Truce (Erityian Tribes Novella, #1)

05 - Eyes

***

"Where in Japan?"

"Hokkaido."

Nilatag ni Darwin ang isang Asian Map at tinuro niya kung nasaan ang Hokkaido sa Japan.

"The Shinigami base is located here in Nemuro, Hokkaido," sabay turo niya sa most eastern part ng Hokkaido.

"What a strategic location," sabi ni Krystal.

"Yeah. They can do anything there without being noticed by humdrums. I bet konti lang din ang population dito, ano?" tanong naman ni Nel.

"Yes. Kaunti lang ang tao roon lalo na sa part kung nasaan ang base," dagdag ni Darwin.

We're planning to observe the movements of the Shinigamis from up close. Nagamit ko na ang Black Dimension ng ilang beses these past few months kahit hindi ko pa masyadong kontrolado ang pagbukas at sara nun pero masasabi ko na sobrang mapanganib doon ngayon. That place is too quiet that I tend to hear a lot of buzzing and humming, plus the tension in the surrounding is too high. Pakiramdam ko ay laging may nakatingin sa akin kapag nandoon ako kaya nga hangga't maaari ay hindi muna ako nagtatravel doon kung hindi naman kailangan.

"I think I can sneak inside the base," biglang sabi ni Nel kaya napatingin kami sa kanya. "My mother did it a couple of decades ago, so I guess I can do it too."

"Who's your mother?" tanong ni Darwin.

"Her name's Lace."

"I think I've heard that name before."

"Of course. Her team successfully infiltrated the Shinigami's base and retrieved her comrades' eyes."

Those eyes again.

Tinanong ko si Dr. Yuuki about doon few months after the war dahil hindi ko makalimutan ang sinabi ni Rin bago siya mamatay.

'You won't get our eyes.'

I was really bothered by that statement kaya nagresearch ako tungkol sa characteristics ng Erityian eyes, pero wala akong makita sa library kaya dumiretso na ako kay Dr. Yuuki na maraming alam tungkol sa ganoong bagay. Ang sabi niya, meron daw kasing eye project ang Shinigamis na ilang dekada na nilang pinag-aaralan. Their scientists are specialized on experimenting bodies and drugs. Hanggang doon lang ang binigay niya sa akin dahil 'yun lang daw ang alam niya.

"I remember something odd," sabi ni Krystal. "My sister did a technique that freezes the entire body until it becomes an ice. No flesh and organs can survive but his opponent's eyes survived."

"Rin's eyes too," I added. "I mean, nung mamamatay na siya ay minabuti niyang sirain ang mga mata niya at sinabing 'you won't get our eyes.' I think there's something about our race's eyes though I still don't know it."

Napatingin kaming lahat kay Darwin dahil alam naming may alam siya kahit papano since nagstay siya ng ilang months under kay Rin, and for sure ay may alam din siya sa eye project na sinasabi ni Dr. Yuuki.

"Shinigami scientists are researching about the extent of our eyes' abilities." Biglang bumalik ang tension sa loob ng room at bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil parang may malalaman akong hindi ko inaasahan. I felt Akane's fingers on my shoulder and I'm sure napansin niya ang pag-accelerate ng heartbeat ko.