Dispareo (PUBLISHED UNDER PSICOM)

IV : The death of another

"And you played it on my birthday..." Biglang sabat ni Churchill at nang muli akong mapatingin sa kanya ay kitang-kita ko ang galit sa mukha niya habang nakatingin kay Harper. Si Harper naman mukhang hindi na apektado, I don't know if she's just pretending or manhid nalang talaga siya sa sama ng epekto ng pinaggagawa niya.

"May mga nakaligtas mula sa bayan ng fergullo, ilan sa kanila ay mga pamilyang may mga sanggol—umabot sa kanila ang isa pang sumpa ni Primo, na balang araw babalik ang kaluluwa ng dalawang magiging alay." Muli, napatingin si Harper sa aming dalawa ni Axel, "As impossible as this sounds, kayong dalawa 'yon. Cielo, nabasa ko sa medical records mo sa mental institute na kinatatakutan mo si Astaroth and that's when I realized something... That Astaroth has been trying to reach you so you could make the wish. Then, I learned about the old record, yung plakang pinagkukulungan ng kaluluwa ng mg fergullo. I thought I could make a wish or even manipulate you into wishing for my parents to be alive again if everyone's life is in danger but it didn't happen—"

"And you're blaming Dana kasi hindi niya sinali ang parents mo sa wish?" Sarkastiko namang putol ni Mira na ngayo'y nakataas na ang kilay habang naka-krus ang mga braso. Napansin ni Mira na nakatingin kaming lahat sa kanya kaya napasinghal siya, "Sorry guys but I'm not buying this whole 'tinutulungan niya tayong lahat na mabalik si Dana' acting. There could be a twist here somewhere, let's be careful with this bitch." Dagdag pa niya.

Napabuntong-hininga si Harper at animo'y binalewala na lamang ang sinabi ni Mira, "Kanina ko lang natanggap ang ibang research papers at cuneiform transcriptions mula sa ibang bansa na patungkol kay Astaroth. According to the legend, Astaroth was a high ranking demon who was trapped by a sorcerer in his own labyrinth. The only way he could escape is if he gets a soul that would take his place in his labyrinth and use its body to possess, and another soul that to feed on in order for him to gain enough strength to conquer this world. Astaroth needs a willing soul to consume kaya niya tutuparin ang kahilingan nito bilang kapalit. But first the two souls to be sacrificed should have an emotional connection."

"Kaya kami ni Cielo ang gusto niyang kunin mula noon..." Napatingin sa akin si Cielo, "Pero bakit si Wacky ang ginawa niyang sisidlan at hindi ako?"

"Because maybe he realized that Cielo has become unbreakable.... That Dana would be a better soul to feed on because Dana is more vulnerable to her emotions. Takot at paghihirap ang nagpapalakas kay Astaroth at siguro iniisip niyang kay Dana niya ito pinaka makukuha, at sa lahat ng naroon si Wacky at si Dana ang may malakas na emosyonal na koneksyon." Paliwanag pa ni Harper at sa puntong 'yon, muli akong napatingin kay Churchill na labis na ang panlulumo dahil sa naririnig.

"N-nasaan si Wacky?" Muling sambit ni Churchill na animo'y hindi parin halos makapaniwala sa mga narinig.

"Odds are, he's in hell with Dana. Wacky's soul will replace Astaroth's spot in his labyrinth and at the same time, Astaroth will possess his body and use him as a vessel. Once Dana gives Astaroth enough power, that demon will walk over this earth and no words can describe the horror that could happen." Sabi pa ni Harper at napatitig na lamang sa sahig.

"See! She's still doing this for herself! Tumutulong lang siya kasi madadamay siya sa sa kasamaan ni Astaroth!" Giit pa ni Mira.

"Say what you want, believe what you want." Giit ni Harper.