Redemption

Chapter 002

Chapter 02: The End of Road

United States Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum Facility

(USP Florence ADMAX)

Autumn Niebes

Father Javier used to tell us that God has laid out already everything. All the paths we're going to take, he created that. The decision lies upon us which path we will have to choose. And if you took the wrong path, he would give you reason to look forward to.

He knows everything. Lying is never an option. You always have to tell the truth. Why do we have to tell the truth if he already knows it?

I don't know. I'm just blabbering stupid shits.

You know, my life back then? I was a free young woman who spent her money on different things that will make her happy. But like what I said in the beginning, I wasn't very smart. Yeah, you are right. Hindi ako matalino, pero hindi rin naman ako bobo. Medyo lang.

So, those bunch of money I had from my dead foster parents? I spent it all, and I spent it to useless things. I almost lived in the mall. Hindi ako umuuwi ng walang dala na mamahalin'g brands. Until I lately realized that I lost just everything. Ang mansion na lang ang naiwan sa akin. Ni wala 'man lang akong nasimulan na negosyo.

I lost our maids, guards, even our family lawyer bid his good bye to me. I was alone, drank, lowsy and trash, sitting at the gather outside of the famous bar I used to spend my night in.

I was like this pretty rich girl and then poooooof! Now, I'm nothing. Where are my rich friends? Oh, they're inside hanging like a wild lion and I was outside, a beggar street kitten, crying like a piece of s**t.

I even thought of selling the mansion, but I remembered my parents whose nothing but good to me. I gave up, and the only thing I had was a beer in can and this huge mansion.

I still go to bar, you know. Hmm, not the one before. The cheapest and dirtiest bar I have ever known. At least, I got to drink, and smoke.

I was a bit high, looking all nasty and messed up leaning on the bar counter when I saw two men talking about some job.

Oh, well I was jobless so that must interest me.

So, when the other man left, I talked to the bartender.

And he recommended me this kind of job they call contractors. You just gotta do what's in the contract and they will pay you dipende sa napagkasunduan na halaga. It sounded easy, no?

I didn't even think twice, dear. Pumunta agad ako sa lugar na nakalagay sa business card na galing don sa bartender. I saw high end cars parked outside and its office were located at the 4th floor so I went in.

Pero wala pang isang minuto, binalibag na ako ng guard palabas ng gusali.

What the f**k, right?!

"Hindi ito ang lugar para sa'yo, miss! Umalis ka na!"

"Mag a-apply ako ng trabaho. Sabi ng bartender na nakausap ko, hiring kayo rito!"

Galit na galit akong tumayo at pinagpagan ang damit kong na-alikabukan. I was wearing a hanging blouse and fitted high waisted jeans and a sneaker. Pinulot ko ang sling bag ko na nasa sahig at nilabas mula roon ang business card na bigay nung bartender.

Pinakita ko ito sa guard na walang habas na binalibag ako. Hindi ko pa tuluyan nabibigay sa kaniya ng mukhang nakilala na niya agad 'yung papel na hawak ko.

Tinitigan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa, at tsaka napa-iling.

"Hindi ito ang trabaho na para sa'yo."

"Sino ka naman para malaman 'yon? Bakit hindi mo na lang ako padaanin. Mag sa-submit lang ako ng resume, tapos aalis na ako! Malay mo, matanggap ako! I came from a good school, you know?"

He's shaking his head, as if he's losing his patience and that he'd no time for my shits.

"Kapag nagawa mo akong mapatumba at maagaw ang baril na ito sa akin, papapasukin kita."

And when he said that? Dear, that challenged me for a very long time. So, I didn't waste my time. I step back and went home, not to find another job but to visit my father's old gym.

The room was covered in dust so I had it cleaned before I started. It was a large room filled with complete sets of gym materials. I spent three months for the basic training and defense that I learned from youtube tutorials.

After four months, I came back to that place. Nagulat pa 'yung guard na makita ako, pero hindi ko na siya binigyan pa ng pagkakataon makapag-react.

Nang makalapit ako, agad ko siyang sinuntok sa mukha. Hinugot ko ang kuwelyo niya at binalibag siya sa sahig. Kasabay ng pagbagsak niya ay ang pag angat ko ng baril na nakuha ko sa katawan niya nung inangat ko siya.

Kinasa ko ito at tinutok sa kaniya,

"Pasok na ba ako?"

The guard sighed defeated. Ngumisi ako sa kaniya. Binalik ko sa safety ang baril at pumasok na sa loob ng building.

I started with cheap and easy job, pero halos lahat ng iyon, isang krimen. Kung hindi ako uutusan sumunog ng gusali, sasabutahinin ko naman 'yung mga kargamento ng kalaban nila.

Okay na rin ang bayad, malaki na. I even questioned myself why was I doing this when I can be something. I can work in a fine and air conditioned office. With my school background and diploma, I can be in a managerial position that comes with high salary. Why this? Why here?

Noon, hindi ko alam. But after years of getting by, I finally understood myself.

I love the thrill and the adventure it gives me whenever I was in a mission. Through these years, I started learning everything. I started to excel in all kinds of self defense, gunnery and this one day, I finally had my first kill.

For fifty thousand pesos, I have to kill the Mayor from a small city in South. It turned out messy because I was almost busted out, but I learned through that experiences until I became better, until all my mission were clean and perfect.

I got promoted. I was one of the highest contract killers in the company. I was given a team to assist me. Julió, Euly and Dani. We were good, we were recognized as one of the highly paid assassin.

But, all of these comes with a price, so when Euly went South, nadamay kami dahil hindi namin siya tinalikuran.

From being the most highly paid contractors, now we're hiding like a fugitive from the company. We have to pay the price of what we have done because of Euly. We went abroad. We stayed hidden for a year. Matapos niyan, nagsimula ulit kami bilang contractors pa rin sa amerika.

And United States being the best in their job, identified us and became a fugitive. I just killed the US Vice President. We bombed the Time Square, and many more.

Now, I'm here in the America's supermaximum facility called Florence ADMAX. And good news, baby! Because in five days, I will be electrocuted!

How f*****g sweet.

Cold in these four corner thick walls, I was alone and thinking. Walang bintana, o kahit ano na puwede akong masinagan ng araw. Wala rin ilaw, at ang mayron lang, ang kubeta kong malinis palagi at single bed na higaan. At least, may awa sila na bigyan ako ng kutson.

I have been here for four? Five years? I lost count. Hindi na rin naman ako nabigyan ng pagkakataon lumaban ng matagal dahil sa dami ng ebidensya, anim na buwan lang ay nahatulan na ako agad.

I spent my five years drowning myself from regrets and pitty. Hindi ako naubusan ng 'what ifs' at pagod na rin akong umiyak. I finally gave up. In five days, I will be sitting in that damn electric chair. Ngayon pa lang, nililista ko na ang mga hihilingin ko para sa last supper ko.

I sighed. Maybe I should just ask for a cake? No, I want to eat everything before I die.

Napabangon ako dahil sa malakas na tunog na nang-galing sa bell hudyat na umaga na. Bumukas ang maliit na butas sa pinto at nilagay ng assigned staff ang almusal sa compartment na naka dikit sa pader.

I lazily stood up to get the tray of food. Kumain na agad ako para hindi ito masayang. Maayos naman ang pinakakain nila, pero kapag pasaway ka, well you experience hell literally.

During my first months here, may kasama ako sa loob ng cell. But I always ended up killing my cellmate so they always put me in solitary confinement as punishment. Until they just gave up putting me there at binato nila ako sa supermaximum facility kung saan walang ibang kasama ang inmate sa silid at mas mahigpit ang pamamalakad.

After eating my breakfast, I waited for about thirty minutes bago bumukas ang automated gate door na yari sa bakal na makapal. Lahat kami kaylangan pumunta sa open space para magpa-araw at makapag libang naman.

Umupo lang ako sa kalapit na bench habang ang mga kalalakihan nagsimula ng maglaro o magusap. Everyday, I observe them. Kilala ko ang hindi dapat bangain sa walang binatbat lang. They were divided into two gang. Ang isa, pinamumunuan ng leader na isang italian mob, habang ang isa naman pinamumunuan ng isang mexican drug cartel.

All the inmates here were highly dangerous and a serious threat to the world kaya bawat preso ay hindi mo pwedeng maliitin dahil lahat sila, may sinabi sa record nila.

I was bullied here, but I managed to defeat 10 men in each gang kaya nakuha ko ang katahimikan na gusto ko. No one dare to notice me or even talk to me. I liked it, and I managed to fit in given I was the only woman in here.

Ako lang ang babaeng deserve na napunta rito and you know what's funny? Mas mauuna pa akong ma silya elektrika kaysa sa mga matatagal na rito.

"Rest well, woman." the italian mob leader said that,

I sighed. tumango na lang ako sa kanila para bumalik na ulit sila sa kanilang mga ginagawa.

May isang matanda ang umupo sa tabi ko. I know this man by name, by his case but not much since I wasn't really from the underground society. I came from a private company for contractors pero hindi sila naging inclined sa mismong mafia society because our customers are just simple businessmen individuals or politicians.

These men are in different and in much higher level of evilness. But this old man, there's something in him, something mysterious.

"The justice is unfair to you, kid." he spoke.

I chuckled, what more could I do? Ayokong sayangin ang lakas ko para sa bagay na hindi na magagawan ng paraan.

"I know, but, it is what it is, Giovanni."

"Those men-" tinignan niya ang mga kalalakihan sa malayo, kung nasaan ang mga leader ng bawat gang, "-have done worser than yours."

"I know, but, what choices do I have? Nothing. I kind of accepted it all anyway."

"You are still young, Autumn."

I smiled, "and I killed the vice president. Nobody could change that."

"Do you want to come with us? We're breaking out tonight."

Natigilan ako, napatingin kay Giovanni. "Are you serious? You can't get here out alive."

He smirked, as if what I said is a joke.

"Somebody will get us out. Do you want to join us? We're in a very small number. It wouldn't be a problem if you sneak in with us. Besides, you're a skilled woman."

"No, you can't be serious..."

"Think it carefully, kid. Think of your life. Don't waste it here."

"Giovanni, why are you sharing this do me? I can tell this to them you know that."

Tinapik lang ng matanda ang balikat ko, "Your door will be open by 12 midnight. If you want to come, just step outside and let me take care of everything. If you don't, then I guess, we'll just see on the other side."

And true to that, pag sapit ng madaling araw, tahimik na bumukas ang automated at napaka secured na pinto ng selda ko. Tumayo ako para silipin ang labas.

Sobrang tahimik. Walang roving SWAT sa paligid. Walang alarm na tumunog. I laughed as I step foot outside. Walang tumunog na kahit ano. I looked up to the CCTV in each cell room, lahat naka shut down.

What the f**k is going on?

They are this good?

Then, I saw a man in the hallway. I knew it was him, the old man. I know he's waiting for me. I don't know if he can see me, but I smiled and I salute to him as good bye.

He nodded, and went straight ahead.

"See you on the other side, Giovanni David."

I smiled as I went back to my cell. After thirty minutes, the alarm went on and the only thing I heard and see was the red color of the alarm buzzing the ADMAX the whole night.

Kinabukasan, I heard everybody was talking to the open space. Mukhang tungkol kagabi ang topic nila. Medyo kinabahan ako at napaisip kung kamusta kaya sila? Sana, hindi sila ulit nahuli.

I ovearheard this nearby group talking about it,

"Can you believe it? Despite its tight security, they did it!"

"They managed to break free, the problem lies within them now. They must stay hidden unless their effort would turn useless once they got caught again."

Then, I turned to the group of assassins on my left.

"It's never impossible for them. I even wonder why they spent a decade here when they can just turn this place into ashes if they want to,"

"Giovanni David and Damien Shaw got out right? The officers are keeping it a secret. What for? Everybody knew what was their capable of."

"They're with Aranea Adamovich,"

"Damn! Aranea, the Italian assassin?"

One of them nodded, "the f**k! She's here all this time?!"

"Yeah, I just found out today. She was confined in a secret cell underneath this goddamn place."

Wait, Damien Shaw?

Diba, siya yung pinaka mahusay na hacker sa buong mundo? Nabalitaan ko 'yung ginawa niyang pag hack sa Pentagon noon. Nandito rin pala siya?

Si Giovanni David lang ang nakilala ko. I knew he was an assassin, pero, katulad ng sinasabi ko, wala akong masiyadong alam sa mga tulad nila dahil hindi naman ako kabilang sa underground society.

That old man knew Damien Shaw? I mean, wow! He's good. Kaya naman pala madali lang silang nakatakas. He's the best hacker, and all the doors here are technology-made.

"PRISON 3445. You have a visitor!" the jail officer shouted.

The prisoners started to look at me. Napa-upo ako ng maayos at dahan dahan napatingin sa uniform ko at nakita ang prison number ko.

"Hey, you, woman!" the jail officer called.

Weird. Wala akong naging bisita ni isa sa loob ng limang taon maliban sa abogado na pinagkaloob ng gobyerno. Pero, hindi ngayon ang araw ng pag-punta niya.