Alluring Mask

CHAPTER 41

CHAPTER 41

VALENTINA IMARA MEADOWS

Two weeks later...

"Ano ba 'yan? Pati ba naman 'tong nakuha mo wala ring silbi? Our time will just be wasted even more on the two of them! Mas mainam na hinayaan mo na lang na mamatay 'yang nahuli mo sa labas sa pambubugbog nila sa kan'ya!"

"Puwede ba, hindi ko naman alam na hindi rin 'to iimik. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay right-hand man 'yan ni Atlas. Malay natin ay may makuha tayong impormasyon kay Atlas dahil sa kan'ya."

Naalimpungatan ako nang marinig ang malakas na boses ng dalawang tauhan ni Perses na nag-uusap sa labas ng kulungan ko. Ni maski pag dilat ko lang ng mga mata ay hirap na hirap na ako dahil sa panghihina. The gown I was wearing was slipping off my body because the fabric on my back was completely torn. I began crawling weakly towards the bars to see what they were doing.

Sa bawat paggapang ko ay hindi ko maiwasang hindi mapadaing dahil sa sugat ko sa likuran.

My heavy eyelids slowly widened as I saw what was happening in the spot where they tortured me every day. Oceanus hands were tied behind his back with black cable ties. Those weren't ordinary cable ties. I could clearly see his broad back, bloodied and covered with countless wounds. It was red and marked with long whip wounds.

"Hindi ka rin ba mag sasalita, huh?! Parehas lang kayong dalawa ng asawa ni Atlas!" singhal ng lalaki kay Oceanus.

I watched as the two men punched Oceanus in the face and beat his body when he refused to speak. With every heavy punch they landed on him, I couldn't help but feel the pain for him, especially since his large wounds on his back were getting worse. I could hear him groaning in agony.

Mariin na lang akong napapikit at nagtago sa gilid kasabay ng pangingilid ng luha ko. I quickly wiped away the tear that rolled down my cheek to make sure they wouldn't notice that I was crying. I would never let them see me cry because of what they were doing. I needed to appear strong even though my body was already in so much pain from their torture.

Bakit ba kasi niya ako sinundan ngayon? Sobrang tanga ng ginawa niya. And I know that Oceanus never rushes into things like this.

Alam kong kailangan kong maghintay ng ilang araw para marescue nila ako rito dahil alam kong mag-iisip pa sila ng plano kung paano sumugod dito. Pero bakit parang hindi man lang nag-iisip ng maayos 'tong si Oceanus?

"Stop... stop," I weakly muttered, as if they could hear me.

I didn't know how long they kept hurting Oceanus. I fell asleep at the edge of the cell, my stomach growling from hunger and exhaustion. I was startled awake by the loud creaking of the rusty bars as the cell door was swung open.

"Kumain ka muna. Marami pa kaming kailangan sa 'yo," utos ng lalake sa akin ng makapasok sa kulungan.

Basta niya na lang binigay sa akin ang hawak niyang plato; may natapon pa nga sa sahig, pero wala siyang pakielam. When I looked at what was served, it was just porridge. He also placed a stainless cup on the ground next to the plate.

Hindi na ako nagsalita, kinuha ko na ang plato at nagsimulang kumain.

My lips and mouth burned as the porridge was still hot, but I didn't care. I was starving, and my body was trembling from hunger and fatigue. Habang abala ang sarili sa pagsubo ng pagkain ay kapansin pansin kung paano manginig ang kamay ko habang hawak ang kutsara.

I slowly raised my head when I realized the man hadn't left. When I fully saw his face, a sly smile stretched across his lips, as if he were planning something vile.