Blood of an Arrow (UNDER REVISION)

EPILOGO

I stared out my car window as I sped down. With heavy traffic, the enforcers barely touch their caps due to their busy handworks.

The buzzes and sirens occupy the street. The chatters almost sound like propaganda, heard throughout the corners.

Weeks had passed.

It's the day of the field trip. I've been busy checking proposals and preparing everything for this event. Excitement is painted all over my good face-as they say, however, Diel will not be able to come today causing me great annoyance.

She will be preparing for her mother's burial. Gustohin ko mang samahan siya ay hindi pwede, may nakasalalay na responsibilidad sa akin.

I sighed as I checked everyone's messages.

'Almost there."

It's Aiden. He's on his way to the school. The others are almost there too and there's Magnus, Luke, and I. Majority of the students rejected the invitation. They're too afraid to even go back to school now. But some chose to go. We will meet at school and go together to the field venue. Kaming apat lang ang papunta ngayon doon. Nauna na ang ibang mga estudyante samantalang naiwan pa sa amin ang ibang gamit at isusunod ito ngayon doon.

Umusad na ang trapiko. Inabot ko muna ang puting panyo sa backseat at ipinasok ito sa aking bulsa bago tuluyang imaneho ang sasakyan.

I smiled.

I'm almost there.

________________________

I signed the papers.

Now I'm all alone. They're all gone.

'You got yourself someone to lean on now Diel.' I repeatedly reminded myself as I took a glance at my mother's death certificate. I also got her records. Well, that's all that's left.

Tiningnan ko ang mensaheng natanggap ko. It's an update. They've met and are now on their way to the venue. Sayang at hindi ako makakapunta.

After the process, I hurried back home, to our real house. I'm planning to sell this house as soon as possible. I wanna start fresh now.

Siguro naman ay matatapos kong mailipat ang mga gamit sa loob ng ilang araw.

Inuna ko muna yung mga naiwang gamit sa kwarto ko. Yung mga hindi ko na magagamit ay inilagay ko sa malaking karton at i-dodonate.

It's been a while but the house stayed the same. Walang anong bakas ng kasiyahan at kahit ang mga halaman sa labas ay hindi man lang naitapon kahit lanta na.

Nahiga ako sa maalikabok na kama, good thing I wore a mask. I sighed. Ang lungkot ko ay hindi naibsan kahit pa napakalambot ng kamang pinagbagsakan ko. Everything seemed too sudden. Everything.

Hindi ko na namalayan ang pagbagsak ng talukap ng aking mga mata at tuluyang nilamon ng kadiliman.

I woke up feeling nervous and I don't know why. Hinihingal ako at tagaktak ang pawis. Gabi na pala. Ilang oras din akong nakatulog.

I went downstairs and headed to the kitchen. Nasa lamesa yung mga pinamili kong pagkain kanina kasi inaasahan ko namang gagabihin ako rito. I took a bottle of water from the grocery bag and quickly took a drink. Hindi parin kumakalma ang sistema ko. Parang may masamang mangyayari sa sobrang lakas ng kalabog ng dibdib ko.

I took my phone from my pocket when it rang ngunit bigla rin itong pinatay ng caller bago ko pa man ito masagot.

Magnus? Why did he call me?

I dialed back the number but he must've turned the phone off. Mas lalong lumakas ang kaba ko.

What's going on? I tried calling the president but the phone was just ringing. No one's answering, even Aiden.

Hindi na ako nakatiis at nagmadali nang pinaandar ang maliit na truck na nirentahan ko kanina para sana paglagyan ng mga boxes.

Sana umabot ako. This can't be the end.

__________________

Cries and shouts of agony.

"Ahh! What a pleasant thing to hear" the man said while smiling and circling around his prey.

"You devil!" sigaw ng nakahandusay at naghihingalong lalaki.

"I am." naging sagot lamang nito at tinapakan ang baling buto sa tuhod na siya namang ikinahiyaw ng lalaki sa sakit. "I wasn't born but made to be one."

He smiled again before dragging the man into the center along with the others. He knelt and held the man's chin. "I was waiting for this time. I waited and waited and now, it's finally here."

"W-why are you doing this?"

"Why? Haha. A seed for a seed. They took something from me, of course, I should take something from them too. Killing them is too easy, they have to suffer more than that." Tumayo ito at kinuha ang isang armas na kanina pa nakahanda sa gilid.

"You're crazy!"

"You're parents are!! It's a shame they can't witness this right now."

"W-what made you this w-way?"

"Are those tears? Damn! You're a crybaby. Don't worry I won't prolong your pain. Just hold on a little longer, we still have to wait for someone. She's almost here."

"Don't you dare! Don't do anything to her. She has nothing to do with this, right?"

"Huh? May sinasabi ka?"

"Ang mga magulang ko ang may kasalanan sa'yo. Okay lang kahit idamay mo na ako. Ako na ang kabayaran sa lahat..." he slowly crawled towards the killer in his pitiful state. "...Ako nalang! Diel has nothing to do with me or my family. Please!"

"Yes, that's right! She has nothing to do with you or your family..." Nang makalapit ito ay kumapit sa kaniyang kanang paa ang lalaki. "...but she has something to do with me." Pagkasabi nito ay tuluyan na niyang itinusok ang pana sa sugat ng lalaki sa dibdib. Ibinaon at paulit-ulit na hinuhukay ang puso ng lalaki gamit ang pana.

"Ang ingay mo, Aiden!" saad pa nito habang humahalakhak.

"It's you all along..." She said, standing there

He looked back, smiled, and took his white handkerchief out, wiping the blood on his face.

"Hey there, love."