GSIS Compound, Pasay City, Metro Manila

“Goodnight Senator.”

The guard on duty at the door saluted crisply as the senator passed by. It was evening and the budget meeting took as long as usual, adjourning late into the night. Two huge bodyguards clad in the traditional barongs flanked the government official as they led him to his black Hummer in the reserved parking slot. The vehicle itself was of course not the standard government issue, but it was simple enough for the senator to divert public funds for his personal transportation preferences.

The businessman, once again in his coal-gray suit, greeted the politician when he entered the vehicle.

“How did it go sir?”

The senator replied with a chuckle.

“It wasn’t easy you know. But the fools at the insurance service are easy to dupe. Grease up a few department heads, find some inactive accounts, and there you have it, millions of pesos funneled into a “special fund” under my supervision.”

“I really have to hand it to you sir, you’ve got a talent.”

“I definitely do.” The senator replied. “So now that that’s done, are we on for the meeting tonight? Is the chief coming mmm?”

The man in the coal gray suit answered.

“He is here now.”

The senator looked puzzled.

“Eh, we’re meeting him here? Where is he?”

The politician got out of the vehicle and into the now empty parking space.

Carlos was there, leaning on a rusted lamppost.

“Ah, senator, finally we meet.”

Carlos continued.

“My partner tells me that you have been very successful in all our dealings. And I assume that tonight was no different. This last phase is crucial to our plan.”

The senator replied, squinting at the mysterious man in the jet-black suit.

“Yes, yes, of course. Like I always say, I never fail. The funds will be diverted to the appropriate accounts shortly.”

The Black god made his towards the overweight man until he was inches away. Dark eyes peering into his soul.

Like a cornered animal, this frightened the senator. Sweat started pouring down his cheeks and down his chest, soiling his expensive Rajo Laurel barong.

“Great…great…now if you’ll excuse me, I have got to be going.”

He turned only to see that his way was blocked by the businessman. He looked for his bodyguards and found them lying on the ground unconscious, maybe dead.

“What is the meaning of this!”

It was Carlos who answered.

“Oh I think you know my dear senator. Was it not you who not so long ago masterminded the plot to murder loads of the press because they caught wind of your illicit operations down south? And the brilliant stroke to bring down and make the police catch your associates without implicating you was absolute genius!”

The senator was visibly shaking now.

“I have no idea what you are talking about, where are the security guards in this place? Help! Help!”

The darkness seemed to draw in and entrap them in a little corner of shadows. The politician’s voice could not be heard.

“No one will hear you scream, no one will see you fall”

Carlos motioned to the man in the coal-gray suit.

“Under the rules of the pantheon, I cannot personally harm you, but it doesn’t say anything about my friend Victor here.”

Victor came close to the senator.

“Please.” The senator said. “I have money, I can give you money, all of it!”

A quick swipe and it was over. The senator’s bright barong slowly filled with crimson as he dropped to the ground.

Victor spoke while cleaning his blade.

“We do not do this for money, like all you old fools, we do this to watch it all burn. Right Lord Carlos?”

Carlos replied with a sly smile.