Locke's View
"So, it's either the Red Room is here in Italy or in London or in Europe?" Tanong ko na tinanguhan ni Yohanne.
"That's why we will divide into three. I will be left her behind with Denise para may kasama sila." Napa-irap ako. Gusto mo lang magka-moment kayo ng girlfriend mo, eh.
"A-Ako rin. I want to protect Kaitlin myself." Presinta ni Maxine. Tumango naman kami.
"I've got a message from them. Papunta na sila." L. Talaga!?
"That will be better then! Maxine, we'll leave then to you. Introduce them to our parents." Minerva ordered na tinanguhan naman ni Maxine at ngumiti. We breathed in half relief. Half lang since may problema pa kami.
"Kailangan nating makuha si Baby Tyrant bago pa man sila magsimula. We can't let them kill Baby Tyrant or else, tayo ang papatayin ni Dearil once na gumising siya." Seryosong sabi ni Denise na tinanguhan naman namin. She's right.
"Let's go already. We can't waste time. Where's Van?" Sabi ko at tumayo na. Lumabas kami ng kusina. Nadatnan namin sila na nasa sala at mga tahimik.
Ipinaliwanag na namin sa kanila ang magiging plano. Maiiwan sa kanila sina Maxine, Denise at Yohanne. Plus the Conquerors na papunta na daw. Nasa ere na. Ready na kaming lahat. Si Van na lang ang wala. We're not sure kung saang Red Room dinala si Bahy Tyrant. But base on UgD, 'yung tatlong Red Room lang na naka-base sa tatlong lugar ang active at may gaganaping 'show'. Kaya doon kami pupunta.
"Aish. Tatawagin ko na siya. Saglit lang." Padabog akong tumayo at umakyat sa itaas. Nakita kong bukas ang pinto ng kwarto ni Dearil. Tumigil ako sa harap 'non.
"I'm sorry, Dearil. I'm sorry if I was careless and irresponsible. Our son was kidnapped. And you're unconcious. I...don't know what to do. But I promise you, I'll bring him back in one piece. I won't let them hurt our baby. So please, wake up. Wake up, Luna." It was Van, talking to his sleeping wife. Napa-buntong hininga naman ako at kumatok upang makuha ang atensyon niya.
"Van, tara na. Aalis na tayo. Mag-aaksaya pa ba tayo ng oras?" Mababa ang boses kong sabi at pumasok na sa loob. Hindi siya sumagot. Tumayo na siya at walang salitang naglakad palabas. Napa-buntong hininga na lamang ako at sinundan siya.
Hinawakan ko na ang doorknob at unti-unti nang isinara ang pinto, "Iza.. ac..." Natigilan ako at agad na tumingin sa kaniya. But she was still sleeping. Tama ba ang narinig ko guni-guni ko lang?
"Ibabalik namin siya." Naka-ngiti kong sabi at tuluyan nang isinarado ang pinto. Tumakbo ako pabalik sa kanila.
Alright, time to break some bones!
***
"That's the.. red room!?"
"Shhh. Don't be so loud. Don't judge a book by it's cover, remember?" Ani Minerva na inaayusan ang sarili niya. Tumingin ulit ako sa nasa harap namin. It was like a fastfood chain na mala-restaurant na bar na club. Labas-masok ang mga taong sibilyan. Ang buong akala ko ay nasa liblib na lugar ang Red Room but no. IT'S IN A CITY!
"Let's go. If we need to kill all of them, kill them." Ani Van at naunang lumabas ng kotse. We're in the Red Room based in Italy. I, Van, and Minerva. Sa London sina L, Max at Paris na isinabay na nila bago sila umalis. Habang mag-isang nasa Europe si Volt.
Pumasok na kami sa loob. All of them look like normal citizens but no. We can't let our guard down. Walang mga bata dito. I think the ages starts from 18 and up. There are minors. The food they serve looks normal too. But who knows if they spice it using drugs?
Huminto kami sa harap ng isang pulang pinto. May mga bantay na agad naman kaming hinarangan, "You can't enter this room." Sabi ng isa.
"We need to check it. You don't want to mess with me, right?" Naka-ngiting sabi ni Minerva at may ipinakitang kung ano. Yumuko ang mga bantay at pinagbuksan kami ng pinto. Nalaglag ang panga ko. W-Wow.
"Let's go." Pumasok na kami sa loob. There's a long hallway. Makipot ang daan. Kasya lang para sa isang tao. Nasa pinakahuli ako, si Van sa harap ko at si Minerva. Walang mga pinto kundi dalawang pader lang. Pinapadausdos ko ang mga kamay ko sa pader, nagbabaka sakaling may secret passage pala dito. Until we reached the end, another door. We opened it. And there.
A room covered in red.
THIS IS THE RED ROOM.
~
Nandito kami sa itaas, naglalakad-lakad paikot. Walang sulok ang buong kwarto na ito. It was round-shaped. Sa ibaba ay may limang pinto. I bet we're under the ground already. It was like a club. May mga nagsasayawan, nag-iinuman, nagse-sex, showing off their freaks and wildness. The second floor kung nasaan kami ay wala nang ibang pinto kundi ang pinasukan namin at ang exit. There was a stage down there at may malaking screen. There's an IT beside it, and I think he's the one who manages everything and has an access to UgD. I can tell. We're in the Red Room anyways.
"Baby Tyrant is in one of those doors. We need to get pass of those guards first." Bulong ni Minerva na nasa tabi ko. Pababa na kami ngayon para makihalubilo sa kanila.
When the whole room was suddenly covered in alarms, "It's starting." Minerva. Tumingin ako sa paligid. Bawat pinto ay may bantay. At bawat pinto ay may pass code, handprint scanner at card swiper. Why the fuck is that door so many locks!?
"The countdown starts. 30 minutes." Ani ng isang robotic voice. We all looked at the screen, there was a countdown. All of their attention is on their phone. Getting excited.
"The betting mechanics are easy. They will pay moneys to make the punisher do what they want to satisfy them. If I paid $500 dollars and I said whip the victim to death, and once they confirmed my payment, they will ship the victim to death. We don't know how many the prisoners are inside those doors. Red Room is for the people who need violence to satisfy themselves." Napa-singhap ako sa nalaman.
"E-Even a baby!?" What the---!? Kung ganon, kung may humiling na karumaldumal ang isang tao, gagawin iyon ng punisher kahit na sa isang bata pa?
"Yes. There are numerous chat rooms in the Red Room. Since there are three active Red Rooms available, there will be many live recordings. This was my first time to set foot in Red Room. This was illegal outside. But in our world, it.is.LEGAL." Holy shit... Tumingin ako kay Van---HE'S GONE!
"Where's Van!?" S-Shit! Don't tell me---
Agad kaming lumingon at inisa-isang tingnan ang mga pinto. And there he was! Arguing with one of the guards! Shit!
Agad namin siyang nilapitan, "I am here to get my son! Open that fucking door!"
"S-Sir---"
"Dragon!" Hinila namin siya palayo sa guard. Iwinaksi niya ang mga kamay namin kaya nabitawan namin siya.
"What!? Don't stop me! I'll get my son!"
"Shhh! You just can't make an alarming move, Dragon! We're here in the Red Room. We can't mess our plan." Madiin na sabi ni Minerva sa kaniya. But Van didn't calmed down.
We were arguing and stopping him. Van's so damn strong. Nakukuha na din namin ang atensyon nila. At mukhang nakapagsumbong na ang guard na kinompronta ni Van sa iba pa niyang kasama. They're nailing their eyes on us, as if they are watching our moves. May pumasok na isang lalaki sa pintong pangala mula sa kanan. Balot na balot siya ng itim. The punisher, I guess.
"STOP IT, WILL YOU!?" Parehas kaming natigilan ni Van sa biglang pagsigaw ni Minerva sa amin.
"Fucking listen to me, unexperienced assassin! Kung hindi ka makukuha sa usapan, iiwan ko na kayo dito! FUCKING LISTEN TO ME!" S-Shit. G-Galit na ang ate ni L!
"Then leave." V-Van!?
"Let him be!" Pigil sa akin ni Minerva nang akmang susundan ko na si Van. I looked at her.
"Let him be. It's his fault if we'll mess up." M-Minerva...
I glanced at Van again who's talking to the same guard. We heard the deafening alarms. The countdown is done. Everyone cheered. Excited for the 'show'. Multiple footage flashed in the big screen. Their noise heighten as they hype up even more. It's starting.
There are twenty footages. At ang mga punisher pa lang ang ipinapakita. Nakatalikod sila at parang may inaayos. Selda. Nasa isa silang selda. It's confusing. Lima lang ang naman ang pinto dito pero napakaraming footages. Does it mean...
"There are cells inside that five doors!?" Nanlalaki ang mga mata kaming nagtinginan. Hell!?
"VAN!" Fuck!
"We need to confirm first if Baby Tyrant is here. Call the others! We need to rescue him quick!" Ani Minerva habang tumatakbo kami palapit kay Van. Kinuha ko agad ang cellphone ko at tinawagan si L.
"It's starting! Nandyan ba si Baby Tyrant!?" Hinihingal kong sabi at pinanood si Minerva na kinakausap ang nagwawalang si Van.
[We're not sure yet! But they said puro babae daw ang nandito! Walang baby! Kayo ba? Hindi ko ma-contact si Volt. Locke? Hoy, Locke! LOCKE!?] Hindi ko na nagawang makasagot nang mapa-tingin ako sa screen. The cameras are already focused to the victims.
"DADA! UWAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! YADA! YADA! YADA!" Baby Tyrant was...here...
"Ooooohhh! What a cute baby! $100, cut his tongue!" Sabi ng isang babae na nagpa-milog sa mga mata namin. Napa-tingin ako kay Van na natigilan. Unti-unti siyang lumingon sa nagsalita.
Fuck. This is not good.
"I WILL CRUSH YOU BITCH." He attacked the woman and kicked her hard. Nagulat ang lahat at nagsigawan. Tumalsik sa stage ang babae. Natutop ko ang bibig ko.
"VAN!" Shit!
[WHAT'S HAPPENING THERE!? LOCKE!?] Argh!
"Baby Tyrant is here! Plan B kayo! Rescue all the victims there! We need back up!" Fuck! We don't know in which door Baby Tyrant was, but we need to save him bago pa may mag-utos!
"MINERVA! THE GUARDS!" Lumapit ako sa at inagaw ang baril niya. Binaril ko ang isa bago mabilis na binali ang leeg ng guard na 'to. Minerva handled the rest. Ako naman ay sinubukang buksan ang mga pinto. I shoot it using the gun I'm holding but no effect. I tried to kick it open but it was made of iron! How can we enter!?
Van. Yes, Van! We need Van!
Lumingon ako para hanapin si Van. But... He's already crushing the woman who wanted Baby Tyrant's tongue to be cutted! Holy---beast! A BEAST!
"BRO! ENOUGH! TAMA NA!" Hinila ko siya palayo sa babaeng luwa na ang mga eyeballs at bali-bali na ang mga buto. Her head was---smashed. H-Hindi ko masikmura.
"Bro, Baby Tyrant needs you! Huwag mong aksayahin ang oras mo sa kaniya! We need to save him habang wala pang order!" Fuck! This makes me nervous as fuck! What if may nakapagbayad na masaktan lang si Baby Tyrant? Patay kami kay Dearil!
"Handle the IT. I'll smash the doors open." Nandidilim ang mukha niyang sabi at tumakbo papunta sa pinto. I forgot to tell him that it was made if iron! Bahala na!
Lumapit ako sa IT at malakas siyang sinipa paalis. Influenced by drugs, back to having fun na ulit ang lahat. Pinagkakaguluhan nila ang babaeng dinurog ni Van at mga tuwang-tuwa sa nakikita. I disconnected all of the cams. Sinigurado kong walang makakapag-order ni isa.
But I don't know if the cams here are connected to the other bases! Red Room based in LA can be seen here. And they are starting already. All of the victims were females. Some are disconnected dahil siguro umaksyon na sila.
"Well, well, well. If it's not Locke McKenzie!" Nahinto ako sa ginagawa at napa-lingon sa bumanggit sa pangalan ko.
"Kris." Nandidilim ang mukhang banggit ko sa pangalan niya. He smirked.
"Why are you here? And...that's bad. You're ruining our happiness." Wika niya at lumapit sa akin. Don't flater. Don't be scared. You're strong now, Locke. You can match him. You can fight.
"Oh, I get it! You're still looking for the baby? I guess, Van's son? Oh, he's here! Arone is his punisher! *sigh* What a twisted fate of him. He's adorable and cute but he will be killed in his very young age. Too bad. I already paid for 5 whips." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. W-Whips? For Baby Tyrant...?
"De...MONYO KA!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! You looking for a fight? BRING IT ON." Pang-uudyok niya at wala akong inaksayang oras at sinugod nga siya. He was dodging all of my attacks.
"Stop being a coward and fight me!" Hamon ko sa kaniya. He was challenged. I saw how his lips formed a smirk. Everything went really fast and I saw nyself flying away from him after he punched me in my stomach.
"Oh? That's it? We're done now?" T-This bastard is---strong!
Calm down, Locke. Huwag kang magpadalos-dalos. Calm yourself and make yourself useful. Buy time for Van.
"I guess I need to add an order." Nilabas niya ang cellphone niya. Unti-unti akong tumayo. H-His punch was really strong!
"Hey, bro! Paki-loudspeaker naman 'yung iyak 'nung bata. May mga bisita tayo, eh." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa kaniya. Nginisihan niya lang ako at itinago na ang cellphone niya.
I heard an infant's cries.
"UWAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! DADA! MOMMY! UWAAAAAAAHHHHH!!! UWAAAAAAHHHH!!" Baby Tyrant... I can hear the lashes...
"IZAAC!!!!! LET MY SON GO! FUCK! FUCK YOU! I WILL KILL YOU! BITCHES! BITCHES!"
Nanginig ang mga kamay kong nanlalamig. Nabibingi ako sa mga iyak ni Baby Tyrant na halatang nasasaktan. While them...heartless demons are having fun of his cries and despair.
"I will..." I stood up right after him.
I looked at him who's smiling teasefully and playfully at me. My breathing stops, "---kill you."
His eyes went wide when he lose me. Malakas ko siyang sinipa sa likod na ikinatalsik niya sa stage. Naglakad ako palapit sa kaniya. Hindi pa siya nakakatayo ay dinakma ko siya sa ulo at inumpog sa sahig kung saan dinurog ni Van ang mukha ng babae kanina. Her blood tainted his face.
"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! DADA! DADA! YADA! YADA! YADA!!!!!"
"DIE." I was about to punch him when we heard a loud crash. Nabalik ako sa katinuan at agad na lumingon sa wasak na pader. There are electricity.
Electricity...
I checked Van who's trying hard to open the doors. Walang nagawa ang mga baril. Minerva was helping him too but it was really impossible to destroy irons. But...electricity.
A woman with electric blue eyes fell from above. Her body and eyes were glowing because of the electricity flowing out from here. My face brighten up.
"DEATH!" She's here! Gising na siya!
She held her head up and glared at them, "GIVE ME BACK MY SON." And with her bolts of electricity, nagsiyukuan kaming lahat sa tindi 'non. Fuck!
"UWAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH---ACK!" Baby Tyrant!
"T-T-That's...A-A-Aloi---sia?" Napa-tingin ako kay Kris at malakas siyang sinuntok.
"It's Dearil Ernaline Azazel Thana Hanctary, bitch. DEATH, not Aloisia." Pagtatama ko at malakas siyang sinipa. Dearil fired electricity balls towards the doors at lumipad lahat 'yon papasok. Wala na kaming inaksayang oras. Kanya-kanya kaming pasok sa limang pinto. Pinulot ko ang baril at pumasok sa loob. At tama nga ako, may mga selda dito. I shooted all of the punishers at pinalaya ang mga biktima. They were not severed, so they can still escape. Baby Tyrant wasn't here.
Tumakbo ako palabas at pinasok ang katabing kwarto. Walang laman. Mukhang apat na kwarto lang ang ginamit at inokupa nila. Lumabas na ako. Wala sa oras akong napa-preno nang may tumalsik sa gilid kong tao. I instantly turned around to him. It was Arone!
He coughed bloods. If he's here, does it mean... I looked back. And saw Van holding Baby Tyrant. Full of cuts and wounds in all of his body. Agad ko silang nilapitan. Van was crying.
"Da...da..."
"I-I'm sorry. It must've been painful for you. I'm sorry, Izaac."
"Da---bu..." he smiled faintly and it made Van cried even more. I looked around.
"Where's Dearil?" Tanong ko at luminga-linga sa paligid. She's gone.
"W-We need to go! This building's collapsing!" Ani Minerva at hinila na kaming dalawa. What!?
"But Dearil---"
"She's gone, can't you see!? Let's go! Baby Tyrant needs immediate care! QUICK!" wala na kaming nagawa kundi tumakbo palabas sa exit. The building starts collapsing and so the hallway we're running at. Mas binilisan pa namin ang pagtakbo kung hindi sabay-sabay kaming mahuhulog dito!
"AAAHHH!" Natigilan ako at napalingon kay Minerva. S-She was hooked!
Agad ko siyang binalikan at kinuha. Van is waiting for us in the door. Agad akong tumalon palampas sa pinto. Nasubsob kaming dalawa ni Minerva sa malamig na tiles. Na medyo malapot?
Minulat ko ang mga mata ko just to see bloods on the floor. Wala sa oras kaming bumangon. Everyone is...dead.
"Let's get out if here before the cops come. Come on." Tumango ako. Lumabas na kami. Agad kaming sumakay sa kotse. Tinext ko na sila. I called Mistress Sera para balitaan sila sa kondisyon ni Baby Tyrant. Sir Devon ordered us to bring him home. Nagtalo silang dalawa ni Van dahil gusto niya ay sa ospital. But Sir Devon insisted since he's a doctor. At wala ring kasiguraduhan kung nasa labas kami dahil delikado. And about Dearil...
She's home. They said she still sleeping in her room and unconcious. Hindi naman daw nila nakita si Dearil na lumabas. Binabantayan din daw siya ni Denise. Which confused us. I'm sure---WE are sure that she was there with us. Wala namang iba ang may ganoong kakayahan kundi siya lang. A-Ang gulo!
"Don't sleep, Izaac! Don't sleep! Please, don't sleep! Izaac!" Nakagat ko ang ibaba kong labi. Baby Tyrant was tortured extremely. His body was full of lashes at may mga bakas din ng tali sa mga kamay niya maging sa paa na para bang ginapos. Napakataas rin ng lagnat niya at basang-basa, para bang inilublob siya sa tubig. They're so cruel and ruthless!
"Yada..." mahinang sabi niya habang napakahigpit ng hawak sa daliri ni Van. Tumulo na lang rin ang mga luha ko sa sobrang pagkahabag sa itsura niya ngayon.
"Kris and Arone was there. Arone is his punisher. And Kris is the one who requests him to whip Tyrant. And I think they played with him first before the 'show'." Malamig na sabi ko at inayos ang damit ni Van na nakabalot kay Tyrant.
Van didn't speak. But I know he's furiously mad. Kinikimkim niya lang sa loob niya. He's a volcano right now impending to explode. He hugged Baby Tyrant and kissed his forehead. Alam kong inaantok na siya, yet everytime his eyes will close, iminunulat niya agad. I think it's because of Van na ayaw siyang patulugin.
"Don't sleep, hmmm? We're near."
"Dabu..." sagot ni Tyrant at kumurap. He looked at me. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya at marahang hinawakan ang paa niya.
Hanggang sa naka-uwi na kami. Sinalubong nila kaming lahat. They are here already. The Conquerors. Dumiretso kami sa kwarto ni Dearil, kung saan naroroon ang isang crib na para kay Baby Tyrant. Everything was complety already. Nilinisan na ni Denise si Baby Tyrant na iyak ng iyak dahil sa mga sugat niyang humahapdi kapag nababasa ng tubig.
"UWAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!! UWAAAAAHHHH!! YADA! YADA! UWAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!"
"Shhh, it's okay, Baby Tyrant. Don't cry. Sorry na. Sorry po. Tahan na." Umiwas ako ng tingin. Tinapik ko sila.
"Let's go outside. Let's let them cure Baby Tyrant. Nagpapasikip lang tayo dito sa kwarto. They're unable to move freely because of us. Tara na." Tumango naman sila bilang pagsang-ayon. Lumabas na kami at pumunta sa sala. Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na buntong hininga.
"Napaka-demonyo talaga nila. Lalo na ang Arone na 'yon! Ni hindi manlang pinatawad ang bata!" Paghihimutok agad ni Minerva. Hindi naman namin maipagkakaila 'yon dahil totoo naman. Wala na talaga silang puso at awa.
"Sana magising na sana si Dearil para patayin silang dalawa." Malamig kong sabi at seryoso ako roon. Sadista na kung sadista. Dapat lang sa kanila ang magdusa. DEATH? Parang hindi niyo na siya kilala.
"Agree." Akala ko naman pupunahin nila ako. *sigh* Agree din pala sila.
"I'll crush them. I will return what they did to my son THRICE. I won't let them live long." Ani Van na naka-yuko at nakakuyom ang mga kamao ng sobra. Hindi na lang kami umimik.
Susuportahan namin siya. Mamatay na nga sana ang dalawa.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Dragon's Seal: DEATH after LIFE (UNDER REVISION)
Ciencia FicciónPrevious Title: Their Final Battle THE REVISED VERSION IS UP.
