"Cass? Casssssss?" Binalik ko ulit sa tenga ang phone at hindi ko na pinansin ang ingay mula sa background niya."Thank God, tumawag ka rin.""Lintek lang! Mission failed! Mission failed!" sagot ni Lory, puno ng kaba sa boses. "May clash of clans dito sa labas, Cass. Ang daming barbarian na sumugod, may dala-dalang mga hummer, este, mga nakakalokang armas!" "I can’t get out," sagot ko nang mabilis, ang takot bumabalot sa akin."Wag ka munang lumabas, nakakamatay dito. Madaming flying bull*ts na tinitira ng mga goblin, mga panget!" patuloy ni Lory, kahit sa harap ng panganib, may halong biro pa rin siya. "Buti nalang, madali ko lang makilala ang mga tauhan ni Mr. Smith dahil mga pogi sila. Naku, ay! Putakt*ng bala yun! Tago mga bebe ko, tago! Wag kayong lalabas sa lungga!" Natawa ako ng bahagya, pero agad din akong seryoso. Alam kong delikado ang sitwasyon. Bigla na lang napahinto ako sa paghinga nang marinig ko ang ibang boses sa background ni Lory. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali, ki
(Nasa CCTV room) Nagkakagulo ang lahat dahil paparating na ang tinatawag nilang "dem*nyo" sa kanilang lungga. Halos magkapalit-palit na sila ng pwesto habang nag-aagawan ng upuan, lahat sila'y nakatutok lamang sa mga monitor. Nanggigigil sa kaba, kagat-kagat ang mga kuko habang nakatitig sa isang screen, doon nila kitang-kita ang paglapit ng kanilang boss. Ang bigat ng bawat hakbang niya ay halos maramdaman nila mula sa kanilang kinauupuan. "Ayan na, ayan na, papalapit na siya..." mahinang bulong ng isa sa kanila, halos hindi na makahinga. "Tangina, nasa pinto na siya," dagdag pa ng isa, hindi mapigilang magmura sa sobrang nerbiyos. Bigla silang nagtakbuhan, tila mga aninong naglaho sa isang iglap nang makita ang kanilang boss sa monitor, hawak ang bar*l na mukhang handang gamitin anumang oras. Isang malakas na kalabog ang pumuno sa buong silid nang bumukas ang pinto, at doon ay tumambad sa kanila ang nakakatakot na presensya ng isang lalaki-ang kanilang boss, si Dark.
"Show me the CCTV footage at R143."Agad-agad nilang pinakita ang footage. Tahimik lang silang nanonood, walang imik habang tinutukan ang screen. Sa monitor, bumukas ang pinto nina Cassandra. Katabi niya si Zephyr, at nagpalitan ng ngiti ang dalawa bago ito naglakad palayo."Stop! List the time. Then show me the CCTV on the 6th floor where Zephyr went out."Sunod-sunod ang galaw ng mga tao sa silid, sinusunod ang utos ng kanilang boss. Lumabas sa screen ang isang ina at anak na pumasok sa isang CR. Pagkalipas ng ilang saglit, ang ina na lang ang lumabas, suot ang isang summer outfit na tila hindi tugma sa sitwasyon—may suot pang sunglasses at may sling bag. Pero hinayaan lang nila. Hindi naman ito ang mahalaga sa ngayon, ang atensyon nila ay nasa tinatawag nilang little m*nster."Tang*na, pre. Ang seryoso ng atmosphere," bulong ng isa, halos hindi mapigilan ang kaba."Tumahimik ka, g*go," sagot naman ng isa, hindi rin maitagong nag-aalala.Matapos ang ilang minuto ng paghihintay, bumu
"Huh? Alin, boss?""F*ck! Stop the video. Zoom the first one," utos ni Dark.Sumunod sila agad, pini-freeze ang video at ini-zoom ang imahe. Halos malaglag ang panga nila nang makita ang mukha ng little monster na walang kahit anong ekspresyon. Ibang-iba ito sa inaasahan nila. Parang bata si Dark. Kamukhang-kamukha niya ang kanilang boss, pero mas bata."Sh*t," bulong ni Dark habang minamasahe ang kanyang noo. Ramdam niya ang bigat sa kanyang ulo, para bang tumutusok ang katotohanan sa kanyang isipan."Next video," sabi niya ulit."Boss, tignan mo."Tumingala si Dark at nakita ang mukha ng little monster sa second video, nakakunot ang noo nito, parang may iniisip na mabigat. Kumunot din ang noo ni Dark, inis na inis na siya sa mga kakaibang pangyayari. Tumingin siya sa kasunod na video. Palipat-lipat ang kanyang mata, sinusuri ang bawat detalye. Gusto niyang makita ang pinagkaiba ng tatlong bata sa video. Mahirap basahin ang bawat isa, pero isang bagay ang napansin niya na agad nagbig
"Ehem... I'm calling the motherf*cking attention of Dr. Montero. Proceed to the CCTV room, NOW. ASAP. I need your *ss here, f*cker," Dark demanded with a furrowed brow. He needed Dr. Montero immediately. He had too many questions swirling in his head and wanted confirmation on what he was thinking.As he gave the command, his eyes drifted towards the monitor showing Room 143. He stared at the closed door, feeling a sense of urgency. Lucky for him, the sniper was already dead. His bodyguards and men were busy securing the area outside. He couldn't risk sending anyone else to protect them."Tapos na, boss? Ako naman," Virgo asked, attempting to step forward. But as soon as Dark shot him a deathly glare, Virgo retreated immediately."I'm not done yet, assh*le. Get lost," Dark hissed through gritted teeth, clearly irritated.He turned his attention back to the monitor. "Hello, honey?" His voice suddenly softened, and he closed his eyes tightly as if regretting the tone he just used. The f
Dr. Montero adjusted his glasses again as he stared at the screen alongside Dark. "I don’t think they’ve had surgery. They’re too young for that. And if they were clones, how do you explain their behavior? They even have your eye color. Everything except their lips, though. I think they got that from their mother.""Did you f*cking stare at her lips, id*ot?" Dark's thunderous voice echoed through the room, making the four men behind him gawk at their boss, imagining him with d*vil horns and a tail. His neck and ears were turning red from the mix of rage and embarrassment. The veins on his muscles were visibly popping from his rising temper.Dr. Montero burst into laughter, his amusement clear as he looked at Dark. "Hahaha! Bud, your face is priceless! Damn! Ehem.""Tsk. Shut up!" Dark snapped. "So what now? Are they my sons or not? F*ck! Stop laughing, you id*ot.""Okay, okay. Well, we don’t know yet. Maybe you should investigate further, bud," Dr. Montero replied, still trying to sup
Everything was settled, and everyone was ready for the attack. The bad g*ns, deadly rifl*s, and carb*nes were almost fully assembled by the alley. Sn*pers were positioned on the rooftops, while helicopters hovered above, prepared for the battle. The machine g*ns were stationed in front of the hospital, guarded by an army of men and bodyguards, all ready to f*re at a moment's notice. Dark stood silently, fixing his caliber and checking his other g*ns. His teeth gritted from the overwhelming anger boiling inside him. The thought of those b*stards outside made his bl*od surge with rage. The d*mon inside him had fully awakened, ready for war. "Press the green button, Virgo. The f*cking war is about to begin," Dark commanded, his voice full of authority. Virgo obeyed, pressing the green button. As soon as he did, a deep silence filled the dark room, only to be followed by a sudden creaking sound. The ground floor of the hospital began to shake. Even Cassandra, who was in the middle of a
[The mother, I guess.] Falcon Napahinto naman sa pagb*baril si Falcon habang pinakinggan ang mga ingay sa earpiece. Si Grey naman ay nakasandal lang sa machine g*n while taking a c*garette. [Did I missed something?] Grey [Tama. Tama, boss Falcon.] Virgo [F*ck! It's corny.] Demitri [Honey? Is she a bee?] Ace Nakakunot ang noo ni Ace habang patuloy parin sa nakipagbakbakan katabi naman nito si Demitri na parang naglalaro lang sa pagbabaril and Phoenix was on the snipers group. [Slow as f*ck! Honey coz the mother like a f**king sweet and she is the f**king honey want to sip and taste with mother*ucker Dark's sinful mouth. Dark is the b*llshit bee while the mother is the freaking honey. F**king sh*t!] Falcon [Corny as always. Tsk!] Demitri [What was her name, again?] Ace [Cassandra. Cassandra Echidna Nyx Evangelista.] Phoenix [Holy f**king sh*t! It's a freaking Greek name right?] Grey [Yeah! Echidna-the mother of all monsters while Nyx drew the dark mists of her consort.