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"Rest. I will contact you again." I said as I read what's on the paper inside the envelope.

I quickly noticed the disappointed look on my team's face when I've read to them the contents of the folded paper. I could understand them. Even I was disappointed as well. We put so much effort in finding these red envelopes that contains the tasks that the owner of the voice wanted us to do so it will tell us where we could find the Red Faction.

We anticipated for this. Every red envelope we get gave us anxieties and nervousness. Kahit na pilit na itinatago iyon ng mga kagrupo ko, alam kong pare-pareho kaming kinakabahan.

And now this? Ito lang ang maririnig nila matapos manganib ang buhay ng grupo nila Fourth sa misyong ito?

We don't have much time, pero patuloy pa rin nila kaming pinaglalaruan. We had enough of this game. We wanted to end this.

"Huh? Iyon lang?"

I heard Viper asked that question but my focus wasn't on him as I noticed the indicator light of my laptop that was on the table just blinked as the screen was off. I just received an email. I frowned as I do not expect any message that day. The only thing that I'm expecting was an email from the owner of the voice but since it wanted us to rest, I expected that it won't contact me.

I looked at the rest of the members before looking back at my laptop again. My gut tells me that I need to open that email, alone.

"But I think we really need it." I said when I noticed that the tension in the air was getting thick. Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko sa kanila at napansing nasa akin lahat ang atensyon nila. "We need to rest. Wala pa tayong pahinga."

They all agreed with my suggestion. Plus, I need to read the email that I've just received alone. Iba talaga ang pakiramdam ko sa mensaheng iyon.

I went to my room inside the EL Ordre's hideout. I sat on the one-seater sofa and put my laptop on the coffee table. Binuksan ko iyon at hindi nga ako nagkamali. Someone just sent me an email.

Nanatili ang tingin ko doon. The screen was blinking with the new email that I've received pero hindi ko iyon binubuksan. Wala talaga akong inaasahan na magpapadala sa akin ng email kundi ang nagmamay-ari lang ng boses na iyon. This isn't even my personal laptop. I was using this solely for our mission, for the Bloody Human Chess game. Kaya sigurado ako na tungkol sa laro ang mensaheng ito.

I pursed my lips and thought hard. Who would contact me here except the owner of the voice?

I looked at the folded paper in my hands. Binuksan ko iyon at muling binasa ang nakasulat.

"Rest... I'll contact you again." I mumbled. Paulit-ulit ko iyong binasa hanggang sa may namuong ideya sa utak ko.

Why would the owner of the voice gave us time to rest? It was playing with us, right? We even thought that the gamemaster was the one behind this all. That he's doing this 'cause it entertained him.

The gamemaster will do anything to ruin us. At isa ring dahilan kaya naisip namin na gamemaster ang gumagawa nito ay dahil masyadong nagugulo ang mga emosyon namin sa panibagong paraan ng paglalaro n'ya sa amin. It wanted us to look back at the past, at those nightmares that we're trying to forget but can't. At the past that we're trying to buried deep down despite the scars that it left us. And by doing that, we won't be able to focus on the game anymore.

But because of this paper in my hands, everything doesn't seem to fit in the puzzle anymore.

Unless it wasn't the gamemaster. Unless the owner of the voice was a different person and it has another agenda by doing this.

I stared at the blinking new email at the screen of my laptop. I have a feeling that this email will answer every question that I have right now.

Fuck this shit. Guess there is only one way to find out.

I clicked open the email and waited for the message to show. Pero imbes na mabasa ko ang mensahe na lumabas ay different kinds of coded messages ang nandoon. Numbers and letters and special characters we're all I could see in the screen. And the codes were not that easy to decipher.

I stared hard at the ciphers and when something clicked in my memory, nahigit ko ang paghinga ko. Those ciphers were familiar! It was those that Gray had a hard time learning. Dito s'ya nahirapan noon!

Emotions flood through me. Halo-halong mga emosyon ang nararamdaman ko. Thrill, excitement, longing, but most of all... nervousness. I was nervous that I might be wrong. Na baka hindi si Gray ang nagpadala nito. Na baka masasaktan na naman ako sa pag-asang makakausap ko na ang kapatid ko.

Still, I worked my fingers. I tried to decode the messages. The anxiety is killing me. I wanted to finish this soon. To see whatever it was trying to tell me. To know if this is really Gray.

The moment I typed in the last letter of the decoded messages, the screen of my laptop blinked. Biglang nandilim iyon. Noong una ay inakala ko pang namatay until some sort of matrices appeared in the screen. I scoffed. Saglit na natawa bago namuo ang luha sa mga mata ko nang makitang pamilyar ang mga codes na lumalabas doon kahit na mabilis ang paggalaw noon sa screen ng laptop.

Until the movement stopped and gave me a group of numbers that I quickly understood. It was coordinates. I searched where it was in my laptop without a second thought at nang makita kung saan ang lugar ay walang pagdadalawang isip na tumayo ako at kinuha ang coat ko.

The hideout was dark and quiet. I figured that everyone was already in their rooms since this is the only time that we got time to rest after playing the endgame. Pero kahit na ramdam ko ang pagod sa katawan ko ay itinuloy ko ang plano na pagpunta sa lugar na dapat kong puntahan.

Mabilis ang pagpapatakbo ko sa sasakyan dahil sa antisipasyon. I am fucking nervous thinking that I will meet my brother there so in no time, nakarating kaagad ako doon.

It was an abandoned mansion. Malayo na ang susunod na kabahayan na parang walang gustong tumira malapit sa abandunadong mansion na ito. Maybe because it looked like a haunted house especially now that it's nighttime. Mahilig pa namang gumawa ng kwento ang mga tao kahit na wala namang katotohanan.

I bet they'd already create a ghost stories about this house. Which I always find ridiculous.

It wasn't the ghosts that they should be afraid of. It was the living. Dahil ang mga tao ay ang may kakayahan na manakit. And nobody would even know what a human is capable to do.

Lumangitngit ang bakal na gate nang buksan ko iyon. Nawala na ang plano na tahimik na pumasok doon. I'm sure that the people inside already knows that I am here.

Still, I took a step inside. Mas malaki ang loob ng bahay lalo pa at kakaunti lang din ang kagamitan doon. I couldn't even call it a home. Para bang hindi naging masaya ang sinumang tumira sa mansyong ito.

I went further in and noticed the long table on the dining area. There was a Queen's chair at the end of the table and ordinary chairs on each sides. I frowned. Trying to analyze where I am right now.

A Queen's chair...

"Tracer."

I turned around and saw Violet standing a few meters away from me. I quickly reached the gun on my back pero hindi agad iyon inilabas nang makita kong wala s'yang planong lumaban. She didn't move even after she saw me reaching for my gun. Alam kong alam n'yang may baril na nakatago sa likod ko. We were teammates afterall.

"What are you doing here?" I asked. S'ya ba ang nagpadala ng email?

Instead of answering my question, she jerked her head towards the direction of the stairs.

"Let's go upstairs." then she just turned around and walked her way, leaving me alone.

Pinasadahan ko s'ya ng tingin. She was wearing a fitted black leather pants and a tube top, a black ankle boots and her long hair was tied in a bun. With those clothes on it's impossible that I wouldn't notice if she's hiding a gun. But she's not carrying one.

Reluctantly, I followed her but I didn't put my guard down. She was an enemy. I remembered her shooting Alter on the chest that put her in danger. But Violet's stance was unguarded as I watched her back while she's climbing the stairs.

Ilang kwarto ang nadaanan namin at tahimik lang akong nakasunod sa kanya. Is this the new hideout of the Red Faction? But no, halatang nilinis ang loob but something's telling me that nobody lives in this mansion anymore.

Violet finally stopped in front of the door, second to the last room. She glanced at me before turning the doorknob and without even giving me a warning, she opened the door and walked inside.

I readied myself in case something will happen pero nang mawala si Violet sa paningin ko at makita ko ang loob ng kwarto ay napatigil ako. 'Cause there, standing inside the room, I saw my brother.

Gray was looking at something on the wall as his hand touches a small hole on it. Naramdaman n'ya sigurong may nakatingin sa kanya kaya napalingon s'ya sa gawi ko.

At first, I thought I was looking at some stranger. Gray's eyes were cold and emotionless, parang nakatingin din s'ya sa isang taong hindi n'ya kilala. He didn't even reacted when he saw me and it pained me to see him like this.

I remember our childhood. We were so closed. Ilang taon man ang agwat ng mga edad namin ay hindi iyon naging hadlang para hindi kami maging malapit sa isa't-isa. Dad said that Gray was always looking up to me, that I was his role model kaya ginawa ko ang lahat para maging mabuting kapatid sa paningin n'ya.

Even with all the training that I've done. Even when our father was teaching me things before he handed me our family company, I still tried to find time to play with my brother. At natutuwa akong makita ang mga ngiti n'ya habang nakikipaglaro sa akin. It seems like he really enjoyed playing with me.

Kaya kahit na pagod na pagod ako at nagmamakaawa ng pahinga ang katawan ko, at the end of the day, I still chose to play with my brother instead of resting.

That's why I couldn't stop blaming myself because of what happened to him. His words hurt me that brought nightmares to my every night. It wasn't the drug that was talking with every lashes that he gave me back at the Red Faction's hideout where I last saw him.

It was him. It was my brother. He told me those thing being Gray. Ang mga salitang hindi n'ya masabi dahil sa takot na masaktan ako. Ang mga salitang matagal n'yang itinago kaya wala akong kaalam-alam.

He was right. I left him. I was blinded with my anger, trying to find who killed our parents to get revenge. I forgot all about him when Artemis was with me. Nakalimutan ko s'ya. Nakalimutan kong may sariling paghihirap din ang kapatid ko.

"Gray..." I called him, iniinda ang sakit sa paraan ng pagtitig n'ya sa akin.

Ang mga daliri n'ya ay patuloy na humahaplos sa maliit na butas na nandoon sa pader habang walang emosyon ang mga matang nakatingin sa akin. I ignored the pain in my chest and took a step forward to him.

"Gray, it's me... Your brother." I said softly.

Tumigil ako ilang hakbang ang layo mula sa kanya para bigyan sya ng pagkakataon na unawain ang sinabi ko. And it worked 'cause after awhile, I saw him frowned. Muli s'yang tumitig sa akin and this time, I saw recognition in his eyes.

"Kuya..." sabi n'yang mukhang hindi makapaniwalang nandoon ako sa harapan n'ya. "Kuya..."

Hindi na ako nag-isip pa at mabilis akong naglakad para mayakap s'ya. This happened before. Back then when Eresh revealed that my brother was their King Lancer. He shot me back there. Ramdam ko ang galit nya noon habang yakap ko s'ya. At hindi ko man lang nararamdaman ang pag-aalinlangan n'ya nang barilin n'ya ako noon.

But fuck! I would take every bullet just so I could hug my brother again. If my hug could bring him back, if my hug could heal our broken bond, if my hug could make him feel that I am sorry for abandoning him, then I am willing to get shot no matter how many times.

Ni hindi ko alam kung anong naghihintay sa akin nang pumunta ako dito. Basta ang nasa isip ko lang ay makita ang kapatid ko. Kahit ilang beses na akong napahamak noon sa pagtatangkang kausapin s'ya, I will take every opportunity I get if I could talk to him.

"I'm here, Gray... Nandito na ko. I won't abandon you again."

Naramdaman ko ang alanganin n'yang pagyakap sa akin. Humugot s'ya nang malalim na paghinga nang sandaling mayakap ako. I felt him heaved a deep sigh, like all the tension left his body before I felt his shoulders shook as he buried his face on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Kuya! I'm sorry!" he said while crying. Humihigpit ang pagyakap n'ya sa bawat salitang binibitiwan n'ya. "I'm sorry!"

Parang bata s'yang humagulgol sa balikat ko habang paulit-ulit na humihingi ng tawad sa akin. I pursed my lips as I felt my eyes hot with tears. Humugot ako nang malalim na paghinga habang kinakalma ang sarili ko.

Violet looked away at us and just leaned her body on the wall beside the window. Tumitig s'ya sa labas ng bintana at hinayaan kaming dalawa ng kapatid ko.

I sighed all the tension in my body. Hinayaan kong umiyak ang kapatid ko sa mga balikat ko. I hugged him tight and promise to myself that I would never, ever make him feel alone again.

Hindi ko na ulit s'ya pababayaan. I will share my family with him and let him play with my kids. Alam ko pa namang mahilig s'ya sa mga bata. I'm sure that he will love the twins.

And I promise that I will protect him, just like what a big brother should do for his little brother.

"I'm sorry, Gray." bulong ko sa kanya habang hinahagod ang likod n'ya. Kung narinig n'ya man o hindi sa gitna ng paghagulgol n'ya ay hindi ko alam.

All I know is that Grayson James Sanford, my little brother, is finally back.

After awhile of crying, Gray finally pulled away. I chuckled when I saw him wiped his tears harshly like a child. Sumisinghot pa at bahagyang humihikbi habang nagpupunas ng mga luha.

"Sorry..." muling sabi n'ya sa akin na nahihirapan pa dahil sa paghikbi.

I chuckled and pat his head. "I'm sorry, too."

"So... Tapos na ba ang reunion?"

Napatingin ako sa may pintuan at nakita ang isang taong hindi ko inaasahan na makikita ko doon. It was Ishtar. She was leaning on the doorjamb with her arms crossed like she's been watching us for a long time now.

"Ishtar? What are you doing here?" I asked.

"She's helping us, Kuya." sagot ni Gray na bahagya pa ring humihikbi. Lumapit s'ya sa kamang nandoon at umupo sa dulo.

"Helping you?" hindi makapaniwala kong tanong at muling tumingin kay Ishtar.

How could she ever help them?

"The voice. It was hers." it was Violet like she heard my thoughts even though she's looking outside the window.

Pero mas lalo lang akong naguluhan.

"You're the owner of the voice?" I asked Ishtar and she nodded before she went in furher the room.

"Yup!" she said, popping the 'p'.

"We didn't notice anything different with you."

"'Cause your focus isn't on me." Ishtar said. "Naging madali sa akin especially that I was always alone in my room since Hoax is trying to help the EL Ordre."

"It couldn't be Violet since Eresh could've noticed." Gray said. His gray eyes was serious. "Madali n'yang mapapansin sa paraan ng pagsasalita ni Violet kahit gamitan namin ng voice changer. They have been planning together back at the Red Faction ever since afterall."

"And nobody really paid attention to me." Ishtar said. "Wala akong nakasama nang matagal sa EL Ordre so we took the chance to use my voice."

"So that's why Eresh was so annoyed when she listens to the voice. Kasi ikaw ang may-ari." I said and Ishtar rolled her eyes. Dahil sa ginawa n'ya ay napansin ko ang pagkakahawig nila ni Eresh.

"We contacted her as we believe nobody would ever noticed that she owns that voice. Na sa tingin ko ay gumana naman." paliwanag ng kapatid ko.

"Wait a minute." sabi ko nang may maisip. "So you three were helping the EL Ordre secretly." They all nodded. "To help us defeat the gamemaster." they nodded again. "But why does it feels like you're trying to weaken us by using our emotions?"

"We're actually trying to strengthen you." Violet said. Naglakad sya at umupo sa tabi ng kapatid ko. "It was our way so the gamemaster couldn't use your emotions against you. We want all of you fully prepared for the final game."

"At ganoon ang pinapalabas namin sa gamemaster." Gray said. "Ang durugin ang EL Ordre gamit ang mga emosyon nila. Iyon pa naman ang pinaka kahinaan n'yo."

I looked at Ishtar. "At pinapalabas mong nagta-traydor ka sa EL Ordre?"

She nodded and smiled at me sadly. "Afterall, the gamemaster thought that I hated the EL Ordre. He knew what I've done before."

Nakita ko ang lungkot sa mga mata n'ya. At kahit hindi n'ya sabihin, alam kong sinusubukan n'yang bumawi sa mga nagawa n'ya, sa nagawa n'ya kay Aius. It's dangerous. The gamemaster might notice that they were just acting but Ishtar was still willing to help.

Looks like she finally have the courage to face and correct her mistakes.

"Then where do I fit in here?" I asked dahil hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko.

Gray sighed. He stood up and looked at me directly in the eye.

"We need your help, Kuya." he said.

I frowned. "How?"

He pursed his lips. At nang magsalita ay halata ang kaseryosohan sa boses n'ya.

"I want you to talk with the gamemaster and act in front of him, Kuya. Act like you're ready to betray the EL Ordre for me."