Deceret Series #2: Bleed for Love

Chapter 14

I felt sick to my stomach.

Pressing a knuckle against my mouth, I glanced down at my trembling hands. Naririnig ko ang histerikal na boses ni Tita Sidra. It took me a while to figure out what she was saying.

"—wake Anton please and tell him that the kids are missing. Call Thyron as well." She gave me a worried glance. "Don't worry, Czarina, we'll all look for them."

Hindi nagsalita si Rigor. He just grabbed my hand and headed towards the door. Tita Sidra called us but he didn't even bother to stop. Itinuro niya ang kotse at nagmamadaling binuksan, saka pumasok sa driver's seat. I forced my limbs to move and opened the door. Hindi pa man ako tapos sa pagsusuot ng seat belt ay pinaandar na ni Rigor ang kotse.

"Castian is wearing a blue shirt today," he took a shaky breath and honked impatiently for the guard to open the gate. Binalingan niya ako. "Do you remember what Freuss was wearing?"

"It's a... pink dress, I think," my mind jumbled over her image earlier, trying to grasp trivial yet crucial things such as her clothing. "A pink tulle dress," humugot ako ng malalim na hininga.

"Alright," he nodded and stepped on the accelerator. Nagbabadya ang mga luha sa mga mata ko. My chest is filled with worry.

Where are they? Are they fine? What happened? Did someone took them?

My back is clammy with cold sweat. I tried to silence the voices inside my head and focused on spotting my son somewhere in the road, hopefully with Freuss in hand. Castian can be sometimes naughty, but he's never engaged with strangers before. He knows this will worry his mom. Naniniwala akong hindi niya magagawa iyon.

"Czarina..." Rigor's voice is soft, but I could hear the pain laced at the edge. "It's okay. We're going to find him."

A huge lump formed in my throat. Giving him a coherent answer isn't possible. Tumango na lamang ako. I felt him reaching for my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before letting go and focusing on the road instead.

We scouted every place they could be—parks, churches, the temple, and even the beach. Tinanong din namin isa-isa ang mga nakakasalubong kung may nakakita ba sa kanila. Every time they say no, my heart sinks further into my stomach. I felt like walking underwater. Everything is muffled and the only voice I want to hear is my son's.

"Excuse me, may nakita ba kayong bata? 4 years old, naka-blue na shirt?" I gave my phone to a lady who squinted her eyes at the screen. Hope filled my heart for a few seconds only for it to drain when her face warps into something close as confusion.

"I'm sorry, wala eh," she gave me a sympathetic smile.

"Salamat," I could barely hear my voice. Nilagpasan ako ng babae at sumama na sa mga kaibigan niya. Gusto kong maiyak pero pinipigilan ko ang mga luha ko. I have to function well if I want to find my child.

I spotted Rigor from a distance. May kausap din siyang lalaki at ipinapakita ang cellphone niya. Nang umiling ang lalaki ay bumagsak ang mga balikat niya. I bit my lower lip and looked away. Ayokong nakikita siyang ganito dahil mas lalo akong kinakabahan.

"Rigor, let's go to the school," tumikhim ako at marahan siyang tinapik. Pagod ang mga mata niyang lumingon sa akin, saka tahimik na tumango at inakay ako sa sasakyan.

I walked slowly, feeling the weight of the world with each step I took. My breath is strained and my mind is going to dark places again. I swallowed the forming lump in my throat.

I glanced around the park one last time with dissipating hope in my chest when I caught glimpse of a pink tulle. I froze in the ground when the little hand connected to another tiny arm and then to a tall man wearing a blue uniform.