Isang araw matapos mawala si George, may dumating sa'ming CD galing kay Viper. Maybe he wanted to bargain. Ipinasalang ko ang 'yon at umupo sa tapat ng mesa. Lahat ng nasa boardroom ay nag-a-anticipate sa kung anong laman ng CD.
"Okay na po, Ma'am Ri?" Tanong sa'kin ng sekretarya ko.
Bumungad sa'min ang isang kwarto. Medyo madilim pero may isang dilaw na bombilya na nakakonekta sa isang fuse na nagsisilibing tagapagkalat ng liwanag sa kwarto. Sa bandang kaliwa nakaupo si George sa stainless na silya, nakatali ang dalawang kamay sa magkabilang armrest at ang mga paa'y nakababad sa plangganang may tubig.
The moment I saw Viper's look, I knew that George is now dead. Nasa tabi ng huli ang teenager, bayukos at naka-indian seat sa ibabaw ng mesa. Nakaharap sa camera ngunit nakatingin pa rin ito sa bihag habang nilalaro ang mga kutsilyong bakal sa kamay nito. Bumilang ng ilang minuto bago naalimpungatan ang nakataling bihag. Nang makita ni George si Viper, natawa lang ang huli.
Sinubukang pumalag ni George sa pagkakatali sa kanya pero pinabayaan lang sya ni Viper. Tinititigan lang nya si George na parang inoobserbahan.. "A-ano bang gusto mo? Pera? Kapangyarihan? Ibibigay ko lahat. Bibigyan kita ng posisyon sa ORG."
He straightened his back. "Hindi ko kailangan lahat 'yan."
"Ano bang kailangan mo? Mapapag-usapan naman natin 'to basta pakawalan mo lang ako."
I heard a fake laugh. "That wouldn't be fun."
When he started to move his hand, nakaramdam ako ng pagkabahala. We knew him ever since he arrived at the mansion until he got out. He's trained by several pioneers, with different tactics in different levels. He was under Eleazar, the Andrew and Alice's father, just before former head died. It was for the sole purpose acquiring the man's skills and be the replacement once Eleazar was diseased. His survival instincts were so great he could escape in almost all of dangerous situations. And his specialty?
Knives.
Through the dim light, I could see knives tossing back and forth unto his hands. I could sense that he's not up to a quick kill. He hastily threw the first knife right smack into George's right calf.
A terrifying moan was heard all over the boardroom.
"Bakit mo 'ko ipinakuha sa mga tauhan mo? May pamilya ako hindi ba?" Ramdam ko ang galit sa bawat salitang sinabi nya.
"H-hindi ako.."
He laughed in disgust. "Anong hindi ikaw? Sa tingin mo gagalaw ang mga galamay mo nang hindi mo sila inuutusan? Ginagawa mo ba 'kong tanga?" He grabbed another knife and threw it in our leader's left thigh.
George gasped in pain but managed to utter some words. "H-hindi ako ang pinuno.."
"Huwag mo 'kong gaguhin. Bata pa lang ako, alam ko nang ikaw ang ulo ng ORG. Garrett was just one of your slaves."
"Ano bang sinasabi mo? Papatawarin kita basta itigil mo na 'to.."
He put the remaining knives inside his pocket--leaving two in his hands--as he jumped out of the table and walked in front of George. "Matagal ko nang alam 'yon, hindi lang ako nagsasalita. The king was always seated on the left side while low-ranking officials was on the right during the medieval times, George. Kaya may tinatawag na 'kanang kamay' di ba? Lagi kang nasa kaliwa ni Garrett kapag ipinapatawag nyo kaming lahat at nasa kabilang gilid nyo si Henry at Ri. Ikaw lagi ang sunod na nagsasalita kay Garrett kahit minsan hindi kayo nagtutugma ng sinasabi." Humarap si Viper sa pinuno. "Magaling si Garrett umarte pero hindi nyo 'ko maloloko."
