The Song of Teardrops (Van Doren Series #3)

Chapter Eight

Cianna

Three days have passed but Nyx and I still haven't make it out of the Woodland.

Ang sabi niya ay ang tanging paraan lang raw papalabas rito nang hindi gumagamit ng kapangyarihan ay sa pamamagitan ng isang tulay. At dahil isang ibon lang siya kasama ang isang batang ni minsan ay hindi pa nakagamit ng kapangyarihan, iyon nalang tanging paraan namin para makalabas mula rito. He said it was a bridge intented for the helpless or someone who's just lost in here.

So far, Nyx has been a good companion. Hindi nga lang marunong tumahimik minsan. Kahit saan kami pumunta ay parati siyang may kinukwento. Hindi ko rin naman siya masisisi. I started to feel bad about him too for not having someone to talk to for a long time. His life must've been so lonely unlike how I used to think about how birds live. Mangin ang mga kagaya niya ay may mga suliranin rin at wala man lang ni isang may pakialam roon.

"The Bridge of Elwood is not far from here!" He shouted from the tree. Nasa itaas siya ng puno ngayon para tignan kung nasaan na kami. Bumaba ang tingin niya sakin bago may hinagis pababa.

I flinched when an apple dropped on my hands. Napatikhim ako bago ibinulsa iyon. "Thank you..."

Tumango lang siya mula sa itaas bago nagbago ulit ng anyo bilang ibon. Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad at sinundan siya sa kanyang paglilipad. He leads the way towards the bridge. Hindi ko alam kung saan kami susunod na makakarating mula roon... But he did said we'll be out of Axiom. So, wherever that bridge would lead us, I would choose it. Basta't makalabas lang kami. Anywhere is better than here for me.

Inubos ko ang mansanas na ibinigay niya sakin. Napatingin ako sa paligid bago lumuhod sa lupa para ilibing ang buto ng mansanas roon. I smiled when I felt the roots of the trees again. Hindi ko alam kung nararamdaman rin ba ni Nyx ang ganitong klaseng pakiramdam sa tatlong araw na paglilibot namin rito. Pero unti-unti ko ng nakikilala ang mga puno at kahit na ang mga halaman. They too, have somewhat feelings of their own.

Kagaya ng ipinangako ko kay Lady Tauriel, hindi ko kakalimutan ang mga itinuro niya sakin. At isa na rito ang katauhan ko bilang isang dyosa. Sa tingin ko ay nagsisimula na ang pagsaksi ko sa mga ito. This is one now. My linkage with the nature.

"Diere!"

Gulat akong napaangat ng tingin kay Nyx. He's on his shadow form now descending from the branches of trees above. "Nandito na tayo... Pero bago tayo tumawid, gusto ko munang ipaalam sayo ito..."

Lumapag siya sa lupa. Napatayo naman ako at tumingin sa likuran niya. There's an opening nearby, but was covered by mists.

"Ano iyon?"

He bit his lower lip and pushed the strands of his hair back. His red eyes suddenly flickered as they look up to me. Natupi ko ang mga braso ko at kampanteng pinagmasdan lang siya.

I'm starting to realize what a waste he is to the world and he doesn't even know that. Hindi kaya pangkaraniwan ang mukha na mayroon siya. Mukha siyang higit pa sa mga prinsipe na hinahangaan ko noon.

"The Bridge of Elwood has few conditions to whomever would wish to cross on it. Una sa lahat, huwag na huwag kang magsasalita habang tumatawid tayo. Huwag ka ring magmadali. Huwag kang gumamit ng kahit anong kapangyarihan. Just follow me and cross peacefully, okay? You don't want to wake the ones that leave underneath it," he explained.

"Why? Who lives under the bridge?"

"Goblins," he whispered. "We shouldn't disturb them. They are treacherous pests. Hindi mo gugustuhing maging biktima nila... They turned everyone they've captured just like them."

I shivered. "O-Okay... Can't they see you too?"

"No one can see me except for you, Diere. Which means... you'll be alone in crossing the bridge. Gagabayan lang kita..."