Looming Danger

Teaser

Splaasshh!

I gasped for air and coughed some water out. Nanatili akong nakahiga sa floor dahil masakit ang ibang parte ng katawan ko. I opened my eyes pero tila ba parang umiikot ang paningin ko kaya pumikit uli ako nang mariin. I can feel the pounding in my head and the pain makes me groan. Narinig ko na lamang ang pagsara ng pinto sa likuran ko.

Sinubukan kong alalahanin ang nangyari and I froze because of the memory.

Someone got killed and I saw it with my own eyes and when I was about to call the police, something hard hit my head and then darkness consumed me.

They're going to kill me.

I panicked for the thought and tears streamed down my eyes. I'm too young to die. I can't die like this. I have so many plans for the future. Paano na si mama? What about him? This can't be happening.

I scanned my surrounding and found out that I am inside a small room with one wooden table at the center and two wooden chairs and a light bulb. That's all. There's no other things inside. Wala ring bintana. At mukhang matagal na ring 'di nagamit dahil sa makakapal na sapot sa ceiling at makapal na alikabok sa floor.

I continued to scan my surrounding  when the door slowly opened and a middle-aged woman entered and another two men behind her followed.

The woman approached me and did something unexpected. She let out a sigh and using a handkerchief, she dried my face and hair.

"Sniper really don't know the proper treatment for a lady. Look what he had done" the woman stated with a worried face.

Though I'm not sure if it's genuine or not. Hindi daw dapat ako mabilis magtiwala sa ipinapakita ng isang tao dahil maaaring kasinungalingan lamang ang lahat.

"You know him. He doesn't treat everybody so well and he hates weak people." Singit ng isang lalaki na nakaupo sa table habang nakatingin lamang sa amin

"I'm so sorry for this, my dear." The woman spoke again.

Inalalayan niya akong tumayo at pinaupo sa upuan. The woman also sat down in the chair opposite to mine.

"Do you know why you are here?" The woman started. She is intently staring at me and her stares feels like peeking deep down my soul.

"No."

After that I spoke again.

"Who are you?" I asked and tried not to stutter.

This time I looked back directly into her eyes. I tried to keep myself from blinking  and after a few seconds she smiled at me amusingly.

"We are the Sweepers. And we clean their mess." She answered with a smile.

Sweepers? Clean their mess?

"And I am that mess?"

This is not good. They really are going to kill me.

"Unfortunately, yes. You saw something you shouldn't have. And did something you shouldn't have done." She answered na parang wala lang sa kanya.

I breathe in and spoke again.

"So, are you going to kill me?" My voice cracked at pumiyok pa ako sa huling salita.

"Maybe. It's up to you."

I creased my forehead at her. Pero deep inside, parang nagkaroon ako ng pag-asang mabuhay.

"What do you mean?" I asked curiously.

She smirked that brought chills into my body and I'm sure I will not like her answer.

"Join us or get killed. Choose."