Jay-Jay's POV
Did they get inside? What happened to my cousin and Sir Alvin?
Did they fall? Could something bad have happened to them?
Where are the Vipers now?
My breathing was deep. I didn't know what to do next. I should do something. I needed to move, but my mind was blank.
"Hurry! While they're distracted outside!" one of them shouted.
I dropped my phone when I heard the doorknob turn. I didn't lock it.
You should have locked the door.
I'm such an idiot! In my panic, I didn't notice that I had failed to lock it, just as Kuya Angelo instructed.
The door swung open, and three men covered in tattoos on their arms and necks appeared before me. They were as tall as the Vipers, but their bodies were more muscular—clearly seasoned in fights.
"There she is," one of them said, grinning widely along with his companions.
They entered slowly, scanning the entire room.
"Ram said to cripple her, break her arms so she can't fight back. Just make sure to bring her to him alive."
Shit. If they're going to kill me anyway, why do they want to torture me first?
They laughed, and as one of them turned to me, he swung the baseball bat he was holding. I dodged by stepping back. I quickly grabbed the stool near me. I won't go down without a fight.
"So it's true—she fights back."
I stepped back, gripping the stool as they slowly advanced. I could still fight. I just wasn't sure if I could fight someone like them.
One of them charged at me, but before he could swing his weapon, I threw the stool at him and kicked him hard in the stomach. His back slammed into the study table before he fell to the ground, groaning in pain. It seemed like I got him good.
The remaining two got furious and cursed at me repeatedly. They swung their weapons at me at the same time, but I managed to back away quickly. I threw whatever I could grab next—I didn't even realize what they were.
It was embarrassing since none of these things were mine. I guess I'll just replace or pay for them later once this mess is over.
One of them got hit in the face, but I didn't notice the other one getting close.
The next thing I knew, my back hit the wall, and his hand was around my neck. I couldn't clearly see where he was positioned, so I just kicked wildly, hoping to hit something. And I did—I landed a blow on his leg, making him let go of me.
Even though I was gasping for air, I immediately moved away from him. But I forgot there were still others.
The guy I had hit in the face had already gotten back up, ready to retaliate, but I punched him before grabbing a pipe I spotted on the floor. I hit him with it and ran out as fast as I could.
I needed to find Kuya.
I stopped. I couldn't go to him.
If Ram's group had already taken him down, like I feared, then who would ask for help for him? I needed to get out of here and call for help. That would be the best way I could help because I didn't stand a chance against them.
I ran toward the back of the house. I climbed over their small fence to escape.
I saw another group entering through the back. They seemed separate from the ones in front and those who had already gotten inside earlier.
Thankfully, they didn't notice me.
I landed on the other side and ran. The grass was tall and overgrown, making it hard to see the path. I tripped several times and almost fell.
Why did Sir and Ma'am even decide to build a house in the mountains?
I stopped when I heard Kuya Angelo calling my name. I looked around but couldn't see him.
"JAY!"
I knew it was Kuya. I knew that voice. But where was he? Did that mean he wasn't hurt? What happened to Ram?
I was confused, but it would be best if I could find him. I tried following the direction of his voice, but because of the tall grass and plants blocking my way, I tripped and fell.
Damn it!
I was about to get up and look for Kuya again when I heard voices not too far from me.
"IDIOTS! FIND HER!"
I covered my mouth.
I couldn't just stand up—they would see me immediately. I couldn't call out to Kuya because they might find me first. I had to get out of here without them noticing.
Even though my knees and elbows hurt, I forced myself to crawl away. I carefully raised my head to check if anyone was nearby. I saw a few of them, so I ducked back down and crawled again.
"KEIFER AND THE OTHERS ARE ALMOST HERE! HURRY UP AND FIND HER!"
The Vipers were coming!
My prayers were answered. It felt like a weight had been lifted from my chest upon hearing that, but I couldn't let my guard down.
I crawled again, and when I spotted a big tree, I quickly stood up and hid behind it. I peeked at them for a moment before searching for another tree to hide behind.
I was beyond grateful that they hadn't seen me. I had gotten far enough, and just as I was about to move to another tree, someone grabbed me and covered my mouth.
My eyes widened as I caught the scent of fresh blood.
I struggled desperately to break free.
"Jay, it's me," the person whispered.
It was Kuya's voice. I looked up, and our eyes met.
He let go of me, and suddenly, my stomach churned from the stench of blood.
I staggered back, fearfully searching for the source of the smell.
"Where... where is all that blood from?" I asked, but my question was answered the moment I saw his side.
"It's just a graze. That bastard Ram sure knows how to fight," he said, scanning the surroundings.
I couldn't tear my eyes away from his wound. It felt like I was struggling to breathe.
Why did it feel like something was choking me?
"I need to find a place to hide you, then I will go back to help Alvin."
I sat down, dizzy. Kuya hesitated for a moment, but when we heard voices, he immediately grabbed my hand and pulled me away.
I couldn't even complain because of how I felt.
"Ram didn't just bring one group. He also escaped from me after attempting to stab me."
I had no idea how far we were from the house, but I was already struggling to breathe. Kuya was moving so fast. My mind wasn't working properly because of all the blood he was losing.
I felt like throwing up.
He suddenly stopped. I thought we could finally rest, but then we both froze as a group appeared before us.
Ram led them, his hands still covered in blood, gripping a knife.
I panicked even more. Why was there so much blood?
He smirked at us. "I just realized who you are," he said to Kuya, pointing at him with the knife. "You're Angelo, a fucking legend."
"No wonder our men fell," one of his companions said.
"Too bad—we outsmarted you," Ram bragged, laughing.
I was struggling to understand what was happening. Sweat trickled down my face and neck. My gaze remained fixed on Kuya's side.
My breathing grew heavier, and as they talked, I found myself slowly sinking to the ground.
Bottom of Form
I want to get away. I don't want to see blood. I don't like blood.
My heart was pounding so fast, and my chest started to ache.
"Jay, you need to hide," Kuya said.
I instinctively stepped back, completely confused by what was happening. I couldn't move properly. I knew I had to do something, but my body refused to cooperate. I forced myself to take deep breaths.
What's happening to me?
"JAY! I SAID HIDE!" my cousin shouted.
I didn't realize that Ram's group had already charged forward. I took the chance to distance myself from them, struggling to stand and preparing to run when suddenly, someone grabbed my hair.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Breathing became even harder, and tears automatically streamed down my face. Ram pointed the knife he was holding at my face and laughed when he saw that I couldn't fight back.
Keifer.
He tried to drag me, but since I was struggling to move, he had a hard time pulling me. He tightened his grip on my hair, making me scream in pain.
"Follow me! We're going to wait for Keifer!"
I desperately looked around for someone who could help me, but my vision was too blurry. My knees were weak, and I collapsed again. Ram cursed repeatedly but suddenly fell silent and let go of me.
When I lifted my gaze, Kuya Angelo was standing in front of me. He shielded me, subtly reaching his hand toward me while keeping his back turned to me.
"Get up, Jay," he whispered.
Instead of taking his hand, I screamed when I saw the blood flowing. I quickly backed away from him, gasping for air.
Get me out of here!
My cousin turned to look at me, but that gave Ram's remaining men the opportunity to attack. Kuya fought against four men armed with pipes and wooden sticks on his own. He was hit several times and dropped to his knees, but he quickly recovered.
"SON OF A BITCH! STOP MAKING THIS HARD FOR US!"
Ram took the chance to charge at me again, but Kuya blocked him once more. Enraged, Ram swung his knife wildly, slashing my cousin. I screamed as his blood splattered in front of me. I desperately crawled backward, away from them.
Somebody help me! Keifer!
"That's it!" one of them shouted.
They struck him again and again with their weapons. Ram joined in, stabbing my cousin multiple times. Though only a few strikes landed, Kuya kept blocking them to keep them from getting to me.
"FUCK YOU! JUST DIE ALREADY!" one of them screamed.
I leaned against a tree, my chest tightening painfully. I was literally struggling to breathe and could barely move.
Keifer! Where are you?
I wanted to scream as loud as I could. I wanted to let out everything inside me.
Only two men were left fighting Kuya. Ram attempted to get to me again, but my cousin blocked him once more. One of them tried to strike Kuya's head, but he dodged. Unfortunately, Ram took that moment to stab my cousin in the neck.
HE GOT HIT!
I covered my face in terror. They were going to kill Kuya Angelo.
I tried to call his name, but only weak sounds came out of my mouth.
SOMEBODY HELP US! HELP MY COUSIN!
"Jay!" Kuya called my name.
When I looked up, he was kneeling before Ram, clutching the side of his neck as blood trickled from the wound. One of the last two men he had been fighting had already fallen.
"I'm still alive. We're not done yet," he told Ram.
Ram was clearly exhausted, breathing heavily. Blood still dripped from his knife, and a slow smirk formed on his lips. I couldn't tell if he was impressed that my cousin was still standing despite his injuries or if he was simply about to finish him off.
"Damn it, you're even harder to bring down than Keifer," Ram sneered, irritation evident in his tone.
He glanced at his knife, then eyed Kuya. I immediately sensed what he was about to do, but I was too weak—I could only scream.
Ram attempted to stab my cousin in the head, but he was suddenly punched hard in the ribs. The impact was so strong that he collapsed, writhing in pain, and it looked like his ribs had broken.
"I just rested to give you that blow."
Ram could do nothing but groan and scream in agony. My cousin stood up and walked toward him.
"You should have stayed in the hospital," he said, then kicked Ram in the stomach.
He struck Ram's chest and ribs several times before landing a powerful punch to his face. Ram lost consciousness. At first glance, he looked dead, but I saw his fingers twitch slightly.
My cousin took a moment to catch his breath, inhaling deeply as he touched the wound on his neck. He also inspected his other arm and hand, both of which had cuts and blood. He exhaled and stood tall.
I was still struggling, and my condition worsened as my chest tightened even more. My dizziness blurred my vision further, and everything around me started fading into darkness. Each heartbeat felt like a countdown to unconsciousness. I forced my eyes to stay open, but the light in my vision flickered.
"Let's go back home," Kuya Angelo said. "I know Alvin is done beating the others."
Kuya slowly turned to me, but for some reason, he started looking different.
An enraged face, blood streaming from his neck down his body, labored breathing—he was looking at me while slowly walking closer.
What am I seeing?
Fear consumed my entire body. I didn't recognize him, yet somehow, every part of me knew who he was. I also started hearing a woman's voice, but it was unclear.
"W-Who are you?" I asked in fear.
I stepped back when he moved closer.
"Who are you? D-Don't come near me!"
The situation felt eerily familiar. I knew this had happened before, but why couldn't I remember?
I grew even more terrified when he took another step forward. I tried to back away, but the tree behind me prevented me from escaping. I stomped my feet in panic, clutching my tightening chest.
I couldn't move. I felt like a chained dog—like my entire body was restrained, suffocating me.
"Stay away!" I screamed, sobbing.
The woman's voice became clearer. Familiar. Extremely familiar. I turned my gaze, searching for her. Each time my vision darkened, the surroundings changed, but I always returned to the present scene.
What's happening to me?
I looked past the man and saw a wounded, bloodied woman lying on the ground, desperately reaching out to me.
I knew her. I was certain I knew her.
MOM!
"RUN . . ."
She was trying to say something, but I struggled to understand her.
I knew it was Mom. I had seen this scene before.
". . . MY CHILD . . . RUN!"
As soon as I understood her words, I lifted my gaze. To my horror, the man was already right in front of me. His face was full of rage, and I knew he wanted to hurt me.
"I'LL KILL YOU BOTH!"
I screamed loudly, stomping my feet. The pressure that had been building up in my chest erupted in a desperate cry. I fought back, throwing punches, but I couldn't tell if I was actually hitting him.
Whoever you are, go away!
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" I screamed as tears streamed down my face.
I didn't know how to defend myself. All I knew was that I couldn't let him hurt me.
I couldn't die by his hands.
I couldn't let him touch me.
I couldn't let him win.
I don't know how long I've been fighting him, but it feels like an eternity. It seems like hours have passed, yet he remains unaffected. If I stop, he'll surely kill me.
"STAY AWAY FROM ME!"
Suddenly, someone wrapped their arms around me, pinning both of my arms, rendering me immobile. Panic and fear surged through me.
He touched me!
"Jay-Jay!"
I kept screaming, kicking, and struggling to break free from the grip holding me.
"Jay-Jay!"
The voice called my name several more times before I recognized it. It was familiar.
Keifer?
"Jasper Jean, open your eyes!"
"Listen to me, open your eyes!"
"Jay, please listen!"
I opened my eyes as he pleaded, and the first thing I saw was Keifer's face. A strange sense of relief washed over me at the sight of him. I wanted to cry loudly in his arms, but now wasn't the time.
Why did you take so long?
"GET ME OUT OF HERE! HE'S GOING TO KILL ME!" I screamed, still trying to break free.
"Calm down! No one will hurt you!"
But I didn't listen. I kept sobbing and struggling to escape his grip.
"What's happening to Jay-Jay?"
"Should we pour water on her? Maybe she'll calm down."
"Idiot! She's panicking, and you want to pour water on her?"
Slowly, I began to understand—they were here. Keifer and my friends had arrived.
Am I safe now?
"Calm down, Jay. I'm here. We're here," Keifer said.
I was still crying uncontrollably, but little by little, I stopped resisting. His voice, repeating over and over like a lullaby, telling me to calm down, that they were here, made me feel safe. My chest ached, and fear still gripped me, but I knew he was by my side.
"No one is going to hurt you"
No one.
It took me a long time to calm down so it took a long time for him to let go of me.
I hugged the King of Cobras crying. I wanted to complain to him. I wanted to tell him everything that happened. I also wanted to be angry at them for taking so long.
But I wanted to cry more because they were finally here.
Why did you take so long?
"Sshhh... You have nothing to be afraid of."
"Why are you here now?"
He kissed the side of my head. "I'm so sorry. We helped Sir Alvin first. We thought you were inside the house."
"Don't leave me again, please," I pleaded.
He tightened his embrace. "I won't."
I was still trembling with fear and struggling to breathe, but little by little, I was calming down. As long as he stayed by my side.
"I need help. We have to move Angelo to the house," I heard Yuri say, making us turn to him.
Worry shot through me when I saw my cousin unconscious. He was still covered in blood, just like before I... before I...? Before I saw a man I didn't recognize.
Who did I see earlier? Why did I also see Mama?
"I think we should take him to the hospital," David suggested as he moved to help Yuri carry my cousin.
Other Vipers, like Felix, Rory, and Edrix, stepped in to help.
"W-What happened to Kuya? Did I do that?" I asked fearfully.
Keifer stood up, and to my surprise, in one swift motion, he lifted me in his arms. I clung to him tightly.
"Keifer attacked your cousin from behind," Rory tattled, and I heard Felix and Edrix chuckle softly.
Huh?
"Sometimes, you need to calm down," Yuri scolded.
"Tss. How was I supposed to know? I thought he was an enemy, and he was doing inappropriate things to Jay-Jay," the King grumbled.
He attacked my cousin because he thought he was someone else. I think it was my fault because of my screaming and panic. I was so terrified because of the man I saw.
I felt weak, drained. My chest was still tight, and I was crying softly. The dizziness I felt earlier was now replaced by drowsiness.
I just wanted to close my eyes.
"Jay?" Keifer called, but I couldn't respond.
"Hey, hey, don't close your eyes."
I wanted to obey him, but I couldn't. My body was completely drained, and besides that, I felt so cold.
"Hurry! Get her to the house!" David shouted at Keifer, who wasted no time following the command.
I could feel Keifer running, but I didn't get to find out if we reached the house. Because I lost consciousness.
I just really wanted to sleep.