LUNA

16: Rain

The dagger went straight right through the creature's eye, and it shrieked so loud our sensitive ears felt like it'll explode from the ugly sharp cry. Wala sa oras tuloy kaming napatakip sa mga tenga namin. Our facial expressions crinkled. The cry made everyone move. Black creatures started to jump out from the shadows— all growling and snarling with high pitched tones. Ramdam ko ang mabilis na tibok ng puso ko at ang kaba ng mga kasama ko na umaapaw sa amoy sa ere— I immediately shouted when I figured everyone was too afraid and overwhelmed to react fast from the danger— "Pandora move! Prioritize the cart! Move! Now!"

Parang ngayon lang sila sinalpal pabalik sa realidad at agad agad kumilos. Faces were still evidently terrified by the current situation and I won't blame them. The black creatures didn't have any shapes to describe their body types. They were mostly made up of black slimy skin that owns four sharp talons and shark-like teeth and yellow glowing eyes. They have a body and at the same time, they do not. The night looks like their cloak, their skins flowing like slimy smoke in the air. I've never seen anything like this before.

Pinagpapawisan ako.

Kagaya nga ng hula ko, we were surrounded from all sides kaya kesa sa umabante ang mga kasama ko, napatipon sila sa gitna. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero napuno ako at nagalit sa kabobohan nila. Pinangungunahan sila ng takot. The worst type of feeling. I cursed and cursed.

I pulled the rope of my horse para umiba kami ng direksyon. Pandora already pulling out her bow and arrows to attack, but I saw her hands shaking. Nym was busy muttering something under her breath while her eyes narrowly observed— The creatures were 15 steps away from us and it'll only take them less than 10 seconds to reach us— so I move— "Don't gather! Scatter!" I tried sounding absolute even though I'm also scared myself. But nothing's gonna happen if we're not gonna do anything.

Mamatay kami.

That thought alone made my body act. Laking pasalamat ko na lang at nakapag-isip isip din ako ng kaunti bago to mangyare lahat.

"Pandora, south! Arabella and Zarax, west! Nym, you're with me!" I took another dagger from my thigh and immediately throw it to the creature. It hit his eye again and was thrown back from the force. Kumuha uli ako ng isa at tinapon uli sa pinakamalapit. "Kung wala kayong balak gamitin ang mga kutsilyo niyo, ibigay niyo na lang sakin! Tangina!"

And they did give them to me. Tangi si Zarax lamang ang hindi nagbigay. Magkasalubong na ang mga kilay nito at inis na tumingin sakin. "May plano ka?!" Inis niyang tanong.

I throw another dagger, followed by another, and another— behind, sa harap, kaliwa't kanan— I throw daggers into their eyes— hanggang sa tumigil sila ng saglit dahil sa tama— I grabbed the small opening— "Takbo! Putangina!" And they move. Obeyed my orders and move. Horses running, their steps echoing on the dirt. "We'll meet at north in five minutes!" Bungad ko pa bago sila tuluyan mawala. Lumapit si Nym sakin— "Sumunod ka lang" I told her and she nodded. Her face grim and her lips pursed. Pumwesto siya sa likuran ko at hinintay akong umalis din. Pero hindi ako umalis.

The black creatures roared again. Naka move on na sa sakit. Hindi ata nila napansin na dalawa na lamang kami nandito at mukhang walang planong sundan ang mga kasama ko. I grin at that thought. Good.

The creatures controlled their movements. Kung kanina agresibo, ngayon parang tinatantya na nila ang bawat hakbang. They started circling us in focused concentration while baring their sharp teeth. Each step heavy and slow. Careful of our next moves.

Pinagmasdan ko sila. I need their attentions on me for at least five minutes bago sila kumalat uli. And I need the witches to run away as far as possible in five minutes before these creatures can scent and locate their pinpoints.