PROLOGUE

WILDMEN SERIES #49: CHARLES GRAYSON EZEKIEL FIUMARA

PROLOGUE

I was in a dark room, echoed with the sound of leather meeting flesh, hawak ako ng dalawang malalaking lalaki habang nakatali ang dalawang kamay ko. The bitter taste of vengeance filled my heart as I braced myself for the torment ahead. This was the price I had to pay, the gruesome initiation into the world I sought to conquer. But it wasn't just power and influence I craved; it was retribution for the tragic deaths of my sister Grace and my mother—deaths I had witnessed with my own eyes.

Muli akong napakislot sa sakit nang muling malakas na humagupit ang latigo sa likod ko.

Twenty-seven, I think that's the count- if I'm not mistaken.

I am bleeding, the pain almost cause me to pass out. I'm struggling with my own sanity and I can't barely move. Hindi ko na alam kung tama pa ba ang ang pagbibilang na ginagawa ko sa isipan ko just to distract myself.

I only need to get through this initiation to survive.

Despite the fact that I don't want to.

Ito lang ang naiisip ko na paraan.

The pain caused by the whipping is nothing compared to the pain that they causes me when they killed my Mom and Grace in front of me.

Mas masakit 'yon.

Mas nakakanginig ng laman.

Mas nakakagalit.

"Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, Thirty-"

Nararamdaman ko na ang unti-unting panghihina nang katawan ko. Nagdidilim ang paningin at tila mawawalan na rin ako ng ulirat dahil doon.

But, I can still handle this. Hindi dahil sa kailangan, kundi dahil may tiwala rin ako sa sarili ko.

I was driven by my passion to get the revenge that I am seeking.

Kaya ko ito.

Kaya pa.

Kaya ko pa.

Isang daang latigo ang dumaan sa katawan ko nang gabing iyon, hindi ko sukat akalain na kinaya ko but I made it. 'Yon nga lang ay ospital ang inabot ko dahil sa dami ng latay sa buong katawan ko

Two more initiation to go at magiging ganap na akong miyembro ng Foedus.

"Hindi mo ba talaga ititigil ang kahibangan na ito, Gray?" bulyaw ni Lucille na kararating lang. She is my cousin, mas bata sa akin ng two years pero daig pa ang nanay ko kung manermon.

Mas lalo kong ininda ang sakit ng likod at mga sugat ko nang marinig ang tinig niya.

"Oh shut up, Lu! Huwag mo nga akong sermunan. I am your older brother, don't forget that!"

"You shut up!" bulalas niya. "You are insane, Grayson. Look at yourself, you look like a mess."

"Enough, hindi mo ako kailangan sigawan." Mataman ko siyang tinitigan.

Nakakapikon din kasi siya kung minsan.

She release a deep sigh. "Tingin mo ba matutuwa si Ninang kung makikita ka niyang nagkakaganyan?"

"Don't even go there," I said. Trying to make my voice firm.

She mentioned my mom and that thing is a big deal to me.

"What?" She said.

"Just shut up! Umalis ka na, Lucille. Hindi ka naman nakakatulong sa'kin, eh." Singhal ko.

"Grayson-"

"Leave!" sigaw ko.

"I won't, nangako ako kay Lolo na hindi kita iiwanan. Ako na lang at si Yuri ang meron ka, Grayson. Huwag mo naman kami ipagtabuyan. Kami na nga lang ang nagmamalasakit sa'yo." Her voice cracked, she was about to cry.

I choose to stay in silence for a while.

"Sorry..." I murmured.

This is kind of embarrassing.

Imagine, I got shut off by my younger cousin just because she was about to cry.

Geez, this isn't my style.

"Tapos na ba kayo mag-away?" Si Yuri, my half-sister. "Nasa labas pa lang ako naririnig ko na ang boses ninyong dalawa. Have some shame." Panenermon niya.

"Sorry Ate," Lucille murmured.

"And you Gray, do you have anything to say?"

"What should I tell you?" Takang tanong ko.

Gusto niya akong mag-sorry, that's it.

Yuri didn't answer, basta ang alam ko na lang ay sumargo na lang sa mukha ko ang bagong bili niyang Gucci bag.

"Yuri ano ba?!" I yelled.

"Shut up, jerk!" sigaw niya rin pabalik. "Sumusobra na talaga ang katigasan ng ulo mo. Look at you! Una nagwaldas ka ng one hundred million, and now this. Just to be part of that organization, nagpalatigo ka. Are you loosing your own mind? Kailangan mo na rin ba magpa-mental just to bring back your own sanity?"

"May rason ako Yuri, kaya ko ginagawa to."

"Whatever your stupid reason is-" I cut her off.

"Did you think it was stupid that I was grieving and seeking vengeance for Mom and Grace's death?"

"No! Ang pagsali mo sa kalokohang Foedus na 'yan ang istupido."

"Seeking justice for my family's death is not stupid, hindi ito kalokohan Ate. Namatayan ako, pinatay ang Mommy ko at kapatid ko sa harapan ko." My voice almost cracked but I stood firm.

"Namatayan din ako, Grayson. I also mourn for their death. Kagaya mo, nakikipaglaban din ako para makuha ang hustisya na nararapat sa kanila pero hindi sa ganitong paraan na ilalaan ko pati ang sariling buhay ko. Sa ginagawa mong 'yan ay para mo nang ibinebenta ang sarili mo sa demonyo. Delikado ang pagsali sa mga ganoong organisasyon, Gray." Mahabang litanya niya

"Hindi mo ako naiintindihan Yuri,"

"Pinipilit ko Gray, bilang nakatatandang kapatid mo. Sinusubukan kong intindihin ang gusto mo na mangyari. I am your big sister, I just want the best for you. Ikaw na lang ang meron ako, Gray." She cried.

Buo na ang desisyon ko, ang pagsali lamg sa Foedus ang nakikita kong paraan para maka-alpas ako.

My journey had only just begun, but I was prepared to face whatever challenges awaited me. The world of Foedus was ruthless and unforgiving, but I would prove to be its coldest, most calculating predator. And in the end, those who had wronged my family would face the wrath of this ruthless man they had unwittingly created.