Blood for Blood (Blood Series 1) (COMPLETED)

9: Butterfly Den

"Kanino ka humingi ng tulong?" tanong ni Aria sa manager ng women's shelter. Ang shelter na ito ay proyekto din ng kanyang nanay noon. Aria was determined to keep this shelter running. Para magawa iyon, kailangan nila ng mga sponsor at donations.

Hindi sapat na mag-donate lang siya ng parte ng suweldo niya. At kahit pa may financer sila, minsan nagkukulang pa rin. Matatagpuan ang shelter sa dulong parte ng bayan ng Ganza, halos nasa boundary na ng karatig bayan nito.

"Giovanni Navarro. He offered a huge amount. Sobrang makakatulong iyon sa shelter, Aria." sagot ng namamahala sa shelter, si Angelu, Anj for short.

"He's a Navarro, Anj!" sigaw ni Aria. Napabuntong-hininga ang babaeng nasa likod ng desk.

"Aria, can you put away your hatred for the Navarros. Gustong tumulong ni Giovanni, bakit tayo hihindi?"

"You can never trust a Navarro, Anj. At least that Navarro." frustrated na sagot ni Aria.

"Aria, I'm sorry. But he has given the money."

"What?! So hindi na natin mababalik."

"Wala akong balak ibalik." kalmadong wika ni Anj.

Aria is also able to keep things running in the shelter through her, Charm's and Lizzie's group of friends from different places, the Red Ladies, as they call themselves.

"Hayaan mo na, Aria." wika ni C.C. sa gilid.

"Kailangan ng shelter ng pera, your pride is getting in the way." tutol ni C.C. Aria sighed.

"Isa pa, we have to let these women find a good life. Hindi pwedeng pagsilbihan nalang nila tayo habambuhay." dagdag ni C.C.

She was right.

Sa bayan ng Ganza, not everything are what they seem. That includes this shelter.

This is a women and children's shelter but it's also the den of the butterflies, deadly butterflies. 

The trinity of Aria, Charms and Lizzie and their friends, twelve of them to be exact rescued some girls from a club named The Red Ladies over a year ago. The rescued women are put in this shelter's care. Since the three of them are trained in self-defense, combat and shooting, tinuruan nila ang iba pang mga babae, dahilan upang lumaki ang kanilang samahan.

Who are the Trinity? It's how the three of them are called. Some of the rescued ladies consider the three of them as their saviors.

The Red Ladies identify themselves by numbers. The first one was C.C., Aria's office secretary and right hand. Angelu, known as Anj was number two, the woman managing the shelter, who works on the field when they have these "missions".

"Ate Aria!" bati ng isang boses. Grace, lady number five. Ang pinakabata ng samahan.

"Ano'ng ginagawa mo dito?" tanong ni Aria.

"Bumisita lang." sagot nito. Inabot nito kay Aria ang isang paperbag.

"Ano naman ito?" tanong niya.

"A personalized gun, with less recoil." sagot ni Grace. Aria is not proficient with guns. Seems like Grace made modifications on this one, just for her. This was her talent, modifying weapons or making them, a talent that comes in handy for the group.

"I actually called the ladies here. You know, for a little get together." wika ni Anj. Just like on cue, the ladies started coming.

"Totoo ba'ng nangaling ka sa Navarro Estate and you failed killing the eldest living Navarro?" bungad na tanong ni Rosemarie, lady number twelve. Siya ang nagkakalap ng intel sa grupo.

Inirapan siya ni Aria.

"Hindi ka kasi dapat gumalaw na hindi kami kino-konsulta." sagot naman ni Justine, lady number ten, ang strategist ng grupo.

"What are we talking about?" tanong ni Jamae. The tiny lady on the side. She was a former gymnast and given her size and flexibility, she's efficient on squeezing small tight spaces. That came in handy for their last mission.

"This woman and Ringlet tried to infiltrate the Navarro Estate but failed. Luckily, they came out alive." paliwanag ni C.C. para sa lahat. Ringlet was Lizzie's code name.

"Our Gatekeeper is really reckless." kumento ng isa pang boses, Lian, red lady number three walked towards them. The woman with speed and endurance. Walang sumagot, kahit si Aria hindi umangal. She admits it to herself, that at times she can be reckless.

"Ang tagal na ng huling misyon natin. Wala pa rin ba tayong gagawin?" tanong ni Ana, lady number six, the group's martial arts expert. Napabuntong-hininga si Aria. One of their biggest mission was the Red Ladies bar, over a year ago. Some of them worked in smaller teams to rescue more ladies that's why the shelter is quite full already.

"Wala tayong pera, kahit pa regular na nagbibigay si Thea. Wala tayong pera para sa isa pang misyon. The money is just enough to keep the shelter running." sagot ni C.C.

Thea, the richest red lady is actually the group's financer. She seems to be absent right now.

"Eh 'di nakawan natin iyong mga mayayaman." pabirong sagot ni Arvina, katabi nito ang isa pang babae, si Mai. Both of them are sharp-shooters. Tiningnan lang siya ni Aria dahil hindi niya alam kung nagbibiro ba ito o ano.

"It's not that easy. Isa pa, our mission was to be of help. Not to go against law enforcement." sagot ni Aria.

"Ayaw ko ring sumabak sa misyon na hindi handa. Alam n'yo na ang nangyari dati." dagdag ni Aria.

Natahimik silang lahat. Dati ay dose sila sa grupo. Nabawasan sila ng isa. Lady number four is dead. Aria can't risk having another lady dead.

"Ladies, sorry I'm late!" wika ng kapapasok lang na babae. May bitbit itong mga kahon ng pizza.

"This is why we love you!" sagot ni Grace.

"Hi ate Thea!" masayang tawag nito.

"What's a Ladies Get Together without food?" tanong ni Thea at nilapag ang kahon ng pizza sa desk ni Anj.

"Bakit wala si Lizzie at Charms?" pansin ni Thea nang tingnan ang paligid.

"Oh you know, work." sagot ni Aria.

"But it's a Saturday!" reklamo ni Grace.

"Wala tayong magagawa. Some of us do need to work at weekends." sagot ni Arvi.

The Red Ladies do have individual lives. They have a common goal though: to fight for oppressed women. Aria knew about the individual lives of her ladies, and she respects each and every one of them. Habang kumakain at nagkukuwentuhan ay lumapit si Rosemarie at Justine kay Aria.

"Aria, we should stop taking help from the Navarros." umpisa ni Rosemarie. Aria looked at the two of them.

"Ayaw kong magkautang na loob tayo sa mga Navarro." dugtong ni Justine.

Ayaw ko rin, to be honest.

"But we need the money," sagot ni Aria.

"If we take the Navarro's help, we'll be considered one of their puppets. Do you want that?" tanong ulit ni Rosemarie. Aria sighed.

"Feeling namin he's starting," sabi ni Justine.

"Ha? What do you mean?" Aria looked up from her plastic cup filled with cola.

"Alam mo bang binili ni Gio Navarro ang PR firm ni Lizzie?" tanong ni Rosemarie. Now that caught her attention.

"Gio did what?"