Chapter 1
KAKATAPOS ko lang sa misyon ko kahapon pero ito na naman at may bago na naman akong misyon. Akala yata ng hukluban na 'yon ay hindi ako napapagod. Siya kaya isabak ko sa tatlong araw na halos walang tulog para mabantayan ang pinapabantayan niya baka sumuko siya sa buhay niya. Umaga kasi ng alas-sais imedya ng makatanggap ako ng tawag galing kay Lord Brooke.
["Ms. Lazarus come to my office, i have something i want you to do."] Boses iyon ni Lord Brooke.
Napamura ako. Hayop na matandang hukluban na 'to!
"Lord-," Natapon ko ang celpon ko sa pader sanhi ng pagkabasag ng tempered na pinalagay ko lang noong nakaraang linggo. Dalas-dali akong tumayo at kinuha ang celpon ko. "Fuck you, Brooke! Matandang huklubang panot! Ang celpon ko!" Mangiyak - ngiyak ko iyong nilapitan.
Nang subukan ko iyong i-on ay gumagana pa naman. Nagkadurog-durog nga lang ang tempered at nagkapira-piraso na nalalaglag sa sahig.
"Ang hina lang non eh! Badtrip!" Akmang ibabato ko na naman ang celpon ko ng mapigilan ko ang sarili ko at sa kama nalang ito binato. "Ano ba namang buhay 'to!"
I slumped back against the headboard and checked the time on the wall clock. Maaga pa para ma stress ako, makakapag hintay ang matandang 'yon hanggang mamaya.
Missions aren't for the lighthearted. One misstep and you're done. The stakes are high, the margin for error is zero. You need nerves of steel and a heart that's been tempered in the fire.
Surviving in the world of high-risk operations demands more than just skill - it demands nerves of steel and a heart tempered in the fire. The ability to stay calm under fire, to think clearly in the chaos, and to act decisively when the stakes are highest.
Challenges are like a forge. They test your limits, but also make you stronger and more capable.
It's a high-stakes gamble where the price of failure is paid in blood. You need to be forged in the fire, tempered by the trials of the past, to survive in this world
In the silence, I hear the whispers of my past, of the life I once knew. I hear the laughter of loved ones, the warmth of sunshine, the comfort of gentle touch. I hear the echoes of a life unlived, a life that could have been mine.
Minsan na rin nalagay ang buhay ko sa dilikado dahil hindi naman iyon maiiwasan sa klasi ng trabaho na meron ako, tulad kahapon nadaplisan ng bala ng baril ang kaliwang braso ko pero mabuti at naagapan pa, kung hindi ay ang sanhi sa purinarya ang bagsak ko ngayon. Nahihilo-hilo pa nga ako pagkabangon ko sa kama kanina.
Naramdaman ko ang pagkirot ng braso ko ng sinubukan ko itong igalaw, may bahid ng dugo ang puting gasa na nakatakip sa sugat saking braso. I just forced myself to stand up and clean up. I just ate some rice and fried hotdog that had been sitting in the fridge for a while - it was a bit sour
By the time I finished, it was already 8 o'clock, so I quickly grab my stuffs and headed out of my apartment, jumped on my bike parked in the garage, and hit the road
"Time to go, Recca!" I said, tossing on my helmet and revving up the engine.
MY bike screeched to a halt in front of Brooke's sleek hideout, the gates swung open with a metallic creak. I'd made a quick pit stop at the drugstore to grab some meds for my arm wound, I was ready to dive back into the fray. Gaz, Brooke's right-hand man and guard, stepped out of the darkness, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in my battered appearance.
"Brooke's been expecting you," he said, his deep voice a subtle warning that I wasn't here for a social visit.
I know i wasn't here for that, no need for that attitude Gaz. I just said it in my thoughts. I don't feel this guy.
Tumango lang ako sa kanya bago pinihit ang doorknob. The room's darkness wasn't a surprise as I entered, with only a sliver of light peeking through the small window by the door.
"Now, who's my next target?" I asked directly, shutting the door behind me to block out the prying eyes outside.
The sound of footsteps echoed towards me, his steps light on the floor. As he handed me a brown envelope, his black cowboy hat cast a shadow over his face, hiding his true features from view. It had been three years since I started working with this mysterious figure, and not once had I seen his face. Not once had I even seen him leave this room. I'd learned to focus on the task at hand, and the results spoke for themselves
"Everything you need is in the envelope," the voice was cold and calculated, sending a shiver down my spine.
"Success nets you 100k. You've got one month to get the job done, then you're out." The coldness of his voice was unnervingly calm. I took the envelope, feeling the weight of the contents. It was all there - the photos, the intel, the plan.
There was something about the way he spoke, with precision and detachment I nodded to myself, already mentally preparing for the mission ahead.
The voice didn't change, didn't soften or harden when he spoke.
It simply continued, "You're clear to go once the job is done. No complications, no loose ends. Just results."
The voice was a ghostly whisper in the darkness, but I knew better than to underestimate its owner. They were a master of shadows, always one step ahead. And I was just a tool, a means to an end. But I didn't mind. I was well-paid, and the work was satisfying in its own way. And it was also what made me want to work with them in the first place.
I am a killer, a soldier, a machine.
But deep within, a spark remains. A spark of defiance, of rebellion, of humanity. It flickers, a flame in the darkness, refusing to be extinguished. It whispers questions, doubts, and fears. It asks why, and seeks answers.
'Ang laki naman yata nito..'
Napalunok ako at napaatras ng isang hakbang. "Can I get a small extension?" I asked, my voice laced with a hint of desperation. "Just a week's break would make all the difference." Ramdam ko ang mabibigat niyang hakbang habang naglalakad papunta sa madilim na parte ng silid.
The silence that followed was palpable, and I could almost feel the weight of the decision being made. "A week's break?" the voice repeated, the tone neutral. "I'll give you an extra week to finish the job, but not for a break. You deliver the package in five weeks, or the deal's off."
I hesitated, weighing the offer. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than nothing.
"Fine," I said finally, trying to keep my voice steady. "I've gotta go, Lord Brooke."
Nang hindi siya sumagot ay dahan-dahan akong tumalikod saka binuksan ang pinto.
Sana this time, may thrill naman. I muttered under my breath, the words barely audible as I stepped out of the room.
But before I could take another step, Gaz's voice cut through my thoughts. "You're breathing hard," he said, his tone detached.