Chapter 24: Admit
"You cannot lie to someone who knows your soul as if it is his own."
—
"Do you trust me, Nick?" May pagsusumamo sa mga mata niya.
Mapalad si Pandora. Ang inaasahan niyang sagot ang siya ring totoong nararamdam ko. "Yes."
Another voice spoke. A voice only me could hear. It sounded like me. But more inquisitive. It raised the question I expected to hear from it.
Why?
The same voice who raised the question answered, kasi sinabi ni Michael.
Yeah, maybe that's it. I am very sure of Pandora's credentials because the truth I believed from the start came out of that man's lips. He said that it is impossible for Pandora to open the Box.
"Bakit gusto ng Queen na makita ko ang Box?" pagbabago ko ng usapan.
"She wants you to check what's still left and confirm what got out."
"There's a possibility that it's not just the Four Horsemen and Lust that got out?"
"Lust got out?" gulat ring tanong niya.
She's undeniably surprised. Hindi ko rin masagot ang tanong niya dahil wala akong ideya.
I took one step towards the Box. Tiningala ko ang batong kisame nang mas tumindi ang yanig ng sahig. Lumakas ang ihip ng hangin, parang ipo-ipo na tinatangay ang katawan ko.
I don't know any possible way to check the contents of the Box. And opening it is never an option. How would I be able to see its inside?
I clicked my tongue. I got an idea but I'm quite unsure.
Bahala na.
I blew air.
"Videre."
I felt a punishing heat—I was on fire. I gasped as my body is vacuumed by a force.
-&-
"Nick?"
Napangiwi ako nang matinis na umugong sa tenga ko ang boses na 'yon. Kumurap-kurap ako para pawiin ang panlalabo ng paningin ko.
Unti-unti, nagkaroon ng hugis ang mga kulay na nakikita ko hanggang sa maaninag ko nang maayos si Pandora.
"Nick?" she called me again.
"What happened?" Inabot ko ang kamay niya at bumangon.
"You collapsed and had seizures. Are you—"
"I'm not epileptic," putol ko. Napasinghap ako nang muling kumirot ang ulo ko. "How long am I out?"
"Just a couple minutes."
"Let's get out of here." I walked past her and out of the room.
Humabol siya sa akin. "Did you find anything?"
"Nothing. The Box is impenetrable. Wala akong makita. It just like a bad neighbor that threw me back out," I spat fast so she could stop questioning.
Dumiretso ako sa kwarto. Hinubad ko lang ang sapatos ko at ibinagsak na ang katawan sa higaan.
Nakatulala ako sa kisame ng silid habang pilit na isinasabay sa marahang ihip ng hangin ang paghinga ako. Iniharang ko sa paningin ko ang sariling kamay nang mainip kakamasid sa kisame.
Nangangatog pa din ako. Kinuyom ko ang kamay ko.
I shut my eyes.
I lied to Pandora.
STAI LEGGENDO
The Protectors
FantasyNick has been left to believe her life is common and boring just like any other teenager. She's not great at anything but to make sure her Mom's day is greeted with another your-daughter-is-in-the-guidance-office call. She can't make a simple decisi...
