Chapter 5

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 and sniffing as she shook her head with tears in her eyes. "I-I am Deianeira Madigan."

"Oh, my niece." Lumapit sa kanya ang matandang lalaki at yinakap siya. "Do you want your parents to be sad and in pain?"

That made the girl stopped from crying.

"My parents are already dead."

"Awww, you don't want to acknowledge your new parents yet?" Nagbago ang ekspresyon sa mukha ng matanda. "Aren't you tired of crying?"

"I am." Kumalas sa yakap ang bata. "Pero paano ko po mapipigilan kung may sariling kusa na po ang mga luha ko?" She sniffed once again. "I simply miss them so badly that it crushes my heart every time I think about them."

"I know. I understand." The old man gently wiped her tears. "But, the sooner you embrace it, the sooner you will be healed. This is your new life now. Ayaw mo ba sa amin? Ayaw mo man lang ba kaming bigyan ng pagkakataon?"

Marahang umiling ang bata, dahilan ng pag-ngiti ng matandang lalaki.

"Then, call me Uncle Gage, and your new parents as Mom and Dad."

The girl just nodded.

"Good girl. Now, what's your name?"

Napatitig ang bata sa matandang lalaki at ilang beses napakurap. Unconsciously, it made her feel hopeful again. Hindi niya rin namalayan na tumigil na rin pala siya sa pag-iyak.

"You are?" The old man waited for her response.

"Sena..." Suminghot ang bata. Isang buntonghininga at matapang na titig sa matandang lalaki ay binigkas niya ang kabuuang ngalan na ibinigay sa kanya. "Sena Allisa McMillan."

Over the course of a month, Allisa developed a close bond with her new family. She never felt or thought she was a different person to them, thus she was able to smile and laugh again. Despite the fact that she is still struggling to adjust, her new family has made it easier for her. They even encourage her to see a psychologist or therapist to avoid her condition from escalating.

"Your Dad and I are already processing your papers in school. Aren't you excited to study again?" Malawak ang ngiti ng tinaguriang panibagong ina ni Allisa. She even held her hands and gave it a little squeeze.

Nga lang, ang ngiting kanina pa suot ni Allisa ay biglang naglaho't napalitan ng simangot. "I've never been to school before, so this will be the first time I'm attending it."

Nagkatitigan ang mag-asawa. Maging ang Uncle nitong si Gage Anderson ay nakamasid at nakikinig lang sa kanila.

"Well, sweetheart." Naupo sa tabi ni Allisa ang ama nito. "Whether you went to a real school or not, you still learned how to study. We're simply adding this one to your experience, so make sure you do well and have fun, okay?"

"You'll meet a lot of good friends," dagdag naman ng ina niya.

Sinubukan ulit ngumiti ni Allisa. Mabilis din siyang napatingin sa Uncle niya na binigyan siya ng marahang tango at ngiti bago tumayo at naglakad palapit sa kanila.

"You'll also receive rewards whenever you obtain a good mark."

"Yes!" Allisa shouted in enthusiasm.

"Oh, Gage, don’t spoil her too much."

"Well, Laquisha, she's the only niece I have so..." Allisa's Uncle just shrugged his shoulder off.

Every day is a celebration of something significant for them. They always made sure that it was spent in memorable and enjoyable ways. However, everything has a limit. After you've been made joyful, agony and grief will be returned to you. The delight appears to be fleeting, while the grief appears to be long-lasting. What Allisa thought would only happen to her once... happened again.

"Mom! Dad!" Hindi magkamayaw na sigaw ni Allisa habang inilalayo siya ng Uncle niya sa bahay nilang tinutupok ng apoy. Nasa loob nito ang kanyang mga magulang na hindi na nagawang makaligtas pa dahil mas pinili nilang protektahan si Allisa.

"Stop it, Allisa! They will hear you!" Gigil na pagpapatigil ng Uncle niya sa kanya habang sinusubukang takpan ang bibig nito. "Their target was you! Gusto mo bang sayangin ang pag-sakripisyo nila para sa kaligtasan mo?"

Napapikit ng mariin si Allisa kasabay ng pagbuhos ng panibagong luha at pigil-hiningang hinagpis. Napahawak siya sa dibdib niya para alisin ang sakit at mga alaalang pilit na bumabalik sa kanya. Sa kagustuhang hindi makaramdam ng kahit ano, paulit-ulit niyang sinuntok ang dibdib niya.

"Damn it, Allisa! Get a grip of yourself! That doesn't change what happened!" Mahigpit na hinawakan ng Uncle niya ang dalawa niyang kamay habang akap pa rin siya nito mula sa likod.

"Bakit..." Garalgal ang boses niya. "Bakit nangyayari sa akin 'to? Am I a curse?" Sa pagmulat ng mga mata niya ay bumungad sa kanya ang bahay na sinakop na ng apoy. Nakita niya rin 'yong mga taong may kagagawan nito. Greeting teeth, she felt the urge to go back and kill those people. Ito ang pinakaunang pagkakataon na nakaramdam siya ng matinding galit.

"This is not your fault."

"I will kill them."

The moment she said those, she suddenly fainted in the arms of her Uncle. When she opened her eyes, another new life awaits for her. This time it is full of wrath, violence, and deception.

"I want to go back!" Allisa protested, throwing tantrums and crying.

"No." Mariin naman na pag-ayaw ng Uncle niya. "We will be staying here for the mean time. Malayo sa kanila hangga't hinahanda kita."

"Hinahanda?"

"You'll be learning how to fight from me." Tinalikuran siya nito. With furrowed brows, Allisa followed her Uncle. Nagulat niya nang bigla siya nitong hagisan ng brass knuckles. "Good catch. Patunay na nasa dugo mo rin ang pagiging palaban."

"NO!" Binitawan niya ang brass knuckles. "I'm going back." She tried to run but her Uncle is fast enough to stop her again. Hinawakan siya nito sa dalawang balikat.

"Hindi ka ba talaga makikinig?!" Natigilan si Allisa sa malakas na sigaw ng Uncle niya. "Wala ka nang babalikan doon! You’re already dead as Deianeira Madigan there so when they saw you, they will kill you! You have no option but to obey me and spend the rest of your life with me! Babalik tayo kapag natuto ka na! Naiintindihan mo ba?!"

Walang ibang nagawa si Allisa kundi ang umiyak lang nang umiyak.

"Magpapagamot ka habang sinasanay kita."

"But I don’t need to do that anymore!"

"Tingnan natin. Once I saw even a minor signs, you'll get back to your therapy. Do you understand?"

Hindi siya nakapalag sa Uncle niya. It's barely been a week, yet signs have begun to reappear. It was a lot worse. As a result of having to comply with her Uncle's wishes, she was diagnosed with PTSD. Gayunpaman, mas nagpursigi siya sa pagsasanay dahil habang tumatagal ay mas nagiging malinaw sa kanya ang lahat, simula sa basic information ng dalawang organisasyon hanggang sa mga lihim na tinatago nito.

"As you find out your opponent's movement, always modify the cycle of your moves," paalala ng Uncle niya sa gitna ng pagsasanay. "Be sharp! Think fast! Always listen! And what would you answer when I ask you who you are?"

Bumuga siya ng hangin. "I am a fighter!"

"What is your goal?"

"To seek justice!"

That was their routine throughout the whole day training. Kahit na gabi na ay abala pa rin sila. Tuwing sabado’t linggo lang ang pahinga dahil ginagawa nila itong oras para kumalap ng impormasyon at pag-aralan ito.

"Happy birthday!"

Nabitawan ni Allisa ang hawak niyang maskara kanina pa nang bigla siyang gulatin ng Uncle niya. Mas inilapit pa sa kanya ang cake na may nakasindi nang kandila.

"I don't need this."

"Well, come on, hurry up and blow the candles."

Umiling si Allisa suot ang isang ngisi bago hinipan ang kandila.

"Celebrate now, training again tomorrow." Humalakhak ang Uncle nito matapos niyang subsubin ang mukha ni Allisa sa cake.

"What the hell, Anderson?!"

"Happy sweet sixteen, my niece!"

Sa mga sumunod na araw ay pabigat nang pabigat na ang lebel ng pagsasanay ni Allisa. Mas lumala yata ang pag-iyak niya tuwing gabi. Nang sabihin niyang gusto niya nang sumuko ay mas nadagdagan ang pagpapahirap sa kanya ng Uncle niya. She even mocked it when he said to her that it was his own way of 'teachings'.

"I am a fighter!" Allisa continuously repeated it every time she threw a punch in the air.

"Always aim at the most vulnerable regions of the body. Take risks. It's fine to show vulnerability, but never let your guard down; instead, utilize it to learn more about your opponent. Improvisation and knowledge, my niece."

"And justice," bulong niya sa baril na hawak niya bago ito paputukin sa target. "By attacking the two organizations, I will ensure to reclaim what has been taken from me and disclose the truths of the past in order to obtain the justice that my parents and I deserve."

Tinatak niya ang mga iyon sa isip niya hanggang sa dumating ang ikalabing-walong kaarawan niya na siyang pagbabalik at pagpapakilala niyang muli sa La Vezque bilang...

"Sena Allisa McMillan, CEO of McMillan Enterprises."

But as the day progressed, she became greedy, especially after learning about her enemies. She no longer seeks justice. She desires revenge and bloodbath. However, afraid of becoming one of them, she disguised truths as lies.