Flashback –

She was bound but not gagged. The ropes around her wrists and legs were unfamiliar. She didn't struggle through her ropes; she didn't even change the speed of her heartbeat. It was as if she was calm, as if this wasn't unusual. She took in a deep breath and rolled her head. She started humming; the song was familiar only to her and to those like her. She stopped after a few bars and suddenly opened her eyes. This time, she couldn't control her heartbeat. Panic was starting to seep in, like a small trickle from a faucet, filling her with dread.

"Walang darating para sa iyo, Urduja. Walang tutulong" (Nobody's coming for you, Urduja. There's no rescue)

"I think you have the wrong person, mister"

"At tulad mo na rin sila. Kay bilis mo namang kalimutan kung sino ka at kung saan ka naggaling." (And now, you're just like them. How quickly you have forgotten who you are and where you're from.)

"My family will give you money. Just let me go."

"Aanhin ko ang kayamanan ng tao? Kinuktya mo ba ako?" (And what use do I have for mortal riches? Are you mocking me?) The voice was graveled low. It had authority that cannot be faked.

"Please let me go." Tears were starting to form. The fear was overpowering her.

"Anong kinatatakutan ko, Urduja?" (What are you afraid of, Urduja?)

She couldn't hold back anymore. She let the tears fall and started sobbing. "Please…" She whispered.

The man appeared from the darkness. He had golden brown skin, with arms decorated in old Filipino script. His long hair was tied back with twine. His eyes were dark but bright.

"You should be afraid of what you're becoming, Urduja. You should be afraid of what you are denying." The man said as he walked closer to her.

-end flashback-

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

She woke up, drenched in sweat, her heart about to pound out of her chest. Figures, she gets a few hours of sleep and she's gifted with a vivid replay of her favorite nightmare. She sits up, settles her breathing and buries her face in her hands. She then peels the covers off her and decides to walk the shivers off.

It has been an eventful day for all of them. Her brother brought Sam home and somehow Dean was able to vocalize his appreciation and apprehension all in the same breath. Sam had to calm him down and she managed to rile him up again.

Dinner was another event. Dean was a perfect parody of Eliza Doolittle. Her brother was highly amused, she was slightly amused but she didn't let it show. They decided that they'll start planning tomorrow seeing that everyone needed rest. Dean couldn't stop throwing jabs and jibes at Gilbert but the British Tagalog speaking butler was enjoying the verbal sparring than Urduja could ever appreciate.

It's only been four hours since then and she's now rudely awakened by that recurring nightmare. Her barefoot steps led her to the pool out back at the sprawling garden.

Technically, it's the middle of November and swimming isn't a highly recommended stress reliever, more so, outdoor swimming at two in the morning. Urduja, however was determined.

She stood by the edge of the pool and surveyed the area. When she felt it was safe, she slipped her nightgown off her shoulders until it lay on her feet, like a puddle. She dove in without making as much as a splash, just like a hot knife would to butter.

She relished how the cold water felt on her skin. It was soothing and liberating. She swam toward the pool's edge and reached out to the grass around the water receptacle. Her fingers grazed the soft, well manicured green and instantly, small white flowers appeared.

"I know who I am. I know what I am. I'm not denying it. I'm not afraid." She said to herself. She waved her hand over and the flowers sank back into the ground.

When she had enough, she got out of the pool and slipped her nightgown on. She pulled her hair to the side and twisted it until the water came out. She walked back in the house.

She was about to turn around the hall to go up to her room when she heard someone walking, albeit attempting to be as silent as possible. She backed up against the wall, waiting to see who it was. She let out a relieved breath when she discovered it was just Sam. She backtracked so she can provide Sam the illusion that she just came in. When Sam saw her, he offered an embarrassed smile. She smiled back.

"I got lost. I was thirsty." Sam explained.

"Yeah, it's easy to get lost in this house. You sure you're supposed to be walking around with that foot?" She pointed at Sam's cast.

"Well, I have to be mobile."

"Here, let me take you to the kitchen. You hungry?"

"A little." Sam then cleared his throat.

"What?" She raised her eyebrows.

"Don't you want to change first?"

She forgot that she was wearing a white nightgown with nothing underneath. The said nightgown was now translucent with the water from her skin. Even in mid-darkness, there wasn't much left to the imagination (well, it kind of fueled certain imaginations)

"Oh." She said without any sign of self consciousness. "It bothers you" It wasn't a question. "Let me change then. Wait here."