CAGED HEART (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR (Crushed)

It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder - Albert Einstein

Ghost's POV

When I work, I work hard.

Walang puwedeng umistorbo sa akin. Lalo na ngayon na nakapasok na ako sa organization ni Ulysses. At tama ang hinala ko. Hindi basta-basta ang organization na ito.

The elite members of the group were known to everyone. Three high-ranking generals. Five rich businessmen. Four politicians. All of them were visible almost every day in media. Those businessmen were known to be philanthropists who helped less fortunate people. The politicians were known to be pro-poor. Maraming mga taong umiidolo at hindi ako makapaniwala nang makuha ko ang mga files nila. The children that they killed from the past hunting games. The horrible things that they did to those innocent angels.

Marahan kong hinihilot ang ulo ko habang nasa harapan ko ang mga files nila. Una kong tiningnan ang mga files ng tatlong general. I heard these three loved to hunt with each other. Gustong-gusto nilang nag-uunahan sa paghuli sa mga bata. Gustong-gusto nila na nakikita ang mga ito na parang mga daga na natatarantang nagtatakbo. Tinitingnan ko ang mga litrato ng mga batang napatay nila noon. Naitakip ko ang kamay sa bibig ko. Napakarami ko nang nakitang matitinding pagkamatay, I killed people without mercy, but these pictures would be always buried in my mind until the day I die.

Kids being shot by crossbow arrow. Skinned alive. Necks being broken using their bare hands. Kids' tiny bodies being handled like a ragged doll. I heard they even fucking documented the kill that they did to the children. At iyon ang gusto kong makuha.

Itinabi ko iyon at ang kinuha ko naman ay ang files ng mga businessmen. I knew them too. Billionaires. Madalas ko ring makita sa mga pagtitipon ng mga rich and famous. Madalas ding nakabalandra ang mga mukha sa mga sikat na magazines. Nakikita ko ang mga pamilya. They were the epitome of the perfect family. Iniidolo ng mga tao. But behind their sweet smile, their people pleasing personality lies the devils that tortures and kills kids.

Same with the politicians. Mabuti na nga lang at napatahimik ko ang isa. Si Congressman Toti. Well, he didn't last long. Kinabukasan lang matapos ko siyang asikasuhin, bumigay din siya. Didn't wake up from his coma. At least nabawasan ang isang demonyo sa mundo. Dinampot ko ang isang folder. Mayor Hanauer. Never met this one in person yet but I heard so much about him. At naalala ko, nabanggit ni Leon na ito ang asawa ng dati niyang kinakasama. Mukhang nagkakagulo ngayon dahil sa custody ng mga anak niya.

Tinitigan ko ang litrato ng Mayor tapos ay tiningnan ko ang files niya. Naikuyom ko ang kamay ko. I remembered the headless infant that found on the pile of garbage. The one that was skinned. I remember the little fingers of that infant being cut. He did that. Fucking Mayor Hanauer was the one who killed that baby.

Nasuntok ko ang mesa na nasa harap ko. I was gasping for air. I wanted to vomit. I was angry. Right now, I wanted to see that fucking mayor and I am going to kill him. I am going to skin him alive, cut his fingers one by one and I am going to rip his head from his body.

But I had to calm down. I needed to get my act together. I was inside the organization and I needed to act and think like them. The fight would be in two days and if Johnny wins, which I knew Leon won't allow, they would resume the hunting game.

Napatingin ako sa telepono kong nag-vibrate sa mesa. Tiningnan ko at nakita kong si Riel ang tumatawag sa akin.

"Update?" Bungad ko sa kanya.

"Everything is good. I did what you asked me to do." Sagot niya.

"Good. And the kids?"