Versailles Series Book 8: The Designer [COMPLETED]

PART II: CHAPTER 47

⚠️⚠️⚠️ TW: Sexual harassment

~ marceline ~

    I woke up in a dark room. It smells earthy and musty. Where am I?

I closed my eyes and tried to remember what happened. We were at the summer collection launch. I was looking for Philip in the crowd. Yes, despite me loathing him for what he did, I wanted him there. He was still my calming presence no matter how much I deny it. I didn't see him. I don't know if he was there. Some of the club members were there. Tabi, Amara, and Luna along with their husbands were there. Sachi and Japeth were there to support Simon. No matter how much I scanned the crowd, Philip wasn't there. Didn't he come?

Nanigas ang katawan ko. Iyung video...I thought it was me although I couldn't remember being in that place. No...it wasn't me. Grazhiella...it was Grazhiella. The man in the video called her Grazhiella. It dawned on me that the video was of Earl, Philip's cousin, raping Grazhiella. I remember running to the back because I felt like throwing up.

Earl...

Sinalakay ng kaba ang pagkatao ko. Earl was the one who said I looked like Grazhiella. He told me he met her when she was Philip's girlfriend. And now that I am Philip's girlfriend...

He was waiting for me outside the comfort room where I threw up. He was dressed like one of the servers. That's probably how he got in. He planned this all along. He was the guy who held up a handkerchief on my nose before I lost consciousness.

Grazhiella was raped and tortured to death...

I felt my breath stuck in my throat.

"Ah...gising ka na pala...Marceline. Masarap ba ang tulog mo?"

I slowly glanced up and saw Earl. He was smirking at me. That's when I took my surroundings in. I was in the same warehouse where he raped Grazhiella. The shiver ran down my spine again.

"It's you...it's you who raped her." I whispered. I felt weak all over.

"I'm sure you have realized that by now. Philip the dumbass that he is knows that by now. He's probably hunting me right now."

"P-papatayin mo rin ba ako tulad ng ginawa mo kay Grazhiella?"

Lumuhod sa harap ko si Earl. "Alam mo si Philip, nasa kanya na ang lahat. We used to be close, you know? But what hasn't changed is the fact that we like the same things. I liked Grazhiella when I saw her. I just don't understand why Philip gets all the nice things." He looks unhinged. I have to think through how I'll interact with him. He can hurt me. The familiar fear crept up on me.

His hand shot up my throat. "Papatayin kita tulad ng ginawa ko kay Grazhiella. Hindi pwedeng maging masaya si Philip alam mo ba yon? Hindi pwede. Napahirapan ko na siya ng maraming taon. Papahirapan ko pa siya ulit ng marami pa. Pero bago ko gawin iyon, hindi pwedeng hindi muna kita matikman."

Papatayin kita...

It was him. It was his voice. He was the man in my dream. But how can that be? I haven't met him in my entire life.

"It was you...you were the man in my dream..."

He didn't hear me. He was busy smelling me...kissing my neck. I froze because his hand was still on my throat. One wrong move and he could kill me right here, right now.

Is Philip looking for me? I suddenly wished he was here to save me. Everything that happened in the past went out of my mind. I just want him here with me.

"Mas gumanda ka pa alam mo iyon?"

I have to buy Philip time if ever he was on his way. I have no indication of that but if I can be on Earl's good graces, he won't kill me instantly. I can plan for my escape.

"Ah...talaga ba?" Pilit kong pinatatag ang boses ko.

"Kaya siguro gustung gusto ka ni Philip."

"Mabilis kong napaikot si Philip sa mga kamay ko." Napalunok ako. "Kasi 'di ba kamukha ko si Grazhiella?"

"Uto-uto nga siguro siya. Baliw na baliw sa babaeng iyon. Gusto mo bang I-kwento ko sa iyo ang ginawa ko kay Grazhiella?"

I mentally shook my head. It felt like reliving the video all over again. I felt sorry about the idea of Grazhiella getting raped. But it feels different on a whole new level now that I've seen how he did it. He is a monster.

I held my breath as he animatedly told me every excruciating detail of his deeds. He even told me how he assaulted other women. How he slowly tortured them and paid them to keep them silent. I am with the devil incarnate.

"B-bakit hindi mo ako pakawalan para mag-enjoy tayong dalawa?" Sabi ko rito habang may pilit na ngiti sa mga labi ko.

Tinignan ako nito ng matagal. Tinaas nito ang t-shirt nito at pinakita ang patalim sa ilalim niyon. "Huwag kang magkakamali." Ginamit nito ang patalim na iyon para pakawalan ako. Tinago nito iyon kapagkuwan.

"Bakit mo ba...gustong pahirapan si Philip?"

"Sa kanya pinamana lahat ni Lolo ang mga kumpanya. Sinubukan ko naman eh. Pero hindi ko talaga kaya. Si Philip lang ang nakikita niya parati. Alam mo ba na lahat ng babaeng lumalapit sa akin ay para mapalapit sa kanya. Putangina. Sa kanya na lang lahat."

I don't see any other weapon I can use. I use the monobloc chair I was sitting on a while ago. I just need the timing. I scanned for the door as he was blabbering about his sad life. I would have felt bad for him if he hadn't killed somebody and assaulted so many women. This bastard deserves to die. But I have to survive first.

I pulled down the zipper of my dress located in front. I have to distract him. As expected, his eyes trained on my chest. The maniacal look was back on his face. My other hand reached behind me and grabbed the chair and smacked it on him with full force. When he went down, I went for the door that was locked. Merde. Merde. Merde.

When I turned to look at him, he was standing with the knife in his hand.

"Akala mo makakatakas ka? Ganyan din ang ginawa ni Grazhiella. Pero naabutan ko siya. Dalawa kami ni Bert noon kaya wala siyang takas."

He attacked me and I tried so hard to dodge. I ran towards the chair again and used it as my shield. That's when I felt the sting on my face. Something was dripping. Blood.

Suddenly, the door behind me opened. Nabitiwan ko ang upuan nang maaninag ko si Philip. He came for me...he really did.

"You came..." I whispered.

He grabbed me and embraced me tightly. That's when I heard a gunshot and a grunt. Then it was followed by a yell. The next thing I knew was Philip spinning before his body stiffened. Then gunshots rang again.

I looked up at Philip. He was smiling down at me. His grip on me tightened.

"I can't...I can't lose you again. Not like this, Marceline." He cringed and that's when I felt my hands wet. Blood. But where...

That's when I saw Earl's bloodied knife on the floor. Napatingala ako kay Philip with tears in my eyes. He didn't...no...

"I came just in time, right?" He smiled weakly before I felt his grip on me loosen. I tried to protect his head as we fell on the floor.

"Stay with me, Philip. Don't leave me here."

"Live for me, Marceline."

Umiling ako habang naghahanap ng pwedeng tumulong sa akin. I saw Winter and I can hear him barking orders in his phone.

When I looked at Philip again, his eyes were closed.

"No...no...wake up. Don't leave me please..."

I cradled his face and cried as we waited for the ambulance.

PART II: CHAPTER 48 >>