Lucifer's Heaven: A Dark Mafia Romance (FAS1)

Chapter 1: My, my, my

Having nowhere else to go doesn’t mean you’re lost. You’re only lost if you don’t know exactly where to go. Kakaibang takot ang nararamdaman dahil hindi sigurado sa patutunguhan. O kung ano ang maaaring idulot ng mga paparating na desisyon.

I glanced behind the taxi. Huminto iyon dahilan ng sandali kong pagkatulala. As I darted my eyes to the driver, I caught him staring at me from his rearview mirror. Inabot ko sa kanya ang pamasahe at tahimik na bumaba. I gasped as the cold night breeze kissed my skin. I shivered in shock. My black party dress is not a great help against the wind. I took a sharp intake of breath.

The highest skyscraper of an enormous building towered over me. Marahas kong pinunasan ang aking mga luha upang magkaroon ng lakas ng loob na pasukin iyon. I wiped the cold sweat sticking on my forehead off using the back of my hand.

Two on-duty guards warily watched me approaching. I noticed it after taking a cautious glance around the dark alley. Kinuyom ko ang aking mga kamao, humigpit ang kapit sa bag na hawak — ang natitirang pag-aari ko. Sumilay ang takot sa aking dibdib. Everything swiftly happened. It was barely sinking in on my tangled mind. I don’t know what I should think of first.

“Good evening, ma’am!” one of the guards greeted me without any hint of welcoming tone. Nagtataka man’y pagsawalang-bahala ko iyon. I swallowed the lump still forming on my throat. Their uniform fitted their huge frame so much. Mas malaki ang pangangatawan kumpara sa mga hindi kilalang humahabol sa akin. Iyon lang, nakahinga ako nang maayos. Maybe they can protect me. Maybe they can save me from them.

I pursed my lips together. The other one looked at me from head to toe. He looked away from the slit on my chest revealing little of my cleavage. I cleared my throat and tried to force a fake smile. “Good evening.” I headed straight inside the building, wanting so bad to get the cold wind off my skin. I walked past the porter who also greeted me. 

Ang epekto ng alak galing sa bar ay naglaho. I am completely sober now. Ginising ako ng isang trahedya at dinala sa mas nakakapangilabot na bangungot na ito. How I wished for this to be a dream —a nightmare. Subalit hindi. I can feel it. My heart is racing. Malinaw ang mga nasaksihan ko. Ang dahilan ay malabo. 

Biting my lower lip, I walked inside a posh lobby. It is elegant and expensive. Everything is made up of the color of gold and sleek furniture and materials. I heard this is the most exclusive and high-end hotel in the city, but I never expected its interior to be this extravagant and intricate. A combination of classic and modern design. Fascinating. Wide and spacious. This was the hotel Christian told me. He said I would be safe here, and I do trust him. I trust him with all my heart.

Though I can feel something is off. Something sinister. Eerie. I just can’t put my finger into it. O marahil ay aftershock ito ng mga pangyayari. 

Kalaliman ng gabi. I can hear the laughter from the underground restaurant. It should feel welcoming. Siguro nga. Hindi na dapat pang nakapagtataka ang mapanghusgang mga mata na tumutusok sa akin. I am a complete mess. From a bar, I went home and now looking like s**t. An unwelcome guest to this fairytale-feels place. 

I came into an abrupt halt at the reception desk. Two ladies with suspicious eyes studied me. Christian told me what to do. And I trust him. All I want to secure for now is my security and safety. I also need a clear mind. Malakas ang pakiramdam. Hindi basta-bastang tao ang mga taong nanggugulo sa amin. I don’t have the least idea of who they are. But what they did is a piece of evidence—evidence that they are the type of person I will not be wishing to meet. Again.

“Good evening, ma'am. What can we do for you?” the girl in front of the computer asked. Her name, Miss Alla was written on a small silver plaque placed on her upper left chest. The other girl was named Miss Perez.

“I―I’m...” I trailed off. I shouldn't give them my real identity. If I do, madali akong matatagpuan ng mga humahabol sa akin. That is if they're still following me. Damn! Of course, they will run after me. I've seen everything. Iniisip marahil nila sa sumisigaw ako sa lansangan upang humingi ng tulong. But no, Christian told me what to do and I trust him. Leaning forward to the desk, hesitantly, I whispered my name, “I’m Heaven Villanca.”

Mabagal siyang tumango, bakas sa mukha ang pagtataka. “Ma'am, ayos lang kayo?” asked Miss Perez, looking down on my shaking hands clasped together on their desk. 

Dahan-dahan ko iyong ibinaba upang maitago. “Y―Yes. I want to stay here for...," I want to stay here and sleep until the truth slaps to my face how a horrible nightmare this is. Sana ay ganun lang kadali. “, for a week. Do you have an available room for me?”

Miss Alla gave me yet another thorough glance. “Actually, yes, ma’am. Are you alone?”

I nodded. I am alone. Ngunit kung masusundan ako ay wala nang kasiguraduhan kung makapag-iisa pa ako. But I want to be alone, I don’t want them finding me just yet. “Yes, and please I want a secluded room. Give me your best and safest suite… A penthouse! I'll pay no matter how much it costs me.” Wala akong pera. It's Christian's. But then, he told me I needed this now. 

“Listen to me this time.” He had said while trying to put his wallet on my sweating palm. 

“Uhm, ma’am, we have one secluded room here. It’s a penthouse but are you sure you’re—”

“Please, is that the safest?” I panicked.

She gave me a pitying look. Hindi siya sigurado kung dapat ibigay sa akin ang silid na iyon. “Yes but—”

“I want that room then!”

“Ma’am, calm down. You have to understand how serious—”

“I want that room, please!” Inabot ko ang kamay niya. Naramdaman ko ang pamamaga ng aking mga mata. Ipinilig ko ang aking ulo sa kung gaano man kasama ang itsura ko. I don’t even care about my ruined mascara! “Please. . .”

Miss Perez glanced at the entrance door. Sinundan ko iyon ng tingin sa takot na na sundan ako ngunit ang tanging naroon ay isa sa mga gward’ya. Umiling ako sa dalawang receptionists bago pa nila maisip ang tawagin ang mga iyon o kung sinumang pwedeng makaagaw pansin sa amin.

“Please, magbabayad naman ako e.” Shakenly, I rummaged through my bag. Napasinghap ako sa wallet ni Christian na may bakas ng sarili niyang dugo. Hindi ko ito napansin kanina dahil sa dilim. Ngayon ay kitang-kita ang sariwang dugo ng lalaking pinakamamahal ko. Oh, Christian! 

The ladies glanced down on the wallet in horror. Binalutan ako ng kaba. Nag-isip ako kung paano ipaliliwanag na halos maluha ako. Bago pa makabuo ng salita ay sabay nilang umiwas ng tingin sa wallet. 

So I guess this is not a big deal here? Was that why Christian instructed me here? Dahil alam niya ang patakaran sa hotel na ito?

“Don't tell anyone. Go to the hotel with my name. Give them my cards.” Christian's words echoed on my ear as a reminder. I blinked twice to stop the new prickling tears behind my eyes.

With curiosity in their eyes, they waited until I revealed all the cards I have. I watched their faces and noticed how their eyes widened with… shocked? surprised? 

“Miss Villanca—”

“No,” I cut Miss Alla off. “Please, my information is confidential. It's an important matter and I badly needed a room now... Please.”

She absent-mindedly nodded. Tila may kung ano sa akin, o sa wallet ni Christian at sa mismong card ang dahilan ng pamumutla niya. Si Miss Perez ang taas-noong nagsalita. “We can provide you a room. We have tight securities for all our guests. You don't need to worry about it, but would you mind telling us how you get this card, ma’am?” She held the gold one among the other seven cards.

I hesitated for a moment. Should I tell them? What if they accused me of something? 

“You're not a regular guest. We just want to know the details so we can put it in our information racks,” Miss Perez gave me a reassuring smile as she continued on scrutinizing me. 

Si Miss Alla ay hindi na makatingin ng diretso sa akin. I knew it. Iniisip niya na masama akong tao. It's because of the blood on Christian's wallet.

Taking a large deep breath, I think of the only man, not blood-related, that I ever loved. “Christian Saints,” I breathe. “I’m his fiancée,” I gritted the words through my teeth. His stupid fiancée. His useless girlfriend. 

An audible gasp escaped their lips. There’s enlightenment on their faces hearing me say Christian’s name. It’s as if something just makes sense.

“D-Do you know him?” 

Miss Perez nodded, looking at me warily. Isang beses siyang tumango kay Miss Alla bago tinungo ang kinaroronan ng telepono. Miss Alla gave me a roll of tissue paper. Kinuha ko iyon upang punasan ang sariling luha. Nadagdagan din ang pares ng mga matang tumutusok sa akin. Not only because of how I looked but also, it seems like Christian's name rings a bell to them. Kung kilala rito si Christian, siguro naman ay may taong tutulong sa akin.

“Don't cry, baby. You will be safe there.” He still cares about me. Nasa binggit ng kamatayan pero ako pa rin ang inaalala.

Kahit noong unang beses kaming nagkita ay ganoon na siya. He was always the gentleman. My co-worker at a coffee shop introduced us to each other. I was a fresh graduate back then at ilang buwan pa lang simula nang bumalik sa Pilipinas.

My dad died in an accident inside the Art School family my grandfather established. He was a renowned artist. Mommy was my grandpa's student, and she met my father because of him. She was as good as my father. She was popular because of her bizarre designs. She puts arts on signature bags and dresses. She's into so much sorrow and pain that she has forsaken her passion. Too occupied mourning alone to even attend her daughter's graduation day in high school. I didn't blame her because I know what she feels was double of what I feel for my father's death. I tried to understand her until my graduation day in college, which she also didn't attend. She had forgotten me like my dad. She left her daughter alone for she died from too much depression. 

Miss Perez reached for their receiver. The change in her demeanor was all enough for me to pull away from my reverie. Nanginginig ang mga kamay niya habang hinihintay na sagutin ng nasa kabilang linya ang tawag. Ngunit naroon ang determinasyon. Sa mga oras na ito ay wala na akong pakialam sa ibang tao. I cared for myself. I cared for my own security. I cared for my own safety. 

“She’s… uh… a guest wants the safest and secluded room. She said she's the fiancée of Mr. S―Saints...”

I blinked twice, a bit terrified. Pakiramdam ko hindi makabubuti kung malalaman ng marami ang tungkol sa bagay na iyon. It doesn’t because I don’t love him or I’m not proud of him. God knows how much I loved him and how proud I am to be his fiancée! But I am in a life and death situation. Alam kong mauunawaan niya.

“Take care of yourself.” I nodded to myself and bit my lower lip. I will try, Christian. Ngayong wala ka na ay pipilitin kong alagaan ang sarili ko.

Wala pang ilang segundo matapos iyong sabihin ni Miss Perez sa kabilang linya ay ibinaba rin ang telepono. She glanced back at me with pity in her eyes. Gustuhin mang iwasan ang tingin ay hindi ko ginawa. I deserve the pity. She nodded to Miss Alla. Understanding that simple gesture, I sighed a relief. Though the frightened look in their eyes almost made me want to back out.

“I―Is everything fine?”

Nagkatitigan silang dalawa pero mabilis ding nag-iwas, takot mabasa ang iniisip. May sinenyasan si Miss Perez sa kung saan. I did not get to look behind me. A man in a hotel uniform approached us, a butler, I think. Nakita ko ang pagtataka at kyuryusidad sa mga mata niya bago marahang yumuko sa akin. I could tell he’d been watching us. Using the tissue, I wiped the dried tears off my face. Bakas doon ang mascara na sumabog na sa mukha ko.

“H―Have a nice stay Miss, uhm... Ma'am,” the man said.

I slowly nodded, mouthing the word thank you to them, my throat felt dried to utter a word. The butler gestured me towards a pair of double doors, an elevator. Isang beses kong sinulyapan ang pintuan ng hotel bago sumunod sa kanya. 

Tahimik ang lalaki. Ilang beses ko siyang nakitang sumusulyap sa akin habang pinupunasan ko ang mukha ng tissue. May iba pang pumasok at nagdalawang tingin pa sa akin ang ilan sa kanila. Umiwas na lamang ako. I wanted to fix my hair but I was too preoccupied to do so. Staring at the mirrored wall of the elevator, ang nakikita ko lang ay ang posibleng nagliliyab pang condo unit ni Christian, ang kanyang bangkay at ang mga misteryosong lalaking iyon. 

“Ma'am?”

Doon ko napansin na kaming dalawa na lamang ang narito. Iminuwestra niya ang nakabukas na elevator. I stepped outside at sumunod naman siya. 

It's another spacious yet quiet lobby. Standing outside the elevator was a man in a black suit that fitted his huge, intimidating frame. He slightly bent his head without breaking his stares at me. Kinurot ko ang sarili nang maalala ang mga lalaking humahabol sa akin. He almost looked like them. He looked dangerous and scary with his large body. 

“Mr. Saint's fiancée?”

Namilog ang mga mata ko. I clearly told the ladies to keep my information private! Lihim akong bumuga ng hangin. Kung ang pangalan ni Christian ang makatutulong sa akin ngayon, siguro nga ay dapat na lang na hayaan. 

What really Christian is here? Kahit ba isa sa kanila wala pang nakakaalam sa kung anong nangyari sa kanya ngayon? Have they reported it to the police? O kailangang ako pa ang magsabi sa kanila ng lahat? Oh God, please have someone help him!

“Don't tell about it to anyone,” he reminded me again, ”You don't have to.”

Before I knew it, I was riding an elevator again. But this time, it's a private one and I was alone. I blankly stared at the elevator's mirror as I fisted the card that the huge man handed to me.

Nang tumunog ang elevator ay mabagal akong lumabas. An empty hallway greeting me in. Sa dulo ay isang malaking pinto. I looked down on the card at my hand before walking to the door. Nasa harapan noon nang maalala ang card ni Christian. Nasa akin na ang wallet niya ngunit hindi naibalik sa akin ang golden card. Ni hindi ako hiningan ng iba pang impormasyon o kung sa paanong paraan ko babayaran ang pag-stay ko rito. It’s Christian's golden card that matters to them.

Umiling ako at huminga ng malalim. I swiped the card down and pushed the door open. Inside was a wide dark room. My skin crawled feeling the cold air trapped inside. From here, I could see the full moon and the dark sky from the ceiling-to-the-floor glass window on the far end of the room. I closed the door behind me and leaned on it. The room looked and felt more sinister. The utter darkness says it all. 

I hate the darkness before. Ngunit sa tuwing nand'yan si Christian ay hindi ako natatakot. He never failed to give me comfort. He would always say it's fine, that he'd be always here for me. Hindi tulad ngayon. He's not with me now, and it's dark. I wanted to open the lights but no, I didn’t want to. Natatakot ako sa liwanag. Natatakot na mas madali akong makikita ng mga taong humahabol sa akin kung bubuksan ko ang ilaw. They couldn’t see me in the dark at least, but I hated darkness. 

I closed my eyes as tears welled up. Isang hikbi ang kumawala. Mabilis kong tinakpan ng palad ang aking bibig. They might hear me. I should keep quiet; kept the silence. 

Seconds had passed before I heard the footsteps. Nangilabot ako dahil doon. Same footsteps I heard in the basement of the condo, Christian's body was on my lap. Parehas kaming natigilan nang marinig ang mga yabag na iyon. 

“You should run away from here now. Leave now, baby. Save yourself,” he said as he tried pushing away. 

Ayaw ko talaga. Tahimik akong umiiyak sa kanya, nagmamakaawa na tigilan niya ang pagtaboy sa akin. Ayaw ko siyang iwan. Ayaw kong umalis nang hindi siya kasama.

“Please b-baby.”

“No,” I whispered with a sob, remembering how we both begged for each other. I begged for him not to let and push me to go. He begged for me to go and save myself. 

“Welcome?” a raspy, deep, and cold voice stuttered me. 

My head quickly snapped at the silhouette in front of me, behind him was the full moon shining all its light to share in this dark room. I brushed the trail of moisture off my face.

Kinurot ko ang aking sarili at lumingon sa paligid. I was not in the basement. Nakalayo na ako bago pa man makalapit sa amin ang mga yabag. I was no longer in the condo. I was in the hotel no. Imposibleng masundan nila ako. Imposible. 

“S-stay away from me,” my voice trembled. I should have asked who he was instead. But no, there's an aura with him showing he was more dangerous than those men after me.

He laughed, no he giggled, sniggered, or chuckled. I didn’t know. But there's no humor in it. Nanginig ang mga tuhod ko sa kakaibang takot. Mas lalo akong sumandal sa pinto. Sana ay tumagos ako rito upang makatakas sa kanya.

“You're the one who walked in here, kitten.” 

I frowned. My name' not kitten. Does he think I'm someone else?

“I-it's my room,” I said, holding the card in front of me. 

He stepped closer. I tiptoed and leaned back on the door. “Really?”

I barely nodded. My hands were clammy. I opened my mouth to form an answer but I couldn’t. I just couldn’t bring my tongue to speak myself out. Namilog ang mga mata ko nang mabilis niyang naagaw ang card mula sa akin. He held it out for me but I didn't bother stealing it back. 

“It's my room, my house, and my place,” he emphasized each word in a territorial way that was so new to me, so firmed I could feel how much danger he has brought with him.