Claiming Her

Forty.

His POV

I cradled her in my hands and called for Julia, "Call 911 quick."

Julia helped me carry Kathryn before letting go as we exited.

Until we heard a gun shot.

"The show just got better."

It never is easy.

"Lester, please saktan mo na ako pero kailangan madala si Kathryn sa ospital. Parang awa mo na." I begged while still holding her in my arms.

Lester pointed his gun towards Kathryn and I.

“Ibababa mo si Kathryn o babarilin ko kayo!”

I complied, slowly, and carefully setting her down.

"Madali ka naman pala kausap eh." Lester's said in a snarky tone.

Author's POV

Lester moved closer, over to Daniel and pressed the gun, point blank against Daniel's temple.

"Ang dali dali mo ng patayin ngayon, Padilla. Pero masyadong madali. Masyadong mabilis ang sakit. Luhod." Daniel could only concentrat on Kathryn before averting his gaze and looking into Lester's eyes.

He used the gun's hilt to hit Daniel in the back of the head and said, "Sinabi na kasing luhod ayaw pa."

"Lester, bakit mo to ginagawa?" Daniel asked while clutching the back of his head, kneeling.

"Tangina, Daniel. Hanggang ngayon hindi mo parin ba naiintindihan?" He yelled.

"Na ano ha? Na nagseselos ka? Simula ba noon may gusto ka na kay, Natasha?" Daniel challenged the already psychotic Lester who could only laugh at the latter's remark.

"Tanga ka talaga, Padilla. Kung gusto ko si Natasha hindi ko hahayaan madisgrasya siya, pero ako pa nga may pakana diba?"

"Bakit nga, BAKIT?!"

"KASI SINIRA MO ANG BUHAY NI JC! SINIRA MO ANG BUHAY NIYA!" Lester pointed at Daniel's thighs before shooting two bullets into it.

"AH!! Fuck!!" Daniel screamed in agony while clutching his now bleeding leg.

"Namatay siya, namatay siya ng malungkot. Namatay siya dahil sa'yo!" Lester then shot him in the other leg.

"Fuck! Akala mo— AHHH!! Ginusto ko yun? AHH! Masakit din sakin!!" Daniel's voice could only get louder as he spoke due to his bleeding legs.

"Masakit ba, Daniel? Masakit ba? KULANG PA YAN!"  Lester said before finally pointing the gun at Kathry .

"Lester– AH!! W—ag. Pa-ran-g aw-a mo n—a." Daniel begged.

"Bakit ayaw mong mamatay ang pinaka mamahal mong si Kathryn? Ha?" Lester cocked the gun and continued, "Any last words before she dies, oh wait. They pala."

Lester's smile was sinister, he's become unhinged.

Daniel could only close his eyes, until he heard a gun shot. He cried with his eyes closed.

How can this happen? He asked himself.

Hindi ako maluhong tao, lahat ng gusto ko pinaghirapan ko, pero si Kathryn. Hindi ko lang siya gusto. Mahal ko siya. She's the love of my life. She's my miracle. He continued crying while blaming himself.

"Lester, tama na!!!"

It was Julia, her voice shaked as she said that. It was Julia who shot in the air, not Lester.

"Oh if it isn't my lovely opponent. Care to join me?" Lester said invitingly.

"Pag pinutok mo yan sisiguraduhin kong sabay kayo ni Kathryn na mamamatay. Pero hindi kayo sabay aakyat kasi sisiguraduhin kong masusunog ang kaluluwa mo." Julia said, challenging Lester.

"Wag kang magpanggap na anghel, Barreto. Alam natin pareho na sama-sama tayong magiging kampon ng demonyo at ang pagpatay sakin? Sigurado kang hindi yan ang one way pass mo sa impyerno?" Lester called her bluff.

"Wala na akong pakielam. Hindi na ako makikinig sa'yo. Gusto ko ng gawin yung tama." Julia's eyed watered as her faux courage left her body. But she still clutched the gun in her hands, shaking a bit while pointing it towards Lester.

"I guess this is goodbye for all of us." Lester placed a finger on his trigger and counted, "ISA. DALAWA."

"Lester."

Lester turned at the voice who called him.

"JC?" They all turned to who wa speaking.

A person entered into their view; a person who they all thought was dead— JC.

"Ano to?" JC asked, disappointed at Lester.

"Buhay ka, paano? Nakita ko bangkay mo." Lester fell to his knees as he said.

"May gustong pumatay sa'kin." He answered.

"KUYA?" JC turned to see Daniel bathed in blood to which he took out his phone to call an emergency hotline, "Emergency. Percy St. Abandoned Building 4th avenue." He then ran to his brother on the floor, kneeling and holding hin close. He turned to lester and said angrily, "ANONG GINAWA MO LESTER?!"

"Lester, tapos na ba? Wala nangg sulat na hindi nakabukas dito baka pwe—" It was Kelly, she stopped in her tracks and from speaking as she saw JC.

Julia rushed Kelly and took the box kof letters from her.

"Bu-buhay ka?" Kelly's voice cracked.

"Mga sulat to galing sa'yo, bago ka mamatay." Julia said as she walked over to JC.

"May naglalaro satin, sating lahat at hi—"

Gunshot.

JC fell to the ground as his head bled.