LUNA: The Rebellion

66: Emperor's Eyes

Midnight had lost his balance and dropped onto the ground. Patakbo na sana ako papunta sakanya nang dumiretso sa pagmumukha ko ang Emperor. I had enough reaction time to shield myself from him and moved back. But then the Emperor kept on coming to my face, kaya wala sa oras akong umiiwas.

I shouted Midnight's name.

There was no response.

I called him again and again and again.

Still there was no response.

The Emperor's laugh reverberated through the invisible walls of his barriers and into his chest. If I didn't know better I would have thought he dwelled on the idea of finally having the upper hand on this battle but he laughed because finally, he landed a permanent effect on Midnight.

There was a tic on my jaw as I tried to maneuver myself from getting squished by the Emperor's attacks. Midnight wasn't responding and I couldn't even think straight. Hindi ko alam kung may malay pa ba si Midnight o wala na. Palipat lipat ang tingin ko sakanya at sa Emperor. The best I could do was to keep the Emperor away from him as much time as possible.

Regenerating would be hard for him because of the barrier but I believed Midnight could do something about it—— no. It would be unwise of me to depend and wait for something to happen.

Biglang tumigil sa pag-atake ang Emperor at tumalon patalikod ng mga ilang hakbang palayo saakin. Kung nabigla man ako ay hindi ko ito pinakita sakanya. It was suspicious of him to do that but deep inside I was thankful he had given me time to breathe and calm my mind from everything.

Or so I thought.

One second he was looking at me. Observing me. Then the next second he was already looking at Midnight.

Gumalaw na kaagad ang katawan ko bago ko paman maisip kung ano ang susunod niyang gagawin.

Tumakbo kaagad ako sa pwesto ni Midnight bago paman ako maunahan ng Emperor. In a blink of an eye, I found myself shielding Midnight from the Emperor. Another second of hesitating would have been fatal, my body was right to move to protect Midnight. Sa likod ko ay hindi man lang gumalaw si Midnight sa nangyare kaya mas lalo akong kinabahan. Buhay pa ba siya?!

In one swift move, I pushed the Emperor back from Midnight's space. I twisted my body from left to right just so I could push him back. Tawa lang ng tawa ang Emperor. Nakakakilabot na. Pero mas lalo 'rin ako nabwibwisit. Nagagalit. Naiinis.

Sinigaw ko uli ang pangalan ni Midnight.

I just needed anything. Any response from him. I needed to be reassured that he was okay. Blood already pooled around him and my heart was pounding loudly from the inside out.

There was no response.

I took in a sharp breath.

Simphia. Simphia. Simphia. Simphia.

Oh, Simphia.

Please.

"Love,"

Automatikong napalingon ako sa gawi ni Midnight ng marinig ko ang kanyang boses, ngunit bumalik 'rin ang tingin ko sa harapan ng umatake ang Emperor.

My heart was pounding.

"Midnight?" I responded while still fighting.

Nakita kong napangisi ang Emperor sa harapan ko.

"Give me a minute to recover" His voice was hoarse and I could hear him trying to catch his breath when speaking. "I cannot see"