Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 7 Elena

 OTTILIE VIRSES POV

 
Napatayo ako ng wala sa oras at saka nagsasasayaw na parang timang. 
 
I did it. I did it.
 
Plutus who was just watching looks disgusted at the sight. "What on earth are you doing?" he groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You call that dancing? You look ridiculous!"
 
"Woooh! Yes nagawa ko din!" Sigaw kong muli. 
 
"Enough with the dancing," he ordered, waving his hand dismissively. "Do it again. Remember how it felt when you lit the candle. Focus on that."
 
Masaya akong tumango at saka naupong muli sa harapan ng kandila. I took a deep breath, recalling the warmth of the flame and the energy flowing through me just moments before. Kinakabahan man pero pikit mata ko ulit itong sinubukan.
 
I could feel the connection, the energy swirling around me as I reached out toward the candle again. With a surge of concentration, I raised my hand, and once more, the flame flickered to life. This time, it felt even stronger, more vibrant.
 
He nodded slowly, a satisfied smile creeping onto his face. "There you go. Not bad," he said, trying to sound nonchalant, but I could hear the pride in his voice.
 
"Waaah! Thank you, mahal na prinsipe!" At saka itinaas ang kamay at ibinaba ito sa harapan niya, nagmukhang sinasamba ko tuloy siya. 
 
He puffed out his chest, clearly pleased with himself. "Of course. I mean, it’s not like I’m surprised. I am pretty good at this."
 
"Paano ba 'yan, mas magaling na ako kesa sa'yo," pagyayabang ko na ikinaikot lang ng mga mata nito.
 
"Not even close," Plutus said raising his eyebrow. "Alright, now let’s move on to turning it off," he said, tapping his chin. "It’s just as important as lighting it."
 
"Ano bang dapat ko gawin?" I asked.
 
"First, you need to visualize the energy dissipating," he explained, his tone serious. "It’s about redirecting the energy you’ve gathered back into the atmosphere. You have to command the flame to extinguish."
 
I nodded, trying to absorb every word. "Okay."
 
"Focus on the flame shrinking, dimming, until it disappears completely. You have to believe you can do it."
 
I took a deep breath, recalling the flame’s warmth and flicker. "Okay, I think I understand."
 
Plutus nodded, his eyes narrowing in concentration as he watched me. "Go ahead."
 
I raised my hand above the candle once more, feeling the residual warmth from the flame still lingering in the air. I concentrated hard, picturing the fire gradually dimming in my mind. I visualized the energy pooling back into my fingertips, drawing it away from the flame.
 
Slowly, I focused on the candle, willing the light to shrink. The flame flickered and danced, but I held my ground, determined to keep my focus.
 
And then, just like that, the flame extinguished with a soft puff of smoke, leaving behind a faint wisp in the air.
 
"Yes! I did it again!" I shouted as I threw my fist into the air.
 
Plutus leaned back, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "Not bad. But..." he said, but when I saw his face become dark, as he returned to his serious facial expression, I couldn't help but feel nervous.
 
"If you screw up your demo tomorrow, don't show your face ever to me again. Understand?" 
 
Napalunok ako sa sobrang kaba, sa ilang araw ko pa lang na pagkakakilala sa kan'ya, kapag ganyan na ang itsura niya, asahan ng tototohanin nito ang sinasabi niya. Hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan na ganyan ang itsura niya ng ibaon niya ang katawan ko sa hukay. Nakakatakot. 
 
"O-oo! Gagalingan ko bukas!" Nauutal na turan ko, halos magkandabulol-bulol pa ako. 
 
Nalintikan na, mukhang natrauma na ako do'n sa ginawang pagbaon niya sa'kin sa hukay. It's the worst experience. EVER!
 
Ang magaling na asungot, tinaasan lang ako ng kilay at saka tumayo. Pinasok pa nito ang mga kamay sa bulsa ng pants nito bago tumalikod. "Clean the living room before you sleep, I want everything on its right place." 
 
Hindi na ako nagprotesta pa. Syempre susundin ko ang inutos ng kamahalan, dahil sa kan'ya hindi na ako mapapahiya sa klase ko bukas. 
 

~~~
 
Nang matapos akong maligo, sinilip ko muna ang labas ng banyo kung wala si Plutus, nang wala akong makitang asungot, dali-dali akong tumakbo patungong kwarto. Iisa lang ang banyo dito sa second floor at nasa pagitan pa ito ng kwarto namin ni Plutus. 
 
Kung wala ang asungot na 'yon edi sana solong-solo ko ang banyo. Mabuti na lang at dalawa ang cabinet sa loob ng banyo kaya nakaseparate ang gamit namin panligo. Nang makapag bihis ako, habang tinutuyo ko ang buhok ko, dahan-dahan kong inalis ang telang nakatakip sa white board dito sa kwarto ko. 
 
At the center of the board was a picture of Elena, my best friend. Her smile stared back at me, frozen in time. Next to it, a photo of her corpse, one I had taken myself in secret. While the evidence was perfectly sealed in plastic and was well hidden in a box. 
 
The sight made my stomach churn, but I couldn't look away. I had to be strong, even though it hurt me to see her like that. On the board, I had written everything I knew about her murder.
 
Victim: Elena Blackwood

Missing Body Part: Heart

Details: Elena was found dead in the academy's garden, her heart removed with surgical precision.

I traced the notes with my fingers, feeling the weight of it all. Who could have done something like this? Why her? I clenched my fists, determined to find out. No matter how hard it was to look at her lifeless body, I wouldn't stop until I uncovered the truth.
 
Napahawak ako sa ulo ng kumirot ito, kahit anong piga ko sa utak ko wala akong maalala na may naka-alitan si Elena sa CA. Napaka-bait nito at ubod ng sweet na babae, kaya hindi ko akalain na mawawala na lang siya ng gano'n na lang. Isa pa sa problema ko ay kung paano ko hahanapin ang salarin. 
 
Sa sobrang stress, mas pinili kong matulog na dahil maaga pa ang pasok ko bukas. Madami pang pagkakataon para maghanap ng mga kasagutan sa lahat ng problema ko. 
 
 

To be continued...