MY CURSED MATE

| A thousand farewells |

Warning! This chapter is not edited, so expect typos, misspelled words, and grammatical errors. Thanks and enjoy reading!

KABANATA LXXI

Third Person's POV

Sa tahimik na umaga, pawis at pamumutla ang bumalot sa mukha ni Everly habang mahigpit na nakapikit ang kanyang mga mata. Mabigat ang kanyang paghinga, and every few seconds, she shook her head as though desperately trying to escape the nightmare imprisoning her mind.

Sa panaginip niya, nakatayo siya sa gitna ng malawak at nagyeyelong kapatagan, tila ibinalik siya sa lugar matapos ang digmaan. The freezing surface burned against her bare feet, but she barely noticed. Her attention was fixed on the devastation surrounding her.

The battlefield stretched endlessly before her. Broken weapons, shattered shields, and charred earth painted a grim portrait of destruction. Bodies littered the frozen ground, their faces pale and lifeless.

Muling humakbang si Everly, until something touches her foot. She looked down—and a scream nearly escaped her throat. A soldier's mutilated, bloodied body lay beneath her, its lifeless eyes staring accusingly into hers.

Then the corpses moved.

One by one, the dead began crawling toward her. Their decayed limbs dragged across the ice, while their hollow eyes remained fixed on her.

"T... Tulong... B... Bakit mo kami p... pinabayaan?"

Nahigit ni Everly ang kanyang hininga. Tears spilled from her eyes as she covered her ears, desperately trying to silence the voices. But the dead continued whispering.

She stumbled backward and fell onto the ice. Their fingers brushed against her skin, sending painful chills throughout her body. She could hear her heartbeat pounding violently inside her chest.

"Patawad..."

The ground suddenly began shaking.

A blinding light erupted before a deafening explosion swallowed everything. The force hurled Everly backward, plunging her into absolute darkness.

Tuluyang napabalikwas si Everly mula sa kanyang pagkakahiga. She woke with a sharp gasp, staring blankly into the room while struggling to breathe.

"P... Patawad..."

She gripped the fabric of her nightgown over her heart. Her entire body trembled beneath the crushing weight of guilt.

Marahang inilapat niya ang mga palad sa kanyang leeg, trying to steady herself as tears gathered at the corners of her eyes.

Then came a soft knock. Everly quickly wiped her tears and straightened her posture.

"C–Come in."

The door slowly opened.

Her mother stood there.

"Everly."

Ellena stepped inside, her presence carrying a warmth that immediately softened the coldness surrounding the room. Despite the exhaustion etched across her face, she offered her daughter a tender smile.

The moment their eyes met, Everly's fragile composure shattered.

Fresh tears streamed down her cheeks.

Without hesitation, Ellena crossed the room and pulled her daughter into a tight embrace.

"It's alright, anak. I'm here."