Puppet Town (Cold Case Series 3)

Chapter 15 (2): An Eternal Dance

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Aurelia is gone.

Siyam na araw na kaming nagtatago sa isang abandonadong bahay. We just don't have any safe place to live anymore. Actually, we're more vulnerable here but we don't have a choice.

Nagbukas ang pintuan at kapwa kami napatingin ni Carlos. There was always that fear of being located. Halos hindi na rin kami makatulog dahil sa pagkaalerto. Buti na lang at si Roman ang pumasok.

"Paano kung makipagcooperate na tayo sa pulis? There must be police that's not a part of Everlast," sabi ko sa kanila.

Umiling si Carlos. "It's a vain effort... the chief is being paid by them."

"No wonder they evaded detection." Roman scoffed.

Lahat kami ay napatingin nang may kumatok sa pinto nang paulit-ulit. Nagkatinginan kami, pinag-iisipan kung pagbubuksan pa.

"Who would knock in an abandoned building, anyway?" Nanginginig na sabi ni Carlos.

"No opening, then." Roman motioned us to hide.

But this being an abandoned building, we don't have any place to hide. Nagdikit-dikit na lang kaming tatlo, naghahanda sa kung ano mang nilalaman ng kabilang pinto.

Our time stopped when the rusty doorknob's lock rotated. The remaining hope within us has vanished. Iisa lang naman ang naghahanap sa 'min na malaki ang impluwensya sa bayang ito.

"Shit."

Nagbukas ang pinto at iniluwa niyon si Tita Linda at ang kasama niyang lalaki.

"You love Hana... kaya bakit mo ito ginagawa? Sa tingin mo ba, magugustuhan niya ito?" Nasabi ko na lang.

I can only think of one reason she joined the cult— to be reincarnated with Hana.

But the positive image I've been keeping of her was torn easily.

"Who cares? I only adopted her to be a guide, anyway."

Bago pa ako makakilos, bigla siyang naglabas ng baril sa kaniyang bag... pati na rin ang kaniyang kasama. Lahat ng paghihirap, para lang saw ala.

"Before you even played, we already won," sabi ng kasama niya.

Tita Linda approached me, and Carlos immediately stepped in to put me in his back. Hindi pero siya natinag. She continued to wear that smirk.

"Roman... don't you ever think of sacrificing yourself," sabi ko sa kaniya.

Si Carlos naman ay nagtago sa likod ko. I can already hear him crying.

She played with the gun on her hand and pointed it to us. Napalunok ako ngunit buo na ang loob ko. I will push Roman away. I already have nothing while he still has a lot to live. I can let another world of mine to be gone. Marami nang nawala sa 'kin.

"Tandaan mo, Renée... wala kang ibang masisisi kung 'di ang sarili mo," sabi ni Tita Linda.

From being pointed at us, she pointed the gun in her head. Gano'n din ang ginawa ng kasama niya. And with a press, I saw a pool of blood come out on the other side of their head. May mga ilang piraso ng utak na nagkalat sa sahig.

Tita Linda's corpse lay on the floor while wearing a smile and eyes wide open. I saw a palm cover my eyes.

"It's now over..." sabi ni Roman, nabanggit ko kasi sa kaniyang ito na ang huling beses na papatay sila.