Chapter 1: Reynaldo

~[March 18, 2009 | 8 PM | Manila, Philippines]~

Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. It boasts a population of a whopping 11.6 million according to census data, and more than 2.5 million are either informal settlers or in poverty… or both. Still, the numbers keep rising.

In this both extravagant and hideous city, there are two sides. The white and the black. Distinguishing the two from each other is quite simple-

The White is the legal face, and The Black is the illegal. In other words, The Black is The Underworld.

Drugs, Prostitution, Human trafficking, Hitman services, Gangsters, and many other illegal activities and groups occur inside of it.

{Now playing - Blue Moon}

A large speaker with a lady's voice spoke loudly to notify the ignorant customers.

"How much're these, Naldo?" A bald person riddled with tattoos asked the kid. The two of them are at a bar in between an alleyway somewhere in Manila at night.

"Got into some real deep shit while we're getting this good stuff, so P200,000 for this one pack."

This 13-year old is Reynaldo Reyes, a drug dealer who utilizes his age for selling drugs. He lives in Estero de san Miguel, a squatter area beside a stank, decrepit and filthy river that gave the community its name.

This young child makes a living in the Underworld.

"Ye got anythin' smaller?"

"Yeah, my bad. This is P2,000 a gram-"

This bar, 'The Devil's Advocate', is just one of the many bars in Manila that hosts illegal activities openly.

{Cling-nga-ling!}

The door chimes did its only job of notifying a new customer. Usually, people would ignore it, but somehow they all went silent and snickering. Naldo knows that they only do that if the new customer is unusual or new, and he is on point.

Curvy, succulent looking lips, like it was a petal of a red rose-

Black and long hair that's bouncing in the air as if it was a flock of feathers-

Proportionate body that's only seen at beauty pageants accompanied by a graceful way of walking-

Elegant and grandiose scent reminiscent of roses that stimulates the nostrils-

And most notably, a very beautiful, almost ethereal face lathered with light make-up.

The lady was like- No, she WAS a goddess that descended upon some filthy backwater. But, they weren't complaining, in fact it was a show. If a lady that lovely comes in such a place, it only means three things.

1. She's looking for work, ergo a wanna-be prostitute, porn actress, etc.

2. She is lost, and is incredibly unlucky.

3. She's completely and utterly stupid.

In the same order, this is how the people of the underworld assume things.

"Hey there, lady." the bald man who was with Naldo earlier quickly dashed beside her. Right away, he is showcasing his own masculinity, such as openly flexing his muscles, lifting his sleeves to expose further more of his tattoos, and smiling conspicuously as he walks alongside her.

Together, they sat at a chair behind the counter.

Despite this, she was unusually calm and was even smiling, not the type who would be stupid nor lost, and the baldy noticed that.

"Say, are ye lookin for work? We can start auditions right now-"

"Mister, hold your… horse, for now. I'll play with you later."

Even her voice was lovely, and it stimulated the entire bar. Stares of lust and desire showered the lady. Some were glaring with contempt at the bald man. As to solve the crisis, she points a finger around the entire crowd of thirsty predators.

"With all of you, later. Okay?"

The desperate baldy whispered something before copping a feel for her chest and leaving. She didn't mind the rude act at all. The lady glanced at Naldo, who smiled at him with a wave.

'What a slut.' The young man whispered to himself.

The lady turned her gaze into the bartender of this bar and spoke-

"Now, Mr. Bartender. I have some really quick business with you."

The bartender of this bar, Steve, is a really observant person, perhaps his work modified his eyes throughout the years. To summarize, he has a keen eye for people's characters. Even him, who at first glance would seem to be the unfazed type, was mesmerized helplessly by the gorgeous lady.

"What is it, Madam? Perhaps you are looking for a drink?"

With a slick and graceful show of professionalism, the bartender made a cocktail. It was his own show of masculinity.

"An Elderflower Yuzu Martini for a wise and lovely lady."

With a lovely smile and a suggestive glance, she drank a sip of the intoxicating concoction then replied with a satisfied "Aah!".

"It's delicious! Very well done mister. However-"

The lady leaned forward and pushed the drink in front of the bald man, who immediately drank it to where she placed her lips-

"I prefer something a little more… stronger. "She glanced lasviciously at the door on the back and into the bartender's eyes.

With a smirk, he replied, "Follow me."

A sharp {Click!} And both of them locked themselves at the back room. They stayed there for a long time.

Naldo, being the 'curious' prepubescent boy that he is, went outside to take a peek inside through a hole he uses when the bartender would score himself a lady.

He could only see outlines and rough silhouettes of the lady but he could see the bartender clearly.

The excited man quickly took off his pants and underwear, revealing his buttocks that looked liked 2 hairy coconut shells to the child and his front to the lady.

'Damn, that's disgusting.' Naldo gagged. He wonders why that lady is willing to do it with such a horrid looking person, or why any other lass does. He doesn't even want to imagine what's on his front.

"Now, shall we get started? Hehe-"

The lady started taking something off too, but the bartender's expression is the opposite of what was expected.

"W-what is-"

"Don't shout, or I'll pop your head."

Naldo could see the bartender raising his hands in the air and dropping his knees pitifully on the ground. The lady's voice was also different, somewhat. It is much deeper than before.

"P-please don't kill me. What do you want? I-I can give you money-"

"I don't want your money, I want you to tell me a little something about 'The Deadly Sins' or whatever kind of flashy names they call themselves these days."

In the boy's vision, he saw her hand hold a set of hair. He wondered if it was either a wig, or something else.

"I-I can't! I'll be dead if they find out-"

"Then you can die right now-"

To Naldo's surprise, the man was being lifted up in the air while holding his neck and struggling to breathe. However, he saw no hands nor rope. He was levitating.

"F-fine, I- will tell you-"

And with just that, he fell down the ground while coughing and gasping for air.

"Make it quick. Try to shout and it'll be the last sound you'll make."

"I… I got it. The devil's advocate is-"

{Splat!}

The bartender's head bursted like a water balloon, scattering his guts and blood throughout the room and some went even into Naldo's eye.

Frightened and confused, he lost his footing in shock.

'What the fuck was that?'

After wiping the blood off of his face, Naldo rushed back inside to check the lady, however, the person that came out of the backroom was not a lady.

Instead, a tall and imposing man like a military soldier popped out. Naldo thought that he must be mourning, for he wore black all over. A black long coat, pants, fedora and leather shoes was fashioned by the anonymous man.

The only part of his attire that differed in color was his red necktie and white mask that blushed and smiled with a tache.

And to finish it all off, an eerie, double-headed raven pitter pattered about on his shoulder, producing an unpleasant {Caaw!}.

Like the lady, he was truly out of place in the bar, now in a completely different context. He's just standing there, observing around.

"Who are ya? Steve got a foreigner flunky? He must've disturbed ya cause he fuckin' with a babe huh? Hahaha!" Hans, the baldy earlier, blurted out. What ensued was the laughter of the crowd.

However, they were interrupted by the unpleasant laughter of the twin-headed crow that followed theirs.

"Ey' pal, can ya shut that crow up? It's… gettin' on ma nerves-"

"Did this lowlife just told us what to do?"

The crowd went silent again, mayhaps because of the crow's unexpected ability to talk. But, it was only for a moment, for they bursted in laughter afterwards.

"Oh, Hahaha! My friend in La Union also have one of them! Quite the weird pet, huh mister?"

Naldo, whose temper reached its limit, yelled:

"Hey you! W-what happened to the bartender?"

His voice was trembling. Scared. As if an infant that just knew his mother is not beside him. The masked man, in spite of all the doubtful stares, ignored them and even spoke as he walked slowly around the counter-

"I like the name of the store. 'The Devil's Advocate'. Got a nice little ring to it-"

After speaking, he brought out a golden jigger that belonged to Steve. He only ever serves it on VIPs... and women. Then, he chucked the glass away.

{Splash!}

Red liquid that reeked of iron scattered around inside the bar. A random person's drink was even ruined because of an eyeball that dipped in his glass.

"The three big fellas sitting at the back, you can close the door now. I did promise I would play with all of you after that guy."

All of a sudden, everybody stood up and equipped their weapons. Some had axes, some had bats, some had guns, but one thing all of them had in common was a single emotion-

Fear.