Puno ng pag-aalala si Gareth habang binabagtas ang daan patungo sa ward ni Anya. What happened to her? Who did that to her?
Kanina'y napag-alaman niyang nalason ang kanyang kapatid.
There were traces of arsenic in the food that she ate. Bilang isang med student, alam niya kung gaano kadelikado ang bagay na iyon. She could die because of it. Mabuti na lamang at kaunti lamang ang nakain nito.
He felt the pang of anger that was brewing in his insides. Tatlo lamang silang magkakapatid sa kanilang ina, si Lancelot ang panganay at si Anya naman ang bunso. For him, Anya was always his little girl. She was his little sister whom he valued the most.
Agad siyang sinalubong ni Lancelot. They were inside the Royal Hospital. Dito kadalasang sinusugod ang mga miyembro ng Royal Family sa tuwing magkakasakit sila.
"How is she?" agad niyang tanong dito.
"Wala na sa kritikal ang kanyang kondisyon. But she's still under observation."
Agad naman siyang nakahinga nang maluwag sa narinig.
He then saw his other siblings. Nakaupo ang mga ito sa labas ng silid ni Anya.
"I am sorry. Kasalanan ko ang lahat ng ito," Arielle was sobbing non-stop.
Agad naman itong inalo ng isa pa nilang kapatid na si Ares. "It's not your fault, Princess."
He looked at Lancelot questioningly.
"Magkasama kanina sina Anya at Arielle. They were eating together at the Jasmine Manor. Nagpahanda ng garden salad si Anya. And you know how Arielle hates veggies. In the end, ang lason ay nasa salad dressings and Anya was the only one who was affected," pagpapaliwanag nito.
Arielle looked at him. Her eyes pleading. "I'm sorry Kuya. I am sorry. It should have been me."
Nilapitan niya ang kapatid."Shh... Don't blame yourself. Ares was right. It is not your fault. Mas malulungkot kami kung kayong dalawa ang napahamak. Be brave. Anya will be OK."
She nodded to him.
"Bakit kayo nandito sa labas?"
"The doctor is still inside. Inoobserbahan pa rin nila si Anya. They are making sure that she is not in danger anymore," si Ares ang sumagot sa kanya.
"Sino na ang mga naparito para bumisita?" he further inquired.
"The Queen. Her majesty was here earlier kasama ang Crown Prince. They just went ahead of time because the King summoned them. Naririto rin kanina ang Queen Dowager."
He nodded. His mind was now trying to draw a dirty conclusion. His accident from before. Anya's poisoning. This definitely could fit in one equation.
"Alam ko kung anong iniisip mo," it was Lancelot who disturbed his thoughts.
"Yep, Lancelot and I are thinking the same as well," sabat naman ni Ares.
He nodded to them. They were definitely on the same wavelength.
"This was not an accident," he blurted out.
"And also, what happened to you as well. Mataas ang posibilidad na konektado ito dito," it was Ares.
"But the question is why?" dagdag pa ni Lancelot.
There were still a lot of questions left unanswered. There was more to this that meets the eye. But one thing is for sure. The Royal Family was in danger.
Hindi makagalaw ng maayos si Steffanie. She was tied up on a steel chair. Nakatali rin ang kanyang mga kamay at paa. Nagising na lamang siyang ganito may isang oras na ang nakakalipas.
She immediately panicked when comprehension dawned to her. She puzzled things together. The four men at the Camelot Sky Park. May ipaamoy ang mga ito sa kanya na naging sanhi ng kanyang pagkahilo. They abducted her. Warning bells were already ringing.
She tried to scream but all she could her was her echoing voice. She tried to survey the place but everything was just pitch black. Wala siyang makita. Her night blindness was definitely hindering her to see.
"Hellooooo!!!" she shouted once more. Seconds and minutes have passed yet there was no response.
Nagsisimula na siyang panghinaan ng loob. Anong mangyayari sa kanya? Ano ang kailangan ng mga ito? She was not rich. Not a single cent was under her name. So why would they kidnap her? To think na ni kaaway ay wala siya.
Her mind was now exploring the possibilities. Anong gagawin ng mga ito sa kanya?
Dumaan sa kanyang isipan ang kanyang pamilya, her dad, her brother, Sofia. What if hindi na niya makita ang mga ito? Her heart was immediately pained of that thought.
And what about Gareth, her knight and shining armor, the man who made her heart fluttered? Will she ever see him again?
She was breaking from the inside. She screamed once more, hoping that Gareth will hear her, hoping that he will save her.
Makailang oras na rin ang nakakalipas nang makabalik na si Gareth sa kanyang manor. Puno pa rin siya ng pag-aalala sa kapatid. But at least, his heart was now at ease knowing that Anya will be alright.
He dialled Steffanie's number in his phone. He wanted to check on her. He wanted to talk to her. Somehow, her voice soothed his soul. She was his siren, his own personal Cinderella who could lull his raging soul.
Nakakailang subok na siya ngunit hindi nito sinasagot ang kanyang mga tawag. Agad naman niyang sinulyapan ang orasan. It was already 2 o'clock in the morning. Marahil ay tulog na ito.
Sinubukan niyang matulog ngunit hindi siya mapalagay. Something was off. His gut feeling told him so. He was confused. Dahil ba ito sa nangyari kay Anya? Or was there something else?
He tried to ignore that feeling. Muli siyang pumikit upang subukang matulog. He was thinking of his happy place. He tried to wash away all the worries that he had. He thought of Steffanie, her angelic face and her icy blue eyes. She had the most expressive eyes in the world. He imagined her smiling face. Her very gentle nature. She was indeed an angel.
His thoughts now went down to a more dangerous path. He imagined the feeling of her lips next to his, how she tasted like marshmallows and wild berries. He imagined her succulent and curvaceous body, her porcelain white skin.
He immediately felt the rush of desire in his body. He was now in a fiery state of undiluted lust. He desired her. He wanted her. He imagined how he would feel when they were finally joined together as one. He wondered how it would feel to be inside her.
He was suddenly lust-driven. He was tempted to relieve himself, to bring this matter on his own hands. But his thoughts were interrupted. He heard Steffanie screaming, calling his name. Pleading him to come to her.
Napabangon siya. Kakaibang kaba ang gumapang sa kanyang dibdib. He was not clairvoyant but somehow he knew that this uneasiness that he was feeling had something to do with Steff.
He dialled Steff's number once more. And again she didn't answered.
Agad siyang lumabas sa kanyang silid.
"Sir Clarence!" he called for his chevalier.
Lumapit naman ito sa kanya.
"What can I do for you, your highness?"
"Check on Steffannie. Find out where she is right now. "
He could see a lot of question in Clarence's eyes but his chevalier didn't bothered voicing it out. And he was all to glad for that. He just wanted to be sure that Steffanie was safe.
Steffanie was up all night. She was too worried to fall asleep. She counted seconds, minutes and hours, but no one came. She was still all alone.
Napagod na siya sa kakasigaw. Tears were now free flowing from her eyes. What did she do to deserve this kind of thing?
She tried to look at her surroundings. Mabuti na lang at kahit papaano'y may naaaninag na siya. Sunlight was slipping through the small windows.
She was in the middle of a large room. Mukhang bodega ito dahil napakaraming nakatambak na lumang gamit sa kanyang paligid. May nakita rin siyang isang bakal na pinto. It was all full of rust.
"Help me!!! Anyone there!!!" she tried shouting once more. Alam niyang walang mangyayari sa kanyang ginawa but she just gotta try.
Then once more, silence enveloped the whole place. She resumed counting seconds. She was getting paranoid. Paano kung walang sumagip sa kanya? Mabubulok na lang ba siya sa lugar na ito?
Makailang oras na ang makalipas nang biglang bumukas ang bakal na pinto. It caused too much noise for her not to catch the crackling sound it made. Agad niyang nilingon ang direksyon ng pinanggalingan nito. A tall man emerged from the door. May dala-dala itong tray ng pagkain.
Walang kaimik-imik itong lumapit sa kanya. Ipinatong nito sa kanyang kandungan ang hawak na tray. Isang mangkok na lugaw ang laman nito. Sinundan nya lamang ito ng tingin.
Kinalagan nito ang kanyang mga kamay. She felt relief as the tension in her hands were loosened. Kahit paaano, nabawasan na ang pagkamanhid ng mga ito. The man then started to untie her body. Her hands and arms can now freely move. Tanging nakagapos na lamang ay ang kanyang mga paa.
Kinakakabahan siya. Her heart was now racing non-stop. Ano ang gagawin nito sa kanya?
"Kumaain ka na. The Miss will be here in a few hours. Huwag mo nang subukang tumakas. It's no use."
Hindi na nito kailangang sabihin pa ang mga bagay na ito. It was very obvious. Wala naman siyang magagawa kahit matanggal man niya ang nakatali sa kanyang mga paa. The man was so huge, he could easily manhandle her. But somehow, she felt relieved dahil kahit papaano alam niyang hindi siya sasaktan nito for now.
She did what the man told her to do. Dinampot niya ang kutsara saka sinubukang kumain. She hadn't had anything yet in her system. She tried to swallow, but she very well knew of the increasing tension around her. Pinilit niyang lunukin ang kinkain. It might be her last.
Walang imik ang lalaki habang pinapanood siya. She knew that the man wouldn't free her even if she begged. But she still tried.
"Parang awa nyo na po. I need to be at home. Ano ang kailangan nyo sa akin? Did I do something to you?"
He looked in her eyes.
"Hindi kami ang may kailangan sa yo. The Miss will be here. Sa kanya ka may atraso. Stand by ka lang."
The miss. That got her attention. Isang babae pala ang utak ng lahat ng ito. But who? And what did she do to that Miss? Alam niya sa kanyang sarili na wala siyang inaagrabyadong tao.
Gareth was now fuming in anger.
"Fuck! What's taking you so long!" sigaw niya.
He was in the phone with Clarence. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nila mahanap si Steffanie. It has been more than twelve hours simula nang makutuban niya na may kakaibang nangyari sa babae.
Last night, he ordered Clarence to check her apartment and studio. No one was there. He tried ringing Sofia, her best friend apparently didn't know her whereabouts as well. Ang sabi lang nito ay baka pumunta ito sa Sutherland, her hometown. He didn't believed it. Lunes ngayon at alam niyang may klase ang dalaga. It was as if she suddenly disappeared in to nothingness.
"Your highness, we are at the Camelot Sky Ranch. Walang nakakakita kay Miss Steff nang umalis ito kahapon. But we found a clue that might lead us to her," he heard his chevalier over the phone.
"We found her phone in the sidewalk."
Doon na nakumpirma ang kanyang kutob. The uneasiness that he felt was in no relation to Anya's poisoning. Somehow, unconsciously, he felt that Steff was in danger.
He tightened his grip on the phone. He felt his blood rushing. He will make whoever that imbecile pay. He will scour the whole Pendragon just to find Steffanie. How dare them do this to a very sweet girl, to his Cinderella. Huwag lamang nilang mahawakan ni daliri ng dalaga, kung hindi, isinusumpa niya sa lahat ng mga diyos sa kalangitan, dadanak at dadanak talaga ng dugo.
He could taste the bile going up in his mouth. He was angry. And come hell and high waters, he will get Steffanie in one piece.
Steffanie did not know what the time is. She lost track of it already. And she didn't care anymore. SAll she knew was that the sun was about to set and that the light in the room was easily fading away.
She was very curious of the Miss that her captors were talking about. Ito raw ang may pakana ng lahat ng ito. Hindi natupad ang sinabi ng lalaki kanina na parating na ang kanilang Mistress. It had been a while yet no one came. Tanging ang isang lalaki lamang ang pumasok sa silid na iyon upang bigyan siya ng tanghalian.
She heard a commotion from the steel door. She could hear the screeching sound caused by the friction between the metal door and the concrete. Someone was entering the premises. Maaaring isa na namang lalaki ang pupunta sa kanya para bigyan siya ng pagkain.
"Hope you like my accommodation here, Steffanie." Came the full voice of a female.
Agad niyang nilingon ang babae. It was probably the Miss that they are referring to. Sinubukan niyang aninawin ang imahe ng babae ngunit nagtatalo na ang liwanag sa dilim. The sun was already setting and half of the room was already dark.
"Cat got your tongue, Steff." The woman sashayed right in front of her. Doon lamang niya napagtanto kung sino ito.
"Natalya," she whispered.
Natalya gave a hollow laugh. Bumukas ang mga ilaw sa loob ng silid. She finally began to see things more clearly. But she didn't like what she saw. Sana'y nanatili na lamang na nakapatay ang ilaw. Apparently, Natalya was not alone. She was with the four men who abducted her. And this time, leniency was not painted on their faces.
"Ano na Steff, you whore! How does it feel to be tied up?"
Hinablot nito ang kanyang buhok patalikod. She winced at the sudden attack. It was so brute that her scalp felt the sharp pain caused by her fast assault.
"Look at me!"
She refused to meet her eye.
"Look at me when I am talking, you fucking fag!" she shouted at her.
"Zandro! Kalagan mo ang kamay niya!"
One of the men came and untied her hand. Ngunit hindi siya pinakawalan nito ng tuluyan. Mahigpit nitong hinawakan ang magkabilang kamay. Nagtawag pa ito ng isa pang kasamahan para magkabila nilang mahawakan ang dalawa niyang mga kamay. Sinubukan niyang pumalag ngunit wala pa rin siyang nagawa sa lakas ng mga ito.
"I told you to back off, but you did not heed to my warning."
Inigtingan nga mga lalaki ang pagkakahawak sa kanyang kamay. She felt a sharp pain as both men slightly twisted her arms. It was painful but she could still bear with it.
"Mahirap akong kalaban Steffanie. This is what you get for messing with me."
She remained passive. Hindi niya alam kung sasabihin dito.
"Gareth is mine. You should know your place, you slut."
She could see the rage in her eyes. Hindi na niya alam ang gagawin pa. Tatanggipin nal lang ba niya ang mga akusasyon nito?
"Please let me go..." she said silently.
Malakas itong tumawa. "Huwag mag-alala hindi naman kita papatayin. I will only defile you. I'll have you rape with my men. 'Di ba sanay ka naman dyan. You are a whore of the highest calibre. To think that you play a very sweet little girl, iyon pala cradle hustler ka na."
Hindi niya alam ang mga pinagsasabi nito. "Please Natalya. Kung may nagawa naman ako sa iyo. I am sorry."
Natalya rolled her eyes, "Ito na naman tayo. Still playing the victim here. Alam kong alam mo kung ano ang sinasabi. I know na may relasyon kayo ni Michael Angelo Sutherland. Ilang beses ko kayong nakikitang magkasama."
Nagulat siya sa sinabi nito. How could she think of that? Nasusuka siya sa nais nitong ipabatid sa kanya. They were siblings, for God's sake. She wanted to deny it, to explain herself. But she kept her mouth shut. Ito ang sikreto ng kanyang pagkatao na hindi dapat malaman ng iba.
"So ngayon, you went for the next big thing. Kay Gareth ka naman naglulumandi. You are just like a leech!"
Her words were like pieces dagger piercing her heart. She cannot believe how sewer of a mind this woman had. But she kept herself composed. Hindi niya gustong sagupain ang galit nito.
Kumuha ito ng isang kupita. She put wine into it.
"Simple lang naman ang gusto ko Steff." Natalya played with the glass in her hands.
She just looked at her without saying anything.
"Layuan mo si Gareth. Sabihin mo sa kanyang pinagpalit mo na siya sa iba, at hindi mo na siya kailangan. Na ginamit mo lang siya. That you are just a social climber who wants to scheme her way to the top. Kung gagawin mo iyon, magkakasundo tayong dalawa."
She inhaled sharply. Her mind was refusing to think. Buo na ang loob niya. What she said was absurd!
Gareth was her savior, he was a knight in shining armor, he was one of the few friends that she had, and he was the man she was deeply in love with.
She reminisced their times together; how he tried to fulfil all her dreams, how he crept his way inside her wall of defences, how he made her melt in his arms, how she was allured by his kisses. She cannot be without him. That thought was simply inconceivable.
All her life she was rejected. She was always the unwanted person. Her father hid her from the world. Her mother left her alone. She was an outcast. But all of that didn't matter anymore. Kahit na kamuhian siya ng buong mundo, wala na siyang pakilam. As long as she had Gareth by her side, nothing else will ever matter.
Her tears were now flowing. She looked Natalya in the eye, "Have you ever felt that the world is against you? Have you ever felt that your existence is nothing but a mistake?"
Waring nabigla ito sa sinabi niya. "Of course not, you were always pampered. Everybody loves you. As for me, I was alone, I am always alone. Sanay na akong mag-isa. I actually embraced loneliness. But one day, there was this bright and shiny star who came to me. He was very energetic. He was always there to make me happy. And now, you want to take away that star to me? No! I will not let go of him!" dagdag pa niya.
Nanggalaiti sa galit si Natalya. Ibinuhos nito sa kanyang mukha ang laman ng dala nitong kopita. She was now showering in red wine. Ngunit buo na ang kanyang kalooban. All of her life, she just let destiny take away everything her. This time will be different. She will fight to keep that shining star in her life.
"NO! Kahit anong gawin mo, I will fight for him!"
"You Bitch!" Natalya shrieked. Agad na lumipad ang mga kamay nito sa kanyang pisngi. Her slap was painful but she could bear with anything.
"I still say no!"
"Mukhang hindi ka pa rin nagtatanda! You are a painter, right? Paano kaya kung baliin ko ang mga kamay mo?"
Natigilan siya dahil sa sinabi nito. Alam niyang seryoso ito sa pagbabatanta nito sa kanya. But she was very determined. Nothing will keep her away from the person that she loved.
"Tingnan natin kung hanggang saan ang tigas mo. Pilipitin nyo ang kanang kamay niya!"
The man on her right started to twist her arm. He was also trying to crush her fingers at the same time. She could feel the pain. It was excruciating. Nanunuot hanggang buto't kalamnan niya ang sakit na nadarama. She wanted to scream, but she refused to do so. She wanted to cry, but she denied her tears aways.
"Wala akong pakialam! Baliin nyo man ang kanang kamay ko, makakapagpinta pa rin ako gamit ang kaliwang kamay ko!"
On that notion, the men on her left did the same thing. This time, she cannot bear the pain. She shouted very hard. She was in agony.
Tinawanan lang siya ni Natalya.
"Looks like both of your hands will be invalid soon."
Lalong humigpit ang pagpaparusang ginagawa sa kanya. But she remained firm.
"I don't care if you crush my bones! Hindi ako lalayo kay Gareth! I hate to be left alone once again! Kung kinakailangan, I will paint with my feet!"
After that, nagsimula namang apakan ng mga ito ang magkabila niyang paa. Her bare foot stood nothing against the cruelty of their hard combat shoes. Lalo lang nadagdagan ang sakit na kanyang nadarama. But she still remained stubborn. She refused to let go of Gareth!
"Crush them all you want! Art has been my life, I will try to paint even if I use my mouth! I will not leave him! Aalis lamang ako kung siya na ang magsasabi niyan!" She screamed every word to Natalya while bearing all the pain.
Muli siyang pinagsasampal ng dalaga. Compared to the pain in her hand and foot, her slap felt like nothing.
"Strip her!"
May dalawang lalaki pang lumapit sa kanya. One of them got a scissor. She was still under pain. Sinubukan niyang manlaban but nothing worked. Hindi na niya namalayan ang paggupit ng mga ito sa kanyang pantaas.
"Rape her! Rape her!" may kinuha si Natalya sa loob ng dalang bag. It was a digital camera.
"I will film everything! The world will know how filthy of a slut you truly are!"
Tears were now flowing in her eyes as she felt the man touch her breast. Nagupit na rin ng mga ito ang suot niyang bra. She was now bare-chested. She felt vile and dirty. She closed her eyes, hoping that everything will stop.
"Please stop! Stop! Maawa na kayo!" She screamed at them. But they still continued.
"Shit Pare! Ang ganda. Pinkish! I wanna fuck her! I wanna slide my cock back and forth between her cleavage."
"Damn, ako naman ang bahala sa backdoor niya. Her body is fucking hot it made me hard! I'll fuck you raw and hard baby!"
Sabay pang nagtawanan ang mga ito. She felt her breast being violated by their callous hands. Samantang ang ibang mga kamay naman ng mga ito'y abala sa pagtatastas ng panatalong suot.
"Maawa na kayo... Please stop... stop... stop..." she was now drowning herself with sobs. Ito na ba ang magiging katapusan niya? Would she be violated in this manner? Anong kahihiyan ang dadalhin niya sa kanyang pamilya? Sa kanyang matalik na kaibigan? Would she be raped like this?
"Help me Gareth! Help me!"