The Star Caster

Five - The Academy

   We've been walking for ages and until now, we're still here in the forest.

"Malapit na ba tayo?" pang sampung beses ko na ata tong natanong. Pagod na ako, sumasakit na ang mga paa ko at nagugutom na din ako.
   Di ba sya nakakaramdam ng gutom?

"Malapit na." pang ilang beses niya narin nasagot yan.
"Alam mo ba talaga yung daan? Di ba tayo naliligaw?" Parang ilang kilometro na kasi ang layo ng nalakad namin.

   Bigla siyang tumigil sa paglalakad. Tumingin siya sakin ng may pangamba.

"May nararamdaman ka bang kakaiba?" tanong niya sakin. Parang wala naman. Maliban sa pagod na pagod na ako, wala na akong napapansin na iba.

"No." I answered confused.
"It's just that everytime I see that we're almost there, It starts all over again like a cycle with no ends." she answered and now observing the surroundings.

   Okay now that she mentioned, I realized It's true. Kaya pala halos pamilyar sa akin ang nilalakaran namin!

"Crystal, naamoy mo ba yun?" tanong ko sakanya. Bigla kasi akong may na-amoy, tinignan niya lang ako ng may pagtataka.
"Smells rotten." sabi ko, ang baho talaga.

   She gasped and then suddenly ice is creeping to where I'm standing. She held her hand up and something form from nowhere.

   It's long, almost from her head to her knee. It's head is a large snow flake, engraved perfectly but half is coated in snow and everything is made of ice... a scepter.

"Maghanda ka, may makakalaban tayong..." she trailed and glance at my back then spikes of ice were thrown at my side.
   When I looked back I saw a man with spikes at his chest and he looked up.

   His eyes is bloody red and he moved like he's been hit by a bus, he's limping. Blood and soil collides in his body.

"Zombie." I cried out and back out to stand near Crystal.

"Gamitin mo kapangyarihan mo Alyson wag kang lalabas sa-" hindi niya natapos ang sasabihin niya dahil biglang may tumatakbong zombie papunta sa amin.
   She threw spikes again and again to every zombies that comes out. It was endless. I can see Crystal is getting tired.

   I got to help her. I looked around and found a wood not far from me. Okay if only I could get that fast and be back on Crystal side.

"Here comes nothing." I said and run off letting my sandals step on the grass leaving the ice path that Crystal made.
   As soon as I left, I felt something is moving from where my feet were, a hand is making It's way out.

"AAAHHHH!" sigaw ko at matapang tinapakan ang kamay at tumakbo kung saan ang kahoy na nakita ko.
   Binalikan ko ang kamay na ngayon ay pati braso ay nakalabas pinagpapalo ko ito habang pinipigilan maka-akyat ito sa lupa.

"Alyson!" sigaw ni Crystal, agad ko naman siyang nilingon. "Umalis ka dyan! Bumalik ka dito sa yelo! Bilis!" pagu-udyat niya.

"Kaya ko to, tutulungan kitang-" hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko ng may narinig akong nagsalita.
"A-aly." the girl stammered. I step back.

"Cindy?" I gasped as I stared to my old classmate. Her short cut blonde hair is dirty with soil. Her green eyes from what I remembered is now red.

   Her sweet smile is now a wicked grimace wanting for flesh. Then she leaps on me and everything seems to slow down.
   I can see Crystal running for me but she's tired already, she seem to stop moving and stares at me with cold yet watery eyes.

   I looked back at Cindy who's still in the air and glared at her.

"You're dead and you'll stay dead." I hissed, and for the first time ever, I know what to do. I raised my hand and stop her from landing at me.