Red Strings of Fate (Haunted Series 2)

Strings 34: A Nightmare

Crack. I heard his body crack.

I killed someone.

"There goes that problem." I looked back at TJ with widened eyes.

"Pinatay ko siya, TJ." Bulong ko na parang pag mahina ko sinabi, hindi siya totoo.

"I realize this will sound heartless but I don't give a fuck he died." Nagkibit-balikat siya. "It was going to be you or him. And I'm glad it was him. Good job."

He's praising me for killing someone.

Kinuha niya ang baril sa kamay ko na ngayon ko lang napansing nanginginig. Minasahe niya 'yon at naramdaman ko ang pagpisil niya sa pulso ko na mabilis ang tibok.

And then I notice his hands covered in blood—Now that I'm looking at him, he has numerous cuts, his face, and his whole body are covered in blood.

"You're hurt." I caught the blood dripping on his cheek, crossing the remaining space between us and forcing my knees to hold me. "Are you okay?"

"It's not mine." Sinalubong niya ang tingin ko. "I'm okay Hope. It's not mine."

I was thankful it was not his blood. How messed up is that? I want to hear that he killed those men and that he's not hurt. That's when I knew, for sure, that I was head over heels in love with this man.

"You're hurt too." Kinuha niya ang kamay ko na ngayon ko lang napansin na maraming splinter dahil sa hinampas kong kahoy.

Seeing him looking at me so worried, filled me with indescribable feelings. I can't believe him. Nahulog siya galing sa third floor at ako parin ang iniisip niya.

"TJ, nahulog ka."

"I twisted just in time, I used him." Napalingon ako sa hinulugan niya at tinakpan niya ang makikita ko. "Don't look."

Hininto niya ako at na-realize kong ginawa niya 'yun para hindi ko makita ang bangkay ng lalakeng nahulog... katulad ng lalakeng tinulak ko... pinatay ko.

"Are you okay?"

Itinutok niya ang mukha ko sa kanya at napagtanto kong matagal pala akong natulala sa espasyong 'yon.

Nanginig ang boses ko, "Nakapatay ako... baka may pamilya siya. Maybe he has a daughter or a son... and I-I killed their father."

"Hope. He hurt you. Do not ever minimize what he put you through." Hinawakan niya ako ng mahigpit na parang dinidiin niya ang mga sinasabi sa balat ko. "There is no excuse. He hurt you and you did what you had to do to survive."

Hinarap niya ako sa kanya at hinawakan ang pisngi ko para pumantay sa ginto niyang mata.

"Do you want to be killed?"

Umiling ako.

"No. Then you did a good job defending yourself. It's not your fault. Stop blaming yourself."

Tinatraydor ako ng katawan ko dahil nanginginig parin ako. Naikuyom ko ang kamao ko at tinitigan si James na mukhang kalmado. Tumango ako sa kanya.

File it away, Scarlet. Have a breakdown in private.

"Let's go."

Hinila niya ako para umalis nang biglang bumagsak ang kaliwa kong paa. Mabilis niya akong nahuli at hindi ko na mapigilang mapa-ungol sa sakit.

Buong minuto na nakatayo ako, ibinigay ko sa kanan kong paa lahat ng bigat ng aking katawan. Akala ko makakalakad man lang ako, pero parang hinihila ng invisible na mga kamay ang balat ko.

Hindi niya pa nakikita ang sugat, and the look in TJ's eyes made me want to cry when he realized it.

"Fuck." He carried me in his arms after inspecting the wound, his nostrils flaring from anger. "I'm fucking glad you killed him. If you didn't, I would."