VESCOVI SERIES: BORROWED HEART

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 5

Nanatili akong nakatitig sa puting kisame. The silence in this hospital-like room was deafening, far more terrifying than the darkness of the previous cell. Amoy gamot at mamahaling linis ang paligid, pero hindi noon mababago ang katotohanang bilanggo pa rin ako.

I looked at my wrist. Wala na ang gapos, pero ramdam ko pa rin ang bakas niyon sa balat ko. This is my chance. Habang wala si Silas, habang wala ang doktor na iyon. I need to get out of here. Kailangan kong mahanap si Kuya bago pa siya maunahan ng demonyong 'yun.

Dahan-dahan akong bumaba sa kama. My legs felt like jelly, halos bumigay ang tuhod ko sa unang hakbang pa lang. I had to hold onto the wall for support. Bawat hininga ko ay may kasamang kaba na tila sasabog ang dibdib ko. This heart... please, just give me enough strength to run.

Nang marating ko ang pinto, dahan-dahan ko itong pinihit. It wasn’t locked.

My heart leaped with hope. Sumilip ako sa labas, expecting a hospital hallway, but my eyes widened in horror. This wasn’t a public hospital. The grand staircase, the dark wood panels, the scent of expensive cigars lingering in the air... I’m still inside his house. Silas’ mansion is so vast it has its own medical wing.

"Okay ka na!"

Napatalon ako sa gulat nang makita si Joan na papalapit, may dalang bagong saplot para sa akin. Her eyes were bright with relief, but I couldn't share the sentiment. I looked past her and saw them at the end of the long hallway.

Doc Caleb and Silas.

They were talking in low voices, but the moment the door clicked, both of them turned their heads. Silas looked at me with that same predatory gaze, his hands casually shoved in his pockets. Caleb, on the other hand, had a worried frown on his face.

The moment the light hit Silas’ face, naramdaman ko ang panginginig ng mga tuhod ko. He looked so calm, so regal, yet so deadly.

This is it. I have to try.

I turned the other way, intending to run toward the back exit I saw earlier. My feet were bare against the cold marble floor.

"Go on, run..."

The cold, melodic lilt of Silas’ voice made the hair on my neck stand up. It wasn't a command to stop; it was an invitation. Isang hamon na tila ba nakikipaglaro siya sa isang maliit na hayop na alam niyang wala namang mapupuntahan.

I didn't listen. I forced my legs to move faster, ignoring the sharp sting in my chest.

I ran. Kahit masakit, kahit nahihirapan akong huminga. But then, a deafening sound shattered the silence. Parang ikinabingi ko ang lakas n’yon.

Napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Ang tunog na iyon... it was so loud it felt like it pierced through my soul. Dahan-dahan akong lumingon, ang mga mata ko ay punong-puno ng takot.

The bullet hit the floor just inches away from Joan’s feet. Joan screamed, dropping the clothes, before collapsing on the floor. Humahagulgol siya, ang mga kamay ay nakatakip sa kaniyang mukha habang nanginginig ang buong katawan.

Silas was standing there, his gun still raised, the smoke curling from the barrel like a silent ghost. His eyes were dark, devoid of any mercy.

"Don't make me do it, Kid," he said, his voice dropping into a low, dangerous whisper. "I told you, didn't I? Every time you try to leave, someone else pays the price. Do you want her blood on your hands too?"

My eyes blurred with tears as I looked at Joan. The bullet had hit the marble floor just inches away from Joan’s feet. Naka-upo pa rin si Joan sa sahig, humihahagolgol sa takot habang nakatakip ang mga kamay sa kaniyang tainga.

Silas was standing there, his arm extended, a sleek black handgun held firmly in his grip. The smoke was still curling from the barrel. His expression didn't change… it remained as cold and heartless as the steel he was holding.

"One more step, Kid, and I won't miss her next time," Silas said, his voice terrifyingly calm.

Saka ko naalala ang banta niya. He told me before... kung susubukan kong tumakas, hindi lang ako ang magbabayad. He’d kill anyone who helped me. He’d kill Joan.

"Sil! What the hell are you doing?!" Caleb shouted, stepping toward him, but Silas didn't even look at the doctor. His eyes were pinned on me, watching me crumble.

"I told you, she’s a flight risk, Caleb. And I don't like losing my things," Silas added, his gaze dropping to the gun before looking back at me.

This is my fault. Everything is my fault. My brother’s sin, the heart in my chest, and now Joan’s life.

He told me that my actions have consequences... not for me, but for the people around me. He knows I can't stand seeing someone else suffer because of me.

"Sil! That’s enough!" Caleb hissed, reaching for Silas’ arm, but Silas just shrugged him off, his gaze never leaving mine.

"Come here," Silas commanded. His English was perfect, sharp, and biting. "Don't make me repeat myself. Walk back here, or the next bullet goes into her heart... since you're so fond of keeping hearts that don't belong to you."

Naramdaman ko ang paghulas ng hininga ko. It felt like my own heart was stopping. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad pabalik, ang bawat hakbang ay tila paglapit sa sarili kong libingan. Nilampasan ko si Joan na hindi man lang magawang tumingin sa akin sa sobrang takot.

Nang makalapit ako, Silas reached out and gripped my arm. Not too tight to bruise, but firm enough to let me know I’m not going anywhere.

"You're a very stubborn kid," he whispered, leaning down so I could feel his warm breath against my ear. "But you need to learn that in this house, I am the only one who decides who stays and who goes. You're staying. Until I've bled your brother dry."

Gusto ko siyang saktan. Gusto ko siyang itulak. Pero tanging pag-iyak lang ang nagawa ko. I looked at Caleb, begging for help with my eyes, pero tanging pait na pag-iling lang ang naisagot niya.

"Dalhin mo na siya sa loob, Joan. At siguraduhin mong hindi na siya lalabas kung ayaw mong ang susunod na bala ay sa bungo mo na tumama," malamig na utos ni Silas.

Inakay ako ni Joan pabalik sa kwarto. Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng kaniyang kamay sa braso ko. I looked back one last time and saw Silas standing there, watching me like a hawk.

He is a monster. A beautiful, heartless monster. At habang tumitibok ang pusong ito sa loob ng dibdib ko, hinding-hindi niya ako pakakawalan. I am bound to him by blood and by a heart that was never meant to be mine.