ANYTHING FOR YOU

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT

I slowly opened my eyes feeling dizzy and exhausted. I can't see clearly. I blinked continously until the blurdness disappeared.

Nasan ako?

Tumingin ako sa paligid. Nandito ako sa isang madilim na lugar at tanging ang ilaw mula sa buwan ang nakapagbibigay sakin ng liwanag.

Naalala ko na. Oo tama. Charlie. Si Charlie.

I saw Charlie beside me. He's still sleeping.

"Charli-AH!"

Ngayon ko lang napansin na nakatayo ako at nakagapos ang magkabilang kamay sa metal chain. Pareho kami ni Charlie.

I can feel the pain on my wrists. How long I've been tied here?!

"Charlie! Gising... Wakeup!"

He slowly opened his eyes. "C-Cassy? Asan tayo?"

Biglang bumukas ang ilaw. Napapikit kami pareho ni Charlie.

"Gising na pala kayo." saad ng isang babae

Iminulat ko ulit ang mga mata ko. Nasa isang malaking kwarto kami. Kulay dilaw na ilaw ang nagbibigay liwanag sa paligid ngunit hindi padin nito sakop ang buong kwarto.

"Dalawang araw niyo akong pinaghintay bago kayo nagising. Akala ko mapuputol na yung mga kamay niyo eh."

Maxine. Maxine Cabrera. Siya ang babaeng kanina pa nagsasalita.

Days. Two goddamn days. Maybe that's why I felt exhausted. My wrists. Halos hindi ko na sila maramdaman.

"Ano bang kalokohan to, Maxine?" Charlie asked

"Shut up, Charlie! Hindi ko alam na isasakripisyo mo ang pagkakaibigan natin dahil sa babaeng to!"

"It was you who betrayed us." malamig na sabi ni Charlie

"SHUT UP!" she shouted

"You." turning her gaze on me. "You and your goddamn cousin killed my brother." she said giving me a deadly glare.

"Kung hindi naging gago ang kapatid mo, hindi manguayari sakanya yon!" I blurted

"SHUT UP!"

"PAKAWALAN MO KAMI DITO!" I said while pulling my hands down. These handcuffs are so tight!

She walked side to side while her arms crossed. "Mababaliw siguro ang pinsan mo pag nalaman niyang namatay ka dahil sa kanya. HAHAHAHA!" Then she laughed evily

"But I'll make sure she won't miss anything. Mind if I record you while screaming to death?" she playfully asked.

"OF COURSE YOU WON'T! YOU HAVE NO CHOICE! HAHAHAHAHA!"

"You're crazy!" Charlie shouted

"I SAID SHUT THE FUCK UP!" he hit Charlie using her fists.

Charlie spitted blood. Naguluhan ako dahil napadugo ng suntok ng babae and bibig ni Charlie pwera nalang nung nakita kong may metal na nakasuot sa kanyang kamay. Brass Knuckles.

"What do you want?" I dryly asked

"Just scream. I want a loud, full of pain scream when I started doing my revenge." then she smiled and turned around to get something.

Shit! This thick rusty metal chain is eating my wrists! Nakagapos kami ng mahigpit. I tried to pull it down pero nakapako siya ng maigi sa kisame.

Zachi. Please Zachi. Save us. Before it's too late.

She set up the tripod and camera focusing on us. "Ready?"

I glared at her. She's insane!

She's grinning wickedly when she picked up the knife. Lumapit siya sakin.

Slowly, she buried the knife in my right arm. She's cutting my flesh. Damn it!

"Scream, bitch!" she pushed it deeper and left the knife on my flesh. I felt my blood running down from my arm to my chest.

"SCREAM! ASK FOR HELP!" then she slapped me hard.

"I won't let you get what you want." I smiled which I know will.make her worse.

"I always get what I want." then she started picking up something again.

"Shit, Cassandra. I'm sorry." Charlie said while thumping his feet.

Yeah. that's right. We still have our legs and feet untied.

"Charlie."

I don't know but I'm starting to learn this eye communication skill. I thumped my feet. And he got my plan.

"I have this thing that will surely make you scream." she said returning her gaze.

Shit! Isang metal stick na may nakalawit na pabilog na hugis. At may mga patusok na metal pa dun.

I tightened my grip on the metal chain. I have to force myself.

"She's here." I heard Charlie whispered then he smirked.

I felt that too. She's here.

"Woah. Looks like you want more. Both of you are smirking huh?" she said

Two steps closer and I'm gonna kick your head off.

First step..

Second step..

"Cassy!"

Charlie jumped then grabbed Maxine's neck using his legs. I forced myself upwards and kicked her face continously.

She's cursing and screaming everytime I kick her.

"Damn you, Charliee!" she bit Charlie's legs at nakawala siya.

Nanlaki ang mata niya at masama niya kaming tinignan ni Charlie. Itinaas niya ang hawak niya.

"Go to hell!"

He hit Charlie. Oh God! Is he dead? No.

"Charlie wake up! CHARLIE!! FUCK YOU!! I swear. Pag nakawala ako dito I'M GONNA CUT YOUR HEAD OFF!"

"One down, one to go. Any last words?" she said ignoring me.

She stepped closer to me. I gasped and my legs shaken. I felt fear. Pano kung hindi siya agad dumating?

Should I make myself ready for death?

She kicked me on my stomach until blood came out from my mouth.

My hands. My arms. I can't feel them anymore.

"This will be quick, Cassandra De Vera." she lifted the weapon. "Ready?"

In just a second, all the memories flashed back. Natapos ko na lahat. Naayos ko na ang gulo sa pamilya ko.

Except Daniel. I told him I'll come back. Mapapatawad ba niya ako kung hindi ko na matupad yon?

If this is my end, will he forgive me for not coming back?

I don't want him to wait for nothing.

I'm sorry, Daniel...

I closed my eyes and waited for the end.

**