It seems I'm on an endless journey.. moving fast along a tunnel of light.. when finally I reached the end.. and woke up with everything blurred.. as if I was blinded by this light..
I can only remember.. the first clear image.. was that of a man.. with a weird looking mask.. as if a mask of three different emotions.. but the fourth part is his half own lips..
He is speaking.. but the words are more blurred than the images my eyes shows me.. everything is unknown.. everything is new..
.. then It's been days staying in a small room.., with nothing coming along in my mind.. but great thing my tummy is always full.., the guy in the mask often visits me.. murmuring words I cannot comprehend, until finally they travelled me to the city.. coming out of the room and seeing the real world.. everything is an awe.. seeing everything for the first time.
They bought and brought me my own house, and there a teacher daily visits me.. who diligently and patiently teaches me everything.. from speaking, to hearing to learning and living.. until finally I am able to communicate and express.. as well as live by myself.. that's when the guy with the mask returned..
"…just call me Maestro..., how about you? What is your name..?"
"I can't remember sir.., I don't know who I am.."
"..then.. I will teach you who you are…"Since then my Maestro along with the teacher daily visits me.. but Maestro trains me.. how to fight.., with my fist, my feet, with the sword and with anything..
He taught me hard, harder than the rock I needed to break using my sword.., He taught me discipline, courage.. and the will to fight..
"You are Lightning..! The ability God gave you, is your speed.., use it to destroy all evil.. evil that has reigned for too long.. with this blades.. you will destroy all those evil people..!!"
"..Yes Maestro.."
Since then.. Maestro will send me to tasks and missions I need to accomplish.. in order to destroy and finish.. this very evil he so dearly wanted to defeat.
Until unknowingly... I got this status.. that nobody ever wanted.., a masked vigilante hunted by the government and the criminals... it's like everyone is your enemy..
Luckily.. nobody knows who I'm really is.. so I can still go out in the public as a normal guy..
Girls trying to meet you, get your number.. and be your friend.. unfortunately Maestro told me, that is prohibited for a life who has a great calling.. a life destined to end evil..
Suddenly Maestro gave me an important task.. and told me.. this is one of the most important task.. that I have been training to do.. and now I'm caught with this lady whom I needed to kill..
But why should I kill this lady..? Has she done anything wrong..?
Who is she..? Why I am feeling this such pity that I have to finish her off..
(Lightning's phone rang as Maestro is calling)
"Have you finished your mission..?"
"Maestro.. are you sure about this person? She is just a simple lady…"
(Maestro started shouting.. ..and dropped the call…)
"the lady is bleeding badly.. I think I have no choice but to finish her off quickly with my sword.. rather than prolong her agony.."
"Mr.." (the beautiful lady with her weak body was still able to whisper..)
"Please.. my necklace and bracelet.. I would like to wear them, sir.. I want them to see me wear their gift until the end.."
I was surprised with her words.. I reached my pocket and took her broken necklace and bracelet.. it is already too much damaged.. she cannot be able to wear it..
Is this finally coming from pity..? that I left a bottle of water on her side.. and went to the market to have her things fixed so I can fulfill her final wish.
The same pleasant afternoon in the city Market..
A tall handsome guy is walking along trying to find a shop he needed.. but the girls are buzzing at him.. trying to get his attention. The guy has a fierce look, his skin is light he has broad shoulder, his body is like a ramp model.
"Hi Handsome.. what do you need..?"
"Hmm.. I need to fix this necklace and bracelet.."
"Aaa.. if it's a necklace and bracelet.. we have an expert.. come on, let's go with you.. we'll take you to her.." (the girls excitedly brought him to the famous shop).
"Madam.. can you fix these two..?" The woman examined what the guy handed over, and seems to be concerned...
"Is this for you, sir..? It looks familiar.. I'm sorry.. did someone give you this..?" The woman was curious on the necklace the customer handed over..
"I'm from Manila, and I bought this accessories there.."
"Ah, is that so..? Then maybe it was just a coincidence.."
"Why?..? Does this look familiar to you..?"
"Hmm.. yes, my dear.. he looks like the one I gave to my friend.. that necklace is special and unique, my own design.. actually it should have letters V and P, my name.. and this one doesn't" "maybe it's just purely coincidental that the designs looks similar.."The woman seems excited to tell his customer the coincidence..
"May I know who that friend of yours is, to whom you gave your necklace?" the customer asks..
"She is Mayumi, she's a fine young woman, if you want I can tell you why I gave her that precious necklace"
"Okay, Madam.. I want to hear it.."
"About two years have passed.. I was fooled by scammers.. many people got angry and are chasing me because they got involved because of me.. I am in debt.. I have to sell all my business assets.. and only that necklace is left.. I don't know what to do.. everyone is talking about me.. many people are angry with me.. I have no face to present.. I cry day and night.. I almost lost my mind.. when suddenly the beautiful lady knocked on my door.. she brought me something to eat.. and talked to me.. to strengthen myself again..
2 yrs ago..
an uneasy lady was very anxious outside a house gate waiting for someone... she is hiding a small gun on her pocket, her thoughts are out of hand.. all her anger took the limit.. she wants to bring justice to what great damaged done to her..
As a vehicle approaches she hid herself, and when she is about to do her plan.. ..suddenly a hand took her arms..
"Madam, how are you..? Wow Finally, It looks like you've finally left the house.."
The lady cannot even look at whoever is talking at her on her back..
"Can you join me for a lunch outside??"
When the lady found the voice familiar she finally tried to look at the person holding her, and found her new annoying friend Mayumi smiling at her.
At a simple fast food restaurant.. they have finished their meal..
the lady seems more relieved now..
"Thank you Mayumi.. I was really hungry earlier.. it's good that you came.."
"You're always welcome Madam.. hmm.. before you go home, I wanted to tell you something..
Madam… …Don't dwell on what others say about you..."
"You may have forgotten.. or you may not know it yet.. but you have a good heart.. all you want is to be good to others.. don't care what they say about you.. because you know better who you really are..
Mayumi was teary eyed, but the lady can't help herself but cry more, Mayumi hugged her lightly.. as she let her release all her sadness..
"I don't know myself anymore.. I have no hope! I almost killed someone a while ago"
"I know you can't do that ma'am.. let everything heal.. don't worry ma'am.. I will help you see hope again.."
The lady continued her story to Mr. Ian..
"Until she recommended me to the City Hall to teach livelihood to the youth how to make special bracelets and necklaces.. although many objected and mocked me as a fraud.. or scammer.. Mayumi herself stood up and defended me.. I owe this second life to her.. and now I have been able to re-establish a small and now growing business.. all because of her"
One day I deliberately went to her home to give her that necklace.. she knew that it was all that was left of my former luxurious life.. I gave it to her.. as a glimpse of the new life I am now enjoying because of her.."
The lady suddenly cried…..
"But tonight I will go to a Prayer Vigil for her.. because my dear friend is missing.. Oh my God.. I hope she is in good condition I hope we will find her…"
I will pray hard for you, Mayumi.." Everyone is listening to the story.. very sad and some crying as well..
"It's really great that Mayumi helped him.. what a pity that she's gone missing"
"She's like an angel.. she's really beautiful.. but until now they're still looking for her"
"Oh, maybe politicians took her, or maybe rich people.. she was so beautiful maybe they abducted her.." All the people are murmuring..
"Okay, Ma'am, I'll just return this necklace when you've fixed it..?"
"Okay, it'll just be quick.. I know these are important to you too.. so instead of buying a new one.. you want to save it.., okay.. I can fix it in an hour.."
The guy then left, promising to return after an hour..
But the guy instead went to the place where Mayumi is struck.. and where she left her things.. he roamed his eyes around and saw some small shining fragments from the surrounding dirt.. he took it up and saw two golden letters.. V and P which is the same as the woman has been telling.
The guy then confirmed to himself.. that the woman earlier is connected to the necklace he carries..
Meanwhile.. Mayumi is alone in a hut... atop of a tall tree.. she is already very weak, because she already lost an amount of blood from the wound she had since yesterday.. and she hasn't also eaten or drunk enough since yesterday..
Her hands and feet are tied with a cable tie, and her waist tied on a wood post, she cannot move much.. but she poured her strength to bite a piece of her cloth on her shoulder.. she was able to cut it and even though her hands is tied.. she was able to wrap the cloth on her wounded feet and tighten it to help stop the bleeding.. she is trying to free herself but she just don't have enough strength to do it.. so she drank a small bottle of water Lightning left and eventually rested, fell asleep..
""I'm Ian.. in the end I want you to know who I am.. even though it's heavy inside me.. but I have to fulfill the master's orders.."
Ian took Mayumi's hand and wore the bracelet to her, as well as her necklace..
"I hope you can forgive me.." Ian raised his sword.. but he is shaken..
As he cannot harm Mayumi.. as if something strong is stopping his heart to do it.. once again he withdrew his sword and went down the Nippa hut..
He took some air and looked at the sky to think.. trying to find himself.. the cold killer he is..
He then wore his red bandana.. and red cape.. he is again the killer Lightning..
He is still contemplating when someone attacked him trying to hit him with a wood..
But he was able to quickly dodge it.. but there is no stopping with the attacker.. going berserk as he is giving all his best..
"Where is Mayumi..!!! RELEASE HER NOW…!!!"
Lighting then tried to counter the attacks.. and they were both fast.. he later then able to cut the wood the attacker is using..
"You don't have a weapon left.. it's a shame you're fast and good at fighting.., who are you..? Who do you work for as an assassin?"
"I'm not an Assassin.. I'm Mayumi's friend.. and I'm here to save her..!!!" Charles continued his attack using his fists and feet.. he can almost hit lighting but the other can easily dodge it..
Meanwhile in the hut, Mayumi is gasping for strength.. as she feels cold and very exhausted "…My mother.. my friends.. will I ever see you again.. I don't think I can do it anymore.."
And below the fight continues... Charles was receiving small hit by Lightning's blade.. and starts losing blood and his strength as well..
"I will rescue Mayumi..!! Let her go!!!!" but Charles is giving his all..
Until a impact from Lightning's kick brought him down..
""It seems like you have the ability to fight.. but you still lack practice.., it's a shame that I have to kill you.."
Lightning is about to give the final slice to Charles when a big rock is thrown at him..
He was able to dodge it.. yet two attackers also started to hit him.. Lightning is able to dodge all when another big guy joined the fight..
(This guys look tough..) Lightning took his serious defensive stance with his sword..
"We can defeat this! Hey Lightning! I thought you were a hero!" Why did you capture Mayumi..!!? Get ready..!! We will defeat you." Henry yelled as he began his attack.
Philip and Richard fought as well.. and Lightning seems to have a hard time..
even Charles was able to stand again and join the fight..
meanwhile.. Mayumi's sight is getting blurred.. she is starting to loss consciousness..
down below.. the fight intensifies..
Lightning then.. took his best fighting stance.. and spin so fast.. that all of them were hit with the sword..
Even though hurt the four took again their stand.. and made a coordinated attack.. Richard and Charles was the distraction.. so Henry and Philip was able to hit Lightning in his face..
But all of them was hit by the sword..
"Wait stop.. stop your attack.. give the young lady priority.. take her to the hospital immediately.. don't waste any more time on me.."
Richard then stopped his friends.. "Is Mayumi upstairs.. in the hut..?" he yelled.
"Go and save her immediately.." Lightning told them as he withdrew his sword..They all then quickly climbed the Kubo instead, they found Mayumi all wounded and weak..
Henry shouted in agony.. he quickly carried Mayumi.. and brought down off the tree.
All of them are very worried as Mayumi seems to lose consciousness.. so they kept talking to her.. while Henry is carrying her..
Rescue then quickly arrived.. as Richard already notified the forest rangers even before they fought Lightning.. so they were able to lay Mayumi in a rescue bed..
"Just hang on there.. don't you give up on us.."
"Mayumi.. we're here.. don't let go.." "You're safe Mayumi, just fight.."
Mayumi is about to lose consciousness.. when in the midst of the light, she saw herself wearing a tribal dress, her hair was black she is holding the hands of her Mother.. but her Mother seems different, yet blurry, she is older and wearing a tribal dress as well.. they were very happy together when unknown people tried to separate her from her mother.. she shouted and shouted stretching their arms on each other..
"Mayumi.. hang on don't let go.."
Mayumi grasping her breath fighting to survive.