The Beginning of The End

Chapter 13: Out Of My Sight

Out of my sight

Sobrang-sobra ang takot na naramdaman ko nang binuksan ni Pierce ang pinto. Gusto kong umangal, natatakot ako na baka mapahamak sya. At dahil iyon sa akin...

It's one of my problems. Most of the time, I am reckless. I am impulsive and I do things that I later regret doing. Ako ang sisisihin nila kung may mangyaring masama sa isa sa amin. My friends know I'm impulsive.

Tumatambol ang puso ko habang nanood kay Pierce, nakataas ang kaniyang dalawang kamay at hawak ng kaliwa niyang kamay ang kaniyang baril. The four men raise their guns and point it at him. Kitang-kita ko ang galit sa kanilang mga mata. They're absorbing the fact that we shoot their car and clearly, they're mad.

"I don't mean no harm. Gusto ko kayong makausap. Anong gagawin nyo sa kanya?" Dumagundong ang boses ni Pierce.

"Put your weapon down!" One of the man shouted.

"I will. What are you gonna do with her?" Pierce asked again.

Napasinghap ako sa biglaang pagpapaputok ng isa sa kanila sa kanang banda ni Pierce. I fucking thought he will shoot Pierce.

"Ano ka ba! Hindi natin gawain 'yan, Derek!" Narinig kong angal ng isa sa kanila. "Hindi sya infected!"

That man looks worried with the man in front of him. Out of the four men, he's the only one who shows concern. The other two looks just like the man who fired.

"Siya ang unang bumaril sa atin. I said put your weapon down!" Umalingawngaw ang sigaw ng isa sa kanila.

Some of the infected are hobbling towards the group but it's the least that they care right now.

"I did it dahil ayokong umalis kayo. Natatakot rin akong lumabas kanina dahil apat kayo at ako lang isa. Anong gagawin nyo sa kaniya at saan nyo sya dadalhin?" Kalmadong tanong ni Pierce gamit ang kaniyang baritonong boses.

"We were supposed to bring her to the camp." The concerned guy answered.

Dahan-dahang humakbang si Pierce palapit sa kanila. Hindi sila umangal. Lumapit ang isa sa kanila sa lugar na pinag-iwanan ni Pierce ng kaniyang baril.

"Totoo ba?" Tanong ni Pierce sa babae na ngayon ay umiiyak pa rin.

"They killed my f-father..." Parang dinurog ang puso ko sa naging sagot ng babae.

"Infected ang lalaki." The man who seems like the leader of the group answered sternly.

"I told you he's not! Nasugatan lang sya!" The girl screamed.

"Give her to me. Kapitbahay ko siya. Your camp rescues survivors, right? If survivors think they can live on their own, they should not be forced." Ani Pierce.

"And who are you to tell us that? Inutusan kaming dalhin lahat na makitang buhay sa camp!"

Nagkatinginan kami nina Millie at Aki sa naging sagot ng lalaki. I find it hard to believe them. Even if what they're saying is true, mali ang kanilang pamamaraan.

"I work in the government for years along with the uniformed men, marami akong kakilala. Who's your headman? I might know him. Let me talk to him." Lakas-loob na sabi ni Pierce.

Nakita ko ang pagtinginan sa isa't-isa ng mga kalalakihan. They're talking with their eyes. With their eyes, I can tell they're lying.

"Hindi na kailangan. Hindi ka namin pipilitin kung sasama ka o hindi. Pero ang babaeng 'to, sasama sa amin."

"Ayoko! Please, maawa kayo!" Pagmamakaawa ng babae.

"Is the camp formed by the soldiers? If it is, you would be safe there." Ani Pierce.