Dispareo (PUBLISHED UNDER PSICOM)

XIII : Transparent and Apparent

"Ano?!" Bulalas naman ni Raze.

"We have no choice! Shem sorry!" Tarantang sigaw ni Harper at bigla na lamang kinabig ang manibela . Sa puntong 'yon napahawak na lamang kami ni Axel sa kamay ng isa't-isa at napapikit upang maihanda ang mga sarili namin sa pagkakahulog ng sinasakyan namin mula sa tulay.

*****

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Punong-puno ng panlulumo ang lahat habang nakatingin sa lumuluhang si Churchill na kasukuyang karga ang bangkay ni Dana.

"What happened?" Nanlulumong sambit ni Wena habang pinapanood ang dahan-dahang pagbaba ni Churchill ng bangkay sa loob ng bathtub.

Napailing na lamang si Mira at pinunasan ang luhang pumapatak parin. Ni hindi niya magawang maipaliwanag sa mga kasamahan ang nangyari dahil sa bigat ng kanyang kalooban.

"When was the last time you guys prayed?" Biglang bulalas ni Pinky kaya naman napalingon ang lahat sa kanya, kahit si Churchill na nasa loob rin ng banyo.

"I.. I can't even remember.. After the skunks began to kill everyone, all we did was run and fight for our lives." Bulalas ni Mira.

"That Demon may not be able to get up here but he has already corrupted all of you." Tuluyang pumatak ang luha mula sa mga mata ni Pinky at agad niya itong pinunasan, "Look, I may not be the most religious person in this city and I am in no position to say this but I for one think that Astaroth has already got a grip on your throats the moment you stopped believing... the moment you forgot about your faith."

Lumabas ang nakatulalang si Churchill mula sa banyo "I... I prayed hard when I learned about what the skunks have done to Drayton. I prayed hard for my family's safety. I prayed for my friend's safety. I prayed and prayed because I didn't want to die. But it all happened, my family died, I died... at ngayon..." Wala sa sariling sambit ni Churchill.

"But that's the thing about praying; we tend to mistake it as wishing... We pray to God not only to talk and ask for blessings but also to strengthen our faith... We pray to strengthen our faith, and faith could do wonders in more ways than one. I know I'm not in the position to say all of this but this is the truth... Astaroth is ruining your faith by making you feel like all hope is lost until he becomes this blob in your mind that slowly makes you destroy yourself." Paliwanag pa ni Pinky bagay na labis ikinabigla nina Wena at Gino na hindi akalaing kailanma'y maririnig nila ito mula kay Pinky.

"My Mom kept on telling me this while growing up and I finally get it now... Bad things always happen to everyone, but believe me when I say that the choice is in your hands if you allow yourself to be ruined by it. The choice is ours, either we allow ourselves to be played by the devil or have the courage to withstand even the duke of hell." Napabuntong-hininga si Pinky at inilabas ang isang rosary mula sa kanyang bulsa, "I'm choosing the greater good so I'm going to be in the room praying the rosary again. Sumunod kayo kung gusto niyo." Dagdag pa ni Pinky at agad na umalis, sumunod naman agad sa kanya si Gino.

"Ate..." Tawag ni Wena kay Mira na naiwang nakatulala at animo'y napakalalim ng iniisip.