Warning: SPG
Lozhnaya nadezhda
False Hope
"Patay lahat, walang natira."
I swallowed. I heard the man said that. From what I understood, my brother and my three cousins are all dead.
I looked out from the car window and saw the smoke. I can smell the burning flesh from the fallen car.
Ivar's body didn't burn to ashes right away. He might be still alive down there. Soon he will not be.
I hugged myself tightly. I can't feel anything except pain.
What will I do now? What are they going to do with me.
They were hunters, I know. I can see the mark on their hands. The omega symbol.
The end. My end.
How I wished we could go back. That I didn't let myself be dragged by Olga in this stupid trip. It was all her idea.
We were happy just a few hours ago. Celebrating my recent awakening and Olga's soon engagement to the prince.
But then they came.
The hunter came in groups. It was an ambush.
We might be strong physically but we have no match for their guns with silver bullets.
They took down Dmitri, my brother, first. The Ivar. Then Marat. Olga and I was separted by the group.
I can still hear Olga's screams in my head. She was dragged down naked by side of the road. A man went underneath her and one above her. Another went to her face to shut her down.
Maybe she heard me too. They were doing the same to me inside this car.
I missed my father terribly. But how will I explain to him everything? His nephews and niece burned. His firstborn decapitated.
His youngest violated.
Now, I am no longer fit to carry our name.
"Buhay pa 'yong isa." I heard one said. I scrambled down the seat. I tried to hide on a corner but it was too late. The blinding light went to my face. I squirmed and shut my eyes tightly.
I'm going to die.
"Andon sa sasakyan." I heard one. An older voice. Then another footsteps came.
"Tatang, meron nga."
I opened my eyes and I saw him by the car window. The man was looking at me intently with his dark eyes.
He winced. "Babae. Nakahubad. Duguan."
"T*ngina. Mga walanghiya. Lahat ng butas ginamit doon sa isa. Pati ba dyan?" I heard the other said. I can't see him he's on the other side.
"Mukha. Kawawa naman."
"'Pag nakatira talaga ng fullmoon, t*ngina nila."
"Kiel, dito muna kayo ni Diego. Tatawagin ko si Bruno. Ihanda na ang sasakyan."
"Opo, Tang."
They tried to open the door. I scrambled back again. I have no space to hide in here, though.
They will do it again. I am sure.
"Ako na dito Diegs. Ibalato mo na."
"T*nginang to, basta babae."
The car door flew after a loud bang. I redied myself. I shut my eyes tightly again. I'll let him do whatever he wanted with me, I'm going to die anyway. Struggling can make anything worst.
I then felt a heavy warm cloth over my body.
A coat?
I opened my eyes and saw the man just a few inches from me.
"Wag kang matakot."
I tried let out a scream but he was able to shut me out with his hand. I swallowed.
"Ne bóysya. Vso búdet v poryádke," he said in my language. Don't be afraid he said.
I stammered. How? He can speak Russian?
"Ya zdes', chtoby pomoch' vam."
He's here to help me. But why? Isn't he one of those hunters?
"Anong nangyari na diyan?"
The man covered me with his coat. It is his. I can smell him from it. Like sweet smell of nicotine and and sugar.Not the suffoccating stench of feces and grime from the men that had used me before.
"Tatang, buhay pa nga pero mahina na. Pahanda ng blood bags!"
Maybe. Maybe I can trust this one.
"H-Help me..." I said though barely audible.
He got up and carried me out. I cling to his broad shoulder like my life depends on it. "Please."
"Oo, tutulungan ka namin. Yspokoysya, Vy prekrasny."
I felt my remaning blood went to my face. How can he say that I'm beautiful? I am disgraced.
I looked back. I saw of bodies of men lined up beside the road. Those were those men. The first group of hunters. The ones that butchered my family. The ones that defiled Olga and me.
They killed them? They are not one of them then.
"Kak vas zovut?" He sat me down on a backseat of another car.
I bit my bloodied lips. He's asking for my name.
"Yulia...Yulia Orlova."
"Ezekiel Martinez, Hunter 648," he smiled. With that smile, I know am safe.
Finally.
"For now on, I am your knight. Always remember that, Yulia."
