Mirage

forty

Sam and Mira were on the back part of the hotel oak woods. James told them to wait for him there.

They were waiting impatiently as James was already 15 minutes late.

Until he arrived looking like he had run a marathon.

"Sorry nalate, triny ko muna maalis ung mga nakabuntot. Ang daming naka masid."

He looked at both of them who was staring at him expectantly.

So, he didn't waste any time, "Alam ko kung nasan si Aliyah, pero wag kayong pupunta agad don. Sabihin niyo muna kay Officer Manalo, sakaniya lang. Maraming kasabwat si Papa sa enforcers."

Mira frowned. "Kaya pala."

"Nagtratrabaho na ako ulit sa oakwoods kaya napadali ung paghanap ko." He gave them a piece of paper. Assuming that the address is written there Sam took it.

Then he sighed. "I was wrong akala ko si Mira itatarget niya, si Aliyah pala. I overlooked it."

Sam shook her head. "Nangyari na wag mo na isipin. Ang mahalaga ngayon mahanap na si ate Liyah."

"She'll be fine. I'll make sure of it." James looked at Mira with determination.

Mira just nodded. "Thank you."

At the abandoned building

It was dark and the air was dry. Aliyah could feel sweat trickling down on her forehead.

She was alone, lying on the ground. Aliyah couldn't move at all, nor does she have strength to think of something.

Everything was draining her.

Aliyah would think that Emmanuel would also tape her mouth but guess what, he enjoys talking and being weird. So at least there's no sticky thing on her mouth to worry about.

Emmanuel was really crazy; he doesn't look stable at all for Aliyah. He looks like he enjoys the struggle of other people.

All she wanted to do was go home, go to Mira, and hold her tight. She could imagine what the girl was going through right now, especially that her uncle came to see her. Whatever he said to Mira, Aliyah hopes it wouldn't affect the girl that much.

Then there were footsteps. She felt alerted and readied her mind for another stressful scenario with Emmanuel.

A quick shadow appeared and vanished in front of her. She frowned. Clearly it wasn't Emmanuel's big frame.

Who the hell was that?

Minumulto na ba ako?

Shet purgatory ba to kaya mainit? What the heck, sa lahat ng lugar na pwede ako itali at iwanan dito pa talaga!

"Please lang. Ang dami kong pangarap sa buhay, mamahalin ko pa si Mira." Aliyah mumbled.

"Shhh." A voice shushed her.

Now it was true, minumulto nga ata siya. She widened her eyes. "The fudge?" she whispered shouted.

"Gusto kita tawanan pero parating na si papa kaya wag ka muna maingay." The voice seemed like it was coming from behind her.

Papa? Lalaki boses, si James ba to?

And true to his words, Emmanuel did appear.

"Ah Aliyah good timing you're awake." The man was holding a gun on his hand.

"Meron ako nakaligtaan, hindi ko nabigyan ng deadline si Mira kaya mukhang relaxed lang siya." He shook his head, "tsk, tsk, tsk."

He glanced at her with dead eyes. "Alam mo ba? Story time, etong baril na to mismo pumatay sa pamilya ni Mira. Galing noh?"