We are about to execute Giyu's plan, now we're standing outside a certain cave located at the west forest.
Looking at the dark cave makes me wonder. Gaano karami kaya ang mga nagtatagong halimaw dito? The thought makes my blood boil. Knowing that there maybe a huge number of them still living in this world spreading cruelty.
I never bothered to ask the two for a signal to attack as I started to walk in the cave. Unfortunately, a hand grip my wrist preventing me to move any further.
"Vee, dito ka lang sa labas. Hayaan mo na kami ni Eljay ang sumugod sa kweba."
"Bitawan mo ako." lumingon ako kay Giyu at gamit ang walang buhay kong mga mata ay tinitignan ko sya ng malamig. I want to exorcise those demons and he can't stop me!
"Listen Vee! Your injured! and it would be a smart move for you not to engage in battle right now." is he underestimating me?
"You don't know what I'm capable of." patuloy parin kami sa pag-argumento nang biglang sumingit si Eljay.
"Guys, we're in a grave situation and you're still up for a petty argument! Giyu, let her fight if she wants to! and Vee just be careful not to worsen your injury." Eljay snapped.
He's looking so annoyed. Tinalikuran niya kami dahil sa inis at nauna nang pumasok sa kweba. Nagkatinginan pa kami ni Giyu bago sumunod kay Eljay.
Pag-apak palang ng aming mga paa papasok sa kweba ay sinalubong kami ng sunod sunod na atake. I did my best to dodge their every attack and counter it. I saw Eljay getting something on his pocket. To my surprise it's a brass knuckles. Then, I conclude that he is a short range fighter.
Sumulong siya sa mga kalaban at ganun din ang ginawa ko. I moved swiftly then swung my sword to my right aiming at the demons neck whose claws are ready to attack me.
Naputol ko ang kanyang ulo ngunit huli ko nang napansin na meron pa palang isa na nasa likuran ko. Hindi pa man ako nakakakilos para umilag sa kanyang pag-atake nang biglang umalingawngaw ang malakas na putok ng baril. I saw the demon's body turned to ashes as I saw a bullet near me.
The only person who could have done this is Giyu and I saw him not so far from me shooting continuously.
"Giyu! Wala ka bang silencer? Baka pumunta dito ang iba pang mga halimaw na makakarinig nang putok nang baril mo! Magkakaproblema pa tayo no'n!" Eljay shout. I saw him punching some demons near him.
"Eljay, Hindi ko nadala! Akala ko kasi hindi ko naman magagamit." Giyu replied.
"Giyu, your half smart and a half fool." napaawang ang bibig ni Giyu sa sinabi ni Eljay.
"How harsh of you!" Ngumuso si Giyu habang napangisi naman si Eljay.
"Well, truth hurts." Eljay shrug then punch his opponent.
I was occupied at the moment when I saw an opponent fast approaching me. I simply dodge it's claws and slide myself on the ground beneath it then thrust my sword on its back. My sword's blade past through its flesh and It's hurtful groan echoed on the cave as it's body turned to ashes. I continuously slash my swords on every demons I encountered.
The ripping of their flesh and their screams are music to my ears. Nothing could ever makes me happy than seeing their bodies burned to ashes.
The sound of gun and punch, ripping of flesh, the groans and screams of demons are the things that could be heard inside the cave as the rain outside starts to pour.
We are all exhausted but still doing our best to stand still. Gripping my sword, I jump in the air then slash my opponent's neck. Nakatingin lang ako sa labi nang napatay kong halimaw nang bigla nalang akong nabuwal sa aking kinatatayuan. My eyesight became blurry and my head was spinning. Nakahawak ang isa kong kamay sa aking ulo habang nakaluhod ako. Nararamdaman ko ang pag-agos nang dugo mula sa aking sugat. Kumikirot ito.
Hindi ko man lang naramdaman kanina na dumudugo na pala ang sugat ko. My wound had opened because of me, moving carelessly. Although it's blurry, I saw a demon approaching me and too bad..I can't defend myself in this state. The other two are busy with their opponents that they can't notice my situation in here.
I am a prideful person and I won't ask for anyone's help especially in dealing with demons but in my situation right now, my pride won't save me. I close my eyes tightly as I screamed.
"HELP ME!" The moment I opened my eyes. I saw the demon who tried to harm me was now burning in flames. In my blurry vision I also saw Giyu and Eljay who were running towards me with worried expression. I stared at the demon's corpse and I noticed something....a scalpel.
Nagising akong sumasakit ang katawan pero pinilit ko paring bumangon. As I looked around, I noticed that I'm still inside the cave. Giyu and Eljay are lying on the ground not so far from me.
"Mabuti naman at gising ka na." I heard a female voice spoke. Lumingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses. I saw a girl around my age, smiling brightly at me.
She was wearing a white blouse and black skirt. She have a doctor's coat on her hand stained in blood. She wears heels and her long braided hair falls on the right side of her shoulder. She also wears a black round eyeglasses.
"Who're you?" She smiled at me then replied.
"I am amber and I'm your new member." Pagpapakilala niya.
New member? So they decided without me knowing.
"Kung nagtataka ka kung kailan pa ako naging myembro niyo...kanina lang. When your unconcious I treated your wounds then Giyu said, it would be nice to have me in your team as your medic," mahabang lintanya nya.
Right. medics are also needed. But..I know that she won't join our team for nothing.
"Having a medic in our them would be great but...what's the catch? I know people like you won't join our team for nothing." she suddenly smirk at me.
"I will be your medic. In return, your team will provide protection for me. You see, I participated in this exam for a purpose. Reseach. I'm researching to know more about this demons and this island full of hungry man-eating demons are the best place to held my research." She explained. I can see that she's thirsty for knowledge. Kumikislap ang kanyang mga mata habang nagpapaliwanag sa akin.
"Okay. It was a nice deal..by the way, I'm Veena. A forced member of this team," I said in a straight face. Napanganga naman si amber sa sinabi ko.
"Forced!? Pinilit ka ba naming maging myembro!?" I heard Giyu's irritated voice. Gising na siya at masama ang tingin nya sakin.
"Yeah right. Naging myembro nga ako nang hindi ko namamalayan." I said sarcastically and rolled my eyes.
Natigilan naman siya saglit at nakatulala habang nakatingin parin sakin. "Did you just rolled your eyes on me?"
"I just did," I said with a straight face.
"W-wow! you can easily change expressions!" impressed was visible on his face. Hindi ko na siya ulit pinansin at sumulyap nalang sa bukana ng kweba. Napansin kong tumila na ang ulan.
"Ano ang pinaguusapan nyo?" Papungas pungas na bumangon si Eljay sa tabi ni Giyu. Mukhang masyado kaming maingay kaya nagising ang isang 'to.
"Nothing important. Kinikilala ko lang ang bago nating myembro."
Pagkatapos nang pag-uusap namin sa kweba, itinuloy na namin ang paghahanap sa mga kakailanganin namin para maka-survive sa natitirang araw namin dito sa isla. Si Giyu ang naiwang magbabantay sa kweba samantalang maghahanap naman kami ni amber nang mapagkukuhanan nang malinis na tubig at si Eljay naman ang bahala sa paghahanap nang makakain namin.
"You see, I came from a family of doctors. Our family served the exorcist society for a century." pagsasalaysay niya habang kumukuha kami ng tubig sa balon na nakita namin.
"This research of mine is very important to me. Dahil...kapag napagtagumpayan ko ito, kikilalanin na ako nang pamilya ko." She smiled at me sadly. I can saw longing and sadness from her eyes.
"Achievements matters to my family the most. The more you gain achievements, the more you will be accepted and recognized...that is my goal in joining holy cross academy. To have more achievements. How about you? What is your reason for joining?" Pagpapatuloy niya at saglit na sumulyap sakin.
The thought of my reason for joining the holy cross brings sadness and hatred in my system.
"My reason for joining.....is to get revenge. I lived in dawn Village and as news spread to the exorcist society, it was attacked by demons and I'm the sole survivor. I dedicated my life to oblivirate the demons race because as long as they exist, they will bring more tragedies," I said through gritted teeth.
Pabalik na sana kami sa hideout nang meron akong napansin. Hindi kalayuan sa balon ay may nakahandusay na batang lalaki. Tumingin rin si amber sa tinitignan ko at napasinghap. Mabilis syang kumilos at lumapit sa nakahandusay na bata samantalang ako naman ay nanatiling nakatayo sa pwesto ko.
Nagtataka ako. Paanong napunta dito ang batang iyan? Hindi naman pwedeng Isa sya sa mga examinees dahil wala naman akong nakitang bata noong orientation. So how come he's here?
Hinawakan ni Amber ang pulso nang bata para malaman kong buhay pa ba ito. Inilapit niya rin ang kanyang tenga sa bibig nito.
"He's still breathing! He's just unconscious!"
Amber put his head on her lap and tried to wake him. Sinasampal niya nang mahina ang pisngi nito at niyuyogyog ang balikat. But still, no response from him.
I never dared to step closer to them. Nagtataka parin kasi ako at hindi ako mapalagay. Kahina-hinala kasing may bata sa islang ito. Madami akong katanungan. Kagaya nalang nang...paano siya napunta dito? Saan siya nagmula? bakit nandito siya? Why is he alive in this island full of demons? Nag-iisa lang ba siya o marami pa silang bata ang napadpad dito?
Pero hindi man lang naisip yan ni Amber bago lumapit sa bata. Kinukutuban ako sa nangyayari.
"Hey Veena! Help me bring this boy back to our hideout. Kawawa naman siya. What if, a demon finds him here?! They will surely kill him! Please...let's help him," she said sound convincing.
"He might be pitiful but amber, isn't it suspicious?" I leered at her trying to get my point.
"W-what do you mean?" She's confused now.
"He's suspicious because how can he be in here in this island full of man eating demons? He doesn't have a single scratch in his body, not even bruises and I have a lot of questions in my mind. Where did he came from? How did he get here? How come he's alive? knowing there are demons lurking everywhere. All about him is suspicious Amber." napaisip naman siya sa sinabi ko.
"Y-yeah you're r-right" but her realization was too late.
Kikilos na sana siya upang ilapag ulit ang ulo nang bata sa lupa ngunit mabilis itong nagmulat na naging dahilan para makita ang kulay dugong mata nito. Sa isang iglap ay bumaon ang matalim at mahabang mga kuko nang bata sa balikat ni Amber. Napasigaw naman sa sakit si amber sa ginawa nito.
Mabilis akong kumuha nang dagger sa bulsa nang aking pantalon. Itinapon ko ito sa bata na kanya namang iniwasan. Lumayo siya kay Amber para umiwas sa sunod sunod kong pag-atake.
The most dangerous kind of demons are those who act's and looks just like humans.
I learned all about their race and his moves confirmed one thing. He's a cythraul. He belong to the highest rank of demons. No wonder he can stay under the sun's rays.
Ngumisi ito nang nakakakilabot noong nasugatan ko ang kanyang pisngi. Shit! I can't kill him on my own and without a sacred weapon! Katangahan nga naman at nakalimutan kong dalhin ang espada ko. In this kind of situation, the only way to escape is to run.
Kaya naman, kahit patuloy ang pagdurugo nang sugat ni amber ay hinila ko siya at tumakbo kami paalis sa lugar na 'yon habang hawak ko sa isang kamay ang bag na naglalaman ng mga tubig na nasa bottled water.
We have to get away from him no matter what in order to be alive! He is bad news!