Four Forever [Completed]

53 - Earth - Underworld

(POV Kane)

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako pumayag na sumama kay Chaz at Mackenzie papunta sa Underworld. I know that we are heading to a dangerous terrain, pero mukhang excited pa ang tatlong kasama ko.

"Nasa Underworld na ba tayo?" tanong ko kay Chaz habang naglalakad kaming apat sa isang tunnel made of water.

"Not yet, but we are almost there," sagot ni Chaz sabay bigay sa amin ng goggles.

It looks like an ordinary swimming goggles. He motioned us to wear this gear, but we are all confused as to why we need this here.

"Chaz, ang Underworld ba ay nasa ilalim ng dagat? Parang unexplored part ng Marianas Trench kung saan may naninirahan na Megalodon sharks?" excited na tanong ni Avery sa asawa niya.

"Something like that. By the way, under no circumstances, you are not allowed to take off your goggles. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, boss!" excited na sigaw ni Avery at Mackenzie sabay suot ng goggles.

Pagdating namin sa dulo ng tunnel, tumagos kami sa isang gateway made of water. Parang Stargate portal na gawa sa tubig. I always imagine Underworld as a city full of dreary darkness, brimming with ghastly creatures of the night, but I was amazed when I saw an entirely different realm.

"Are you sure we are not misrouted to Bora Bora?" tanong ni Mackenzie.

"Oo nga! Kaya pala excited na pumunta si Chaz dito, ang ganda pala sa Underworld!" dagdag ni Avery.

Apparently, we are in an island in the middle of a sparkling blue sea. Para kaming napunta sa isang island beach resort with pristine white sands. I can even see several dolphins and whales just a few meters away from us.

"Come on, let's go!" sabi ni Chaz sabay turo sa isang island sa 'di kalayuan.

Dahil mababaw ang tubig, madali namin mapupuntahan ang kabilang isla. The sandbar serves as our bridge to the other island. Hindi ko inaasahan na ganito ang itsura ng Underworld. Parang naligaw kami sa isang parte ng Palawan or sa isa sa mga majestic islands sa gitna ng Indian Ocean.

"I forgot to tell all of you, we have limited power here in the Underworld. Just follow this straight path towards the other island and we are good to go," sabi ni Chaz.

Mackenzie and Avery both look stunned dahil sa ganda ng Underworld. The sands beneath our feet are literally sparkling like diamonds. Even if the sun is brightly shining, hindi mainit dito. This is like a paradise, a dream vacation, a perfect escape from everything.

But I can feel that this is too good to be true. Underworld is known to be the treacherous dwelling of the creatures of the night. Never ko narinig na isang mala-paraiso na lugar ang Underworld.

Naputol lang ang pag-iisip ko ng kung ano ano nang biglang sumigaw si Avery. Hawak niya ang isang starfish sa kanyang kamay at mabilis niya itong hinagis palayo sa kanya. Magtatanong sana ko kung ano ang nangyari, pero bigla ko napansin na tinakpan ni Mackenzie ang bibig niya na parang nasusuka sa nakikita.

I noticed that they are not wearing their goggles anymore. I think Avery and Mackenzie saw something gruesome when they removed their eye-protectors.

Dahan dahan ko tinanggal ang goggles para makita kung ano ang nasaksihan nila. I almost gasped when I saw a new terrifying world in front of us. The summer sun is now replaced by a deep red moon. The blue sea looks like an ocean of blood. Even the white sand's color is now changed into black. Kahit ang mga aquatic creatures ay nag-transform sa mga nakakatakot na prehistoric sea monsters. We are not in a paradise, this is indeed the abode of the damned.

"Both of you are stubborn as fuck! Kasasabi ko lang na huwag niyong tatanggalin ang goggles niyo!" sigaw ni Chaz sabay yakap kay Avery na mukhang takot na takot.

"Hindi mo naman kasi sinabi na nakakatakot pala dito!"

"Avery, we are in the Underworld. Do you really expect a glamorous place? That's why I created these goggles to create an illusion."

"Sana kasi sinabi mo agad! Malay ko ba na ang starfish na dinampot ko ay isa palang black star-shaped beast covered with bazillions of eyes!"

"Sana kasi hindi mo tinanggal ang goggles mo!"

Inirapan lang ni Avery si Chaz at nagsimula siyang maglakad papunta sa kabilang island. Alam ko noon pa na madalas sila mag-away. It is like a form of endearment.

"Excited ka pa ba na pumunta sa Underworld? You can still back out," tanong ko kay Mackenzie habang naglalakad kami kasunod ni Chaz at Avery.

"Kane, do you think this appalling territory can stop me from saving Achillea? And besides, alam ko na naman na nakakatakot ang Underworld noon pa. That is what makes our journey more thrilling," sabi ni Mackenzie sabay hawak sa kamay ko.

Sabay kaming naglalakad papunta sa kabilang isla. We disregarded the bloody sea water touching our feet and the horrifying monsters nearby.

Nandito na kami sa Underworld, there is no turning back...