CHAPTER 39
Raid of Black Rose
Third Person's Point of View
They are now bringing an unconscious girl to the highest floor of the building where nobody can't catch her. Her head is bleeding so bad, just like her legs. The gates are being crashed outside their base by fourteen masked persons. They are known as the Black Rose, a gang led by Artemis.
"Move faster," the Doctor stated frustratedly while pushing the wheelchair.
Marami ang nakasunod sa kanilang mga tauhan nang makatungtong sila sa pinakamataas na palapag ng building. The guards let them pass the moment they stepped in and opened the huge metal door.
Sumalubong sa kanila ang mga taong nakasuot ng lab gown at ang mga naglalakihang makina. The doctor carefully placed Artemis on a long metal table.
They started injecting many serums on her arms before transferring her into a metal chair, with her legs and arms being chained.
Hindi nila alam ay nagsisimula nang pumasok ang mga taong hindi nila inaasahang pumunta. A guy immediately sneaked in a huge empty box and examined the area to find their leader. It was Cancer, or known as Collin who has the ability of x-ray vision.
Bigla siyang napapikit nang marinig niya ang nakaririnding sigaw ni Pisces. Sakit sa tenga, he thought. The girl who looks tough is named Priscilla, or Pisces. Gorgeous, but dangerous they say because of her sonic scream ability.
The rest of the members started taking down the men carrying transparent guns with their own abilities. It was easy for them, like a piece of cake.
On the other hand, Raven is unconsciously lying on the cold metal floor while being caged like an animal. Kinulong siya sa basement ng building kaya mahihirapan silang mahanap ito. The metal bars surrounding him were too thick for them to break, unless they used an ability.
Nagsimula na ang hindi makatao nilang gawain sa pinakamataas na parte ng building. They inserted many small tubes on Artemis' arms and legs that will extract all of her abilities until she becomes a perfect vessel. Night made sure that he will never ever fail again.
The Doctor immediately stopped and looked at her heart rate. Bumababa ito at naalarma silang lahat. She's barely breathing!
"She can't make it, maraming dugo na ang nawawala sa kanya-" Pumasok si Night at tinulak palayo ang doktor. Bakas ang matinding galit sa kanyang mga mata nang makita ang bumababang heart rate ni Artemis.
"Do your fucking job!" he screamed and they got no choice but to continue the procedure.
* * *
Artemis' Point of View
Muli akong nagising, pero sa isang pamilyar na lugar. Surprisingly, I don't feel pain anymore. I blinked twice before looking around and it was real, nandito ako sa bahay.
My eyes immediately widened when I heard a children's giggle on the other side. What was that?
"Mama, gusto kong magkaroon ng abilities kagaya mo." Sinundan ko ang tinig at pumasok sa isang pamilyar na silid. Nangilid ang mga luha sa mata ko nang makita ang isang babae na masayang sinusuklayan ang isang bata.
"No, Artemis. I want you to live normally." The woman smiled. Her heartwarming smile is something that I cannot forget. It was her. It is my mom and I am the kid. Bakit ko nakikita ang mga 'to?
"Why not? I want to be strong just like you." Napangiti ako nang maalala ko ang mga sinabi ko noon. I wanted to be strong just like her. But they say too much power can lead you to destruction.
"Listen to me, baby. I don't want you to be like me, okay?" aniya at hinalikan ang noo ko. Natigilan ako nang magbago ang buong paligid.
I confusingly looked around and saw a kid in front of me. It was me in the orphanage, crying alone in the corner with my fists covered in blood. Realization hits me when I remember the reason why I'm crying that time.
"She's a monster! I don't want to be here anymore!" The other kid cried while pointing at me. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad at sinubukang lapitan ang sarili ko, pero tumagos lang ang kamay ko. Is this a dream, or an illusion?
"Mama..." I heard her sobbing while hugging her knees.
Kumirot ang dibdib ko nang makita ang sarili kong umiiyak noon. I fought with this fucked up life on my own. The scenery became distorted again and now, I am in an empty court, standing bravely.
Madilim ang buong paligid at namilog ang mga mata ko nang makita ang sarili ko noon. My hair was long back then. Hanggang bewang ko ito, at kulay itim. Napagtanto kong ito ang unang beses na nakipaglaban ako sa maraming tao. Katatakas ko pa lang nito sa pamilyang umampon sa akin.
"Come at me." Myself smirked and wrapped my fists with a white cloth. I watched how I stepped back and started punching everyone of them with my abilities casted on them.
Ngunit lumabo ang paligid nang napabagsak ko ang mga taong kinakalaban ko. Sa isang iglap lang ay napaupo ako nang makarinig ng nakabibinging ingay.
"She won't make it!"
"I don't fucking care! Ilang beses ko nang sinabi na ituloy niyo ang trabaho niyo!"
I unconsciously opened my eyes. I feel so weak right now... and I can't feel a single thing. Everything's still blurry and I can hear dozens of frustrated voices. Who... are they?
"She's awake..." rinig kong sabi ng isang lalaki. It's not a familiar voice for me, so my brows furrowed in confusion. Where the fuck am I now?
Napahiyaw ako nang may tumarak na bagay sa dibdib ko. Nanginig ang buong katawan ko nang tanggalin nila ito sa akin. What is this?!
"S-Sino kayo?" I tried to ask even if my throat felt so fucking dry, but no one responded. All I can hear are noises coming from the machines. It's bothering me. My ears were filled with those noises and it feels like I am about to lose my sanity right now.
"What? Naubos ang mga tauhan? What the-papunta sila dito?!"
"'Yung lalaki sa basement? Tangina! Mga wala kayong kwenta!" I heard a metal being crushed and heavy sighs. God, I want to get out of here. It feels like I am restricted to experience freedom.
"Continue. Malapit na tayong matapos." My body felt like giving up already. Napakalamig at nanghihina na ako. I wonder how is everyone right now. Kamusta na kaya si Raven? Nasaan kaya siya?
May itinarak pa sila sa akin at napaubo ako dahil doon. I felt my body being lifted and I heard chains falling. Oh. They placed me on another chair. Gumagalaw ito at sa isang kurap lang ay nakapasok na kami sa isa pang silid.
Nagiging malinaw na ang buong paligid, pero halos madurog ang puso ko sa bagay na nasa harapan ko ngayon. I saw a woman floating inside a huge capsule. Kusang tumulo ang mga luha ko habang pilit na kinukumbinsi ang sarili na hindi siya ito.
Hindi... Matagal na siyang wala at paano siya napunta sa lugar na 'to?!
"You... demon. You will regret everything... even your existence," I angrily said even if there is no voice coming out from my mouth anymore. I gritted my teeth and tried to move, but it's too late.
I felt another pain when they threw my body inside a capsule, just like hers. Nanghihina na ako. Mabubuhay pa kaya ako pagkatapos nito? Gusto ko pang mabuhay. Gusto ko pang makasama ang lahat. Gusto ko pang makasama si Raven.
"Palabasin niyo ako!" I yelled and kicked this glass thing in front of me. I continued struggling, pero walang nangyayari.
Nanlamig ako nang may gumapang na kakaibang usok sa katawan ko, hanggang sa balutan nito ang ulo ko. I struggled while trying to brush it off, but suddenly, a strange liquid rushed inside the capsule. My heart was beating so fast when it covered the entire space, but it's strange how I can still breathe.
Pumikit ako, pero nagulat ako nang marinig ko ang pagbagsak ng isang mabigat na bagay sa malayo. Kasunod nito ang isang malakas na sigaw at kasabay nito ang tunog ng mga nababasag sa salamin, hanggang sa mawarak ang salaming humaharang sa akin. Immediately, I fell like a lifeless body on the floor and coughed many times.
"Shit, si Artemis!" Halos hindi ako makagalaw nang makita ang mga taong nasa harap ko ngayon. Ang gang, sila Elena at Primo, pati na rin si Raven. Nandito sila...
The whole room was filled with explosions and smokes. I heard loud groans and metals being shattered into pieces. Napaubo ako nang malanghap ito pero naramdaman kong may bumuhat sa katawan ko. A small smile formed on my lips despite the gruesome situation right now.
"R-Raven?" I asked and stared at his face for a second. Nagdurugo ang gilid ng kanyang labi at puro galos ang kanyang braso.
"What are y-"
"Stop talking, please," nag-aalala niyang sabi kaya tumahimik ako. He looked so tired while carrying me to run away from this place. I was happy, but terrified at the same time.
"Raven... nakita ko ang mama ko," bulong ko habang tumatakbo siya pababa ng hagdan. He looked around before talking and bit his lip.
"Bakit sa ganitong lugar ko pa siya makikita..." I sobbed and buried my face on his chest. The building was starting to collapse when I saw metal chunks falling down. I stared at the lifeless bodies on the floor. They did that?
"Shit!" he frustratedly cursed when we kept on walking in the same directions, but my eyes widened when I saw a sign in front of us.
The emergency exit.
Sinipa niya ang pintuan at nanlumo ako nang makita ang isang lalaki na nakatayo sa harapan namin. He is holding two guns on both of his hand, ready to fire it on us.
Night.
"Ibigay mo sa akin si Artemis, o pasasabugin ko ang bungo niyong dalawa."