Immortal City

Chapter 44

"That's enough, Drake," Kaoru says in a menacing voice.

And as if on cue, the siren blares throughout the building.

It's as loud as before.

But not loud enough to drown the tension in the air.

Gulong-gulo na ako sa mga nangyayari. Sobrang bigat na ng nararamdaman ko at para akong hindi makahinga ng maayos. Agad pa itong nadagdagan nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng dormitory ng mga lalake at bumungad ang nag-aalalang si Kaven.

"C-Celestine..." he says, a mixture of surprise, worry, and fear that fills me with terror. "S-Something's wrong with Zairus."

And that's when I hear a scream coming from their room.

His scream.

Agad na nanlamig ang buong katawan ko. Dali-dali akong pumasok sa loob ng dormitory nila at doon ko nakita si Zairus sa kama niya na namimilipit sa sakit. I hear footsteps behind me, and we're all in shock of what's happening. All I can feel now is panic and fear.

It's happening.

"Z-Zairus..." Nanginginig akong lumapit sa kanya at hindi ko na mapigilan ang mga luha at hikbi ko.

His screams got louder, sounding more painful. His body is covered in red vein markings and his bright red eyes are open, but he doesn't seem to be aware of his surroundings. He's writhing in pain, and it's killing me to see him like this.

"W-What's happening to him?" kinakabahang tanong ni Xaniel habang si Van ay tulala lang din sa gulat.

"S-Someone call Teacher Sparks," natataranta kong sabi. Hindi nakatulong ang malakas na ingay ng siren na mas nagpapakaba sa akin. "R-Rina! C-Call her!"

But my innovative device is on my nightstand, away from me, and I'm panicking and shaking in so much fear and all I can feel is panic panic panic panic panic panic—

"I'm calling her," Kaven says.

"W-What's this?" rinig kong sabi ni Cenon mula sa pintuan, kararating lang. Sa likod niya ay si Lucienne at ang iba pa na puno ng takot ang mga mata.

"C-Celestine?" sabi ni Luna. "Anong n-nangyayari?"

"Oh my god," Lucienne says, her eyes full of fear.

They hesitantly go inside the room.

"Kaven, si Teacher Sparks?" I frantically ask.

"I-I'm trying..." he replies.

"Julien, do something!" sigaw ni Lucienne. "You can stop abilities, right?! Fix Zairus!"

Nag-aalangang umiling si Julien. "It w-won't work... I c-can't stop i-it—"

"Try!" sabay na sigaw ni Cenon at Lucienne.

Bakas sa mukha ni Julien ang magkahalong kaba at kasiguraduhan na wala siyang maitutulong. Pero sa kabila nito ay sumunod siya sa pakiusap at naging pula ang kanyang mga mata. The moment her eyes turned red, Zairus' screams got worse and the red markings on his body increased.

"Zairus!" sigaw ko, walang tigil ang mga luha sa pagpatak. "Please, please, please. Tell me what to do. What should I do?"

It's so loud.

The siren. His screams. My heartbeat. Their breathing.

My mind is turning blank in desperation. "Kaven, hindi mo pa ba natatawagan si Teacher Sparks?"