Night of Waterfalls (Venom Series #2)

Chapter 14

Chapter 14: Woman from the Fire

My hands were intertwined with Dave's as we walked towards a huge black car. The gentle hand of the man in the gold ring was gently resting on my shoulder. I glanced up at him, but the sun was scorching hot, and his voice was muffled as if everything he said were in slow motion, yet I couldn't understand. I was drenched in sweat. I could feel the slickness of it as it glided down from my temple, my breathing was heavy, and my throat was aching.

It was as if I was in a dream— in a desert looking for an oasis.

Now I could see a man who could lead me the way. His tall frame against the sunlight gleamed as if every side of him had steam— giving me that blurred vision of him.

It was that hot summer day when everything was so bright— when I thought I saw an island in the middle of the ocean, found a lighted candle in a room filled with darkness, and experienced rainfall after a year of drought, but little did I know it was the beginning of my endless nightmare.

As I stepped inside the car, my feet filled with dirt, leaving traces of mud on the black car— it made me realize the suffering I had outside the streets.

I sat silently at the edge of the seat. Dave was hesitant, but when I smiled at him, he climbed up the car, moved closer to me, and took my hand again. Ramdam ko ang lamig ng kamay niya dahilan kung bakit pilit kong ipinakita sa kanya na wala akong nararamdamang kaba.

As the car moved and glanced out the window, the tall buildings were in a blur.

Dinala kami ni Dave ng lalaking may gintong singsing sa isang malaking bahay— or they could call it a mansion.

Pinagbuksan pa kami ng pinto ng sasakyan nang bumaba kami roon. Kapwa nakatingala kami ni Dave habang mabagal na naglalakad patungo sa malaking gate, sa likod niyon ay higit na mataas na malaking masyon na kailanman ay hindi ko aakalain na mabibigyan ako ng pagkakataong matakapakan.

It's even bigger than my grandparents' old museum.

"Let's go, Kids," ani ng lalaki.

As a kid who learned so much about the struggles of life— it was easy for me to realize my fate behind those high gates. Maybe I was born stubborn, adventurous— or maybe foolish.

I gulped.

Mula sa mansyon ay unti-unting nagtungo ang tingin sa lalaking may hawak sa mga balikat namin ni Dave. Dahil kanina ay hindi ko siya nakita, ngayon ay pinilit ko ang sarili kong higit matandaan ang kanyang mukha.

At first, he was purely shadows in front of my eyes. Ganoon ang tingin ko sa mga taong nakasasalamuha ko, maliban kay Dave, sa iisang babae na madalas kong nakikitang may litratong napaskil sa bawat ampunan, at sa magandang imahe ng babaeng lumuluha sa tabi ng kama ko noon.

When my grandparents died, I've lost my ability to recognize faces. All I could see were their shadows and forms. Madalas ay boses na lang ang batayan ko, ang kanilang galaw, kasuotan o kaya'y ang kanilang mga kamay. Even the kids at the shelter, the nuns, the different volunteers, and organizations were all faceless in front of my eyes.

Ngunit habang patuloy kaming naglalakad papalapit sa mataas na gate na iyon ay dahan-dahan nang naglilinaw ang mukha ng lalaki sa harapan ko.

I thought he was already old— but he was surprisingly young for his voice and his aged hands as if his face were all fake and artificial.

Ganoon naman siguro talaga ang nagagawa ng pera— people could hide their age through money.

Nang sandaling unti-unti nang nabuksan ang gate ay sinalubong kami ng mga unipormadong lalaki na kapwa nakayuko, at ang tanging nanatiling nakatayo ng tuwid ay isang babae.