The Lost Orb [PFS #1, The Bearer]

15 "The Dark Raven"

SASKIA'S POV

MY DRIFTING consciousness snapped back to reality when she spoke those words. I can see in her gaze the desire to speak on behalf of these events, to let the answers fall all at once just to bring a conclusion to my muddled state of mind.

But as if restraining herself, she kept her mouth shut. She kept it shut for their own safety, to not trigger something, as if to keep a beast under control from its shackles.

But who is she restraining to?

'You're the haunted one'

"What do you mean?" I asked, jumbled on her words.

Haunted by what?

Now that realization hits me, she's the dark raven before. Tama nga ang hinala ko, na maaaring isang nilalang ang ibon na 'yon. Noon pa man ay pansin ko nang may sarili itong pag-iisip. Dahil isa si Tristan sa highest class kaya magkakilala sila. That explains why she's with the headmistress that night. But why he's wary when she's around?

Tumingin ako sa paligid at nakita ko ang mga mata nilang nagugulumihanan. Ang iba pa sa kanila ay nanatiling naka-distansya sa 'min. Hindi sila makakilos dahil nandito ang isang miyembro ng S-Class. Maging si Sir Zaniel ay nagdalawang isip na magsalita.

Tanging ang babaeng nasa harapan ko ngayon at si Tristan lang ang malapit sa 'kin.

Iritable siyang tumingin sa 'kin. "Seriously? Are you this naive?"

Naive. I tried to recall everything that had happened earlier. The match between us Linzy, ngayon ay inilayo na nila siya sa 'kin. Pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang kuryosidad sa mga mata nito. The violet flames that was scattered around us, and the black mist hovering on the air earlier.

All of it, where it came from?

Wait. What did . . . I just said now?

As if my memories were set in flames, all of it turns into ashes. It crumbled down until I couldn't recall anything from it, as I tried to ask again, "A-Ano ulit ang sinabi mo?"

Her brows furrowed more. "What?"

Lumingon ako kay Tristan. "What happened? Why are we in this situation? I . . . I can't remember anything." I wondered with wide-eyes.

". . . It's happening again."

Ang ano?

Naramdaman ko ang biglang pag-ikot ng aking paningin, kasunod nito ang pagkirot ng aking sentido kaya napahawak ako nang mahigpit dito. Ano'ng nangyayari sa 'kin?

Wala akong maalala.

A silence has passed on us.

The dark raven before, now human, suddenly burst out laughing at me, lahat kami ay nagtaka dahil doon. Hinawakan niya pa ang kaniyang tiyan upang maibsan iyon. "Goddamn this woman, you're really unusual! I think you're more frightening than a resentful and dreary person like me." She laughed again. Her grin widens more.