I have been running, hiding and fighting my whole life. Now that I have the chance to end all that have cause my serenity and happiness, would I do it even if it would kill the only love I have?
Sa sitwasyong kinalalagyan ko, mistulang isa akong bilanggo na nakataling patiwarik sa pising malapit nang mapigtas. Isang maling galaw ko lang ay maaaring maging katapusan na ng lahat. I had to make my move. My decision. Probably the most painful decision I have ever made my entire life.
Yumakap ako kay Alec. He kissed the top of my head and wrapped me around his arms. "I always thought we'll never be in this situation right now Allison." He sobbed as his hands cupped my face. His face bearing the agony in his heart. "But you know what, I always consider myself so lucky. So, so lucky to have met someone like you. Someone who's so hard to say goodbye to."
Humikbi ako sa dibdib ni Alec. Hindi ko alam kung magkikita pa kami pagkatapos ng annihilation. Hiniling ko na sana ay hindi totoong mamamatay lahat ng mga non-alius sa gagawin ko. Kahit na ilang beses na ring sinabi sa journal ni amang Lucas na ang kamatayan ng core kasama ng mga channels nito o ang Deathbound ang magiging susi sa katapusan ng Delta, hiniling ko pa rin na sana ay mabuhay ako at ang mga channels at si Alec. Maninirahan kami ng mapayapa sa Alpha ng walang takot at pangamba. "Why is it so painful Alec? Why is it so painful saying goodbye to you. Is it because we'll never see each other again?"
"Shhhh," he put his finger on my lips. His gaze locked mine. "If you live, please try to forget me and move on with your life. That is my only wish Allison."
"You knew?" nalilito kong tanong sa kanya.
"I knew since the first day I step on the land of Delta. That a part of me was genetically reinvented by the Alpha and one day my end will come. I never thought that the end they were referring was the one who could give my life a meaningful beginning --you" He's perfunctory as he laughed. "Life is an irony. It's ironic that it took me one girl to start a new life and the same girl to end what I have started."
"What shall I do Alec? Nalilito ako."
"Don't be." He gently brushed the back of his hand against my cheek. "This is our fate. And fate will find a way if it is meant for us. Do what you have to do. I will always be right beside you even if I'm gone. In either flesh or spirit I will forever be with you." Niyakap ako nito. Naramdaman ko ang marahang paghaplos nito sa buhok ko. His arms wrapped around me so tight. I wished this was all but a dream. The annihilation was a dream.
His arms let go of me. Reality started climbing my back and it felt heavy.
Alec's hands were covering half of his face as he cried so loud. So loud that the sound of it pierced through my dying chest.
"Ali," tawag saakin ni Charles. Nakahanda na ang mga channels para sa annihilation. "You are to stand on the center of the circular platform. The annihilation will consume you. Use the nostrum inside if you ran out of energy. That's been the purpose of it afterall. Do as what is being told on the journal."
The journal. Everything was written on the journal. I found no loophole with the annihilation. It was perfectly planned and crafted. It's inescapable. Mula sa paglikha sa deportation area hanggang sa pagtatalaga sa mga channels. Sa oras na tumuntong ako sa sentro ng bilog na platform na 'yon ay magsisimula na ang Deathbound. Magiging katapusan na ng Delta kasama ang mga non-alius--that includes Alec.
The deportation circle has one large circular shape made of silver and a smaller round shape that's made of black plate o metal. Nakapalibot sa black circular plate na 'yon ang lima pang round plates na gawa naman sa pilak. Nakatayo na doon sina Quattro, Charles, ang kambal na Russell at Rachelle at si Gena o ang White Rose. They were all waiting for me. Their eyes were telling me, they're ready for the annihilation whatever it may cause them --even their life it it may. They have easily accepted their destiny as a channel. I wish I could do the same.
Humakbang ako palapit sa circular platform. Nagsimula nang uminit ang gilid ng mga mata ko. Ilang metro bago ako makapasok sa mas malaking circular layer ng platform ay tumakbo palapit saakin sina Brit at Zia kasunod sina Sheryl, Allen at Reid. The kids were crying but Allen and princess Kristell managed to take them. General Rumac tapped my back and gave me a condoling stare. Nayakap din ako ni Reid na naluluha at ni Souk na hindi na napigilang umiyak.
"It's been a pleasure fighting with you Allison," Souk sadly uttered as she wiped her tears.
Humagulgol naman si Sheryl habang pahigpit na pahigpit na yumakap saakin. I know how painful it is for her to let go of me especially that she has considered me as her sister. "Ate, please live. Please..."
"I wish I could Sheryl. I wish I could. If I do not manage to survive this annihilation, can you promise me to take care of the kids. Look after them. Protect them from any harm?"
Tumango si Sheryl saka muling yumakap. "I promise."
"Allison," muling tawag ni Charles mula sa platform. May lungkot sa boses ng binatang prinsipe na marahil ay naiintindihan din ang pagluluksa ng karamihan.
Humakbang ako pasulong nang tuluyan nang kumawala ang umiiyak na si Sheryl mula sa aking yakap. Pakiramdam ko'y bumibigat ang mga binti ko habang papalapit ako ng papalapit sa platform. My chest. My chest can no longer feel pain as it was choked by the sorrow and lament that lingered inside it. Sinubukan kong bumuga ng hangin para maibsan ang paninikip ng dibdib ko pero walang nangyari.
Isang hakbang bago ako tuluyang makapasok sa unang layer ng circular area ay humarang saakin ang isang bulto ng lalaking nakasuot ng itim na jacket. Bagsak ang mga balikat nitong humarap saakin.
His scent told me it was Levi. Malungkot ang mga mata nitong nakatitig saakin nang tanawin ko siya. His hands managed to hold my shoulders. I felt his heavy breathing on my face. "I will ask you once Allison, are you sure you are doing this?"
Napapikit ng mariin ang mga mata ko. Alam kong sa oras na ibigay ko sa kanya ang desisyon ko'y wala na itong magagawa kundi sundin iyon. Nang imulat ko ang mga mata ko'y nakayuko ito at nakapikit ang mga mata. "This is what should be done Levi. For the kids. For your father. For the greater good." Napaawang ang mga labi ko. I heaved a heavy breathing. "I am sorry I broke your heart. I'm so sorry."
"It's still broken Allison. It was never your fault for loving Alec." He twitched his lips as he began to cry again. A tear fell from his left eye and rolled down his handsome cheeks. "I admit you broke my heart once... Now you're crushing it and that leaves me nothing but pain"
I wept then whispered, "Please take care of the kids."
He released a deep sigh. Then he let go of my shoulders and step aside making way for me. To my death. "I will." He said shortly.
Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ko bago ako humakbang papasok ng circular platform. Pagdapo ng mga paa ko sa bilog na metal na 'yon ay kuminang ang mga bahagi nito na parang isang makinang biglang nagkabuhay dahil sa kuryente. Seryosong nakatingin saakin ang mga channels. Naramdaman ko ang paghigop ng lupa sa kalamnan ko lalo na nang makapasok ako sa ikalawang circular layer.
Gumapang ang mga kuryente sa paligid ng platform. Tuluyang nagliwanag ang bawat bahagi ng deportation area. Nagmistulang isang malaking makina ang mga metal na bahagi ng deportation area. Lumindol ng bahagya kahit hindi pa man ako nakakadapo sa dark plate na nasa sentro ng platform.
The channels started feeling heavy as I started taking steps towards the center. Nagulat ang lahat nang hilain ng circular plate na kinatatayuan ni Rachelle ang kakambal nitong si Russell. The circular plate made the twin share one silver plate leaving one plate vacant. Nagsimulang umugong ang platform na parang isang makinaryang pinagana ng malakas na enerhiya.
Electric codes started crawling from Quattro's spot. Mistulang isang blueprint ang lumabas mula rito. Mula naman sa kinatatayuan ni White rose ay nagsimulang tumubo ang mga pader na gawa sa salamin. The glass wall reflected all the channels. The twins released an energy that created a strong foundation of the structure that's slowly being built. Charles shared his part as a clump of wires came out from his head. The wires crawled upwards until it reached the ceiling of the structure. A huge bulb appeared on the center of the ceiling that lighted the whole circular platform.
All of us looked at the blank silver plate. Mukhang kulang ng isang channel. But who could it be?
"Kulang ng isang channel! P-pero imposible! Wala na akong maramdamang ibang channel kundi tayo lang!" bulalas ni Charles.
"I cannot feel another channel's presence as well," White Rose confessed.
The rest remained quiet. It was a confirmation that no one can feel the link to the missing channel.
"Stop them!" isang boses ang umagaw sa atensyon ng lahat. Nang lingunin namin ang pinaggagalingan nito'y tumambad saamin ang army ni Florina. "Stop them or we all die!" pag-uulit nito.
Mabilis na humarang si Allen sa mga papasugod na alius. Mukhang wala na kaming kawala. Kahit na mapatay nilang lahat ang mga alius na 'yon ay bubuhayin parin sila ni Florina hanggang sa maubos na lahat ng lakas namin. Mukhang wala na rin kaming panahon para hanapin ang nawawalang channel.
"Allison, keep the energy running! The circular platform will pull the hidden channel. I swear! I am so sure!" untag ni Charles na nagsisimula nang pagpawisan.
Nabahala ako sa sitwasyon. Nakatingin ako kina Levi na abalang pinipigilan ang pagsugod ng mga kalaban. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Magkahalong kaba at takot ang naramdaman ko para sa lahat.
"Make it work Allison!" bulong ni Quattro.
"Try it Allison," Rachelle mentioned.
Huminga ako ng malalim. Kasabay ng pagwawala nina Allen, Levi, Alec, Souk, Reid at Heneral Rumac ay mabilis akong umapak sa pinakasentro ng platform. Muling umilaw ang buong deportation area. Sabay-sabay na naghiyawan ang mga channels sa paligid. Ramdam ko ang sakit nanararamdaman nila. Ilang segundo ang lumipas pero walang hidden channel ang nagpakita. I grasped a hard grip and stomped the dark plate where I stood. Nagpakawala iyon ng isang malakas na kuryente na gumapang sa buong deportation area.
Allen released another rogue attack. Levi tripled the electric ribbons surrounding him managed to throw it against the enemies. Alec has nine huge stone giants beside him. Sabay-sabay silang umaatake sa para maitaboy ang mga kalaban.
Sa gitna ng kaguluhan, isang maliliit na yapak ang biglang lumapit sa circular platform. Pakiramdam ko'y namalik-mata ako kaya kumurap ako ng ilang beses. Halos yanigin ang buo kong pagkatao nang mamataan ko si Brittany na wala sa sariling naglakad palapit sa bakanteng silver plate.
"Brittany, Brittany no! No!" Sinubukan kong lapitan ito at itaboy mula sa platform pero hinila ako ng malakas na gravitational pull mula sa kinatatayuan ko. Nanginginig ang lahat ng kalamnan ko nang tuluyan nang nakaapak ang bata sa mismong silver plate.
"It's okay Allison, I can always protect myself", kalmadong sabi ng bata habang nakatanaw saakin. Tila kinompleto nito ang proseso ng pagbuo ng isang structure kasama ang iba pang channels. All the energy flowing around us seemed synchronize.
"Brittany! No! Allison please stop her!" narinig ko mula sa di kalayuan si princess Kristell. Luhaan ito habang pinipigilang makalapit ni Allen. "Allison! She's just a kid! Please! Oh noh!" histerikal nitong sigaw na halos magkandarapa na sa lupa.
Wala akong nagawa kundi hayaang tumulo ang mga luha sa pisngi ko. I have betrayed a kid! Oh no Brittany! No! No. No. She was undetected from the very start. She is the shield afterall. Pero bakit kailangang siya pa ang ikalimang channel? Bakit kailangang ngayon ko pa malalamang bahagi siya ng annihilation? I cannot do this to her? Hindi ko pwedeng isakripisyo ang buhay ng isang inosenteng katulad niya!
"Allison," Charles called me. His tone full of lament. "I know this is very shocking and it is a very hard situation; but trust me. She was turned the sixth channel for a purpose. Trust General Carlisle's plan. She will live. Trust me." I almost trusted Charles' words. Almost. Hindi pa rin matanggal saakin ang mag-alala. Nothing is sure about everything since the annihilation never happened. No living record or proof could show me that every plan would work. How can I remain calm if everything seem so unsure?
"Papa Lucas told me I am going to save the world one day Allison, I think this is the right time." Masuyong sambit ni Brittany saakin. Her innocent gaze made me feel guilty but at the back of my head, maybe it's all true.
"Allison, do it. Do it before the rest of your friends get killed!" babala ni Charles. "Stomp the plate and consume our energy or we all die!"
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