Missing Melody (COMPLETED)

Missing 30: Flames of Memory

SINJI'S POV:

The fire in my chest was roaring—nagpupuyos ang dibdib ko sa galit—as the silhouette of Flame came into view. He was standing on that old bridge, the very same spot where we used to hide when the world felt too big for us. My gut hadn't lied; I knew this was where I'd find him.

"Nasaan ang anak ko, Flame?" I roared, my voice trembling with a cocktail of fury and desperation. Without a second thought, I hurled my motorcycle helmet at him with every ounce of strength I had.

Flame didn't even flinch. He stood his ground, letting the heavy plastic collide with his body as if it were a peace offering, he was willing to endure. I hopped off my bike, my boots hitting the pavement with a heavy thud as I marched toward him.

"Ganyan ba talaga ang pagbati mo sa akin bilang kapatid mo, Sinji?" he asked, his voice eerily calm.

"Hindi kita kapatid," I spat, my eyes narrowing. "Kaya ibigay mo sa akin ang mga anak ko. Now!"

Flame suddenly burst into a dry, hollow laughter that echoed against the concrete pillars of the bridge.

"Isang bansot nga pala ang tingin mo sa akin noon, Sin. Bakit ko nga ba nakalimutan na puro salita lang ako sa paningin mo?" He smirked, his eyes glinting with a dangerous sort of madness. Suddenly, he lunged forward, gripping my arms with a strength that caught me off guard.

"Ito na ang bansot na minamaliit mo noon, Sinji. The 'midget' who did everything in his power to build a sanctuary for the children you abandoned. Ang bansot na minahal kang patago para lang mapanatiling kasama ka hanggang dulo. The same 'bansot' who would do anything for your happiness—even if it meant burning the world down."

My heart skipped a beat. I was paralyzed for a second, stunned by the raw, twisted confession spilling from his lips.

Before I could even process his words, he dragged me toward the shadows beneath the bridge. We navigated a dark, damp passage until we reached a hidden cavern tucked into the very foundation of the structure. My breath hitched. It was a high-tech nightmare.

Inside were the same chilling kapsula—the experimental pods—I had seen back at the orphanage. Armed men patrolled the perimeter, their faces cold. But what broke my heart were the small, still forms scattered in the corners—the bodies of children whose tiny frames couldn't survive the punishment of the capsules.

"Ano ang ibig sabihin nito, Flame?" I wrenched my arm free, giving him a look of pure venom.

"Gaya ng ipinangako ko, binigyan ko ng pagsisilungan ang mga batang kasama natin noon," he explained, gesturing widely as if showing off a masterpiece. "I gave them clean beds, good food, and a roof. But this bridge... this was the foundation of that dream."

He pointed to the figures in white. "See those people in lab gowns? Every single one of them experienced the capsule—you, me, even Carmela. I simply continued Mother Elise's legacy. When you and Carmela disappeared, I went back. I studied the science. I even found one of the original underground scientists. Once he gave me the blueprints—the secret of the tattoos and their connection to our survival—I killed him. I didn't need a witness."

He leaned closer, his voice a dark whisper. "I built this empire by stealing from the rich. I stained my hands with blood just to give our 'family' a future. Those children? I put them through school, and now, they are the experts helping me expand Mother Elise's work."

A cold shiver raced down my spine. This wasn't the Flame I grew up with. He was a shell, consumed by a black hole of vengeance and trauma. Even the burn scars that used to define his face when we were eleven were gone, replaced by a polished, terrifying exterior.