Saving Humanity

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Trust No One, Part Two

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Trust No One, Part Two

Pauline

Yesterday had been a fuck fest.

I'm hoping today will be different.

Dahil sa nangyari, hindi na kami pwedeng manatili sa bahay na ito. Kailangan naming ipagpatuloy ang pagpunta sa Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary is located somewhere in Antipolo, and right now we are in Cainta, Rizal. Kung susuwertihin ay makakarating kami sa aming destinasyon bago kumagat ang dilim.

Iyon ay kung mabilis na matatapos sa pag-eempake ang mga kasama ko.

Everyone, except me, was able to finally fall asleep as soon as the sun started to rise earlier at 6 AM. Dahil napag-usapan naman namin kagabi ang napipinto naming pag-alis sa lugar na ito, minabuti ko na mag-empake na ng mga gamit ko. Not that there are many things to pack, anyway.

They started to wake up at around 9 AM, and after eating a half-hearted breakfast, we discussed our plan.

Naturally, we're going to use Jack's military truck to take us to the Sanctuary. Like I said, it won't take us long. Ilang milya na lang naman ang layo namin mula sa aming destinasyon. Ang dapat naming problemahin ay kung paano kukumbinsihin ang mga tao sa Sanctuary na hindi kami mga kaaway.

Nandito ako, at kilala ako ng mga tao roon. Pero hindi pa rin ako sapat para maniwala sila. I deserted the place to look for my Dad, so I'm not exactly trustworthy. I'm going to let Ian and Felicity do most of the talking, since that's what they're good at.

My relationship with them ends as soon as I make sure that they're safe in the Sanctuary. I've got plans of my own after that. Hindi pa rin ako titigil sa paghahanap kay Dad. I know that he's still alive out there. He is a strong man, and they won't be able to put him down easily. Even in the face of death, I know that he'll be able to think of something that will save his ass.

My Dad is the smartest person I know. I'm certain that he will successfully beat all odds to preserve his life.

I sigh. Everything has been pressuring me lately. Hindi ko alam kung anong naghihintay sa amin paglabas ng lugar na ito. There may be more person like Edward, na pinag-eksperimentuhan ng mga extra-terrestrial beings para mailipat ang consciousness nila.

Sinabi sa amin ni Felicity ang lahat ng natuklasan niya sa pakikipag-usap kay Edward. Nalaman namin na may kakayahan silang ilipat ang kamalayan nila sa katawan ng isang normal na tao. Hindi ko alam kung paano nila iyon nagawa. It may be because of their special abilities, or a device of some sorts that they invented for that specific purpose.

Despite the havoc that they caused, I can't help but be amazed by their technology. I can only imagine what the human race can do if we are as advanced as them. Siguro, wala nang naghihirap na tao ngayon.

I may be wrong, though. Human beings tend to abuse whatever power that was bestowed upon them. Baka mas lalo pang maging malala ang mga problema na kinakaharap ng mundo kung masyadong advanced ang teknolohiya namin.

Anyway, I don't want to think about that anymore. My mind is making up excuses again to distract me from the actual things that I should think about. Mainly, about how I could convince Felicity and Ian to speak with the leaders of the Sanctuary to let them in.

I have faith in them. Simula nang mawala sina Jared at Holly, silang dalawa na ang tumayong lider ng grupo namin. They managed to get us out of danger multiple times, just like how Jared's plans did for us. I'm pretty sure that they'll do whatever they can to convince the people in charge.

But... Most of the people in-charge aren't exactly angels.

Especially the person who holds the highest position--Dr. Raymart Sayon. Siya ang pumigil sa search and rescue operations na dapat sana ay gagawin para mahanap si Dad. Siya ang dahilan kaya napilitan akong umalis sa Sanctuary at mag-isang hanapin ang aking ama. Siya, at ang iba pang miyembro ng council.

I don't blame them, though. They have limited resources, and over a hundred people to take care of. They can't just spend a good amount of resources just to find a single person. Sometimes, leaders have to make tough decisions to ensure the safety of their citizens. Doesn't make it any less painful, though.

Hindi na ako magpapakita pa sa kanila. Plano ko na ihatid sina Felicity sa entrance ng Sanctuary, at kaagad na akong aalis. Kung paano, pag-iisipan ko pa kapag nasa daan na kami. Hindi ako pwedeng magpaalam sa kanila, dahil alam ko na hindi naman nila ako hahayaan na makaalis.

"Mukhang malalim ang iniisip mo, ah." Napalingon ako sa likuran ko nang may magsalita. Nakita ko si Andre na naglalakad papalapit sa akin. Mula dito ay tanaw ko ang iba pa naming mga kasama na nasa loob ng bahay, abala pa rin sa pag-aayos ng mga gamit.

"Ayos ka lang ba?" tanong niya sa akin nang tuluyan siyang makalapit. He stands beside me, looking out at the trees in front of us. "Baka pwede akong makatulong sa kung ano mang bumabagabag sa isip mo."

Umiling ako. "Wala lang 'to. Iniisip ko lang kung anong gagawin natin kapag nasa daan na tayo."

Malaki ang ipinagbago ni Andre simula nang makarating kami dito. Kung dati ay mas pinipili niyang umatras at magtago, ngayon ay sigurado akong hindi niya uurungan ang mga panganib na pwede naming makaharap habang naglalakbay papunta sa Sanctuary.

Sa maikling panahon na inilagi namin sa puder ng mga Sanchez, marami siyang natutunan kay Tony at sa kapatid nito. For example, he learned how to properly use a gun. May alam na rin siya sa self-defense, at pagkontrol ng emosyon sa gitna ng panganib.

It's strange that I've been with him for more than a month now, but I still know little about his life. Ganoon din sa iba pa naming mga kasama. Siguro ay wala lang akong masyadong panahon para kilalanin sila.

After this, if we ever survive, I'll do my best to find them, and to finally get to know them.

Hindi ko akalain na mapapalapit ako ng husto sa kanila. There's something really fulfilling when you work alongside a pack, knowing that in every dangerous situation, you will have someone to protect your back.

I will miss them once we part ways, that's for sure. As much as I want to stay with him, I don't really want to burden them by asking them to help me find my father. Besides, they have a plan of their own, which is to find Holly and Jared. They were taken by the military, which I'm pretty sure aren't from the Sanctuary.

They believe that our two missing companions are still alive, the same way that I believe that my father is still breathing. In some strange way, we are all alike.

"Are you sure you're okay? Because you don't seem to be."

Ibinaling ko ang tingin ko kay Andre. Isang tango lang ang ibinigay ko sa kanya.

Not because I feel okay, but because I have to be.