Philautia

Chapter 24: Isabel

Chapter 24: Isabel

Isa...dalawa...tatlo hanggang sa nadagdagan pa ang bilang nito. Ang bilang ng saksak ng kutsilyo sa buong katawan ko.

Ni hindi ko na magawang magsalita pa o kahit igalaw man lang ang kahit anong parte ng katawan ko. Kanina sobrang sakit pa pero ngayon wala nakong maramdaman. Namanhid na ang katawan ko sa sakit at sa sobrang daming nawalang dugo mula sa katawan ko, unti unting naging pula ang suot kong puting bestida.

Unti unti narin akong kinakapos sa paghinga. Naguumpisa na ring bumigat ang talukap ng aking mga mata.

"Any last words dear cousin?"  Artemis smiled, crazily. "Oops, my bad. You're too hurt to even talk. Don't worry, kukunin ko na ang puso mo ngayon para hindi ka na mahirapan pa" She giggled.

Funny how she's doing all these just to sacrifice me to a demon and yet she actually looks like one. She looked exactly like a demon right now.

I closed my eyes the moment I saw Artemis raising her dagger. Looks like I'm actually gonna die right now.

But then, I heard a loud thud—like something or someone falling hard to the ground.

"Aya!" that voice...

Stanley? 

Agad kong binuksan ang mga mata ko para makumpirma kung tama nga ba ang narinig ko...na tinawag ni Stanley ang pangalan ko.

Pero laking gulat ko dahil hindi lang si Stanley ang bumungad sa paningin ko. Claude, Honey and even Hansel was there—standing in front of me in one piece.

Did I die already? Why am I seeing everyone?

"No, you're not dead yet and you're not dreaming. Totoong buhay kami pero ikaw... mamatay ka dito kapag hindi ka namin nadala agad sa ospital." Stanley stated as if he can actually read my mind. He used the keys to unlock my chains and carried me like a princess.

The ground started shaking which made everyone frantic.

"We have to go. Mukhang guguho na ang kuweba anumang oras ngayon." Claude sighed heavily.

"Well that hurts. Iiwan niyo na ba ako mag-isa dito?" Artemis stood up. Her forehead was covered in blood. Looks like she was hit earlier. That explains the loud thud I heard.

"You b*tch ! Why won't you just die already? " Honey exclaimed as she pointed a gun at her.

Hansel stepped in. Kinuha niya mula sa kapatid ang baril na hawak at itinutok sa ulo ni Artemis. "Claude, take care of my sister for me. Ako nang bahala dito. Umalis na kayo."

Claude was dragging Honey away because she wouldn't just move from where she was standing at the moment.

"Kuya! Hindi ka namin puwedeng iwan dito! Hindi puwede!" Honey was crying.

"Mamatay si Aya kapag hindi pa kayo umalis dito! Susunod ako pangako." Hansel looked at us one last time before he dragged my cousin away from us.

And for some reason, the pain I couldn't feel earlier started to surface. I was feeling hurt all over. Too painful which made me even cough some blood.

My sight became blurry until it finally became dark.

***

I was happily laying on the green grass as the lady in white was gently combing my hair. I couldn't exactly see her face as it was a bit blurry. And for some reason, I don't know why but I get this feeling that she is someone I know and that she is beautiful.