A Shroud of Secrecy

THIRD PERSON'S POV "Why do you need to do this, Marnella?" "Dad, I told you, I want to live with the law. This is my only chance." Nagpatuloy ang tinawag na Marnella sa pag-iimpake. "May ibang paraan, hija. Hintayin mo lang ako na tumakbong presidente sa susunod na botohan, bibigyan kita ng magandang puwesto." Marnella let out a soft laugh. "That's unfair to others, Dad. Isa pa, ayoko namang umasa na lang sa 'yo palagi. It's time to make my name in my own ways now. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity, Dad, so don't make this hard for me." "I'm just worried. Mapanganib sa loob ng batas lalo na't ang mga kalaban niyo ay hindi natatakot sa batas." "I can take care of myself, Dad. Please, don't worry too much. Mom's already crying, so stop nagging like I'm not gonna come home anymore." Sinara ni Marnella ang zipper ng maleta niya. Lumapit si

THIRD PERSON'S POV La Vezque is a large City in the Philippines divided into different areas. Located in the center is The KH alongside with a governance system of the President. However, there's this other organization called Akeldama, the dangerous and formidable association of vicious people with connections, located in various secluded places surrounding the whole City. You can find them anywhere inside and outside of the City, making it hard for The KH to capture them. Ang dalawang nasabing organisasyon ay may parehong kakayahan na kontrolin ang La Vezque. In the name of the legality and illegality, they became the nemesis of one another. Ang KH na lahat gagawin para lang mahuli ang mga tao sa likod ng Akeldama; at ang Akeldama na handang isakripisyo ang lahat para lang malagpasan ang taas ng KH at pamunuan ang buong La Vezque. Every people involved in the two organizations are being blinded by thei

THIRD PERSON'S POV   "Starting from now, you will be Sena Allisa McMillan, the only child and inheritor of McMillans."   The eight-year-old girl fixed her gaze on the old man in front of her. It was the man who had saved her from death with her parents a week ago. She had lost herself as a result of that awful occurrence. She was plagued with hallucinations, nightmares, self-harm, and uncontrollable sobs.   Paulit-ulit.   Araw-araw.   Gabi-gabi.   Palagi niyang nakikita ang naranasan ng mga magulang niya sa patuloy na pagtupok ng apoy sa bahay kung saan sana sila magsisimulang muli. It torments her daily, to the point that she is barely surviving for the sake of her parents' dying request. Makita mo lang siya ay ramdam mo agad kung anong sakit at poot ang bumabalot sa kanya.   "No..." The girl keeps on wheezing

SENA ALLISA MCMILLAN POV "Better? Huwag kang magpatawa dahil alam natin pareho na hindi patas ang laban kapag gumamit ang isa ng baril. Puwera na lang kung wala talaga siyang laban, hindi ba, Finn?" "Shut up! I will just simply tell Godfather that you died in the ring." "Parang hindi naman yata tama iyon. Baka pagdudahan ka. Sa tingin mo, sino kaya ang mananagot?" I complacently fired back while grinning wickedly to annoy him more. Nakita ko naman ang bahagyang pagsalubong ng dalawa niyang kilay kasabay ng pag-igting ng panga niya. Humigpit din ang hawak niya sa baril at gigil na gigil nang kalabitin ang gatilyo. I tilted my head to see more of his reactions. Now, I am enjoying this one. I kinda like it when we're playing like this. Siguradong mataas na naman ang presyon nito. "What are you waiting for? Do it before I change my mind." Naglaho

SENA ALLISA MCMILLAN POV "Stop trying so hard, my lady," aniya na siyang mas ikinainis ko. "What do you want?" Tumigil na ako sa ginagawa ko. Nanatili na lang akong nakatayo habang hawak niya pa rin ako. Nagsasayang lang ako ng lakas. He's still a man and he's stronger than me. "Your name or do you prefer calling you my lady?" "Nagpapatawa ka ba talaga? You're doing this just to know my name? What kind of childish act is this?" Bahagya akong napatigil sa pagpupumiglas. "Huwag mong sabihin na niligtas mo ako dahil lang doon?" dagdag ko pa nang mapagtanto ko iyon. "You figured it out." It's almost a whisper. Kinilabutan ako nang magdampi ang tungki ng ilong niya sa may baba ko naman ngayon. Nanuot sa balat ko ang pinakawalan niyang hininga sa leeg ko na humahalo na sa pabangong suot niya. I saw on my peripheral vision that