The Hans family were in anguish. Pangatlong araw ng nawawala ni Emy. But up until now, hindi pa rin nila ito nakikita.
Even Shin and his family ay mabilis na nagpunta ng Grey City ng malaman nila ang nangyari kay Emy. Poor girl! All her life puro misfortunes na lang ang nararanasan niya. From her mother's death up to her kidnapping.
Even Shantal could not say if she would feel pity or be amazed dahil sa mga nangyayari kay Emy. Mabuti na lang kamo at winter vacation nila sa Royal City kaya nakapunta agad ang pamilya nila dito ngayon.
Shin and Francis, though, worked hand in hand sa paghahanap kay Emy. But it was still a no news for them.
Not for Sebastian, though...
***
Emy was in dark again. Diana put her blindfold back bago ito umalis at hindi na niya iyon maalis dahil wala na ang blade niya to free her hands.
Anyway, she just had suffered in Kelly's hand again. This time, hindi lang mga sampal ang inabot niya mula dito. The side of her lips was bleeding after she received a cut there nang masubsob siya sa sahig nang siyang itulak ni Kelly.
May mga gasgas din siya dahil ng matumba siya ay agad siya nitong kinaladkad. She could even feel pain on her knees and waist. Mukhang napasama ang bagsak niya kanina.
Kelly really didn't hold back.
Napahinga siya ng malalim. She wanted to massage herself but her hands were tied.
Nagulat naman siya when her blindfold was suddenly gone. She opened her eyes pero napapikit din agad siya. She needed to adjust from the light of the room.
"Wow... Kelly really did a good job." Cherry said as looked at her. She even touched her chin to look at her both cheeks carefully.
"You're lips are even bleeding." Then she chuckled cheerfully.
"It was not enough though."
Napatingin si Emy kay Cherry as she took out a knife.
"Let's paint you red more."
Cherry slashed at napangiwi na lang si Emy when she felt the knife touched her arms. It was a bit deep and she started to really bleed.
"Ooops. Hindi pantay!"
Then she did that on the other side naman.
Emy knew that among the two, Cherry was mental. Kelly was brutal as she was. But Cherry could pretend that she was nice and after that she would be lethal.
She couldn't stop groaning as she felt her wound on her left arm to be deeper.
But she immediately held her breath when Cherry took the bloody knife at dinikit nito iyon sa pisngi niya.
"I hate you, you know. I really do."
Hindi nagsalita si Emy. She watched the knife carefully as it started to move on her face, tracing her jaw line.
"You are just like my overbearing cousin, Samantha. Just because she was smarter than us, kinakaya kaya na niya kaming dalawa ni Kelly."
Naramdaman ni Emy ang gigil ni Cherry dahil biglang dumiin yung kutsilyo sa may leeg niya. Napangiwi na lang siya as she felt her neck started to bleed.
Cherry looked at her. Ginamit pa nito yung kutsilyo para patingalian siya. She placed the knife on her chin and lifted her face up.
"And you are just like her, Emy."
Tiningnan ni Cherry ang dumudugo niyang leeg at mga braso at saka ito napangiti.
"Do you still remember your question to us about the Natural Selection?"
Nang hindi sumagot si Emy ay ibinalik ni Cherry ang kutsilyo sa may leeg niya. It created another wound.
"Answer me!"
"Y-yes..."
Napangiti si Cherry. Her grip on the knife loosened up.
"Repeat it." She told Emy habang nakatingin sa mata ng dalaga. "I want to hear that again... from you."
Emy was conflicted kung sasabihin ba niya o hindi. Either way, baka ikamatay niya lang.
"Say it." Cherry coaxed her.
"If you will be a variable in Natural Selection, do you think you will be a survivor?"
Napapikit si Cherry. That day, sa gigil niya kay Emy ay halos hindi siya nakatulog. But now, she would have her revenge.
"You even told us that we can not be considered as fittest. You were too much that day, Emy. It was more than the insult we have taken from Samantha."
Umayos ito ng tayo at tinuunan pa nga nito ang kanang braso niya na may sugat kaya napangiwi siya. Tapos ay punwesto sa harap niya.
"I'll make you pay for that."
Cherry slashed the knife in front of her. Impit na napasigaw si Emy when the knife slashed her front dress at ganun din ang balat niya sa parteng iyon. Her skin started to produce red liquid and it flowed down to her chest.
Cherry laughed out loud tangka nitong uulitin yun sa kabilang parte ng chest ni Emy when suddenly a hand grabbed her hand na may hawak noong kutsilyo.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Cherry when she saw who was it.
"F-fifth Prince."
Tiim-bagang na kinuha ni Sebastian ang kutsilyo saka niya ibinalya si Cherry. Tumama ito sa may mesa that made her unconscious.
Agad niyang nilapitan si Emy at halos napapikit siya sa itsura nito.
She was still catching her breath after that last pain at saka siya tumingin kay Sebastian.
"Free me."
Agad namang ginawa iyon ng binata. He cut on the ropes na mahigpit na nakatali sa mga kamay at paa ni Emy. Even those had left marks on her.
Sebastian gently touched her hands. Saka tiim-bagang na pinunasan ang mga dumudugo nitong sugat.
Then his hands reached her face. Hindi pa man gaanong nalapat ang kamay niya sa pisngi nito ay napangiwi na agad ang dalaga. Nabawi na lang niya ang kamay niya saka iyon naikuyom.
"I'll make them pay for every wounds and injuries they have caused you."
Tumayo si Sebastian para lapitan si Cherry but Emy held his hand.
"Do it accordingly. They have physically hurt me and I have to give it back to them twice. They also plan to sell me at the next city's brothel."
Napahigpit lalo ang mga kamay ni Sebastian sa pagkakakuyom.
"We can't go easy on them."
He saw the fire in Emy's eyes at naintindihan niya ang gusto nitong mangyari.
Napatango na lang siya. He took off his cloak and covered her.
Saka niya pinapasok ang mga tauhan niya saka inutusan ang mga ito.
"Capture that girl and also, chase after that Kelly. Then bring both of them at the dungeon."
Agad na kumilos ang mga ito.
Sebastian then looked at her.
"Can you stand?"
"I'll try."
Emy used Sebastian's hand as leverage but she winced as soon as a sharp pain covered her hips and knees.
Napansin iyon ng binata at agad niyang niyakap ang dalaga to support her. Saka niya inilagay ang kamay niya sa bewang ng dalaga.
"What do you thing you are doing?"
"I am checking kung may bali ka. Did you fall?"
Emy nodded.
Napahinga ng malalim si Sebastian para kalmahin ang sarili niya. Saka siya nagcrouch sa harap ng dalaga.
"Hop on."
Hindi na umangal si Emy at pumasan na siya sa likuran ng binata. Hinang hina na rin naman siya eh.
"Where are we going?"
"I'll bring you in my house. You need to be treated first bago natin pag-isipan kung paano ka iuuwi sa inyo."
Emy nodded saka niya ipinatong ang ulo niya sa balikat ni Sebastian.
"I am hurt and tired, Sebastian."
Natahimik ng sandali ang binata dahil sa pagtawag nito sa mismong pangalan niya.
"I know."
***
Madaling araw na nakauwi si Serafina mula sa pagbisita sa puntod ng kaibigan niya. Sa bundok pa kasi ito nakalibing kaya naman inabot siya ng ganitong oras.Inaasahan niyang tulog na ang mga tao sa residence nila kaya hindi niya ineexpect na sa pagbukas niya ng pintuan ay mabubungaran niya ang anak na may kasamang babae sa salas nila.The room was dimlighted dahil lampara lang ang ginamit ni Sebastian pang-ilaw sa kanila."Ma, saan ka galing? I thought you were already sleeping." Tanong sa kanya ni Sebastian when he stood.Then he looked at the girl beside him na hirap na tumayo. Agad niyang inalalayan ito."You don't have to stand.""I have to greet your mother." Then she faced Serafina na napasinghap when she recognized her."Oh, it is you again." Dali dali siyang nilapitan ni Serafina. At doon lang nito natingnan ng maayos ang itsura ng dalaga. "And you are wounded again.""I am sorry to intrude, Madam.""No, no. You
Nasa great hall sila Shin, Francis, Shelly at Feng habang pinag-uusapan nila ang susunod nilang gagawin upang mahanap si Emy. Pang-apat na araw na ngayon. And they were already feeling depressed because of it.Hindi nila maisip kung ano ng nangyari kay Emy. Nanlulumo sila kapag naiisip nila na baka kung ano ng ginawa ng kidnapper niya sa kanya.That day, biglang pumasok sa great hall ang isang tauhan nila saka ito taranta na lumapit sa kanila."Masters, Madams, si Miss Emy po, nasa labas..."Wala ng isip isip pa ay nagmadali silang magpunta sa may labas ng compound nila. At doon nga nila nakita ang isang magarang carriage. Mula doon ay bumaba si Emy."Emy!" Hindi napigilan ni Feng ang mapatakbo sa dalaga ng tuluyan na itong makababa. Niyakap niya ang dalaga pero agad din niya itong binitawan as soon as she heard her groan.Nanginginig ang kamay niya hinawakan
Emy was very busy on the next day. She was busy trying to make Franco and Shantal leave her alone since they had been following her magmula ng magising siya kinabukasan.She was actually surprised at naririto ang buong pamilya ni Uncle Shin. It turned out, winter vacation na nila. And they were going to spend a month and half kasama nila.However, may tatlong linggo pa sila Emy na pasok sa Grey Academy. At dahil injured pa siya ay hindi na muna siya pinapasok ng isang linggo nila Francis.***Diana, however, was feeling troubled. Inaasahan niyang perpekto ang plano nila Cherry at Kelly. After all, she was the one who came up with that plan.Pero hindi niya inaasahang makakatakas ang dalaga. At ang matindi pa doon, it was Madam Serafina who saved her.Ang hindi niya maintindihan ay kung bakit bigla bigla na lang nagdesisyon ang magkapatid na ilabas na ng city si Emy noong gabing iyon. Sinabihan niya ang mga ito na maghintay muna ng ilang araw
Diana got sick after that. Hindi siya tinantanan ng itsura nung dalawang babae na nakasabit sa harap ng bahay nila. Even in her dreams, she could see them.Bukod pa doon, malakas ang pakiramdam niya na para sa kaniya ang babala na nasa mga katawan nito.Nakumpirma niya iyon ng kinabukasan ay mabalitaan niya na sila Cherry at Kelly ang dalawang babae na iyon.That Emy! She was sure that girl had something to do about it.Kung may maganda mang nangyari sa kanya magmula ng makita niya ang nakakasukang tanawin na iyon, malamang iyon ay nang bisitahin siya ni Vio.He was very concern at her. Lalo pa at nalaman nito na sila Cherry at Kelly iyon.Pinaiimbistigahan na rin niya kung sino ang maaaring pumatay at gumawa noon sa dalawa."You must make sure to investigate that Emy Hans.""Emy Hans?""Yes. Pins
Gaya ng sabi sa kanya ni Shantal kagabi, walang nagawa si Emy ng puntahan siya nito sa kwarto niya para ayain na pumunta ng bayan.Maaga pa lang pero mataas na agad ang energy nito. Ganun din si Sabrina na kadalasan ay level headed naman. Well, they were indeed a family who loved shopping.Kaya naman heto siya ngayon at kinakaladkad ni Shantal papuntang Purple Boutique.Napuna naman niya na doble na ngayon ang bilang ng guards na sumusunod sa kanya. Kung noon ay enough na na kasama niya ang mga maidservants niya, ngayon ay hindi na.Napahinga na lang siya ng malalim."Cheer up, Emy."Saka sila pumasok sa boutique.Dali dali naman silang inasikaso ng mga taong naroroon. You could say that they were a VIP in this boutique, after all, Emy owned this."Miss Hans, we have been waiting for you to come."
"Who is that?"The Emperor asked the Prime Minister habang nakaturo sa isang dalaga na nakablue traditional foreign long dress."That, I think, is the niece of General Hans."Napatingin ang Emperor sa kanya."You mean that kidnapped niece of his?"Tumango ang Prime Minister at tiningnan din ang dalaga. Somehow, she reminded him of his daughter, Samantha."No wonder she was kidnapped. Look at that beauty."When the Second wife heard that ay napasimangot siya. If that girl would be Emperor's wife too, it would be outrageous. However, wala namang reaksyon ang Empress. Ngayon pa ba siya magrereact eh nakaapat na nga na asawa ang Emperor eh."Let's go there.""What are you planning, Your Highness?""Masyado ka namang mapagduda, Seigfried. I just want to talk to General Hans and his
Pag-uwi ni Emy ay sinalubong agad siya ng pamilya niya saka siya pinagkwento sa kung ano ang nangyari. Sinabi naman niya agad iyon sa kanila.Pero kahit na ikinuwento na niya sa kanila ay hindi pa rin naubusan ng tanong ang mga ito.In fact, hindi siya nito tinantanan hanggang sa matapos ang hapunan.She was tired and feeling irritated ng sa wakas ay makapasok na siya sa kwarto niya. Agad siyang naghubad at naghanda na para matulog. Pahiga na sana siya sa kama niya ng biglang bumukas ang bintana niya. Naramdaman niya ang pagpasok doon ng isang tao."And here I thought you're gonna wait for me." Sebastian said."Why would I?" She asked coldly.The window closed saka siya may narinig na lumalakad. Emy couldn’t see anything. She had already turn off the lamp kanina pa.Then she felt him stop in front of her."Why w
Emy's mood drastically changed in the next days. Bumalik na ito sa pagiging makulit at palangiti kaya naman napayapa na ang loob ni Feng.Kunot noo namang pinagmamasdan ni Franco ang pinsan. Naguguluhan na talaga siya dito. Oo, hindi pa rin naman siya nito pinapansin pero hindi na siya nito iniirapan kapag nagkakatinginan sila.Si Anika naman ay nacurious kaya tinanong niya na si Red."Red, nakabalik na ba ang Fifth Prince?" Tanong niya sa binata."Oo. Noong isang araw pa."Napangiti si Anika. Well, she was maybe just thinking things pero lately, nauubos na ulit ng Miss niya ang cookies na iniiwanan sa kanya ni Lia.***"Did you like my gift to you?""Gift?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Emy kay Sebastian. They were playing chess again and talking about things that had happened in Grey City."Yes. Didn't you hear about what had happened to Cherry and Kelly?""I was contained for many days in here so maybe that's why I did
Hanggang pag-uwi ni Emy ay iniisip niya si Haow. Although their training went smoothly after that sudden stop, hindi nawala sa isipan niya ang tanong nito sa kanya."Do you believe in reincarnation, Emy?"Of all the people, siya ang buhay na patotoo ng reincarnation. She died and her soul took over the soul of another lady. And she had been living as her ever since.Kahit siya ay nasanay na rin. She used to be aware kapag tinatawag siya as Emy because if not, hindi talaga siya lilingon. But now, everything that was all about Emy became hers completely.But she really wondered why Haow ask that to her?Naputol lang ang iniisip niya when Lia appeared and told her na natapos na ang lahat ng armor na pinagawa niya."Distribute those for Liu Fu and Choi Kang. As for the others, keep it somewhere safe first. I need to find away to give it to the others without rais
The same week na natapos ni Emy ang eksperimento niya, Franco also finally let her start practicing horse riding.Though kailangan pa rin naman niyang magpractice para mamaster niya ang archery, most of her time would be occupied now by her training with Haow.Somehow, she was excited. She had read a lot of books about it of course. But it was not enough. Sa lahat ng aaralin niya eto lang yung may living thing na kasama kaya naman nakakasigurado siya that it would be unpredictable.Today would mark her first day of training. Haow told her to meet him after class. Kaya naman saktong pagpatak ng uwian ay dali dali siyang lumabas ng malaking gate ng Ming Province.In normal days gaya ngayon, everyone was free to go outside. Kaya naman, Emy didn't have to get any permission to do so.She went directly on the hills kung saan sila magkikita ni Haow.Hindi rin naman
One month later...Emy and Franco continued their Level Three in Ming Academy. Tatlong linggo na rin magmula ng magresume ulit ang klase and they only had two more months para sa pinakahuling pagsusulit ng taon.Most of the students were busy now sa pag-aaral. Emy, on the other hand, met with Liu Fu and Choi Kang to plan their next mountain trip.Sa totoo lang, ayaw ng sumama ni Choi Kang. But Emy tempted him with an offer na hindi niya kayang tanggihan. She gave Liu Fu and him free armors and promised to give the rest of it once they finished doing what she wanted them to do.It was really not a bad offer. In fact, nasubukan na nila Liu Fu at Choi Kang ang tibay ng armor ni Emy. It was high class and one of a kind.They didn’t know where she got them but surely, because of it, they were willing to do any favor from her."Let's go over the mountain next
This was the first time na aakyat si Emy ng bundok. Hindi naman kataasan iyon so they might not take a while before they reached that area where Liu Fu and Choi Kang found that water they used for their magic trick.Anyway, along the way, she could tell na dahil hindi pa naeexplore ng husto ang bundok na iyon. She could already imagine lots of wonders hiding there. And just a mere thought of it was enough to make her eyes shine.She wanted to discover them all. But for now, her focus was that water.Hindi naman siya nagmamadali. She had more than a year to discover most of it if not all. And with that, her lips hooked up like an excited child.Liu Fu and Choi Kang were telling her about the important things about that mountain. Gaya na lang nang madadaanan nila ang isang area na may entrance ng cave. They also told her na may waterfall din na itinatago ang bundok at sa likuran ng waterfall na iyon ay nagtatago ang isang underground cav
Days passed quickly. Shin's family officially ended their winter vacation at bumalik na sila sa Royal City para sa pasukan nila Shantal.Bukod pa doon, Emy had been busy doing various things.Una, most of her time were occupied sa training nila ni Franco ng archery. Like when she was learning the swordfighting, she dedicated a lot of time sa pag-aaral ng archery at paggamit noon sa practice nila. She was still about to master it but her progress was already quite impressive.Sa gabi naman na hindi siya nagpapractice, inilalaan niya ang oras niya para sa pag-alala sa mga alaala ni Emy at sinusubukan niyang isulat ang lahat ng iyon sa mga notebooks niya. Most of tgise things she could remember were under chemistry, ang pinakapaborito ni Emy. But her entries under the other topics were not that bad too.And to see how effective they were, she started deploying Lia and Veronica to do tasks for her.
The next days had been very busy for Emy and the rest of the Hans. They roamed around the Ming Province na nagawa agad nila sa loob ng isang araw dahil maliit lang naman ang lugar na ito.They had visited the plaza kung saan ginaganap lahat ng competition na maiisipan ng mga tagaMing na ipaganap. Nagpunta rin sila sa Barracks at sa Ming Academy kung saan sila magpapatuloy ng pag-aaral nila ni Franco ngayong pasukan.Malaki ang kaibahan ng curriculum ng Ming at Grey. Kung sa Grey ay required ang mga estudyante na umattend araw araw ng mga klase nila, sa Ming ay hindi. As long as makikita sila ng propesor nila sa Training Ground o sa iba pang departamento na nagsasanay kapag biglaan itong nag-inspeksyon ay ayos lang na hindi sila umattend ng klase nila.Kaya karamihan ay nasa mga kani-kanilang departamento na pinagkakadalubhasaan kapag may klase kesa sa loob ng classroom.Isa pang kailangan sa Ming Aca
"Yah, Emerald Hans... I can't believe na nakalimutan mo na agad na may pinsan ka at tinanggap mo ang offer ni Haow na magturo sayo ng archery at horseback riding." Puno ng pagtatampo na sabi ni Franco when they arrived at sabihin sa kanya ni Francis ang nangyari.Sa dinami rami ng ama sa kanya ay iyon lamang ang tumatak sa isipan niya."He offered first." Emy said nonchalantly."Of course, siya lang ang nandito eh. You should have think about me first bago ka sumagot."Hindi naman mapakali si Haow ng makita niyang nagkakatampuhan ang magpinsan dahil sa pag-offer niya ng tulong kay Emy. He was bound between taking back his offer and keeping them. In actuality, he really wanted to teach Emy for his own personal reason."Para kang bata, Franco." Sabi ni Lie Chen. Sinamaan siya agad ng tingin ni Franco. Then nilapitan niya si Haow at pinaningkitan ng mga mata. Singkit na nga siya ay
After lunch, pinayagan na sila na maglakad lakad sa kung saan nila gustuhin.Dahil malapit lang naman ang market doon, Shantal, Sabrina and Sammy, along with Franco and friends, decided to go there.Pinaiwanan naman ni Feng si Emy dahil baka mapagod ito ng husto at sumama na naman ang pakiramdam. Hindi na naman siya nagreklamo at doon na lang sa training ground naglakad lakad.Walang masyadong tao pero yung mangilan ngilan na naroroon ay kanya kanyang pagsasanay ang ginagawa.The training ground was too big that they divided it into three. At the left most part of it was for those who were practicing archery. The one in the middle were for those into martial arts. And the last side was for sword fighters."Do you mind if I accompany you?" Someone asked her suddenly. She was busy looking at the archers na hindi na niya namalayan na may nakalapit na pala sa kanya.
The next day, maayos na ang pakiramdam ni Emy. They told her that the rest of their travel ay natulog lang siya habang pinagpapawisan ng marami and muttering incoherently. And when they arrived at night, hindi siya magising kaya naman they decided to just bring her in the room. Feng almost put an all-nighter though. She was extremely worried about her at kung hindi pa umayos ang lagay niya around midnight ay baka nagpatawag na ito ng manggagamot. Emy was grateful. Anyway, she also found out na ang bahay na tinutuluyan nila ngayon ay ang ancestray residence nila Lie Feng. Malaki ito at malawak pero sa normal na araw ay tanging si General Lie Zhang, papa ni Lie Feng, at ang isa pang apo nito na si Lie Chen lamang ang naroroon. Kaya madalas ay mas pinipili na lamang nila na sa barracks tumuloy. Gaya na lang ngayon. "We have to visit the house of the Chief bilang pagbigay galang. Kaya mo bang makasama, Emy?" Tanong ni Francis. "Yes, Uncle.