CHAPTER 19
Battle of Rebels
"Fuck!" mura ko at malakas na binaba ang bote na hawak ko sa lamesa na lumikha ng nakabibinging ingay. It echoed inside the noisy bar, causing the customers to divert their gazes on me and started whispering.
I rolled my eyes before glaring at them. What a bunch of losers. They've got nothing to do so they stick their noses on other people. Nandito kami ngayon ng mga kasama ko sa Metropolitan para uminom dahil kakatapos lang ng mga klase namin. I drink to forget my anger!
"Artemis, what happened?" tanong sa akin ni Aquarius at binaba ang iniinom niya sa lamesa.
I have a gang named Black Rose and we love to mess with other people. Kinatatakutan kami ng mga tao rito sa bayan at sa tuwing kami ay makikita sa daan, nagtatakbuhan sila palayo. I enjoy seeing the how terror crawl in their body, and the fear drawing in their faces.
My gang has twelve members, at hindi pa kasama roon sila Primo at Elena. I gave them codenames based on their zodiac signs. We keep our names hidden, maliban sa akin.
I am the Queen of Ace, so I should never be afraid to expose my identity to everyone. Wala na akong mga magulang kaya malaya kong nagagawa ang mga gusto ko sa buhay. They say my Dad cheated on my Mother after I was born, and my Mom died when I was five. Iniwan ako sa ampunan at doon ko natutunan at nadiskubre kung paano gamitin ang abilities ko.
Pinadala nila ako sa isang mayaman na pamilya, pero tumakas ako roon saka nagnakaw ng pera gamit ang aking ability para sa sarili ko.
My youth was not something to be proud of, and all I faced was the reality of this sick world. When I reached the age of thirteen, I met Primo and Elena at an abandoned park and challenged me.
Kapag natalo ako, mag-aaral ako sa school na pinapasukan nila pero kapag nanalo ako, I can steal their money and run away. I will never forget that day. I witnessed how the skies turned orange to black, and the violent cold breeze that surrounded our battle.
But I was a big fool that time and that day, I found my weakness. I didn't knew that Elena has that fucking ability called power negation, kaya natalo nila ako at narito na ako sa Monarch para mag-aral.
Yet it didn't stop me from doing my habit to wreak havoc to the point that I even formed a gang with them. With permission, I challenged Primo alone to prove my real strength. I was rewarded with victory, while Primo was sent to the hospital for one week from suffering broken bones.
We experienced a lot together, and I even saved them after being kidnapped, ugh, idiots. I also remember that I nearly killed a police officer when he attempted to catch me after winning in an underground battle.
I nearly stopped his heartbeat due to frustration and luckily, I was stopped by my gang.
"Oh, Artemis, may nagpapabigay pala sayo nito," sabi ni Pisces at inabot ang isang kulay puting sulat. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil wala naman akong mga kakilala na pwedeng magbigay sa akin nito, maliban sa mga kasama ko. Nang basahin ko ang laman ng sulat ay napangisi ako.
Someone wants to challenge me?
* * *
I wore a black jacket, jeans, and my favorite white sneakers. Nagsuot ako ng face mask at itim na cap saka tinago ang kamay ko sa bulsa habang naglalakad papunta sa isang lumang warehouse.
Hapon na at magdidilim na kaya binilisan kong maglakad hanggang sa makarating ako sa isang malaki at lumang warehouse. I looked at the worn off paint of the warehouse and the rusty huge door.
"Someone wants to die, huh..." Hindi ko maiwasang ngumisi habang makakuyom ang kamao. It's been a while since someone challenged me. Umatras ako para bumwelo at malakas na sinipa ang pintuan ng warehouse na lumikha ng ingay sa tahimik na paligid.
Naging mausok ang paligid nang bumagsak ito at bumungad sa akin ang madilim na paligid. May mga basag na salamin sa sahig at pinagmasdan ko ang mga sirang bintana ng warehouse. I remained my face blank with my guard up when I entered the empty warehouse.
Pumunta ka sa lumang warehouse malapit sa Monarch. Don't bring your members if you don't want to die, iyon ang laman ng sulat at para na akong tanga rito na nag-aantay sa wala.
I don't wish for money or reward. All I want is victory and the priceless face of the enemies being terrified of me. Napataas ako ng kilay nang biglang nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin, at mabilis na tumalikod nang makita ang isang anino mula sa aking likuran.
May hawak siyang baseball bat at muli akong tumingin sa harap nang unti-unting dumami ang mga tao.
The fuck, it feels like I am surrounded by predators. But who knows? I can easily wipe them out because I am a hunter.
"Get her!" sabi ng lalaking may hawak ng baseball bat sa likuran at sabay-sabay na sumugod sa akin ang mga tao sa harapan. I never lost my composure and looked at them in the eye fiercely. Three, two, one!
Pinagmasdan ko kung papaano huminto ang kanilang mga paa mula sa pagsugod, pati na rin ang kanilang pagkilos. Their body was suspended, and I can do it with their breathing too. That was just the first wave, at sinugod na kaagad ako ng mga taong nasa likuran nila.
Ngunit nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang may magbato ng kakaibang bagay sa aking paanan at biglang umusok! My vision was blocked by a thick and dense white smoke. I tried my best not to exhale it, but terror filled my body when someone violently removed my mask!
"You can't escape," sabi nito sa akin at para bang nag-init ang dugo ko roon. Marahas kong hinawakan ang kanyang braso at saka ito binalibag habang pilit na hindi humihinga. The person let out an irritating scream, but my eyes suddenly widened when I accidentally inhaled the smoke!
I shoved the smoke circling around me and ran into a dark aisle that is surrounded by dozens of small and empty containers.
"Useless piece of shit!" irita kong bulong habang hinahabol ang aking hininga. I tried to activate my ability, but it didn't work! These fucking losers, ugh!
This is just like Elena's ability, but just another rip-off. Power absorb has a time limit. Ten minutes? Twenty minutes? I don't know, but can I even hold them with that time? Mga Nadir lang siguro sila, mga walang abilities kaya ako ang pinupuntirya.
Natigilan ako mula sa pag-iisip ng makarinig ng mga sigaw mula sa kabilang banda, at nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang marinig ang malakas na daing ng mga tao mula roon! The metal-like walls echoed every time I heard their bodies slamming.
"Boss, may nakapasok sa warehouse!" Rinig kong sigaw ng tao malapit sa akin kaya mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa isang sulok nang may biglang sumipa ng likod ko!
My knees fell on the floor because of the impact of the kick. I clenched my fists and stood up with flames slowly spreading like wildfire within my mind and body. That asshole dared to kick me from behind, then I shall give him a punishment with no mercy!
"Hindi ka sabing makakatakas!" sabi ng lalaking sumipa sa akin at para bang nagdilim ang paningin ko nang sabay-sabay silang tumawa ng mga kasamahan niya.
I quickly dashed towards them and kicked his temples that automatically knocked him out. Pinanlisikan ko ng mata ang mga kasama niya sa likod na parang nakakita ng multo saka sila sinugod ng suntok isa-isa.
I violently grabbed their napes and smashed their heads on the concrete floor. I think I just heard their skulls crack, but whatever. No one dares to fucking touch me!
I quickly ran outside the aisle and was suddenly greeted by another group of men. They were holding metal baseball bats while flashing a grin. I raised my brow in shock when I felt a strange electricity within my hands.
Ah, here it goes.
"Come at me!" I screamed on top of my lungs and watched how their bodies slowly flew away from me. My abilities are back, then the duration of the smoke they made me inhale only lasts a few minutes.
Napalingon ako sa gilid nang marinig ang humahangos na sigaw ng isang lalaki papunta sa lalaking sumalubong sa akin kanina sa pintuan. Nanginginig pa ito at matinding pinagpapawisan.
"Boss! 'Y-Yung nakapasok inuubos na t-tayo!"
Mabilis na lumipat ang mga mata ko papunta sa gitna ng warehouse, at bumungad ang isang pamilyar na lalaking nakikipaglaban sa napakaraming tao. My eyes widened when I recognized the person who infiltrated the warehouse.
Damn! Anong ginagawa niya rito?!
Halos kapusin ako ng hininga nang pumasok pa ang maraming kalalakihan sa warehouse. They were about eighty! I gasped when he disappeared, causing the group swarming on him to stop attacking in confusion.
Bigla akong napasinghap nang may humila sa kamay ko at nakaramdam ng kuryente roon.
"Let go of me, you fucking jerk!" I hissed at Raven who was dragging me in another dark aisle!
I looked outside and the sky is already dark which revealed the moon that reflected on his face. He is panting and I looked at his bloody uniform and fists. May sugat pa siya malapit sa kanyang labi, pero mukhang hindi alintana sa kanya ang sakit.
"Stop acting like bullshit!" he shouted, which made me petrified. I can't say anything, and it feels like I was taken aback by his words.
"Artemis," he called again. "Let's fight them together."
He suddenly disappeared and dashed forward the guys who instantly swarmed at him. What's wrong with him? He kicked the very first person in the group and started punching them aggressively.
Is this... the guy who can fight alone?
A guy who can finish a gang?
I watched him fight at parang may bumara sa lalamunan ko. I saw it before my eyes, and what Primo said was true. He is a beast, but why the hell is he helping me?!
"Artemis, behind you!"
Yumuko ako at sinuntok sa mukha ang lalaking muntik na akong hatawin ng baseball bat sa ulo. His legs suddenly became wobbly, so I instantly stepped back and landed a roundhouse kick that caused him to fly and crash on the boxes. Deserved!
I ran towards the warehouse's door and a group swarmed on me. I gladly welcomed them with my fists. Napangiwi ako nang maramdamang humahapdi na ang mga kamao ko kakasuntok.
This is more than the usual, but this is firing me up!
On the other side, Raven is about to finish the other group. Bigla akong napasigaw ng may humawak sa likuran ko. Masyadong mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya at kahit anong pumiglas ko ay hindi ako makagalaw!
"Get off me, dumbass!" singhal ko ng suntukin ako ng isa pang lalaki sa mukha.
He is about to throw another punch when he suddenly fell down on the floor. Tinignan ko si Raven na hinihingal habang apak sa mukha ang lalaking pinatumba niya. He started punching him violently so I made my move again.
Inipon ko ang lakas ko at binalibag ang lalaking nakahawak sa braso ko. Nilibot ko ang tingin ko't umatras ng maramdaman ang likod ni Raven. Sabay naming hinahabol ang aming hininga.
"Bakit ka nandito?" I asked while slowly recovering my breath.
"I just want to have fun and watch how you fight," hinihingal nitong sambit kaya humalakhak ako.
"You're good." Nagsimula ulit kaming magpatumba ng mga lalaki hanggang sa maubos sila. Lahat sila ay nakahiga na sa sahig habang walang malay. Naramdaman ko ang panghihina ng mga tuhod ko kaya't napaluhod ako sa sahig habang hinahabol ang aking hininga.
That was too much, I can't even use my ability properly because they were too many!
Nag-angat ako ng tingin at nakita si Raven na nakatayo sa harapan ko. He lend me a hand at nagdalawang-isip ako kung tatanggapin ko ba ito o hindi. Napapikit ako nang maramdaman ang malamig na hanging bumalot sa aming dalawa.
I raised my brow, feeling offended. This is my fight yet he jumped in to ruin everything!
"Why are you doing this?" I asked and looked at him furiously.
He lowered his head and smiled, which made me fuming mad. But I gulped as the moonlight wrapped his back and witnessed how the moon reflected right before my eyes when he whispered something into my ears that left me speechless.
"Because I want you to fight by my side."