CHAPTER 1

“Come on my beautiful baby, be strong. You must take your path on your own now. We love you.”

A silent tear dripped in her rosy cheeks, waking her up in the dusty and dark room. She was in a small empty room without any comforters or fans. Just herself along with her nightmares and pains. She can hear the crowd noise of drunk people outside and it look like they were gambling. A dim light passing through the small window above served as her light to walked through the door to asked for help. Yet, a loud clang of metals stopped her from moving and escaping from the room of torture. The metal rusty chain covered with blood warned her that she would never escape and would die from this agony.

“Fuck, it hurts.” a sudden headache made her flinched and she fell on her knees on the cold floor. She squirmed her stomach, growling in hunger. She has a lot of bloods and bruises on her body along with a bloody ankle because of a chain keeping her from escaping. A single tear left in her gloomy and hopeless eyes when a sudden flashback came in her mind. She remembered what happened. Before, she used to dream someone with long and soft white fur but now, a night of misery always hunts her and changed her life.

*****

“What’s your name, Miss?” a policeman asked to a woman with a lot of bloods on her clothes, trembling in fear, and silently crying while looking at her house.

“Xabrina...Xabrina Ivy Solace,” she said without taking away her eyes to the crime scene. The officers were pulling a stretcher with a white blanket covering the dead body of her parents. She ran towards her deceased family and cried heavily along with the pouring cold rain dripping on her cheeks and a bright light from the full moon touching her aching soul. She was begging them to wake up as if they’re just sleeping and she was just having a bad dream. But whatever she did like holding their hands tightly and kissing it like she always does when they are alive, tickling their tummy to wake them up, kissing their cheeks until they opened their eyes, she did everything but nothing happened. They were still cold and dead.

The officers pulled the stretcher to the car and drove leaving only the track of tires. She fell on her knees watching them leaving away and still crying out loud while bursting out her pain and suffering from the night of misery. A golden button with a symbol of eyes sparkled in front of her even though it was covered from dirt, it still shines brightly like it is proud of its existence. She became silent and a bloodshot from her eyes can be seen as if she’s ready to kill.

*****

Xabrina came back to its senses when she heard a loud clang from the door as if someone was unlocking the room. She suddenly felt hope that someone was helping her to escape. But when her old and bald uncle showed its face in the door, her eyes widen from horror and trembled in fear. She dragged her body to the corner of the room while her sweat was pouring all over of her body hitting her injuries making her aching in pain and move slower.

“Hoy, hindi mo na kailangan sumiksik dyan sa gilid.” a man walked towards her. She was shaking in fear and flinching while holding her head thinking that he might punched her.

“Kahit anong gawin mo, kahit saan ka pa sumiksik sa kwartong ito, hinding hindi ka makakalabas, dito pa rin ang bagsak mo. Itatak mo sa kokote mo iyan,” her uncle said playfully. Uncle pointed her hand to her forehead then gave her a leftover food with a dirty water. She cried silently after her uncle left the room. Her tummy growled from hunger and started eating even though she was in pain and every lift of her hand, she squirmed in her mind from torment. She can taste the saltiness of her food due to her tears flowing rapidly in her cheeks.

Nawawalan na siya ng pag-asang mabuhay sa mundong puno ng sikreto at kasakiman. Gusto na niyang sumuko sa labanang kahit kailan wala syang laban. For almost 2 years living in hell, every single day she wished to sleep and never woke up again. She was hoping to be killed by someone, so she won’t feel pain anymore. Ang nais lamang niya ay alamin ang dahilan nang pagkamatay ng kaniyang magulang. Hindi ang mapunta sa impyernong buhay kasama ang kanyang Tito na kahit kailan ay hindi sya itinuring na kamag-anak. Itinuring siyang hayop na punong puno nang pandididiri at panghuhusga sa sarili. Paano nya magagawa ang huling habilin ng ina kung nakakadena at nakakulong siya sa isang kwartong nakakabingi ang katahimikan at walang humpay na pagdurusa. A single teardrop fell on her cheeks followed by a silent scream and despise on herself. She was crying silently even though her heart and soul was screaming out of torment and vengeance. Namanhid ang buong katawan niya dala ng tinding hapdi at sakit at unti unti nang nasasanay sa hinagpis na araw araw niyang iniinda.

She miserably wanted to end all her suffering. She wanted to rest for all the bullshits she was experiencing. Tila wala sa sarili niyang kinuha ang baso at binasag ito. Kinuha niya ang matulis na parte ng baso at unti unti itong nilapit sa pulsuhan nya. Her mother’s face was shown in her mind for a split of second, covered with blood asking for help. She wanted to help her, yet someone was pulling her away from her mom.

“I’m sorry, Mom.” she screamed in pain when she buried the sharp part of the shattered glass to her wrists. A lot of blood dripped her white and dirty dress along with her body lying on the cold floor, silently wishing that this would be the end. Before closing her eyes,her necklace sparkled along with the golden symbol. The only hope she has but she can’t take it anymore.

Xabrina was catching her breath when she opened her eyes slowly from a terror dream. A bright light coming from incandescent light touched her face. A quick pain inflicted on her wrists, and she remembered what she did. A light of fear shocked her whole body when she realized she was in another room with her auntie. Nandidiri at galit ang mga mata nito na parang sya'y hindi kadugo. Tinignan nya ang pulsuhan at nakitang nay nakabalot na tela dito at di na sya nagtaka kung sino ang naglagay nito. Nabalot ng takot, galit at kaba ang kanyang puso. She looked back at her auntie in terror.

"Wag mo agad tapusin ang buhay mo," sabi ng auntie nito sa kanya. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata at agad na lumayo sa Auntie at sumiksik sa sulok ng higaan. She was covering herself from the monster at her front, but the monster already succeeded in hurting her soul.

"Dahil kailangan pa namin yang pangalan mo para makuha ang gusto namin, wag kang mag-alala dahil pagtapos ka naming gamitin..." unti unting lumapit ang kanyang auntie at sya'y pumikit lamang at mahinang umiyak. She can smell the liquor on her Auntie and a bit of cigarette and drugs. Her Auntie cupped her face and softly caressed it as if she was caring for her, but her eyes were full of desire for money.

"Kami na mismo tatapos ng buhay mo," her auntie said. Tumawa ito ng malakas at sinara ang pinto. Kinandado at pinatay lahat ng ilaw habang nakaiwang tulala at umiiyak si Xabrina sa gilid ng higaan. Hindi nya maintindihan kung ano ang kailangan nila mula sakanya. Isa lamang syang ulilang bata at nakakulong sa isang kwartong mala-impyerno. She never thought that they would treat her like this. The way they care for her when she was mourning from the death of her family, the way they talked to her that everything would be fine and they would look after her, were all just a show for the sake of money. A soft gesture of a predator manipulating the mind of the poor prey just for the fucking money that her family worked for their whole life. Guess, selfishness is much greater than blood.

Xabrina always tried to kill herself but she always ends up in the same bed like she was just sleeping peacefully in hell.

"Bakit di pa ako mamatay?" katanungan sa sarili. Paulit ulit na katanungan at paulit ulit na pagdurusa.

"Nabuhay lang ba ako para mahirapan at magdusa nang walang dahilan?" she was sobbing silently and slowly closed her eyes. Pumikit na lamang at inalala ang nakaraan kung saan ang trahedyang laging dumadalaw sa kanyang nga panaginip. A nightmare that always hunt her wherever she goes and still inflicting her a lot of pain and torment from the loss of her strength.

*****

"Girls, I need to go na. Malayo pa ako eh. See you later. Enjoy!" she waved at them before getting her purse and walked out of the bar. She was with her friends in a bar celebrating the birthday of their friend, Hannah. She was wearing a beige spaghetti strap top along with black leather jacket and denim skirt partnered with bondage boots. She was wearing a full natural make up with a bold jewelry and a red glitter clutch. She just let her long and wavy hair to bangled.

Xabrina was waving at her drunk friends in the club, and they were inviting her to shot yet she disagree. Her feet were already in sore, and she was a little bit tipsy but can still drive. She was smiling at the whole time to socialized with her friends. She was famous because of her family influence in her school and of course, to the business world. Sa wakas ay nakalabas na rin sya at sumakay sa kanyang white rolls-royce phantom. Biglang umulan nang kay lakas na may kasamang kidlat at kulog. Gladly, she managed on time, so she won't get wet. She opened the music on her car and listened to it through the cold and rainy trip.

It was already 2 in the morning when she got home. Nagtataka siya nang makitang bukas ang ilaw sa kwarto ng kanyang magulang ngunit naisip din nya na baka may ginagawa pa ito. She got her keys in her clutch to open the gate, but it seems like it was unlocked. She felt something weird. Kahit kailan hindi nakaligtaan ng kanyang mommy na iwanang nakabukas ang pinto kahit pa madaling araw na siya umuwi dahil may dala naman itong susi.

Her heart was throbbing so fast, but she ignored it. Siguro nakalimutan lang nila sa sobrang busy. She remembered that their company were having a trouble with their investors due to the sudden decline of supplies in the market. Maybe they were still working. Just maybe. But her heart was still beating so fast along with the struck of lightning and pouring rain, indicating that something wasn't right. She about to open the door when her hand felt numbed and won't move. She was scared and she doesn't know why. She ignored her suspicion and continued to walk in their house because it was too cold outside.

"Mom, Dad, I'm home," she said loudly yet no one answered. It was dark and silent. The only light present were coming from the room of her parents.

"Maybe they're too busy.." she murmured. The rain was too clamorous that why she cannot be heard. She walked through the kitchen and took a water from the bottle and drank it to ease her subconsciousness. She almost choked when a loud thunder hit. She gulped and breathed heavily. Hindi pa rin sya mapakali. Hindi pa rin maalis sa kanyang isipan na may maling nangyayari sa paligid.

"Dala lang siguro ng alak to." she chuckled softly then put back the bottle in the ref. Pilit nyang iwinawaksi sa kanyang isipan ang kakaibang nararamdaman. Yet, the cold atmosphere coming from above made her whole-body chill and numb. She was already in front of the stair, but she can't move. She can’t even lift her feet to climb up. She shakes her head and unwind her thoughts to loosen up her nerves. She creased her forehead when she saw something dripping from above, but she can't see it clearly. It's too dark. And cold. She can smell something pungent from above, but she doesn’t know what it is.

Unti unti syang umakyat habang nakatingin sa tumutulong tubig mula sa taas. It was already in her boots, and it felt sticky and smelly. Maybe it came from the ceiling due to thick rain. Sinubukan nyang ipunas ang sapatos sa kanilang carpet ngunit mayroon pa rin syang naamoy na masangsang. Her forehead creased from confusion.

"What the hell is this?" she asked. She tried to ignore it when she heard a loud crash from the room of her parents as if a glass were shattered into pieces. A terror chill stroked on her whole body. There's something wrong in their house. And she hoped she was wrong.

Xabrina walked in the hallway through the room of her parents when she saw something that made her heart throbbed so fast. There was a blood. A lot of blood coming from her parents’ room. Her whole body felt numbed. She wanted to scream but it looks like her lips were sealed from horror. She was trembling in fear from the scene in her mind. No. That won't happened. It would never happened.

Another deep sound was heard but this time it looks like someone was murmuring. Someone was asking for helped. Hindi nya alam ang dapat nyang gawin. Natatakot sya. Natatakot sya na baka sa pagbukas sya nakahandusay ang kanyang magulang at wala ng buhay. She slowly shakes her head to disagree with her thoughts. Unti unting bumuhos ang kanyang luha kasabay nang pagbuhos nang napakalakas na ulan na tila nagbabanta sa isang trahedya.

Unti unti nyang inilapit ang kanyang kamay sa pintuan. Ramdam nya ang lamig ng nasa paligid nya kasabay ng takot na kanyang nararamdaman. Dahan dahan nyang binuksan ang pinto at tumambad sa kanya ang hindi nya inaasahang pangyayari. She screamed loudly and fell on her knees while still looking terrified at her parents covered with blood, cold and not breathing anymore.

Her parents were brutally killed with an unknown suspect. The murder weapon used cannot be found. Yet, the front part of the body of her parents were opened and has a huge slash that might be deduced from a wild animal. Their neck was bitten by a sharp and long fang and almost 1/4 of their neck were gone. Their whole body were full of slash and cuts that might came from claws or sword. The window was broken as if someone escaped from it. The broken pieces were scattered in to the cold and lifeless body of her parents.

Xabrina immediately head to her cold parents and shaking them off to wake up. She was crying loudly, and her tears were flowing on her cheeks down to her parents’ body.

"Mommy, Daddy, please wake up! P-Please.. Don't leave me..Mom..Dad..Please.." she tried to covered up their bruises to avoid blood loss but she was already late. Her heart and soul shattered into pieces from the scene in front of her. She cried and cried and begged them to woke up.

"Mommy...gumising ka," she said while shaking them off as if they would wake up from their death. She was thrilled yet felt hope when her mom slowly opened its eyes. She was the one who murmured because she heard her daughter. She managed to stay alive for a mean time to talked with her beloved daughter even though she was already burning in pain and torture.

" Mom.. mom.. please hold on. Please, wag mo kong iwan." she cried helplessly in front of her mom and begged her to stay alive. She can’t imagine her life without her parents. She would feel lifeless if they’re gone.

"H-hey..y-you already here..m-my baby. D-did y-you enjoyed your... p-party?" Eleanor asked while smiling genuinely as if she's not in pain and already dying. She wanted to make her daughter that everything will be alright even though they would be gone soon.

"Mom, im s-so sorry.. p-please hold on. T-tatawag ako ambulansya. M-magiging okay k-ka rin,Mom.Okay? Please.. don't close your eyes. Just w-wait me here.." Xabrina said while still sobbing and attempted to call an ambulance when her mom stopped her.

"X-Xabrina, my baby...M-my one a-and only p-princess... I-im glad you're safe," her mom said while caressing the cheeks of her daughter. Eleanor was also crying silently from pain and happiness because her daughter was safe but she needs to leave her alone.

"Mom, p-please don't say anything. I- I need to call first the ambulance." she tried to run to the telephone, but her mom pulled her and hugged her tightly.

"I-im s-sorry baby..i-if your M-Mom and D-Dad won't see y-you..g-grow and b-be successful. I-im s-sorry if w-we need to l-leave e-early." Eleanor hugged her tightly for the one last time and her heart still filled with joy as she knew that her daughter would be a good woman when she grows up as well as regret since she can't watch her princess to grow up and have its own principle to fight for her life.

"M-mom..please don't say that..i-im begging you..y-you can't leave me.." Xabrina buried her face to her Mom's chest while crying silently. She can't live anymore if her parents were already gone. She won't have any energy to woke up everyday if her strength were gone. Every single day of her life would be filled of dark and sorrow if her beloved family would stop bringing colors in her life. Eleanor face her daughter one last time and caressed her cheeks and wiped her tears flowing. She knew that her daughter was strong and independent. She was rooting for her success. She inhale deeply to used her left energy to speak for the last time.

"Come on my beautiful baby,be strong. You must take your path on your own now. We love you." 

*****

F.Ace