Crownless Queen

Chapter 36: The Root of Evil

They say I don't drive well, so I'll prove it. I smiled when I saw Raven hurriedly come to pick up my body. Good thing I have him.

Hindi ako marunong magmaneho ng sasakyan pero nagawa kong pa itong pihitin patalikod. Mas lalong lumawak ang ngisi ko nang makita ang mga sasakyan na nasa harapan ko ngayon. I didn't hesitate to step on the gas and bumped every vehicle in front of me.

Sakto may ilog rito, kaya isa-isa kong binunggo ang mga sasakyan pababa. I can't help but laugh when I hear every vehicle crashing on the water. Nang maubos na silang lahat, sinugod ko ang ilog at napasinghap ako nang makabalik ako sa tunay kong katawan.

I nearly screamed when I felt the pain I got from falling on the road. Sinalubong ako ng nag-aalalang si Raven.

"Don't do that again," he said and ruffled my hair. Napapikit ako sa inis dahil puro sugat ang binti ko.

Nang paandarin niya na muli ang motor ay sumulyap ako sa likuran. Napanatag ang loob ko nang makitang wala ng sumusunod sa amin. The place became much more familiar and the engine stopped in front of a house-his home.

Bumaba kaagad ako at muntik pa ako matapilok dahil biglang nasira ang heels ko. I just groaned and threw it away. Now I am barefooted and it feels weird to step on rough surfaces.

"Shit," he cursed and quickly ran inside his house. Napakunot naman ang noo ko nang mapansing nakabukas ang gate ng bahay nila at sira-sira ang mga halaman sa garden.

I quickly followed him and I nearly screamed when I saw a lifeless man lying on the floor. But my eyes widened when I saw Raven's knees fall on the floor while looking at the man.

Narito ako sa pintuan ngayon at kumakabog ang puso ko ngayon. Every single thing inside this room is scattered.

Sino... ang gumawa nito?

Raven hurriedly went near the man. Napansin kong may pagkakapareho sila ng itsura at napagtanto kong tama nga ang nasa isip ko. It was his dad.

Napahawak ako sa bibig ko nang makitang tinahi pa ang bibig nito. His eyes were still opened and it creeped me out. Whoever did this is brutal, this is unforgivable. Ayaw kong makakita ng mga patay dahil may naaalala ako tuwing nakakakita nito.

"Raven..." I called but he was just hugging his dad. I heard him sobbing so I decided to approach him and pulled the edge of his shirt. Sumasakit ang dibdib ko tuwing naririnig ang mga hikbi niya. It hurts to see the one you love the most crying while you can't do a thing to ease their pain.

"I know it's hard, but everything will be okay. Just hold on," I comforted him and hugged him from behind. I am aware that I suck at comforting people, but I want to help them ease the pain that they are feeling. Just right now.

I've never seen him cry like this in my life, ngayon lang. Lumayo ako nang dahan-dahan siyang tumayo. His eyes were bloodshot while he is wiping off his tears.

"I don't know anymore..." bulong niya at niyakap ako. Niyakap ko siya nang mahigpit habang hinahagod ang likuran niya.

"What do you mean?" tanong ko pero nanigas ang katawan ko nang makarinig ng mga kaluskos mula sa paligid ng bahay nila.

Kumalas ako sa pagkakayakap at naging alerto sa paligid. I heard Raven cursed and I could feel his heart beating so loud because of the deadly silence embracing us.

"Shit. They're here," his voice trailed off. "They're everywhere," he said that made me raise my guard up. I saw him wipe tears from his eyes and that made me feel worried.

But then my body suddenly became more stiffened when I heard the glass shattered and a strange smoke appeared in front of us! Nataranta ako nang bigla akong hilahin ni Raven papunta sa likuran ng bahay nila. We kept on running and entered a very dark room.

"Can you run?" tanong niya nang isara niya ang pinto, at natahimik ako habang tinitignan ang laylayan ng dress ko. It is too fucking hard to run with these.

"I'm not sure about that," sabi ko at mabilis na pinunit ang laylayan ng dress ko.

Hanggang binti ko nalang ito at tinapik ko ang balikat niya bilang senyas na maaari na kaming lumabas. We quickly ran outside, not until we saw a group of men in front of us. Raven muttered so many curses while I am still dumbfounded.

I tried to cast my ability to stop them, but it didn't work!

"This is no use. Tumakas na tayo!" taranta kong sabi at tumalikod pero nanlamig ako nang makitang mas maraming tao ang nandito. All of them were aiming their guns at us. I was panting but Raven clasped our hands together and held it tight. Both of our hands were so cold and I can feel him shaking.

"Don't move if you don't want to die yet!"

Natigilan kami nang makarinig ng tinig mula sa likuran ng grupo ng kalalakihan sa aming harapan. They immediately moved aside and there I saw a man who I've seen before. I jaw nearly dropped when I recognized his face, and voice.

The man who approached me in the park. It was the man who hosted the game I participated in-the Land of Imperials, who kept on looking at me.

"Artemis... The Queen of Ace, that's what they call you, right?" he asked and a smirk crossed upon his face.

Nakasuot siya ng kulay itim na tuxedo habang ang mahaba niyang kulay itim na buhok ay nakatali sa likuran. He's wearing black shades so I can't fully see his eyes, but I'm pretty sure his eyes speak evil. I gritted my teeth and had the urge to punch him, but Raven pulled me back.

"You asshole!" I screamed and it echoed around the whole area. He laughed like a maniac, as if there was something funny.

"You're the daughter of Twilight, right?" he mentioned and that made me much more furious.

"How dare you say my Mother's name! Who the fuck are you?!" I said and all I know is that I am fueled by rage. I can slaughter him in an instance, only if I can. Mas humalakhak pa ito sa sinabi ko at hindi ko na mapigilan pa ang galit na nararamdaman ko ngayon.

He smirked. "Me?"

"I am Night, and I am the brother of your mother named Twilight," he said before my vision went blurry when a needle was buried into my skin.