Chapter 7- The Riot

*Adelaide Sheridan*

"Huwag kang tatakas okay?" Bilin sakin ng isang lalaking may magandang mata, habang iginagapos ako sa isang upuan na nasa kampo nila. He don't look foreign but he has gray eyes that can capture anyone's attention, I think he's wearing a graded lenses, he's physically fit and has a good posture, If i'm not mistaken he's name is Khalil.

"Paano ako makakatakas kung masyadong mahigpit ang pagkakatali mo sa kamay ko?" sakay ko sa sinabi niya. Nginitian niya lang naman ako.

"Sinong magbabantay dito?" Tanong nung isang lalake na sa biglang tingin aakalain kong si Benitez dahil hawig sila, this guy is Cohen na mukhang laging seryoso ang pagmumukha.

"Mas okay siguro kung si Loren na ang magbantay sa kanya." Sagot ni Khalil na napasulyap pa sa babaeng tinawag niyang Loren. Matangkad, maganda, sexy, mukha rin siyang matalino. Hindi ko ba alam pero parang may something nung tinawag niya ang pangalang Loren. It sounds so dearly. Does he like Loren? Hindi ko maiwasang titigan silang dalawa na para bang kinikilatis nang mabuti ang mga galaw at tingin nila sa isa't isa, anyway bagay sila.

Si Khalil mukhang concern kay Loren. Si Loren parang wala namang pake. I think there's a barrier Loren built around her. That's so me. Lumapit si Khalil kay Loren at iniabot dito ang isang 45 caliber na baril.

"Kapag may umatake barilin mo kaagad." Bilin niya dito habang mariin niyang tinititigan ang babae. May gusto ba talaga siya kay Loren? Tinignan lang ni Loren ang baril na inabot niya bago ito kinuha, naglakad siya palapit sakin at ni hindi man lang siya nagpukol ng tingin sa lalaking patuloy paring nakatingin sa kanya. Do they have lover's quarrel?

Lahat ng kasama nila, tulad ko ay mukhang na-awkward din sa inasal nilang dalawa. Walang umiimik sa kanila at parang mga batang takot magsalita.

"Ahem." Someone behind me cleared his throat. Ni hindi ko man lang namalayan na may tao pala sa likod ko.

I turned my head slightly to see the man behind me with my peripheral vision, I saw a guy who's 5'7 tall, tanned skin and has a perfect detailed face wearing a pair of eyeglasses. He was named Dimitri. Ah, this one was said to be Miranda's favorite. Favoritism, tsk...

"Takpan ko muna yang mata mo ah? Masyado kang interesado sa kanila eh." He said as he set a blindfold on my eyes.

"So what? Bawal silang tignan?" Naiinis kong tanong. Alam kong ako ang napili nilang maging hostage pero hindi naman nasabi sakin na totoong totoo pala ang gagawin nilang panghohostage sakin.. bakit kailangang takpan ang mga mata ko?

"No, you're just not allowed to deduce their situation." he said as he walked away from me I think.

Did he see me staring at them? Why does he make conclusions on me deducing his teammate's situation? Aren't they too obvious? Kahit siguro bata maiintindihan na may LQ sila!

"Dimitri, would you mind being the lookout? Well kung papalarin sila't mararating ang campsite natin to rescue their princess baka, baka lang naman..mahirapan si Loren." narinig ko ulit ang boses ni Khalil.. Tsk.. Princess who? What the heck? Pwede naman kasing si Crisostomo ang ginawa nilang hostage, bakit ako pa?? Ewan ko ba sa lalaking yun? Kung anu-anong pinagsasasabi sa kanila. Ano siya? Sharp shooter?

"Let's go." I heard Khalil's voice again. I think they already left. So it's just me and this Loren girl.

"Ah excuse me. Loren?" I voiced out. I can't live with this situation. Being a hostage and no companions? Friendly naman ako eh, I guess?

"Yeah?" she asked me. I heard her voice clearly so I guess she's just a meter apart from me.

"Ahm... Can I have water? I'm thirsty." I said.

I don't know what to say, gusto ko lang ng kausap dahil nabobored ako at the moment. Alangan naman tanungin ko siya about sa kanila ni Khalil di ba? Hindi naman kami close, maya-maya pa ay nakaramdam ako ng isang bagay na isinubo niya sa akin, a straw. She let me sip the water. Oo nga naman kasi, nakatali nga pala ako. Humanda sakin si Crisostomo after ng training na to!

***

*Troy Conde*

"What did you say? Mag isa kang susugod sa kampo nila?" naguguluhang tanong ni Sebastian sakin. I just simply nodded.

"Can you really do it Troy?" tanong din ni Allen sakin. What's with them? At the end of the day no one can be harmed. This is just a game.

"You know me well Allen. You're the one who trained me. So tell me, can I really save Ady alone?" I put the pressure on him. If he thinks I'm too weak to be alone then I'll stay here. I'll let him decide.

He sighed before he bowed down and shook his head.

"I don't think you can do it by yourself. What if you harmed them?" he said while smiling at me.

"You know how I fight, fair and square." I said and he gave me a nod.

"Sandali nga wala bang makikinig sakin dito?" Angal ni Sebastian.

Tinignan ko siya at natahimik naman siya kaagad.

"You're the sharp shooter right?" I asked him. He didn't speak but gave me a nod instead.

"I need you to keep your eyes on the enemy. We need to save Ady but we need to ensure that no one can save our hostage too." I said. Napanganga siya sa sinabi ko.

"Do you really think I can do that?" he said. I think he's overwhelmed. I don't trust his abilities but I have no other choice.

"You'll be left here with Allen so I bet you can do it. Don't you trust your leader?" I said as I gave him a smirk.

"Huh?" yun lang ang nasabi niya. Ibinabalik ko lang naman sa kanya yung mga pinagsasabi niyang kahihiyan sa harap nila.

Lumakad na ko after kong ma discuss sa kanila ang plano.

The plan is to lure them. Mas marami sila samin kaya malamang lamang sila sa strength. Kaya kailangan namin gumamit ng utak para matalo sila. I know what they'll do, sa bilang palang nila alam kong ambush ang gagawin nila samin. And they will only left the girl to guard on Ady and their camp, such a cliche. I told Allen to hide. Para kapag nakita nila ang campsite iisipin nilang mag isa lang si Sebastian doon. They don't need to fight back hard. They just need to buy me time so I can save Ady. The rule is to rescue the hostage.

Habang naglalakad ako ay may narinig na akong tinig... Kaagad akong nagtago sa mga kugon na naka designed na dito sa field. This field was a training ground for newly hired agents. Hindi naman kami newly hired pero newly formed group. They need to see our capabilities individually and as a team also, that's why they held trainings like this.

Sinilip ko ng bahagya ang dalawang lalaking naglalakad patungo sa kampo namin. Hinintay ko pa silang makalayo bago ako nagpatuloy sa paglalakad ko. Kailangan ko ng magmadali, kailangan ko ng iligtas si Adelaide bago pa nila ako maunahan.

Inilibot ko ang aking paningin. Nakita ko si Adelaide na nakaupo sa kampo nila, nakagapos ang mga kamay at buong katawan niya sa upuan, bukod dun may piring din ang mga mata niya. Hindi ba parang sobra naman sila? Bakit naman nila ginawang parang totoong hostage si Ady? Kaagad akong napangiti nung pumasok sa isip ko ang sagot sa sarili kong tanong.

They are clever.

Ginawa nila yun para hindi kami makapag eye contact ni Ady. No hidden messages, no alliance, and there'll be no secret conversations between me and Ady. So even if I was here standing ten meters apart from her, she wouldn't know a thing. Sabagay, it's easy to lure them kung mag tutulungan kaming dalawa.

Nakakainis lang, hindi ko alam kung paano niya malalaman na nandito ako without making a fuss.

"Do you think we can win against your team?" I heard the girl asked Ady.

"I don't even know." Ady answered.

"Well I guess you're going to win against Khalil." She said as she sighed.

Why do I feel like this girl is rooting for our team?

"Talaga?" Ady asked her in confusion, I'm also confused.

"I just hope." The girl answered in a manner of sadness. I don't know but that's how I saw it, she's desperate to tell Ady that we should win. Whatever reasons she has, I don't care! All I care about is to save Ady and win against them.

When I saw her walk towards her another teammate (na kasalukuyang nagbabantay sa kabilang bahagi ng kampo), I immediately crawled to Ady's direction with all the effort of not being notice. Ang hirap pa naman maging camouflage kapag matangkad ka at very visible sa kahit na sino, well maliban sa kanila na kasalukuyang nakatingin sa ibang direction.

"Ady!" Tamang bulong ko lang sa kanya, the reason why she turned her head lightly to her right shoulder which proves that she heard me.

"Stay where you are, I'll go hide at the barn. Give me your signal when you're ready." I managed to whisper it at her back hoping that she heard it all, clearly.

Before I continued to crawl I gave her a folding defense knife, I left it in her hand and she closed her fist for them to not notice that she's holding something.

As planned, I hid myself in a barn where I can still see the two opponents and Ady's state. She's simply cutting the tightened thick jute rope in her hand, slowly but surely.

I just need to wait for her signal. And while waiting, I focus myself on setting the wireless earbuds bomb replica in my hand. It's a device used by agents for unprepared circumstances. This replica is less than one inch and is very invisible due to its skin toned color. This is a game so probably the replica is harmless and will just produce light explosions and also replicate its sound, it will only work when it touches the ground with a certain amount of force.

As I set the things up, I saw Ady nodded her head trice while still blinded by folds, I think that's her cue. I saw the girl walking towards her at the same time. I discarded the tiny bomb on my opposite side causing it to explode. They both attended the area of explosion while bowing down their heads. Before they can back to their senses Ady officially escaped from the rope and removed her blinds, she quickly attacked the girl by giving it a hard kick on her back. As for me, I'm moving carefully and quietly to reach them. As her opponent tasted the ground the guy immediately ran towards them to rescue his team mate. He planned to attack Ady as he was about to hold her hand, but before he could reach Ady's hand, I already grabbed his'.

"Don't you dare..." I arrogantly said and smirked at him.

****

*Allen Marque*

Napatingala ako sa langit at pinagmasdan ang asul nitong kulay. Maaliwalas ang buong paligid, mahangin at hindi masyadong mainit ang humahaplos na simoy nito sa balat ko. Tanging katahimikan lang ang nakikipag usap sakin. Sebastian was 50 meters apart from me and 20 meters apart from Aerin of Miranda's team. He's hiding on a higher portion of the land, he's good at shooting so we decided to lure them by both of us hiding and leave our hostage on our camp alone.

All I can do is to whistle rhymes of nurseries to ease the so called boredom. Bakit ang tagal nila? Excited pa naman akong harapin silang tatlo.

"Move." Someone commanded. I saw the opponent team approaching, I saw two persons holding their weapons. Wait? I thought there were three of them? Troy deduced that the situation here will be an ambush? So if there are two of them here it means that there are also two people guarding Ady? Well I guess they can make a way out. I admit that Ady and Troy are not easy to defeat. Both of them are the ace of the team. Sana lang hindi sila magkaroon ng commotion na maging rason ng pagkatalo namin. Well both of them are professionals so I guess it won't be hard for them.

I climbed up to the barn and waited for them. When the Khalil guy and Cohen stepped on my marked area I immediately jumped at them and fired my gun to inform Sebastian that they're here!

We rolled at the ground together but I can only reach this Cohen guy, and Khalil is now heading his way to save our hostage!

"I won't let you slide from doing that!" Cohen said as he stood up and stretched his arms together picking a fight on me.

"I won't let you win either!" I uttered as I smirked at him, we both attacked each other by giving out a hook on our faces!

He blocked mine as I blocked his punches. He then stepped forward to my back and twisted my right arm. He attacked my right knee using his' causing me to kneel at the ground. Of course I won't let him win! If I die here, only Sebastian can save our team!

"Argh!" I cried. I wished it didn't sprain or else I won't spare this little brother of our captain!

"Serves you right..." He said, as he pointed his gun on my sole! It is where my sensor tied up!

Did he see that? And intentionally kneel me so he can shoot my sensor?

"Don't you think it's too easy?" I said as I pushed him on the ground and stood up, I tried to step on his sensor fixed on his silvered pendant dog tag while he's lie-abed but he dodge it. He held my right foot and pulled it causing me to crash, and now we are rolling at the ground together! AGAIN!

****

*Sebastian Crisostomo*

I was busy guarding the hostage's spot. I was lying on the ground. Being ready for a sniper position when a gun's shot distracted me! That's Allen for sure! It's his signal! I saw the opponent's leader heading towards the hostage. I won't let him get away with her. I focus the sniper in him, scanning him to find his sensor. I checked his head, arms and thighs where we agents usually put the sensor but I failed to find his'. Where else could he possibly fix the sensor? Well if I were him I would put it in the area where anybody couldn't see it. I saw him reach Aerin and started untying her hands, at last he stopped moving. This time I could focus myself on finding his sensor. While scanning him for the second time, I noticed a piece of device with red light on his right ear. I smiled when I realized that, that's what I've been looking for! I fixed my sniper and focused on his right ear targeting his sensor, my right index finger is now ready to pull off the trigger. I saw him finish untying our hostage. As I was about to pull the trigger I heard a shot and saw its direction to my target. He suddenly bowed down his head causing the shot to miss.

"What the heck!! Sayang!" I exclaimed to myself. I saw Allen and Cohen holding a gun, twisting each other's hand, fighting with both of their feet and fists. They are so busy with their own manly fight and didn't bother to notice what happened! They missed a shot and also missed my shot at the target! The victory is so close for a moment but turns to a stone! Real quick!

I headed back to the target and I saw them rushing to leave! They're running away, already taking an escape? I stood up and started running towards them at the opposite side.

"Khalil! Sebastian is on his way!" Cohen warned them. Ang ayaw ko talaga sa lahat ay pakialamero! Saglit akong huminto sa tapat nila ni Allen na kasalukuyan pa rin sa match nila.

"What are you doing? Habulin mo sila!" sigaw ni Allen sakin.

Sinamaan ko muna ng tingin si Cohen na nakatingin din sakin dahilan para mapa kunot noo siya.

"If I'm a kid like you I would shoot your sensor right now while there are two of us versus you before I'll go and hunt your team! You're lucky, because I am not!" I said and left the both of them speechless!

Kahit kapatid siya ni Team Captain Benitez wala akong pakialam! Magsumbong na siya sa kuya niya! Sasamahan ko pa siya!

Tumakbo ako ng mabilis para habulin sila Khalil at ang hostage namin. Saglit akong nahinto sa pagtakbo nung mapansin kong parang wala na sila sa paligid. Saan ba nagtago yung mga yun? Imposible namang nakalayo na kaagad sila?

I turned my head left and right to find them, but I saw nothing. I stepped and turned my way back but someone attacked me!

Someone dared to punch me! Punch my face causing me to fall down. I saw Khalil and Aerin standing in front of me with a blurry sight. I think he accidentally hit my eye. Khalil grabbed my collar and pulled me up. He grabbed both of my arms together and placed it at my back, and this girl Aerin is now searching for my sensor.

"Enough searching Aerin, it's in his collar!" Khalil said. Well I won't be surprised. He grabbed my collar so I guess he noticed my sensor after that.

Aerin grabbed my collar to locate the sensor and she succeeded!

She then stretched her arms as a gun placed in her hands, oh great! A while ago I was their predator and a minute after I became their prey.

I closed my eyes as she was about to pull the trigger, I can't move because of this Khalil guy holding me tightly! I know I'm no match with him! But please! I don't want to disappoint my teammates and my captain! We need to beat their team! That Miranda girl needs to see that our team is better than hers!

I heard a shot followed by a girl's scream! I opened my eyes to see what just happened!

I saw Aerin wearing a shock on her face. My eyes went down to her hands. She's not holding anything right now, I saw her gun one meter away from her and in the distance is her broken sensor that's fixed in her hand before. I look at her face again, now she's wearing wrinkles in her forehead and she also looks disgusted. I look at her eyes' direction. Then suddenly the time stops! The colorful environment became dull and white. The excitement that I've felt this entire game turns dreadful. Everything that is meaningful became useless. I hated what I saw, and still hate remains to be the perfect word that fits to describe what I feel towards her!

"Who are you?" Khalil asked the girl who's now pointing her gun to him. He's still holding my arms and like me, he's still in shock.

"I'm Demeter Ortega, fifth member of the special team." she introduced herself with a fake smile worn on her angelic face. Looks really are deceiving.

"What?" the only word that Khalil guy uttered before we all heard another shot from Demeter's gun.

***

Author's Note: Please enjoy this chapter and let's all welcome Demeter Ortega on the next chapter.