'Kill the Hybrid'
XIN
The death of me, huh? I flashed one last look at Hades since this is the last time that I'm going to see him. Tumingin na ako kay Luce nung pumasok siya at sumandal sa door frame. I tried creating a portal and it was successful for the first time. I left the underworld without saying a word and I was brought back to UHT.
"Thank the gods you're back!" Sinalubong agad ako ng yakap nina Joshua at Baxter at tsaka na nagsibabaan 'yung iba. I just looked at them and smiled for a bit. Lumapit naman agad si Xy sa akin at niyakap ang hita ko habang nakatingin lang ako sa team. They were all looking at me, waiting for me to say something.
"Let's go home." Mahina kong sambit at nakita ko ang mga ngiti sa labi nila. Agad silang tumango at ibinaba na ang mga gamit nila. Jun approached me but he didn't say a thing. He just ruffled my hair and got my luggage down for me. Pinaupo niya lang ako sa sofa kaya tiningnan ko nalang 'yung team na binababa ang mga gamit nila.
Matthew was even mumbling about who's going to help him clean the house when we're back.
"Buhay pa kaya 'yung aso natin?" Tanong ni Duke kaya binatukan agad siya ni Dino.
"Ulol! Wala tayong aso!" Sumbat nito at napahawak nalang si Duke sa batok niya at tsaka sinabing nagbibiro lang siya. They all gathered their stuffs at the center while we're waiting for Milo to bring down his and Hoshi's belongings. Tinulungan na siya nina Jun at Wolfie dito.
"Oh, wait. Kailangan ko pa palang kausapin ang dean na aalis tayo." Tiningnan ko lang si Seth dahil sa sinabi niya.
"We'll be right back. Mabilis lang kami." Pagpapaalam ni Seth at tumakbo palabas kasama si Noonie. Tumango lang ako at nagpahinga muna sa sofa. I don't know but I'm suddenly having this urge to sleep. Nag-inat nalang ako at sinubukang labanan ang antok ko pero hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako.
And just as I fell into a world of unconsciousness, I heard a certain voice.
"Hammie?" Kumunot agad ang noo ko nung marinig ko ang boses ni Hoshi. I tried to call his name but my lips won't even move. I can't even move. What's going on?
"Xin, I need you to leave that place. Now! Leave!" Kumunot ang noo ko nung bigla nalang siyang nagsisigaw at paulit-ulit na sinasabi ang mga katagang sinisigaw niya. "Leave! Before it's too late!"
"Uhh.. Xin?" Napabalikwas ako ng bangon nung may tumawag sa pangalan ko. Agad akong tumingin sa wall clock at kumunot ang noo ko nung malaman kong dalawang minuto lang palang nakasara ang mga mata ko. I flicked my tongue at napailing nalang ako. That was weird. How come I had a dream just after two minutes of a shut-eye?
"Xin, I think you need to see this." Agad akong tumingin kay Matthew dahil sa sinabi niya. He was staring outside the window kaya tumayo na ako at lumapit sa kanya. "Bakit?" Tanong ko pero wala siyang sinabi at tinuro lang ang madilim na langit. Kumunot lang ang noo ko nung ginawa niya 'yun kaya tiningnan ko ng maigi 'yung langit.
I had to go outside the dorm to take a better look at sumunod naman siya sa akin. Naningkit ang mga mata ko nung mapansin kong parang may kakaiba sa langit. I just took off my jacket and let out my wings.
Agad akong lumipad paitaas at naramdaman kong sumunod si Joshua sa akin. Jayden just looked at us from below at tinanong kung ano ang nakikita namin. Nagkatinginan lang kami ni Joshua at lumipad pa paitaas hanggang sa patigilin ko na siya. I took a close look at the sky above me us. "Is this a shield?" Joshua asked.
Tumango lang ako at tumingin sa kanya. I don't know what kind of shield this is. Sinubukan ko itong hawakan pero nakukuryente lang ako. I had to hiss because of the sting it gave me. Nagkatinginan kami muli ni Joshua at sabay nang bumaba. Sakto ring kakabalik lang nina Seth at nakita niya ang pagkawala ng mga pakpak namin dahilan para mapatingala siya.
"Bakit? Anong meron?" Agad niyang tanong habang lumalapit na si Jayden sa amin.
"I think there's a shield around the school." Sagot ko at tumingin sa iba na nakadungaw doon sa bintana ng dorm. Matthew immediately asked me what kind of shield it was pero napailing lang ako at sinabing hindi ko alam. I even took Matthew up there for him to see it himself.
"Ba't ba ang bigat mo?" Reklamo ko sa habang karga-karga ko siya.
"It's not fats, Xin. It's my muscles." Pagmamayabang niya kaya binitawan ko na siya at naglanding naman siya ng maayos. Bumaba narin ako at tumingin sa iba. "I don't know. I've never seen that shield before." Pagpapaliwanag niya sa team na halos nakalabas na sa dorm lahat maliban kay Duke na inaayos pa 'yung gamit niya.
"Ba't ba parang ayaw tayong paalisin sa lugar na 'to?" Natatawang tanong ni Baxter pero tumingin lang si Milo sa kanya and the look on Milo's face gave us the idea that we were missing. We've always been interrupted of what we were doing. Like the sudden appearance of Apollo's festival. And now this?
"Come on. We need to get out of this place, now." Diretso kong sambit at pumasok na sa dorm. Sumunod narin ang team sa akin at tsaka na kami pumalibot sa mga gamit namin. I then created a portal pero muntik ko nang masuntok ang pader dahil nawawala na naman ito. Dino even tried creating a portal too but nothing works.
I don't know but I'm getting too worked up already. I want to leave this place immediately.
"Ba't ba ayaw gumana?!" Inis na tanong ni Dino at tiningnan ang kamay niya. Napailing lang ako at tumingin sa labas. It's the shield. It's suppressing the portal, just like what Luce did earlier. Pero si Luce rin ba ang may gawa nito? Sa inis ko ay ginulo ko na ang buhok ko at pinalabas ang pakpak ko.
"X-Xin? 'San ka pupunta?" Tanong ni Jayden nung naglakad ako palabas.
"I'm going to break that damn shield one way or another." Sagot ko at lumipad niya. I immediately fired light balls and fireballs at it. When I came close, I boosted my speed and delivered a punch on the shield, shaking the whole shield. Napahawak nalang sa kamay kong napaso dahil sa pagkakakuryente nito. I just looked at it heal at tsaka ako tumingin sa shield.
No, you're not keeping me in this place.
I tried punching the shield several times but when I made a last blow, I came falling down the ground. Agad akong sinalo ni Jun at tumayo agad ako habang nakahawak sa kamay ko. This is so frustrating. Napapikit nalang ako at tumingin sa paligid na mas lalong dumidilim. "Can't get out, hybrid?" Tumingin agad kami sa mga witches na dumating.
They were not just white witches, they were all the witches in this school. Naningkit pa ang mga mata ko nung makita ko si Yuen dun sa likuran at nakatingin lang ng diretso sa akin. Humarap ako sa kanila at tiningnan sila.
"Why would you leave this place, hybrid? It's the battle ground you always wanted." Nakangiti nitong sambit at itinaas pa ang kamay niya. Gumawa agad ako ng shield at tiningnan siya na nakangiti lang. Umalerto agad ang team habang pinipilit pa ni Dino na gumawa ng shield.
"You're already starting without us?" Our gaze diverted to the wolves who slowly approached us. Umalerto agad si Wolfie kaya hinawakan nalang ni Duke ang balikat niya para pigilan siya. Napapitlag nalang ako nung hinawakan ako ni Jun at nanatili siya sa tabi ko habang nakatingin lang siya sa mga studyanteng dahan-dahan nang pumapalibot sa amin.
When the demons came, Walter almost froze on his stance.
"What the fuck is going on?" Tanong niya at tumingin sa paligid.
"Is it time yet?" Natatawang tanong nung iba dahilan para maningkit ang mga mata ko. Time? Time for what? The fire on Milo's hands started blazing kaya tumingin agad siya rito. His abilities are back. "Are the others coming?" Tanong nung iba habang naglalakad na palapit sa amin. The team just formed a circle around me because I think we know what they're here for. Even Xy joined the circle to protect me.
"Oh, come on. We don't want to hurt you." Natatawang sabi nung isa sa kanila at tiningnan ako na nasa gitna lang.
"Yeah. Just give us the hybrid and we can all go home and sleep peacefully." What the demon said made Walter pull out his horcrux and they immediately backed up but with a smile on their lips. "Oh, feisty." They said, mocking the protection that the team was giving me.
"Wala pa ba?" Tanong ni Baxter kay Dino na pilit gumagawa ng portal. Dino just made a frustrated grunt at ginulo nalang ang buhok niya. Tumingin nalang ako sa taas at naikuyom ko nalang ang kamay ko nung makita kong mas lalong kumapal ang shield. We should've left this place when we had the chance. Tiningnan ko nalang ang alpha symbol namin na nagliliwanag na.
All in response to what was happening around us.
"Is this why Hades wanted us to leave?" Joshua asked and looked around.
"We should've believed the devil." Mahinang sambit ni Walter pero narinig ko naman. Napapikit nalang ako pero umalerto agad nung maramdaman kong yumanig ang paligid. Kumunot ang noo ng iba at agad kaming napatingin sa field kung saan isa-isa nang nagsibabaan ang mga naglalakihang dragon. Nagliwanag agad ang mukha nina Baxter nung makita nila ito.
Even the students backed off a bit after seeing the dragons.
"Finally! Help!" Sigaw nina Baxter pero naningkit lang ang mga mata ko nung makita kong naglalakad na palapit sina Nicolas at Ceanna papunta sa amin. Behind them were the dragon clan that Mandora was leading. Speaking of Mandora, she's walking besides Nicolas and the others. Katabi niya naman si Ash na parang naguguluhan pa sa mga nangyayari.
Nag-tiim bagang nalang ako at tiningnan ang mga mata ni Nicolas at tsaka ang mga mata ni Yen.
"No. That's not help. That's trouble." Mahina kong sambit habang nakatingin lang kay Nicolas na walang emosyong naglalakad palapit sa amin. Tumingin naman sa akin ang team dahil sa sinabi ko. "They're spellbound. Just like the others." I said and looked down.
This was it. This was the warning that everyone was giving me. Of course, it was Xavier made Nicolas and Ceanna into dragons. Of course, it was Xavier who's behind Miu being spellbound. Of course, Xavier sent Nicolas and Ceanna here to add to the creatures that he could control just to see me dead. It wasn't just Miu he's controlling. It's the entire school. Xavier and his hunger for power never dies.
Naikuyom ko nalang ang kamao ko habang nakatingin ako sa mga kaibigan kong parang wala nang buhay.
"Where have you been?!" Lumingon agad ako kay Milo na agad na hinila si Lorisse at pinapasok sa circle. Natataranta pa si Lorisse habang nakatingin sa akin at tsaka nilapitan ako. Even Keya was running towards us pero pinigilan siya ng mga demonyo at nakangiti silang nakatingin kay Walter.
The event turned upside-down so quickly. Keya immediately became a prisoner to them.
"You want her? Give us the hybrid then." Natatawa nilang sambit pero tiningnan ko lang si Walter na nakatingin lang sa kanila. Pasimple niyang itinaas ang kamay niya at tumilapon na 'yung mga demonyong may hawak kay Keya. "Not my girl." Pasimple niyang sambit at tsaka na pinapasok si Keya sa circle na ginagawa nila. I just looked at the two of them who were still surprised because the number of students that were surrounding us got bigger and bigger.
Dino was still trying to create a portal even though we already know that none of this would work.
"This is taking too long." Parang nababagot na sabi ni Nicolas nung makalapit na sila sa amin.
"I can hit him now, right?" Tanong ni Jun sa akin habang nakatingin siya kay Nicolas na diretso lang ang tingin sa akin. Tumingin naman ako kay Wolfie na napako ang tingin kay Ceanna na nakatingin lang din sa akin. I looked at Wolfie's arm at napapikit nalang ako nung makita kong nagliliwanag ang wolf-symbol niya.
"No, don't engage. We can get out of this." Utos ni Seth at umatras na pero mas lalong lumiit ang circle na ginagawa nila para sa akin dahilan para magsiksikan na kaming tatlo nina Keya at Lorisse dito. Nagtawanan lang ang mga studyante dahil sa sinabi niya at mas lalo silang dumadami. Napamura nalang si Matthew at tiningnan ako.
"Come on. We don't have all night." Mayabang na sabi nung leader ng wolf pack at sinubukang lumapit sa amin pero biglang nagpalit ng anyo si Wolfie at sinunggaban ito.
And that single move sparked the fire.
Agad na sumugod sa amin ang mga studyante na kanina pa naghihintay. Chaos was happening around me when the students all came in like a wave. "Wolfie! Get in the shield!" Sigaw ni Matthew na handa nang gumawa ng shield para sa amin.
"Duwag ka kung hindi ka lalaban! Get rid of your damn shield and fight like an alpha!" Sigaw ni Walter at isa-isa nang pinapalipad ang mga demonyong sumusugod sa amin. Seth and Vernon took care of the demigods. Duke and Dino were fighting their own kinds too. Tumakbo narin si Milo at sumali na sa gulong nangyayari sa paligid namin.
Jun just looked at me and then to the vampires that were approaching us.
"My King, you wouldn't fight against your own kind, right?" Nakangiting tanong nung isang babaeng bampira sa kanya.
"If you're here to take Xin, you're not my kind." Aniya at binitawan na ang kamay ko tsaka nawala na sa aking paningin. Chaos covered me at narinig ko ang mga sigaw ng mga studyante. Wolfie was fighting the wolves, Baxter was somewhere fighting off witches with Dino, Matthew was side-by-side with Walter, trying to knock down everyone that's coming at us. Tiningnan ko nalang si Jayden na nasa tabi ko lang at nakahawak sa balikat niya.
Pinalapit ko nalang si Xy sa kanya at nilagay silang dalawa sa shield. Napahawak nalang silang dalawa sa shield at tiningnan ako.
"Keep him safe." Bulong ko at nakita kong dinala na ni Joshua ang shield papunta sa likod ng mga building, away from this chaos.
"I can't stand watching him fight alone." Tumingin agad ako kay Keya dahil sa sinabi niya at bigla nalang siyang yumuko and the next thing we know, Keya transformed into a massive snake. Napaatras agad kaming dalawa ni Lorisse dahil sa ginawa niya. Keya then came sliding into the crowd, defending Walter of what's coming at him.
Napakagat nalang ako sa labi ko at tiningnan si Lorisse na parang malalim ang iniisip at lumalalim rin ang paghinga.
"Don't! Stay here!" Utos ko para pigilan siya na sumunod sa ginawa ni Keya. Pinasok ko narin siya sa shield at tsaka na tumakbo sa field para tulungan sila. Inilabas ko agad ang horcrux ko at ipinasa na ito kay Vernon. "Xin! I can't kill these students!" Aniya nung makita niya ang mga pana nito. Dino just grunted and looked at me.
"You can change it into spell arrows. Use any spell, damnit!" Tumango lang ako sa sinabi niya at itinaas na ang kamay ko. The arrows glowed for a second at tsaka na tumakbo si Vernon pabalik sa tabi ni Seth. Pinalabas ko lang ang mga pakpak ko para tumingin sa kung ano na ang nangyayari.
I could just make a freezing spell right now but that will include Team Alpha.
Tumingin ako sa banda nina Walter nung makita kong hindi na pala gumagalaw si Matthew sa pwesto niya. He was just staring at the demon in front of him. He was just staring at Zelle. Bababa na sana ako nung bigla nalang may dumamba sa akin at tinangay ako.
"We got the hybrid!" Sigaw ng isang white angel at nagtawanan pa sila. Tumingala agad ang iba sa amin dahil sa narinig nila pero tiningnan ko lang ang kamay ko at nagliyab na ito. I immediately touched their wings kaya nabitawan na nila ako at nakalayo na ako sa kanila.
Suddenly, a swarm of angels came flying towards my direction. They were defenseless when they were on the ground, but I just made myself a bait by flying.
Inalis ko agad ang pakpak ko at tsaka nagpahulog. When I was falling to the ground, Wolfie caught me on his back and landed near Jun's position.
"Find a safe place to hide, Xin!" Sigaw ni Jun sa akin habang ginagawa niyang barrier ang sarili niya para sa akin.
"Oh, there's no safe place here in UHT." Lahat kami at tumingin sa babaeng pasimpleng naglalakad palapit sa amin habang sinusundan siya ng mga dark elves. Miu just smiled at me and I just looked at her eyes. Her black, soulless eyes. Miu immediately fired a spell on me pero umilag lang ako at tiningnan siya.
She just laughed and looked at the chaos that was happening around us. Tumingin siya sa mga studyanteng saglit na huminto at tumingin sa kanya.
"Why are you even fighting Team Alpha? Get hybrid2." Mariin niyang utos at agad na nagsikilusan ang mga studyante papunta sa akin.
"Team! Cover!" Sigaw ni Seth at nakita kong tumakbo si Milo palapit sa amin at tsaka pinalibutan kami ng apoy. Keya just moved aside at tiningnan naman siya ni Walter. Natawa lang si Miu habang nakatingin siya sa amin na nakatingin lang din sa kanya. The students backed off when they saw the fire around us but the witches were casting a spell to remove the fire.
As they kept removing it, Milo struggled to keep it in place.
"Why are you so pathetic today, huh Xin?" Natatawang tanong ni Miu habang nakatingin sa akin na pinapalibutan ng team.
"Why are you letting poor little alphas protect you?" Dagdag niya at tiningnan ang team. She just scoffed and looked at me.
"If I was the hybrid in that team, I won't let them protect me. I will be the one protecting them. If only I were the hybrid you chose." Aniya at tiningnan sina Seth. Dahan-dahan ko nang ikinuyom ang kamao ko habang nakatingin ako kay Miu na nakangiti lang sa akin. "But luckily, you imprinted on them, right?" Tanong niya at naglakad palapit sa amin. She didn't say a word after that and just looked at me. Her eyes were all black, dead and lost.
She just looked at the students and they slowly backed off dahilan para kumunot ang noo ng team. The students backed off way too far that it was already clear that they're making a battleground for what's coming. Lumingon muli si Miu sa amin at tsaka ngumiti.
"You betrayed me. Shot my Dad. Left me just for a bunch of boys. Almost killed me just because I had a taste of Jun's blood. You are not a friend to me, Xin. You never were. You're just a person full of betrayals." She said full of spite and I just flicked my tongue habang nakatingin ako ng diretso sa mga mata niya. It's not her. She's spellbound. She's just trying to tick me off. That's all.
Huminga nalang ako ng malalim habang nakatingin ako sa kanya.
"Let's see how you deal with another betrayal." Aniya at tsaka umatras. Umalerto naman ang team dahil sa sinabi niya habang nakatingin parin ako sa kanya.
"Lorisse, come forth." Nakangiti niyang sambit at lahat kami ay napatingin kay Lorisse na nakatingin lang sa amin. Milo lost concentration on maintaining the fire around us at tsaka siya tumingin kay Lorisse na dahan-dahan nang nagbabago ang kulay ng mga mata. Her eyes turned fiery red and Jun took all of us aside just as Miu fully transformed into a dragon.
Naghiyawan agad 'yung mga dragon clan nung makita nila ang anyo ni Lorisse. Lorisse didn't even hesitate and blew fire at us. Gumawa lang ako ng shield sa team habang nakatayo lang si Milo at nakatingin kay Lorisse na binubugahan kami ng apoy.
And we then backed off when Keya was already on Lorisse's side, banging on the shield. Napatayo narin si Walter at tumingin kay Keya na walang buhay na pilit sinisira ang shield. "X-Xavier.." Halos hindi na alam ni Walter ang sasabihin niya dahil sa galit niya. Matthew also stood up and looked at the students, mainly looking at a certain demon.
I just looked at them, looking at the ones they love being from another side against them. And this all happened because of me. Just because Xavier wants me dead.
Tumigil na sina Lorisse at Keya sa kakasira ng shield nung pasimpleng naglakad si Miu palapit sa kanila at itinaas lang ang kamay niya. She immediately broke the shield and looked at me with a smile, testing me because she already knows I'm fired up.
"You can't hurt someone you imprinted, right?" Tanong niya dahilan para naguguluhang tumingin ang team sa akin at nagkatinginan pa sila. Miu just laughed at us at tsaka tumingin sa akin habang nakangiti. She was already wearing the smile of victory just my looking at me. She then looked at the team and turned away after she said the line which made me fall on my knees.
"Team Alpha, kill hybrid2."
❅ Snow ❅