The Rampage

"Welcome to the family, N18."

I looked at C1 who's now driving the car. I was caught off guard by his statement. I never knew he could start a conversation.

Hindi ako kumibo at patuloy lang na tinanaw ang naglalakihang mga gusali na nadadaanan.

Mula sa memorial park ay idineretso ko agad ang sasakyan sa rendezvous namin ni C1. After discarding the car by setting it on fire, we drove back to the facility.

"Paano ka napunta sa facility C1?" I asked out of nowhere. Gusto kong magbukas ng usapan para maalis kahit pansamantala ang mga bagay na gumugulo na naman sa aking isipan.

Sinulyapan niya ako mula sa rearview mirror na sinalubong ko naman.

"What? I'm just asking. Sa palagay ko naman ay hindi ka magsasalita kanina kung ayaw mong magbukas ng usapan. Come on, indulge me. I don't think we're bugged. Knowing the mistress, she'll prolly not allow it because her reputation will be at stake," pagdadahilan ko.

Ibinalik nito ang tingin sa daan at binagalan ang takbo ng sasakyan.

"It's best for you not to know even a pinch of my story N18. Less words, less nightmares at night."

"Nightmares are my sleeping pills. I welcome them like a rain during a drought. Having nightmares reminds me that I'm still a human with limitations. Malimit ko nang makalimutan ang bagay na iyan lalo na kapag nasa arena ako," sagot ko sa kaniya.

"I agree. I agree," he repeated.

Hinintay ko pang may idugtong siya pero sa aking pagkadismaya ay nanahimik na ito. Hindi ko na ring sinubukan pang kausapin siya. Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa labas at naglakbay na naman ang isip ko sa mga nangyari kanina.

Family. He said my family is waiting for my comeback. Are they really? At kung oo man, hindi ko na gugustuhing bumalik pa. Matagal ko na silang kinalimutan at ibinaon sa kailaliman ng aking isipan. For years, I've managed to live without them. Ngayon pa bang abot-kamay ko na ang pagiging full-fledged assassin?

Kung hindi lang namatay si Yaya Seling ay nuncang gugustuhin ko uling makita ang kanilang pagmumukha.

Sinira nila ako. Sila ang dahilan kung bakit ako nagkaganito. They are the very people who pushed me to the edge of the cliff.

Kahit ang kaisa-isang taong inisip ko na hinding-hindi ako sasaktan ay nagawa pa rin akong saktan. Funny how the one who promised to be by my side caused me my deepest wound.

Sumikip ang aking dibdib at kumuyom ang mga kamao. Ilang taon na rin ang lumipas pero animoy kahapon lang nangyari ang lahat.

Nabuhay ang natutulog na poot at galit sa dibdib at parang apoy na naglagablab at tinupok ako.

Kaylaking hangal ko para isiping naglaho na ang dating ako sa tulong ng mga trainings sa facility. It only takes me one long glance on their faces and the pain and anger flooded again. I thought I've successfully set them aside and healed from them but I was wrong. So wrong. They're just there lurking around and when they saw an opening, they revealed themselves again, uglier than ever before.

Binasag ang pananahimik namin ng tunog ng alert system ng sasakyan. Bumaling ako kay C1 na may kausap na sa earpiece.

"We'll be there." Narinig ko pang usal niya at binilisan ang pagpapatakbo sa sasakyan.

"What is it?" I asked out of curiosity.

He glanced at me in the mirror and the side of his mouth curved into a smile.

"Your stint with Arturo Rodriguez is just a test from the mistress to calibrate your capacity. Your official field demonstration will happen hours from now. Prepare yourself N18. You're about to go to war."

Pinihit ni C1 ang kotse pabalik at nag-iba ng ruta.

"Hindi ba tayo babalik sa facility?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

Umiling ito.

"I just received the details of the operation. The government of the Philippines is tapping the facility to help in their counter measures against the terrorists. The president has declared the island of Mindanao under martial law. Marawi City is under siege by ISIS operatives. Hundreds of soldiers have already fallen and he doesn't want any casualty to be added in the numbers," he explained.

"It's a war. Dead bodies are expected."

"Right. That's why we exist. Didiretso na tayo sa isa pang base ng facility bago kayo sumabak sa laban. Nandiyan sa trunk ang lahat ng kakailanganin mong gamit."

Tumango ako. "It's practically a suicide. We don't know the terrain and we have little to no information about the enemy."

"It is a suicide mission. The same thing can be said to your past and future operations. It will not be a facility's mission if it is not a suicide one."

Hindi ako umimik.

"Food for my thought C1."

"What is it?" he asked. He swerved to get past a truck.

"The government. Aren't you curious why they're asking the assistance of the facility? We are illegal according to the law. Unless we have a deeper connection to them more than running their experiments."

Sinulyapan niya ako sa salamin. His eyes seem to tell me something. Tiningnan niya ako ng makahulugan pagkatapos ay pinagdikit ang dalawang daliri at pinadaan sa bibig nito. He acted as if zipping his mouth.

"Less words, less nightmares," he said.

I did not pursue the topic at hand anymore. He's C1 for god's sake. Why did I forget that.

Huminto saglit si C1 at inutusan akong kunin ang isang military bag sa trunk ng kotse.

Pagbalik ko sa kotse ay pinaandar kaagad niya ito. Binuksan ko ang bag. Bumungad sa akin ang mga military gear at mga de-kalibreng armas. May army fatigue, body armor with ballistic plates na kumpleto sa mga magasin ng bala, first aid kit, smoke and hand grenades. May helmet din at eye pro. May mga sophisticated gadgets din tulad ng wireless communication devices, earpieces, infrared binoculars and a camera. There are also rifles, hand guns, and pistols.

My eyes immediately darted to a quadrilateral case. I opened it revealing a Kershaw boilermaker knife.

"It's for you. The mistress instructed me to give it to you as a gift for what you gave her."

I nodded. "Yeah, for the necklace."

"No. For the camera," he corrected me.

A knot formed on my forehead. Yes, I remember the camera containing the footage of that fateful night during my confrontation with Arturo.

Whatever. I turned my attention to the military gears.

"The five of you will go undercover as members of the Philippine Army  to avoid unwarranted attention but will take orders from the facility's commander who will be giving them through your communication devices," C1 informed me.

"What's the order?" I can almost feel the my blood reeling. I'm so pumped up.

"They are not fighting against people. Technically they are fighting against an ideology which you can only render irrelevant." He paused. "But we're not the government, we are the Facility."

"So?" I asked.

"Annihilate all of them."

For the first time in many years since I assumed this dangerous life, I smiled widely. Sinisterely.

"Sure, my pleasure," I said while licking my lips.

Pagdating namin sa base ay naghihintay na ang ibang members ng Advanced Class sa helipad kung saan naroroon ang EH-101 na maghahatid sa amin sa Marawi. Nakasuot na rin sila ng military uniform complete with all the equipment needed.

"Neophytes, this will be your official field demonstration. The order from the Above is to kill all the people on site, understand?" ani C1.

"We accept and obey the order from Above!" sabay naming sigaw.

"Good. Now future full-fledged assassins...stay alive." C1's eyes lingered on me a little longer. I met his gaze and arched my brow which earned a sly smile from him.

Sumakay na kami sa nakaabang na helicopter at inihanda ang sarili. Tama nga ako, magiging mahaba ang araw na 'to. Bumaba ang tingin ko sa helipad na papaliit na sa aking paningin. C1 is still there. Sumaludo pa ito. Animo alam na may nakatingin sa kaniya.

Umayos ako ng upo at tumingin sa himpapawid. Kasabay ng paglubog ng araw ay ang tuluyang pag-angat ng sasakyan at paglipad nito palayo.

Walang kibuan sa loob ng helicopter habang nasa biyahe. Lahat ay concentrated sa patuloy na briefing ng commander namin sa monitor sa harap.

An ISIS-linked group carried out the attack in the hopes of conquering the whole city to establish the first ISIS-led caliphate in Asia.

Walang mangyayaring coordination with the military troops dahil pulled out na silang lahat at least for this night. Maganda iyon dahil hindi namin maipapangako na hindi namin sila madadamay. With our current state now, wala kaming sasantuhin kapag nasa battleground. All five of us are thirsty for validation to prove our skills to the facility kaya magandang desisyon din ang pasya nilang huwag makipag-cooperate sa militar.

Sanay kaming kumilos ng mag-isa at walang kasama. Yes, there were five of us now but it doesn't mean that we will act as a team. Pupusta akong may paligsahan mamaya sa bawat isa sa amin.

"We are only 500 meters away from the ground zero, prepare yourselves. Good luck neophytes. Commander, out." Nawala na ito sa screen.

Kinuha na namin ang lubid isa-isa. Magra-rappell kami pababa dahil hindi magla-landing ang helicopter. It will stay in the air for our immediate exit in case.

Iniladlad ko na ang lubid at nag-rappell pababa. Pagtapak ko sa lupa ay agad kong inadjust ang night vision ko at may pinindot sa gilid. Automatic na na-activate ang x-ray at infrared feature ng salamin na makaka-detect ng anumang heat signature.

Walang ingay na tinakbo ko ang distansiya patungo sa isang alley. From there, I will start to cross the distance to the quarters of the terrorists. Alam ko na ang mga coordinates nila. Hinati na rin namin ang mga targets. Nakakalat sa loob ng 500 meter radius ang mga kalaban.

After minutes of running and ducking through the urban maze ay narating ko na rin ang isa sa mga kuta nila na isang classroom na puno ng bullet holes. I know because of their heat registers.

Inakyat ko ang katabing building na mas mataas sa kanilang kinaroroonan. I need to have them all at once within my line of sight.

Ipinuwesto ko ang M24 rifle at sumilip sa aperture. There are five of them I can spot from the window. I adjusted the rifle in my shoulder and aimed a shot. I pulled the trigger and then fire.

Sapul sa ulo ang isa na bumagsak agad. Sunud-sunod na ang pagpapakawala ko ng bala. Fire. Dead. Fire. Dead. Only less than a minute and then I was finished.

Easy. Isinukbit ko ang rifle.

Bumaba ako sa building.

"Target annihilated," sabi ko sa linya.

"Proceed to west of building ten from your right," utos ng commander.

"Affirmative."

Pagkarating ko sa lugar ay walang tao. Kumubli ako sa isang tagong parte ng bahay at nagpalinga-linga. Wala akong nasasagap na heat emanation.

"Negative commander."

Wala akong nakuhang sagot. Inulit ko ang tanong pero ganun pa rin.

My senses flared up when I spotted a fast movement. Ikinasa ko ang hand gun at iniumang sa paparating.

"Whoa, whoa! Easy N18. It's me, N89." Nakataas ang mga palad nito sa ere. Ibinaba ko ang baril.

Maya-maya pa ay dumating din ang iba pang mga neophytes.

"Piece of cake. Ito ba ang sinasabi nilang field demonstration? Hindi man lang ako pinagpawisan," ani N98.

"Hindi ko alam kung tanga ka lang ba o engot. Can't you see? The facility is more than this. Something is definitely amiss," pahayag ni N60.

"My communication device is not working," sabat ko.

"Yeah. Actually all of ours don't. Do you really think the facility is gonna let us in this easy? Well, think again," si N100.

Nagtinginan kaming lahat bago nahulog sa malalim na pag-iisip. Our earpieces don't work at all. It means we are on our own now. But we have always been on our own.

"Ah, guys, sa tingin ko ay may mas importanteng bagay pa tayong kinakaharap ngayon. Go check out your eye pros.

I did and I just smiled. Hundreds of heat registers are within meters away.

Ngumisi si N60. "Ah so gusto pala ng facility na maging sitting ducks tayo."

"Mali ka. They are the sitting ducks." Humalakhak si N89 na naputol ng isang malaking pagsabog kasabay ng pag-ulan ng bala. Tumilapon kami palayo.

But we're not neophytes of the facility for nothing. I immediately stood up and grabbed my rifle. I hide from a concrete wall and aimed for them. Isa-isang bumulagta sila. Kita ko rin ang iba pang neophytes na nagpakawala ng bala. Kita ko pa ang human shield na nasa harapan ng mga terorista na natumba. They were shot by N100. Oh, well. Civilians or terrorists, wala na kaming pakialam.

Inis na itinapon ko ang rifle na wala ng bala. Kinapa ko ang mga extrang magazines but the bullets there were fake. Napangiti ako.

Fuck you C1.

Wala akong choice kundi pagtiyagaan ang sidearm. Binilang ko ang bala nito. Lima na lang.

If only I could get to them. Mas may pag-asa ako kung short range combat. I just hope hindi peke ang kutsilyo.

Kinuha ko ang hand and smoke grenade at ininspeksiyon. Mga peke rin. Now I'm left me no choice but to face them head on.

I checked on my night vision goggles. Palapit na sila sa amin.

Hinugot ko ang kutsilyo sa strap ng hita at umiba ng puwesto. I need to catch them off guard.

Gamit ang kadiliman ng gabi at maliksing pagkilos, tumakbo ako palabas at dinaluhong ang isang kalaban. I lift my knife and stab the man on his neck. Napangiti ako. At least hindi ito fake.

Inagaw ko ang baril ng nakatumbang lalaki at pinaputukan ang tatlong lalaki sa likod. Humiga ako at pumihit paharap para kalabitin uli ang gatilyo. Patay ang dalawa pa.

Hinugot ko ang kutsilyo sa leeg ng lalaki at sinugod ang nakatalikod na terrorista na may dalang bihag. Sinaksak ko siya sa dibdib at ulo.

Tumalsik ang dugo sa mukha ko at katawan. Nalasahan ko pa ang alat nito nang pumasok sa nakangiti kong mga labi. Nakawala ang bihag na tumakbo palayo pero bumagsak rin sa di-kalayuan dahil binaril ni N89.

I can feel my blood pumping. Nag-iinit ang dugo ko. Ito. Ito ang pinakahihintay ko na sandali. To kill. To kill them all. Nanlisik ang aking mga mata at may tumulo na mga luha mula rito.

Something clicked inside of me at parang dam na nabuksan ang lahat ng emosyon ko. Ang sakit, galit at poot na naramdaman ko noon ay tuluyan nang nabigyan ng pagkakataong lumabas. All those years of repressed feelings are nowhere in sight.

Tumakbo ako at sinalubong ang isang lalaki. Nakita kong itinaas niya ang hawak na baril at binaril ako pero wala akong narinig na tunog. May sumigid na pamilyar na kirot sa kaliwang binti ko pero wala akong pakialam. Everything is just hazy for me. The noise, their voices, everything. They are all gone. Ang tanging naiwan na lang sa akin ay ang kagustuhang pumatay. Ang makita ang pulang dugo na umagos mula sa aking target. Ang makitang unti-unti siyang nalalagutan ng hininga na siyang ginawa ko.

Pinasabog ko ang ulo ng lalaking bumaril sa akin pagkatapos ay ginilitan ng leeg. Hindi pa ako nakontento at pati dibdib ay sinaksak ko rin. Blood gushed out.

Bawat kalabang makita ko ay ganun ang ginagawa ko. Babarilin at pupugutan ng ulo. But I want more. More.

Umigpaw ako sa ibabaw ng isa pang kalaban at sinaksak siya sa tenga. Inikot ko ang talim ng kutsilyo bago hinugot ito pataas. May mga puti pa ng utak ang sumama.

That did it. I grab guns from the dead guys on ground. Aim them at anyone and then stab them repeatedly. I looked at their eyes until they're lifeless.

And then the last of them had fallen. I stood up bathing on their blood gasping for air with hands gripping on my knife.

Tiningnan ko ang paligid. The five of us are the only ones left standing. Tiningnan ko sila isa-isa. They were looking at me with unreadable expression. I tried to read past them. Nangingilag silang nakatingin sa akin.

Ngumiti ako ng nakakaloko at pinunasan ang mukha.

And then the sound of an approaching helicopter filled the air. May mga ilaw na tumuon sa amin kasabay ng isang tinig.

"Come aboard assassins."

Nalaglag ang mga lubid at isa-isa kaming kumapit at umakyat pataas. Tahimik akong umupo naliligo pa rin sa dugo. Tinanaw ko ang baba kung saan naiilawan pa rin ang mga patay na katawan.

So this is how it feels to kill not just one but hundreds of people. It feels liberating. Parang parang may nararamdaman akong kakaiba sa loob ko. I feel.. I feel so so alive.

Maybe the mistress was right all along. It was all worth it. My first kill will be the most memorable one for me. Something that will haunt me every sleepless night.

It stirs emotions inside of me I never knew existed till now. Ginising nito ang bagong ako at ginamot ang sugatang nakaraan ko.

Thank you, mistress.

The helicopter flew away.