Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Chapter Twenty-Three: The Witch's Day

-chapter twenty-three-

"I just need you to tell me everything about this place."

Mahigpit akong nakahawak sa tiles ng banyo habang nagsusuka. Blood dripped from my lips and my vision began to get blurry. Kinuha ko ang pinakamalapit na tissue at pinunasan ang labi.

Mula sa likod ng suot na jacket ay may kinuha akong mini-screw. Humilig ako sa pader ng cubicle at ibinaba ang pants hanggang sa may hita. I safely inspected the chip placed inside. Inilagay ko ang mini-screw at inikot ito sa kaliwa ng limang beses.

Bigla akong nahulog sa sahig. Humihingal akong napakapit sa handle ng toilet bowl at ini-flush ito. I let out a loud exhale. Sweat forms in my forehead and I closed my eyes in exhaustion. Ayoko talaga kapag ganito. Nakakapagod.

Because of them, I can't even use my ability pass a certain limit without suffering consequences. At sumobra ako ngayon dahil kina Shaina at Jeremy.

Kalmado akong lumabas sa cubicle. No one else was inside the bathroom, dahil nakalocate ito sa isang abandonadong floor. Tiningnan ko ang repleksiyon sa salamin at inayos ang sarili. My red hair was a mess, and my lips were red from my constant biting. Mabuti na lang at unti-unti nang bumabalik ang kulay ng mata ko.

When I got out, Lizzie and Grace are waiting for me. Napatuwid sila ng tayo nang makita ako.

"What are you going to do with the video, Serena?" tanong niya at ibinigay sa'kin ang memory card.

"Just in case." sagot ko at ibinulsa ito. "Sino ang nag-utos sa inyo na tingnan ang lugar?"

Grace sighed. "It's actually Keian's idea, pero si Yuri ang nag-utos sa'min kasi wala na daw ginawa si Keian pagkatapos sabihin ang nakita. The council are viewing Meredith as a threat, more so than you."

"Yes," tumango si Lizzie. "Pero mostly ay dahil iyon sa parte ka na ng council. Hindi din namin alam kung bakit masyado nilang pinagtutuunan ng pansin si Meredith. Maybe because she's challenging the president?"

Tumango lamang ako. I doubt that. I doubt it pero wala akong solid na reason para doon.

"Hahayaan na lang ba talaga natin ang dalawa do'n?" tukoy ni Lizzie kina Shaina at Jeremy.

After telling me about the place, ginamit ko ang ability sa kanila. Bagsak sila ngayon.

I smiled. "It's alright."

They won't remember a single thing when they wake up anyway.

I bid them goodbye and stayed in the hallway. Kanina, Shaina and Jeremy told me everything about the place. Hindi din daw nila alam kung ano iyon, maliban sa nagamit ito for mining noon. They believe an exit exists although malayo pa ito sa lugar na kinatatayuan namin kanina.

It was coincidence that they found it. Pinili lamang nila ang storage room na 'yon dahil daw iyon ang pinakamalaki. When Shaina went looking for a lost item, she accidentally found the secret corridor. Ang plano ni Meredith ay tingnan kung ano ito at kung bakit ito tinatago ng council. Plano niya rin daw na gamitin ito para makaalis sa academy.

Pero kung ang akala ni Meredith ay tinatago ito ng council, why would the organization send out students to study the place? Hindi ba't dapat alam na nila iyon dahil sa kanila naman ito?

Is it all a farce to clear up their name for the possible exposure of the place? Ngunit kung sila nga, what is the explanation behind Meredith's odd behavior? It's uncanny to see her lose face and get angry. Not to mention the fact that she ordered Jeremy to kill the person who found out the place. Lalo na nang makita niya ang papel. Ano ba ang nasa papel na 'yon na ikinagalit niya-