Tracheon: Master Plan

Chapter 18

Risel slowly lifted the cloth and we were shock to see that Marco wasn't the one covered. Hindi kami makapaniwala na wala si Marco doon. Ayokong umasa na buhay nga siya dahil sa dulo ay baka masaktan lang ako at malaman na wala na talaga siya.

"Where's Marco then?" ani Erense.

Wala naman ni isa sa amin ang may alam kung nasaan siya o kung anong ginawa nila sa kanya. Matapos kong malaman na lahat pala ng nangyari sa amin ay hindi totoo. Ang paggising namin sa mansion ay siyang simula no'ng mapasok kami sa augmented reality na sinasabi ni Erense. Iyon nga lang ay lahat ng nangyayari doon ay nararamdaman namin.

They put something in our brain na siyang nag-ta-transmit sa body system namin kaya siguro kung anong nangyayari sa utak namin ay nararamdaman ng katawan namin. That's why I felt the pain in my shoulder, that's the part when I got shot.

Everything seems not so conclusive.

"Are we going to stay here forever? We're not safe here." Risel said.

"They're now looking for us, Risel. Everywhere and this could be the safest place right now for us to hide. We need to make some plan."

"A plan of what?" I asked, "We're also trapped here, guys."

"That's why we need to think something that we can escape." Erense said.

"Are we leaving them?" Risel asked.

Erense shook her head, "no, they're dead after all."

"What about Marco?" napatingin naman silang dalawa sa akin.

"Gyllia, I'm sorry but we are not sure if he's still alive." Erense said, "for now, we need to escape this place as soon as possible as they come back here on this level and search between the room." Aniya.

Napabuntong hininga na lang din naman ako. Hindi ko nga rin talaga alam kung buhay pa nga ba siya. Ang importante ngayon ay makalabas kami ng building na ito. Sana nga totoo na talaga 'to at wala nang kasinungalingang nababalot pa. Immune na ako masyado. Sawang sawa na ako at gusto ko nang tapusin ang labang ito.

Mayamaya lamang ay napaigtad ako nang biglang may isang tao ang kumakatok sa pinto ng room. Nagulat kami dahil may nakakaalam palang nandito kami. Tiningnan ko naman kung may camera sa sulok pero wala naman. Nang titigan ko ang lalaking iyon ay hindi ako pwedeng magkamali sa hula ko.

Dahan dahan akong lumapit at inabot ang doorknob.

"Gyllia, don't ever try to do that." Aniya.

"Gyllia, listen to Erense!" Risel scowled.

But I don't want to listen. Hindi ko mapigilan ang maluha nang makita ko siya. I've never seen him. It's like forever. I open the door for him and immediately he came inside the room. Hindi naalis ang tingin ko sa kanya, I got his features. My thoughts can't be wrong.

Agad namang tinutukan ni Risel iyon ng baril, agad ko namang hinarang si Risel na gawin iyon. Napataas na lang din siya ng kamay sa ere.

"My intention here is not to hurt you, I'm here to help you." panimula nito. Ibinaba ko naman ang hawak ni Risel na baril. "This building has many tricky hallways, has dead ends. I can get you to the exit."

"How sure we are that you will help us?" Erense said.

"Because I know him, Erense." Natigilan silang lahat sa sinabi ko. Pansin ko namang walang bakas ng gulat sa mukha nang lalaki. I know something is in between, the connection is real. "If I'm not mistaken... he's my father."

"Is that true?" Risel asked.

Then nodded, his confirmation broke me inside, "that's why I'm here to help you."

"Wait, are you the one who got us out from the activity room?" Erense asked.

He nodded again, "I'm all the reason why you got here. I've been sending things through the system that might help you to escape. But my actions are limited there, I'm sorry for your loss but I need you to get out of here."

"What will happen to you?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Tiningnan lang ako nito, "your safety is more important." Hindi ako makapaniwala sa sagot niya. I don't feel the father's daughter relationship with him. Maybe because he's never been there on me when I'm growing up.

"C'mon, follow me, I lead the way!" he said.

It's him, my father. Gury Sharpe.

He led the way into something we don't know. I'm not sure what we're up to, but he said, this is the only way. Only way to survive.