Chapter Fifteen: A Faulty Plan
What we're seeing right now is some serious shit.
Bakit nila kinukuha 'yung mga taong natutulog? Is this some kind of a dark scheme planned by the government? Papatulugin nila 'yung mga tao sa buong mundo tapos ia-abduct nila?
All this time I thought that there are only five of us left who are not affected by the mysterious syndrome. Tapos ngayon, may makikita kaming ganito. This is fucked up. Akala ko sa mga TV series lang nangyayari 'yung mga bagay na ganito.
"What are we going to do now?" Felicity asks nervously.
"We have to get out of this car," Holly answers. "I'm sure na titingnan din nila 'yung kotseng ito at kapag hindi tayo umalis dito kaagad, we're doomed."
Ian nods. "You're right."
"But how?" tanong ni Felicity. Sumilip siya sa labas ng bintana, sa direksyon kung nasaan 'yung tatlong lalaki. They're getting closer. "Siguradong makikita nila tayo once na lumabas tayo ng kotse na 'to."
"We need to move fast then," sabi ko. "With their size, siguradong mahihirapan sila na habulin tayo."
Not to mention the element of surprise. Kapag bigla kaming lumabas ng kotse at nanakbo nang mabilis, hindi agad sila makakakilos dahil sa gulat. Marahil ganito rin 'yung nangyari nu'ng sinusundan namin sila. Kaya nila kami pinaputukan ng baril ay dahil hindi nila in-expect na may mga taong gising bukod sa kanila.
Kung sakaling tama ako ng hinala, if this is some dark scheme conducted by our own government, then I will do everything that I can to stop them.
I just hope that my companions have a mindset like mine.
"But what about their guns? Hindi man nila tayo mahabol, pwedeng-pwede naman nila tayong barilin," Felicity states. "I'd rather be captured than shot to death. At least I still have a chance to escape."
She's right.
"Then tumakbo tayo sa iba't-ibang directions," Holly suggests. "That way, malilito sila kung sino 'yung babarilin nila."
I nod. "Good idea." Tiningnan ko sila isa-isa. "Are you guys ready?"
"Wait," biglang pigil ni Andre.
"What is it?" tanong ko.
He points a finger at Pauline, who is currently unconscious beside me. "What about Pauline? Hindi siya makakatakbo sa ganyang state."
Oh, right. I completely forgot about her.
"Someone needs to stay here and keep her safe," Ian says. "The rest of us will distract those guys para lumayo sila dito."
"I'll do it," presinta ni Andre. "You guys can go. I'll keep her safe."
I nod. Then tumingin ako kay Felicity, since she's the closest. "Kapag lumabas na tayo dito, we'll run off towards Oblivion."
She nods, her face full of nervousness and sheer determination.
I turn my gaze towards Ian and Holly. "Kayo naman, tumakbo kayo papunta sa likod ng Oblivion. I'm sure there's a back door there. Doon tayo magkita-kita."
"Got it," Ian agrees.
"Are you sure okay lang sa'yo na maiwan dito kasama si Pauline?" I ask Andre. This is the first big task we've given to him, and I'm kinda worried. He's not exactly the brave type.
"Of course," he answers, his voice tinged with determination. "Don't worry about me. I can do this."
I'm lying if I don't say that I'm not nervous. In fact, my hands are shaking uncontrollably and I'm doing my best to hide them from my companions. I don't want them to see me in this state. Baka mag-panic rin sila.
There are so many factors that can affect the sucession of this plan. We can drop dead as soon as we set foot outside of this car if those guys can use their guns accurately. Maaari rin naman na hindi sila galing sa mundong ito at mayroon silang superspeed na pwede nilang gamitin para mahabol kami in just a second.
But this is the only plan that I can come up with right now. I'm not really good at formulating a good one, especially under pressure.
"Okay. Once na pumasok ulit sa loob ng school bus 'yung tatlong lalaki, we'll go out, and run as fast as we can."
Ibinaling namin 'yung mga tingin namin sa nangyayari sa labas. Right now, the three huge guys are in their fourth car, pulling the driver out of it by his shirt collar. The way they haul him into their shoulder like a sack of potatoes makes my blood boil.
It's disturbing.
Inhuman.
Tiningnan ko isa-isa 'yung mga kasama ko nang magsimulang maglakad 'yung tatlong lalaki pabalik ng school bus.
"Are you ready?" tanong ko sa kanila. Sabay-sabay silang tumango.
Pinanood namin 'yung tatlong lalaki na maglakad. Nang makapasok na sila sa bus, agad kong binuksan 'yung pinto ng kotse namin.
"Mag-iingat kayo," narinig kong sabi ni Andre bago ko muling isara 'yung pinto.
"Mauna na kayo," I say to Ian and Holly. "Now."
Hindi na sila nagdalawang-isip pa. They started to sprint towards the back of the club. Pinanood ko silang manakbo hanggang sa makaliko sila papunta sa likod ng Oblivion.
I turn to Felicity. "Mauna ka na rin."
Kumunot 'yung noo niya. "What? Why?"
This is the dangerous part of the plan. The part that I didn't tell them earlier.
The part where I'm going to use myself as a distraction so that my companions will have a shot at survival. I'll probably be captured and God knows what else, but that's okay.
I have to do this.
Felicity's expression turns from confused to horrified as the realization hits her right at the center of her existence. She backs away from me, shaking her head.
"No," she whispers. "Y-you can't do this, Jared."
"I have to. This is the only way."
"No. Please..." Nagsimulang mangilid 'yung luha sa mga mata niya, and her breathing changes.
Hinawakan ko siya sa magkabilang pisngi. "Listen, you need to run right now. I'll be okay. I promise," pagsisinungaling ko.
"But--"
I cut her off. "No buts. Just do it, please."
She looks at me straight in the eye for a few seconds, and then--she nods, twice. I almost sigh with relief.
I give her a reassuring smile. "Go."
Bago siya nanakbo palayo, binigyan niya muna ako ng isang halik sa pisngi. I swear, if I'm not in this situation right now, baka kinilig na ko.
But I've got more other important things to do than swoon because my crush gave me a peck on the cheeks.
Nagsimula akong manakbo palayo, just as the three huge guys started to get out of the bus. Mabilis nila akong nakita na nananakbo papunta sa main road.
This is it.
I look back towards them to make sure that they're following me. Nang makasiguro ako ay mas lalo ko pang binilisan ang pagtakbo.
So far, the plan is working just the way I want it to. Nakapasok na sa loob ng Oblivion si Felicity, and I'm sure na naghihintay na sina Ian at Holly sa likod.
But something happened.
I almost jumped out of shock because of an ear-splitting scream that echoed through the whole place.
Napatigil sa pagtakbo 'yung tatlong lalaki na humahabol sakin at lumingon sila pabalik. Wala na sa akin 'yung focus nila. It is now directed on a girl walking out of the car that is parked at the front of the club.
The girl is stunning, with her long, black hair with blue highlights and creamy white skin. Even with a bruise on her left eye, she looks hot. Umiiyak siya at pilit na tinutulak palayo 'yung lalaking sumusunod sa kanya.
"Hey! Just let me explain," he shouts, agitated.
"No! Hindi kita kilala! Let me go!"
They continue to argue, completely oblivious to the three huge guys now walking towards them.
Holy shit.
Pauline and Andre... They're in grave danger.