Chapter 1.2

“Everyone lower their heads! It’s an ambush!” Fayre’s father roared. Everyone followed Keivor’s command. Mabilis silang yumuko sa takot na baka tamaan ng mga ligaw na bala mula sa labas.

Fayre’s body immediately tensed up and it began trembling as soon as bullets started to emerge from nowhere. It unexpectedly hit one of their windows which is just right above her. The glass pieces fell over her head and the next thing she knew . . . there was a sticky fluid trickling down the side of her head.

Zach quickly removed his seatbelt and joined his sister that was currently on the floor. He managed to pull her close to him and hug her tight. Ramdam niya ang takot na nararamdaman nito dahil sa lakas ng panginginig ng katawan ng kapatid. Nag-aalala siya para sa kondisyon nito, lalo na’t dumudugo pa ang ulo nito. He knew that Fayre’s not used to this yet because she still hasn’t any idea about the family she’s in; this incident will really traumatize her. Natatakot siya para sa kapatid niya. Alam niyang marami pa itong pangarap sa buhay ngunit dahil sa uri ng pamilyang mayroon sila ay hindi malabong mamatay muna sila bago pa nila maabot ang mga pangarap na ‘yon.

Zach knew at that moment they were clearly playing with death when he saw his parents assembling guns. 

Oh God, why does my sister have to experience all of this? he thought. For him, his sister was too young for things like this. Fayre was only eight years old. But Zach wasn’t that much old either; he’s only ten.

Palakas nang palakas ang tunog ng mga lumilipad na bala sa labas. Nagkandabasag-basag na ang mga side mirrors ng sasakyan nila at maging ang gulong nila ay nabutas na dahil natamaan na rin ngunit hindi pa rin tumitigil ang mga kalaban sa pagpapaulan ng bala. Mahigit ilang minuto na silang nakayuko at hindi niya alam kung papaanong nakakaligtas pa rin sila sa dami ng bala na pinaulan sa pwesto nila.

Matagal na pinagkatitigan ni Zach ang baril na nakahain sa harapan niya. He was contemplating with himself if he should take it or not, but his dad insisted. “Take the gun with you. If you see a threat, don’t hesitate to pull the trigger, Zachary.”

Zach was left with no choice but to get the gun. Besides, he would be the one guarding her sister. Kailangan niyang magkaroon ng panlaban kung sakali mang may umatake sa kanila. He hates the idea that her sister has to witness this cruel situation. Hindi ito ang plinano niyang paraan upang makilala ng kapatid ang tunay na katauhan ng sarili niyang pamilya. He wanted to explain everything, but all he could do now was to protect her.

He felt a pang in his chest at the sight of tears forming in his sister’s eyes. Mabilis niya itong pinunasan at hinalikan sa noo. 

“Hush, Kuya’s here . . .” he whispered. Sinabi na ni Zach lahat ng salitang maiisip niya para lang kumalma ang kapatid ngunit wala ni isa sa mga ito ang nakatulong upang mabawasan man lang ang takot na nararamdaman ni Fayre. 

Despite the dangerous situation, both of their parents still managed to give their children a soft kiss on the forehead. They both knew that Fayre will be the most affected one after this incident. It hurts that Fayre has to go through this situation. If only they could do something, ginawa na nila matagal na.

But this is their fate. Every passing second felt like they were running out of time. There’s a huge possibility that they might not see each other again after this, so they spent all the time exchanging words with each other.

“Please be safe.” That was the last thing that had escaped their father’s mouth before they all quickly moved outside that car.

Pagkabukas ng pintuan ng kotse ay mabilis na kumilos ang bawat isa. The siblings ran straight towards the opposite direction where exactly the bullets were coming from. On the other hand, their parents tried to protect their children by executing the enemies but they were too numerous to be defeated at one blow. It was still raining bullets in the sky and it was clear as water that they were outnumbered. Maliit ang tsansang makaligtas silang mag-anak, ngunit hindi hinayaan ng mag-asawa na mawalan sila ng pag-asa.

If ever they die, at least they did their very best to protect their children until their last breath. At least, Fayre and Zach survived.

“K-Kuya, n-natatakot na po a-ako,” Fayre said in between her sobs. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang panginginig ng kanyang katawan. Kasabay ng bawat pagputok ng baril ay ang paglakas pa lalo ng tibok ng puso ni Fayre.  Zach did everything to calm down his little sister, but it seemed like nothing will ever calm her down.

“Kuya’s here, okay? Kuya won’t leave you no matter what.”

Until that very moment, Fayre was still clinging onto her teddy bear as if her life depends on it. Zach took advantage of it and said, “You hug her tight while we run, hmm? Close your eyes and don’t ever open them unless I said so. Trust your brother, Fayre. Just run and Kuya’s gonna do the rest.”

Zach knows that encountering enemies along the way is inevitable. Napapaligiran sila ng mga ito. Maging siya ay natatakot para sa buhay nila, but he can’t let fear eat him up because his sister’s life is on his hands too. Hindi siya pwedeng maging mahina dahil nakasalalay sa kanya ang ikaliligtas nilang dalawa.

One look from behind and he saw how the bullet hit her mother’s arm. He screamed so loud and at that very moment, he felt like running towards them. But her mom looked at him with pleading eyes and shouted, “Run! Run away from here!”

Zach was hesitant, but he obliged. Masakit man sa loob ay mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang kamay ng kapatid at bumilang ng tatlo bago sila mabilis tumakbo palayo. Ilang metro pa lamang ang layo nila mula sa pwesto nila kanina ay may humarang na agad sa dinadaanan nila. Agad silang napatigil sa pagtakbo, dahilan upang buksan ni Fayre ang mga mata niya at nagtatakang tumingin sa harapan nila. Dumoble ang kabang naramdaman ni Fayre sa pigura ng taong sumalubong sa kanilang magkapatid.

His brother inhaled sharply at the sight of a tall, armed man blocking their way. He was obviously no match with him; his wimpy figure doesn’t help at all. The man smirked as if he was mocking them. Zach took a deep breath before hesitantly handing his sister a dagger. He doesn’t know if Fayre knows how to use it, but he can’t leave her unarmed. 

“Stay there and don’t go anywhere. Got it?” Zach commanded as he put Fayre right behind him.

Fayre, with teary eyes, cluelessly nodded. Her hands were trembling as she held the dagger in her right hand, left arm hugging her stuffed toy. The feeling was unfamiliar to her. She bears such a soft heart and she couldn’t bear to hurt anything, living or not. Hindi pa rin nagsi-sink in sa kanya ang mga nangyayari sa kanyang paligid. She was drenched in rain, yet she felt numb for a moment. Hindi niya maramdaman ang lamig ng hangin na humahampas sa kanyang katawan o ang pagtama ng tubig sa kanyang ulo. Fayre was clearly occupied, lost in oblivion.

Zach readied himself for the upcoming attacks the man was about to throw. In a blink of an eye, the man is already just a few meters from him. He tried to attack Zach’s face but the latter managed to dodge it. Sa nakalipas na minuto ay walang ibang ginawa si Zach kundi iwasan ang mga suntok at sipang pinakakawalan nito. Hinihingal siyang gumulong pakanan upang iwasan muli sana ang sipa ng lalaki ngunit tinamaan na siya sa pagkakataong ito. Sinubukan niyang kumawala sa pagkakahawak nito sa hita niya ngunit masyado itong mahigpit. Hindi pa nakatulong na madulas ang daan dahil na rin sa walang tigil na pag-ulan kung kaya’t dumulas lang ang kamay niya nang sinubukan niyang humawak dito.

When the man tightened his grip even more, Zach yelped in pain. The man aggressively pulled Zach close to him and he started throwing punches to him. The boy was too drained to even dodge the attacks. 

Bruises and wounds are now visible in the poor boy’s face. His right eye can’t even open properly due to the intensity of the man’s attacks. There was a large cut in his lips and it’s already bleeding nonstop and yet, the man isn’t still done punching the hell out of him. 

Fayre was throwing tantrums and at that moment, her mind suddenly went blank.

Blood . . . blood . . . there’s blood everywhere.

Suddenly, she couldn’t see anything other than the blood in front of her. As if it had triggered her even more, her grip on the dagger slowly tightened making her knuckles turned into pale white. Nanlalabo na ang paningin niya dahil sa pinaghalong tubig-ulan at mga luhang patuloy na umaagos mula sa kanyang mata. Her eyes then travelled to his brother screaming in agony. Bumalik ang tingin niya sa hawak na kutsilyo at mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya dito.

Kuya needs me.

Everything around her became red. She could no longer hear the sound of exchanging bullets or even her brother’s cry for help. She was deaf for a few minutes and her eyes were only fixated on the figure in her front. The man was facing his back on her and Fayre took that opportunity to execute her plan.

Without even realizing what was about to happen, Fayre just found herself running impulsively towards with rage in her eyes. In a split second, the man was already lying on the floor; a dagger was stuck on his neck. His screams were a lot louder than Zach’s and there’s a lot of blood gushing out of his skin.

Fayre came back to her senses when she felt something cold in her hands. This time it wasn’t the cold droplets of water that was coming from above. It was something awfully disgusting. Something she never had imagined that one day would stain her hands.

She can’t believe what she have done. Her teddy bear with bloodstains dropped on the floor, and all she could ever do is to stare at her bloody hands.

I-I killed someone.

Death will always be her greatest fear, yet just like that, she took someone’s life using her bare hands.

Fayre couldn’t process everything that had happened. It was too much for her to absorb. Sa mga panahong ‘yon ay hindi siya makapagsalita at nanatiling nakatitig lang sa mga kamay niya. Her eyes looked back at his brother which is currently looking at her with a frown; trying to analyze what happened just a while ago.

Nang walang ano-ano’y bigla na lang nitong isinigaw ang pangalan niya at tinuro ang kanyang likuran. Pero huli na ang lahat dahil bago niya pa magawang lumingon ay isang malamig na bagay na ang nakatarak sa leeg niya. Fayre felt weak in an instant and the next thing she knew, she blacked out.