The Unseen Trial [Ace Lucifer's Series Three] ON GOING

Thirty Fifth Trial

SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADE 12

CANDACE woke up in her room. Masama ang pakiramdam niya. Her body feels heavy and in pain. Head throbbing, nauseating, and dizzy. Candace was confused for a moment, trying to remember what happened as her memory stopped in Bryson's bed after the deed but now, she's in her room.

And after a few seconds, she almost jumped off her bed and ran down to her window. Hindi siya sigurado kung panaginip lang ba, o totoo ang nangyari but her heart thumped with fear, and worry when she saw that Bryson's house was full of people, and the cars parked on their street doubled. Unusual ever since Bella was kidnapped.

No...

Hindi...

That's not Bella, right?

Halos mawalan siya ng balanse patakbo palabas ng kwarto niya. She felt cold, and it was a good thing that Bryson's hoodie was on her clothes rack. Minadali niyang isinuot 'yon habang palabas ng bahay. Ang paligid ay madilim nan ang makalabas siya. She's not sure how long she fell asleep to know if it's night or midnight.

Ang alam niya lang ay nahimatay siya matapos ang nakita, dahil sa pinaghalong takot, gulat, at pagod. That's all she remembers, after she saw Bella on the pavement, full of bruises, cuts, and pale faced.

Walang humarang sa kaniya nang makarating siya sa gate nila Bryson. Tuloy-tuloy ang pasok niya. Walang pumansin ni isa. Walang pamilyar na mukha, at kahit si Arrow ay wala. All of them can't even look at her. Nang makarating siya sa kusina ay iisa lang ang katulong na naroon. Namumula ang mata habang gumagawa ng pagkain para sa mga tao sa sala.

"Ate..." her voice quivering with the cold and fear. Fear that what she saw earlier in the morning is really what it is.

That can't be...

"Oh..." napakurap ang katulong mula sa pagkatulala. "Halika, kumain ka—"

"Si Bella?" tanong niya agad. "Si Bryson? Si tita, at tito? Nasaan sila?"

But all the response she received was a silent cry from the helper. Ang helper na halos kalakihan niya, at isa sa mga tagapag-alaga ni Bella. By then she can't process it in an instant. She's still in denial. Her mind...her heart doesn't want to believe it.

Ang una niyang naisip ay si Bryson. Worry suddenly filler her.

"Ate..." tawag niya ulit.

"Wala na si Bella..." mahinang bulong nito. "N-nasa...morgue sila ngayon...nag-iimbestiga at inaasikaso ang libing..."

Tuluyan na siyang nanghina at namanhid. Her knees gave in, and the helper in front of her cried harder. Inalu siya nito at pilit na pinapatayo. Candace looked into nothingness. Parang bigla siyang nabingi, at nawalan ng paningin. Pilit siyang tinatawag ng katulong pero hindi niya magawang sumagot.

Bella...

No...

Hindi 'yon totoo. Hindi pwede...

It was too fast. Too sudden. Hindi niya alam... parang kahapon lang ay positibo silang mahahanap si Bella at makaka-uwi ito. The happenings won't sink in to her. She can't even understand, and most of all, she will not be able to accept it! Parang isang panaginip.

Gusto na niyang magising!

Parang noong nakaraang buwan lang...ay halos wala na siyang mahiling pa. Hindi na niya magawang humiling dahil masaya na siya at kumpleto na. Masyado siyang masaya... at sa isang iglap ay ganito?