CHAPTER ONE

Kai Brandon is hectically gazing the starry sky while sitting on one branch of the tallest narra tree in the middle of a forest only known to him. Only the light of full moon gives the place dainty.

“He is been gazing for almost two hours.” I said as I move my horse forward (c4 to d6). “Unexpected checked.” I smirk with that thought; as if I have ever had an unexpected move.

“How can this kid be persistent in tilting his head up without flexing it down? If only I can read his mind now.” George does know what to do with his king but I also admire my friend whose been facing a great deal in his business.

“I seriously cannot do what he’s been doing for hours.” George said as he moved back his King behind his bishop (f7 to g8) whom I presume ready to attack on the next move. But let me get you back to Kai.

            Kai is just an ordinary 18 year old boy living in with his parents on the downtown of Plaza Verga near the famous gazette of St. Patrick Church in Hillson Village, Quezon City Manila. The forest is actually located 1.5 miles away from their house in Tagaytay Hills. But it is a dangerous forest wherein he is the only one allowed to cross the threshold and beast cannot touch him like he has unnatural power to tame them. How ironic right?

       “Even I cannot understand why of all people, he is being accepted by the nature.” I said as I move my horse (f5 to e7) ready to attack George’s King again.

         Kai has been a nature lover not to mention that he is also a machine lover. “I cannot fathom why he’s been fascinated with machines while these things can harm the nature.” I exclaimed.

       “Maybe we should ask him.” George moved his queen on the left side 5 blocks from his base giving way to check my King.

        Kai always want to build cars that cannot destroy the mother earth. He said one time inside the class, “If I can be a great dealer of cars and machines, then I might probably eliminate air pollution and help Mother Nature to retain its magnificent look and locking all bad odors to the fridge.” All his classmates laugh at him because everyone knows that can’t be possible and at that time his still 1^st year high school, a boy who doesn’t know life.

        Those words remained to Kai’s memory and already on top of fulfilling it now. Except for that, he always wants to stop by at the forest and have some star gazing because he has a lot of issues. “Why do I always feel I’m empty?” it’s been running through his mind for the past two hours and it seems he cannot find the right answers. “Why am I looking for a right answer if there’s no such answer for my questions? How complicated my bored mind is? Keep on asking just to breathe cold air.”

       His phone rang that disturbed the surrounding by the evidence of howling wolves and dropping sounds of the owls. Kai’s mom Maria is calling and checking when he will get home.

          “Mom,” says he “I will not be going home tonight. I’ve told you that a million times.” He makes sure that he gets permissions whenever he goes out because he doesn’t like his Mom following him to wherever he might go.

        “I’m just checking if you’re already at your friend’s house,” she paused a little bit giving Kai a hint that she might already knew where he really is, “Or you’ll spend the night with werewolves.”

       “There are no werewolves here, only human owls and three-headed snakes.” He knows his Mom can crack a joke sometime. “But no, I will be off soon. I’ll be staying at Jonathan’s house.” Jonathan is his best friend since high school. They have the same interest that’s why they decided to study on the same university.

           “Can you stop going on the forest. It’s been very dangerous lately there; they found a body of three women there. What if they found you lingering at the forest while there is another body of whosoever dead person they’ll find?” Maria is talking about the news that night that police patrols on that area found three bodies of naked women in the heart of the forest. Its’ been said that the women might having a bathe at near falls and they suddenly run off upon hearing the gush of wolves along the forest. But by inspecting the bodies, there were no scratches of wolves that may indicate they’ve been attacked by creatures. Instead they’ve found some scars on women breasts, arms and thighs suspecting that they are raped victims as well as their faces are burnt giving a hard time to identify who they are.

          The NBI cannot still notify the parents of the victims because of the burns and they cannot find the women things. Kai, who also loves adventures, went to the scene only to find out that the crime happened near his favorite spot of the forest five trees away from where he is sitting now. He decided to stay and calm a little bit and ask stupid things.

        “Mom I’m fine. It will not be long. The killers might come back.” He heard his mother shout at his father saying “Oh good gracious God, Kevin please kick the butt of your son for once. He’s been looking for killers!” Maria is bursting out now for what Kai has said.

        “Mom, chills. I was just joking.”

      “Kai please go home,” his father, Kevin now talking on the phone, “you’re making your mother collapse.” He thought his father will end the line already but he seems to be whispering over the phone. “But if you see them tell me right away, then we might kick their ass first before we get the price.”

      “Ok dad, I’ll notify you immediately but you make sure I get some, harhar.”  His father already hung up and he is sure that his father is busy hushing Kai’s mother.

       “Why is it people kill people? They are killing their own kind. Why don’t they just give them a peaceful life?” Kai blatantly shout in the air making a harsh noise around. Kai hoped he’ll find the answers for it, if there is really an answer.

          Back to the game, George is having again a hard time in eliminating the Criminal’s defender, the queen. It’s always been like this since he met me. What can I do if I really love my Queen, right? He moved his bishop green 8 blocks away to the right.

          “How will you answer him now?” he asked while his gaze still on the board.

     “I don’t exactly discern what to say, but that’s how our time flies. We need to exterminate people who don’t deserve to have a second chance.” I said as I moved my queen straight on George base locking his king on the side with nowhere to run. “Checkmate, my fellow.”

         “People kill people. I like him, thank you for the game Yates.” George lands a hand for a handshake. “I presume that’s what they still call you.”

        “You’re welcome my friend, until you got back from London.” I tap his shoulder giving a comfort for his lost. “I will expect a gift from you then.”

“Not until I defeat you,” smiling with the idea of trouncing me of course, “but I’ll repeat what I’d asked you a while ago. How long will you go on with the game?”

“I’ll also repeat my answer to you George. It will go further basing on how long they will face and fight it.”

“You sure have a lot of words but I will go now. I hope it will end soon.” George shakes again my shoulders and walked to go. Before he leave my room, he handed me a small piece of paper and whispered “She’ll be back soon on the start of the term with him. Then everything will be complete to end it.” He smiled at me before totally leaving.

I watched him disappear and the smiles never left my lips until I went back to my desk. Kai is now going down from the tree and he seems to be comfortable now, but he did not notice a shadow behind three trees away from him. I didn’t expect that the shadow is still in the forest. What a miracle that he did not do any harm to the poor Kai.

Kai turned around checking the way and surroundings for any sign of person but heard a cruel sound on one of the trees yet he ignored it.

“It must be some of the animals here.” Then he left as the shadow watch him off.

“NO please. Let us go!” a woman is begging the man with a gun. “Please, I beg you.”

            “Killing all of you will give….. me. Why would I let you go?” the man who have a 45 silencer caliber gun said to the woman who is handling a baby, seems to be a newly born baby and was struggling on the floor.

            Voices of two women carrying two babies and a man are what she hears with unclear visions because of the darkness that surrounds the place. But she knew it was in the same house, yes it was. The voices were not clear yet she knows what’s happening.

            “You can now have it,” the woman said, “you’ve already killed my husband and his friend. Just the babies, please, I beg you let them live.”

            Another woman is on the floor holding also a baby and there’s blood around her waist and hands. “We beg you, let them live.” said the other woman.

            “How can I be sure… that your husbands didn’t have…. their… to your children?” the man said angrily pointing the gun to the babies.

            “They’ve already….. their…. to you. And yet you came here and kill us all.” There are two dead bodies of men on the floor with blood gushing around them. “Let them live, please, we beg you” until the last breath the woman beg but she didn’t finish what she’s saying when a silent sound killed the woman as well as the other woman.

“Now only I know the truth and there is no one to stop me,” the man’s devil laugh surrounds the house as the babies cry, “Let’s start the game!”

Athena runs for her breath when she woke up in the middle of the night and sweating a lot. She has a very dark and strong nightmare which makes her hard to breathe. She couldn’t believe she had dreamt it again after so long time. Athena has always dreamt of the same thing when she was a little and keeps on making her pant. They’ve consulted a psychiatrist already because she almost loss her consciousness, mind and nearly die.

After several consultations, the psychiatrist asked him what were those bad dreams but Athena only said one because it is always been the same bad dream, same scene and same acts and words from those people. When asked if she could describe the people in there, she cannot because they have blurred faces.

After the therapy, she didn’t dream it again not until tonight. Still, the same scene, acts and words from the people in which she cannot explain why. She particularly wants to know who they are specially the man with the gun. What have the family done to him for him to murder them? As she thought for the answer to that, her father came into her room and offers her some water.

“You alright baby?” Athena’s father, Kenneth, asked her while supporting the back of Athena.

“Yes Dad. Just that I’ve dream it again.” Athena is still looking pale and panting as she answered her father in between drinking the water. Her father went to her desk to find for her medications.

“It’s on my desk drawer Dad.” She pointed the drawer under her desk.

“Yah, I got it.” Kenneth offers her a small tablet that calms her nerve whenever she has attacks prescribed by her doctor. “Want to go to the clinic for check-up?”

“No Dad, I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.” She handed the glass to her father after she drinks the drug. “And we are supposed to be in the airport to pick up some big luggage.”

“We can drop off first in the clinic then to the airport.” Kenneth still insisted.

“No Dad I’m really fine. Besides I will not have time, I still have class in the morning.” Checking her own pulse and breath, she thinks she’s really fine now but still sweating a lot. “And promise me Dad you won’t tell this to them. But maybe some other time, I will go to the clinic myself.”

“Make sure of that, I’ll gonna ask Dr. Rondal if you really went for a check-up.”

“Yes Dad, I promise.”

“Go back to sleep then. You have to rest for tomorrow.” Kenneth assisted her daughter in lying down and stayed in the room until Athena’s sleep.

He might not know what’s his daughter is suffering but he would protect her from everything that may happen. Poor Kenneth, he doesn’t know what he’s been talking about, he doesn’t know that he might face his greatest fear.

“Nightmares.” Kenneth utters as he shut the door of his daughter’s room. “If only I could…..I’ll….”

“JESSICA, make it fast, you’ll be late again!” Jessica’s mother, Rose May, shouted as she knocked the door of Jessica’s room to make her faster in bathing. “You’ve been showering for decades!”

           “I’ll be done soon Mom, just one last song!” Jessica answered her back then clearing her voice to sing.

          “Oh dear, your father is eating now!” Rose May left the room already as Jess started to sing.

           “I can see it in the stars across the sky, Dreamt a hundred thousand dreams before, Now I finally realize, You see I've waited all my life for this moment to arrive, And finally yeah…” Jessica sings out her soul out through her favorite song ‘I Believe’. This piece makes her the most sort-after singer in their university.

          “I believe in the impossible, If I reach deep within my heart, Overcome any….” She’s in already but her phone suddenly stopped and it only indicates that someone texted her. Upon reaching her phone and see who the hell disturbed her magnificent voi--- Oops, it’s her most precious best friend.

           Enough of the alibis, time to change and you’ll be late for exams. Athena said within her text that makes Jessica knot.

            “Exam? What ex…” she paused a while then registration and frustration overcome to her face, “oh my God, my long exam!” and when she checked the time of her phone, “aiiissshhhh, 30 minutes for Pete’s sake!” She just left the shower open then rush to her dressing room to get change with her uniform.

          “What’s with the rush, little princess?” her Dad, Caesar said while sticking the steak in his mouth.

            “Good morning Dad.” Jessica kissed the cheeks of her father as she picked her pack lunch and snack, her favorite egg sandwich. “I’ll be late for my exam Dad. I need to go first now. Bye, see you later.”

            “I’ve told you to hurry up a while ago.” Rose May said as her daughter kissed her cheeks. “You’re still like a high school student!”

            “Mom I’m not a 3^rd year high school anymore, I’m a 3^rd year college already and reminder that in college,” she paused a bit while grabbing a bit of steak and chew it while she continue to talk, “we are free not to attend our class or be late, but because I had a long exam that’s why I need to go.”

            Jessica grabbed her bag on the table while waving her hand in going outside, “See you later everyone!” Jessica drives her own Ferrari car in going to school. Well you can say that she’s a spoiled brat because of the wealth of her family but she’s also an independent woman. When she reached 18 years old, she began to make money by using her own talent by doing some gigs in their place and even in the university.

            She was also offered a scholarship in Berkelee Music School in United States but turned it down because she wanted to finish first her first choice and dream. That is to become an accountant and for her to open her own bank. What a dream right? But once again we are in a free country, dream all the dreams you want. You might discover also that behind those skinny legs, porcelain-like face and skin, beautiful wave style of hair, brat-like features and trigonometric mind lays a tennis genius. Sure you’re shock right?

          It’s her second ultimate passion after singing of course. Jessica began playing tennis when she was 6 and as what reported by her parents; she disappeared in the middle of the crowd while they were watching the fiesta in their town. Only to found out that she is watching a tennis game in a nearby tennis court then a player handed down the rocket to Jessica and she started to swing it.

            ‘Tennis Goddess’ as what the crowd called her because of her stunning looks and fair-porcelain skin. You might think how she can maintain those features even if she is extremely exposed to sun every time she has a game. Almost games in tennis are located in an outdoor court. Well ask her if you really want to know the secret if ever she will give it though.

            The truth is that, every after a game, Jessica goes to their private spa to relax and relieve the stress. She is very conscious of her looks and always want to be pretty but as what her best friend told her, its’ on Jessica’s nature, that the cell of her body responsible in producing more melanin that gives her natural fair-porcelain skin color even without the care of spa.

            But despite of being called ‘Tennis Goddess’ and gains a lot of attention, there’s only one person who she cannot beat in any form. And I’m talking about her own best friend, Athena which in fact is called ‘the Ultimate Tennis Genius’ as evidence of her over-the-top-more-than-professional-tennis-players killer techniques which she gain from watching Prince of Tennis, an anime series in which, for Jessica, only imagination can make them possible and true. And this is the main reason why they become best friends, their similarities when it comes to sports, but always banging on each other’s head because of their differences when it comes to personality and love.

            Jessica passed through the lane of going to their college building when she spotted Athena walking on the catwalk.

            “Bes, what will you do after stupid class?” Jess asked her while driving slowly so that Athena would not run to keep her on track.

            “Be going to the airport, why’d you asked?” Athena answered with a disappointed looked and smirked ridiculously ‘cause most probably, Jess forgot again that big buses will be coming home.

            Well, through enough for Jess to see that disappointment on Athena’s looks, she just said, “Well then, be coming at your building after my exam. See ya’ later!”

           “God bless for your exam!” Athena gave a smiling face without any disappointment already. “Thanks Bes! Bye!” Jess drove fast to catch up her exam because for Pete’s sake, she’s 10 minutes late.

            Dear, you shouldn’t talk to your best friend, poor Jessica.

ATHENA'S working on her report in one of the cottage-like study area in her college alone. Her classmates already bid farewells because, luckily, their teachers have an urgent meeting so the classes are hold up. She decided to stay however to kill time because it’s still early to go to the airport and she still needs to wait for his Dad. One more thing to expect is Jessica, which became her best friend since 4^th grade.

            Athena doesn’t actually know why she became close to Jessica when they have a match in tennis. Well I’ve told you already that they are both sports addicts so no shock already.

            In 4^th grade during district schools intramurals, for the first time Jessica lost in a tennis game against Athena and that’s the reason why she watch out for Athena after the game at the ladies locker room. Jessica was not really please at the result back then and she confronted Athena what she has done during the game.

      “What did you do? You thick headed four-eyed glass short pathetic girl?” She blatantly sprouted a tennis ball at Athena’s face out of anger. And continued to shout at her saying “You’re dirty little tricks, your freak movements, ugly backhands, and scanty two left foot twist running around the ground, what have you done to defeat me?”

            Athena cried with this because no one have ever shouted on her even her parents, well at least we know that it will be the second least thing parents would to their children. All the opponents that she defeated before accepted their defeats and even gave her high praises and acknowledgement. But with Jessica, she seems to be hard in facing the defeat and for the first time in her peaceful life, Athena was called a ‘pathetic girl’ by another girl that she does not know.

            Organizers as well as their respective coaches, teachers and lovable parents came to halt Jessica’s behavior and stop her from scratching Athena’s face. “You stop it Jess, you should know how to become a sportsman.” Jessica’s coach looks at her terribly and then faces her parents to assist their child out. After that, the coach turned to Athena and have apologetic smile as well terrified look to all the people in that place. “I’m really sorry for the behavior of Ms. Alba. It’s her first time to lose that’s why she’s having a delirium and being hysterical. Ms. Lacambra I do hope you’ll be good on your next matches and this thing won’t bother or distract you from your games. I’m sorry again.” He passed out quietly without having a glanced back.

            At this point, she never saw Jessica at the following days, until they crossed path in front of Jessica’s school accidentally. “Oops, sorry!” Athena apologizes because she bumped Jessica’s shoulder that led to the pouring of Athena’s coffee on Jessica’s uniform.

            “YOU----!” Jessica looked up only to find out that the girl she called pathetic after their match was also the girl who bumped and poured the coffee on her uniform. “Not you again!”

            “I’m really sorry. I don’t mean it.” Athena’s already blushing and starting to cry already while wiping Jessica’s uniform.

            “Hey, stop it, you’ll just make it worst. You’re too clumsy. Try looking at the front and not at the back!” Jessica’s temper is not really controllable which give her problems. But when she saw Athena’s face crying, she immediately diverts the situation.

            “You’re not just pathetic and clumsy; you’re also a silhouette of flooding rivers with bleeding nose.” Athena laughs only to make her snob more and offered Jessica a hand to their house.

       “Why don’t you come to our place to dry this out, it’s my fault so it’s my responsibility. And don’t call me pathetic anymore!” Athena said as they walk down the street going to their house and there, right at that moment where it all started all the riots of their lives begins. And of course, I cannot tell you everything here because the pointed heel is coming now.

         “What are you doing Bes?!” Jessica barely whispers it so that everyone in the college ground would hear it.

        “Don’t exaggerate it Bes, you’re not in your college.” Athena’s miens at Jessica and nods at all people who looks at them.

      “As if I care. ‘Bout what you said a while ago, who will you gonna pick up in the airport?”

        “Some big dunkin donuts from the US. Don’t worry you’ll gonna meet them soon.” I jumped when I received a message from him.

       Update: Preparing to land in the most beautiful place on earth. Be there soon, princess.

            “Who is it?” Jessica is now concerning at what Athena is doing a while ago before she came.

        “Give me that. And it is just the donut who texted me that they’ll be landing already.” Athena said as she grabbed the papers that Jessica is scanning and packed it up already. “And I need to go now because Dad will be here anytime soon.”

            “I thought you will tell me something?” Jessica said with knotted looks.

            “I’ll tell you tomorrow. You’re Mom already arranged a dinner for us.”

            “Hey, how come I didn’t know that?!” Jessica exclaimed as they walk away from the college and waited for Athena’s father.

            “Well he just said it to Dad and Dad told me this morning. You know our families are kinda friends already because of you.” Athena said as she checked her phone with a message from his Dad; Be there at 5 minutes.

            “Why me? What did I do?” Jessica asked with puzzled tongue.

          “Well if it’s not because of your hysterical drama when you lost against me in 4^th grade, then we will not be best friends and our families will not tie down!” She exclaimed at Jessica as if the latter already forgot everything as evidently seen in her blank stares.

            “Uh-Oh! Of course, but that’s partly my fault. If you don’t spill your coffee on my uniform before, then I might not be talking to you right now!” Jessica exclaimed back at Athena but diverted the talk before any worse case scenarios will be revealed about their lives. “What do you really want to tell me? Come on, I will not let you go to sleep if you won’t tell me now!”

            Athena thinks first before telling it to her because she knows her best friend well. “Just that I need to go to the White House again.”

            “Hey, what happened? Don’t tell me…”

          Athena nods because she knows that Jessica already knew what she’s talking about. “You’re joking. I thought it was already settled?” Jessica said with a shocked face as well as a concerned look towards her best friend.

        “Don’t be so hysterical again Bes. Just that it pumped again on my walky talky dream. Nothing to worry about.” She knows that this will not help Jessica not to worry at all.

         “If there’s nothing to worry, why’d you need to go there?” Jessica stated as she began being agitated again. She, Jessica won’t let it happened again to her best friend. She once witness what happened to Athena when she began of dreaming about it until Athena cannot resist it anymore and almost lost her consciousness.

         “Dad suggested it so to shut him up, I said I’ll be going by myself maybe tomorrow.”

        “I’ll come with you. Just text me, or no better call me so I’ll pick you up immediately.”

      “Really Jess no worries. Just….” Athena wasn’t able to continue what she’s saying because her father already arrived.

      “Ready to go baby? And hi Jessica.” Her father waved and smiled to Jessica upon seeing her sitting next to Athena.

          “Hi Tito. Be careful in driving.”

        “You don’t want to come?” Kenneth asked Jessica as if she’s really a part of the family. Well she is really a part of the family, as a matter of fact.

          “No Tito. I’ll just welcome them tomorrow. I heard that Mom will throw a dinner for them.”

           “Yeah she told me yesterday. Well then we’ll go ahead.”

            “Bye Bes.” Athena kissed the cheeks of Jessica and bid farewells.

AT the airport, the flight from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA already landed just in time in Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Athena is very excited in seeing again the two people that she misses so much. They waited there ‘til 5 minutes before getting to see them.

            A man who is most likely to be a very handsome guy dressed in the new fashioned trend in airport fashions wearing a sunglasses (where’s the sun dude?!), a blue-light green striped colored scarf, white T-shirt paired with black denim skinny jeans and Jeremy Scott 2NE1 inspired winged rubber shoes (JSx2NE1). He really looks hot even with that scarf except for the hair which I think is flip back and forth to compensate with the hot weather of the Phillippines even if it’s wet season.

            Yes they have already arrived, the two people who will complete everything. The people whom I’m really expecting to ground in the level of their existence since they have left the country. Now everything will be fulfilled.

            Athena, with her brother Darius Cleo will now be in the game as well as Jessica and Kai Brandon. Only one is missing, one who will complete all the souls of these people.