The Temptress' Karma | Completed

Chapter 11

"G-Gumising ka, Sky... w-wake up."

I opened my eyes when I heard Liz's frightened voice. Sinalubong ako ng isang madilim na silid kung nasaan ako ngayon. But I did not see her, not even where the voice was coming from. I did not see Liz.
 
"L-Liz?"
 
"It's alright Sky, you'll be safe, and we will be safe," the voice said again, but I saw no one.
 
Tears started to cloud my eyes as I tried tracing her voice. She was near me; I could feel it and hear it. I can... feel her.

"Liz!" I sobbed and started running to nowhere, sa walang katapusang kadiliman. Hinanap ko siya sa paligid ko, nakiramdam. I heard footsteps, I heard chattering, and I heard noises, but she was not here.

"They're gonna take us—"

"They won't! M-Mag tago ka muna dito, okay? Sky? H-Hihingi ako ng tulong."

I fell on my knees and brought my hands to my ears. Now I hear my own voice around me. The voice of naive Sky, Liz's met. The voice of her killer.

"L-Liz..."

"Help m-me, Sky... s-save me..."

I cried even more when I heard her inside my head, begging, crying, and screaming. I saw her being dragged away from me, bathing in her own blood.

"L-Liz..." I whispered. "d-don't take h-her."

"G-Gumising ka, Sky... w-wake up."

"D-don't..."

"G-Gumising ka, Sky... w-wake up."

"D-don't take her!"

"Wake up, darling—"

I snapped my eyes open and started bawling so loudly. A hand held my arms, and I quickly drew back away from whoever it was. My body shivered in fear, my tears wouldn't stop, and my hands were pressed against my ear.
 
I heard cries, I heard them murmuring, and I heard her.

Humagulgol ako at umiling, hindi natigil.

Kasalanan ko... kasalanan ko...

I shouldn't be here. Kasalanan ko ang lahat.

"S-Skylar, darling, calm—"

"NO! KASALANAN KO! KASALANAN KO! K-KASALANAN KO ANG LAHAT!" I cried and drew back away from them. "kasalanan ko! Kasalanan ko—"

"Princess..." A strong pair of arms caught me as I was pulled into a tight hug, tight enough to stop me from fighting. "Calm down, calm down, Sky. This is Kuya Navie; this is Kuya. Calm down..."

Kasalanan ko...

Humagulgol ako at pinilit na lumayo sa taong may yakap sa akin. I keep on shaking my head, sobbing aloud, murmuring the same phrases.

Kasalanan ko ang lahat.

"It's alright... you're alright..." Kuya Navie whispered, marahang sinuklay ang aking buhok gamit ang kaniyang kamay. I heard him sniffing, his chest rising for a deep breath. "it's alright, princess."

Unti-unti akong nanghina, nakaramdam ng pagod sa pag-iyak. Unti-unting bumigay ang katawan ko, naramdaman sa wakas ang paligid.

I heard my Mom's cries, Eury's, and my other cousin's. I heard a commotion outside.

"K-kasalanan ko, Kuya... I-I'm sorry... kasalanan ko..." iyak ko at paulit-ulit na umiling sa kaniyang dibdib.

I felt him tighten his hold around me. "You're no fault at what happened, Sky. You're not at fault." mariing anito.

"If there's someone to blame for what happened, it is those fucking syndicates, not you."

But I just shake my head. I... wanted to believe it, at least for once.

Pero hindi ko kaya... hindi kaya ng konsensya ko.

Unti-unting bumigat ang talukap ng aking mga mata. Naramdaman ko ang paglutang ko sa ere at paglapat ko sa malambot na kama. Bumukas ang pinto ng silid na kinaroroonan ko at nakita si Riegar roon na puno ng pagsisisi ang mukha habang nakatingin sa akin.

He's sober, and he looks like he just cried awfully like me. He advanced but Kuya Navie stepped in, hinarangan siya.

I'm sorry.

Bago pa tuluyang muling lukubin ng kadiliman ang kamalayan ko ay narinig ko pa ang huling sinabi ni Dad.

"Let's have her undergo medication again."