Chapter 38

⚠️⚠️ Warning! This chapter contains harmful and maybe traumatizing for readers-blood, violence, cursing, gun and psychopath

Rhainne Jhammira Alethea Lopez

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Another month had passed at paulit ulit lang ang nangyayari saamin araw. I will go to her office everyday and eat lunch with her at ihahatid ko siya pauwi minsan naman ay nag didinner kami sa labas or minsan date. Sometimes sakanila rin ako natutulog at minsan sa bahay naman namin siya natutulog. Luckily Mom and Mama agreed on it, hindi na rin naman sila kumokontra sa mga desisyon ko.

As days passed by mas lalo akong nahihirapan. I don't know what to do anymore. Mahal ko siya at ayoko siyang masaktan. I know how much she loves her father and I don't want to take the opportunity she has now. Alam kong gusto niyang makasama ang lalaking yon.

"Uno, everything is settled" it's kai

I nodded at him and let out a heavy sighs.

This is it.

Eto ang unang beses na haharapin ko siya bilang Uno. I'll try to make a deal with him para matapos na ang lahat.

I know what he wants and I can't give that to him, not my mother.

"Are you sure about this Uno?" Viper

I'm sure about this.

"Yes"

This is my last hope.

"But-" Hex was cut off by Vixen

"Stop those what ifs and buts of yours Hex" saway niya dito "Nasa paligid lang kami. Ready to attack incase na hindi siya makausap ng maayos. I'll k*ll him on my own" she said

"You can't do that"

I don't want her to experience kung paano mangulila. I don't want her to experience sitting on graveyard and crying in front of tombstone.

"Lagi mo siyang iniisip pero paano ka?" I was stunned by her question

Do I need to prioritize me?

____

Dumating na ang taong hinihintay ko. He's wearing his suit. If you think this is a normal talk then think again.

Nakaready na ang lahat sila Amrielle at Rayla na nakatago with our teams.

Ang tanging kasama ko ay si Kai at Jenaiah.

"Nice to see you here BR with Viper and Kai" he said and smirked at us.

BR-Black rose. Tawag saakin ng mga tao sa labas ng Empire at tawag saakin ng mga tao sa UG

Wala siyang suot na kahit ano sa muka niya kaya kitang kita ko ang reaction niya.

"Are you that confident at dalawang tao lang ang dinala mo or dalawa lang ba talaga?" and he roams his eyes as if he's looking for something

I look at him with a poker face.

Masyado siyang madaldal.

He's making my blood boil

"You talk too much"

"Ohhh the short tempered soon to be Empress of Empire" he chuckled

Kulang. It's the merciless soon to be Empress of Empire. Kung si Lolo ay may awa pa sa mga criminal na gaya niya, ako wala. He deserves to rot in hell and I'll see him there

"Stop this nonsense already and let's get to the point"

"You know what I want BR or should I say Rhainne Lopez" he smirked

Tsk. Already expected this.

Ramdam ko ang gulat sa dalawang kasama ko. Hinawakan pa ni Jenaiah ang kamay ko.

I slowly removed my mask and smiled at him.

"I don't play your games, Nicolas"

"Nicolas? You should be calling me Dad since mukang mahal na mahal mo ang anak ko"

Nakuyom ko ang kamay ko

This is what I'm talking about, him dragging her daughter and using her against me. I hate the fact that she's my weakness right now.

Ganitong ganito ang nangyari kay Kyler. Damn, that name still hurts.

"Don't drag her here" I coldly said looking at him showing no emotions.

"Then, let's drag your mother here" he said and grin at me

"I'm not going to give you what you want" I said that makes his grin gone

1/1

I won't let you win Nicolas.

I never experience a defeat in this game and I'll make sure that I'll never experience that.

"Hmmm you sure? Kahit kapalit non ang anak ko" he said emphasizing ANAK KO

He doesn't deserve to be a father. He's just using her daughter to get what he wants.

Ramdam kong mas lalong hinigpitan ni Jenaiah ang hawak sa kamay ko. I look at her and gave her an assuring smile.

Everything is fine. Everything will be fine after this...I hope

"Wala kang makukuha kahit isa" I said that makes him mad, I think?

Nakita ko ang pagtiim ng bagang nito at pagkuyom ng kamao niya.

"Then what's the point of this talk? Hmmm do you think my daughter would still look at you the same kung malalaman niya to?"

"Do you think he will still look at you the same if she would know that you're a killer and a rapist?" I sarcastically said kita ko ang paghigpit ng hawak niya sakanyang baril

That's it.

"How dare you?!" Galit na sigaw nito

It feels so good to see him raging like a bull.

"You know BR my daughter really loves me. Matagal nilang hinanap ang presensya ko and I think she'll choose me over you" and that hits me

What if?

No, she'll never do that. She loves me.

"We'll see. You're too confident dapat diyan binababaan and I'm not here to mend with your Ego. Leave us alone and I'll leave you"

"You know that I won't do that"

"What do you want?"

"Your Mother. Si Ryleigh. Siya ang gusto ko! oh paki sama narin ang kayamanan niyong mga Lopez"

"Ilang beses ka na niyang nireject? Gosh, she don't choose you back then and I know she'll never choose you this time. Wake up with your dreams Nicolas. Moved on already, ilang taon na ang nakakalipas may kanya kanya na kayong pamilya" I said, facing him with emotionless face

Hanggang ngayon yun pa rin ang issue niya sa buhay? To the point na she killed my sister and my lover.

"Kung hindi lang kayo dumating she would choose me!. She'll love me kung hindi kayo dumating sa buhay niya! Kami dapat ang magkakatuluyan kung hindi nabuntis ang lecheng Nanay mo!" turan nito na siyang nagpakuyon ng kamay ko

"You're obsessed and how dare you na idamay dito si Mama pati ang mga kapatid ko na siyang pinatay mo!" I said and look at the person na nasa itaas.

She nooded at me.

Thank you my greatest assassin's.

"Tsk. Actually dapat kayong tatlo yon eh sayang nga lang at siya lang ang nawala! We would've live a happy life kung hindi kayo dumating! You should've die back then! I was so fool na nauto ako na namatay kayo at nagkahiwalay si Allisha at Ryleigh. They really act well" gigil niyang sabi

Gosh, I don't want to listen to his sobs story.

It's making me puke how he's really obsessed with my Mother.

"You think Mom will choose you? No! She'll never be with a rapist and a killer like you"

"How dare you!" he said at tinutok saakin ang baril niya kaya naalarma ang dalawa kong kasama at agad na tinutok ang baril na hawak nila

"Ikaw ang may kasalanan ng lahat. Ikaw ang may kasalanan kung bakit hindi ko magawang pasukin ang Empire! Ikaw ang malaking hadlang saamin ni Ryleigh! You know, kaya ikaw lang ang hinahabol ko ay dahil ikaw ang malaking hadlang while your sister alam ko namang wala siyang kakayahan para pigilan ako, pero ikaw! meron! Akala ko pa naman susunod ka sa mahal mo oras na pinatay ko siya. Sayang naman at napigilan ka ng mga kaibigan mo. I remember that day. I remember how you begged me not to kill him na kahit ikaw at mga kaibigan mo ay walang nagawa, even your King!" he said and laugh like an evil

Bumigat ang pakiramdam ko at nandidilim ang paningin kong tumingin sakanya

"Do you still remember it? or do you want me to tell you a story about it" he said and grin

I didn't answer. I felt someone's hand. It's Jenaiah.

I know she's worried and I am too.

Akala ko hindi na ako naapektohan ng katotohanan na yon. Every guilt is rushing in to me again. Damn this past.

Nanghihina ako. I can't move.

"Uno, don't let it consumes you again. Stop those negative thoughts. It's not your fault." I heard Rayla in the earpiece that I'm wearing

"Ohh you're still affected by him hmm. Do you know that your lover told me na siya nalang wag lang kitang papatayin. How sweet of him. You're a devil as I am. Hindi ka ba nakokonsensya na sinakripisyo niya ang buhay niya para sayo? Buhay pa sana siya kung hindi mo siya dinala sa buhay mong magulo! Buhay pa sana siya! At I won't let my daughter be like him! Kung binigay mo lang ang gusto ko at kung hinayaan mo lang sana ako edi sana he's still here! Buhay pa sana ang pinaka mamahal mo! Kung hindi ka lang nangealam nung gabing kukunin ko ang Mahal ko!" And he laughed again, like a devil he is.

Every memories is rushing back into my mind. Lahat ng masamang alaala for once I still sacrifice him and myself just to save my family.

"Everything would be successful that night dapat masaya na kamong namumuhay ngayon ni Ryleigh kung hindi ka nakisawsaw! kung hindi kayo nakisali ng lalaking yon! and you're lucky kasi buhay ka pa pero iniwan ka na n-" hindi niya na natuloy ang sasabihin niya

"Stop! You fuckers! Shut your mouth!" Coldness was visible in my voice at kasabay non ang pagtutok ko sakanya ng baril, anytime alam kong kaya kong iputok iyon.

You can't let him win again. Kill him before he kills everyone that you treasure - my mind

"And you think that killing every important person in my life would make me stop?"

"Yes! like this" he said that's why I looked at him with confusion

"One"

"Two"

Pagbilang niya

"Three"

Kasabay non ang pagpasok ng taong hindi ko inaakalang papasok.

Missis ko.

Tila ako'y malalagutan ng hininga. Tinignan ako nito at si Nicolas, pabalik balik. Confusion, yan lang ang alam kong emotion na meron siya ngayon.

"Dad? Alethea?" pabalik balik na tingin nito saakin

"Surprise BR" Nicolas said

Mas lalong humigpit ang hawak ko sa baril.

"What is she doing here?!" rinig kong galit na sigaw ni Rayla sa earpiece, ang tensyon sa boses niya ramdam na ramdam kahit nasa di kalayuan siya.

"Damn that Nicolas! He's really playing games," Amrielle muttered, her frustration cutting through the faint noise in my earpiece.

"M-Missis ko," I stammered, my voice barely loud enough to be heard as I lowered my gun, my hand trembling.

Her eyes met mine-confused, questioning.

No, Rhainne! Get yourself together! My thoughts screamed at me. Bakit mo binaba ang baril? Anong ginagawa mo?!

But I couldn't do it. My hands refused to cooperate. I couldn't kill him.

"Hindi ko siya pwedeng patayin," I whispered to myself, my breathing shallow. Hindi pwede... Tatay siya ng mahal ko.

"A-anong nangyayari dito?" her voice wavered, full of uncertainty. "Dad? Alethea?"

"Oh, we're just talking," he said, his tone cold and calculated, a wicked grin creeping onto his face.

Focus, Rhainne! Hawak niya pa rin ang baril!-My mind screamed louder, but my body betrayed me, frozen in place.

"Stay away from her, Celine," his voice was laced with venom as he stepped closer. "She's a killer. Nakikita mo ba ang hawak niyang baril?"

I followed her gaze as it fell to the gun in my hand. The weight of his words crushed me, and my grip weakened. The gun slipped from my fingers, hitting the ground with a sharp thud.

My heart pounded in my chest. I was vulnerable, exposed. His words echoed in my mind, blending with the chaos of my emotions. I couldn't move. I couldn't think. All I could do was stand there as the truth of what I had done, and what I was about to do, came undone before me.

She looked at me with shock and confusion written all over her face, her trembling steps taking her farther and farther away.

"No! W-wait!" I called out, my voice cracking. "N-no, Missis k-ko. I-it's not what you think!" My body was weak, but I stretched my hand toward her, desperate to reach her, to make her understand.

My vision blurred as tears pooled in my eyes, slowly running down my cheeks. Then, the sharp, deafening crack of a gunshot shattered everything.

I turned in horror.

Lolo.

My breath hitched as I saw him collapse, blood spreading rapidly across his chest.

"No... no!" My voice broke, and my legs felt like lead as I dragged myself toward him. Another sacrifice. Someone else is choosing to save me. Why? Why does it always have to be this way?

"L-lolo... N-no!" I screamed, my trembling hands reaching out to him as he struggled to breathe. His life was slipping away, and I could do nothing to stop it.

I told you!-My mind raged. Don't let your gun out of your hands! You could've ended this! Reach for it-NOW! Kill him.

Kill him.

Kill him.

The words kept on echoing in my head like a cursed mantra, growing louder, drowning out every other thought.

Kill. Kill. Kill.

My vision darkened. The world around me faded until only he remained-the one responsible for everything. Every pain. Every tear.

My hand trembled as I picked up the gun.

"I will k*ll you," I whispered, the words like venom dripping from my tongue. My grip tightened as rage consumed me, leaving no room for hesitation.

This time, I won't fail.

I grabbed my gun, my hands steady despite the storm raging inside me, and fired without hesitation. The bullet found its mark, and as he staggered, I unsheathed my katana, the blade gleaming with cold finality. My other hand drew a dagger, and shurikens gleamed in my grasp like sharp stars.

Kill him.

Patayin mo siya.

Get justice.

"Uno! Wag!" A desperate voice rang out, but it was distant, drowned by the rage roaring in my head. I didn't listen. I couldn't.

I moved like a shadow, my fury guiding every step. The room became a battlefield as I unleashed my wrath.

I slashed.

I fired.

I struck them down one by one.

I didn't stop, not even when they begged. Their screams meant nothing to me. Their pain was nothing compared to what my sister and lover endured.

Kill. That's right. Kill them all.

Get the justice your sister deserves.

Blood painted the walls, the floor, my hands-an testament to my resolve. And then, finally, only one person was left standing.

Him.

The man who tore my sister's and Kyler's life apart.

I stared into his eyes, and for a moment, I saw fear flicker within them. Good. I wanted him to feel it, to drown in it.

He raised his gun, desperate, but I was faster. Before he could pull the trigger, I kicked his hand with all my strength, the gun flying from his grasp. He cried out in pain, clutching his wrist, but I wasn't done yet.

I stepped closer, my katana glinting threateningly as I raised it.

"You'll suffer," I whispered, my voice cold as ice. "The way they did. And then, you'll beg for the mercy I'll never give you."

"UNO! WAG!" I heard someone shout, and for a moment, I froze, hesitating.

Don't listen to them!

No! I shouldn't kill him!

Stop being naive, Rhainne!

He'll kill you and everyone in this room if you let him live!

The words echoed in my head, drowning out everything else. With shaking hands, I grabbed the dagger from my pocket and walked towards Nicolas. His smirk only fueled my rage. Without thinking, I slashed the dagger across his face, the sharp edge catching the skin.

"Arghhhh!" he screamed, the pain fueling his fury.

I smiled-a cold, empty smile.

"Y-You're-h-how dare you!" His voice was barely a whisper before he lashed his fist, sending me crashing to the ground with the force of his punch.

The pain was nothing. Not compared to the rage burning in me.

Use the katana! Slash him!

I reached for my katana, the blade humming with dark promise as I drew it from its sheath. The weight of it in my hand felt like justice waiting to be delivered.

He looked at me, fear creeping into his eyes, but there was no mercy in mine.

"No! You can't do that!" He laughed, but it was a laugh twisted with panic, like a devil provoking his victim before the end.

I stared him down, my grip tightening on the handle.

"Oh yes, I can," I whispered, my voice laced with venom. A sickening calm washed over me as I swung the blade, the sound of it cutting through the air like a death sentence.

The katana sank into his arm with a sickening strike

Blood...

I felt it splatter across my skin, warm and sticky, as his scream filled the air. The pain and the satisfaction runs in my veins. It was all I could do not to laugh with him.

I could feel the blood dripping down my hand, the weight of his suffering in every drop.

"Uno! Wag! Itigil mo na yan!" I felt someone’s hands gripping me, trying to pull me away.

Don’t listen to her!

"Bitawan mo ako, Viper!" I growled, pushing her away as I stormed toward Nicolas, now sitting, holding tightly his bleeding arm.

I looked at his other hand, still capable of hurting me.

"Wanna satisfy my ID?" I mocked, my voice dripping with venom.

I raised the katana high, but before I could strike, I felt someone pull on my arm.

"Stop this, Uno!" It was Vixen’s voice, desperate.

"Umalis ka diyan, Vixen!" I snapped, shoving her away.

That's right, Rhainne. Get the justice that we want.

With Vixen trying to stop me, I quickly reached for my dagger, my hand trembling with rage. I dug it into his other arm, slowly and deliberately.

"Hmmm, do you think this is enough?" I whispered, my voice low and cruel.

"St-stop!" he screamed, his voice breaking with pain.

"I don’t think it is," I laughed, a dark, hollow sound.

I was about to push  the dagger deep into his arms when someone stopped me again.

"Stop this, Uno! Please," Hex’s voice broke through, pleading. I ignored her, the dagger still gripped in my hand, her desperate attempts to snoop it from me falling on deaf ears.

"Give me that, Hex!"

"No! Stop this already! This isn’t the justice you need!" she cried, but her words felt distant, irrelevant.

I couldn’t stop. Not now.

And since she refused to give me back my weapon, I would use my fists instead.

I punched him—hard. The satisfaction of feeling his face crumble beneath my knuckles was almost too good.

That’s right.

I punched him again, and again, each blow making my blood sing with twisted satisfaction.

I didn’t stop until he lost consciousness, his face a bloodied mess.

I was about to grab the gun when—again—someone stopped me.

No! Don’t listen to them!

We’re almost there!

A rush of rage burned through me. Why were they stopping me?

"Tumigil ka na, Ulan!" Rayla’s voice rang out, cutting through the haze of rage

I looked at her, and for the first time, I saw the softness in her eyes—she was about to cry.

"P-please, stop this! T-this is not you!" Amrielle’s voice trembled, full of pain and fear.

I looked at my hands, drenched in blood.

"W-what d-did I...?" My voice broke, barely a whisper.

The reality hit me like a punch to the gut.

What did I do?

I scan the room. It’s a mess—chaos everywhere, bloodstains splattered across the floor.

My eyes fall on the man lying on the ground. He’s unrecognizable, his face battered, swollen, and covered in blood. His hands, too, are bloodied, and his body is drenched in it. The sight is so raw, so horrifying, that my breath catches in my throat.

I turn my gaze to another figure in the room—someone standing, trembling, tears streaming down her face. She looks at me with a mix of shock and fury, her eyes burning with rage.

Did I do all of this? Was it me?

I take a step toward her, my heart pounding in my chest.

“M-missis ko,” I whisper, my voice weak, my bloody hands reaching out to her, desperate for any form of connection.

But she pulls away, as if my touch burns her.

"No! Lumayo ka sakin! Y-you killer!" she screams, her voice laced with fear and hatred.

The words pierce through me like a blade, and I crumble to my knees, the weight of her rejection crashing down on me.

I feel the presence of three others closing in around me, but all I can do is stare at my hands—hands soaked in blood.

“No… I—I didn’t mean to…” I stammer, my voice trembling as I look at the carnage around me, the blood that isn’t just on my hands but seems to stain my very soul.

"H-Hindi ko sinasadya..." My voice trembled as sobs wracked my chest, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably. My vision blurred, but I could still see her figure moving farther and farther away from me.

"I-I didn't mean to do it!" I cried, my words cracking under the weight of my guilt. "H-He shot L-Lolo! Wala akong magawa! Wala akong choice!" My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the ground, clutching my chest as if it could somehow hold together the pieces of my breaking heart.

But she didn't even turn back. Instead, she ran to her father, her cries echoing in the distance, each sob a dagger piercing my already shattered soul.

Her pain, her grief- I could feel it like a storm raging around us. And yet, no matter how much I begged, no matter how much I tried to explain, she wouldn't listen. All I could do was watch as the gap between us grew wider, as the weight of what I had done swallowed me whole.

"No! I-I won't listen to y-you. Y-you killer!" Her voice cracked as she screamed at me, each word piercing my heart like a blade.

Her words echoed in my mind, leaving me breathless. Killer. Is that really what I am?

All I wanted was justice. Justice for Lolo. I didn't mean for things to end like this... for her to look at me with so much hatred. But now, she sees me as nothing more than a monster.

I stumbled back, my chest tightening under the weight of it all. "Kasalanan ko ang lahat..." I whispered to myself, my legs weakening beneath me. Hot tears spilled down my cheeks, the bitter taste of regret choking me.

"I'm a fool," I muttered, my voice trembling. "I'm careless... I'm shattered."

She didn't even glance back. Her anger, her pain-it was all directed at me. And maybe I deserved it. But still...

Still, I loved her.

"M-mahal kita..." I whispered, my voice barely audible as the world around me dimmed. The shadows closed in, swallowing me, but the pain in my chest burned brighter than ever.