𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐘𝐎𝐍𝐃 𝐒𝐄𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐒

𝐒𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇

❝ I see light fading away and
darkness totally embracing me.

- Arthur Cortez

---

Heavy rains and thunder appeared in a stormy night. The air hung heavy with an unsettling silence in a dimly lighted room. Arthur lying down amid it's blood stained room. His heart pounded as he scanned the room, looking for clues to escape.

"I have to get out of here." Arthur whispered.

Whispered echoed from the corners of the room, but the walls seemed to close in on both of them. Arthur crawled away, from him with all the strength he had. The man kneeled in front of Arthur and pulled him closer into him.

"What brings you here, Mr. Cortez?" he started. "Nandito ka ba para hulihin ako? Para paaminin ako?" the man laughed like insane.

"Who the hell do you think you are, Mr. Cortez?" napangisi ito. "You are just a fucking Prosecutor, Arthur. At ako? I'm a successful business owner, I have a lot of money. Kahit ilan pang abogado ang iharap mo sa'kin. Ako pa rin ang mananalo. 'Wag ka na umasang mahuhuli mo pa ko." Pagpapatuloy nito.

"You killed them, you're a freaking murderer." Arthur groaned in frustration.

"Gusto mong malaman 'yong totoo?" The man stood up and took the gun on the table.

"Yes," he smiled. "Yes I killed all of them. Are you happy now? Pinatay ko sila, dahan-dahan kong pinaramdam sa kanila 'yong sakit na naidulot nila sa'kin." The man laughed cruelly. "Kung nakita mo lang, kung gaano kasayang makita 'yong mga itsura nila. They are begging for their lives." He laughed horribly while staring at Arthur's face.

Pinilit ni Arthur na tumayo, at ipagtanggol ang sarili, but he can't. Wala na s'yang lakas pa para lumaban sa kan'ya, masyadong maraming pinsala na ang inabot ni Arthur mula sa kan'ya, marahan itong kumapit sa gilid ng lamesa upang piliting makatayo. He wiped down the blood running down his chin using his wrist.

"Tumayo ka Mr. Cortez, lumaban ka!" The man shouted.

The man kicked Arthur at his chest, he fell onto cold concrete floor with unbearable pain.

"Come on Arthur, beg for your life!"

He kicked him again at his lower abdomen, his whole body was aching.

"Poor you, bakit hindi ka na lang kasi nanahimik at pikit matang tinanggap ang pera." He sighed as he recharge the empty magazine with new bullets.

"Any last word, Prosecutor Arthur Cortez?" sambit ng lalaki.

"H-hindi ko kailan man ipagbibili ang prinsipyo ko sa katulad mong demonyo!" nanghihinang saad ni Arthur.

After reloading the gun, he held it up again. "Ikamusta mo na lang ako sa pinakamamahal kong asawa." He stretched his arm and pointed the gun on Arthur's head. Without wasting any seconds he pulled out the trigger.

Umalingaw-ngaw sa buong paligid ang malakas na putok ng baril, kasabay ang paghandusay ng halos walang buhay ng katawan ni Arthur sa malamig na sahig ng kwarto.

"Mula noon Arthur, talunan ka pa rin." Lumuhod ang lalaki sa harap ni Arthur. "You're nothing but a piece of trash." He spat on his face, saka tuluyang tumayo.

"Y-your d-daughter, s-she's a-alive." Nanghihina nitong sambit sa lalaki habang pinapanood itong maglakad palabas sa kwarto na parang walang nangyari.