Dark Fairytale (A Published Book Soon)

Chapter 21: Halloween Monsters

Chapter 21: Halloween Monsters

October 31st. I almost jumped as the clock struck midnight. I smiled to myself as I turned the alarm sound of my phone off. It was funny how the hands of the clock could determine how many years I had lived my life in this world – and that if I stop breathing, it wouldn't waste a second to look back at me. Nevertheless, I was glad that I'm finally eighteen years old.

"Happy birthday," bati ni Declan sa kaniyang baritonong tinig.

Kasalukuyan siyang nakaupo sa couch na malapit sa aking bookshelves at nagbabasa. Simula nang mangyari ang insidente sa school laboratory ay halos hindi na siya nawala sa aking paningin. Miss Bailey was dead on arrival. Ayon sa imbestigasyon ay may ginagawang experiment ang guro nang madulas at magkaroon ng critical wound sa ulo. Naging dahilan iyon ng pagsabog at sunog na agad rin naagapan dahil sa atensyong nakuha ko sa pagbasag ng bintana. Isinugod rin ako sa ospital dahil sa galos at pagkakalanghap ng maraming usok. Sa kahilingan ni Declan ay sinabi kong tumalon akong mag-isa sa bintana kung saan pinagtulungan akong saluhin nina Lev at Forest. Kakatwa man ay sumang-ayon naman ang dalawa – well, Forest demanded for a jar of cookies in return. Hindi na nila ako isinama pa sa imbestigasyon at kung may katanungan naman sila ay siniguro ni Uncle William na ang mga abogado ng pamilya namin ang sasagot. He didn't want the name of Devereaux to be dragged in cases like this. At isa pa, naniniwala silang nasa maling lugar at oras lang ako nang mga panahong iyon. Nang igiit ko naman ang biglaang pagkaka-lock ng pinto at maiksing school alarm ay siniguro nilang isa iyong teknikal na pagkakamali at pananagutan ng paaralan. Halos lahat sila ay naniniwalang aksidente lang ang lahat at kung papipiliin ako ay mas gugustuhin kong iyon na lang ang paniwalaan. Subalit iba ang kutob ni Detective Penber nang bisitahin ako sa ospital at binalaan na mag-ingat hangga't hindi pa sumasapit ang aking kaarawan. And now that it's October 31st, I felt like I could finally breathe.

"Mamayang gabi pa makakarating si Forest. I guess we can just have dinner and night swimming after that," nakangiti kong wika kay Declan.

A visit to the dungeon of monsters. Iyan ang eksaktong sinabi ni Forest nang sabihin niyang sa gabi na lang namin i-celebrate ang birthday ko. Dahil kung hindi raw niya gagawin ang mahalagang bagay na iyon ay baka ang mga monsters daw ang bumisita sa kaniya at hindi namin iyon gugustuhin. Ofcourse, I didn't believe her! Inisip ko na lang na iyon yung paraan niya para sabihin na may mahalaga pa siyang bagay na kailangang gawin. Hindi naman tumutol sina Lev at Declan. Siguro ay tulad ni Forest, may mga ginagawa rin sila tuwing Halloween. I didn't mind it. They promised that they will be with me at night and that was enough for me. Maybe, I had gotten used to dealing with the creatures of darkness.

Declan shifted uncomfortably on his seat. "Can I just bring this book and read by the poolside? I'm not really in the mood for swimming."

The nights were colder these days so I understand if he refused to swim. At isa pa, si Forest lang talaga ang gustong-gusto na gamitin ang pool. Bakit nga ba hindi ko naisip ang group book reading as a way to celebrate? It would make me feel as if more characters are invited on my birthday. I could surely find a great read for this day. But then, Forest and Lev might object against it. They might really go for vampires and witches instead if I told them about this.

"Or you can bring that book home and finish reading it before dusk. I'm going to be okay, Declan. Aksidente lang ang nangyari sa school laboratory."