Chapter 5

I lay there on the bed, facing the white ceiling in silence as I tried to gather a solid plan for my escape. The round wall clock hanging on the wall reads two forty-five, and I have no idea how long I’ve been laying in there. I drew in a deep breath.

Walang pumapasok sa utak ko. Hindi ako makapag-isip nang maayos. Patuloy na umaandar ang oras ngunit kahit isang hakbang ay wala akong nasisimulan. Muli akong napabuntong-hininga.

Maybe I should check outside, I thought suggestively and maybe it’s the best that I can do for the mean time. I sat upright as I embraced myself. Nakabalot pa rin sa bathrobe ang katawan ko.

Tumayo ako at marahang binuksan ang pinto, tahimik na humihiling na sana ay walang nag-aabang na panganib sa akin sa labas ng kuwarto. The hallway was dark and empty, halos wala akong maaninag. Nilakihan ko ang awang ng pinto para mahagip ng liwanag na nagmumula sa kuwarto ko ang dulo ng hallway. Tahimik ang paligid.

Muli akong pumasok sa kuwarto at isa isang hinalughog ang mga cabinet, umaasang may matagpuan na flashlight sa drawers. Hindi naman ako nabigo. I held the flashlight tightly as I finally step out of the room. Maingat at tahimik ang bawat hakbang ko.

Madilim ang kabahayan at tanging ang liwanag ng buwan sa labas lamang ang nagbibigay ilaw sa sala. The huge curtain covering the floor to ceiling glass wall was slightly ajar, letting the moonlight pierce into the house. Hinanap ko ang switch at nang makita iyon, mabilis kong nabuksan ang malaking chandelier na nakasentro sa living room. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

I looked around the place, a little suspicious. Ako lamang ang naroon pero pakiramdam ko ay may nagmamasid sa akin. Kinuha ko ang damit na nakakalat sa sofa at mabilis na isinuot iyon. Nang matapos, muli kong inilibot ang paningin sa sala upang maghanap ng telepono.

I was disappointed not to find one. Pero hindi ako nawalan ng pag-asa. Narating ko ang kusina at doon ko natagpuan ang hinahanap ko. I almost jumped in happiness and triumph.

I hastily grab the telephone and was about to dial when I realize something; no contact number is popping up in my head. Hindi ko kabisado ang number ni Trisha, o ng hotel, o kahit isa sa miyembro ng pamilya ko. Naiiyak kong tinitigan ang telepono sa kamay at inis na ibinagsak iyon. It created a loud thud and I almost burst into puddle of regrets before looking around the room, hoping I didn’t wake up the predator with the noise I created.

I grab the flashlight again. I have no choice but to finally exit this place and hope to find my salvation outside. Surely, he’s keeping at least one water vehicle to travel back and forth dahil imposible namang hindi siya umaalis ng isla?

I reached for the door. Pero katulad kanina, hindi pa rin iyon mabuksan.

What’s up with this thing? Was it locked outside? Is there a passcode or a secret spell? I grumbled in irritation.

This is impossible! Bakit pati ang mga bintana ay hindi rin mabuksan? He told me I can leave before he wakes up but I felt like he purposely set up a trap and those words are just façade. He really doesn’t want me out! It’s just for show. Surely, nagpaplano na siya kung paano ako papatayin ngayon.

I walked towards the glass wall and slide the curtain open. Maliwanag sa labas dahil sa sinag ng buwan. Bukas rin ang isang lamp post na malapit sa dalampasigan. I squinted my eyes to get a good look of the thing parked on the shoreline. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makitang ang jet ski iyon!

But it’s already out of gas! There’s no use to it anymore.

But maybe I can try my luck?

I took a step back to examine the glass wall. Lumapit ako at pinasadahan ng kamay ko ang salamin, maingat na inoobserbahan ang materyal. I sighed.

Tahimik pero mabilis akong bumalik sa kitchen at hinalughog ang mga cabinet. I need to find something heavy and hard to break that glass wall so I can escape. I know it will create a big noise, but hopefully, before the wacko could even wake up, I’m already out of his house. I could hide anywhere outside and find something to save me up, hopefully.

I grinned triumphantly after seeing the house tools under the sink. Mabilis kong kinuha ang martilyo roon at kinakabang bumalik sa living room. The hammer was large and heavy. It’s as if it’s made for heavy demolition work. And it’s perfect for my plan.

Pinatay ko ang chandelier at huminto sa harap ng salamin. One hit. I need to give my all in one hit dahil kung hindi ko ito mababasag sa unang subok, it would jeopardize the plan. Sancho would be waken up by the noise and there’s a possibility he’d be able to catch me before I could smack the hammer on the wall for the second time.

Huminga ako ng malalim. Amara, don’t mess this up. Don’t mess this up, please! I chanted nervously.

My grip tightened on the hammer as I started counting one to ten in my head. Umatras din ako para bumwelo. I am planning to throw the hammer fully on the glass, that way, it has a higher chance to break the wall completely.

…Eight, nine….

“Ten,” I raised my arm, ready to throw the hammer when I felt a hand gripped my wrist. Kinabahan ako at nanlamig.

I looked at the man behind me. Kahit madilim ang sala, naiilawan ng sinag ng buwan ang malamig at madilim niyang mukha. I noticed the ghost of a smirk on his lips.

“Well I might just have to slaughter you alive now, huh?” he said darkly and I felt my body tensed even more. I squirmed, trying to free myself from his grasp. Pinakawalan naman ako nito pero mabilis nitong inagaw ang martilyo sa kamay ko. I gulped in fear.

This is my dead end.

I watched him play with the hammer on his hand as he walk closer to me. My lips started trembling and I was starting to panic. Is he gonna hit me with that hammer until he breaks my skull? Lalo akong nanlamig sa naisip.

“I’m sorry. P-please…you said I can leave, r-right?”

The man chuckled softly. “Hmm? Yeah I did said that.”

I shook my head uncontrollably. “I c-can’t open the doors! I have no way out. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to destroy your house.” I reasoned out. “I’m j-just desperate to escape.”

His eyes widened dramatically. “Escape?” his laugh echoed throughout the house. “Isn’t that term use for prisoners or something?”

One more step towards me and I was trapped. My eyes watered when he finally cornered me.

“Why?” he looked so entertained and amused. “When did I insinuate something like that? Do you feel like I’m caging you and making you my hostage?”

“The doors won’t open up!” I defended.

“Ah!” he exclaimed before freeing me from his presence and heading towards the entrance door. He opened the lights before I saw him lift his thumb up on a panel attached on the wall beside the door. Ni hindi ko iyon napansin kanina!

There was a silent beep before the door automatically opens up. He looked back at me, smirking.

“Sorry. The architect who designed my house is tech-savvy.”

I wiped my face as I felt myself relaxed a bit. Does that mean I can go ahead now?

“So…” muli itong naglakad pabalik sa direksyon ko, hawak pa rin ang martilyo. Muling umangat ang takot ko. He could hit me with that thing anytime he likes, lalo pa ngayong inistorbo ko ang tulog niya at nahuli niya akong nagpaplano na sirain ang bahay niya.

“I believe we’re not yet done talking about the crime you’re just about to commit?”

My eyes widened at him. “W-what do you mean?”

”Destruction of property. Do you know how much you would owe me kung nasira mo ‘to?” he gestured on the wall using the hammer. “The materials of this house is not something you could purchase in a cheap and ordinary store, honey.”

He scooted towards the glass wall. Ganoon na lamang ang gulat ko nang walang salita niyang hinampas ang salamin gamit ang martilyo. My mouth parted as I stared at the wall. Hindi iyon nabasag! Kahit kaunti o maliit na bitak ay wala akong maaninag. I looked at Sancho. He, too, seemed amused and shock.

“Wow! My engineer had told me about this fact about my wall but I never really got to try this before until now!” he laughed, visibly amazed. “What a shame your head might not be as ‘hammerproof’ as my wall,” he muttered before facing me again.

My body tensed from what I’ve heard. I was right! He’s gonna use that thing on me! Umiiling at naiiyak kong siyang pinagmasdan habang unti unti siyang lumalapit sa akin.

“Please…just let me g-go.”

“I was going to. I let you stay in my house, I fed you and loaded your jet ski with gas, and this is how you’re going to pay me back?” he sighed as if he’s so disappointed. It’s so dramatic and fake, he’s obviously enjoying this.

But wait, the jet ski is loaded with gas now?

My hope heightened up a bit. Now that I have an instrument to leave, all I need to do is to escape this crackpot.

He grinned as he stopped in front of me. “You look so scared. And I don’t know why, but it’s making me happy.” He looked so proud and arrogant.

Ilang segundo kaming nagkatinginan. His presence is really screaming danger, and I was so intimidated. I heard him sighed. Namumungay na ang mga mata nitong nakatitig sa akin.

“I was sleeping peacefully, Amara. You could’ve move a little more silent. Rinig na rinig ko ang kalampag sa kusina.” He complained, frowning at me.

I looked at him incredulously. What kind of ears does this man have? I’m sure as hell the only noise I made is my frustration over the telephone. At hindi rin naman iyon ganoon kalakas! Besides that, I made sure not to make a single sound while I was rummaging on the cabinets earlier.

Sancho sighed as his dull eyes bored into me. “Get back into your room, halatang hindi ka pa natutulog. You can leave in the morning.”

My mouth parted as I my eyes widened a bit. I thought he’s about to execute me just now?

“There’s no exit way for you anywhere in the house unless you chop my fingers. Get back to your room, I’ll let you leave in the morning.” That’s all he said before walking past me to take the stairs and leave me alone in the living room.

I sighed in frustration. Can I actually trust his words? Would he really let me escape tomorrow?

I hesitantly dragged my feet back to the guest room. Well, I don’t have a choice, don’t I?

Binagsak ko ang sarili sa kama at pagod na tinitigan ang kisame. I closed my eyes, praying for my safety and hoping that I made the right decision to bargain my trust on the madman upstairs.