The Maid's Secret

Chapter 6: Eliminating and Solving

As soon as I entered the subdivision, I hurried on parking my damn car at my house's garage to proceed on preparing my disguise. I tried to communicate with Martin Woods for the nth time but he was of no avail. That is when I start to feel a little trouble inside me. Why is he not answering my calls? Did something happen already in the household? What about the others?

I've put my veil on first before wearing the golden Venetian mask. The mask which will be the one they will recognize as their savior tonight.

After checking my clothes if they will not give me any problem later, I fetch my babies from the cabinet which had been waiting to be used for a long time. Sorry. I won't accept it if your sharpness and deadliness have gotten rusty.

I have to save someone of great importance.

After picking everything I'll need, I positioned myself on my room's window wherein you can use to peek inside the attic. Since the De Guzman Mansion's attic was located at their third floor and my current location is at the fourth floor of this house, I have to do a stunt to enter the attic from here.

Kinakalkula ko nang mabuti ang distansya ng bintanang kinalalagyan ko sa ngayon at ang bintanang naroroon sa may attic. "Vanna, try to open the door," and in a matter of seconds, the sole window from the attic opened as if I used some magic word.

Nang masiguro ko na kung papaano ko tatantyahin ang pagpunta roon ay hinablot ko na ang bow and arrow ko na nakapatong sa kalapit na lamesa. I tried to adjust my eyepiece which is resting on my left eye one more time to ensure that my calculations won't fail me.

The arrow's tail is tied with a wire rope so once I launched the arrow and it landed at the wood above the window, I can have my entrance and save the prince charming. Right, that's the first step.

I pulled the bowstring backward while I'm making my arms steady. The strength and force should be just right. "Target point detected. Arrow's aim locked. Release the arrow within five seconds," Vanna reported as the crosshairs steadied on my scope.

And on my guardian's mark, I released the arrow, landing the right aim perfectly. "Gotcha," I uttered. Seems like they haven't gotten rusty, have they?

I made sure that the connector and the carabiner are on good condition before I settled on jumping anytime soon. Okay... the rope coiler machiner is on the position as well. "Guards?" huling tanong ko kay Vanna bago ko ipagpatuloy ang plano ko. Hindi pwedeng may makakita sa akin o ni makahagip man lang sa akin.

"

I've disconnected every network attached to every CCTV cameras around the area, Ishtar. No sign of any passer-by. The guard house's monitor will be blocked for only thirty seconds. The timer starts... now."

Kahit papaano naman ay talagang kumpirmadong tama lang ang layo at lokasyon ng bahay na nabili ko na ito. Liban pa rito'y walang puno o poste na haharang sa pagpunta ko sa kabilang mansyon. Here we go. "One..."

On my guardian's first count, I jumped from the window to proceed to my rescue operation. The flight has been smooth and fast. Sa mismong pagtanggal ko sa pana sa pagkakabaon nito ay awtomatiko na itong hinatak ng machine. Sumunod naman ang pagsarado ng bintanang pinanggalingan ko at ang mga ilaw na naiwang kong bukas.

"Twenty-nine...Thirty. Right on time. The guard house's monitors will be getting their signals back. CCTV cameras restarting..."

Inilapag ko naman na ang mga gamit na galing sa isang bahay sa sahig at nagmadali na akong ipagsusuksok ito sa mga lagayang nakatali sa ibang parte ng katawan ko upang magamit ko sa kahit anong oras para mamaya. Just the enough weight to move...

As I was inserting one last throwing knife to my leather sheath, my gear watch beeped for another notice again, making me stop on the edge of ending my preparations.

"The intruders were surrounding the house as of now. One of them is walking near to the attic. Two, in front of the house. Another one from the back door and the other is inside the library."

It's great to have this kind of gadgets. Really thank you, Mark. They're really reliable. Why? Dahil nakakarinig na ako ng langitngit na gawa ng mga yapak ng isang tao mula sa labas.

Wrong room, you fool. You have come to reach the lion's den.

Dahan-dahan kong siniksik ang huling patalim na hawak ko at kaagad na lumapit sa gilid ng pintuan. Hindi ko na inabalang buksanpa ang ilaw sapagkat sa oras na matapos akong kalabanin ang isang 'to, kadiliman lang din naman ang magiging una at huling masisilayan niya.

I reached to open the lock of the door for him to be free on opening it. Dulot na gawa lang sa kahoy ang attic ay maririnig at maririnig mo ang ingay na magmumula sa loob at sa hindi kalayuan dito. The moment he finally let himself welcomed into my room, I took a step to gave him a light punch to his stomach. It made him chuckle of course. Just as I expected, he let his guard down.

Aside from that, he appears to be a sadist.

"Aw, mukhang may iba akong kasama rito ah. Nasaan ka? Sa tingin mo ba nasaktan mo ako sa ginawa mo? Ni katiting, hindi," panghahamon pa nito.

With him saying that, it has come for my time to smirk. Talaga lang ha? Hindi pa kasi talaga iyan ang tunay na masakit. Hinablot ko ang isa sa mga patalim ko at itinarak ko sa may bandang balikat niya. Mabilis naman itong nagdugo at ang pag-inda ng lalaki ang pumarinig sa kwarto ko. Agad ko rin namang binawa ang pagkakatarak nito. Hindi ako maaaring mag-iwan ng kahit anong bakas.

Mukhang paglilinisin pa ako nang 'di oras ng taong ito ah.

"A-Aray! Putangina! Nasaan ka? Magpakita kang tarantado ka!" at iwinasiwas pa nito ang nilabas niyang kutsilyo sa buong kwarto.

Sa boses pa lamang niya ay batid kong nangangamba na siya sa sarili niyang kaligtasan. Hindi nga ba't mas nakakatakot kung hindi mo nakikita ang kalaban mong nais tapusin ang buhay mo?

He has the guts on crashing to someone else's house but he can't even endure one attack. Oh, I know. The knife I used has been dipped on a substance that will render someone unconscious. No doubt he is crawling to the floor right now. Unfortunately, no one is coming to save you from my grasp. It will soon paralyze your jaw motions too. You will not be able to speak anytime soon.

Iyan ang napapala ng mga katulad mo. Pasalamat ka at pinaralisa at sinugatan lang kita.

Now. Shall we proceed on punishing the other ones too?

Hinakbangan ko ang nakalupasay na katawan ng isa sa mga nanloob sa mansyon at tinungo ko ang pangalawang palapag kung saan matatagpuan ang silid-aklatan. Habang dahan-dahan akong bumababa ay naririnig ko na ang ingay ng mga pahinang tila sinisira ng humahawak nito. May naghahalughog ng kung ano sa loob.

Hindi lang mga manloloob. Mga magnanakaw pa.

Gumawi ako sa kaliwa dahil isang kwarto lang ang layo nito sa hagdan paakyat sa attic. Napangiwi naman ako nang makitang masyadong hindi mapag-ingat ang taong pumasok dito dahil naiwan niya pang nakabukas ang pinto.

Tsk tsk. Mukhang mga pasikat na magnanakaw lang yata ang mga ito. Wala pa akong nakitang ganitong katanga na manloloob sa ilang taon kong pagtatrabaho. Ngayon lang.

Nag-obserba muna ako kung may nakakapansin na ba sa bahay na may nakapasok na mga lalaki pero wala pa namang sigaw ng paghingi ng tulong akong nadidinig. What an idiot, Martin. Ang hina pa rin talaga ng pakiramdam ng lalaking iyon. What's the sense of teaching him before if he can't even apply it? Duh.

"Number of people inside the particular area confirmed. One person, armed with an army knife and a single g*n. Based on his body condition analyzed by the sensor, you can take him up without using any weapon. The person's muscles are quite not familiar with any history of hand-to-hand combat and close combat."

Since Vanna told me through the earpiece I wore that he's alone inside the library, I dared to step in with fewer precautions. However, compared to the first one, this one was able to sense my presence earlier than I expected. Alam na alam niya ang presensya ng p**********p. That's one good point.

He threw the book he is holding to toss the army knife Vanna said he has on his keeps. Just like what I was informed, this guy doesn't know anything with combat. I was able to catch the knife easily which makes him panic. Nilaro-laro ko pa ang patalim sa pagitan ng mga daliri ko at napansin ko na ang paglunok ng kaharap ko.

"Sino ka?! Bakit ka nandito?! Bakit ka ba nakikialam?!"

Siraulo pala ito e. Kliyente ko ang nakatira sa bahay na ito na paniguradong aatakihin mo makuha lang ang mga kailangan niyo sa pamamahay niya. Paanong hindi ako makikialam? Ang tigas naman ng bungo mo magtanong.

Given that I didn't bring any voice modifier with me, I shut my mouth up. Instead, I signaled him with my hand gestures to come closer and closer until he reaches a good spot to be punched and kicked.

Pagkaapak niya sa pwestong iyon ay kamao ko na ang pinangsalubong ko sa kanya. Nawalan naman siya ng balanse at napahawak sa mukha niya. Nang makabawi siya ay agad niyang inilabas at inihanda ang b***l na dala niya mula sa pagkakasukbit nito sa kanyang tagiliran.

I could've stopped him from pulling that g*n out. But let's see what this guy can do. Let's have a short playtime.

Walang sinayang na oras ang lalaki at bara-barang sumugod sa direksyon ko na animo'y wala na siyang ibang mapagpilian pa. Sa bagay, kung sakaling hindi siya makatakas dito ay makukulong at makukulong siya.

As he come towards me, I caught his arm and twisted it to his back. I know that there's a simple trick to escape the lock so I got his remaining arm as well, trapping him with my grasp. Habang napupunta na ang konsentrasyon niya sa nananakit niyang mga kamay ay saka ko kinalas ang isa kong kamay nang sa gayon ay magamit ko ang siko ko upang patulugin ang lalaki sa pamamagitan ng pagtama sa kanyang bandang batok.

Once I was able to confirm that he has dozed off, I picked the g*n up to unload it. I was about to set off to find the other remaining naughty boys when I thought of injecting the guy with a small dose of a d**g that would put him to sleep for a few hours certainly.

Malay natin kung magising pa ito at makialam mamaya. O hindi kaya'y magsumbong sa mga pulis sa oras ng interogasyon. I better make sure to put him behind the bars before he could arise a matter about my involvement.

"Ahhh! Tulong! Tulungan niyo ko! Maawa kayo!"

"Si Manang Delia ba iyon?" pagkaalerto ko. Pati ba naman ang matanda ay hindi pa nila palalampasin?!

By hearing another following screams for help from the first floor, it was my time now to pull my own weapons. Tumayo na ako at lumabas mula sa silid-aklatan upang mas mapakinggan ang mga pagtawag. "Vanna, call out to the guard house and to the police station nearby as soon as I gave you a signal."

"Copy that, Ishtar."

Napasulyap ako sa engrandeng hagdanan ng mansyon na ito. Sorry, I will take the shortcut. I jumped from the second floor's railing and landed well on the ground. Pinagmasdan ko ang bawat sulok ng unang palapag. Unang nakakuha ng atensyon ko ay ang bukas na na pinto ng dining room na siyang may nakakonektang daan direkta sa kusina, Ibig sabihin, nakapasok na 'yung dalawa at gayon na rin siguro ang taong pumasok mula sa likod.

"Yellow alert. The two guards from the front were identified dead by the CamV2G scan. Client DDG has been found in the theater room which is a soundproofed room."

Sa paglalakad ko papuntang dining room ay naalala kong nandirito lang din sa unang palapag ang theater room. Sa kabutihang palad, mukhang wala pa namang nakakadiskubre na naroroon siya sa pagitan ng mga manloloob. Lalo na at walang senyales silang makukuha gawa na rin ng estado ng kwartong kinaroroonan nito.

So for now, let's get my fellow maids to safety.

Unfortunately, I found my girls on an awful picture, waving and swinging all antiques and silverware to the two boys who have katana with them. As I was checking out the number of people in here... Wait. Where's Woods? Aish. Let's find him later.

Kinuha ko ang isa sa mga nahulog na mga kubyertos sa sahig at binato isa-isa sa ulo ng dalawang lalaking nakaitim. Abang napatingin naman silang kaagad sa akin at nginisian ako na pawang nakahanap sila ng bagong mapaglalaruan.

Sinalubong ako ng mga ito ng pagsugod. I postured myself on my usual defense stance and I kicked the first man on his chest to settle some matters with this psychotic-looking second man. I used the twisting and locking tactic again on him for him to lose his grip on the katana. Binitawan ko naman na rin siya nang mahulog sa sahig ang patalim at nang muntikan pa niya itong damputin ay malakas ko siyang itinulak papunta sa lamesa.

"Ay Diyos ko po! Sus maryosep!"

"Tuktukan niyo ng mangkok ang ugok na iyan!"

Bigla namang umentra ang kaninang sinipa ko at muntikan na niya akong saksakin nang subukan kong muli na gamitin sa kanya ang taktikang nagawa ko na sa iba niyang kasamahan. Inilag-ilagan ko panandalian ang mga atake niya hanggang sa makakita ako ng pagkakataon hablutin ang mga kamay niya.

Pilit ko pwinersa ang mga kamay niya upang makuha ang kontrol sa mga ito. Sa una ay inilayo ko muna ang espada mula sa akin hanggang sa nagawa ko nang maitutok sa kanya ang sarili niyang sandata. Bahagyang itinulak ko ito sa may tagiliran niya na siyang nakapaglikha ng hiwa sa kanya. Nang tuluyang nawala ang kontrol niya sa hawakan ng espada ay doon ko ito kinuha at ginamit upang bigyan pa siya ng karagdagang hiwa sa kanyang braso.

The maids were on a rage and were continuously cheering me on as if they're watching some action scene from a movie. To give myself some time to breath more, I stepped back for a little bit as I was seeing the two crawling to attain their swords back.

They won't stop unless I make a move that they won't be expecting.

Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago ko tuluyang ihagis ang katana na hawak ko papunta sa panig ng mga katulong na may bakas ng mga takot sa kani-kanilang mga mukha. Napasigaw sila sa pagdampi nito sa kanilang paanan habang ang dalawa kong kalaban ay matagumpay na nakatayo na mula sa pagkakagapang at handa na muli akong sugurin.

Marahas na inagaw ng isa ang katana na inihagis ko. Tiningnan ko silang dalawa sa kanilang mga mata. Over-focusing won't lead you to a better result. It's better to successfully do it instead of failing everything.

Nang muling papasugod na sila ay tumalon ako papataas para maiwasan ang parehong atake nila. I landed above their swords with the confidence that both swords would be capable of supporting my weight since I haven't checked my body mass index yet.

Pagkababa ko, bumagsak na silang dalawa sa may sahig at may masaganang dugo na ang lumalabas mula sa mga bibig nila dahil napuruhan nila ang lalamunan ng bawat isa nang magkasalubong ang mga atake nila. They are too focused that they weren't able to see it coming. Killing each other, that is.

Sari-saring tilian ang dinulot nito sa buong sambahayan. Even so, this is merely one of the thousands scenarios I've been to. Scenarios that would probably make them lose their consciousness. Anyway, let's go and find the evil master next.

Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ko sa may dining room ay natagpuan ko ang nagpupumiglas na Martin mula sa natitirang manloloob na kasalukuyang tinututukan siya ng isang b***l. Before he could even pull the trigger, I drew three throwing knives from my leg sheath and threw it to the man's back and arm.

He was about to get up to get back at me when the drugs take effect. "Seriously, Woods. Have you ever learned from me?" pang-aasar ko sa nagkukumarag na bumangon na si Martin.

"At least I was able to stop him from beating the s**t out of our young master," depensa nito na may nakakalokong ngiti habang pinapagpagan ang uniporme niya.

Napailing na lang ako sa naging tugon niya. "Fine. Since he's the last one, I think I don't have to check on Derek anymore. The policemen will be coming soon so I better change now. You take care of the idiot," habilin ko bago ako tuluyang umakyat muli sa may attic upang magpalit.

In return, he nodded with his hand gesturing me to get lost already. Bastard. "Gehen, Vanna," I signaled her as soon as I reach my room's doorstep. Mamaya maya, may mga pupuntang mga pulis dito upang imbestigahan ang nangyari kaya dapat nandito ako bilang Jenny at magbigay ng testamento na hindi nila mapagsususpetsahan.

"Searching for contact. Detected. Forming a contact and sending an anonymous tip, success."

Pagkapasok ko ay awtomatikong nagsara ang pinto. Hinakbangan kong muli 'yung lalaking una kong naingkwentro upang makalapit sa may kama ko. I changed into my maid uniform after I washed my make up off. Tinago ko na rin nang mabuti ang damit na ginamit ko pati na ang maskara at belong pinantabing ko sa aking mukha.

Nang isasara ko na ang lalagyanan kung saan ko itinatago ang mga ito, may sumaging ideya sa aking isipan. Napaisip ako. "Ten years of service. Ten years as Agent Ishtar who wears the golden Venetian mask. Will there be a time when I have to stop all the facade and to reveal my real identity?"

Master Phoenix keeps on telling each one of us...

When you are living as an agent, you are living with a great responsibility on you. When you are responsible for a life, you treat that person's life as your own.

In short, when you have to protect someone's life, you don't have a life. Their lives became yours.