37. Sisters

As I read the note that my dad left for us, my heart and stomach sank low to the ground. What would happen to me? To us? Did he really think that we could last the night in the middle of nowhere? I took a good look at Denise who was heaving beside me, appearing as if her cat died or worse. The feeling was not lost to me.

“How many hours did it take for us to hike here?”

I expected her to do one of three things- scream a response, ignore me, or attack again, but surprisingly, her voice was even as she replied. “About 3 hours or so. I’m not really sure because I haven’t been looking at my watch.” She turned pale all of a sudden. “What if we die out here? I can’t! I can’t die without seeing Dulce again!” Denise grabbed her blonde locks in panic.

To calm her down, I touched her shoulder, staring her directly in the eyes. We were the same height so it was easy to get her attention. “Chill. . . We won’t die okay? I’m sure dad is playing a nasty trick on us. Think of it like this. Will he leave his two daughters defenseless in the woods? The answer is no.”

That seemed to calm her down. “What do you propose we do?”

I pushed her down to the grass. “Maybe it’s best if we wait for him. If he really was playing, he’d return in an hour or two.”

Denise nodded in agreement. For once she didn’t argue which in my opinion was a big miracle. Sinking to the ground next to her, I began to count the minutes, wishing that dad didn’t leave us, and this was his nasty way of teaching us a lesson for ruining his vacation. Two hours into the wait, Denise raised herself from the ground, worry etched in her face. “I don’t think he’s coming back.”

“We should wait a little longer.”

“I know him way more than you do Frio.”

I stood up from the ground, giving her a challenging look. “Are you trying to tell me that I’m illegitimate again? Now is not the time to insult me Barbie girl.”

She rolled her eyes, throwing her hair over her shoulder. “What I meant was if dad was joking, he’d be here right now. And I don’t need to tell you that you’re illegitimate. You already know that.” Taking a deep breath to prevent myself from killing her, I reached out for the phone in my back pocket. “I’ve tried using mine,” she said. “No signal.”

“Don’t you think I know that?” I pushed a button here and there, showing her the application I entered afterwards. “See? I downloaded a compass application on my phone before we went here. If we walk towards one direction and stay on that path, we’ll be out of here soon.”

Something glimmered in her eyes. She held out a hand. “Can I see your phone?” I didn’t like her tone. It was like she was planning something.

“Why?” I asked carefully.

“I want to see your pictures of Dulce.”

“No way! Those are private.” Maneuvering away from her, I placed the phone on sleep mode. Did she really think that I was going to show her pictures of me and Dulce while cuddling? She must be dreaming.

“What are you hiding?” she prodded, advancing to me. “Are there naked pictures of her there? If so, then I want to see.”

“You’re stupid Denise. I’m an actress remember? I don’t keep pictures of my girlfriend like that. Hacking is very popular nowadays and I just can’t risk that. Besides, you’ve already sent a picture of us to the paparazzi. What more do you want?”

“Then don’t hide her pictures from me.” Before I could stop her, Denise was already diving for my phone. Her reach was long, but I managed to get away. Unfortunately, she tripped me to the grass, causing the gadget to slip from my hands. We watched in horror as it cracked to the ground, ricochet, and fell with a plopping sound to the water. It was already dead when I scooped it out.

“Fuck! Fuck it Denise!” My hands trembled in anger. “That’s our way out of here and now it’s gone!” She must have seen something in my face because instead of shouting back, she bit her lips. “I hope you’re happy.” Grabbing my bag from the ground, I didn’t take a look back as I trudged to the forest. A few seconds later, I heard her running after me.

“It’s not really my fault,” she argued, trying to keep in step with mine. “You were the one who dropped it.”

My feet halted. “Shut up for once. If you want to come with me, then you need to shut that shitty mouth of yours because I’m tired of hearing you whine and complain. It’s that or I’ll leave you to rot here alone.” Her lips closed in an instant, no doubt from the fear of being lost in the forest by her lonesome. We proceeded to walk forward silently. Finally, some peace and quiet.

 Hours into the walk, I decided that I was feeling two things at once. One, it felt like we were being followed, yet there were no footsteps apart from ours, and we still haven’t encountered anyone. Two, though I have never been here before, it was like I was having a déjà vu. Strange. Very strange indeed.

Come midday, the sun’s rays turned harsher, making me sweat up like I was working out. The green v-neck I was wearing clung to my body in a very uncomfortable manner. Denise was not looking great as well, with her blonde hair sticking to her nape. The tall trees effectively shaded us from the glare, but offered little protection from the humidity.

“Can we stop for a while?”

I looked her up and down. She was pale. Her lips were dry. Not to mention her pink tee was drenched in sweat. “Are you tired?” I asked, taking a bottle of water from my bag. The water soothed my burning throat in a jiffy. I offered the drink to her after, which she declined with a shake of her head.

“I need to pee,” she said.

I gestured to the ground. “Go ahead.”

Her eyebrow rose. “I can’t relieve myself here. Someone might see.”

“Who? Who will see?” I retorted sarcastically. “In case you haven’t noticed, we’re in the middle of nowhere with zero reception and the absence of human beings apart from us. No one will see you pee. So go ahead and lower your panties Denise because I’m not interested in what you have to offer.”

“I don’t know,” she replied in frustration. “Animals. Deer. Whatever! Can you just accompany me to the bushes over there so I can get this over with? I really need to pee.” She looked like she was about to cry.

“Fine! But hurry up because I want to get out of these woods as soon as possible.”

Nodding enthusiastically, Denise hurried to the bushes on the right, about 50 yards from us. We left our bags on the ground so we could stay on the same direction that we have been trekking from the start. My companion disappeared behind the bushes, doing her business while I stood beside a tree, my eyes closed. When she was finally finished, Denise marched in front of me, whistling as she went.

I slammed behind her as she halted suddenly. “What’s your problem?”

“Our bag,” her voice quivered.

Pushing her to the side, I hurried to the spot and saw what she meant. There lay the bag we left a few minutes earlier, shredded beyond recognition. Pawing through our things, I saw that everything was destroyed, our food, our stuff, everything. “That’s it.” My knees sagged to the ground. “We’re done for. There’s nothing left.” My stomach felt hollow.

“Is it a bear?” she asked, glancing to her back in fear.

“What else could have done it? I haven’t seen anyone. Have you?”

“No. But if it’s a bear then we need to go,” she said. For once I agreed with her. But where could we go? We were lost. It was just the two of us. Now our things were destroyed. To make the situation worse, the sky opened up, and down came the rain, pouring all over us. Perfect! Just a while ago it was too sticky and hot. Thank you mother nature for trying to kill us.

“Let’s make a run for it before we catch a cold.” Taking her hand in mine, we ran and ran, attempting to find temporary shelter. As the second hand of the clock moved, our steps became shorter and slower, our feet heavier. We were getting tired, but the rain was not about to stop. Shelter was what we needed since it was going to get dark soon. By some stroke of luck, Denise found a cave. It was the first good fortune that we have encountered in a while.

“We need to build a fire,” she said.

“With what?” My teeth chattered due to the cold. I embraced myself, attempting to keep warm. “Everything is drenched outside this cave, and we don’t have anything we can use.”

Realizing that I was right, as usual, she sat on the cold floor of the cave, leaning her head on the wall. It was dark and cold inside, but it was warmer compared to what was out there. I didn’t want to imagine how long this cave stretched in. Who knew what kind of creature was lurking in the pits? I should really stop watching suspense movies, I thought dizzily. Was it really this cold?

“Can I sit beside you?” Denise’s voice bounced from the wall. “I’m so cold.”

I was too tired to argue. “Be my guest.”

She scooted next to my position, just a few meters from the mouth of the cave. “God Frio, you’re burning up.” She touched my forehead and withdrew her hand quickly, remembering that she hated me.

“I didn’t notice. Just make me rest for a while okay?” Not waiting for her reply, I closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep. The next thing I knew, someone was removing my top off. I soon realized it was Denise. “I’m your sister.” My voice sounded different. Sickly. And everything spun. “I’m not about to fornicate with my sister. Besides, I'm in love with a freaking Goddess.”

“You’re disgusting,” she said, continuing to peel my shirt, bringing it over my head. When it was finally removed, she got her own shirt off and huddled to me. Her embrace warmed my body. Maybe this was what J.K Rowling meant when she wrote about the butterbeer in Harry Potter.

“I thought you were mad at me.”

“I’m not mad at you, I absolutely hate you. But Dulce said to take care of you too, and I don’t want her to blame me if something happens. I love her too much to disobey her.”

“Can’t you just say for once that you’re concerned for me since I’m your sister? That you're a nice human being who just pretends to be annoying so she can have her way?”

“Don’t flatter yourself Glace. I'm anything but nice. I'm the devil personified. Now go to sleep before I kick your ass.” Even if her tone was sarcastic, I still smiled as I closed my eyes. She said that she hated me, yet she called me by my real name for the first time. I snuggled closer to her. For the first time since Dulce left, I dreamt a happy one.

Several voices woke me up the next day. As I opened my eyes, I saw Denise surveying the place at the mouth of the cave. “Put your shirt back on,” she instructed.

“What is it?” I asked, as I did what she said, coming behind her. The fever has miraculously subsided, though I was still feeling a little bit dizzy.

“There are guys out there. They look. . . They look like savages.”

I was about to check them when two guys came from out of nowhere, grabbing me and Denise out of the safety of the cave, towards their peers. We were outnumbered, ten to two. Five of them men, the other half women. All of them were dirty looking with rotten teeth and smudged faces, like they haven’t taken a bath for quite some time, which was funny if you thought about it since it just rained last night. Their clothes were filthy too.

“Hey Lorenzo,” the one holding Denise hollered. “Look at what we have for you.”

Their apparent leader walked forward. He was taller than the others with a big muscular build and a strong prominent jaw. I’ve seen him from somewhere. My brain came up with nothing. Maybe he was a wanted criminal and his face was flashed in the news.

Lorenzo came to us, a sneer in his face. “Well, well, well. . . What do we have here?”

Denise struggled from her captor, but he had her on a death grip. “What do you think? Two gorgeous women of course. Now if you can please take us back to a city so I can call my daddy. He’ll give you a reward for saving us.”

Lorenzo guffawed. “No way kitten. I’m going to get way more if I trade you as a slave.”

“Slave?” I interjected. “What century do you think we live in?”

“Oh it happens kitten. Especially in third world countries. Now choose.” He turned his back to us.

“Choose what?” Denise sputtered.

“Choose who will be a slave and who will die. There’s room for only one more. The other needs to be discarded so she can’t talk to the police. I’m running a serious business here lady.” He faced us once again, this time, taking a knife from his pocket. “So who will I kill?” Denise and I stayed silent, not even daring to point the other out.

“Very well then,” Lorenzo said with a flourish of his hand. “You.” He pointed to Denise. “You look like a very reasonable lady to deal with. Tell me, should I kill her or you?” Upon snapping his fingers, the man holding me pushed me down so I was kneeling on the ground. He gagged my mouth with a handkerchief which he produced from his pocket before I could cry out. I stared helplessly at Denise.

“It’s a very simple question lady. Do you want to live, or do you want to die? Speak.” When Denise didn’t answer, Lorenzo screamed right next to her face. “Answer me or so help me I’m going to murder both of you!”

“I want to live,” she mumbled, her hands and voice shaking.

“What’s that kitten? I don’t think I heard you right.”

“I want to live,” she repeated. Denise met my eyes. She was silently pleading at me with a look. Apologizing for what she has done. Despite my broken heart and malfunctioning mind which refused to think, I still found it in my soul to forgive her. She had no choice.

Lorenzo took a step near me, grabbing my hair with the gentleness of a bull. He placed the knife next to my throat, preparing to slit me open like a pig. I groaned and gasped from the gag, wondering if it was sweat that was pouring down or tears from my eyes. The boss hoodlum took pity on me and removed the hanky. “Any last words before you go?”

I stared Denise directly in the eyes. “Always remember that Dulce’s happiness comes first. Take care of her. Make sure that-“ Lorenzo gagged me once more before I could continue.

“Okay that’s enough drama.” He repositioned the knife on my throat. All of this was happening so quickly that I couldn't think of a way out.

“Wait!” Denise cried at the last moment.

“Yes?”

“Don’t kill her. I want to exchange with her.” What? I thought in disbelief.

Lorenzo shook his head. “We already talked about this. You said you wanted to live so that’s that.”

"No! I said no!" she yelled, bucking and wriggling.

"Oh just shut up girly." 

Denise struggled against her captor. “No! Don’t kill her. She’s my sister. Please. . . She’s my sister.” Unbelievably, droplets of tears appeared from her eyes. Was she crying for me? “I’ve never had a sister before. Don’t kill her,” she sniffled. So the girl did care for me. Too bad I was going to die, I thought with a sickening feeling in my tummy. Fudge.

“Say goodbye to sister then.” Lorenzo started to move the knife. I squeezed my eyes shut, remembering Dulce’s sweet smile. How we shared our first kiss back when we were kids. How badly I needed to make love to her on Christmas day when she gave me her gift. The way her body moved in sync with mine. And how happy she made me just by merely existing in this world.

“Cut!” someone yelled. “That’s a wrap.”

I was completely taken by surprise when the people around us clapped their hands, including Lorenzo. The big guy let go of me with a smile and jogged away. As soon as I was free, Denise ran to me, hugging me fiercely, tears on her face. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I don’t want you to die after all.” We embraced each other like a couple of fools who just survived the sinking of Titanic.

Lorenzo’s loud voice made us stop and stare. He was talking to another guy, but his large figure was obstructing the one he was conversing with. “Mr. Director sir. Was my acting good?”

“Remarkable Gianni!” The man replied. I recognized his voice. Dad? What the heck? ”I’ll definitely hire you for that movie we talked about. Expect the contract signing next week.”

Lorenzo, aka Gianni pumped his fist upward in triumph. He ran in my direction, taking my hands in his enormous ones. “It’s an honor to act with you miss Frio, even if it’s just for my audition. I know you don’t normally do this so thank you!” He left without even waiting for me to talk.

Denise and I stared at each other in bafflement before we went to dad. “Explain!” she snapped.

“It had to be done. I knew that you were never going to settle your differences until something bad happens, so I staged the whole scene. This forest is completely safe. We made it appear that you were lost and helpless, but you were never in any real danger. We always use this location for films.”

“So you saw us at the cave?!” Denise asked.

“No. I asked the crew to leave you alone there so you two can talk it out and have privacy.”

“What about Lorenzo and company?” I supplied.

“All actors and actresses. He was a stuntman who was waiting for his next big break, so I gave him the opportunity. Look, the important thing is you’re okay now. I’ll fix the cameras and other equipments with the crew before we head out. We'll talk seriously afterwards. See you in a few.” He turned around and disappeared behind the trees.

Once again, Denise and I were left alone. She couldn’t look me in the eyes. How could she when she just admitted in front of everyone that I was her sister and she cared for me? Reaching out to her, I said, “Hey. . . I’m alive. That’s all that matters right?”

“I still hate you Glace.”

“No you don’t. I’m your sister. Your big sister.” I took her hand, dragging her in the direction where dad went.

“I’m still going to get Dulce,” she whined. "She's mine."

I smiled to myself as she grasped my hand. From now on, I had a feeling that everything would be right between Denise and me. Now that my sister and I were in good terms, all I had to do was wait for Dulce to come home.