Dark Magic

22. Running Star

My feet tremble. I can feel the chill on my toes. The soil's texture kissing the soles almost disappearing as my body becomes nervous and fidgety. Fear has engulfed my senses.

Sinubukan kong tumakbo palayo. I almost sprint just to get away from the dark sorcerer. Ilang metro pa lang ang nilalakbay ng mga paa ko'y biglang bumulusok ang tila isang kometang binabalot ng liwanag patungo sa akin. Tinamaan ako ng tila isang batong nababalot ng tinik at apoy. Sapul ang kanang binti ko kaya halos mangisay ako sa kinatatayuan.

"You can't get away from a dark sorcerer, Stella," dinig kong sambit ng binatilyong boses. His tone seems like he's certain about what he says. Ramdam ko ang presensya nito sa aking likuran.

I fall on my knees. He hit me again with a blazing dark fireball, this time on my left leg. I grunt in pain, almost breaking my teeth. A salt of sweat and rusty iron-like blood drain from my body randomly. It's like an amountof energy is getting into waste because of my present condition. Halos ngumawa ako sa sobrang sakit.

Instantaneously, my body begins its coping mechanism. Like what it normally does. I feel my flesh move as if starting to regenerate the broken tissues on both legs. There is a slight feeling of tingle when muscles slacken as my wounded parts begin to heal. The strength of my legs is doubled. The pain is gone.

I know he's been watching the healing and regenerating process. He wants to witness it with his dark bare eyes. "We really need that power. The celestial vessel dark magic has been waiting for fifty years."

Nilingon ko ang lalaki. Nakangisi ang mapula nitong labi na tinatamaan ng liwanag ng buwan. He stands there, infront of me, staring at my every move. He looks young but already powerful with his physique.

"Surrender yourself and all of those you care in this life will be spared," he continues to speak. Not moving. Determined. Formidable.

My body begins to feel adrenaline, tension, strain, and rush. Alam kong ang mga susunod na sandali ay ang gugustuhin kong mangyari tuwing naiipit ako sa ganitong sitwasyon. This is the right moment. My joints start to tighten, my muscles firming, and my senses alert.

Kasabay ng pag-usbong ng mga bola ng itim na apoy sa mga kamay ng estranghero, nagsimulang gumalaw ang aking katawan. Isang malakas na lundag ang hindi ko inaasahang gagawin ng katawan ko. Ilang metro ang nagawa ko para makalayo sa kinatatayuan ng lalaki.

Okay, Stella. Run as fast as you can!

I tighten my grip as I ran past the huge tree trunks and tall weeds. My eyes can clearly see every clear path. Every trail of feet is followed by dark and purple blasts. There seems to have a rain of dark and purple drops in the ebony forest.

The moon witnesses my struggle escaping the dark sorcerer. I stumble, many times, but my body does not falter. This is not the time I quit. People may see me as a fragile and innocent deadlock but that doesn't make me less of a survivor. My parents never raised a loser. I may not know how to throw knives and punches, cast spells, and hunt enemies but my inner strength is intact. I am stronger than anyone's judgment.

Hindi ako susuko. Iniisip ko pa lang ang magiging reaksyon ng mga magulang ko kapag nawala na ako, nawawasak na ang dibdib ko. I can't be the reason of their heartbreak. Kaya kung kinakailangang madurog ang paa ko kakatakbo para lang makaiwas sa panganib, gagawin ko!

Muling kumislap sa madilim na kagubatan ang paparating na fireball. Kung matalas ang paningin at pandinig ko dahil sa reaksyon ng katawan ko sa panganib, tingin ko'y doble ang talas ng pandama, paningin at pandinig ng estranghero dahil alam nito kung nasaan ako. Dumausdos ako sa damuhan nang mapansin kong tatamaan ako ng dark fireball ng kalaban. Sumabog ang itim na enerhiya nang tumama ito sa isang malaking punongkahoy dahilan para maputol ito.

The breaking tree trunk created a slight noise in the forest. Leaves and branches rustle and crumble as the broken tree falls in the middle of darkness. I wish sir Ferns and the rest of the deadlocks notice the disturbing noise. I wish...

Muli akong bumangon nang mapagtanto kong hindi ako babagsakan ng mga malalaking sanga. Ramdam ko ang mainit na dugong dumadaloy sa binti ko pero alam kong pansamantala lang ang sugat. Tumakbo akong muli. Hinahampas ng mga sanga at dahon ang katawan at mukha ko. I can feel every cut of a sharp twig on my face, shoulders, arms and legs. Nagkalasug-lasog na ang kasuotan ko. Nagpatuloy ako sa pagtakas. I can't be captured.

Hindi naman tumigil ang pag-ulan at paghabol ng mga itim na enerhiya saakin. Mukhang desidido ang kalaban na huliin ako. Desidido na akong lumiko sa kanan para tuluyang makapasok sa mas masukal na bahagi ng kagubatan nang biglang bumulaga saakin ang nakakabulag na fireball.

He got me!

Napaigtad ako at sinubukang umilag pero huli na para gawin iyon. The fireball is going to hit me.

Kailangan kong umiwas! Untag ng utak ko. Pero tatamaan pa rin ako kahit na subukan kong umilag.

Padapa na ako sa lupa para kahit papaano'y hindi masyadong mapinsala ang aking katawan nang bigla na lang isang bulto ng matikas na lalaki ang humarang sa aking harapan. His arms pulled me towards his warm body and he shielded me entirely against the strong dark fireball. I automatically recognize him as I smell his masculine scent. His warmth envelopes my shaking body. Then both of us gleam like we never did before.

Nakadikit ang mukha ko sa matipunong dibdin nito nang maramdaman ko at marinig ang malakas na pagsabog sa likuran ng lalaki.

He grunts heavily while hugging me tightly. Hearing him, I know who comes to rescue me.

It's Chase Roan Santi.

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