Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Chapter Twenty-Four: While The Lion Fights, The Wolf Will Steal The Hunt

-chapter twenty-four-

"I need Akiru's help with something."

Nagpulong-pulong kami sa kwarto nina Ana. It's already close to midnight and Kahel was vibrating beside me. Kanina niya pa gustong bumalik sa dorm room namin dahil daw baka mapagalitan kami. For the past twenty minutes, I've been telling him that they won't mind since it's not even 12 yet. Pero,

"Witch!" singhal niya. "May limang minuto na lang bago mag alas dose!"

"Hm? Talaga." may itinuro ako kay Akiru na nakaharap sa isang computer screen. "Here. Edit me out."

Nagmura si Kahel sa likod at tinawanan siya ni Ana sabay sabi ng, "Umupo ka na nga lang do'n at manuod, Kel. Nag-iingay ka lang at humaharang diyan."

I sarcastically smiled at Mad Dog who glares at me before stomping to the sofa. Inilipat ko ang tingin kay Anastasia na nasa kabilang side ng room at gumagawa ng assignment namin sa Logic. Kanina pa siya mukhang busy diyan.

Ginawa ni Akiru ang ini-utos ko. The camera first showed Shaina and Antonio standing while staring at Jeremy and Grace on the ground. Hindi nagtagal ay pumasok ako sa frame, at kita sa video na nakikipag-usap ako sa tatlo. In the corner of the video, makikita si Grace na dahan-dahang lumalayo sa amin, hanggang sa nawala siya sa frame.

Akiru watched it until the end. My fight with the three minions and how Shaina killed Antonio with her ability.

"Oh shit," mura niya. "What the heck happened here?"

"Saan ba 'yan, Serena?"

Muntik na akong mapatalon nang marinig ang boses ni Mikhael sa likod. He's standing really close to me and is slightly crouching so he can watch the video better. Mabuti na lang at hindi nahulog ang cake na hinahawakan ko, the very cake that I was supposed to slam in his face but he managed to save it. Umusog ako ng konti palayo kasi parang sobrang lapit naman namin.

I bumped into Ana who knowingly smirked at me before flicking her attention on the video. Hinawakan niya ang baba. "Parte pa ba ito ng school? At sina Antonio ba 'yan?"

"The fucker who punched me?!" iritadong tanong ni Kahel.

"The fucker na binugbog mo, Kel." nakangiting sagot ni Ana sa kaniya.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago sumagot. I'm not supposed to tell them this, but in this school, they're probably the only ones I can trust.

"That's located just below the Academy Central. An underground mining cave that is connected to Meredith's storage room." they look confused. "It's their organization room or something."

Marahas na napalingon si Kahel sa direksiyon ko.

"Anong ginagawa mo do'n? Ito ba ang pinuntahan mo pagkatapos no'ng patayan? Paano mo nalaman ang kwartong nilalagian ni Meredith? Akala ko ba hahayaan mo na lang siya?"

Napatigil kaming tatlo sa sunod-sunod na tanong ni Mikhael. Para siyang nanay na galit kasi ang tagal umuwi ng nagiisang anak niya.

"I accidentally found their meeting room when I was following Shaina-" tinakpan ko ang bibig ni Kahel nang magtangka siyang magsalita. "I was curious."

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. "Ang curious curious mo na 'yan ang maglalagay sa'yo sa panganib."

"Or it can take us away from danger."

Akiru stopped his editing and gave me a serious look. "Anong ibig mong sabihin? Does this have something to do with the new rule?"

Tumikhim ako. I really shouldn't be telling them about this. Kailan pa ba ako nakaramdam ng konsensiya at awa? Hindi ko naman talaga sila kilala. They could be like me, hiding behind someone's name, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.