Night of Waterfalls (Venom Series #2)

Chapter 43

Chapter 43: Taste of Blood

I found myself floating in the middle of infinite darkness. "Where am I?"

My head turned in different directions, desperate to find a light— a passage to escape. But as I turned and moved around, my chest continued to tighten as if it was about to explode. "Hello?"

I tried to open my mouth and call somebody for help, but I stopped, thinking about a name that would help me. "Please . . . help me."

I ran, one of my hands outstretched as if it could hold on something to hold onto until I stumbled. My eyes stung and wide open. I gasped as I clutched my chest, unable to utter another word. Until unfamiliar arms crawled from my back, embracing me, and then a whisper of a woman's voice in my ear. "You'll have to kill him . . ."

***

"No!"

My eyes opened abruptly despite the pain. I knew even if I was not in front of the mirror that my eyes were all swollen. After all those endless cries, I felt so heavy and tired that even if I had plenty of sleep, I felt so weak.

"Then you'll have to kill me." Muli ko na namang naalala ang mga salitang iyon ni Tobias.

Kaya ba ganoon na lang din ang panaginip ko dahil sa salitang iniwan niya sa akin?

Hindi ko na namalayan na nakatulog na ako sa pag-iyak at nagising akong naririnig ang paulit-ulit niyang boses. Maging ang paraan ng titig niya sa akin at ang pagtalikod niya kasabay ng pagbagsak niya ng pinto.

I pressed my forehead with one of my arms. I hated this headache.

All I could see was a blur as if everything was swirling, but as I slowly breathed, trying to calm myself, my world stopped spinning. I pressed my palms on the bed as I pushed myself to sit. I looked around, the room was dimly lit by small candles. There was still a storm with strong winds, dark clouds, and heavy rain.

I sighed.

I closed my eyes again for a moment before I opened them. I left the bed, barefooted, I dashed to the door to discover that it was locked. "Fuck."

Nasapo ko ang aking noo at napasandal na ako sa upuan. I frustratingly pressed my palm on my forehead before I ran my fingers through my hair. Tobias was serious about his words. Wala siyang balak sundin ang napagkasunduan namin.

I was hoping that he was true to his words. Akala ko ay may isang salita siya! Sumunod ako sa kasunduan namin. I tried to listen to him. I trusted him.

Napaupo na ako sa likuran ng pinto, niyakap ang mga binti ko at isinubsob roon ang mukha ko. Bakit kailangan niya pa akong ikulong sa lugar na ito? Ano ang magiging tulong ko sa kanya habang naririto ako? Dagdag problema niya pa ako at isa iyon sa bagay na hindi ko kailanman pinangarap, ang maging pabigat.

Tumayo akong muli at sinimulan kong kalampagin ang pinto. "Tobias! Let me out! Please!"

Ngunit walang nakakarinig sa akin, sa halip ay mas malakas na kulog at kidlat ang nangyari dahilan kung bakit napatalon at napasigaw ako sa gulat. "Please! Let me out!"

Mas malalakas na ang sigaw at hampas ko sa pinto ngunit wala pa rin nakaririnig sa akin. "Tatalon ako sa bintana!"

Hindi pa rin nabubuksan ang pinto kaya malalaki ang hakbang ko sa bintana. Ngunit nang subukan ko iyong buksan ay hindi man lang iyon gumalaw. Napaatras pa ako nang tila tatama na sa akin ang kidlat. Halos sabunutan ko ang sarili ko sa sobrang inis.

Bumalik ako sa may pinto at wala akong tigil sa pagkalampag pero tila ako lang ang nilalang sa palasyo ng Parsua Deltora na kahit mapaos ako sa kasisigaw at dumugo na ang mga kamay ko sa paghampas sa pinto ay walang nangyayari.