Red Strings of Fate (Haunted Series 2)

Strings 25: Turning Point

"Ha?!"

"Do you trust me?" He asks, but I'm still stuck with him saying he's my shield.

"S-syempre pero—"

"I'll protect you, just stay behind me at all times." Hinigpitan niya ang hawak sa akin.

"Saan tayo pupunta?"

"Questions later, move Hope."

Lumabas kami sa aming tinataguan. He uses his knife when someone intercepts us. Reserving the bullets of his own gun. Nakadikit lang ako sa likod niya, nakapako ang mga mata sa kanya, wala nang iba.

I didn't want to look at the bloodbath around us.

Lumabas kami sa kanlurang pinto at marami rin ang mga taong lumalaban. A taller guy blocked our way, and James tsked, "Alis." Swiping his knife on his neck faster than my eyes could catch up.

"Cap!" May sumigaw at napalingon ako para makita si Allan na tumatakbo papunta sa amin. He's holding a gun on his left and something on his right that he threw toward TJ.

Sinalo ito ni TJ gamit ang kamay na nakahawak sa kutsilyo, hindi binibitawan ang kamay ko. Nang sinuot ito ni TJ, doon ko lang na realize na isa yong earpiece at walkie-talkie.

Mas mabilis na umalis si Allan kaysa dumating. Tinitigan ko siya na tumatakbo paakyat sa hagdanan. Hindi ko siya kilala, nakikita ko lang siya paminsan minsan at usually masama ang tingin niya sa akin, pero sana hindi siya mamatay.

"Right in my fucking ear?" TJ chuckles at bumalik sa kanya ang tingin ko.

Taka akong tumingin sa kanya at umiling lang siya, mouthing 'Hera and Sky'.

"This is Alpha One speaking to all agents, everyone keeps a lookout for the lurker. He'll be here somewhere. Over." Salita ni TJ sa radyo nang bumalik kami sa galaw. He wasn't talking to me but to the people listening on the other side.

We ran down the stairs, TJ holding my arm tightly as he ducked and kicked people away.

There were no people around when we arrived at the lowest deck. Hinila niya ako papunta sa likod ng yate kung saan may jetski na nakatali.

"Go, Hope." He pushed me toward it, but before I could climb, may narinig akong kasa ng baril.

"Put your weapons down or I'll shoot her."

Nanigas ako at napalingon ng dahan dahan.

I locked eyes with a man.

Matanda na siya pero maskulado. Mas maliit siya kaysa kay TJ, at ang kanyang hugis-bilog na ulo ay nagdadala ng kanyang matangos na ilong, maliliit na mata, makapal na labi, at isang balbas na halos tatlong pulgada.

"Kodomo."

Ang accent niya ay nagbigay sa akin ng clue kung saan siya nanggaling.

"Why are you leaving? The fun is about to start." Diniin niya ang baril sa likod ng ulo ni TJ nang matapos nitong mailagay sa lapag ang kanyang baril.

Lumingon ako sa kaibigan kong ngumiti.

"I wanted some alone time with her. Can't blame my dick when it's hungry."

Kinabahan ako sa sagot ni TJ. How can he joke like that when a gun is pointed at his head? He can't even turn around!

"Please... let us go." Lumingon sa akin si TJ, sumimangot sa pagmamakaawa ko.

Onting galaw lang ng ulo niya ay mas diniin agad ng lalake ang kanyang baril kaya napasinghap ako. Lumipat ang tingin niya sa akin at hinagod ang tingin taas baba, "Follow me, and I'll spare him."

Ngumiti siya sa akin, and not an ounce of my body believed he meant that.

"Okay." I walked closer.

"You sound like you're in charge." TJ interrupts and I stop.

Tumawa ang lalake, "I am."

"Good to know... He's here." TJ made eye contact with me. Huli ko nang napagtantong para sa iba ang huli niyang sinabi, dahil may bala na dumaan na tumama sa kamay ng lalake.

"Kuso!"

May bala uling lumipad at nanlaki ang mata ko nung muntikan na ako matamaan sa ulo.

"Fuck, are you still drunk Hera?!" TJ shouts as he pushes me back towards the jet ski.

Hera got out of her hiding spot while the guy ran to take cover, grabbing his gun from the floor with his uninjured hand.

Pumwesto si James sa harap ko at mabilisan niyang binuksan ang ignition. I hugged him tightly, and gravity almost pushed me out of my seat when he stepped on the throttle hard.

Moonlight glared at us as the ocean slapped our faces.

Nakayakap lang ako sa kanya nang kinuha niya ang walkie-talkie habang hawak ng kanan niyang kamay ang handle bar.

"Alpha One to base. I'm taking a civilian down to safety, over." He clicks again. "Zeus, you better bring your team back alive, over."

The moment he was done talking biglang may dumaplis na bala sa gilid namin at napasigaw ako sa gulat. It landed on the water but it was still close.

Paglingon ko sa likod, may isang jetski na sumusunod. "Sumusunod siya!"

"Hope, climb on me." Hinawakan niya ang bewang ko. "Dito ka sa harap."

Sumunod agad ako, no questions asked. Adrenaline runs in my veins as I hold him, and he swings me to straddle his body.

Naramdaman kong kinuha niya ang baril sa likod ko at iniliko niya ng bahagya ang pagtakbo para mabaril niya ang humahabol sa amin.

Malapit na ako sumigaw sa frustration at takot nang makita ang pangatlong jetski na sumunod. But then I saw Hera's silver hair in the wind and with her was Kuya Jupiter, holding a gun. I breathed a sigh of relief.

When TJ noticed them, he straightened our course to leave.

But then the sound of a gun firing toward us echoed across the ocean, and it didn't miss.

ᕙ(⇀‸↼‶)ᕗ