MAESTRO: Episode 1
The Flores and Valdez
Written by: Rico Marcelo
A chilling rain lashed against the stone facade of Valdez Arts High School, the wind whipping through the corridors like a mournful spirit. Thunder roared, splitting the sky with jagged bolts of lightning, casting the building in an eerie, flickering light.
On the staircase leading to the main gate, Sofia Flores, a young woman with a vibrant spirit and a passion for music, lay sprawled in a pool of blood. Her once-bright eyes were clouded with pain, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
"Help, please help me," she pleaded, her voice barely a whisper, "I don't want to die."
A figure emerged from the shadows, cloaked in a black garment that concealed their face. They held a trophy, its polished surface reflecting the flashes of lightning. Sofia, her eyes wide with terror, reached out a trembling hand.
"Please help me, Sir," she cried, "I don't want to die."
The figure approached, their face hidden in the darkness. They raised the trophy, its weight seemingly insignificant compared to the force they wielded. The trophy crashed down on Sofia, three times, sending a spray of blood across the stone steps.
A woman's scream pierced the night, echoing through the building. The cloaked figure turned, their eyes glinting with a cold, unsettling light.
Meanwhile, inside the school, another tragedy unfolded. Juliana Reyes, a young student with a bright future ahead of her, was caught in a horrifying struggle. A figure in a black jacket and mask, their face hidden behind a chilling grin, had her trapped in a vice-like grip.
"Help!" Juliana screamed, her voice choked with fear.
She fought back, her small frame surprisingly strong. She managed to kick her attacker, breaking free for a moment. But he was relentless, his pursuit relentless. Juliana fled, her heart pounding in her chest, her footsteps echoing through the empty corridors.
She ran up the stairs, the black-jacketed figure close behind. They reached the rooftop, the wind howling around them like a pack of wolves. Juliana stumbled, falling to the ground, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
"No!" she cried, her voice filled with despair.
The figure loomed over her, their mask a chilling reminder of the darkness that had descended upon the school.
"Please don't kill me," Juliana begged, her voice barely a whisper.
The figure moved closer, their eyes burning with a cold, predatory hunger. Juliana, desperate, scrambled to her feet and ran. But the figure was faster, catching her by the hair, dragging her towards the edge of the rooftop.
Juliana screamed, her voice swallowed by the wind. She was thrown over the edge, her body tumbling through the air.
The glass roof of the school lobby shattered, a spiderweb of cracks spreading across its surface. Juliana's body crashed through the glass, landing with a sickening thud on the statue of the school founder. Blood splattered, painting the marble white with a shocking crimson.
The storm raged on, mirroring the chaos and despair that had gripped the school. But amidst the darkness, a glimmer of hope remained. Two families, the Flores and the Valdezes, were about to be drawn into the heart of this tragedy, their lives forever intertwined.
In the picturesque town of Palauig, Zambales, Edward Flores, a dedicated high school teacher and single father, sat at the breakfast table with his mother, Cielo. His daughter, Sofia, a talented pianist with a bright future ahead of her, was practicing in her room.
"Your daughter is in her room, practicing," Cielo said, her voice filled with pride, "She's determined to get into the Arts High School for the music program."
Edward, his eyes filled with love and concern, looked towards Sofia's room. He knew how much this dream meant to her, how much she had poured her heart and soul into her music.
Sofia, her fingers dancing across the keys of her piano, played with a passion that filled the room. She was playing Caprice No. 24, a challenging piece that showcased her talent and dedication. Her father, watching from the doorway, was filled with admiration.
"Anak," Edward said, a soft smile on his lips.
Sofia looked up, her eyes sparkling with joy.
"Pa," she replied, her voice filled with warmth.
Edward approached her, his heart filled with pride and a hint of sadness. He knew her dream of attending the Arts High School was a difficult one, but he wanted nothing more than to see her succeed.
"You really want to study at the Arts High School?" he asked, his voice gentle.
"Yes, Pa," Sofia replied, her eyes shining with determination, "I love playing music. It's all I ever want to do."
Edward smiled, his heart warming at her passion. He knew that her talent was undeniable, but he also knew that the path to success was never easy.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sofia asked, her voice laced with playful concern, "Am I not good?"
Edward chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Of course you're good," he said, "You get it from me."
They laughed together, their bond as strong as the music that filled the room. But even in the midst of their joy, a shadow of sadness lingered.
"You know, Pa," Sofia said, her voice becoming serious, "I have a dream."
Edward looked at her, his eyes filled with curiosity.
"What is it, Anak?" he asked, his voice soft.
"I want to draw," Sofia said, her voice filled with longing, "But I couldn't achieve it."
Edward's heart ached. He knew the story behind her dream, the dreams that were shattered, the hopes that were lost.
"A long story," he said, his voice filled with a hint of regret.
He looked at the clock, realizing that they were running late.
"I'll tell you later if we don't want to be late," he said, his voice filled with a mixture of love and concern.
"Pa, come on," Sofia said, her voice laced with playful exasperation.
They shared a smile, their bond unbreakable, their love for each other a beacon in the darkness. But even as they walked out of the house, the shadows of the storm lingered, a reminder of the tragedy that was about to unfold.
Meanwhile, at the opulent Valdez mansion, a different kind of storm was brewing. Senior Ignacio Valdez, a powerful man with a ruthless streak, sat at the head of the table, his eyes cold and calculating. He was surrounded by his family, his children, Hernalyn and Benedict, and his grandchildren, Camille and Rafael.
"How was your practice in New York, my grandchildren?" he asked, his voice booming.
Sabrina, Benedict's wife, a woman of ambition and cunning, answered with a practiced smile.
"It was good, Papa," she said, her voice smooth and confident, "They actually improved a lot."
"Good," Sr. Ignacio said, his eyes gleaming with a hint of satisfaction, "I expect all my grandchildren to be talented and excel in every category."
He looked at Hernalyn, his daughter, a woman who had inherited his ruthlessness and ambition.
"How about you, Hernalyn and Benny?" Sabrina asked, her voice laced with a subtle challenge.
Hernalyn, her eyes cold and calculating, met Sabrina's gaze with a steely stare.
"We're fine," she said, her voice clipped and dismissive.
"I heard Benny is the new director of the school," Sabrina said, her voice a mixture of curiosity and veiled threat, "Is that right, Benny?"
Benny, a man caught in the crossfire of a power struggle, nodded, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and determination.
"Yes," he said, his voice barely a whisper.
"You'll take care of our children, Camille and Rafael, at the school," Sabrina said, her voice laced with a hint of command, "Make sure they improve their skills."
"Of course," Benny said, his voice laced with a desperate hope, "And I'll make sure they improve their skills."
"And when Benedict becomes president," Sabrina said, her voice laced with a chilling confidence, "I'll make sure Valdez Arts High School improves even more and Valdez College of Music gets established. So, the Philippines can catch up in the field of music, or any field, for that matter. Will you cooperate, Benny?"
Benny, trapped in a web of power and ambition, knew that he had no choice but to comply. He knew that the Valdezes were a family of ruthless ambition, and he had to tread carefully.
"Of course," he said, his voice a mixture of fear and resignation, "Actually, our school has been leading all the private schools this month."
Sr. Ignacio, his eyes gleaming with a hint of satisfaction, raised his glass.
"This is probably the best night of my life because everyone is getting along," he said, his voice booming, "I hope it stays like this until my birthday. Let's cheers, everyone."
They all raised their glasses, their smiles strained, their hearts heavy with the weight of secrets and unspoken truths. The storm raged outside, mirroring the turmoil that was brewing within the Valdez family.
The Flores and the Valdezes, two families from different worlds, were about to be drawn into the heart of a conspiracy that would shake the foundations of their lives. They were about to be swept up in a whirlwind of ambition, betrayal, and murder. And the music of their lives, once filled with hope and joy, was about to be drowned out by the chilling sounds of tragedy.
The storm raged on, and the darkness deepened.