Even though doubts lingered in their minds, Rayden reluctantly agreed with Renante. They had nowhere else to go, and their dwindling pocket money left them with limited options. The woman, Rosalinda, promised to provide them with accommodation, food, and allowances once they reached their destination. With their backs against the wall, the two friends decided to take a chance and trust her.Rosalinda flashed a reassuring smile as she put her sunglasses back on, adding an air of mystery to her demeanor. She turned to Renante and Rayden, her voice filled with confidence. "Follow me," she said, leading the way towards a waiting van.The tension in the air was palpable as the two friends exchanged wary glances. Rayden leaned closer to Renante, his voice filled with apprehension. "Are we making the right decision, Renante? Can we really trust her?"Renante took a deep breath, his gaze fixed on the approaching van. "I understand your concerns, Rayden, but we don't have many options at the m
Unbeknownst to Rayden and Renante, the woman who introduced herself as Rosalinda Márquez led them to an isolated place. They were far from the city now, surrounded by dense forests. The van jostled and bounced along the rough road, causing discomfort for everyone inside."What is this road? It's terrible! They couldn't even fix it," Rosalinda complained, gripping the front seat.The driver remained silent, responding only with a slight smile.Rosalinda, irritated by his reaction, glanced at him, her irritation evident in her eyes. "Are you happy because of this bumpy road, or are you happy because we're taking a detour?" she snapped."No, ma'am," the driver replied curtly."Not happy, huh?" Rosalinda shot him a cold glare before shifting her gaze to the window. "Let's hurry then. The boss is waiting for us," she added.Rayden, still not fully recovered, could see the back of the driver's head and catch snippets of conversation between Rosalinda and the driver. However, he still lacked
"I'm Boyet, the leader of our group. And these are my friends," Boyet introduced himself and his friends to Rayden and Renante."Why are you here and how did you end up in this situation? Where are your parents?" Rayden bombarded them with a series of questions.Boyet answered, "We're all orphans, except for Erning."Erning was the youngest among the four of them."I feel sorry for you. How did you end up here? Were you also victims of scammers?" Renante inquired.Erning lowered his head and sobbed. Boyet comforted him, "Erning, calm down. Stop crying.""Poor Erning, he's easily frightened. He's also the kindest among us. He shares his food with the others here when they're still hungry.""Wait, you have other companions?" Rayden asked in surprise."Yes, they're in the other rooms," Boyet replied.Rayden stood up and glanced out the window. He saw guards standing watch, carrying long guns."What have we gotten ourselves into?" Rayden wondered."I think we're in the lair of a syndicate
Rayden made his way to the dining room, where he found Renante sitting with Boyet and the rest of the captives. As they ate their meager dinner, a heavy silence hung in the air. They knew better than to speak openly, as the guards were still present, watching their every move. They were like prisoners, trapped in a world of uncertainty and fear.In the midst of their meal, Rayden and the others observed their surroundings, searching for any possible escape routes or weaknesses in the security. Their eyes darted discreetly, taking note of the guard's positions and the layout of the room. It was a silent, coordinated effort, born out of their shared desire for freedom.As the minutes passed, the hunger of some of the captives became increasingly evident. Rayden watched as one of them, a thin, frail man, ran out of food on his plate. With desperation in his eyes, he stood up and approached the cook, hoping to ask for a bit more sustenance. However, his request was met with a cruel push f
That morning, under the scorching sun, Rayden and Renante, along with the other hostages, toiled away at the construction site, carrying out the laborious tasks assigned to them by the syndicate. The rhythmic sound of shovels hitting the ground filled the air as they continued their work, their movements fueled by a mix of exhaustion and determination.As sweat trickled down their brows, Renante glanced at Rayden, noticing a distant look in his eyes. Concern etched his face as he approached his friend, wiping the sweat from his own forehead."Great, this is a big building we're working on. What do you think they'll use it for once it's finished?" Renante asked, his voice laced with curiosity, trying to divert Rayden's thoughts from whatever troubled him.Rayden, who had been absentmindedly holding a shovel, snapped out of his reverie. He met Renante's gaze, his expression a mix of confusion and contemplation."You know, Renante, I can't help but think about the conversation I had with
The air crackled with anticipation as the clash between Rayden and the formidable guard erupted. The deafening cheers of the guards and the excited murmurs of the bettors merged into a chaotic symphony of sound. In the midst of the chaos, the captive workers found themselves rallying behind Rayden, their voices rising in a chorus of support."Go on! Knock down that arrogant brute! Keep going!" the captive workers shouted, their voices a mix of encouragement and desperation.Blows were exchanged with a ferocity that painted the room with violence. Each punch landed with a resounding thud, leaving its mark on the bodies and faces of both combatants. Rayden's determination and unwavering spirit allowed him to push past the pain that surged through his body, treating it as a mere inconvenience on his path to victory.His opponent, Lando, a hulking figure with a reputation for his strength, found himself on the receiving end of Rayden's relentless assault. His face became a canvas of bruis
"Ouch! Go slowly." Rayden softly cried out when Rosalinda wiped his wound on his cheek with a handkerchief."I'm impressed with what you did back there. Do you really have innate skills in fighting?" Rosalinda asked with confidence in her tone."What are your true intentions with me and why are you helping me? And why did you bring us to this place?""I brought you here because I need your help." Rosalinda soaked the cloth that she used to wipe Rayden's wound in a small basin with lukewarm water."What did you mean with what you said last night?" Rayden asked curiously. Rosalinda stopped wiping his bruise for a while to properly face the young man."What I said is that I need your help," she stared at him."What kind of help do you really need? Don't tell me you'll make us work in the mines or marry me off to that Madam Lara.""Don't worry, I won't abandon you." Rosalinda crossed her arms.Rayden moved a little because his back was stiff."Don't move yet. I haven't checked your other
Rayden and the other captives of the syndicate were eating dinner in a hurry. The system for eating was still the same. Get a plate and line up to be served food by the cook. The dining area was spacious enough to fit fifty captives crammed on the small table. Adding more food was prohibited. "I'm getting tired of just eating vegetables and dried fish. I hope there's meat next time." Renante complained while chewing on adobong kangkong with patis.His friend interjected."This kangkong is so delicious, ah. Don't you like it?" Rayden responded with a smile then ate the kangkong."This is always the viand. It's rare when there's fish," Boyet affirmed."I hope there's meat tomorrow." Renante mumbled as he took a spoonful.From behind, a large hand landed on his shoulder. He was startled and almost spilled his food. So, he turned back to see."Oh, you startled me!" He looked back in surprise.Now facing him was that guard Lando who had a quarrel with Rayden this morning. They stopped eat