Saturday, 11:00 am.
Tinakpan ko ang mukha ko galing sa mainit na sikat ng pulang araw galing sa kalangitan. "Move!" Sigaw nung one eye. I asked one of the one eye na bantayan si Walter kasi hindi pa siya magaling at mabuti nalang talaga gumana ang pag pa-pacute ko don sa gwardyang 'yon kaya si Walter nalang ang natira sa hawla ko.
The creature drags my arm towards the field and I'm with Victor, Rick, Franco, and Ethel. We don't have any idea what's going to happen to us and we don't have a backup plan inkaso magkarda leche-leche dito.
My eyes throw a stare at the creature who threw me at the field. "Hazel!" Tumingin ako sa gawi ni Victor nang tawagin niya ako at ngumiti ng tipid. He nodded his head gently which made me heave a sigh.
"Well well~" Feeling maleficent yan?
"How lovely to see na kumpleto kayo" Hideux stated.
"Same goes here." I mumbled at wala pang isang segundo, nakahawak na siya sa pisngi ko at hinawakan yon ng mahigpit. "Anong sabi mo?" Ngumiti ako kay Hideux nang idikit niya ang mukha niya sa akin. He looks annoyed dahil sa sinagot ko sa kanya and I somehow feel satisfied with it.
"Let her go" Kalmadong utos ni Principal Spencer. Principal Spencer is with Principal King at the same time, watching us. He is wearing white polo while the latter is wearing Black. Ironic. Is this a good man and a bad man?
Binitawan ni Hideux ang mukha ko pero hindi ko pa rin siya nilubayan ng tingin.
I don't know. There's part of me wanting to not take off my eye with this man. I'm so curious about his weaknesses. "Ipasok ang Manyeo's!" I was alarmed by what I heard.
Tumingin ako sa paligid and I cussed when I saw Manyeo's flying in the sky. Dali-dali kong ipinikit ang dalawang mata ko para hindi ko makita ang mga mata nila.
"Anak" Dad...
"Open your eyes." I was about to open my eyes pero may humawak sa kamay ko. "Hazel. Don't listen to them." Said someone in my ears kaya naipikit ko ulit ang mga mata ko.
"ETHEL!? ETHEL!" Namintig ang tenga ko dahil sa sigaw narinig ko at mga sigaw ng Manyeo. Someone grips on my hand tightly kaya nanatili ako sa pwesto ko kahit gustong gusto ko nang buksan ang mga mata ko para makita kung ano ang nangyayari.
Heavy breathing. That's what I heard right now. "Shit! Franco! Don't let go"
"President!"
"FRANCO!"
***
I've been hugging my knees after what I've witnessed earlier. Kinuha ng mga Manyeo si Ethel at Franco dahil binuksan nila ang mga mata nila and I regretted tilting my head up after that confrontation because I saw how they tear up those bodies, taking up their soul.
I want to yell, I want to do something pero natatakot ako.
Hindi na nila kami pinabalik sa hawla, instead pinaupo lang nila kaming tatlo sa field. "Hazel? Are you okay?" I shook my head slowly. I've never been okay simula nung bumalik ako dito. Kung siguro hindi ako bumalik wala siguro ako dito ngayon, pero ayoko rin na may mangyaring hindi maganda sa mga kaibigan ko.
Lalong lalo na kay Rick.
Siya si Axl Ancient at kailangan niya ng tulong.
Hinawakan ni Victor ng mahigpit ang kamay ko kaya napatingin ako sa kanya and I feel my tears pilling up in my eyes. Kinulong niya ako sa bisig niya and my hands snake on his waist hugging him as tight as I can.
"Shh... we'll be fine"
"I'm... I'm scared"
"So am I." Niyakap lang ako ni Victor para patahanin ako. Rick's unconscious right now, He opens his eyes as well earlier though mabuti nalang at naipikit niya kaagad ang mata niya bago siya makita ng mga Manyeo.
I was surprised when someone took Victor away from me.
"Saan niyo siya dadalhin?!" I exclaimed. Pinipilit kalasin ni Victor ang kamay nung mga humawak sa kanya pero mas malakas yung mga yon kesa sa kanya at natangay pa rin siya palayo.
"Rick!" Pati si Rick kinuha nila.
"Itali siya!" Someone grabbed my arms kaya hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko na mapaiyak dahil sa kawalan ng pag-asa. Dinala nila kaming tatlo sa pinakadulo ng field kung nasaan ang bangin at kung saan nakatayo ang tatlong malalaking kahoy.
What are they planning to do?
Nag Sitango yung mga creatures and I hissed when someone from above lifted me up. It's a vampire. Katulad nung kay Victor at Rick, nakatali na rin ako sa pinakadulong parte ng kahoy at nilalagyan ng sugat nung mga bampira.
With my weak body, I scanned the place and my eyes stopped sa dorm ng boys. A tear fell down my cheeks when I saw Lolo punching the window hopelessly, kasama sila Uncle. I smiled when I saw Oishi unharmed bago ko ibinaba ang ulo ko.
I woke up because of the cold brush of the wind and when I lure my eyes around, I'm still here in this tree, tied up. Kanina ko pa pilit kinakalas ang tinali nila sa akin pero hindi ko magawa dahil kadena ang ginamit nila.
They really make sure that we can't escape huh?
"Victor! Victor!" Victor's hanging head moved when I called him and he gave me a sleepy stare until he realized what my position was right now. Napatingin siya sa sarili niya and I heard him cuss in annoyance.
"Fucking shit! Axl" Our unconscious Axl now gains his strength at mukhang kanina pa siya nagising. Hindi ko lang napansin kasi kay Victor kaagad ako napatingin.
"It's happening again. What should we do?"
It's already Sunday. How can I say so? The red sky turns into Gray and since this week started, the gray clouds represent midnight. Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapatungo dahil sa nangyayari ngayon. "Try to unlock the lock" Sabi ni Rick, sinubukan ko ring gawin yung sinabi niya pero ayaw matanggal nung akin dahil sa higpit.
"Mine work"
"Me either. Hazel?"
I shook my head. Kahit anong gawin ko ayaw talaga matanggal nung akin, sa kanila kasi, inikot lang nila yung kadina tapos nabuksan na nila while yung akin hindi. Napapadaing nga ako sa sakit dahil sa higpit nito, pati buto ko sa kamay na dadali.
"What?-- Don't move." Ginawa namin ni Victor ang utos ni Rick at yumoko. My eyes looked below and I saw a man, tilting his head and making eye contact with me. Principal Spencer. He gave me a signal to keep quiet which I did.
He took out his three fingers, pointing to the cliff kaya napakunot noo ako. He kept on giving us signals and the two understood immediately while I didn't. "Not to jump off the cliff? Rick..." Victor mumbles kaya tumingin ako sa gawi ni, Rick.
Tumingin ulit ako kay Principal Spencer at nakinig sa interpretation in Victor. "Call your giants, I and Walter? will call the griffins and the others." Bulong ni Victor. Tumingin ako sa gawi ni Rick and I saw him nodding his head.
He give us an okay sign kaya napatanggo kami.
He is indeed a good man.
Umalis si Principal Spencer kaya ginalaw ko na naman ang kadena sa kamay ko pero ayaw niya talaga matanggal. Kung pwede ko lang makuha ang wand na nasa loob ng jacket ko, pero hindi ko naman yon makuha-kuha kasi nakaipit iyon sa jeans ko.
Nagising ako dahil may naririnig akong ingay galing sa ilalim. When I tilted my head, Wala na si Rick at Victor sa tabi ko. Hinanap sila ng mga mata ko pati sa baba wala sila. Maraming mga estudyante sa baba at halos sila lahat ay nakasuot ng pula.
"INSAAN!" My heart skipped a beat when I saw Oishi on the field at may hawak na pana.
"INSAN!" Hawak-hawak siya ni Sir Jielo at may natutok na kutsilyo sa leeg niya. "Oishi...." Sinubukan kong igalaw ang kamay ko para tanggalin ang kadena habang nakatingin kay Oishi.
Hindi... "Oishi!!"
"INSAN!" May binulong si Mr. Arson kay Sir Jielo na isinulong ni Sir Jielo kay Oishi. "Ayoko! Ayoko sir"
"Gagawin mo? Or papatayin ko ang tatay mo?" My jaw drops dahil kasunod nung sinabi ni Sir Jielo ay ang paglabas ni Lolo na hawak hawak ni Principal King. "Lo..." Naiyukom ko ang kamao ko dahil may sugat si Lolo sa may tiyan at kitang-kita ko na nanghihina na siya.
"INSAN!!"
Napatingin ako sa suot kong damit ngayon habang pumapatak ang mga luha sa mata ko. I saw a red marker on my chest, When I tilted my head in Oishi's bow and arrow, there's a red mark on the tip of it as well. I smiled.
Gustong bitawan ni Oishi ang hawak niya pero mas dinidiin ni Sir Jielo ang kutsilyo sa leeg niya kaya napapadaing siya sa sakit. "DO IT!" Hideux exclaimed at kasunod non ang malakas na pagyanig ng lupa.
"Ayoko!"
"Arggh~" Sigaw ni Lolo pagkatapos siyang sipain ni Principal King. "LO!" Hindi ko na mapigilang hindi mapahikbi dahil sa nakikita ko ngayon. Nakadapa si Lolo sa sahig habang tinatadyakan siya ni Principal King.
"GAWIN MO!"
Tumingin si Oishi kay Sir Jielo "Sir Jielo...."
Tumingin sa gawi ko si Oishi habang umiiyak. I bit my lower lip to stop my lips from shaking and nodded my head.
"Ayoko..." Bawait hikbi ni Oishi ay isang parusa para kay Lolo at ayoko non.
Hindi na naiitsura ang mukha ni Lolo dahil sa mga natanggap niya galing kay Principal King. Idiniin ni Sir Jielo ang kutsilyo sa leeg ni Oishi at sa pagpatak ng luha niya ay ang pagpatak ng dugo galing sa sugat na nasa leeg niya.
I hate this. I don't want them to sacrifice their life for me. Mas may silbi ang buhay nila kesa sa akin and that's the truth! Huminga ako ng malalim bago ako tumingin kay Oishi.
"Oishi! Tandaan mo, mahal na mahal kita! Huwag kang matakot" Tumingin si Oishi sa akin habang umiiyak. "Insan..." Nginitian ko si Oishi at tumango.
"I will give you ten seconds" Sabi ni Principal King hawak-hawak ang wand niya na nakatutok kay Lolo. "OISHI!" Napatingin si Oishi sa akin at umiling pero tinanguan ko lang siya.
Napahawak siya sa ulo niya at pinunasan ang basa niyang mukha dahil sa mga luha. "Five, Four...." Kinuha ni Oishi ang pana na nasa mesa sa harapan niya atsaka ito itinutok sa direksyon ko. Napangiti ako kay Oishi dahil sa naging desisyon niya.
"Insan..."
"Two..." Kinagat ni Oishi ang labi niya bago itinaas ang pana niya. "One--"
"...Patawad" Bulong ni Oishi bago niya binitawan ang palaso.
My eyes darted on the arrow and it hit the edge line of the marker which made the smile on my lips slowly fade. I scoffed before I tilted my head to Oishi, closing my eyes, putting my head down. Not a bad aim for a hunter's mage.
"Be careful not to touch the arrow."
"Dito po ba?"
"Yes. Dahan-dahan lang"
"Baka mahulog siya, Principal Spencer"
"Hindi 'yan. Hawakan mo siya ng maigi, malapit na tayo. You did a great job"
I gasped when someone gave me air. Nang buksan ko ang mga mata ko, I saw not just one but more than 10 people around me. Oishi is beside me, holding my hand tightly. "Hazel! Oishi! Wake up, She's awake!" Napalingon ako sa paligid at kinapa ang sugat ko sa dibdib.
"Apo?" That's Lolo's voice.
"Lo!"
"Jusko, Hazel apo ko!" Lumapit siya sa akin para bigyan ako ng mahigpit na yakap. Hindi ko na naman na pigilan ang sarili ko na hindi mapaiyak pagkatapos kong maalala ang nangyari. Niyakap lang ako ni Lolo ng mahigpit and I don't want to let go.
Nang bumuwag si Lolo sa yakap, lumapit narin sa akin si Oishi na umiiyak at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. "Insan..." We cried on each other's shoulders. "I'm sorry, Insan" I nodded my head, placing my chin on his shoulder.
"Okay, enough with that. Kailangan pa niya magpagaling" Lumuwag na rin si Oishi sa pagka kayakap sa akin and my eyes widened when I saw Tito Rico, Auntie Dianne, at ang mama ni Victor.
Kasunod nila na pumasok sila Uncle Benj na malapad ang ngiti sa labi nang makita nila akong buhay.
After them were Victor, Rick, and Keith. Nginitian ako ni Keith kaya napangiti din ako ng tipid.
"Dear, can you lay down again?" Ginawa ko ang utos ni Tita Mighty at humiga ng maayos sa kama. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan kami pero sigurado ako na wala kami sa Rogue. Tiningnan ni Tita ang sugat ko sa dibdib, she rubs her hand together and calls for assistance.
Lumapit naman kaagad si Keith at Walter para hawakan ang kamay ko. She mumbled a spell again that make me curled up because of the pain. "Itigil mo yan! Nasasaktan ang apo ko"
"Sir, she'll be more than fine after this." Sagot ni Principal Spencer.
Naiyukom ko ang mga kamao ko dahil sa sakit ng ginawa ni Tita Mighty. I know she's just doing her job and it is to heal my wound. Mukhang malalim nga yung tama ko kasi sobrang sakit, I can also feel my skin stretching to meet the other part of my skin to close my open wound.
"Be ready, Dear"
"AHHHH!"
***
Kung noong nakaraang linggo, si Hideux ang nagpaplano para sa kamatayan ko, ngayon iba na. Kinuwento sa akin ni Keith kung ano ang nangyari habang nagiging bihag kami nila Hideux at nalaman ko kung ano ang ginawa nilang tatlo ni Principal Spencer, Walter, at Keith.
First day pa lang daw ng pagkabihag namin, bumiyahe si Principal Spencer pauwi dito sa Rogue at dahil marami ang Manyeo, ginamit niya ang pearl ni Headmistress para makaiwas doon. He keeps his appearance hidden and when he took the chance to have a talk with Walter and Keith to discuss their plan, doon na sila pumasok sa eksena.
One of the creatures na nagbabantay sa amin ay kinaibigan ni Walter. Ang creature na iyon ay ang nagbabantay kay Victor. When Walter saw that I'm struggling with food, humingi siya ng tulong don sa isang creature para maihipnotize ang guwardiya ko at doon siya nakapasok para bigyan ako ng pagkain.
He did the same with Rick.
After that, tsaka lang nagpakita si Principal Spencer kay Principal King at Hideux, agreeing to their plan on how to kill me and it is by using Oishi. Pumayag si Principal Spencer sa plano nila and he said na siya na daw ang bahala maghanap kay Oishi kasi hindi daw nila mahanap hanap.
Nang makalabas kami ni Rick at tumakas, sinundan kami ni Principal Spencer at doon niya nalaman kung saan nagtatago sila Oishi. When I and Rick left to go back to our cage, he went inside and discussed his plan, disregarding the plan that was originally made by Lolo.
Para makapasok si Walter sa cage ko, he asked his creature friend na parusahan siya in which the creature oblique. Nang makapasok si Walter sa cage ko, pati sila Franco, Ethel, at Victor.
The same day na inilabas kami at pinapuntang field, Walter took the opportunity para isagawa ang plano nila, it is dakpin si Oishi at si Lolo.
When Franco and Ethel died, sadly, At nung itinali na kami sa kahoy, Sinurender ni Principal Spencer si Oishi with a gift of Lolo's appearance. With that, Hideux, Principal King, Sir Jielo, and Mr Arson entrusted Principal Spencer with us.
That's why he ended up showing on the field ground and give us a message. Nung nagising ako, kaya wala si Victor at Rick dahil sinumbong sila ni Principal Spencer at ibinalik sa hawla nila leaving me alone total ako naman daw talaga ang target ni Hideux.
The whole scene was watched by my friends and family and they all breakdown when I hang my head low showing signs of death. Ang buong akala kasi nila ay malalabanan ko ang sakit but they are wrong.
When the Manyeo's declared me dead and after Hideux mumbles rituals with my dead body for his own benefit, they left me on the tree which gave Principal Spencer the opportunity to take me out.
And now we're here in the underground of Ancient Palace. "Are you okay?" Tanong ni Rick sa akin. "You've been spacing out" Nginitian ko si Rick and he smiled back, placing my head on his shoulder. "We will get revenge for you" He whispers.
"I just can't believe how you guys almost risked your life because of me."
"Hazel, we did that because we love you and we care for you so much, more than you know." Tumingin ako kay Rick while he is saying those words sincerely.
"How about Lolo's plans?" Inayos ni Rick ang buhok ko bago ngumiti.
"We can use it in war," Rick said.
"War with?"
"The Echelon."
"Again. Think of an inspiration to use your power" Sabi ni Rick kay Oishi habang tinuturo ang mannequin kung nasaan ang mukha ni Hideux. "Piste kang Hideux ka! MAMATAY KA NA!" Oishi screams, pointing the tip of his wand on the mannequin as it causes a huge fire.
"PUTEK! OISHI NAMAN IHHH!" Binatukan ni Walter si Oishi kaya napangiti nalang ako.
"Hindi naman yon sadya kuya walter! Ang OA mo"
"Aba! Ikaw!" Napailing nalang ako habang tinatapp ang wand ko sa kamay ko. I've been practicing since earlier and Rick said that I just need to be calm para maayos ko ang gagawin ko. Victor also steps in to help me.
"Taas, baba" He said. Tumango lang ako at tumingin kay Victor.
"Ano naman ang tingin na yan? Gusto mo ng pagkain?" I shook my head.
Tumawa lang si Victor at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. "I'm so happy na walang nangyaring masama sa'yo." My lips curved into a smile, wrapping my arms around his waist.
"Thank you..."
"Hm?"
"For everything."
"Hazel--" Before he could finish his sentence, I butt in. "I'm just thankful to have you guys around me. Kung wala kayong plano, I would've died right there and then." Tiningnan lang ako ni Victor at pinitik ang noo ko kaya napanguso ako.
"Drama mo. Okay ka na oh, wag na natin balikan" I chuckled, nodding my head.
It's been three days since we are practicing and guess who gives us a visit right now. A battalion of enemies. Hideux, Hideous armies. Nakatingin lang ako kay Hideux while holding my wand tightly and he can't believe his eyes with what he just saw.
He clenched his jaw, staring at me coldly but I remained calm.
Ngayon na hindi na ako nakatali, hindi na ako nakakulong. I'm sure, I can fight fair with this man in front of me. It's either, History repeats itself but we'll make sure na hindi na siya mabubuhay pa-ulit.
"How? You're already dead. Manyeo declared it!" He asked with his eyes turning blood red.
"Surprise" I smirked.
Hideux, I've been wanting to see you dead after I figured out that you killed my parents. Maybe, I got scared when I saw you for the first time but today is a different day.
I won't leave Parallel World if nobody declares you totally dead and totally burned into ashes.