Blood Menace

42- Death

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Cole nang makitang bumaon sa dibdib ni Kray ang wooden arrow.

Bumulwak ang dugo mula sa bibig nito.

At lahat ay natumba maliban sa kanilang mga taga-Hellville.

Maging sina Misna at Cameron ay natumba at hindi iyun nakaligtas kay Kray.

Tumawa ang lalaki kahit na hirap itong nakabulagta sa lupa.

He sounded... satisfied.

"K-Kam..." lumuhod si Cole habang yakap ang dalaga.

May bumulwak na dugo mula sa bibig ni Kam at napamura si Cole.

"You're going to be alright," taranta niyang sabi at napahigpit ang yakap niya rito nang muling nagsuka ng dugo ang dalaga at tumirik ang mga mata nito.

"Kuya Cole," biglang lumuhod sa tabi niya si Thaïs at ilang spells ang ginawa nito, attempts to heal Kam.

Pero walang nangyayari.

"Kam! Kam, wake up," nataranta si Cole nang bumagsak ang mga kamay ng dalaga sa gilid.

Hindi niya matatanggap ito.

He looked at her ring on her finger. It should protect her, right? Even from death?

"Kuya..." nasa boses ni Thaïs ang pagkabahala.

"The ring..." paos ang boses na sambit ni Cole. Ni hindi niya alam kung paano tatapusin ang sentence na 'yun.

Umiling si Thaïs. She might be young, but she was top of her class ỉn witchcraft. She knew a lot. She learned a lot from great witches.

"It doesn't protect her from death," malungkot nitong sabi at tila pinunit ang puso ni Cole sa narinig.

Gone was the little hope he was holding on to.

Kam was dying!

And she was not the only one dying!

Everyone in the city was dying!

Nakita ni Cole ang pagbunot ni Lorenzo ng arrow mula sa dibdib ni Kray na hindi na kumikilos.

Bumaling si Cole kay Kam pero hindi pa rin ito kumikilos. Bumabagal na rin ang tibok ng puso nito.

"Don't die on me now. I just found you again. Please, sweetheart, wake up. I love you. I never stopped loving you. Please, open your eyes," niyakap ni Cole ang dalaga.

He whispered sweet nothings, hoping she'd open her eyes and laugh at him. Tease him.

Or even get angry at him. He would welcome that.

But she didn't open her eyes.

She didn't laugh at him.

Unti-unti nang nawawala ang pulso nito.

Hindi na napigilan ni Cole ang pagluha.

Kam didn't deserve this.

The people of Obis didn't deserve this.

Naririnig ng binata ang dahan-dahang pagtigil ng pintig ng puso ng mga katawang nakabulagta. Mga katawang nakakalat sa paligid niya.

Millions would die today, including the woman he loved for years, because of a selfish love.

A man decided that his feelings were the only ones valid and acceptable.

And now...

Impit na sumigaw si Cole nang tuluyang tumigil ang pulso ni Kam.

Kasabay ng pagtigil ng pulso ng lahat ng mga taga-Obis.

Why did this happen?

Ang tahimik ng paligid.