PROTECTORS

18

HELL

The air smells like smoke and sulfur as I walk through the portal. In front of me is a huge gate decorated with twisted, scary sculptures. Their eyes glow red and seem to follow me. Flames flicker behind the gate, casting creepy shadows on the walls.

Everything here is meant to scare me. The walls seem to move, with dark, shadowy tendrils creeping around. It's very hot, and I start to sweat. I take a deep breath, even though the air hurts my lungs, and keep walking, my footsteps echoing on the stone floor.

The gate gets closer, and the carved faces look like they're mocking me. I stop at the entrance, feeling the heavy weight of this place. Fire roars ahead, lighting up the terrifying scene.

As I step into hell, I know there's no going back. The darkness feels alive and welcomes me in.

"Wear this," ibinigay sa akin ni Luther ang isang jacket at nang suuitin ko ito ay nawala ang init na nararamdaman ko.

"Who are you?" isang malagong na boses ang nagtanong. Lumabas ang isang pigura sa gate. It is a skeletal figure stands amidst roaring flames, draped in tattered, ash-gray robes. Its skull is tilted back with hollow eyes and a gaping mouth. Bony arms are raised, fingers curled. Chains hang loosely from its waist, and the ground around it is littered with skulls engulfed in flames.

"Luther."

"The tratior," ani nito at inilabas ang sandata nito. Isang latigong kadena.

Ngumisi si Luther at nag pakita ng walang takot. "Where's the 'Welcome home, prince?'" sarkastiko nitong tanong.

"The king ordered me to not allowed you to enter in this realm again. You are not welcome and not a prince anymore." ani nito.

Pinakita ni Luther ang kamay nito at na pa atras ang guardiya ng gate ng impyerno. "Back off, Lily." ani nito na ginawa ko agad.

"King is smarter that you, Luther. He told me you'll-"

Hindi ko na narinig ang susunod nang biglang nawala si Luther sa tabi ko at wala pang ilang sigundo ay nasa harapan ko na uli siya hawak hawak ang ulo ng gwardiya.

"Tara na," aya ni Luther sa akin saka pumasok na sa loob.

As we take a few steps forward, two figures block our path. They are silhouettes of women, and as I see their faces, I realize they are twins.

Naka ngiti ito sa amin. "Kanina ka pa namin hinahantay, Uncle." ani ng nasa kanan.

"Uncle?" i unconsciously ask.

"They are Havana's daughters. Kim and Kin." ani nito.

"I am Kin." ani ng babaeng nasa kanan.

"I am Kim." sabi ng nasa kaliwa. "Thankyou Uncle! You brought a food!" ani nito saka tumingin sa akin na para bang matagal niya nang nais akong kainin.

"The last time we eat like you was when our dear uncle almost wipe your entire race," ani Kim.

"But he was so useless. Nag tira pa siya ng dalawa HAHAH!"

"But don't worry, Kin. Uncle brought that bitch, she's yours, and her mother's my snack."

Naguusap sila na para bang wala kami sa harapan nila. Pumunta si Luther sa harapan ko para protektaha ako.

"They eat Dead bodies of Evera?" tanong ko.

"Youre right!" agad na tumayo ang balahibo ko nang marinig ang boses ng isa sa kanila.

They move quickly and about grab me, but Luther shields me from Kim's sharp, swift claws.

"Don't touch her or i will burn you two."

imbis na matakot ang kambal ay tumawa lang sila na para bang tinakasan na sila ng katinuan kung meron man. Humarap sa akin si Luther at bigla niyang pinaaooy ang suot kong jacket na ibinigay niya. "As long as you are wearing my jacket, you'll not gonna burn," kaswal niyang sabi habang nag aapoy ng itim niyang apoy ang suot ko.

Actually, it feels like I'm wearing an electric fan with my jacket ablaze. He smiles at me before confronting his nieces.

"You have to kill me in order to eat my princess," seryosong suhestiyon ni Luther sa mga pamangkin niya.

Biglang ngumisi ang dalawa at ang ngusi nila ay katulad na katulad nang kay Luther. Bigla silang nag hawak ng kamay. "Then we will eat you two." sabi nila, sabay na sabay sa parehas na tono.

Nagsama ang kanilang katawan at sa isang iglap isa naging isa isa at naging isang nakakakilabot na halimaw. I see a monster standing before me, her presence both terrifying and mesmerizing. Her skin looks like a mix of lava and burned flesh, glowing with an eerie light that seeps through cracks. Her eyes shine with a fierce, fiery glow, set deep in her skull-like face that grins wickedly. Huge, twisted horns curl out from her head, sharp and blackened at the tips. Her mouth is filled with sharp, yellowed teeth, stretching wide in a menacing grin or scream. Her long fingers end in sharp claws, dripping with what looks like molten lava.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHH!" Hagalpak na tawa ng halimaw.

"Is that all you have got?" tanong ni Luther.

His skin gradually begins to darken with black flames. The seams of his black T-shirt burst as his muscles swell, and the same transformation occurs with his feet. He turns slightly towards me, causing me to step back as I see his eyes turn a dark red.

"We will save your mother," he says, then disappears. "I love you," he suddenly appears behind me, lifts me, and in an instant, we're in a distant area. "Wait for me here," he says before vanishing again.

"He is gentleman, isn't he?" isang boses ng babae ang umalingawngaw. Para itong nasa loob ng isip ko.

"Sino ka?"

In a dimly lit corner, a figure of a woman emerges slowly. "Havana," she whisper.

"We meet again. Queen lily, but you can speak? Amazing." aniya in a mocking way.

"Don't come to me."

"You know the reason why Luther almost wipe your entire race? Because he is afraid to be submissive to useless beings like you, but look at him. He just did not submit. He fell in love." aniya.

Tinignan niya ako nang napaka talim. "Your mother," aniya na naka kuha ng atensyon ko.

"Where's my mother? Anong ginawa niyo sa kaniya." sigaw ko.

"Come with me then," ngumisi siya.

Tumingin ako kay Luther na nakikipaglaban sa mga pamangkin niya. Ibinalik ko ang tingin kay Havan. "Bring me to her," sagot ko.