Author's Note (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Kabanata 44

Warning: This chapter contains violence, death and gore. This may be uncomfortable for some readers so please, be advised. Prioritize one's state of mind all the time. Thank you.

AZURE sat on the sofa. He was in the other room. Katabi lang din kung nasaan sina Gonietta at Logan. Nakayakap sa kaniya si Stacey.

"Hon, how long are we going to wait?"

"Until that monster comes."

"But I'm tired," reklamo nito at siniksik ang mukha sa kaniyang leeg.

Kaagad naman siyang napadaing at tinulak ang babae. "Fuck! Don't nudge that face on me!" Masakit pa ang leeg niya dahil sa ilang injection na natamo.

Nagulat naman si Stacey sa kaniyang pagsigaw pero hindi niya pinansin ang naluluha nitong mga mata. Instead, he ordered her.

"Give me that book." Turo niya sa libro na nasa table na nasa harapan nila.

Bakas sa mukha nito na ayaw nitong sumunod at napilitang ibigay ang libro. "I thought you don't read fiction."

"I don't." He glanced at the book. It was the Odds of Tribes by Noa Green. It was a stupid thing for him to buy the book of Noa, but what that monster said couldn't get out of his mind. The way he represented himself as Noa's creation had him thinking that he must be someone from a book.

Although it was impossible to believe, that was the only explanation he could think of for the power he saw. That monster didn't come from this world.

Binuksan niya ang libro. Unang sumalubong sa kaniya ang mga character illustration. The drawing may not be as accurate as what he saw from the guy but the outfit was the same. Binasa niya rin ito kahapon at tumugma ang kapangyarihan nito sa nakita niya.

"Black threads . . ." He kept scanning the book.

"Hon."

"What?" Inis niyang nilingon ang babae nang kinalabit siya nito. "If you want to go home, leave."

"I don't want to. I want to stay with you tonight." She pouted. "Can't you make this a little faster?"

He clicked his tongue in annoyance and called one of his men. Kaagad namang may pumasok.

"Yes, sir?"

"Is he still not coming? Wala pa bang halimaw na pumasok diyan?"

"No, sir."

He cursed under his breath. Did he make the wrong decision? Were the hostages not valuable to the man?

But he was living with them. It's impossible if he won't even bother coming here.

"Are you sure you left a message in their apartment?"

"Yes, sir. Kakabalik lang ng iniwan namin kanina at sabi niya pinaskil niya raw ang mensahe sa pinto ng room number ni Logan Ramirez."

The message contained an address kung nasaan sila. He planned on luring the man here and used the two as hostages. Gusto niyang gamitin ang dalawa upang mapasunod ang lalaki. He would give him back the pain he felt in the hospital.

I'm sure he has a weakness. And those are the two hostages.

"Fucking double-check it. Go back to the apartment if needed! I want that guy to come here at any cost."

Tumango naman ang lalaki. "Understood, sir--"

Hindi natapos ng lalaki ang sabihin nang biglang bumalibag ang pinto. Nasira ito at natamaan ang lalaking nakatayo. Napasigaw si Stacey nang may lalaking iniluwa mula roon.