Chapter 1

16 Months After Release

--Release Date: April 21, 2103

--16 Months Later

A black Rolls Royce limousine is traveling in the streets of Manila and inside, a background of a female voice delivering the news for the night can be heard. Staring outside the window of his luxurious silver wheeled, black tinted vehicle, his eyes marveled on the night life of the city.

It was buzzing with life and excitement.

Electronic Ads were blinking, people were walking, building lights emanated the office workers doing their jobs, the stalls and booths outside all beamed with business, a city of life and activity radiated in Manila's streets.

A smile emerged on his lips and the expensive suit he was wearing emanated its splendor from the traffic lights they were passing by.

“This place is alive.” He told his two companions, facing them with a contented expression. “This place has a nice vibe on it. He sure chose a nice place…”

A rare feat, the two men in black suits exchanged glances. Even though the three of them were of distinct races, from the translator device attached on the ends of their ears (that made them look like elves), the tone he, Augustus Laniary, gave off was enough tense them up.

Whenever the boss is happy and feeling good, he would always give out rewards. But along with those lines, failure is not acceptable. Not only they would have a cut, they could also experience worst things, including the few chances to receive a severe punishment that crosses the line of life and death. That was expected. Failure in the organization is recognized as a severe crime.

In the news in their limousine’s on-board TV, the news changed from a traffic accident into the news about a missing famous person. It was being delivered by a beautiful female news caster.

It played as the background on their travel and the two’s eyes were dragged to their principal as their attention was forcefully pulled by their boss’s words.

“Thanks, boss.” Marty said and he felt the tense rising in his chest as he nudged at his partner. Rude, with shaking hands, turned them into fists as he spoke with a trembling voice.

“Ah Boss, Doctor Faust’s working place is close from here.”

“Really?” The Boss raised a brow. “It’s been a long time since we last saw each other.”

The news on the TV changed into the news about the most famous recreational activity and job right now. Hearing that, they paused to watch the news.

[…and war is just around the corner!] The female news anchor was joined by a male anchor and he made a comment that was really attention grabbing. [It‘s been four weeks since we last saw a siege war. And now, I think the Titan Goliath Guild is following the trend.]

[Right.] The female news anchor replied. [They‘ve just announced their acknowledgement on attacking the second largest fortress of the Sylphiadora Guild. All for the crime, according to them, of snatching a rare MOD that was supposed to land on the hands of the TGG.]

[Well, that was a serious crime in Terroa.]

[It really is.]

[MODs. Rare and very valuable. I wonder what kind of MOD is it that they will launch that large scale of an attack.]

[I heard that it was a Special Type.]

The female news anchor clapped her hands. [Oh! I think it was understandable. If that was me, I‘d also be angry at anyone who stole it from me.]

[Well, we can only look forward to this event.]

[Yes it is. Well, that‘s for tonight folks…]

[See you again tomorrow. I‘m Kathleen Brew.]

[I’m Brad Goldoni. Don‘t change your channel. There is more about this war in Terroa Day Today. Up next.]

The Boss’s eyes were dragged to the TV and he smiled even more when he heard that people are into that game. People were treating it as their way of living while actually enjoying its very essence.

News like these are one of their way to confirm the increasing popularity of their business.

“Money is really everything in this world.” The Boss added and he waved a hand on the two. “I’ve decided. Let’s pay our old friend a visit.”

On that prompt, Rude nodded and turned to the speaker phone on his right back side. He picked up the hand piece and pressed the device on his ear. He then pressed a holographic button that appeared and ordered for the driver to change their destination. And at that, the limousine’s smooth sailing maneuver turned to a U-turn and converted their direction on the busy highway.

***

…Rex was staring blankly at the door of their house doing nothing, just waiting for the sour prickling pain on his face fade away with the cold of the night.

While the night deepened for the seconds building up into minutes, he remained there fixedly staring at the base of their door ten meters away.

Inside, he could hear faint voices of his parents talking to each other. And by the sound of his mother stomping her high heels on the Narra (a type of expensive wood) floor, Rex knew that she was in her agitated mode.

That was another reason why he still can’t muster the strength to open the door—let alone approach it.

When he looked up and saw the stars with the orange and purple stripes in the clear dark canvas, a heavy sigh escaped his chest.

“I’m the worst.”

It was neither rebuttal nor self mocking. The sigh was actually for the regret he would feel again as he knew that he was about to mess her mother’s mood, again.

Still, with the life seeping out of their door in this time of the night, Rex’s lips curved into a smile as he came to murmur to himself.

“Sorry mom…”

——A man must always bear the weight of his actions.

As he bitterly thought of this, he looked up again and just let the noise inside permeate his consciousness.

It was a nice evening in the Kingsley household.

The father, a famous doctor, in his white under polo, reading a newspaper on the couch and waiting for his wife to finish her rituals, and the mother--also a famous doctor, was putting the last touches of make-up to her beautiful features. For a 36-year old, her magnificence was an utter betrayal to her biological age.

The reason for these lively notions was that they were about to attend a formal gathering with some important conglomerate people in a certain hotel.

It was a work-related thing.

No. More like, it was obligatory. The two’s face clearly show that discontented look. They had no choice but to attend even though they don’t want to. And another reason why they look anxious is because of the person standing in front of their door silently.

The doctors were waiting for their eldest son to come home from school so he could look after the house and young Baron who was already asleep. But regarding the time he should have been home, Rex was already 4 hrs late. This was enough to cause them to worry.

The Kingsley Family is a family of four, with the three year old Baron being 16 years younger than his kuya.

As per the eldest, well, he was what every little brother and loving parents would wish for. Gifted with strong sense of justice, responsibility, wits, and big chunks of charm, he took care of Baron and practically becoming a father as their parents, for the past three years since the young lad was born, has always been busy.

So eventually, the brothers became close.

Rex would always play with Baron whenever he has time. And even though there are times that he doesn’t, he always make sure that he can provide one.

In school, however, he has a rather different persona.

As a freshman university student and a world-class athlete in Tennis, he was an image of glory. He took care of his classmates, and eventually his entire school, becoming a legendary existence that excelled on both sports and general academic studies.

Also, as the Unified Government still has its own devil to purge out of its system, specifically the street level, adding the fact that he was a young man that has a strong sense of justice, his name resounded along with a reputation.

He was the defender of the weak and yet an idol image for the strong. He wasn’t a vigilante, but it was just that given his fame and strong charms came jealousy from those who had lesser blessings in their physical life.

And yet, the reason he just stood there, unable to enter their house was also from another reason.

To put it simply, he was afraid of facing his parents who endlessly talked about him suppressing his strong urge of responsibility. What he did earlier should have just been left for the police to handle.

But he knew himself. Rex is also a man. He has his pride. But most of all, if it’s against the protesters who threatens his family, he was also an older brother. So he had grounds for the cause of these bruises and marks on his face and body.

He had spent 2-yrs of his puberty in this regard.

But, well, things do change over time. Especially since one and a half year ago…

Amassing the right strength, Rex let go of another sigh and took a step forward. The external LED light turned on and it shed light on the house’s main door with him.

The moment Rex stepped in, his mother greeted him with a frown.

She was about to snarl at him for being late but stopped midway when she saw his face. There and then, her anger evaporated and she stared at him for the next few moments.

Her eyes weren’t directed on his expression but to the bluish grey marks just beside his left eye and the dried up blood from the fresh wound on his lower lip.

She ignored the incoming damage to her gorgeous red gown and the way it might get stained from Rex’s muddied school uniform, as she hurriedly hugged her son without a single care.

“You did it again?” His mother said, half angry, half worried. “Rex, just how many times do I have to see you like this?”

“Tsk. You know why I‘m doing this.”

As he spoke, Rex averted his eyes to avoid making contact with his mother’s. But the act only made her more worried.

Placing a gentle hand on his face, Rex’s expression vanished on the clouds of hurt. It was obvious that the wounds and marks on his face was painful. He never had the strength to resist his mother’s caring touch, the softest, warmest, most comforting hand he had ever known.

Everything he was going through, all of it, in just that single motherly act, everything was exploited in front of her. There was nothing he could hide, it was clearly visible in front of her mother’s eyes.

Then, from the corner of the house, his father peeked through wearing the same concerned expression with his mother.

Hearing the rustling noise of his feet, his mother turned to his father wearing eyes almost about to give up.

“Honey…”

“Son.”

“I know, dad. I’m sorry.” Rex, facing defeat, pulled down his mother’s hand and lowered his head in front of his father.

He shook his head lightly and placed a hand on Rex’s shoulder. “Violence will seed acts of violence. The more you use it, the deeper it engraves itself to your soul.”

I know that already, Rex thought. But he also thought that he didn’t. More like, the meaning still eludes him.

“But dad, if I don’t fight them, they will continue to threaten our safety. If I don’t fight back and show them how to fear me, then someday…Baron…they might…”

Rex couldn’t help but ball his fists as he gritted his teeth trying to contain his anger.

“It’s not yours to worry over. Let them be, Rex.” His mother interrupted. “Your father’s and my work is just being misunderstood right now because it is still not widely accepted. But we believe that the day will come where people will recognize it as something that the current society needs.”

“But the protesters, they’re going too far…” As much as he wanted to hide it, the pain and fear in his chest was so great it became tears flowing down his cheeks.

His mother couldn’t bear the look on his son’s sobbing so she hugged her son and held her husband’s hand.

“I’m sorry.” Rex murmured, “I was just afraid they’d hurt Baron someday so I… I tried to warn them but it turned into a brawl and…and…”

“Ssshhh…” Rex’s mother hugged Rex and caressed his back while giving a sad gaze on her husband. “It’s okay now. We are safe. Just let it all out.”

Rex, no matter how strong and solid his front was, he was still just a young man who has yet to pass his teen years. Fearing Baron being threatened by the protesters was unimaginable that the feeling itself manifested as an impulse to give out a defensive offense.

He did so to protect his brother’s future.

The sobs were deep. It was full of pain, regret, and the escaping pent up fears in his chest. Rex cared for his family so much that he was willing to jump into the fire to suffer burns just to save them.

Unable to take it any longer, his father, firmed his hand on Rex’s shoulder, as he took a sigh and smiled at him.

“So, how many are there this time?” he asked in a tone that earned a sharp unbelieving glance from his wife.

From his lowered head, Rex chuckled as he looked at his father and made a shy face before he answered.

“Five.”

His father chuckled and his mother elbowed him as he whispered, “You sure are getting better at this” before stopping at his wife’s now burning glance.

It was a warm moment and Rex’s fears and anxieties vanished in the effective comforting ways of his father.

Small laughter emerged from them and Rex wiped his tears with his sleeve.

At that moment, small rustling noises came by behind the three and from the bedroom, they all looked at that direction with softened expressions.

In there, the 3-year old Baron in fruity white pyjamas dragging along his hotdog pillow was rubbing his eyes and yawning.

“Uuurgh…kuya?”

Escaping his parents’ warm embrace, Rex, with smooth gestures, took a quick stride and went to pick his baby brother up, placing him on his shoulders and caressing his back as they went back inside his room.

“I’m here. Kuya’s here.”

Rex said it as soft and as playfully as he can, gently cuddling Baron and feeling his small embrace tighten on his neck along with another yawn.

“I caught…mumble, mumble… terfly, mumble…”

Rex chuckled heartily on every instance that Baron did the mumbling right beside his ear. To learn that he had caught a butterfly in the garden earlier today, he must have worked really hard at it. Rex promised himself that he will dedicate the morning tomorrow to listen to Baron’s story about it.

These were those moments that Rex wholly committed a portion of his brain’s memory area to remember. And as he chuckled hearing the rumblings coming from the already half asleep Baron, he gently lowered his center of gravity after they had reached the bed.

He laid his head, tugging the hotdog pillow on Baron’s left cheek that he pulled to himself then making a warm satisfied smile.

“…kuya…strong…mumble, be like mumble…”

Watching Baron, Rex kneeled down beside the bed and continued to break down to a frown as he laid flatly on his back on the carpeted floor.

It was then that he saw his parents on the door with a bright light on their background, something that made Rex feel warm and yet ominous at the same time. Raising his body, he sighed again and sat down to the small chair he pulled from beside the bed.

Without looking behind him, Rex spoke while staring at the sound asleep face of his brother.

“Mom, Dad, I will protect Baron. No matter what, I will do it with these two hands.”

Rex said it and glared furiously at his clenched fists.

No reply came from the two from the door but instead, they approached Rex and his dad turned on the lamp light on the table beside the bed to a dim glow.

The soft light on the side table was lighting the gentle face of Baron. At that, they all watched the tiny chest rise and fall while the face who owned it appeared adorable with a smile on his fruit filled pyjamas.

“We can’t go like this.” His mother said, placing a hand on Rex’s shoulder. “Not when I saw such a beautiful sight.”

“Rex, your mother and I…we decided something.”

“What is it?”

“I think we needed a break.” His mother looked at her husband and he nodded placing a gentle hand on Rex’s shoulder.

“We’re going for an outing this weekend.” He said.

Looking back at his sleeping brother, Rex turned his head to them and smiled with a nod.

“Yeah, I think we really needed the break.” He said and his parents smiled back at him that night that he would never ever forget.

Weekend.

The time came faster and they were already in the midst of their car travel. Rex and Baron was sitting on the back, enjoying the provincial view in the Express Way. Nearing a provincial Exit, his mother sitting beside his father leaned back and smiled at them. Rex on the left side looked at his sleeping brother and fixed the seat belt on his shoulder, making sure that it was tied.

Rex smiled back on her and dragged his eyes up front.

In the express way, divided by steel railings and concrete blocks, a cargo truck went out of its way and lost its balance. It hit the railings and the impact was enough to create a spark that soon changed into the sight where the metal railing snapped.

A part stabbed the truck’s front, killing the driver on the spot, then the body of the truck skidded aside, letting its cargos go out of its locks and pour on the high way.

Rex’s eyes widened in shock from what happened and before he could even react, the large shadow befell on their car, hitting the engine part. The impact automatically ruined the front part of their vehicle and flipped the whole car vertically. It rocked them all inside like a violent whirlpool, meanwhile, all he could hear are the screams of his mother and the painful cries of his baby brother.

The car landed on its broken front side and rolled like a barrel for three times.

Blood were spilled inside the car.

Still, disaster did not stop there. The speeding car next to them also met the same fate and it hit them on the right side. It was worst than their situation and the car engine exploded, burning whoever was inside.

Three more exploding sounds followed that and the highway was filled with smokes and wails. The deathly sight was enough to put anyone‘s stomach upside down and scattered bodies of those unfortunate passengers of a bus could be seen everywhere.

Blood was spilled on the highway, body parts were here and there, everything was in chaos. Death was widely spread like seeds on a farm.

It only took a few moments and like a snap of a finger, lives were lost just like that.

Pedestrians, onlookers, video freaks, image junkies, and even the media were crowding there one by one. No one helped anyone for they were afraid to cause more harm than help.

In a dazed state, Rex woke up and he immediately felt that he can move his whole body. It was thanks to him being tied on their car’s back seat that he could move.

His first thought was Baron and he saw him unconscious with a line of blood drawn into his left cheek.

“Baron…” His call came as a whisper.

He felt an unexplainable pain on his throat and dragged his hand there. He felt something hard and pulled it, removing a piece of metal that was stuck on his flesh.

Ignoring the pain and the piece of metal, he checked his brother’s condition. The blood was flowing from his head. That sight brought forth two kinds of news in him. One, he was alive, and that made him happy. The second thought made him grim for the blood was coming from Baron’s head and it wasn’t stopping. If help come to him later than sooner, he could lose his life from more complications.

Rex couldn’t swallow. His throat was bleeding and he felt the disgusting yet familiar taste of blood in his mouth.

With his breath getting shorter, he glanced at his parents’ side and felt the world collapse on where he was. Tears flowed on his eyes as he saw them. While holding her left hand, his father was stabbed with a piece of the railings. He was dead. And his mother, crushed by the impact of the car that collided on them, was also dead.

The tears flowing in his eyes became a decoration as he unwittingly burned the image on his memory.

He tried to call for them, at least try to check if they would at least reply, but there was nothing. There wasn’t even a sense to check if they are alive or not.

His father had been skewered right to his body and basing from the dent on the passenger side, it would be a great miracle if his mother would still be alive.

He cursed the fact that he knew that. He cursed himself for being able to think like that. Right now, being an honor student made him a loser. He cursed the fact that he knew they were dead, killing the hope that they are alive even before he could think straight.

Still he called out to them. “Mom…dad…”

His hands shook. He felt his body failing him now.

Pain was slowly creeping its way on his skin. His left flank was hurting. A metal bar had grazed his body, creating a wound that seemed like it was a faucet for blood.

His vision was getting hazy. Still, he moved.

His only goal now was to free his brother. He tried to remove the lock but the impact of the car had damaged the right side that it was impossible to reach for the lock.

Looking around, he saw the shrapnel he pulled earlier in his throat and picked it up. With trembling fingers, he tried to cut the belt tying his brother to the backseat.

Meanwhile, the sound of liquid flowing from somewhere entered his ears and Rex knew from the smell that it was not water.

He quickened his pace, cutting his finger and the belt at the same time. The flame started to crawl its way from the burning car to their direction. In his peripheral vision, he could see that the red flames from the burning car were slowly crawling towards their direction like a swaying zombie.

“There are still people alive here!” Rex heard voices from outside.

“Help!” He tried to scream but the pain in his throat was enough to stop the words in a whisper. He puked blood to clear his mouth along with the tightening of his breathing. He swallowed but the pain was even greater so he just kept on his activity while letting it all flow out his mouth like a drool.

His hands were filled with his own blood, but the belt was nearing its limit. Finally, it snapped and he grabbed Baron, embracing him, checking if there were further injuries he had sustained.

Upon knowing that aside from the head injury, there was nothing more to worry about, he tried to open the door to his side to escape.

“Kuh…Sh..it….!!”

The door on his side was locked with the piece of metal that injured him. The door on the other side was also useless since the burning car and its dead driver was there. The smell of gasoline entering his nose was enough to cause him to panic.

With no other way out, he punched up, hitting the back window.

There is still hope! He yelled to himself.

Rex began to pound the glass with his still able hand, punching until his fist bled more. His left arm was hurting like hell but he endured it and kept holding his brother. The window cracked yet still far from getting smashed, still, he punched continuously until his fist began to bleed more than the faucet on his left flank.

He couldn’t care less even if he was using his bones to smash the window, the thought of letting his brother burn there with him had prevented his brain from thinking about his own safety.

It was a luxury, he thought bitterly and swallowed the blood on his mouth to let himself breathe.

I won’t let my brother die here!

Rex continued to punch until the window cracked and began to take shape. When he had created a hole in there, he saw a civilian’s shadow suddenly appeared holding a piece of metal.

“Get out of the way!” The man screamed.

He used the metal to hit the window and it shattered.

The man pulled Baron and Rex up, grimaced when he saw Rex’s body in that bloody complexion. The man’s eyes spoke of empathy, pulling them to safety a few meters away. Then, when he saw another man came to them, he screamed to him to call for an ambulance and help the people around.

In the midst of that, Rex glanced back and saw that the fire had made its way to the gasoline line on their car.

His reflexes acted faster than he could think and he anchored his body, quickly protecting the man who held Baron as a reaction to the impending thought.

“Get down!”