He was driving his car along Rosewood Avenue when he realized that something was off. Agad siyang sumilip sa side mirror at sa rear view mirror.
"Clarence," tawag niya sa kanyang chevalier na nasa tabi ng driver's seat.
"Yes, Your Highness?" he spoke in his usual calm and collective tone.
Muli niyang matalim na tinitigan ang rear view mirror. "How many are they?"
"Three cars, your highness. Pero hindi pa po ako sigurado."
Damn it. Someone was tailing him and for whatever reason it might be, he knew it will not be good for him.
Sinubukan niyang iligaw ang mga ito. He made a sharp left turn on a nearby intersection, not caring for any traffic violations that he might incur. He stepped on the gas to get some leverage, hoping to lose whoever those mother fuckers. Muli siyang lumiko sa isang eskinita. He was on a street that was not very familiar to him but he just kept driving like a maniac.
"Did we lose them?"
Clarence reached inside one of the car compartments. Agad nitong binunot ang isang baril mula roon. Without any sense of panic he said, "Your Highness, I am sorry to say this but the two cars are still following us."
Hindi na niya mawari ang mga nangyayari. He opted to take a midnight stroll on down-town Camelot and look where it got him! He just became a target by some group of psychopaths. He steeled his hand on the steering wheel. Adrenaline started to pump in his body. He gave a broken smile. They chose the wrong night to mess with him. He was really stressed out of everything that was happening in his life right now; his mother's sickness, his being shackled down by the palace, and of course, meeting his dreadful father. May masasaktan talaga ngayong gabi. He will use them as a punching bag to relieve all of the stress and tension balled-up inside him.
"Did we lost the other one?"
Ikinasa nito ang hawak na baril. "Unfortunately Sir, we didn't. Right now, the other one is in front of us."
Huli na nang mapansin niyang may papasalubong na sasakyan sa kanila. Agad itong tumigil upang harangan ang dadaanan nila. He could have maneuvered his way out of this if they were in a huge boulevard, but they were just inside a narrow alleyway. He had no choice but to step on the brakes.
The force from the sudden halt was so hard, he almost slammed his head on the windshield. Thankfully, he and his Chevalier had their seatbelts tightly strapped on their bodies.
Tinanggal ni Clarence ang seatbelt nito saka agad na lumabas dala-dala ang baril patungo sa nakaharang na kotse. Sumunod siya rito upang makita kung sino ang mga talipandas na nangahas na kalabanin siya. But moments later, he heard screeches of tires from behind.
Lumingon sisya upang tingnan kung ano ang sanhi nito. Napailing na lamang siya sa nakita. Damn it! He did not lose those fucking cars. They were now cornered in this seemingly god-forsaken alley.
Four to five men exited from each of the cars. He did a mental calculation. Kulang-kulang dalawampu ang mga kailangan nilang patumbahin. His Chevalier remained calm.
He studied his assailants. They were all huge. May mga hawak ang mga itong bakal na tubo habang nakaplaster ang mga nakakalokong mga ngiti sa kanilang mga mukha.
"Kumusta po kamahalan!" sigaw ng isa.
"In the name of Camelot's Imperial Knights, you are all under arrest for attempting to harm a member of the Royal Family. Sumuko na kayo kung alam niyo ang makakabuti para sa inyo," Clarence showed them the insignia of the Imperial Knights which also acts as his badge.
Nagsitawanan lamang ang mga ito.
"You're not calling the shots here. We do. If we want to let the both of you live, then we'll let you live. If we decide to kill you, you will die. If we want to make you suffer, then you will suffer. Nasa amin nakasalalay ang kapalaran ninyo," mayabang na pagpapahayag ng isa.
Clarence positioned himself opposite him. "You're majesty, manatili lang po kayo sa tabi ko. Ako na ang bahala."
Nagpakawala siya ng isang hilaw na ngiti, "Quit shitting around. I'm not a pushover. I can handle them too."
"Nakakatawa talaga kayong mga dugong bughaw. Ang tatapang nyo pa rin kahit nasa gitna na kayo ng panganib. Tingnan lang natin kung hanggang saan aabot yang tapang mo."
Pinalibutan na sila ng mga ito. Hindi pa rin mapalis ang maangas nitong mga ngiti.
He was really furious. He will definitely remove that arrogant smile on their faces.
"Anong kailangan nyo sa mahal na Prinsipe?" Kalmanteng pagtatanong ni Clarence habang mataktika itong tumabi sa kanya. Pasimple nitong inabot sa kanyang kamay ang hawak nitong baril. He slid the weapon inside the pocket of his leather jacket.
"We want to make a point."
"And what point would that be?" he asked.
"Simple lang, that the Royal Family is nothing but shit."That, he couldn't agree more. But he didn't dare to speak his mind. These mercenaries were detractors of the Royal Family. If they think that he'll be their guinea pig, their willing victim, they better think twice. He will not go down without a fight.
"Again! Surrender now or prepare for the worst!" Matiim na pananalita ni Clarence.
Malakas na nagsihalakhakan ang mga ito.
They were now standing back to back, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. His killer instincts rose. Alam niyang hindi sila sasantuhin ng mga ito. It was now down to a simple choice, it is either him or them.
"You still don't get the gravity of the situation, eh? Let us see how high and mighty you are when we beat you up."
Napasipol ito.
"Our patron will definitely be happy about this."
Sa pagkakataong ito, tatlo sa mga ito ang lumapit sa kanila. Pawang may mga dalang sandata ang mga ito. The first one had a steel knuckle while the remaining two are carrying steel pipes. They were armed and dangerous.
Tension filled the whole area as he and Clarence waited for the first strike. The silence of the night drowned their rapid breathing. Then, as if on cue, iwinasiwas ng isa ang hawak nitong tubo patungo sa kanya. He always had a very keen reflex. He saw through the attack before it even connected. Nakaiwas siya. Muli nitong hinataw ang dala ngunit nakailag na naman siya. Frustration started to brew on the face of his attacker.
On his peripheral visions, he saw that Clarence was engaged on fist-fight between the other two.
Humugot ng punyal mula sa bulsa nito ang kanyang kalaban. Shit! They were really there to cause some real damage. His blood started to boil up. Agad siyang dumukot sa bulsa ng kanyang jacket. Nakapa niya roon ang baril na binigay ng kanyang Chevalier kanina. He tightened his grip on the gun, preparing himself for the worst.
His opponent came at him like a raging bull, holding his knife on a perfect angle to stab him. On a swift motion, he made a side step away from the man. Mistulang nagulat pa ito sa kanyang ginawa dahil nagdirediretso lamang ito. Binunot na niya ang baril na nasa jacket saka itinutok sa lalaki. It is now or never. It is you or him. Kill or be killed. He formed himself in a perfect shooting stance. Then without any hesitation, his bullet passed through the man's chest. This rendered the man writhing in pain against the concrete pavements.
Sunod-sunod na putok ng baril ang kanyang narinig. Nilingon niya si Clarence. Limang kalalakihan ang napatumba nito.
"Now's the time your highness!" He didn't need to say this twice. Agad niyang nilingon ang mga natitirang kalalakihan na noo'y sabay-sabay nang tumatakbo patungo sa kanya.
Seven furious men were now after him. One tried to swing a right hook at his face but he was able to shield himself. He was about to return the punch when he felt a sharp pain on his left thigh.
"Shit!" his adversaries finally connected. Isa pang hampas ng tubo ang tumama sa kaliwang balikat niya. Nagsimula nang magdilim ang kanyang paningin. Napaluhod siya sa sobrang sakit. Damn it! Random punches were now hitting him. He tightened his grip on the gun. It was his last hope for survival. He refused to die here!
Mabilis niyang tinutok ang baril sa unang hitang nahagip ng kanyang mga mata. And without any hesitations, he pulled the triggered. Agad namang natumba ang taong ito. Napaatras ang iba sa mga ito dahil na rin sa nangyari. He grabbed that window of opportunity. He willed himself to stand up. And we he did, pandemonium erupted.
Like a thirsty hyena, he went for each one of them. Gamit ang hawak na baril, sinapak niya ang unang taong kanyang nakita. Others started to pursue him. Mga apat na lalaki ang muling sumugod ng sabay-sabay. Few of their punches connected, but he did not mind it anymore. The adrenaline rush kept him from feeling any pain.
Without a bullet wasted, he took down the men one after the other. Blood was now free flowing from his wounded forehead. Agad niyang hinanap si Clarence. He saw Clarence finished of the men who went to pursue him. Sugatan din itong tulad niya. Iniligid niya ang paningin sa paligid. His stare focused on the only man left.
He assessed the man from head to toe. Isa ito sa mga nakabangayan niya.
"The last man, standing," he said.
The man was frozen solid. Fear and trepidation were now mirrored in his eyes. Bumunot na ito ng baril mula sa breast pocket nito. Dahan-dahan na siyang lumapit.
"Don't come near me!" sigaw nito habang itinutok sa kanya ang hawak nitong baril.
He did the same thing. He pointed his gun on the man's skull. Perfect shot. One pull and this man will be put six-feet under. Nagpatuloy siya sa paglakad. The man became so distracted that he didn't notice Clarence sneak up on him from behind.
Then everything happened very fast. Clarence tackled the man. Ngunit bago tuluyang mabuwal sa pagkakatayo ang lalaki, nagawa pa nitong hatakin ang gatilyo ng hawak na baril. A gunshot now filled the quiet atmosphere. He did his best to do evade the raging bullet, but to no avail. Bumaon na ang bala sa kanyang kaliwang balikat.
Fuck! It fucking hurts! Gush of blood oozed from his open wound. Clarence immediately attended to him.
"Kamahalan, may tama po kayo. Let's go to the hospital," ito na puno ng pag-aalala ang tinig.
Even from afar, he could hear the sirens of the police cars gathering around them. The police was now on their way to them. Marahil ay naalerto ang mga taong naninirahan dito sa sunod-sunod na putok ng baril.
Shit! He should not be seen here. This was a fucking crime scene! He may enjoy splattering dirt on the image of the Royal Family through his wayward ways and scandalous escapades, but murder was not his cup of tea.
"We need to get away," He weakly said.
"No. Your highness, you need to be in a hospital."
He inhaled sharply. The pain on his shoulder was worsening by the minute. He should act now.
"Clarence, should the police see us, we will be in big trouble."
"We could always insinuate the truth. That it was self-defence."
"Do you even know who I am? I am the prodigal prince of the empire. Should I be seen here... No! Should we be seen here, the whole Royal Family will be dragged to this murder scandal. Who would believe us? At sakali mang pumanig sa atin ang husgado, people would just think that I got away due to my lineage. Do you get me now?"
He just blankly stared at him.
"I do not have time for this. I don't want to spend my remaining years in the fucking pit of Tartarus. This is a royal order. Ruin the car, make sure that the police will not be able to ID the imperial sedan. Clean the site. Just leave the body. 'Pag tapos ka na, get away as far from here, return to the palace."
"But how about your highness?"
"I can manage on my own. I'll have my wounds treated. I'll return to the palace tomorrow. No word to anybody about this. Naiintindihan mo ba?"
He straightened his posture then gave him a salute, "Yes your highness! I understand. But please, contact me should there be anything you need that I could assist you."
He didn't bother responding. Mabilis na siyang umalis palayo sa lugar na iyon. He walked past different alleyways while pressing his already excruciating wound. He needed to find a doctor soon, a trustworthy one that will not speak of any of this. He looked around. Hindi pamilyar sa kanya ang lugar. Everything was dark except for the streetlights.
But as he walked, his wound became more and more painful. He was rendered immobile. Bile was now filling his mouth. His visions became blurry. Then the next thing he knew, he was falling down in a pit of nothingness.
Steffanie looked at the LED screen of her phone. It was almost 1:00 am. Masyado siyang nalibang sa pagpipinta sa kanyang studio at hindi na niya namalayan ang oras.
She looked at the painting in front of her. It was a painting of a man clad in a suit of armor. He was bathed in blood while standing in the pile of his fallen adversaries. The background of the painting was a chaotic environment caused by war. It was full of red and oranges. May pangalan na nga siya rito, Mars Ultor. This will be one of her paintings to be featured in her exhibit.
Ngunit kahit gaano kaganda ang pagkakapinta niya, may kulang pa rito. The man does not have a face yet. She still hadn't figured out how to give character to her nameless creation.
Nagsimula na siyang magligpit ng kanyang mga kagamitan. Masyado nang malalim ang gabi at kailangan na niyang makauwi. Bukas na lang niya itutuloy ang mga naiwang trabaho.
She locked the door of her studio then went out of the building. This studio had been a blessing to her. Napakalapit lamang kasi nito sa kanyang tinutuluyang condominium. It's actually just five blocks away. Minsan doon na rin siya natutulog kapag tambak ang kanyang mga gawain at kung masyado siyang napasarap sa pagpipinta. Kung wala nga lamang siyang maagang appointment bukas ay tiyak na doon siya magpapalipas ng gabi.
The alleyway was empty. She already expected that. Ang lugar kasing tinitirhan niya ay isang retirement village. Majority of her neighbors were sweet old men and women. No late-nights activities, no loud parties, just plain and peaceful surroundings. This community was haven for her. Napakababa rin ng crime rate sa kanilang lugar kaya naman tiwala siyang umuwi ng dis-oras ng gabi kahit balot na ng kadiliman ang paligid.
She was walking on the main road when she heard a series of steps. Lumingon siya para tingnan ang pinanggalingan nito ngunit wala siyang makita. She would have pass it as figment of her imagination, but a few seconds later, she heard the same steps again. This time, it was coupled with a series of pant.
"Help..." then a weak voice came.
With that, she searched for the person behind the voice. Someone needed her help. She reached for the flashlight in her bag. She went in between alleyways to search for the distressed owner of that voice.
Nahihirapan siyang suyurin ang mga eskinitang pinupuntahan. Napakahina kasi ng ilaw na ibinubuga ng flashlight niya. It was very difficult for her to clearly see the surroundings, let alone search for something unknown.
But she didn't give up. It was her heroic side that urged her to continue the search. She wanted to help whoever that person was.
She should hurry as he might be dying already. That thought sent dagger of fears inside her. She must find that person fast.
Pumasok na naman siya sa isang eskinita. Mariing pinagmamasdan niya ang paligid nang matakid siya ng kung anong naapakan niya. She beamed the flashlight over the object. What she saw terrified her. It was a body of a man. Agad naman niyang dinaluhan ito. She put her fingers on his neck, checking his pulse. She was relieved to feel that the man lying there still had a pulse. But it was very weak.
She held her flashlight by the mouth. Muli niyang pinasadahan ng tingin ang natagpuang katawan. Unang napansin niya ay ang walang patid na pagdaloy ng dugo mula sa kaliwang balikat nito. She then looked at the face of the man. Namumutla na ito. She came to study his face. Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang kabang gumapang sa kanya nang makilala ang naghihingalong lalaki. Oh my God. She will never forget that face. It was Prince Gareth, the man who prickled her deepest and wildest imaginations. How on earth did this happen to him? Who did this to him? Is he going to die? The last thought made her cringe. It was as if her heart was suddenly firmly squeezed. No! It will never happen. He will not die in her arms. Hindi ito magiging katulad ng kanyang ina.
Binitiwan na niya ang flashlight. She could not contain her sobs any more. She needed to help him. She wanted to help him. Ginalugad niya ang ispipan kung paano tutulungan ang prinsipe. Then with trembling fingers, she made a call.
The other line started to ring. It kept ringing and ringing. Each passing moment was pure torture for her.
"Please answer the phone," she silently prayed.
"Hello Steff. What can I do for you?" came the gentle voice of the person from the other line.
"Doc, I need help. Please. My friend here is dying. Help me!" she could not hide the panic in her voice.
"Ok, where are you?"
Sinabi niya rito ang kasalukuyang kinaroroonan nila. She held the motionless man while praying and hoping for a divine intervention.
Gareth had never felt this weak. He tried to open his eyes, but he just didn't have the energy. He was numb all over. He wanted to panic but he was too drained to do so.
All he can do was lay down and listen to the voices around him. He could barely comprehend the words being uttered by the voices. It was all a slur for him. But one voice stood out the most, it was a female voice. Very soft and gentle. Very smooth and fragile. It sounded like a classical melody. Her voice is of an angel. He concentrated on that voice. Somehow, it made him relax.
"C'mon Price Gareth, you can do it."
Each word she said was like a serenade, lulling him to complete rest. It erased all of his doubts and worries. It reassured him. Suddenly, he was drawn back to his slumber.
Umaga na nang muling magising si Gareth. He felt disoriented. Iginala niya ang paningin sa paligid. The room was full of medical apparatus.
Nasaan ba siya? Saang ospital siya naroroon?
He wanted to stand but the pain on his right shoulder was unbearable. His body ached all over.
"Easy there, Your Highness."
Tiningnan niya ang pinanggalingan ng tinig. It was a middle-aged man wearing a doctor's robe.
"Nasaan ako?" he asked.
"You are in our small hospital."
Hindi niya maalala kung paanong napunta siya rito. All he could remember was that he was walking and walking to get away from that incident last night. Then everything went black.
"Paanong napunta ako rito?"
Ngunit bago masagot ang kanyang tanong ay may pumasok sa silid. This time, it was a woman wearing the same robe. May dala-dala itong tray na may lamang pagkain.
"Breakfast is ready Your Highness." Nakangiti nitong bati nito sa kanya.
"Paanong napunta ako rito?" he asked once more.
Ngumiti sa kanya ang babae.
"Hon, you are needed downstairs. Ako na ang bahala sa kamahalan," ang babae habang inaayos ang dalang pagkain.
"Sige, I'll come back later."
Lumabas na ang lalaki sa silid.
He was frustrated. Really, really frustrated.
"Hey! Why aren't you answering me? Are you deaf?!" his mouth blurted out.
"Ipagpatawad nyo po kung na-offend ko ang kamahalan," she answered with a smile on her face.
Inilapag na nito sa kanyang harapan ang isang tray na puno ng pagkaing dala nito. It was bacon and eggs alongside a freshly brewed coffee. The aroma of the home cooked meal flooded his nostrils. Bigla na lang kumalam ang kanyang sikmura.
"Go help yourself, Your Highness. You'll need that for your fast recovery."
And help himself, he did. He was really hungry.
Kumuha ito ng upuan saka umupo sa tabi ng kanyang kama.
"How are you feeling?"
"Answer my question first. Then I'll answer yours."
Bumuntong hininga ito. "I cannot go also to details kasi hindi ko naman alam ang tunay na naganap sa iyo kagabi. Ang alam ko lang, isinugod ka rito nang bugbog sarado at may tama ng bala sa iyong balikat. So in the middle of the night, you were put under the knife for a surgery to extract the bullet."
Natigil siya sa pagkain. Parang nakonsensya siya sa kanyang ipinakitang asal sa mga ito. They were the people who saved him yet heto siya't pinapasahadahan ang mga ito ng kanyang magaspang na pag-uugali.
"Thank you," he silently uttered.
"Naku! Mahal na Prinsipe, I cannot take all the credit. I just assisted last night. I am an optalmologist. I am not a surgeon. Ang husband ko ang nagperform ng operation sa iyo."
Tumango na lamang siya rito saka tinuloy ang pagkain.
"But the one you should thank the most is the one who called our help. Without your friend, we could have never helped you. Kung hindi ka niya natagpuan, baka mahuli na ang lahat. You were really in a pretty bad shape. Maraming dugo po ang nawala sa inyo."
Napakunot ang noo niya sa narinig. Someone saved him? But who?
"I can't remember anything."
"This is perfectly normal. Nagkaroon ka ng mild head trauma kaya medyo kakaunti lang ang naaalala mo. But don't worry, it will come back sooner or later."
"Doc, can you help me in filling the details? Hindi ko kasi talaga maalala," he said to her.
"Well, first and foremost, I am Dr. Mary Lou Flyheight. It is a pleasure for us to meet the Fourth Prince of the Kingdom."
They both shook hands.
"Last night, at around 1:30 am, Ms. Steffanie Smithson called me. She said that she needed our help as her friend was shot. Sa kanya ka magpasalamat ng husto dahil siya ang nakakaita sa iyo. If you were to arrive one to two hours more, my husband would not be able to save you."
What! Steffanie was the one who saved him? What a coincidence. The thought of her sent volts of electrifying shocks to his body, especially on his nether regions. Mabuti na lang at nakakumot siya. It hid his raging hard-on quite really well.
"How did you come to know of Miss Steffanie?" he asked out of the blue.
"Well, the Miss has been my patient for about a decade now. Hindi na siya bago sa amin dito. Kaya nang makiusap siya, hindi na kami nagdalawang isip pa."
Lalo lamang kumunot ang kanyang noo sa narinig. May sakit ito?
"We are not actually expecting it to be you, your highness. Steffanie said that it was her friend whom she found lifelessly laying on the pavement road. But I guess, you really are her friend," pagpapatuloy nito.
So it was really her that helped him. May kung anong kurot sa kanyang puso ang naramdaman niya.
"Again thank you doc for helping me. Where is she by the way?"
"Umalis na siya nang masiguro niyang nasa maayos ka ng kalagayan. Ang sabi niya'y may pupuntahan pa siya."
Tumango-tango na lamang siya.
"One last thing, Doc. Please do not tell about any of this to anybody. Can you do that?" he needed to make sure that nothing will go out, especially to those fucking hounds.
"Makakaasa po kayo kamahalan. In this place, we are very proficient in keeping things private. Confidentiality is a must here. Kaya umasa po kayong our mouth is sealed."