sandalan nila. "I'm so proud of you, my daughter." I smiled at my mother and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm happy that you're proud of me, Mama." She smiled sweetly at inayos ang suot ko na puting dress. I looked at the mark on my nape in the mirror. It looks cool and a brand. A brand that I am now the heir of this camp. I was born a leader, I will be good at this. That's a promise. ---- "Your eyes can't fool me," "What are you saying, Tracey?" Inabot nito sa akin ang tsaa na dala. "Drink this to calm yourself." Maikling utos nito. I sighed at tiningnan ang kalangitan. This is what I love about living here in the mountain. Abot na abot ko ang kalangitan, ang mga nagniningning na mga bituin at ang pinakamaganda sa lahat. Ang buwan. Living here is like living in heaven to me. Peaceful and calm, malayo sa labas. I've never had a glimpse of the outside world. Wala akong ideya sa nangyayari sa labas but all I know was, it's all chaos outside. Marumi at madugo, 'yon ang paniniwala rito. That's why my father decided to live here, without government, without any trace. Malaya kami sa gulo, walang away tanging pagmamahal lang. Ngunit tila may kulang pa rin sa akin. "Why do I feel empty, Tracey?" Mahinang bulong ko. Nasa tuktok kami at malayo sa lahat. We're here on the rooftop of our house. Walang tao sa bahay dahil ang mga magulang ko ay nasa bahay nila Zero. They're having a meeting and I'm not allowed to go there. "Ano ba sa palagay mo ang kulang?" Ano nga ba ang kulang sa akin? Umiling ako. "I don't know, I'm so confused." Humarap ito sa akin. "I heard that Dr. Albert has a new invention. They want you to be the first human to try it?" She asked. Bakas ang pagdududa sa boses nito. "Yeah, it's the first time that my father asked me to try it first." I said. She sighed. "Don't, don't try it." Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa sinabi ni Tracey. This is the first time that she has asked me not to do something. "What? Why?" "You don't understand, Rebel. Everything is a freaking illusion! Everything is just lies, I don't want you to get hurt." Lumunok ako. Tracey is such a cool person. She's always calm and collected and I don't understand why she's acting like this. She looks problematic and stressed. "What do you mean? Tell me what you know?" Sinabunutan nito ang sarili at tumingin sa akin. "This, our life is a whole lie. They are not training us to protect our home, they're training us to become a killer. We are trained to become an assassin. They want us to be a weapon." She explained. Kumabog ang dibdib ko dahil sa sinabi nito. Tracey never lies to me, she will never do that. "Killer? Weapon?" Bakas pa rin ang kalituhan sa utak ko. Tumango ito at hinawakan ang kamay ko. "Don't do it, I don't trust that sick scientist. Last night, I heard them talking. The new invention is like a chip. It will program your mind so they can control you." Nanghihinang napaupo ako dahil sa narinig. "D-does my father know this?" Pumikit ito at tumango. "Alam n'ya, at hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit pumayag s'ya na sayo gawin. All I know was, they monitor you and your subconscious mind is strong. Your mind can handle the chip so they can develop it more," lumuhod ito at niyakap ako. "I am your protector and I will never let them harm you, Rebel." Tumulo ang luha sa mata ko. I feel betrayed by my father. By my own family. All I know now was, everything seems clear to me. The reason why I'm not happy is that I am surrounded by monsters. All along I thought we are trained to be soldiers but I was wrong. Tumayo ako. "Where are you going?" She asked. I looked at her at pinunasan ang luha sa mga mata ko. "Come with me, I'll figure it out by myself."