Stuck In Between (Published Under IMMAC PPH)

Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Napabaling ang tingin ko sa humiyaw at nagulat nang nakita doon si mama at papa. Inalalayan agad ako ni Pyrrhus na tumayo habang nakatanaw kami kila Papa na tumatakbo ngayon palapit dito. I can see his fury as mom follows him behind, frantic. She was signalling something to me, but I wasn't able to understand what it was because of papa. Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla na lamang siyang sumugod sa amin at natamaan ng kamao niya si Pyrrhus.

"Papa!" I shouted in horror as Pyrrhus fell on the ground. Agad ko siyang nilapitan para alalayang makatayo, he allowed me to while he was holding the part of his jaw where papa's fist fell. Nakakunot ang noo ko kay papa dahil sa ginawa niyang iyon. What's gotten into him?!

"What do you think you're doing to my daughter?!" sigaw niya kay Pyrrhus habang si mama ay pilit siyang pinapakalma. Doon nanlaki ang mata ko at naalala ang nangyari sa amin ni Pyrrhus.

We kissed! We kissed!

I looked around and saw some of Rico's men smirking as they watch us. Nilingon ko naman si Pyrrhus at nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay agad akong napaiwas ng tingin. I can feel the hear slowly creeping through my face as I remember what had happened. It was so sudden that I'm not even able to notice that there are people around, watching us flirt! At lalo na dahil nandito sila papa!

Akma na namang susugod si papa sa amin nang humiyaw si Mama.

"Zinder!" I saw how papa frozed on his spot as he looked back at mama, who's eyes started to change color. Napaatras si papa nang makita iyon. Lalo na dahil nag-uumpisa na ring mapaligiran si Mama ng tubig, her hair flew with the wind, as the water continuously flow around her.

"Serena! I can explain!" sabi ni Papa habang lumalayo kay Mama.

Muntik na akong matawa nang biglang magtago si Papa sa likod ni Pyrrhus, he's only peeking a little bit habang nakakapit ng mahigpit sa damit ni Pyrrhus to the point where it got crumpled.

"Come out here, Zinder." Maging ako ay biglang gininaw nang narinig ko ang lamig sa boses ni Mama.

She slowly went near Pyrrhus, who also trembled as he saw Ma nearing him. Muntik na niyang i-alay si Papa kung hindi lamang siya tinutulak nito palapit kay Mama. Tumigil naman si mama nang makita si Pyrrhus sa harap niya, nginitian niya ito, her smile was so pure and soft that it shook my Papa. Napalabas na lamang siya at tinitigan ang nangyayari sa harapan niya.

"Are you okay?" tanong ni Mama kay Pyrrhus at hinawakan ang panga nito na tinamaan ng suntok ni Papa. She muttered some things under her breathe before placing her hand back on his jaw, slowly nearing him, as if she's going to kiss him.

Nakita ko naman kung paano agad naiharang ni Papa ang kamay niya sa bibig ni Mama. He glared at Pyrrhus for the nth time, as the latter looked so puzzled as he see my father's glares.

I saw how Mama smirked at Papa, and how Papa pouted back. I smirked when I realized what had happened. I know how this is, he's jealous.

Napahawak akong bigla kay Pyrrhus nang biglang yumanig ang lupa. All the other ones around us were shocked too. Nang makabawi ako ay agad kong inilibot ang tingin sa paligid, there were no signs of more enemies but I can see some bodies, slowly fading away as they turn into dust. I looked around for the second time, only to see how the stone floor were standing at started cracking, parting in between where it shows the sizzling lava hundreds of feet below.

I looked at the path the crack were taking and saw how it would reach a small white building that I was not able to notice before. I felt my heart beat increase as I look at the building. Something was telling me that I have to do something about it. Hindi ko na sana ito papansinin nang may makita ako roon.

Nakita ko ang pagtakbo doon ng isang napakapamilyar na pigura kaya agad ko siyang sinundan kahit na pinigilan ako ng mga kasamahan ko.

I was able to reach the place really fast, and I saw Zion there, messing with his hair as he paced back and forth. Agad akong lumapit sa kaniya at nang nakita niya ako ay napakunot ang kaniyang noo.

"Why are you here? It's dangerous, Zin! Go back!" Sigaw niya sa akin, halatang galit, but I can also feel how scared he is and I don't know the reason why...

"No! Why would I kung nandito ka?"

Nilingon niya ako. "This is all my fault so go back there and allow me to solve this on my own!"

Tinalikuran niya ako, at bigla muling lumindol ng malakas kaya napakapit ako sa railings na nasa tabi ko. I shouted for Zion to come back, followed him, despite the grounds intense shaking. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ang isa pang napakalaking crack mula sa kabila, now the building is in between those two rivers of lava and I know that if we're not be able to come out soon, we'll be burned alive together with it!

"Zion!" Tawag ko sa kaniya, pero hindi niya ata ako napansin kaya nagtuloy tuloy siya sa paglakad.

Sinundan ko siya ng sinundan hanggang sa maabutan ko siyang binubuksan ang lahat ng pintuang madadaanan niya, while shouting for the word...mom.

Then and there, I've realized what's happening and made my decision.

"Zion! Umalis ka diyan!" I shouted on the top of my voice, lumingon siya sa akin, nakakunot ang noo at nagpapakita ng pag-aalala.

I just nodded at him, telling him to trust me, this time.

"Rompe el sello y déjala libre, esta es la palabra de la bruja, te sigo."

Mas lalong lumakas ang pag-uga ng building and with a matter of seconds, a single door was detached from it's frame, and there I heard her cry for help, as the light brought by the lava gave her another hope, that it wasn't the end.

She is the one I should save.

Inalalayan ni Zion ang kaniyang ina dahil nawalan na ito ng malay. I helped him and we both walked the fastest way we can to go the the nearest safest place. My heart jumped with joy as I see the door where we entered earlier, but it also made my heart shatter to see that there's only a matter of seconds before the big crack reaches it. Kailangan naming makalampas doon bago pa man iyon mangyari.

Mas binilisan ko ang paglalakad ko at ganoon din ang ginawa ni Zion. When we reached the door, me and tita was able to come across even just seconds before the house slowly fell. My eyes widen as I look at the house, slowly being swallowed by the lava as tears slowly travels down my cheeks. Lininga ko ang paligid, umaaasa na mali ang akala ko, only to see that it is indeed...real.

Lumapit ako sa pinakadulo ng bitak, shouting for Zion's name for countless of times as I felt a hug behind me, stopping me from going down to save my cousin. I begged the person to let me go so I can follow him, but he held me in place as I scream my agony.

Zion...Zion is gone.