Chapter 6
We walked silently along the hallway not to make any sounds and not to be caught by guards. They already told me where we were going and I have a bad feeling about their plan. It's dangerous and illegal, we might caught and get punish by the officials of the academy. But they are persistent to continue their plan and that's start now as we saw the three men walking ahead to us while talking something we don't clearly understand because their voice were low-pitch that almost like a whisper.
"Let's follow them." Louise whispered. I remained silent as we walked on by I just don't know to myself why I am in this situation with them.
"We need to be quiet." Violet said as we moved forward in the entrance of the hallway in the east chamber of the academy. We walked side by side to avoid being caught.
Nang huminto silang tatlo sa paglalakad nagtago kami sa isang sulok kung saan hindi nila kami makikita. Nagpalinga-linga muna silang tatlo para masiguradong walang makakakita sa gagawin nila. Ilan sandali pa ay biglang lumiwanag ang paligid. Isang portal. Tama isang portal ang nagbukas sa mismong harapan nila.
"Is that a portal? Where are they going?" Violet kept her mouth shut before they heard us. It's not a good idea to be here but I am now curious where they were going. Is this part of their mission or not?
Pumasok silang tatlo sa portal kasabay nito ang paglaho nila mula sa liwanag. Naghintay kami ng ilang saglit bago tuluyang sumunod sa kanila. Sa isang kagubatan kami dinala ng portal hindi ko alam kung saan parte ito pero sigurado ako na mapanganib ang lugar na 'to.
"Nasaan tayo?" Nagpalinga-linga kaming tatlo habang nasa gitna ng kagubatan. Naghahanap ng palatandaan na maaring magturo kung na'saan kami.
"Let's go back to the academy." I firmly said and turn my back to them but to my surprise the portal is already closed. "What the..."
"Oh my..." Violet mumbled.
"No! No! No! This can't be happening." Louise tried to open again the portal but nothing happened. Hindi ko din alam kung paano muling bubuksan ang portal. Wala itong nagawa kundi mapa-upo sa damuhan. "Kasalan ko 'to. Paano na tayo niyan makakabalik sa academy."
"We don't have any choice but to follow their trail." I grabbed my bag and put it on my back. They looked at me like they can't believe that it's coming from me. "What?"
"Well, I agree let's follow them instead," said Violet and took her bag and prepare to follow them.
Louise stand up and smiled to us like she's excited to what we're going to do next. "Let's go. I'm okay now."
We take the north direction since nakita namin sa mga damo na tila may dumaan sa bahaging 'yon. It's fifty-five percent that they take this way since it's only them we know that came here unless those evidences were made by wild animals here in forest.
It's already dark and still we can't find them there's no trace that will lead us where did they go. "Nasaan na ba tayo?" Louise sat down on the grass as she sighed heavily.
"Magpalipas na lang siguro muna tayo ng gabi mahihirapan tayong maghanap kung madilim ang paligid." I said.
Ginamit ko ang aking attribute upang magbigay liwanag sa amin. Gumawa din ng apoy si Violet inilabas ko naman ang mga dala naming sleeping bag para may tulugan kami ngayong gabi.
"Hay! Malalagot ako nito kay papa at kay kuya kapag nalaman nila ang ginawa nating pagtakas sa academy," saad ni Louise habang naglalabas ng mga pagkain na dala namin.
"Let's not think about that for now. Mas dapat nating isipin ay kung paano natin sila makikita sila lang ang makakapag bukas ng portal." Wika naman ni Violet. Nakapalibot lang kaming tatlo sa apoy walang nagsasalita na kahit isa sa amin hanggang sa matupok ang apoy bago namin mapagdesisyonan na matulog na at ipagpabukas na ang paghahanap sa kanila.
Kinabukasan maaga kaming nagising, bago pa sumikat ang araw ay nagsimula na ulit kaming maglakad sa gitna ng kagubatan hanggang sa mapadpad kami sa isang ilog.
"Wow! Ang lamig ng tubig ang sarap sa pakiramdam." Wika ni Louise habang sayang saya itong naghihilamos ng mukha. Malinaw na tubig kitang-kita ang ilalim nito kung gaano kaganda ang mga bato. Tila isang kristal ang tubig sa ilog tuwing nasisinagan ito ng araw habang patuloy naman ito sa pag agos marahil ay may talon sa dulong bahagi nito.
"Can we take a bath first before we continue to find them?" Violet suggested. I heard Louise giggled and before I complained I saw the two of them already in the water. I take off my clothes leaving only my sando and a short short. Suddenly, I missed my parents, we used to take a bath in the river back then not until my father passed away.
"I hope we find them as soon as possible Headmaster will punish us big time." Violet said feeling worried. I saw a hint of sadness in Louise face as she realized our situation. "Charlotte sorry dahil sa'min mapaparusahan ka pa."
"Don't mind me, its okay. It's my choice to go with you so it's not your fault. Don't worry we will find them, we just need enough time to calculate their location." I said to them to cheer them up. I felt a sudden sadness as I looked at them I'm not used to seen them like that even if I knew them for a short span of time. I stiffed on my position as they hugged me I caught off guard I didn't expect them to do that. Mabilis akong humiwalay sa kanilang yakap ng magkaron ako ng pagkakataon hindi dapat ako nagpapadala sa kanilang mga drama hindi dapat ako nakikipag lapit sa kanila.
Bago pa ako makaahon hindi ko inaasahan ang sunod nangyari hindi ko maigalaw ang buong katawan ko hindi ko magawang igalaw man lang ang mga paa ko. "Anong nangyayari?" Napansin kong nahihirapan na din kumilos sina Louise at Violet.
"I can't move." Violet groaned. What the hell is happening here? I tried to moved but I can't even move my finger.
"I can't control the water." Louise exclaimed trying to make a way to flee us. Unti-unting lumulubog ang katawan namin sa tubig parang may humihila sa amin pababa.
"Help! Kuya!" Louise shouted hoping someone might hear us. I cursed under my breath, the water was already reached my neck, if these continue it might drown us. No ones here beside the three of us so probably no one will help us.
The water almost ate us before we submerged under the water, I told them to hold their breath. The water lingered around my body its cold and it feels like alive. The water suffocates me I can't hold my breath any longer same as Louise and Violet but before I lost my consciousness I saw someone dragged me from the water.
I felt the coldness that enveloped my body I heard voices and it calls my name. I can't see anything but black it feels like I am drowning from depth. I slowly opened my eyes when I gasped for air to breath. I coughed when I back on my senses I realized that I am surrounded by them not just Louise and Violet but also Chase, Ken and Conor. I was in shocked state as I saw Conor sitting on his knee beside me while Louise on the other side.
"Are you feel okay now Charlotte?" Dinaluhan ako ni Louise habang inaalo ang likod ko para makahinga ako ng maayos. "Yes I'm fine." I answered composing myself.
"We're very sorry Charlotte it's our fault, muntikan ka pang mapahamak dahil sa'min." Paghingi ng tawad ni Violet. I don't want to admit it but I'm not blaming them for what happened I shouldn't let my guard down. "No it's my decision to be here. Don't blame yourself."
The three of us were talking when we heard Conor clear his throat looking at us with his dagger eyes. Louise immediately holds my arms maybe she knows that her brother will turn into monster any moment.
"Ano kase kuya..." Hindi malaman ni Louise kung paano sisimulan ang pagpapaliwanag halos nauutal siya sa pagsasalita.
"Speak." He said in a cold tone. I know he's angry but like I care. Nag iwas agad ako ng tingin ng makita kong lumipat ang tingin niya sa akin.
Violet explained everything to them, how we got in this situation.
"Hindi niyo dapat kami sinundan dito masyadong mapanganib." I heard Ken said to Violet. She rolled her eyes on him like she didn't care about the danger.
"Where's the key to the portal we're going back to the academy?" Louise asked for the key.
"Baby mukhang malabo ata 'yang hinihingi mo," sagot ni Chase.
"And why?" Mataray na tanong dito ni Louise. She's really Conor's little sister she has her brother's attitude. "Kase walang susi ang portal."
"What?" Hindi ko na napigilang hindi magreact. "Paano kami makakabalik?" Dagdag pa ni Violet.
"About that... you can ask Conor." Ken answered acting that he knows something. Lumapit si Louise sa kanyang kapatid at saka humawak sa braso nito na tila nanlalambing.
"Kuya paano kami makakabalik sa academy?" Louise is a sweet girl but looking at her brother's expression it looks like he will never help us.
"Use the main entrance that's your only option." Kinalas nito ang pagkakahawak ni Louise sa kanyang braso at saka kami tinalikuran. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko kaya tumayo na ako.
"You jerk!" sigaw ko dito. "Alam mo ba kung gaano kalayo ang main entrance mula dito? You inconsiderate monster how dare you-" Hindi ko natuloy ang sasabihin ko dahil naramdaman ko na lang ang mahigpit na pagkakahawak niya sa braso ko.
"What did you say?" He asked.
No! He's not asking me, he's commanding me. Hindi ko makuhang sumagot sa kanya parang nawala lahat ng inipon kong lakas. How dare him make me feel this way? Alam kong hindi ito sa takot it felt likes draining my energy.
"Ano ba kuya nasasaktan mo na si Charlotte." Louise tried to remove her brother's hand from me.
"Bro, you're hurting her." Ken take Conor away from me. He still looking at me dangerously I don't know what happened to him but looking at him I really pissed him off. I smiled at the back of my head I didn't know he can loss his temper.
"Ayos ka lang ba Charlotte?" Viloet asked me and check my arms. "Yes I'm okay- ouch!" Tiningnan ko ang braso ko na may pasa, hindi ko namalayan na may pasa pala ako gano'n ba siya kagalit para magkapasa ako.
"Oh! Em! May pasa ka Charlotte." Nilapitan ako ni Louise at hinawakan ang parte ng braso ko na may pasa.
"Hindi mo dapat tinawag si kuya na monster ayaw niya na tinatawag siya na gano'n," saad ni Louise.
"Ayan okay na wala na 'yong pasa mo." I looked at my arms, the dark spot already faded, she heal my wound. Yeah! That's part of her power like my Mama.
"Thanks!"
Chase told us how they find the three us. He said it was a Haietlik, a water serpent that's why Louise can't control the water. Hindi pa sapat ang lakas at kakayahan niya para sa isang advance technique katulad ng pagkontrol ng isang Haietlik.
"Alam mo ikaw na bakla ka may silbi ka din naman pala minsan," saad ni Louise habang nakatingin kay Chase. "Inlove ka na ba sa'kin niyan, Baby?" Isang nakakalokong ngiti ang ibinigay nito dahilan para muli na naman magsimula ang bangayan nilang dalawa.
"Alam mo Charlotte kinabahan kami sayo kanina wala kang malay nang makita nila tayo," wika ni Louise habang naglalakad kami sa likod ng tatlong lalaki. Yes, wala na silang nagawa kung hindi isama kami sa kanilang misyon.
"Oo nga buti na lang nasagip ka agad ni Conor." Dagdag pa ni Violet kaya naman natigilan ako sa paglalakad. Tama ba ng narinig ko siya ang nagligtas sa akin? "Oh, Charlotte napatigil ka?"
"Huh? Wala, I'm just tired." I reasoned out. There's no way he will save me, that freaking monster. The last time I checked he's giving me a warning, that's why the hell he would save me.
Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras kaming naglalakad sa loob ng kagubatan tila walang katapusan ang aming paglalakad. Kahit si Louise ay hindi na kinaya ang sobrang pagod kaya naman buhat ito ni Chase sa kanyang likod habang si Violet naman ay inaalalayan ni Ken at ako derechong lang naglalakad, sanay ako sa gantong gawain. I lived inside the forest, my father trained me since I was a child, so there's no way I can't handle this piece of thing.
Dahil inabot na din kami ng dilim sa paglalakad minabuti na muna naming tumigil sa gilid ng isang malaking puno upang magpalipas ng gabi. I made lights and Violet made fire to keep as warm. Chase used his power to make a wall around us for protection, subterra user.
Tulog na ang lahat maliban sa akin hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi pa din ako dinadalaw ng antok. Napagpasyahan kong bumangon na lang muna upang magpahangin tulad ng palagi kong ginagawa. Naupo ako sa malaking ugat ng puno habang nakatingin sa kalangitan madaming bituin ngayong gabi malamig din ang simoy ng hangin. Ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata upang damhin ang simoy ng hangin. Wala pang limang minuto akong nakapikit ng makaramdam ako ng yabag ng paa dahan dahan lang ito pero rinig ko ang pag galaw ng damo sa bawat kanyang pag hakbang. Naging alerto ako ng maramdaman ko na ang kanyang presensiya mula sa aking likuran mabilis ko siyang binigyan ng isang malakas ng suntok pero nasalo niya ang aking kamao. Laking gulat ko ng makita ko kung sino ang taong ito.
"Conor!" Mabilis kong binawi mula sa kanya ang aking kamay. Ano na namang ginagawa niya dito? Bakit kung nasaan ako lagi siyang sumusulpot?
"Avoiding me again?" He asked grinning. "-trying to hide your true power and identity."
Hindi ko pinakinggan kung ano 'man ang kanyang sinasabi tinalikuran ko ito, nang maglalakad na ako palayo sa kanya hinawakan niya ako sa braso.
"Sino ka ba talaga?" May pang aakusa sa tono ng kanyang pagsasalita.
"Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo kaya pwede ba bitawan mo ako."
Pero sa halip na binatawan niya ako ay hinigit niya ako palapit sa kanya dahilan para tumama ang mukha ko sa kanyang dibdib. Unti-unti niyang nilapit ang kanyang mukha sa akin, tumigil ako sa pagkilos, para akong mauubusan ng hangin sa katawan.
"You are really something Charlotte Grandidge."