Game Over, Engineer

WU

SHE WOKE UP with a sharp pain on her stomach. Napangiwi siya at dahan-dahang nagmulat ng mga mata, but she had to close them again when a blinding light greeted her. Dumagdag iyon sa sakit ng kanyang ulo, and her temple throbbed.

Fuck.

She closed her eyes tightly before opening them. Sinubukan niyang igalaw ang kanyang katawan but she was enclosed inside a. . . glass container. The top part was open, at mayroong nakatapat na malaking hose sa kanyang ulo. There was a heavy metal tied to her feet, and she couldn't get it off her because it needed a key.

The sight of the metal made her insides turn, and she felt her palms turn cold. Nanatili ang kanyang tingin doon, iniisip kung bakit may gano'n sa kanyang paa, until the glass container dawned on her.

Napakurap siya at sunod-sunod na napalunok sa ideyang nasa kanyang isip. Ang pintig ng kanyang puso ay mas lalong nakapagpalamig sa kanyang mga palad.

Fuck. She's gonna drown! She will be killed!

Sinubukan niyang gumalaw, pero humapdi lang ang sugat sa kanyang tiyan na ngayon ay nakabenda na. Tears were threatening to fall from her eyes as she looked up and scanned the place.

The place is a bright room with white-painted walls. And there's a lot of. . . machines and other inventions that are unfamiliar to her. Para siyang nasa loob ng computer room.

So, this is why Enesha told her to be careful around Jack. . .

Damn, Jack.

"And Jalvore. . . is finally awake." Napatingin siya sa entrada nang bigla iyong bumukas. A man, wearing a black polo and white slacks, entered. He's lean and tall, with a pointed nose and black eyes. Pansin niyang medyo kulubot na ang balat nito, giving her an idea that this man is somehow in his mid 30's.

But his eyes. . . they resemble the eyes of someone she knows too well.

May ngisi ito sa mga labi at nakapamulsa habang naglakad papalapit sa kanya. She tried to show no fear, even when her stomach was turning. She didn't even try to make any movements and just stared at the man in front of her.

"I can't betray my own father. I'm sorry."

So, he must be Jaxavion's father. . .

Jaxavion's tormentor. . .

Her parent's killer. . .

Fuck. He got Jaxavion wrapped around his finger again, and she didn't know what to feel about that anymore.

Clearly, Jaxavion doesn't want to do this, but his good-for-nothing father must have made his mind twist.

Umusbong ang galit sa kanyang puso habang nakatitig dito. She gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, and her parent's bodies and Jaxavion's scars painted in her mind.

At siya na naman ang isusunod nito. . .

Bumaba ang tingin nito sa kanyang tiyan. Kita niya ang malawak na ngisi nito bago siya muling tiningnan sa mga mata.

"My son did a good job, huh." He slowly clapped twice before looking at her. "That was deep. You were bleeding a lot a while ago, but," he shrugged, "I don't want you to die yet."

Mas lalo itong naglakad papalapit sa kanya, and even with the glass separating them, gusto niyang umatras pero pinigilan niya ang sarili. She must show him no fear.

She won't give him the satisfaction.

Inilapit nito ang mukha sa glass wall at tinapik iyon. Her stomach clench at the sight of his face, and her heart somehow skip a beat due to the fear she's trying not to show. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang nanginginabaw sa kanya-galit o takot.