Since Nine Book 3: Shattered

Silver Blade

CHAPTER 25

VICTORIA

Hindi na malaman ni Victoria kung paano sila nakarating ni Hector sa kwarto nya. She just felt her soft bed on her back and Hector was on top of her gazing down, admiring her. Lust and love were in his eyes. He looked like he wanted to ripped her dress so he could possessed her.

He slowly unbuttoned his shirt until he fully revealed his perfect abs. His slick back hair was now unruffled which gave him a rugged looked.

“Beautiful,” Victoria thought then smiled.

“Hinding-hindi mo pagsisisihang minahal mo rin ako, Victoria.” Masuyo sya nitong hinagkan sa noo, sa ilong at huminto muna ito para titigan sya sa mga mata.

“I know.” Victoria kissed him tenderly. They shared slow kisses at first until Hector deepened it. Their bodies were pressed together. His lips travelled down to her neck as he started removing her dress. Then she heard him moaned in pain when Victoria forcefully thrusted a gleaming silver blade on his back. “That’s for ruining me and Ramcel,” she whispered. She’d been concealing that weapon beneath her pillow for sometime. It’s been lying there waiting for this moment.

She took out the knife and Hector yelled in agony. She pushed him away from her. His blood flowed down his back staining the white sheets. While he was struggling in pain, Victoria stabbed his right thigh. He screamed.

Sinamantala ni Victoria ang kahinaan ng lalaki. Gamit ang antique silver Cardinal Richelieu mini statue na nasa ibabaw ng mesita, ipinukpok nya iyon sa ulo ni Hector kaya nawalan ito nang malay sa kama. Kinuha nya ang tanikalang ginamit sa kanya noon. She shackled one of Hector’s wrist. Kailangan nyang maniguradong hindi ito makakatakas.

Her next goal was to get off the island. Nagmadali syang hubarin ang suot na dress at isinuot ang kinuha nyang button down ni Ramcel noon saka pinatungan ng soft leather jacket nito. She also put on a comfortable jeans and sneakers.

Kinuha nya ang nakatagong luggage nya sa closet at binuksan. May secret pocket ito sa loob kung saan nya itinago ang golden locket na bigay sa kanya ni Ram para hindi ito madiskubre ni Hector at pati iyon ay tangayin din sa kanya.

Hindi nya alam kung gaano katagal bago nya nakuha ang tiwala ni Hector but that wasn’t important anymore. Nagbunga ang plano nya. It wasn’t easy but she did it successfully. “I hope so,” she muttured to herself. She didn’t realize she was shaking until she wore her locket and felt her body calmed down.

Victoria couldn’t believe she was able to stab Hector. Matagal na nyang pinagplanuhan ang sandaling iyon para makatakas sa piling nito. After she broke up with Ramcel, her mind began formulating a plan. It was hard. She had to go through hell. Just seeing him everyday was pure suffering.

She had to imagine she was talking to Ramcel just to have a conversation with Hector. Kapag kaharap nya ang lalaki, nagkukunwari syang si Ramcel ang nakikita para totoong ngiti ang sumilay sa kanyang mga labi, para makita sa mga mata nya ang kaligayahan. All those moments she had with Hector, there was only one face in her mind and that was Ramcel’s.

She searched his pocket and found the key she was looking for. Pagkatapos walang lingon-likod syang lumabas ng kwarto.

Sa ilang buwan nyang pananatili sa mansiyon, alam na nya ang pasikot- sikot. She could walk on the hallways without getting lost. Once a week na umaalis si Hector sa isla. Naiiwan ang kanang- kamay nitong si Diego, na syang dumukot sa kanya noon, para bantayan sya.

Dahil tiwalang hindi makakaalis si Victoria sa isla, hinahayaan lamang sya ni Diego kaya malaya syang nakakapag-explore sa loob ng bahay. She was able to discover where she was imprisoned before.

Nagtungo sya sa malaking library ng mansyon kung saan sya madalas magpunta para pansamantalang takasan ang malaking kulungang kinaroroonan nya. Dumiretso sya sa pinakadulo at binuksan ang metal door that would lead her underground.

Pagbukas nya ng pinto, automatic na bumukas ang mga torch-like lights na nakasabit sa dingding. Medyo nagdahan-dahan sya sa pagbaba. The stairs went deeper and deeper until she reached the bottom. She passed rows of prison cells that also served as storage of large boxes containing billion worth of drugs.

The light stopped in the middle and she had to walk in the dark until she reached the end.

“Monica?” Marahang tawag nya.

“Vi?” Monica whispered from inside the cell. May narinig syang kaluskos at yabag na palapit sa kanya.

“Yes,” she replied. “Makakaalis na tayo rito.”

“Talaga?” Natuwang bulalas nito hanggang sa marinig nyang humikbi ito. Baka naiyak na ito sa sobrang kaligayahan. Ilang taon ring nanatiling bilanggo ni Hector ang babae.

“Hey, don’t cry,” Victoria said gently as she unlock the cell. “Siguraduhin muna nating makakaalis tayo rito.” Binuksan nya ang metal gate saka hinanap ang kamay ni Monica sa dilim. She felt Monica’s hand clasped her right one. “Let’s go.”

Hawak nya ang kamay nito hanggang sa makarating sila sa mas maliwanag na parte ng underground.

“D-Did you kill him?” Nag-aalalangang pabulong na tanong ni Monica. Nanlaki ang mga mata nito nang umiling sya.

“I can’t kill a human being,” pagdadahilan nyang pabulong din.

“He’s not human, he’s a monster.” Kita sa mga mata nito ang takot. “I think he can even rise from the dead.”

“I hurt him pretty bad. He would bleed to death…”

When they came out of the basement, they both froze when the door of the library suddenly opened and it revealed Hector. Buti na lang nahila sya kaagad ni Monica kaya nakapagtago sila sa likod ng isang bookshelf. They sat on the floor next to each other and covered their mouth.

“Victoria…Victoria…you had me fooled.” He chuckled but Victoria could tell he was very very angry. “And for that, I’m going to make you pay.” His voice was very chilling. Despite her leather jacket, Victoria shuddered in fear. Muntik na silang mapasigaw pareho nang makarinig sila ng putok ng baril.

They looked at each other wide eyed. They both knew Hector would hunt them and kill them. Dapat bang pinatay na lang nya ito? Victoria suddenly wondered. Ngunit alam nya sa sariling hindi nya iyon kayang gawin.

Thankful si Victoria na carpeted ang buong library kaya hindi marinig ang yabag nila ni Monica habang dahan-dahan silang lumilipat on all fours. Even if Victoria’s heart was hammering inside her chest, she led the way. Kahit hindi nya alam kung paano makakalabas sa library nang hindi nakikita ni Hector, kailangan nyang lakasan ang loob.

Getting caught by Hector wasn’t an option. He’s cruel and he would enjoy to hunt them down in the woods just like how he did to all of those people who offended him or because he just wanted to. There were times she would wake up in the middle of her sleep and hear faint chilling screams coming from the woods then there would be gunshots.

Hector loved to hunt. It was his hobby. But he wasn’t hunting animals. He was hunting humans. He would make them run into the woods while he hunt. It gave him thrill. It turned him on.

Noong mga unang araw na ibinalik sya ni Hector sa isla, matapos nyang iwan si Ramcel, hindi nya mapigilan ang sariling ipakita ang pagkamuhi rito. Kahit may nabuo syang plano sa utak kung paano makakatakas, hindi nya agad naisakatuparan dahil tinatalo sya nang lungkot at galit.

He acted gentleman around her. Ipinagluluto sya nito ng pagkain at binibigyan sya nito ng mga bulaklak galing sa hardin nito araw-araw na tila nililigawan sya nito. She was repulsed by him and she couldn’t hide it. Isang gabi, nagpahanda ito nang masarap na dinner para sa kanilang dalawa but Victoria barely touched her food. He was being romantic and asked her to dance but she refused.

Ngunit napalitan nang matinding takot ang galit na nararamdaman nya nang biglang mag-iba ang aura nito. He was angry and frustrated with her. Kinaladkad sya nito papunta sa kwarto nya. Wala itong pakialam kahit nasasaktan sya nito. He was blinded by rage.

Victoria couldn’t do anything when Hector pinned her on the bed. Kahit anong gawin nyang pagpupumiglas ay wala syang nagawa dahil napakalakas nito. He was like suddenly possessed by devil. Kahit sumigaw nang malakas si Victoria habang pinagpupunit ng lalaki ang suot nyang black dress, walang sumaklolo sa kanya. She felt so exposed when her undergarments were her only protection against him. Kita sa mata ni Hector na handa sya nitong angkinin nang sapilitan nang gabing iyon.

Napaluha na lamang si Victoria nang simula syang halikan ni Hector. Her body screamed in protest. She felt disgusted when his lips possessively touched her skin. She did her best to push him away but he was too strong. He was about to remove her remaining garments when he stopped. He was still on top of her but he seemed to be struggling internally as he stared at her.

Naulit nang ilang beses ang pagtatangka nito sa kanya pero paulit-ulit na ganun ang nangyayari. He would froze suddenly before he could really have her. Frustrated lagi itong iniiwan sya. He looked angry with himself.

“You’re lucky I have deep feelings for you. Hindi kita aangkinin hanggat hindi mo ako mahal,” Hector told her before leaving her room frustrated. But Victoria saw through him that night. What he told her was just an excused.

Victoria discovered Hector’s weakness as a man. Despite his good looks, manipulative mind and false charm, he couldn’t function in bed. Everytime he left in infuriation, she would hear gunshots and screams in the woods the next night.

Since Hector was very obsessed with her, she used that to her advantage. Nagdesisyon syang ituloy ang naisip na plano noon pa. Hindi sya sigurado kung kakagatin ni Hector ang palabas nya but she had to try. It was the same thing she did way back in high school.

It helped that Hector was really determined to make her love him. He could be a devil at night and a perfect gentleman during the day. Nagkunwari si Victoria na unti-unti nang nahuhulog ang loob nya rito. Para hindi nito mahalata, she had to be patient and careful. She had to be believable.

Kung dati rati’y hindi nya pinapansin ang mga bulaklak na binibigay nito tuwing umaga. “T-Thank you,” Victoria managed to say softly one morning and it surprised Hector. She had to be cautious. She didn’t look at him directly nor smile at him. Ilang araw syang nagpapasalamat sa mga binibigay nito hanggang sa ginawaran nya ito nang matipid na ngiti sabay sulyap sa mga mata nito. She knew she got him when happiness showed in Hector’s eyes.

“Wala naman akong ginagawa rito kaya naisip kong ako na lang ang magluto,” paliwanag nya nang minsang gumising sya nang maaga at naabutan nang nagulat na si Hector habang naghahanda sya ng masarap na almusal.

Medyo nag-aalalangan pa rin ang lalaki sa kanya dahil pinanonood nito ang bawat kilos nya. Para hindi sya kabahan at magkamali, she learned to pretend that she was doing it for Ramcel. Lahat ng mga niluto nya para sa lalaki, kahit pa paborito nito she had to keep in her mind that she was cooking for Ram.

Nang makita ni Hector na unti-unti na syang lumalambot rito, niyayaya na sya nitong magpicnic sa garden o kaya naman maglakad-lakad sa dalampasigan habang papalubog ang araw. Noong una nitong hawakan ang kamay nya, she felt sickened. Hindi nya mapigilang ilayo ang kamay rito. But instead of getting angry, Hector looked apologetic.

Sa mga sumunod na araw, lagi syang sumasama rito sa dalampasigan. Sinasadya minsan ni Victoria na sumagi ang kamay nya sa kamay nito habang naglalakad. Nagsusuot din sya minsan ng dress na medyo revealing kapag magkasama sila. Yes, he was seducing him but at the same time she made him feel she was still off limits. He may be a psycho but he’s still a man.

“Kung dito ako titira, hayaan mong pagsilbihan kita,” she told him when she made him a sandwich one lazy afternoon. Hinatid nya ito sa library kung saan ito nagbabasa ng libro tungkol kay Adolf Hitler. Napatitig sa kanya si Hector. Hindi ito nakasagot sa sinabi nya. Napatitig lang ito sa kanya. “I made a menu for this week.” Nilapag nya ang listahan sa desk nito. “I also listed the ingredients that I would need.”

“Hindi mo na ba gusto ang mga niluluto ko para sayo? O may mali ba sa mga hinahanda ni Monica?” Sa wakas ay nasabi ni Hector nang maka-recover at nasa himig nito ang pagbibiro.

“I’m a better cook than both of you combine,” Victoria said with a faint smile on her lips. “I want the best ingredients by the way.” Tinalikuran nya ito pagkatapos nun and let him admire her slightly exposed sexy back.

She would spend time with him in the library pretending she was talking to Ramcel about the books they’ve read. They’d exchanged ideas and she’d laugh at his jokes. She also secretly stole his helicopter’s manual and read it before sleeping.

May mga oras na hindi nya kinakayang makita o makasama ito ngunit kailangan nyang magkunwari. She had to act naturally kaya pinapakita nyang wala sya sa mood. Normal lang naman na maging moody ang babae kaya nakakalusot kay Hector.

There were nights that she couldn’t do anything but to cry. Lalo na kapag naiisip nya si Ramcel. However, she would always remind herself it was her fault why she was in that situation in the first place. She had to stay strong.

She often talked to Ramcel in her mind and sometimes in her dreams. Naiiling na lang sya minsan sa sarili. Hindi kaya nababaliw na sya? Pero kung hindi nya yun gagawin, mas mababaliw sya. Gaano pa ba katagal ang hihintayin nya para makita ulit si Ramcel? Tatanggapin pa kaya sya nito?

Naputol ang pag-iisip nya nang muling magsalita si Hector. “If you think that you can escape me, you are wrong Victoria. You will never get off this island. I will make sure of that. If I can’t have you, no one can. Kung akala mo may babalikan ka pa. Kung akala mo may Ramcel pang naghihintay sayo, nagkakamali ka. I already made sure she stayed six feet under.”

“No!” Parang binuhusan nang malamig na tubig si Victoria. Hindi rin napigilang umagos ng mga luha nya. That couldn’t be true.

Ngunit wala na syang oras para makapag-isip dahil narinig nya ang pagkasa ni Hector sa hawak nitong baril. “If you’d like to be with her, join her in death.” Biglang itong nagpaputok at tinamaan ang mga libro na nasa ulunan nila.

Victoria and Monica let out a yelp enough for Hector to hear. They scampered quickly from where they were sitting. He must have seen them because another shot was fired and hit a very expensive first edition Dante’s Divine Comedy where Victoria’s head was a moment ago. If she didn’t run quickly, she might have died right on the spot.

Hector kept firing at them. Wala itong pakialam kahit masira ang buong library kahit pa tamaan nito ang mga mamahaling hardbound books. Kung makita lang ito ni Ramcel, siguradong magagalit yun dahil ingat na ingat pa naman yun sa mga libro nito. Even if in the middle of being shot at, Victoria shook her head smiling. Monica frowned at her, probably wondering she must have gone crazy.

Victor knew in her heart that Ramcel was alive. At sisiguraduihin nyang makakaalis sa lugar na ito kahit anong mangyari.

Luckily, she took the silver blade with her. If she had to murder Hector, she’d do it.