Paradise of Corpses (Trinity Series 3)

36 : The Naughty Arm

Tahimik na tahimik kaming lahat habang pinapakiramdaman ang pagbubukas ng pinto ng kung sinuman. Pati si Jacob ay natigil sa kaniyang ginagawa. He is the most nervous amongst us and it might be because his family is here peacefully sleeping. I cannot even breathe because if I do, I think everyone can hear it. Nang tingnan ko naman si Grunge na nasa unahan namin at siyang poprotekta sa amin at sasalubong sa nagbubukas kung saka-sakali mang mga bangkay nga iyon. Specifically, if it is a fighter.

Every second that passes by is so crucial for us. Aficia, whose face is always innocent is focused on the same door, too. Such a talent to stay the same innocent face while being alert. After more and more seconds, our alertness rises only to find out no one opened the door. Wala kaming nakitang kahit sinong nagbukas man lamang ng pintuan kaya naman lahat kami ay nagtataka. To make sure it is safe, Grunge proceeded to see what it is. Lahat kami ay alerto pa rin.

"Weird." si Aficia na muntik ko nang ikagulat. Bigla-bigla na lang siyang bumulong sa may tainga ko sa gitna ng mga nangyayari. "We did not hear any sound at all."

"Shut up."

"Okay."

Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon, mabilis siyang sumunod sa akin. If she will be like this as always, I might befriend her. Ipinokus niya na lang ulit ang tingin niya sa may pintuan. Nawala lang ang pokus ko sandali ay nakita ko na agad ang dismayadong mukha ni Grunge. Nang humarap siya sa amin ay may bitbit na itong isang kamay na gumagalaw-galaw pa ang mga daliri.

"Amaya," I said. Doon na rin nakahinga nang maluwag ang lahat. She really is an attention seeker to have her entrance like this. "That was annoying but still better than being a fighter we need to fight off or even kill if we need to."

"Amaya?" si Aficia na napakunot pa ang noo. "They are already here? The last time I checked papunta na sila sa Malacañang e. That is fast." medyo naguguluhan pa siya.

I understand it. Kanina nang una kaming magkita ay sabi niya ay papalapit sa amin sina Ligaya at Grunge habang sina Amaya at Amugay naman ay patungo sa Malacañang ang direksyon. I do not know exactly how she know that, I just really did not bother asking because we were on emergency. Napabuntonghininga na lang tuloy ako habang tinitingnan ang dismayadong mukha ni Grunge. Iwinawagayway niya ang kamay ni Amaya. Lalapit sana si Ligaya para kunin ang kamay at itapon iyon ngunit hindi iyon pinayagan ni Grunge. He is always gentle despite that cold look in his eyes. Ligaya is always the reckless and always annoyed one.

"Where is she?" I asked, Grunge shrugged.

"Wala. She is not here nor Amugay."

Tahimik na sumilip sina Grunge at Ligaya para siguraduhin ngang ang sinasabi nila na wala nga ang dalawa at ang kamay lang ni Amaya ang naririto ay totoo. Nilapitan ko na rin at saka kinuha iyon. I checked it and looked at it. That is where I realized it is the same length as the arm Amaya used to try and get me from the mob of corpses before Jacob saw me. Medyo may gasgas at may kaunting sugat din iyon. Hindi maipagkakaila rin na may mga dumi at dugo.

"She is not here. Only her arm." sambit ko. "She tried to grab me and get me off from the swarm of corpses last day and she failed. That is when I lost them, and we got separated."