Mirren Academy of Spells

Chapter 29: Void

Chapter 29: Void

Olivia's POV

I opened my eyes slowly. There was no pain in my body, unlike the last time. I sat up on the bed, unaware of where I was. I placed my hand on my chest and on my dry throat habang pinapakiramdaman ang sarili ko.

Okay na ba ako?

The last thing I remembered was being so sick that blood was gushing out of my mouth. Hindi ko maalala kung sino ang nagdala sa 'kin sa lugar na ito but it looked like I was in a hospital. My eyes roamed around the room. The whole place was silent, as if I was the only one breathing.

Inalis ko ang nakakabit na bagay sa kamay ko bago tumapak sa malamig na sahig. Lumabas ako sa corridor at nakitang walang tao. I walked around, hoping to see a glimpse of someone else, a doctor, a patient...anyone. But the place remained silent, the corridors empty, the white walls listening.

Tuluyan akong lumabas sa building nang walang nakakasalubong na tao. Nakakapagtaka dahil lahat ng bagay ang gumagana pa rin sa building. Ang mga ilaw, even the air conditioning, and the beeping of apparatuses from empty rooms.

Where was everyone?

Paglabas ko sa building, isang ingay ang bumungad sa 'kin. It was the siren coming from the speakers situated in the center of the town. It was unceasing, like a horrible sound of doom embracing the suddenly silent town.

Naglakad-lakad ako, nagtataka kung nasaan ang mga tao. It was like walking through a ghost town. Everything was intact, pero nasaan ang mga tao? May paggalaw ang napansin ko sa dulo ng mga mata ko. On the empty street, someone was running to approach me. Hindi ako nakagalaw nang makalapit siya at bigla akong hawakan.

"Tulungan mo ako!" the stranger said in a frenzied panic. "Ayokong mawala..."

Napatingin ako sa kamay niyang nakahawak sa balikat ko. His hands...they were fading like ash. Unti-unti itong umakyat sa kanyang buong katawan. I clasped my hand against my mouth. The person was disappearing in front of me.

Hindi ko magawang sumigaw nang tuluyang nawala ang taong 'yon sa paningin ko. Nagpalinga-linga ako sa paligid and I was alone again. Nakanginginig ang mga kamay kong nakahawak sa aking bibig. What was happening?

I stepped back, pero hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. I raised my head to the sky and noticed strange swirling clouds from a distance. Nanggagaling ito sa direction ng Mirren Academy. Agad ko itong sinundan. Naglakad ako nang ilang minuto palayo sa bayan pero wala akong nakitang sino man.

When I reached the gates of the academy, isang tao ang kalmadong nakatayo sa tapat nito. Agad akong lumapit para tanungin kung anong nangyayari sa bayan, pero pagharap niya, nakita ko nang tuluyan ang kanyang mukha. His face was fading from his head...a shrilling sound escaped my lips. I stepped away, completely shaken.

Nagmadali akong pumasok sa loob ng gate at sinundan ang kakaibang bagay sa langit. Heavy dark clouds swirled above the hill near the training ground. Even the air seemed to circulate around it. Wala akong makitang estudyante maging sa loob ng campus. Everything was eerie, silent, like the whole place was watching me hanggang makarating ako sa paanan ng training grounds.

Finally, I heard a noise. It wasn't a comforting noise either. Tila sigaw ito nga mga tao sa loob tulad ng nakita ko sa bayan na humihingi ng tulong. I hesitated to take a step further. What was inside? Bakit tila nakasentro rito ang nangyayari?

Someone clasped my shoulder and I nearly screamed. Humarap ako sa taong ito at nakita si Claudia. Isang malalim na hininga ang pinakawalan ko.

"Claudia!" I breathed out, relieved to see a familiar face. "What's happening?"