DECEMBER 28, 1896 – 5:18 PM
Liam rides Marissa home with his horse. He still feels unsure with Marissa joining their mission but he doesn't fight her because he knows he'll lose their argument. They sent their farewells again and Marissa went inside the house.
As she entered their home, the walls seemed quiet as always. No one is home but she heard murmuring in her parents room so she decided to go there. She saw her mother sitting on the floor while crying.
"Mother, are you fine? What's the matter?" Marissa quickly asks while trying to hold her mother by the shoulders. She saw a knife behind her mother and she tried to snatch it from her but she fought back.
"Go away! Don't mind me!" Her mother shouted at her. Her face is so swell and red. Marissa had never seen her mother like this before.
"Mother calm down. Everything will be fine" Marissa said while fighting her mother's strong grip with the knife.
"No! No!" Her mother shouted but Marissa gently calms her grip with the knife so that her mother can imitate her.
"Mother, calm down. You don't have to do this" Marissa said while seeing her mother calm down.
As her mother loses grip with the knife. Marissa quickly snatches it and hides it from her mother's sight. She hugs her mother as both of them burst into tears. She pulled away from her and said,
"Mother, what's the matter?" Marissa said as she tried to whip her mother's tears.
"Let's go down. The kakanin is sweet and hot downstairs" her mother said as she tries to avoid Marissa's question.
"No, mother. You have to tell me what happen"
"It's not for you to know"
"Its for me to know because I'm your daughter"
"No Marissa! You'll not understand. You're too young to be exposed to that kind of matters."
"No, mother. I'm old enough to understand. Just don't mind me"
"Fine, you're such a stubborn child" her mother said as both of them sat by the edge of the bed and held hands together.
"You're father is having an affair," her mother said while looking at Marissa with surprise.
"How did you know that?"
"I know it since before you were born"
"But why did it last this long?"
"For you and for your siblings. For you to have a better life and happy family"
"But mother, you don't have to be a martyr if you don't have to"
"I'll be because I love your father."
Marissa understands what's happening but she doesn't want her mother to be forced to be a martyr because of them. She stood up and said, "I'll talk to father" but her mother stopped her and said "Marissa don't! Your father will just get angry to me"
"I can't just sit speechless here watching my parents suffer without doing something"
"No, you don't have to. You'll just make it worse"
"Then, what can I do to help you?"
"None. Live as if I didn't tell you about our family issues"
"I'm sorry mother that you have to suffer like this. I promise that I'll never leave you until the end of time" they hugged at each other and her mother whispers "I love you, Marissa"
Marissa went to the Library before midnight. On her way, it's unavoidable that someone will notice her but she dressed like a man to lessen the possibility of doubt. The front door of the library is obviously closed so she went to the back door which Tiyo Jose told her a long time ago so if she feels lonely, she will go to the library sometime. As she pushes the door for the secret room seeing Tony and Liam holding their rifles tightly and pointing it at Marissa. They lower their guns once they've confirmed its Marissa.
"You've made it!" Tiyo Jose approaches Her and gives her a hug.
"Of course, godfather. I've brought these uniforms for our cover" Marissa said as she laid out her carried uniforms on the table.
"And where did you get these?" Tony ask
"These are the old uniforms from my uncles. They might be a little different from the latest one but no one will notice it."
"Thank you very much, Marissa." Liam said as he got the uniforms and put them on which made Marissa to turn around.
"Where did you get the guns?" Marissa asks.
"None of your business" Tony replied.
"I have a supplier, Marissa , right? Do you remember Quiroga?" Tiyo Jose said.
"Ah, yes I remember him. The Chinese man" Marissa said "Am I going to carry a gun also?" Marissa continued.
"Carry a gun? You're not even coming with us" Tony said. Marissa turned around as they finished changing clothes.
"What? You told me that I'll join?" Marissa demanded
"We've decided that you'll stay with Tiyo Jose here," Liam said sadly.
"But I told you that I want to help. Rizal is my friend."
"Friendship is no matter here, darling," Tony said.
"And what is your relation with Rizal? Do you think he'll listen to a stranger like you? Remember that Andres attempted to rescue him but he failed. You should know better." Marissa said which silenced Tony and Liam.
"Fine, you can come with us but in one condition" Tony said "you'll leave Liam after this" he continued.
"I will," Marissa said.
Before they entered Fort Santiago, the three talked first.
"Stick with the plan!" Tony said and the two nod and they went inside the Fort Santiago without any suspicion from the other guards because it seems impossible to be noticed in a dim light.
The guard in Rizal's prison cell is not that close to the cell. He seems to be a newbie for the job because he almost falls on the floor because of his sleepiness. Tony walks closer to the guard and keeps his attention to him so that he won't notice Liam and Marissa.
Rizal's prison cell is surprisingly dark and there are only a few things inside. Rizal seems not asleep yet that's why he seated properly as he noticed a bright lamp from his prison cell.
"Pepe" Marissa shouted in a low voice. Rizal notices Marissa and quickly approaches the door.
"Marissa! What are you doing here?" Rizal asks nervously. He expected Marissa to come sometime as she is a close friend to him.
"We're here to rescue you, Pepe." Marissa said while Liam stands behind him while holding the lamp.
"You don't have to do this, Marissa" Pepe whispers as he notices a man standing behind her.
"I have to. You don't deserve this"
"My time has come, Marissa. Death is inevitable" As Pepe replied, Liam interrupted.
"Not yet" Liam said.
"I didn't know you had a lover," Rizal said to Marissa.
"He is not a lover," Marissa said annoyingly.
"I'm Liam. Pleasure to finally meet you" Liam responded while offering Rizal a handshake which he immediately gave in return.
"The future youths are in trouble. And you're the only one able to save them." Liam muttered.
"What happened? How can you satisfy me that no lies come from your mouth" Rizal replied, trying to convince both of them to stop.
"I'm a time traveler" Liam said
"This is nonsense. Marissa, you have to stop" Rizal said.
"I can prove it," Liam said as he took out something from his pocket and threw it in the air. A bright light emerges and turns into a circle portal which is large enough for a man to fit. Tiyo Jose is standing by the other side of the image and waved at rizal. Liam explains that this is a Time portal which can help you to go to different places you want but this will not stand longer than one minute.
"Will you tell me what happened to the youths?" Rizal asked Liam while still being mesmerized by the light.
"After you come with us" Liam said. Rizal silenced for a moment and made his decision.
The guard heard the noises from the prison cell and turned around. He saw a bright round light and Rizal being with two other strangers standing behind his bars. He assumes that Rizal is trying to escape so he immediately tries to run towards them but Tony pushes him away to run towards Liam and Marissa. Marissa looked at Rizal as he nodded with agreement. Eventually, they were able to pass through the other side of the portal before it faded out and before the guards caught them.