Thieves Of Olympus

20

3RD PERSON

Nauna sa pagbalik sa Institute ang grupo nila Soleil. Little did they know that there was something waiting for them on the bridge. A catoblepas. Nakipaglaban muna sila bago makalampas dito. The buffalo like monster attacked them when they fight it. Nakaharang ito sa gitna ng mahabang tulay.

"Ree!" Soleil screams as she went out of the vehicle with her scythe. Lumabas din si Alistair nang makitang pasugod na lumapit ang halimaw kay Ree.

Tumalsik si Alistair at ang espada nito  paglapit sa catoblepas. Ree musters her strength as she withdraws her scythe to make an attack. Kabado at takot man ay hinagis ni Milo ang espada sa babangong kaibigan.

Holding her breath Soleil grasps the half hanging sword on the bridge. Iniiwasan niyang buksan ang isip at palawakin ito upang hindi makita ni Lunox ang magyayari. She does not want him to hurry back and worry about her. In her mind she repeatedly says: "Slowly and swiftly grab the sword". Mukhang hindi iyon ang plano ng para sa kanya. The monster attacks her immediately.

"Ugh!" she gasps but sees herself hanging on the bridge. Pumalit siya sa espadang kinuha.

Don't. Look. Down. She thought while closing her eyes. Maapektuhan ng hangin ang balanseng mayroon siya habang nakakapit.

Hindi niya napapansin ang iba niyang kasama na nakikipaglaban. She still kept her eyes close and calm her self. Control her breathing. Unti-unting dumudulas ang mga kamay niya sa tulay.

"Soleil! Akin na ang kamay mo," Milo supports her as she lifts the hand holding the sword.

Hindi siya takot sa heights pero mukhang magmamarka sa kanya ang nangyayari. She has the ability to control air but because of panic and the sound of the fighting she can't focus. Mataas ang babagsakan niya at hindi ganoon kalalim ang ilog kung mahuhulog siya. The rocky river floor will only injure her. Her heart beat is already in her ears. Fast along her ragged breathing.

"Salo Milo!" she screams as she throws the sword. Mabilis siyang napakapit sa daanan. Putting her weight on her shoulders.

Milo's bloody hands grabs her arms, "Grab my hand!"

"Paano yung sugat mo?!" she argues. She felt numbness along with the weight of her body.

Milo's blood trickles down her arms. Unti-unti siyang umangat sa tulay sa tulong ni Milo. Her mind abuzzed with possibilities of falling down calmed down. Napalitan ng takot para sa kaibigang may malalim na sugat at sa dalawang pang kasama.

Wala siyang paki kung may dugo ang mga braso at damit niya, "You're bleeding."

"Tulungan mo na sila," he gives him an approving nod and pushes her.

"Hey freak!" she grabs the sword amd runs to slice the head off of the monster.

Alitair Ushered them towards the car as the grunts came out of nowhere. Gigantes. The catoblepas' ashes went with the wind, forming a small tornado of gold dust.

"Rain storm!" Soleil commands para mawala ang amoy ng dugo sa hangin.

Mabilis silang nakarating sa Institute. The wounds from the fight slowly heals bukod sa sugat ni Milo na malalim. Soleil and Ree went to the clinic immediately para manghingi ng nectar at ambrosia. Sinalubong sila ng nurse at pinagpahinga sa dorm.

Naglibot-libot si Soleil sa lugar noong makapagpahinga. Tulog sila Milo at Ree, hindi naman makita si Alistair. The students bow or gives way when she is seen. Her impending appearance alone is enough to let them bow. Napadpad siya sa dungeon kung saan niya narinig na may nagsasalitang mag-isa.

"If you only choose me Alistair. She could've been alive,"followed by a wicked laugh,"That's the consequence of love. Suffering and pain... Those who believe in that will live with misery."

Misery, pain... and suffering. No pretense and warning. Tinamaan siya ng mga salitang ito. Can she survive without her friends... without Lionel? A stabbing pain went to her chest. Akala niya'y iiwan niya ang mga nagmamahal sa kanya. Paano kung siya ang iwan ng mga ito?

She left without knowing who the prisoner is.

On the other hand. Cyrus struggles to choose between the slump bodies of Yna and Cole. He was panicking—his shaking hands, deafening beat of his heart and labored breathing. Kanino iyon? Kay Cole o Yna? Tears are stinging the corner of his eyes.

"Cyrus!" alog sa kanya ni Lionel. His features were rougher. Mas nagiging kamukha nito si Ares kapag galit.

"I can't do it! Ayaw kong mamili! Naiintindihan mo ba ako?!" he responds angrily.

Life and death. Iyon ang inihain sa kanya. He inherited the ability to heal but he was also exhausted, tired from the fight... for the coming war. Guilt and fear of losing either of them builds upon his chest. Yna and Cole are both bleeding. two of them are on the verge of death.

"Gawin mo ang sinabi ni Yna," mahinang tugon ni Desmond. Dried stains of tears are on his cheeks habang kalong si Yna.

Kumunot ang noo ni Lionel, "Tingin mo gusto ni Cole iyon?"

"Sino bang mas importante?! Do as she says!" sigaw ni Desmond.

"Cole is not that selfish! Mas gugustuhin niyang mabuhay si Yna." kinuwelyuhan siya ni Lionel.

"Hades will kill us when we lose her. We don't fucking face the God's wrath alone! Damay tayong mga demigods. Naiintindihan mo ba ako?! Kasama ang mga mortal!" Desmond

"Bullshit!" nahampas ni Lionel ang upuan.

Lalong naguluhan si Cyrus. Sino ang uunahin niya? Si Cole o si Yna? Cole is part of his family, Yna became one too. A demigod and a mortal.

Sandro drives like a madman—eyes on the road, hands on the steering wheel and gear. Lalo niyang binilisan noong nagsisigawan ang mga kasama niya sa loob ng sasakyan. Naging automatic ang sense of direction niya dahil sa adrenaline rush. His frenzied feeling for survival is feeding his mind. Lalo pang nalaman niyang madadamay siya sa galit ng isang diyos.

Cole coughs blood on Lionel's shirt while Yna's pulse is beating slower. They race against time.

"What now Cyrus?" sabay na tanong ni Lionel at Desmond.

"PUTANGINA! DOES THE FATES HATE ME SO MUCH! BAKIT AKO ANG NAGING ANAK NI APOLLO?! GUSTO KO LANG MABUHAY NG NORMAL!" his voice thunders inside the car. He breaths fast and angry. Searching at his friend's faces.

Natahimik ang dalawa niyang kasama. Even Sandro looks at them through the rear view mirror. Lionel never saw this side of Cyrus. He was calm, mischievous and has a sunny aura. But this... is not his good side. This is the desperate Cyrus. The sad and lost person behind the goofy smiles and tricks.

Sumeryoso si Cyrus, "Give me their hands. Now," he orders in a low voice.

"Magpapakamatay ka ba?!" Desmond asks him.

Healing one dying person is dangerous enough. Gusto pa niyang dagdagan ng isa. The ambrosias were lost among the bags behind the seats. Ayaw niyang may mawala sa grupo nila sa kahahanap nito.

"NOW!"

Nagulat si Lionel at Desmond. They gave the girls hands to Cyrus' outstretched ones. A hint of gold is on his eyes. When their hands touched a flow of energy went to the them. Like a river that sustains the life that lives on it. He holds their hands for more than five minutes. Nakaramdam siya ng pagbigat sa pakiramdam.

"Don't force yourself! You idiot!" tinatanggal ni Lionel ang kamay ni Cole kay Cyrus pero mahigpit ang hawak nito.

Desmond seconds, "Nagdudugo na ang ilong mo. Stop it! Ikaw ang mapapahamak."

Yna's pulse became faster, and Cole stops coughing blood. But Cyrus... ability is at his limits.

Hanggang sa makarating lang sa Institute, he thought. Pinunasan niya ang dugo sa ilong niya noong makarating sila dito. Nahihilo pero pinilit na makisabay ni Cyrus sa mga kasama hanggang sa makarating sa clinic.