Capes 1: Charge

Chapter 30

Malcolm, Simon, and Klein, together with Aurea patiently waited for Sir Gregory's news about the person who was acting like Lockey, who was trapped inside the academy now. They were still wondering what this person would do to them because that moment, they all were in danger knowing that they could this person could harm them in unimaginable ways.

The four students stayed inside the boys' room in the meantime while the adults were trying to figure out what was going on. Bakas sa mga mukha nila ang kaba at takot. They knew that going into this situation may lead to far bigger dilemmas.

Aurea let out a deep sigh. "This is too chaotic for the academy," she said getting the attention of the boys. "You know it, CAPES has never meddled with any trouble for the past years. Tanda niyo ba na halos ten years na simula nang magkaroon ng malaking gulo rito sa academy? That was when one of the students came like a plague. They said it was a terrible time for the academy back then, we're lucky we weren't able to experience that."

"Yet," Simon intercepted. "But now, we are facing one, and it's one of the new students, as well."

"It wasn't Lockey," Klein said.

"But it was disguised as him," Simon added. "Many people in this academy believed that he was the enemy. They were seeing his face and seemingly his ability, and speed, just like his father. Now, we cannot just make them undo what they were thinking because they have the right to be scared of what was happening. We, too, were scared of it. Not Lockey, but this person who just came running into us."

Later on, a notification alerted Malcolm so he quickly opened his computer to look what notified him. He went to the site where it brought him to find himself watching a news that was broadcast earlier. Agad naman niyang tinawag ang mga kaibigan at pinalapit para mapanood ang video.

As the video started, there was a yellow raging cloud dancing and circling around in the middle of the street. Nakapaligid sa kahabaan ng kalsada ay ilang mga awtoridad at sa tingin nila'y mga galing gobyerno na ang ahensya ay ang humahawak sa mga abomination. Nakahanda sila dahil kakaiba para sa kanila na masilayan ang ganitong aktibidad.

"That was the same thing I saw before Lockey got struck by lightning," ani Klein. "I knew that was the same thing because that was the only thing that lit up the place that night."

"It seemed like it was the same one that the person who was acting like Lockey came from, too," Malcolm commented, trying to pick up the pieces together. "What do you guys think? Did this person imitating Lockey try to escape?"

"Possibly," sagot naman ni Simon. "But we won't be sure until whoever shows up. Could you fast-forward it?"

"Sure. . ." Malcolm said.

Agad namang pinindot ni Malcolm ang arrow kung saan maaari nilang mai-fasf-forward ang video. Kanila naman itong inihinto nang magkaroon ng kakaibang aktibidad ang wormhole. Saglit lang din naman ng may taong lumabas mula rito. At that point, they were all surprised to  find out that Lockey came out of it. They started guessing that it wasn't him as they watched him get attacked by the authority and got down on the ground, capturing him.

At that moment, they knew they had to show it to the adults so they left their room and ran downstairs to look for Sir Gregory. Later on, they just found it outside of the headmaster's office. When their teacher asked them what was going on, they all started speaking together their teacher couldn't understand them all.

"Calm down," anito. "Don't speak all at once." Tumigil naman din ang apat. "Now, Simon. Tell me what's happening here?"

"Malcolm, show your phone to Sir Gregory. . ." utos nito. Iniharap naman nito sa kanyang guro ang screen ng phone kung saan ipinakita ang eksena kung saan nanggaling si Lockey. Kumunot ang noo ng guro nang masilayan ito. "Did he escape?"

Puno ng pagkatataka ang mukha ni Sir Gregory saka ito dahan-dahang umiling. "That's impossible because we were able to capture him and we put him in the cell where he wouldn't be able to get out. He's powerless there so I don't think this is possible."

"Are you sure, sir?" pangunguwestiyon pa ni Simon sa kanya.

"I am sure. . . Come with me. I'll show you what I was talking about."

The kids followed Sir Gregor going through a secret passageway. They were blown to see where they were heading as it seemed to be out of the academy's premises since the pathway that seemingly looked like a cave was made out of advanced technologies. As soon as they reached the place where their teacher was talking about, they saw the hanging cell where they found a man who was wearing a hoodie and had his back turned from the transparent glass.

"We got still him so. . . I don't understand this. . ."

Malcolm gasped when he realized it. "Oh, shit! That was Lockey. I think that was the real Lockey!"

Napakunot naman ng noo si Aurea. "Was it really him?"

"If this person was locked up in this cell, I have a high belief that the person the Summit City Abomination Agency took the real Lockey. . ."

"So, how we save him?" Klein asked where all questions started to be drawn out. "We will save him, right? Right?"

Hindi makasagot ang mga ito hangga't sa may naririnig na lamang silang tumatawag. Nang magpantig ang tainga nila at malamang nanggagaling iyon sa lalaking nasa loob ng cell ay kinilabutan sila. Pinanood nila ito hangga't sa tumayo ang lalaki. Sa puntong iyon ay doon nila napansin na hindi na si Lockey ang nasa loob ng cell at ibang tao na ito. Bukod sa nagbago ang tangkad nito ay nag-iba rin ang hulma ng katawan.

"You really think you can keep me here?" he questioned and finally turned around collecting gasps from the rest of them. "Surprised? Get ready. . . This would be end for CAPES."

***