Tales didn’t complain and simply changed clothes, and once again, a turtleneck paired with a coat. When he stepped out, Raja gave him a thorough head-to-toe look, clearly unimpressed. It was as if Tales hadn’t changed at all, as his outfit looked almost identical to what he usually wore, whether at home or out.“Don’t you really have anything else to wear?” Raja remarked sarcastically, crossing his arms. “What’s wrong with you, seriously?”Tales ignored the comment and sighed deeply. “What kind of work will we be doing tonight, sir?” he asked, bringing the conversation away from his outfit.“Hmm?” Raja raised an eyebrow, as if Tales had just asked something ridiculously obvious. “Of course, to punish Calder.”Tales just nodded slightly but didn't say any word.They got into yet another luxurious car and began the drive to their destination: which Tales don't know about. Throughout the ride, Tales pretended to nap to avoid Raja’s knack for getting on his nerves. He also didn’t want to
The second floor musics with a quiet, heavy tension. Tales followed Raja into the lounge, where the women stood in a loose semi-circle. As if they're discussing something. Upon seeing Raja and his company, some of the womens expressions ranged from nervous to defiant. While others, lower their heads as they're afraid of the man entering.Raja wasted no time, his gaze roam across the group before he gestured toward one of his men, who stepped forward with a ledger in hand.“You all know why you’re here,” Raja began, his voice cold and authoritative. "Let's not waste time and begin."The man flipped open the ledger and started calling names.“Ryza Mangyao.”A tall woman with long, glossy hair stepped forward, her red lips pressed into a tight line.“Loli Compacion.”A petite woman followed, her hands clenched at her sides, avoiding Raja’s piercing gaze. She bit her lips out of frustration. “Juliet Dagwayan.”A third woman who look like she'll collapse at any time because of nervousne
Tales stepped into a familiar house, looking around cautiously. The living room had a table full of cigarettes and three small, heavily worn-out gray sofas. The TV was on. Scattered across the floor were bottles of liquor and a pile of laundry."Mom," Tales called out, but his mother didn’t respond. He knows she's here since he cleaned up before going to school.He grew uneasy when he noticed his bedroom door was open. He had locked it earlier—what had his mother done now?He ran towards his room, and his suspicions were right. His mother was frantically rummaging through his things, pulling clothes out of his cabinet.Tales let out a deep sigh. This was always the case. Every time his mother ran out of money after losing at gambling, she would ransack his things. He couldn’t deny that she’d become this way because of his father. But he had enough. He can't go on like this.'F*ck my life.'He was their child—why did he have to suffer the consequences of their mistakes too? He didn't c
Tales turned his head toward the camera in the corner of the room, its lens silently fixed on the bed--- on him. He wondered for a moment if Raja was asleep, his mind begin to wander in thoughts of the man who kept him under constant watch. Who's cruel, horny and degenerate yet sometimes unreadable and unexpected. 'Is he watching me right now?' Tales thought, his gaze is fix on the camera. But he quickly shook his head, dispelling those thoughts. 'What a load of bull. It doesn’t matter anyway. I’m still stuck here, still can’t get away. When will I be able to live free?' The fleeting moment of curiosity became vague, replaced by the realization of his reality. He could think about it all he wanted, but it wouldn’t change anything. He couldn’t escape. 'And that man is the reason of it all. Thinking about it, pissed me off.' He once again look at the camera. Tales didn’t want Raja to see this side of him—his frustration and helplessness. Raja had too many advantages, too man
Raja's room was like fortress of technology. Monitors lined in a long table, glowing with live feeds and cryptic data streams. The sound of powerful processors filled the air in a quiet room while wires lying across the floor connecting unto the surveillance. The dim light from the screens reflect on his face, emphasizing the vigilant characteristic in his eyes—eyes that never missed a detail.His fingers skitter over the keyboard with a precision over the technology.Monitors displaying a live footage of the living room, the garage, the kitchen, the room and hallway of a certain house. One monitor displayed live footage of a man moving cautiously from room to room. Raja’s lips formed into a wicked grin. This wasn’t just random spying; this was his prey.“Caught you,” he murmured, his voice low and dangerously enjoying the fun.The man on the screen was someone Calder had named 'Dante'—a Judas in his treachery. Raja had hacked the CCTV cameras of the man’s home, tracking his every move
The first light of dawn barely pass through the window, casting faint, golden rays across the room. The air was still quiet and calm early morning. Raja stood at the door, his figure silhouetted by the dim light spilling into the room. He didn’t knock. He didn’t need to. He leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, observing the man who's sleeping. 'So much for wanting to kill me but still sleep peacefully in the lion's den.' Raja shakes his head. Tales was still asleep, his form was covered in the blankets. His face was relaxed, he looks like an omelette by the way his sheets covered his body which made Raja's side of the lips rose. Raja watched for a moment, and raise his eyebrows. Tales has no hint of awareness, of what was going on. He walk towards the man who's sleeping soundly and studied his face. But was surprised to see a cloth hanging being covered on the lens of the CCTV camera. He chuckle dryly. "He really think he's that, that huh?" Raja’s eyes narrowe
"I lose?" Raja asked asking if he's really thinking that he lose. Raja chuckled incredulously. Tales lips formed into a thin line as he refuse to yield at him. The dagger is pressed firmly against Raja’s neck. Yet, despite the dangerous situation, Raja didn’t flinch. Instead, his amused eyes locked onto Tales’, as if daring him to strike. 'Gosh! What did you do?! Did you just seriously kiss this pervert and lunatic?! Have you gone insane too?!' he shouted on his mind upon realizing what he did. He's just influence by the desire to win and wipe his smirk off. Being desperate really let you do stupid things. But there's no point in crying over spilled milk. “Do it,” Raja murmured, his voice is low and taunting. “Go ahead.” Tales’ brow furrowed, frustration was seen across his face. He tightened his grip on the dagger, so much that his knuckles became white. He's already beyond piss but now that Raja is waging war, he felt like he might explode any second now. "You think I can't?!"
Tales slammed the first aid kit on the table, the sound is sharp and echoed in the quiet room. His lips are pressed together and his brows are slightly furrowed as if he's controlling something. He is indeed controlling his emotions. 'Just why did I do that earlier? My body react so much, I feel disgusted.' He know he shouldn't felt anything from that kind of act, yet there he is, arching his back that seems like he's begging for more. 'Damnit. What a whore.' he cursed in his mind. The last thing he needed was to let Raja see how deeply he was affected. That's why he's doing his best to hide his emotions. Raja who's sitting and leaning leisurely against the wall, didn’t seem discompose in the slightest. His smirk widened as he sluggishly extended his injured hand toward Tales. Blood still dripped from his fingers, the red liquid staining the floor indicating how deep his wounds are. “Taking your time, huh?” Raja drawled, his tone is taunting Tales. “Or are you too busy thinking a
Jake had always done exactly as he was told.From the moment he could walk, Oliver had shaped him like a blade—sharpened his mind, hardened his body, stripped him of anything weak. And he had obeyed. He had followed orders. He had killed. He had smiled when Oliver wanted him to smile, knelt when Oliver wanted him to kneel, and suffered when Oliver wanted him to suffer. Because that was what a son was supposed to do.He was not loved.He was not special.He was a project. A tool. A thing to be possessed and used.Jake learned early that love was something you had to earn. That it wasn’t given freely. That if he did everything Oliver asked—if he followed the rules, if he never mess up or doubt, if he obeyed—maybe then he would hear something kind. Maybe then his father would look at him like he mattered. Maybe his father would look at him with love.So he obeyed.The first time Oliver threw him into a fight, Jake was seven. Small, underfed, shaking. His opponent was older—twelve, bigger
The night air was suffocating as Raja approached the entrance of Jake’s hideout—a rotting industrial complex left behind from another era. The rusted metal and broken windows appeared like coarse teeth in the dark. Raja's boots crunched over debris as he stalked forward, carrying a gun and a long knife in both of his two hands, his breathing slow and controlled despite the ache in his battered body. Blood—dried and fresh—clung to his clothes. He looked like a man crawling out of hell. Maybe he was.This was it. The end of the line.He passed the first perimeter silently, his blade and gun glinting faintly in the moonlight. Jake's guards had been stationed like cattle, unaware that the slaughter was coming.He was just announcing himself walking with his head held high, however seems like the security is too lax.Raja didn't waste time.The first man barely made a sound as Raja’s knife sliced clean through his throat. The second caught the glint of blade too late, a gun halfway raised
Raja’s boots crunched against the sand as he stepped out of the vehicle, the engine still running behind him. The houses infront of him are mostly made of bamboo and are practically glued yo each other. Slums near the ocean. He surveyed the houses with no light, he walked and walked until... he found it. In front of him, a house stood crooked, its rusted tin roof bent inward, peeling paint clinging stubbornly to the rotting wooden walls. It was the kind of place most people wouldn’t give a second glance, and for a moment, Raja wondered if he’d come to the wrong place.But no.This was Zaden’s hideout. His sanctuary. Tucked away in the forgotten corners of his hometown. Raja had expected something more refined, something cleaner. But looking at it now, it made sense.Zaden couldn't care less.Raja approached the door with slow, deliberate steps, his breath steady but his pulse quickening. Without hesitation, he raised his foot and—BANG!The flew violently as he kicked it open. The old
The first swing of the hammer crushed Raoul’s kneecap with a sickening crunch. Raoul screamed—raw, high, desperate. His body convulsed violently as he slumped on the floor. But Raja was already raising the hammer again.“Where is he?!”“I don’t know!” Raoul sobbed. “I don’t know!"Raja crouched down and stare at Raoul. A question once again occured in his mind. He don't know why this man betrayed him. Hr notice how all of his movements was observe and reported but he didn't know it was Raoul. He just thought that it's one of his men who's lower rank, but to think its Raoul?The hammer fell again, this time slamming into Raoul’s hand, shattering the bones with brutal efficiency. Raoul’s screams echoed off the cold concrete walls, but Raja didn’t flinch.“You told Jake I killed Oliver,” Raja said slowly, his voice low, controlled. “I won't even ask you why you betrayed me. I don't care about that nor I care about you working with him. Just tell me where Tales and I'll give you a painles
Raoul stood ten meters away from where is Raja standing, looking at its phone. He was analyzing Raja's expression to predict what will be his next move. That's the only thing he could do since Raja has sharp senses and moving close to him is like announcing his presence. He'll be killed in an instant. He gritted his teeth. Raja had been their leader for a long time but he need to think for himself. His phone was pressed on his ear. His expression was unreadable, calm even. Jake’s voice filtered through the line. “Everything’s set?”Raoul exhaled slowly. “I think he's on his way to find Zaden. You’ll have time to move all Father's confidential documents and analyze the vaults left by him.”Jake chuckled softly. “Good job. You still have one task left, come here immediately after sorting things.”Raoul’s fingers tapped the metal railing beside him. “Alright.”A pause.“Good,” Jake said. “You’ll get your reward soon.”Raoul hung up. He closed his eyes for a moment. “Forgive me,” he wh
Tales moved quickly, his footsteps is light and careful against the cold steel of the floor. Every breath was measured in the fear of being noticed....Strange! How come it's so quiet? Like no one's here?!Every corner he passed by was clear before he stepped forward. The building had gone too quiet.No guards.No Jake.Nothing.He should have heard something. The faint buzz of radios informing other guards of his escape, the stomp of boots, anything.But the silence was heavy. Almost Oppressive.Where is he?Where was Jake?The man who never left him alone. The man who enjoyed watching his unyielding facade, the man who wants him to bleed and suffer.Tales’ grip tightened on the bent fork in his hand.The air tasted wrong.As if something had already happened—or was about to.But he didn’t stop.He needed escape and find Raja.He needed to get the hell out of here.MEANWHILE...The office was a war zone.Shattered glass littered the floor. Bullet holes flashed in the walls like some
Raja lunged forward, his muscles screaming with effort as he cut through the space between them. He could still hear Oliver’s mocking tone, could still see Lila standing there like a puppet on a string. He didn’t hesitate.His breath came out ragged, his heart pounding like thunder in his chest. There was no more thought. No more strategy.Only instinct.Only rage.He lunged.Straight for Oliver’s throat.But the moment his foot hit the marble floor in a sprint, the click of guns being released echoed through the room. Lila’s guards—hidden in the darkened corners—raised their weapons.Then—Gunfire erupted.Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!Bullets shot through the air, shattering glass, biting into the walls around him. Raja’s body reacted on instinct. He twisted hard and dove behind one of the thick marble pillars as chunks of stone exploded around him from the shots. Sharp fragments cut across his face, but he didn’t stop moving.He counted the shooters—six. No, it's eight.
Raja stormed down the hallway, his bloody shoes slamming against the marble floors, leaving behind a trail of blood. His body keeps aching, bruises forming beneath his torn clothes, but he barely felt it. It's like he's become numb. The rush of adrenaline drowned out the pain, leaving only rage. His eyes are bloodshot, devoid of any unnecessary emotions. His hands twitched, eager to wrap around Oliver’s throat and end everything.He stop after sometime. Facing the black huge door in which inside, Oliver is there. He gritted his teeth upon remembering how they got played by Oliver. He can't wait to kill him. But he needs to calm down. He needs to or else he'll be defeated. With a sharp exhale, he walked near the heavy double doors of Oliver’s office, grabbing the handle —only to stop when he realized that he didn't need to be so polite. He didn't hesitate.BANG!Raja kicked the doors open, the wood slamming against the walls with a deafening crash.The scent of expensive cologne and bu
In a room beside Tales' captivity, Jake lounged in a 3 person couch, one arm draped lazily over the back of the leather couch, his legs stretched out comfortably. His knife twirled between his fingers, catching the faint light as it spun effortlessly.What will he do now? He knows Tales will escape so until Tales will break free, this knife will be useless. And when's will he hear some good news about Raja? It's getting boring now. Then—his phone vibrated.He glanced at the screen. It was his Father.Jake smirked. Finally! Took him long enough.He answered, bringing the phone to his ear. “To what do I owe the honor, Father?”Father’s voice came through, smooth and slow, but laced with undeniable authority. “What are you playing at, Jake?”Jake hummed in amusement. “Now, now. You wound me. What are you saying?” he asked playing coy. "Don't play with me, Jake! Stop moving on your own unless you wanna make me kill you myself!""Ohh Father, I don't really know what you're talking about