BOOK 3 -- XYRENE: THE GIRL WHO TOLD THE TRUTH

CH4: Magandang Gabi

People were screaming, pushing each other out of the venue as the mayor continued to pull the trigger. Some were taking videos of the scenario, some calling the police and ambulance for help, and some just standing there, stunned by the situation.

"HOW DARE YOU!!" De la Corte yelled from the top of his lungs, aggressively trying to get off the guards' and their strong grips. "WHY?! WHY NOW WHEN EVERYTHING WAS GOING SO SMOOTH AND PERFECT FOR ME?! SABIHIN MO SAKIN, WHY?!"

A pool of blood was covering the cold marble tiles. She opened her eyes and felt numb. The loudness of the people's screams and the sound of their footsteps sounded blurry and felt as if everything was slowly fading away from her. Laying on the ground, her eyes getting blinded by the huge crystal chandeliers above her.

"Is this how it'll end?"

Her vision started getting blurry. All of her six senses were slowly disappearing. She soon felt her eyes getting heavier and heavier, every time she tried opening her eyes, the light got smaller and smaller as darkness fills in.

"XYRENE!"

She hears the person calling her name getting a bit louder, it felt like someone was near her. A pair of arms wrapped around her, shaking her frail body. "Xyrene! Hold on, there's ambulances outside. I'm gonna carry you okay?" Rafael said with panic in his voice. He rips a strip of his shirt and starts tying it around her body to stop the bleeding.

"Rafael?" Xyrene said in a soft shaky voice. Rafael felt a tiny bit of relief to hear her say his name. "Yes I'm here. Don't worry, you'll be fine." Rafael reassures her as he tries to stop the bleeding in her abdominal area. "Thank you... so m-much." She smiled and suddenly felt tired.

"No, no, no! Hang in there Xyrene!"

"Don't they say that none of us will survive to see the end of the world? However, I- I wish to leave the largest and most b-beautiful footprint possible. Perhaps yours will be just next to mine, and we will walk together, leaving a trail for future generations to follow."

That was Xyrene's last words before blackness caved in her vision and fell into a deep slumber.