R O O M 16 (Sixteen Series #1)

Part 16

SIXTEEN

[WARNING: The following content contains details or informations that are not suitable for some readers. Reader discretion is advised.]

"Alas, what do you think this one's made of?"

Napalingon ako kay Shane. I saw what she's holding that made my eyebrows furrow.

May hawak siya ngayong bato na mayroong weird shape, it looks like the shape of those puzzle pictures but at the same time, it looks kind of messy. But I'm sure, it's a stone.

"Shane, may mata ka ba o wala?" I stated. Tumingala siya sakin na nakakunot rin ang noo.

"What? I'm just asking! Why are you so grumpy, hmp!" She pouted and walked away.

Napanganga akong nakatitig sa kaniya palayo. Napailing na lamang ako at napatitig sa transparent glass na mayroong painting ng ancient civilization na naka-display sa loob nito.

We're currently at the Southwest Ancient Place. An old museum wherein the ancient things can be found. Everything in here depicted the ancient times. Ang mga gamit, ang mga pictures, mga maliit na sculpture at mga paintings. Most importantly, ang mga gamit na confirmed na galing at ginamit ng mga sinaunang tao.

Karamihan sa mga nakikita ko ay gamit at paintings. But one weird painting caught my attention. Noong nilapitan ko ito ay saka nakompirma ang hinala ko.

Ipinapakita ng painting ang isang babae na napapalibutan ng lumalagablab na apoy. Nakatayo ito sa gitna ng apoy, subalit ang mukha nito'y hindi klaro. Pero sigurado ako na ang nasa likuran ng babae ay pigura ng mga kamay na kinakain ng apoy, na parang humihingi ng tulong sa babae, na sinusubukang maabot siya. Marami ang kamay na makikita rito. Something made me drawn to this painting. My eyes focused on it, as if the fire's swaying left and right and was moving. I heard muffled voices and the loud crackle of fire.

"Isn't it interesting?"

Bumalik ako sa ulirat at agad na napalingon sa gilid ko. I saw an unfamiliar person. Pero hula ko, isa rin siya sa mga bumibisita dito sa museum. Nakasuot ito ng denim blue polo shirt at sombrero na kulay asul rin.

Hindi lang naman kami ang nandito. Halos lahat sa mga kaklase ko ay nakakalat ngayon sa loob ng museum at may kaniya-kaniyang tinitingnan. Shane is nowhere beside me. Obviously, nag-eenjoy iyon.

What happened back in the hotel was kept hidden by us. No one mentioned a single word to my Papa and Sir Alevaro. We let Kiara do all the talk. We agreed to move once this output is finished. Kaya kahit may pag-aalinlangan ay itinuloy namin ito. Kiara and Nicole is currently glued beside Nica. While the others did a tour inside the museum.

"Oh...yeah. Kind of...but it seems I failed to understand the gist of this painting." I honestly replied.

"Oh, you're an intellect if you indeed immediately understood the meaning of it."

I looked at the other person with confusion. He seems to notice it. Kaya pinagsiklop niya ang kaniyang dalawang palad sa kaniyang likuran at napatitig ng maigi sa painting.

"As you can see, there's a woman alone. But why is she surrounded by a fire? And why is there a blurry figures of hands that are reaching out to her? That is because, that woman is a victim of sexual assault and was treated badly by the people of her village. Taon-taon, nag-cecelebrate sila ng pista ng sakripisyo, kung saan ay isang dalagang birhen na babae ang isasakripisyo. That woman is the chosen sacrifice of the year. It was said that they'll be sacrificed to please their so-called "God" and after sacrificing her, she will have the chance to meet their "God" up in the heavens..."

The guy purposedly cut his words. I did not realize that I was actually listening attentively. But later on, I heard his voice.

"This information delighted the woman. Because she's a true believer. When it was time to sacrifice her, she was confused to see how dark her surrounding were. Akala niya ay tapos na ang ritual sa pagsakripisyo at akala niya'y nasa tahanan na siya ng "diyos" niya. Pero gayun na lamang ang kaniyang pagkagulat ng maramdamang may nilalang na unti-unitng hinuhubaran siya at maraming kamay ang humihimas sa bawat parte ng katawan niya. This the first time the woman felt so scared in her whole life. Hindi siya makasigaw. Hindi niya kayang makawala. Maraming kamay ang pumipigil sa kaniya sa paggalaw. Hanggang sa maramdaman niya ang pagsiil ng kakaibang bagay sa kaniyang pagkatao. Naramdaman niya ang sakit subalit wala siyang nagawa. Ni hindi siya makasigaw o makapiglas man lang. Ilang beses niyang naramdaman ang paglabas-masok ng kakaibang bagay sa kaniyang ari-arian na hindi niya namalayang nawalan na siya ng malay. Pagkagising niya'y wala na siyang nararamdamang kahit anong kamay na pumipigil na kaniya. Nakayanan niyang igalaw ang kaniyang katawan subalit hindi maiwasang maramdaman ang hapdi at sakit sa ibabang parte ng kaniyang katawan. Marahas niyang kinuha ang kung ano mang bagay na bumabalot sa kaniyang mata at doon niya nakita ang kabuuan ng lugar kung nasaan siya. Sa bahay ng kanilang pinuno. Alam niya dahil ang altar kung saan siya nakahimlay ay ang altar kung saan dito nila nilalagay ang mga pagkaing inaalay nila sa kanilang "diyos". Doon niya nalaman kung ano ang totoong depenisyon ng salitang "sakripisyo". Hindi totoo ang kanilang sinasamba. Hindi totoo na makikita niya ito. Sapagkat ang "sakripisyo" ay para lamang sa lapastangan at nakakasuklam na satispaksyon ng mga kalalakihan. Sa kaniyang galit, naghanap siya ng paraan na masira ang buong lugar. Hanggang sa nadiskubre niya ang isang likido na may malakas na amoy. Dito niya napagtanto na ang likidong ito ay ginagamit ng mga mangunguma sa pagsunog ng mga matataas na talahib. Tulog ang lahat ng gabing iyon, kahit masakit ang katawan ay ininda niya ito at binuhusan ng likidong iyon hindi lamang ang bahay ng pinuno kundi ang bahay ng iba pang tao. She burned the whole village while they were sound asleep. She thought, all those madness should be stopped and no trace should be left alive. As you can see, the name of the painting is "Helle's Sacrifice". The last sacrifice of their village."

Napalingon ako sa painting at nakita nga sa ilalim nito ang salitang "Helle's Sacrifice" na nakalagay. Who would've thought that the meaning behind is so...gruesome.

"No one would be able to find out, right?" The man said. I nodded without looking at him.

"Oh well, that's that. Some things are meant to be kept while some needs to be revealed for the sake of justice." He added.

However, isn't the detail too familiar? Where did I heard it before?

"I might be disturbing you right now. You can continue to enjoy. There's a lot of wonderful things here. Trust me."

Lutang akong tumango ako sa sinabi ng lalaki bago ko napagtanto ang isang bagay. Marahas akong napalingon sa gilid ko at handa ng magsalita pero nabitin sa ere ang sasabihin ko. The man is already gone. Sinubukan ko siyang hanapin sa paligid pero hindi ko na nakita. Wow, weird. Did he just show up to tell me that information? Just...how did he know all those things? The detail and the content? Is he...

My eyes went back to the painting in front of me. Will anyone be able to tell the dreadful truth of the woman in the painting? Probably...no one will. Sometimes, you realize, it's not the world that is cruel to everyone...it's the people that is cruel to anyone.

I sighed and averted my eyes. That's when my gaze also met Kian. Medyo malayo siya sa akin at may hawak na mini notebook, probably taking notes. He raised his right eyebrow and mouthed the word, "What?"

I shaked my head and turned my back on him, and suddenly remembered our conversation yesterday.

***

"You want me to talk to my father, don't you?"

"Yes."

I heard his deep sigh, "Ace, I can talk to him, alright? But...that man's a...big liar. He'll promise you one thing with all his politeness but...he'll soon act as if he had forgotten it and will ask for your forgiveness. He's a damn fox."

Nakita ko pa ang ilang beses na pag-iling nito. Sinong mag-aakala na ganito ang tingin ni Kian sa sarili niyang ama? I can't imagine myself to have that same relationship with my father... Indeed, not all "fathers" act as a "father". Whatever reason Kian has, I don't have the right to pry on.

"But perhaps...you can try, K. We can't just sit back and do nothing. Si Papa mo ang isa sa mga may mataas na awtoridad sa school. Madidisgrasya rin ang reputasyon niya kapag nalaman na may alam siya sa ganitong kaso tapos wala siyang ginawa."

Pero natawa si Kian sa sinabi ko, "Madidisgrasya? No way, that old man knows how to get himself out even of the smallest loopholes, alright? As I've said, he's a fox, he knows the way out no matter how you corner him." He scoffed and crossed his arms, "But, well, maybe I can threaten him. Something might work out." He added.

Napanganga ako sa huli niyang sinabi. What kind of...threaten though?

***

After the successful expedition, we all came back safely to the hotel. Everyone talked about the works they found, they have discovered, and what they're about to right on their narrative report.

Nica's a bit quiet but she do respond if she's being asked. The secret is still kept hidden but Kiara also secured her camera, because that's the only evidence we have.

Kinaumagahan, Sir Alevaro announced that we'll be going home. Everyone tensed up and took a glance towards each other. The output is done. Meaning to say, after this, we'll be moving. Everyone is determined to put Eric Disolvo inside the prison.

However, not everything will go according to plan. Something unexpected happened...on the way home. Eric Disolvo's a devil but his henchman...was with us...the whole time.