Don't Mess with Numero Trece (PDN Series #1)

DMWNT 37

DMWNT 37: Inferno

[Trece]

I have replayed this scene over and over in my mind but the real thing is entirely surreal.

Hindi ko inaasahan na halos buong populasyon ng St. Benedict ay dadalo ngayon. Anyone attempting to open the door from the outside would be greeted by phone-guy. Ibinilin ko sa kan'ya na pigilan ang kahit na sinong magtangkang pumasok sa gym. He may act like a loser around me but he was a pretty decent fighter.

Napuno ng usok at apoy ang buong gym. Sa itaas, manaka-nakang bumabagsak ang mga natutupok na puting kurtina. Mabilis na umiiwas ang mga pagod, pawisan, at nanghihinang estudyante sa lugar na binabagsakan ng mga iyon.

I stood at the stage, the only place free from the hungry flames, and watched them all struggle like little sinners in the middle of the fires of hell. They were huddled in the middle, close together, as far away as possible from the lines of fire. Tignan mo nga naman, parang kanikanina lang ay halos magpatayan ang mga ito.

"This doesn't seem so amusing now, is it?" I muttered, wiping my eyes as smoke started to make them sting.

One curly haired girl turned to my direction, nangingitim na ang mukha nito dahil sa usok, hilam sa luha ang mga nito nang bumagsak sa mga tuhod at magmakaawa. "Pakiusap, tama na! Itigil mo na 'to!"

"It's fire. How exactly do you want me to stop it?" I said in a monotone.

"Ano bang kailangan mo?! Kailangan mo ba ng pera?" My head snapped to Wry Alcondrio's direction. He looks like a fcking beggar. "I could give you millions. Billions?! Just get me out of here!"

Right at that moment, I swore I wore the ugliest and most disgusted expression in my face. I could feel my face contorting in rage and anger and the feeling that this is not enough crept into me. This does not equal the pain and desperation I felt before.

Hindi pa rin 'to sapat. 

Hindi pa rin mawala-wala ang poot na nararamdaman ko.

How dare they...

How dare they destroy my peace?

"Trece Cleverine, get me out of here!!" He screamed.

I bent down and swiftly took off my right shoe, throwing it right at Alcondrio's sooted face. My chest heaved up and down as I glared at him and managed to mutter between gritted teeth, "Burn silently, you bastard."

Sa gitna ng sigawan, pagmamakaawa, tunog ng natutupok na foam, at murahan ay ninakaw ang atensyon ko ng mahihinang ubo ni Rijjah na pinakamalapit sa akin at doble ang nakapalibot na apoy.

The fire is getting closer to her body, kaunti nalang ay tuluyan nang hahalikan ng nag-babagang apoy ang balat nito. Ramdam ko ang pagpatak ng isang butil ng pawis sa sintido ko. I was mentally counting the passing seconds. I don't have much time left.

Nanatili ang paningin ko sa katawan ni Rijjah. Halos hindi ako makakurap habang pinagmamasdan ang apoy sa paligid niya, nabingi na rin yata ako sa sigawang pumupuno sa loob ng gym.

I shut my eyes briefly after a few seconds. Napahinga ako ng malalim, my shoulders relaxed.

"Took you long enough." I glanced sideways. Calyx had emerged from the backstage. Iyon lang ang natatanging labasan sa impyernong 'to.

"Let me get her... please." Nakatungong bumagsak sa mga tuhod niya si Calyx, ang mga kamao nito'y nakakuyom sa gilid.

Nagtagis ang mga bagang ko. "Look at me," I ordered, barely hiding the rage in my voice.