Chapter 00

"I will kill everyone you love."

A smile appeared on my lips as I reached his face, memorizing all his features from his eyes down to his lips.

"I love you."

He didn't hesitate when he pointed the knife on his neck. "Any last word?"

"Please marry me."

"Yes, that's how I met your father."

Tumayo ako at marahang kinarga si Calliope upang dalhin sa kama nito. Nakatulog ito habang nakikinig sa kwentong gustong-gusto niyang marinig.

The memories I treasured.

Nang maihiga sa kama ay marahan kong inilagay ang kumot sakanyang katawan at binigyan ng halik ang kanyang noo.

"Good night baby."

Iniligpit ko ang mga laruang nakakalat sa sahig habang pinapakinggan ang kantang 'In my life' ng The beatles.

"And these memories lose their meaning

When I think of love as something new~"

I was about to clean the bathroom when I heard a doorbell coming from the outside. When I opened the door, I saw a lady holding a digital camera and a bouquet of unfamiliar flowers.

"Are you Miss Alessandra Lozano?"

Naibaba ko ang hawak kong walis at inayos ang damit ko saka nakangiting hinarap ito. "Yes, it's me."

Lumabas ang ngiti mula sakanyang labi at pinagpagpag ang kamay saka inilahad sa 'kin.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Alessandra! I am a journalist from the agency of crimes and mysteries."

Nalilitong nakipagkamay ako sakanya. "I haven't heard of that agency but it's a pleasure to meet you too."

Nang magbitaw ang kamay namin ay inaya ko siyang pumasok. She was hesitant at first but I told her that it's fine.

"Your house is elegant as you are Miss Alessandra," ani nito sa namamanghang tono.

"This is just a second hand, I bought it after I gave birth to my daughter. Sa una ay hinuhulogan ko lang, nakatyempo ng magandang trabaho ay nabayaran ko ng buo."

Nang makaupo siya sa sofa ay naghanda ako ng kape at isang slice ng cake.

"Yung pagpipinta ba ang sinasabi mong magandang trabaho?"

Napangiti ako at inilagay sa lamesa ang hinanda kong meryenda. "It's not just a painting but a mystical memories."

"It feels like you've been waiting for my presence Miss Alessandra, I haven't said my reason of meeting you but you're already telling me everything I wanted to know."

Napatawa ako sa sinabi niya at napailing na lamang dahil sa katunayan ay wala talaga akong inaasahan na kahit isang bisita.

I already lost everyone, even him.

"So, what do you want to know?"

Binuksan niya ang dala niyang bag at inilabas ang isang notebook at panulat. Ipinwesto niya rin ang digital camera na dala niya sa gilid namin kung saan makikita kaming magkaharap.

"Miss Alessandra, sino ang estrangherong lalake ang naging modelo sa mga ipininta mo?"

Alalang-alala ko pa ang mukha niya, ang lalakeng unang nagpatibok sa puso ko. "He was my husband."

"was? Did you get divorced?"

No, we didn't. We were happy, dreaming of becoming a family together with our daughter.

After an hour of questions and answers, nagpaalam na ito at ibinigay sa'kin ang bouquet na dala niya kanina lamang.

"It's for you Miss Alessandra, Jeremiah flowers signifies memories and reminiscence. Thank you for giving me your time, it was such a nostalgic story."

Hawak ang bouquet ay isinara ko ang pinto matapos niyang magpaalam.

it was such a nostalgic story.

Napaupo ako sa sofa at mahigpit na hinawakan ang bulaklak.

Memories and reminiscence.

I let out a deep sigh as I rest my head and closed my eyes. I saw it again, the memories from the past.

It was a cold snowy night when I ran into the dark forest trying to save my life from the unknown man who was planning to rape me.

I was breathing heavily, gripping the heavy coat I am wearing to fight the dizziness because of the cold while running.

Binilisan ko pa ang pagtakbo ngunit dahil sa pagkahilo at panlalabo ng mata ay hindi ko namalayang nadulas ang mga paa ko kaya gumulong ako pababa sa malamig na bangin.

"H-help me," bulong ko sa kalagitnaan nang panginginig ng katawan ko.

Nakarinig ako ng yapak ng mga paa habang nagbibigay ingay ang isang kadenang tila hinihila.

Inangat ko ang ulo ko at tumambad sa'kin ang nakadilat na mga mata ng lalakeng humahabol sa'kin kanina habang ang bibig nito ay duguan.

Bumuka ang bibig ko nang bigla nalang humilaway ang ulo nito mula sakanyang katawan.

That... What happened?

Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang tingin sa lalakeng nakatagilid sa direksyon ko.

He was bathing in blood holding a long thick flanged mace on his left hand while licking the blood dripping on his right hand.

When he stopped licking his hand, he darted his gaze on me and grinned.

"Kill, kill you."

That's how I first heard his voice. His voice wasn't that scary, it was deep and was actually a husky one.

When he was about 3 meters away from me, huminto ito at tinitigan ako habang hila hila ang mahabang bakal na sariwa pa ang dugong nakadikit.

Marahan akong bumangon at napaupong tinitigan ito pabalik. "Your eyes, it's beautiful."

It came out from my mouth when I saw his eyes, glittering like an ocean and creating it's own galaxy when it's being reflected by the moon.

He pointed the long thick flanged mace on my neck while grinning. "Kill."

He doesn't look like a monster or a beast but his nails are long and looks strong enough to kill me in just one snap. 

"I will kill you."

Dapat ba ay sumigaw ako? He's already planning to kill me in any seconds but still, why do I feel like if ever I scream he will disappear.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sakanya. Nanginginig ang mga kamay na inabot ko ang magkabilang pisngi niya at mariing siniil ng halik ang kanyang labi.

That's how it started...