Stay Awake (ORIGINAL DRAFT)

Chapter Six: A Freaking Badass

Chapter Six: A Freaking Badass

We stay where we're standing as the dog continues to prowl in front of us. I can't think straight, and it feels like my brain is starting to shut down because of fear. I'm pretty sure that all of my companions are feeling the same way.

"Anong gagawin natin?" Felicity whisphers, her voice trembling. Hindi ko nakikita 'yung facial expression niya ngayon dahil hindi ko maigalaw ang ulo ko upang lumingon sa direksyon niya. My whole body is paralyzed with fear.

"We have to run," sagot ni Ian. "As fast as we can."

"But how? It'll outrun us, I'm sure of it," Holly says.

I take some deep breaths, trying to calm myself. Pagkatapos ay unti-unti kong iginala ang paningin ko sa paligid. I need to find something that can help us escape. Anything that I can use as a weapon.

"W-we'd be dead before we even take a few steps," Andre stammers. Halos kadikit ko lang siya kaya ramdam na ramdam ko ang panginginig niya.

I swallow, trying my best to concentrate. Hindi ko pwedeng hayaan na mahawa ako sa matinding takot ni Andre. I can't let myself succumb to a breakdown right now. I need to find a weapon.

There. Just beside Felicity's right foot is a large butcher knife. It is approximately six inches long, with a broad, rigid blade that curves slightly at the tip. Tumitig ako kay Felicity at sinubukan kong kunin ang atensyon niya. As soon as her eyes meet mine, I point my right hand to the butcher knife.

"Iabot mo sakin," I say. She nods in agreement.

She moves her gaze to the dog in front of us. It is still pacing and growling, assessing the most brutal way to attack us. Right now, we are its preys. And we're running out of time.

I look at Felicity again, encouraging her to get the knife. Unti-unti siyang lumuhod habang patuloy na nakatingin sa aso. Nang mahawakan na niya 'yung butcher knife, tumayo siya at tumingin sa akin.

"Kunin mo kay Felicity 'yung knife at iabot mo sakin," sabi ko kay Andre. He's between me and Felicity, and he's the only person who can reach her to get the knife.

Pero umiling siya. "I-I can't..."

Fuck. Hindi na siya makagalaw dahil sa sobrang takot. Tumingin ako kina Holly at Ian, pero masyado rin silang malayo kay Felicity. I grit my teeth. What should I do now? I don't know how to encourage someone to snap out of something.

"Andre," I say. "Please. Iabot mo sakin 'yung knife."

Pero parang wala na siyang naririnig. He's just looking straight ahead, his whole body rigid and paralyzed with fear.

Biglang tumigil sa paglalakad 'yung aso at tumingin sa amin. Then it lets out a growl. Shit. It's done waiting. It will attack us anytime soon.

Desperate, I reach out and grip Andre's shoulder. "Andre," I plead, my voice hard. "Please. Get the fucking knife from Felicity and give it to me." Tumingin lang siya sa akin at umiling.

This is hopeless. I need another plan, to get the knife from Felicity. Or else, we will be the dog's next meal.

Nakaramdam ako bigla ng matinding inis, at hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili ko. "Goddamn it, Andre. Snap out of it! Gusto mo bang mabuhay tayo o hindi?"

Dahil sa pagtaas ng boses ko, biglang tumahol 'yung aso at humakbang papalapit sa amin. Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Fuck. Mamamatay kami nito.