Wight In Cardinal

XIII.

“Just watch,” he muttered seriously. Umirap nalang ako sa kaniya, at ibinaba na ang aking kamay.

“Here it comes!” excited namang buwelta ni Rhenouis kaya napatingin ako sa direksiyon ni Caspian.

Suddenly, an entity emerged out of the spherical water that is hovering above his right hand, generating a powerful force that sent the woman hurtling in another direction. I gasped as the menacing creature manifested before my eyes.

“Octara, the Ottoia!” magiliw na sigaw naman ni Caspian, at hindi pa rin mawala-wala ang ngisi habang nakatingin sa nakakatakot na nilalang na lumabas sa hugis bilog na tubig na ‘yon.

“A-Ano ‘yan?” nginig labing tanong ng babae. Nanlalaki rin ang mga mata nito habang nakatingin sa ipinalabas ni Caspian.

The Ottoia or Octara or whatsoever that Caspian called is very terrifyingly hideous. Its scales shimmer ominously, razor-tipped tentacles writhe menacingly, and glowing eyes pierce darkness, revealing an insatiable hunger. A cavernous maw, lined with razor-sharp teeth, completes this terrifying aquatic horror.

In gruesome detail, I observed Caspian’s command unfold, the creature hot on the heels of the escaping woman. A shiver ran down my spine as I witnessed its voracious consumption of her. I involuntarily stepped back as it advanced toward us, presenting the woman’s severed head to its master. Bigla naman itong umilaw, kasabay no’n ang pagbalik niya sa loob ng hugis bilog na tubig.

“He’s undeniably... awesome,” I heard Engrid complimented Caspian. “And a freakin’ id*ot,” she added. I saw on my peripheral vision that the two guys on my back nodded as an agreement of the statement that Engrid said.

“Done!” masaya namang naglakad si Caspian sa aming harapan. Agad naman siyang sinunggaban ng tig-i-isang batok nina Rhenouis, at Aideniel kaya napa-pout nalang ito.

“Baliw ka! Hindi natin natanong ‘yon, bakit mo pinatay!” halatang naiinis na pahayag ni Rhenouis habang kinakamot nito ang kulot niyang buhok.

“Oh-ow. I forgot about that thing,” Caspian laughed awkwardly, while smiling in awe.

“Crazy id*ot,” buwelta pa ni Aideniel, saka umirap. “Let’s just bring her head, and present it to the majesty, with that, she will not punish us,” dagdag pa nito.

“This is a low-tier creature, she will not be please by this,” sagot naman sa kaniya ni Engrid.

Naglakad naman sila patungo roon sa ulo ng babae, ‘tsaka sinipa-sipa iyon. Napa-ismid nalang ako nang makita ko ang pagmumukha nito. Her eyes and mouth were wide open, her neck gruesomely shredded from the brutal separation of her body parts, and most disturbingly, green-hued blood oozed from her mouth and neck. It was a repulsive sight, stirring both disgust and a profound sense of pity.

Narinig ko namang tinatawag nila ang pangalan ko, ngunit parang hindi ako makagalaw sa aking kinatatayuan, parang nilagyan ng pandikit ang aking talampakan upang hindi ko ito ma-i-angat.

“Hey!” Nagising naman ako nang yugyugin ako ni Caspian. “Tara na, gusto mo bang iwanan ka namin dito? ” dagdag pa nito, kaya napakurap-kurap nalang ako.

“No. I’m sorry,” I replied. Winaksi ko naman ang dalawang kamay niya sa balikat ko, at nagsimula ng maglakad.

“Good. Akala ko talaga magpapa-iwan ka na,” sabi naman nito sa akin saka siya sumunod.

Kumuha naman ng kung ano sa bulsa niya si Engrid, kasabay nito ang paghulog ng kapirasong papel, kaya agad ko itong kinuha.

“Engrid, the pa—” I wasn’t able to finish the sentence when the paper I picked glowed. Bumilog naman ang mga mata ni Caspian ng makita iyon, pati rin naman ako.