The King's Court

XLIX

It was hard to breathe that's why I woke up with rasping breaths. My mind was in a haze and my body was aching all over, particularly the back of my neck. 

Sinubukan kong alalahanin ang nangyari but my mind was all foggy. I groaned as I tried getting up and that's when I realized my hands and feet were bound. 

"What the heck?"

I pulled my hands and tried to move my feet but they were useless. Saka ko naman narinig ang tunog sa likuran ko. Turns out, I was sitting on the floor and someone was behind me. I moved my hand again and realized someone's hands were tied with mine. 

Wait.

Memories flooded my head as soon as panic settled in. Naalala ko naglalakad ako sa isang maliit na daan. I was with Lorence. And then we...

We met Evelyn. 

"That bitch," I muttered as I tried to twist my head para makita ko kung si Lorence ba ang nakatali sa likuran ko. 

"Lorence," I whispered. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan kami o kung may nagbabantay ba sa paligid. All I know is that I have to be quiet.

I nudged her with my elbow but judging from the weight on my back, she was still unconscious. 

That sick psycho has gone nuts. Bakit ba niya ito ginagawa? Kidnapping the Queen of Solaris? I would say I am pretty bold but the other Evelyn is on another level. Who would dare seize the Queen? 

But then again, bakit pa ba ako masusurpresa? She worked as a spy for Solaris before. I noticed that the difficult tasks were assigned to her--freeing the 'slaves' or poisoning the prince. It was all her. 

This is just insane. That woman has gone insane. Why does she have to look like me for god's sake? 

Kailangan naming makaalis dito. Whatever Evelyn is planning, I know we won't like it.

"Hey, Lorence," I hissed, putting enough bite on my word and more force on my elbow as I nudged her. 

I heard Lorence groan and shifted. 

"Lorence, kailangan mong magising. Come on!" 

Nagpalinga-linga ako sa paligid. Madilim sa kinalalagyan namin kaya naman kahit anong gawin ko ay hindi ko malaman kung saang lugar kami. I should give my eyes more time to adjust to the darkness. 

Lorence groaned again, indicating that she was now awake. Then she grunted and it was followed by a series of colorful curses not befitting a Queen. 

"Lorence, gising ka na ba?" I called out, still whispering.

"Evelyn?" 

God, I hate that name. 

"If you're awake, then we need to get moving. Kailangan nating makaalis dito sa along madaling panahon."

I started moving my hands ngunit bigla naman siyang napadaing sa sakit.

"W-Wait! Why are we tied? Where are we? What happened?" 

"As much as I want to tell you the whole story, we don't have the luxury of time. But to make it short, Evelyn fucked us up and we need to get out of this damned place."

Bigla naman siyang natigilan. And then she gasped, as though remembering what happened.

"That ungrateful worm," she muttered and then started to move her hands, attempting to get rid of the binds.

"Why is she taking us like this?" tanong ko sa kanya. Patuloy pa rin siya sa paggalaw.

"I wish I knew. And I wish I could see that wench right now so I could kick her face."