(FHS #4) Tired of running away from her nightmares, Kirsten returns to Filimon Heights to make peace and start anew. Little does she know, returning has its own consequences. Deadly ones.
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"I'm so happy that you finally agreed to be part of my family! At last, pinakawalan ka rin ni Mamay." Vicky smiled from ear to ear as she clapped like some innocent little kid.
"As if I have a choice." I giggled, mimicking her tone. Kung hindi lang talaga ako takot maparusahan, nasapak ko na siya.
Vicky laughed as she sat right next to me on the bed. Akala niya siguro nagbibiro ako.
Napahaplos ako sa mga braso kong pulang-pula at tila ba napaso dahil sa halos magdamag kong pagpupumiglas. Napagtanto kong tama si Magno kaya sa huli, sumuko na lang ako. I saw the newspaper clippings in Magno's room, I saw what kind of punishment this family could inflict to us. I don't want my family or friends to get hurt. Hindi ko kakayanin.
"Masakit ba? Paki hintay lang ang ointments, Uncle will drop by here tomorrow," Vicky said.
I was dumbfounded by the way she talked and sounded. Kung wala lang talaga ako sa sitwasyong 'to, aakalain kong hindi siya masamang tao.
I couldn't help but look at Vicky with my eyebrows furrowed.
"Ano?" She chuckled and laid on my bed, her legs folded and feet still reaching the tiled floor.
"You sound normal. What the hell is wrong with you?" I couldn't help but be blunt.
"Wala namang mali sa'kin ah?" she said as she giggled.
"Why are you doing this to us then? Why abduct us? Why keep us here?!" My jaw clenched as my voice turned cold. Anger building up inside me. I promised Magno that I'll play along but this bitch is testing every thread of me!
She sat up, fixing her braided her to the side of her shoulders, smile never leaving her face. "But Cindy, we didn't abduct you, you found us so now we're helping you."
"Helping us?" I spat out sarcastically.
"Yeah," she said with pride. "Don't you know how dangerous the world is up there?"
"U-up there?" Dahan-dahan akong napatingala. That explains the lack of windows in this place! We're underground! If it weren't for the air ducts above us, we wouldn't even be able to breathe!
"Trust me, Cindy. You're safer here with me... with us." Humawak siya sa kamay ko at ngumiti. "The world will perish but we won't."
Tangina ano bang nakain ng babaeng to 'to?!
"Maligo ka na nga doon," aniya sabay pabirong tulak sa akin patungo sa banyo ng silid ko raw.
***
Habang naglalakad kami patungo sa kusina, pasimple kong nilibot ang paningin sa paligid. I noticed how our voices seemed to echo along the wide white corridors. I couldn't help but theorize our location — could it be that we're in an underground tunnel? or a Bunker! Yeah, a bunker would make so much sense! After all, Vicky kept talking about safety and protection.
