Señorita and the Katipunero (Book 3)

Prologue

1870

The banana leaves were rustling as a young couple ran past them. Chasing behind them were a few men called the Guardia Civil. It was a chase under the moonlight as prisoners escaped from their jail cells.

“Tonyo, are we going to come home to Leo? It is his fifth birthday after all.” his wife asked him. They were escaping from the Guardia Civil who locked them in the city jail. They were accused of plotting against the Spanish Crown.

The dried leaves on the ground were too slippery for them to run. Every step they took was a step closer to their son. But the Guardia Civil caught up to them already.

The woman looked back, she checked if the men were still there. She saw them running a few feet away.

One of them had stopped and pointed his gun at them.

“Luding try to cross to the other side of this path. At least that way, one of us might come out of this hacienda alive.” Tonyo instructed his wife. Sadness and fear were engulfing them. Who would have thought that their short trip to town would lead them to jail?

“You will not leave this place alive. You two, go to the left side. You there from the back try to keep up with us.” the teniente ordered his men.

“Si teniente.” They answered in unison.

Tonyo and Luding were now almost near the clearing. If they could reach that part, they will have a chance of surviving. A river was situated around the clearing. It leads up to the sea where they might be able to swim off.

They increased the speed of their run. Freedom was already in their hands. Tonyo began to smile as he was envisioning his son running towards them to greet and do “mano po”. Suddenly, two-gun shots rang in the field.

Luding looked at her husband and saw him fall to the ground, shot dead in the head.

Another round of gunshots was heard all over the hacienda. Luding fell in Tonyo's side. Their hands were overlapping together.

“Good job men. Mission accomplished. I want a full report on this tomorrow. Have this couple brought to the morgue and inform their relatives.” the teniente ordered his men.