Memento, Morie (The Peculiars' Tale Sequel)

/15/ Lost

"Aeons?" narinig kong sabi ni Jing na katulad ko ay nagtataka.

"Aeon is what they call it, pero sa bayan na pinanggalingan natin, Jill Morie, tinatawag nila tayong Peculiars," hindi ako nakapagsalita kaagad kaya nagpatuloy si Dante. "Why are you here?"

"Because of—"

"The Chintamani," pinutol kaagad ni Dante ang sasabihin ko."We also joined the Akasha's game five years ago, we are part of  the Order of the Black Suns, isang secret society ng mga Aeons sa El Salvador." Hindi na ko umimik pa dahil mas gusto kong tuluy-tuloy niyang ikuwento ang lahat ng dapat kong malaman. 

"Para sa Chintamani, we also did what you did, we've been at China, Brazil, Italy and here... but we became Lost. Lahat ng players ay na-trap sa lugar na 'to, Jill Morie. None of us made it to the next round. Wala. Kahit isa."

Bigla kong naalala ang sinabi ni Rama Melchiore, "But when you fail, all of you are going to become lost."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Go to the Golden Triangle. Find the heart, release the grief and destroy it—hindi ba't iyan ang bugtong ng level na 'to?"

"Dante, stop this!" hinampas ng malakas ni France ang mesa. "You know what will happen if we help the other players—"

"I know, France," tumayo si Dante at hinarap ang dalawang kasama. "But I am not going to spend the eternity in this world, this is the best that we can do for them, to help them! To help them so that they can avoid the same fate." Napapikit lamang si France at napatango, tinapik siya ni Dante at muling umupo para ipagpatuloy ang dapat niyang sabihin.

"Hindi niyo ba naisip minsan kung anong mangyayari sa isang player kung hindi niya matagumpay na nagawa ang bawat misyon sa bawat level?" nagkatinginan muna kami ni Jing, most of the failed players died. "They died right?" napatingin ako kay Dante dahil alam niya rin pala o marahil ganoon din ang nangyari noon. "But what if they don't?" nang hindi kami makasagot ay nagsalita lang siya. "They became Lost."

"What is Lost?"

"Lost, is a player who failed to accomplish the mission in a level, they never die and never will."

"H-hindi ko maintindihan."

"We became Lost when we failed the mission in this level—"

"Alam ko, pero hindi ko maintindihan kung anong nangyayari exactly." Napu-frustrate kong sabi at napabuntong hininga si Dante at napasulyap sa hour glass bago magsalita.

"There are many realities, Jill Morie. And this world we're in right now is just a big fool's game. It will be difficult to understand but I know deep inside yourself you know what you are seeking," nabasa ko sa mga mata niya ang matinding pagod, frustrations. "Everything you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch are this world, including the other people, are not your reality. You cannot escape this world not until you reach the seventh level."

"That's the final level."

"Yes, and no one's been there. Sa madaling salita, sa nakaraang dekada mula noong magsimula ang Akasha's game na ginawa ng mga Kahval, wala pang nakakalabas sa mundong ito. The Losts, like us, are trapped here for the rest of eternity."

"Then how can we escape this game?"

"Win."

"How? Sinabi mo na wala pang ibang players ang nakakarating sa huling level."