A.N. So I got myself this awesome beta reader, TheWolfParadox who's helping me out in fixing up my chapters. Also, they're helping me try to stay as true to the characters as I could while I proceed to insert my own shite in the story. Thanks so much for the help, love! I seriously appreciate it!


CHAPTER TWO

"Yeah, I know who your mother is," My father spoke, he sounded like he was scared to hear what Kuya had to say. "She's a great hunter." I heard Kuya let out a sound like a laugh and a cough.

I think it was both.

"Yes, I know," Kuya replied with a smile, "She trained me and some others." My father looked surprised before he looked at his brother like they were talking to each other through their minds.

I hope they can't do that.

"Why don't we go somewhere private where the three of us could talk?" Kuya suggested as he nodded to a part of the airport without people there.

My father and his brother nodded, I figured that this was going to be another one of Kuya's adult talks.

I was nudged away from my hiding spot behind Kuya by Papa who brought me in front of him but I really didn't want my father to see me so I clung onto Papa's long jacket and hid behind it. Papa just sighed and picked me up which was fine for me cause he could hide me better.

"Don't make me leave." I told him this already, I don't want to go away but Papa just looked at me the same way he did the first time I told him.

"Iha, you know why we have to do this." He told me as he hugged me close. "Your Kuya and I would never give you up," he told me. I could feel my throat closing up, I don't want to cry but I also can't help it. "We love you too much, your Nanay wouldn't do this either." I sniffled and buried my face in his jacket.

"Why now?" Why is it that I'm going to lose everything now just when I was getting used to my family? When Kuya was getting used to waking me up to help me get ready for training? When my brothers and sisters would all tell me I'm safe when the bad dreams come?

"Why do I lose you now?" I asked Papa again, I could feel my tears running down my cheeks and I tried to wipe it off but more tears came. "I-I could fight a-and I don't have to eat much-" Papa shook his head and looked at me.

"You're a growing girl, Lyka." He hugged me and I realised that this might be the last hug from my Papa that I'll get. I cried harder and just hugged him as tight as I could. "You know so much about the world's hardships but this is something that we can't let you join, you need to be safe. Where no one could hurt you and where your family could see you."

"Y-you're my family." I hiccuped out, Papa just gave me a sad smile like Kuya had been doing ever since he told me I was going away.

"I know, iha." He shushed me and held me close. I just cried even more and hoped that somehow I won't have to go with my father and I could just stay with Papa and Kuya and we could just go back home.

~OoO~~OoO~~OoO~~OoO~~OoO~~OoO~~OoO~

When Kuya came back, he had his blank face on and he told Papa that we'll be eating before they leave. I didn't really want to eat but I know Kuya would be worrying because he doesn't like the idea of me not eating. My father said he knew the perfect place we could go to for food.

The place my father took us to was...different but familiar. It was a McDonald's, I haven't eaten there in forever. Kuya took me there once but we usually ate our meals at the clan huts and they're always cooked by our older siblings. But even with my time in the streets, I know a McDonald's pretty well when I see one. I also remember a time when I used to eat there.

"Lyka, what would you like?" Kuya asked me, I shrugged, frowning at the menu.

"One piece chicken?" I wasn't sure if that was okay but Kuya looked happy I chose that so I guess that it is.

"Okay, I'll get that too and maybe also a burger." He patted my head before he told the lady behind the counter what food he and I wanted. Papa just went with a 'Happy Meal' and said that the toy should be given to me.

I think I kind of remember a time when Tatay would buy me those. Tatay always took me to eat out at McDonald's on Fridays after my daycare and it was a lot of fun whenever he takes me there.

Papa carried me all the way to our table and sat me down between him and Kuya. I like not having to sit beside my father. I get to pretend that I'm still part of my Papa and Kuya's lives for a bit longer.

My father I think noticed me when I told Kuya what I wanted to eat because ever since he sat down in front of me, he's been staring. I shifted uncomfortably in my seat and tried to ignore him while I ate but it didn't take long for me to get uncomfortable and tug on Kuya's jacket sleeve.

"What's wrong?" Kuya asked, looking at me. I bit my lip before looking at my father. I think Kuya understood because he just nodded.

"He's just seen you for the first time, Bunso," Kuya explained to me. I didn't care that it's his first time seeing me, I didn't like how he'd look at me. Was he always going to look at me like I'm some sort of freak?

"Go and finish your food." I nodded and just finished what was left of my chicken before pushing the plate away.

My father cleared his throat, "So uh, her," he nodded at me, "how long's she had those scars?" I shrank away from him the moment his hand gestured to my face.

"Ever since she was three, she got them in a house fire and some scars she got while living on the streets," Papa answered. I noticed how he's trying to keep Kuya from answering, is it because Kuya doesn't lie about my story?

My father grew quiet after that, but he just gave me one more look before he got up and left the table. I let out a relieved sigh.

"We should get on the topic of my and my grandfather's arrival." Kuya looked at my father's brother. "We know about the house fires and the maternal deaths, the whole deal," Kuya said. I saw my 'uncle' tense like he didn't want my Kuya to know all about this.

"We figured that you might need some information on what you're dealing with and that's easy access for me and my grandfather," Kuya explained, he looked like he knew what he was talking about but I knew that he was making this up. Papa could find out about stuff like that but he can't. "But in order for us to give you this valuable information, we'll need to ask a favour from you."

"And what is that favour?" my 'uncle' asked Kuya, he sounds like he knows what Kuya's going to be asking though. I hope he doesn't like the idea.

Kuya looked at me and leaned over to bump his forehead against mine. "It'll be okay," he mouthed to me as he booped my nose with his finger. Then he looked at my 'uncle' with a serious expression.

"My sister."

"No." I breathed out a sigh, my 'uncle' didn't want me. I never thought I'd be happy someone wouldn't want me.

Kuya shook his head. "Look, my grandfather, my aunts, my uncle, and even my mother, we're all fighting a War that she shouldn't ever be a part of." Kuya was talking really quickly. "She got dragged in, she kept on nearly becoming a casualty." My 'uncle's' face looked like he couldn't believe what my Kuya was saying but when Papa spoke he got my 'uncle's' attention.

"We had lost different children already," Papa said softly, "We just want one of them to live if we could help it." Kuya looked away from my 'uncle' and looked at Papa like he didn't expect Papa to talk.

I sometimes forget that some of my brothers and sisters died because of the Hunt.

"I can't send her anywhere in my country because they'd still find her," Kuya added in, his voice shaking. "They always find her and I'm scared that I might be too late if they manage to take her."

My 'uncle' opened his mouth to say something but my father returned with a tray full of food and he set it down between him and me.

"I figured that you might still be hungry so I got some extra for you." I eyed him and tilted my head with a frown. My father smiled. "See, I got you a burger and some fries, I also got some for me too."

"Thank you." I mumbled, reaching for the burger, my father looked pretty happy that I took my burger.

"My sister, Lyka, we need you both to keep her safe for the moment," Kuya tried with my father, I saw that same expression my 'uncle' had when Kuya tried with him but Kuya continued, "Our place right now isn't safe, she nearly died several times. We're dealing with things far beyond our control, we're willing to trade information if you could please just keep Lyka safe." Kuya was talking really fast and I noticed how he was clenching his fist.

"You know, this could be dangerous." My father began, but my Kuya shook his head.

"We've faced our own horrors, she knows her precautions." My father nodded, but he still looked like he wanted to say no. Kuya sighed. "The Dark-Folk don't have to find her if she takes those precautions." Kuya shook his head again and said something about Nanay's surprise being ruined.

For a few seconds I thought he was going to Reveal us.

"My mother has a letter for you, you need to read it." My father tensed up and Kuya looked at me. I reached into my jacket pocket and took out Nanay's now wrinkled letter.

"She said it's for you to know what happened." I mumbled out.

My father took the letter with shaking hands.

"Did-did she say anything in this letter? About anything?"

Papa smiled at my father.

"About you? She addressed it to you for a reason, my boy." My father looked surprised he'd even get a letter but I think Papa's words helped him. He looked like he had to make himself braver before he looked at the envelope and tore it open.


A.N. Again, please don't hesitate leave comments as they motivate me to keep on writing and I love hearing from those who had read my story. I hope you enjoyed this chapter!