Falling for Her Shadows

CHAPTER 1

THEY CITY was quiet that night, except for the hum of Nylah’s motorcycle slicing through the dark streets. Her leather gloves gripped the handlebars, her heart beating in sync with the engine.

In her earpiece, a voice crackled—her second-in-command, Kael.

“Chief, we found him. Target is in the east warehouse. He won’t slip this time.”

Umigting ang panga ni Nylah at mas lalong binilisan ang pagpapatakbo ng motor. For months, she had been hunting this man—Victor Prescott’s top lieutenant, the one responsible for the hit that killed her parents and nearly destroyed Laurent's name. The Prescott was just another mercenary group, her family’s nemesis.

After she killed Victor Prescott three years ago, his top lieutenant disappeared, and she didn’t stop looking for him. Kailangan nitong magbayad sa pagpatay nito sa magulang niya. Killing those who were responsible for her parents’ death can make her feel at ease.

Binigalan niya ang pagpapatakbo nang makarating siya sa lugar. She parked her bike, and pulled off her helmet.

Mula sa bulsa ng suot na jacket, inilabas niya ang larawan ng isang taong malapit sa kaniyang puso—a picture of her one-year-old son Evron, smiling with his first birthday cake smeared all over his face.

She was smiling softly as she closed her eyes for a brief second, but when she opened her eyes, the soft look in her eyes and the soft smile on her lips were gone, replaced by a menacing and dangerous intent.

“This is the last one,” sabi ni Nylah sa kaniyang sarili. “After this, I’m done.”

“Chief, are you sure you want to lay low?” Kael asked.

“Yes,” Nylah answered in a firm voice.

Nylah withdrew her katana strap from her back. She didn’t even bother to cover her face as she entered the warehouse. Walang tunog ang kaniyang mga yabag habang naglakakad. The kind that came from her years of training.

The smell of oil and gunmetal hit her after she entered the warehouse. Agad niyang napatumba ang dalawang lalaki na nagbabantay bago pa man magkapagsalita ang mga ito. She moved like a shadow and fast as lightning.

Isang mapanganib na ngiti ang gumuhit sa labi ni Nylah nang makarating siya sa isang silid. She saw him — Victor’s Prescott lieutenant.

Nylah’s katana gleamed against the light, making the man look up, shocked, as if he had seen a ghost.

“Laurent!” he said in disgust.

Ngumiti lang naman si Nylah. In a blur of movement, Nylah managed to approach the man and slice his neck with the tip of her Katana. Sumirit ang dugo sa leeg nito. Sinubukan pa nitong pigilan ang pagdaloy ng dugo, but then he slumped over the table.

Namayani ang katahimikan sa loob ng warehouse.

“Chief, five men were coming for you,” Kael informed.

Ngumisi si Nylah. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa katana. “Then I’ll finish it once and for all.”

Hinarap niya ang mga kalaban. Using her katana, she moved like lightning—slicing and stabbing her enemy as if she were fighting against the air. In a matter of seconds, her enemy dropped dead around her. Tumalsik pa ang dugo ng mga ito sa kaniya.

“Kael, burn everything. Leave no trace.”

“Yes, Chief.”

Nylah left the warehouse after sheathing her katana on her back. Before mounting her motorcycle, she held her earpiece. “Kael, ready my private plane bound for the Philippines.”

“Are you leaving now, Chief?”

Nylah hummed. Sumakay siya sa motor saka tinignan ang warehouse. She promised herself—this is the last time someone will die on her sword. And with that, she left.

Two years later…

DING!

Tumunog ang maliit na bell sa pinto ng coffee shop habang pumasok ang unang customer ng umaga.

Nylah wiped her hands on her apron, glancing toward the counter where her three-year-old son, Evron, sat swinging his legs and nibbling on a chocolate chip muffin far too big for his little hands.

“Baby, dahan-dahan lang. Malalaglag ‘yan sa sahig,” sabi niya, sabay kuha ng tissue para punasan ang chocolate na dumidikit na sa pisngi nito.

Ngumisi lang si Evron. “I like crumbs, Momma!”

Napailing na lang si Nylah at natawa na lamang siya ng mahina. Then she tied her hair back into a neater bun. The soft hiss of the espresso machine filled the air, mingling with the warmth of roasted beans and freshly baked bread.

Outside, the city was already awake—traffic humming and the people rushing past the wide glass windows of the coffee shop.

To anyone looking in, this was just another coffee shop. Just another young mother working hard to make ends meet.

But Nylah knew better.

Napapatingin siya sa pinto ng coffee shops sa tuwing tutunog ang chime. It was her habit that she couldn’t break. She knew every regular’s face, every pattern in their behavior, every unusual car that parked across the street. Her senses were always alert—a hum of awareness running under her skin like electricity.

Tahimik ang buhay niya at iyon ang gusto niya para sa kanilang dalawa ni Elliot.

“Rita, ikaw na muna ang bahala rito. Dadalhin ko lang si Evronsa opisina ko.” Utos niya sa isa niyang kasama sa coffee shop.

“Yes, Boss.” Rita smiled.

Binuhat naman ni Nylah si Evronsaka ito dinala sa loob ng opisina niya. Her office was neither big nor small. Katamtaman lang ang size nito. There was even a bed inside for her and Evron, lalo na kapag inaatok ito.

Inupo niya si Evron sa kama saka itinali ang sintas ng sapatos nito. Sa pagyuko niya, naramdaman niya ang kwintas na kaniyang suot. Her hand brushed the small pendant — a lotus charm, simple and elegant. It was indeed a small pendant but it wasn’t just a simple pendant. It’s hold power.

“Momma?”

“Hmm?”

Nylah glances at her son as she opens her computer. She smiled when she didn’t see any notification.

“Lagi ko pong napapansin na lagi kayong napapatingin sa may pintuan. Ano pong tinitignan niyo?”

Nylah smiled and turned off her computer. “Just checking, sweetheart. I want to make sure everything will be fine.”

“Oh.” Napatango si Evron.

Ngumiti naman si Nylah at hinaplos ang buhok ng anak. “Stay here.”

“Opo.”

Lumabas si Nylah ng opisina saka tumulong na gumawa ng kape para sa mga bagong order.

Then the bell chimed again as a new customer entered.

Another customer.

Another day of keeping the past exactly where it belonged—behind her.