Consequences

Consequences 011

Flint's POV:

“So yeah. It was too late. The father was too late. He pushed his eldest son off the cliff. Ah, poor man. He lost his wife and now, his son. He got depressed, went to different therapy session but none of them helped him. He became a mad man, believing that his son is somehow could still be alive. Then, all of a sudden, poof. He was okay. From then on, they lived happily ever after.” Nakangiting pagtatapos niya ng kwento. When he opened his eyes, he laughed at my expression. I still don’t get why he’s telling me this.

“You f*cking done?” I asked, irritation filling my whole system. Kung maari lang itarak na sakaniya ang hawak ko ay kanina ko pa iyon ginawa.

“Oh, come on. I thought you’re smart? You still don’t get it? Haist, sige na nga. I’ll tell you the names of the characters.” He said. He stood up and went beside me. He held my chin up and mad eme turn towards somewhere. Nung una ay hindi ko gets pero nang makita ko si Mr. Santos na nakikipag-usap ay nangunot ang noo ko.

“The father, is Gregorio Santos.” He whispered. Next he made me turn to Edrix’ direction. “The youngest, Edrix Santos. Guess who the eldest is?”

“Elias.” I whispered. He let go of my chin and chuckled.

“Correct. Ah, poor Elias. May his soul rest in peace.” He said and sat back on his seat, unbothered of what he just said.

“W-what?” Napahawak ako sa hita ko, kinakapa ang nakasukbit na glock doon. “Y-you…you’re not…who are you?”

“Last chance, Haven. Who are you?” Muling tanong niya. All the playfulness was gone. His eyes are empty, so is his face.

“F*ck you.” I whispered and grabbed the gun on my thigh. Before I can fire it, an explosion disturbed the lively party. Agad akong yumuko at tinakpan ang ulo ko, in case there was a flying debris. Pagtingin ko sa harapan ko ay nawala si Elias, or kung sino man siya. Agad akong napatayo at hinanap si Edrix.

Despite the heavy feeling on my chest and hearing my own heartbeat I calmly made my way towards Edrix. Mukhang nagulat din siya sa pagsabog kaya nang hawakan ko ang braso niya ay napaigtad siya.

“We have to go. You’re not safe here!” I shouted so he could hear me. There was another explosion, this time it was near us. I used my body to cover him kahit na mas malaki siya kaysa saakin. Agad ko siyang hinila papunta sa kung saan kami pumasok kanina at nagmamadaling lumabas. Habang papunta kami ron ay nakita namin ang ilan sa mga bisita na nakahandusay. I don’t know if they’re still alive, but all I could think right now is to keep my client safe.

Malayo-layo na kami nang kaunti sa warehouse ngunit bigla siyang tumigil.

“Sh*t wait I have to go back. I left some important files there!” Aligagang saad niya at nanakbo pabalik. Hindi ko na siya napigilan pa at sinundan siya. Muntik pa akong matapilok kaya tinanggal ko ang suot kong sapatos at tumakbo rin pabalik.

Malapit na ako nang may humawak saaking braso. I saw Elias’ dark smile.

“Where are you going?” He asked sweetly. I glared at him and kicked his knee. Parang hindi siya tinablan doon at mas humigpit lang ang pagkakahawak saakin. I was about to raise my gun to him pero mabilis niyang nasipa ang kamay ko kaya nabitawan ko iyon.

“Let me go!” I shouted and pulled my arm hard. Nang mabitawan niya ako ay sinubukan ko siyang suntukin. Napansin kong puro lang siya salag at hindi manlang umatake. What’s wrong with him?! Bakit hindi niya ako atakihin?!

“Argh. Too bad I can’t hurt you. Sayang.” Palatak niya at tumawa nang nakakaloko habang panay ang iwas. Nang may mahagip ako sa baywang niya ay ngumisi ako.

“Too bad, I can.” I said and threw him a hook punch. As expected, he avoided it by stepping sideways. I grabbed that chance to take the dagger from his waistband and stabbed it to his shoulder. He groaned in pain and got distracted with the pain, so I kicked him to his stomach and shoulder-threw him. Nang bumagsak siya ay mabilis akong tumayo at pumasok sa loob ng warehouse.

“Edrix—“

A loud gunshot filled the now empty warehouse. I could smell the burning wood and dust from everywhere, but I only got my eyes fixated somewhere.

At the other end of the warehouse I saw Edrix. He stood there, his back facing me. I don’t think he heard me when I called him. He was facing down, so I followed what he was looking at. My eyes widened when I saw Mr. Santos, laying there. His white coat now filled with his own crimson red blood.

Mas lalong nanlaki ang mata ko at natutop ang aking bibig nang humarap saakin si Edrix. May talsik ng dugo ang mukha at damit niya. His expression was empty, but his eyes, his eyes are so happy as if he enjoyed what he saw. When I looked down to his hands, that’s when I realized it.

He killed his own father. His left hand holds a dagger while the other one has a gun. I opened my mouth to speak, but only a soft gasp came out. I was too stunned to realize that he’s now standing in front of me, looking down on my horrified face.

I’m used to seeing deaths. My job was like that when I served at the military. But this? Killing your own family? This isn’t something I’d see everyday. And scares the sh*t out of me.

“Thank you for making our job easier, Flint.” He says, giving me a sweet smile. It was first time I saw him smile like that, and probably the last as I felt something cold pressed on my neck. Doon ko lang din naramdaman ang init ng katawan ng kung sino mang nasa likod ko. Gumalaw ako para umayos ng tayo kaya mas idiniin sa leeg ko ang patalim.

“Sleep first, mi amor.” The voice behind me said, followed by a stinging pain on my neck.

Bago pa ako matumba ay sinalo na ako ng lalaking nasa likuran ko. Naramdaman kong umangat ako, indikasyon na ngayon ay buhat buhay na niya ako. I couldn’t see his face, it was all blurry. That’s all I could remember before I lost consciousness.

---

“The place is all yours, Lucas.”

“Nice! Thanks, boss.”

“Stop f*cking calling me boss.”

“Yeah, yeah. What about little miss sleeping beauty? You sure you don’t want to give—“

“Get the f*ck outta here man.”

“Oh, come on Edrix. Still uptight eh? I was just joking!”

The voices are slowly starting to become clear until I can fully understand their convesations. Hindi muna ako gumalaw at pinakiramdaman ang paligid ko. Aside from the three voices I could hear earlier, there are other peoples in this place with us. Kung tama ang tantiya ko ay hindi sila bababa sa sampu.

Sunod kong pinakiramdaman ang sarili ko. I’m sitting at a wood chair with my hands tied behind me. Hindi naman ito nakatala sa mismong upuan pero it’s enough to restrict the movements of my upper body. Pero makakatayo ako at kung kakayanin ay makakatakbo ako dahil hindi naman ako nakatali sa mismong upuan.

“She’s awake.” Narinig kong saad nung isa. Kilalang-kilala ko ang boses na iyon dahil dalawa’t mahigit na linggo ko siyang sinusundan para masigurong malayo siya sa pahamak. Only to find out that he will be the one to cause it.

“She’s not moving. How is she awake?” I heard a baritone voie said. I’m sure I don’t know who’s the owner of that voice, but when I heard the voice of the guy who answered him, my blood automatically boiled.

“Edi tignan natin.” Natatawang sagot nito. Kasunod nito ay mga yabag palapit saakin. Naramdaman ko ang marahang paghawi sa slit ng suot kong dress, exposing my right leg. Muntik na akong mapasinghap nang makarinig ng mahinang click, kasunod na parang may mainit na unti-unting lumalapit sa binti ko. “Wanna try?”