Do Not Touch Me!

Chapter 11: One of the Girls

Chapter 11: One of the Girls

I felt exposed and uncomfortable. Gusto kong saktan ang mga taong naghuhubad sa akin ngayon. But I had remain undercover, I had to pretend that I was under the influence of the drugs that they had me inhale through the ventilations of the room. Right now, I no longer was that concerned as well whether they will touch my face in the process and such. Somehow, I did not feel totally naked too because I was wearing the transparent skin that Dr. Achilles invented, still, I felt vulnerable and exposed because they can see my flesh. It felt like they held and grasped my soul.

"This woman will surely sell for a high price. She will be the last one, the center of the Black Market show." Ramdam ko ang ngisi ng isang lalake ngayon, "we will make a lot of money out of her." Aniya.

Bahagyang kumuyom ang aking kamao.

I was naked already, at naramdaman ko rin ang pagbato ng damit sa akin ng isa sa mga tauhan. Ito siguro ang damit na isusuot ko pagkagising ko. But of course, I was totally awake. Hindi ako naapektuhan sa kung ano mang druga na nalanghap ko kanina lang.

"When she wakes up, bring her to all of the girls and the rest of them. We will already be closing since we finally reached our quota and we will be transporting these goods in a few hours via cargo." Saad muli ng lalake.

"Noted, Boss." Sagot naman ng isa sa mga lalake. I was thankful that they did not touch my underwear. Baka magkakamatayan na kaming lahat dito kung pati iyon ay hubarin nila. The door closed after with a creeking and creepy sound, leaving me along in the company of one man who seems to be waiting for me to wake up.

I took my time to make sure it more realistic that I was drugged. When I felt like an hour has already passed, I moved up from the cold marble floor and looked at the man who was guarding me. "S-Sino ka? Bakit ako nandito? Bakit ako hubad? ano ginawa mo sa akin?" Iyon agad ang unang sinabi ko. I pretended that I was scared, when in fact, I was not. I know that my team are already listening to me through the earring that I had. Still, I could not believe I successfully infiltrated the enemy lines.

"Huwag nang maraming tanong," utos ng lalake sa akin. "Isuot mo iyang damit at sundan mo ako. Huwag kang papalag o gagawa ng kalokohan kung ayaw mong mamatay." Binunot nito ang baril sa kaniyang hita at pinakita ito sa akin. I acted frightened and scared, somehow, that gave the man a satisfied look, but deep within me, I wanted to touch him and put an end to his sorry life.

I calmed down.

Sinuot ko na ang bestida. It was better than not wearing anything at all. Pagkatapos ay binuksan ng lalake ang kuwarto ng silid at naglakad na palabas. Sumunod na lang ako. We walked towards the corridor, and everyone was looking at me weirdly. Everyone in this establishment are criminals. Hindi ako makapaniwala, they were all walking in broad daylight and plain sight. They all deserve to be caught.

I get that we could have annihilated them right now, but that would mean losing our chance to eliminate the Argentine too. This will serve as hitting two birds with one stone, through the end of the Maxwells and Argentines who joined hands to commence this operation of human trafficking.

I hate people who prey on the fragile, weak, and vulnerable.

Timpi lang, Mary. This shall end soon.

Tumigil kami sa isang kuwarto muli. No, it was not just a room, it was a garage. May malaking truck na may cargo ng ship ang naroon at doon kami tumungo. There were three cargo trucks... I already had an idea of what is inside these cargo. Binuksan ito ng lalake at tinuro niya ang loob ng silid na tila sinasabi sa akin na pumasok ako. Walang sabi akong sumunod at pumasok, kasabay nito ay agad na sinara ng lalake ang cargo, mula sa loob naman ay natanaw ko ang mga babae.

Namukhaan ko ang ilan through the documents that Viveron provided before we commenced the operation. Ang lahat ng mga babae rito ay mga nawawalang babae, at alam kong sa dalawang iba pa na mga cargo ay may mga iba pa.

They all looked scared and terrified, I wanted to comfort them all, pero hindi ako marunong. I have never done that all my life. I was not good at it, and I cannot risk exposing myself by telling them all that we will be saved because the Seven Deadly Sins who work for RAGE, a secret part of the Central Government, will come and save them all. They should not know at all and should remain oblivious about this.

Umupo na lang ako sa may pinakabakanteng espasyo ng cargo. Judging by the heads, I think there were thirty of us inside the cargo. Multiplying it by the two cargos too, I guess there are ninety girls all in all. Gaya nga ng aking expectation, lahat sila ay magaganda at may itsura.

"No need to respond verbally, simply tap your earring once if you have successfully infiltrated the enemy, and tap it twice if not." It was Athanasius. I guess it was for formality's sake which is why they needed confirmation from me even though it was already clear that I successfully got it. I tapped my earring once. "We have confirmed and will further monitor your situation. If you sense any danger, tap your earring thrice."

I nodded, not knowing whether they will receive that response or not. After that, the line was cut off. Somehow, it felt weird to use such kind of technologies. These were all inventions of RAGE. I felt like a real secret agent and spy, but I guess I was... Even my entire existence has been removed for this purpose too.

Some of the ladies in the cargo were holding unto each other, comforting each other in the process too. Whatever it is that they have gone, I guess we all underwent the same thing. There is no means of communication for us too since they all confiscated all our things before they sent us here. We got nothing and no means no escape.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras na ang lumipas, basta ang alam ko ay bigla na lang umandar ang truck na nagbubuhat sa cargo, and before we knew it, it was already moving away from Maxwell Model Agency.

~*~

I do not know how long the travel was, but the cargo truck stopped moving and the door opened, revealing light from outside. Bumungad sa labas ang mga armadong lalake, sinenyasan nila kaming lahat na mga babae sa loob na lumabas na at saka nila tinuro ang malaking barko.

We were around a port, that is something I am sure of. Isa-isa kaming lumabas. Walang nagtangka na tumakas sa amin dahil sa takot na baka patayin kami ng mga armadong lalake na nagkalat sa paligid. Ang kanilang mga armas ay hindi lamang basta-basta na display. I remained calm despite my situation. I felt bad for the rest of the girls. I hope none of them will be traumatized for life.

Nakita ko rin ang pagdating ng dalawa pang cargo, gaya ng ginawa ng mga lalakeng kalaban ay pinalabas nila ang mga babae sa cargo at pinasakay sa barko. I guess this is the cruise ship as well, kung saan gaganapin ang illegal trading, at iba pa.

"It's me, Viveron. I have already sent your current location to the team, and they are monitoring everything in real time too. The rest are already mapping out a plan as well that will be efficient for the rescue of the girls."

Hindi na ako umimik pa at tahimik lang ako na nakinig.

"All you have to do now Mary is to lay low and keep a low profile. Do not let anyone catch your attention. You have done your job and now, it is time for you to leave the rest to us." Saad ni Viveron sa akin. Somehow, that felt comforting... But I cannot relax just yet knowing I was inside the lion's den. I still have to remain vigilant for my own sake and survival. Hindi puwede na sa iba lang ako nakaasa para sa aking kapalaran din.

Even though I cannot control it, I was powerful too.

We went on board the ship, giniya muli kami papunta sa isang malaking kuwarto kung saan nagsama-sama na kaming lahat na mga babae. There is this tension in the atmosphere amongst us, and I understand that since we were all kidnapped and abducted. No one knew what awaits their fate, halatang naguguluhan din ang karamihan na sa mga nangyayari.

May mga armadong lalake rin ang nanatili sa malaking silid at nagbantay sa aming mga babae. I just hope there will be no casualties here, especially among the victims and civilians.

~*~

Third Person Point of View

Athanasius was against the plan of using Mary as a bait. She was still a newcomer of the team. She lacked experience, and they were all unsure of her power as well that she cannot control herself. Ngunit nang nalaman nila na nagtagumpay si Mary ay medyo naging panatag na ang loob ni Athanasius. That was all the work Mary needed to do. Ngayong alam na kung saan gaganapin ang auction at kung ilan ang mga nakidnap na mga babae, alam na nila ang gagawin nila.

"We sink the ship after we rescue all of the ladies," iyon ang sinabi ni Athanasius. "Make sure to wear your masks as well to cover your identity, especially we will be using our special abilities." Aniya. Tumango naman ang lahat. Biglang naalala ni Athanasius na wala pa palang maskara si Mary, but they will just get her one after the operation. Hindi na niya kailangang gamitin pa ang kaniyang kapangyarihan.

Athanasius and the squad will use their submarine to take the enemy by surprise, and use the submarine as well as an escape for them and the victims. It was big enough to accommodate them.

"Let us move out now, every second matters." Sabi ni Sayuri. Tumango naman ang lahat at nagsimula nang kumilos gaya ng utos ng kanilang pinuno.

"Thalia, we will leave the mansion in your care." Athanasius told Thalia who nodded silently.

Umalis na nang tuluyan ang lahat at tumungo sila sa isa sa mga hidden base nila sa port ng Metropolitan City, nasa siyudad ng Alta Mira rin si Mary ngayon, and that was six towns away from them. It was at the border of the region too.

Sumakay silang lahat sa submarine, Viveron captained the submarine and piloted it. When everyone was inside, they sunk into the depths of the ocean, following the trail and tracker of Mary who was inside one of the cruise ships of the Argentine.

"Remember, our priority is to save the ladies, and after that, we can do what we want with the enemy. I just hope that there will be powerful figures among the two households that we shall bring down tonight," Shinigami stated. Their enemy CALM will have their limbs decapitated if they successfully do this operation.

Bumuntong-hininga si Sunhell dahil sa lahat ng ayaw niya ay ang dagat. It was one of his fears, but he remained calm and collected despite that fact. On the other hand, Portgas seems enthusiastic and excited because he can finally have some action again after a few weeks of laying low.

An hour passed already, and Viveron notified everyone that the ship was just half a kilometer away from them in the middle of the sea. When they were beside the ship already, tumaas na rin ang submarine. Tamang-tama rin na gabi na kaya hindi sila makikita. Madilim ang paligid at ang tanging ilaw lang ay galing sa buwan na natatakpan ng mga ulap.

"Good luck, everyone." Viveron cheered everyone. "Of course, I will provide support. So you all have nothing to be afraid of."