3rd
The night was thick with tension, like a storm hovering just out of reach, waiting for the right moment to strike. The Agency's once bustling halls were eerily silent now, the air thick with the lingering scent of blood and chaos. Aaron and Hash stood frozen in the corner, eyes wide, both of them unable to look away from the horrific scene before them.
Kaliya.
Ang dating matatag na presensya nito ngayon ay naging isang nilalang na puno ng pangangailangan, isang halimaw. She was crouched on the cold floor, holding a lifeless body in her hands, its blood dripping from her lips. Her eyes were wide and unseeing, filled with a mix of hunger and something darker—something that hadn't been there before. Ang dugo na nagkalat sa katawan niya, ang wild na tingin sa mata niya, malinaw na hindi siya ang Kaliya na kilala nila.
"Kaliya?" tawag ni Aaron, ang boses niya mababa at maingat.
Agad na tumingin sa kanya si Kaliya and that made Aaron freeze in place. Her eyes locked onto theirs, but they weren't the eyes of the woman they knew as their cousin. They were cold, distant, and full of something else... something deadly.
She didn't seem to recognize Aaron, Hash, or anyone. She then stared at the lifeless body in her hands, her grip tightening on it as though she couldn't let go, as though it was the only thing keeping her grounded.
Hashiel took a cautious step forward, trying to reach her, his voice shaking. "Kaliya, it's us. Mga pinsan mo."
But Kaliya just blinked, blangko ang mga mata. Hindi siya tumugon sa kanya, hindi sa pagkakakilala, hindi sa takot—kundi isang walang laman na titig. Her fingers tightened around the body she was holding.
Napatingin si Hashiel kay Aaron, "Anong gagawin natin?"
Bago pa makasagot si Aaron ay napatingin silang dalawa kay Kaliya na biglang tumayo habang napatingin sa kaniyang madugong kamay.
"Bloodlust." Sambit ni Aaron.
Napatingin naman si Hashiel kay Aaron. "Ibig sabihin ba neto ay-"
Bago pa nakatapos si Hashiel ay biglang umalis si Aaron sa tabi neto at nasa likuran na siya ni Kaliya. His hand suddenly held Kaliya's chin and shoulders, breaking her neck in one swift motion.
"What the fuck! Dude! Bakit mo ginawa yon?!" agad na reaksyon ni Hashiel.
"She's going to be fine. Mag he-heal siya kaagad, kailangan lang antin siyang ilayo dito." Sambit ni Aaron habang kinakarga si Kaliya. "Let's just hope that she's not going to kill me for doing that."
Kaagad naman silang umalis at bumalik sa pinanggalingan. Nakalma na ang sitwasyon at parang nag cease fire na dahil napaatras na ang kalaban. Ang mga ahente ay nagsitulungan na sa isa't isa and captured all the remaining intruders.
