GABRIELLE
MY HEART was beating rapidly and hysterically. Sweat grazed over my back as I pushed through the roaring crowd. Shameless by Camila Cabello blared from the huge speaker a few feet away from the exit. The beat of the sound synchronized with the thuds of my heart. Adrenaline had finally immersed into my bones as I kept looking behind me.
Stop looking and move, I mentally shouted to myself. Zerachiel was still there— where I left him. His ghost face mask was already on, and the vibration of fear started to thrum my veins. He was unmoving, with a predatory stance, he looked like someone ready to hunt his prey. It was as if I was a sheep in a wolf's domain, ready to be eaten alive.
Some unfamiliar people called my name, but I was too focused on my goal to get out of the area to acknowledge them. My knees wobbled and pain started to creep into my feet. While my heart was still beating rapidly, with the injected adrenaline thrumming my every vein, my lungs started to burn.
Noong nakalabas na ako, huminga muna ako nang malalim at napatingin sa orasan sa aking kamay. One minute had passed, and I still had four minutes before he started to hunt me down.
I looked around. Outside the venue, the entire oval was cloaked with wicked darkness. The glares of the unknown behind the curtain of shadows decorated the area were hauntingly fearful. With the silver glow coming from the moon above my head, I tried to run to the rustling trees.
Darkness swallowed me in as I walked into the woods. The haunting sound of the shuffling leaves and the howl of the wind elicited goosebumps over my skin. With the little glow from the moon, I walked into the woods, not minding the unknown that awaited me in the middle of it.
No'ng narealize ko na napapalalim na ako, agad agad akong huminto at nagtago sa malaking puno. Mabilis at malalim ang bawat hininga ko. Ang lakas din ng tibok ng puso ko habang nakasandal sa punong kahoy. I looked at my wristwatch— the five-minute was over.
Kinagat ko ang aking labi at pinakiramdaman ang paligid. The solid and thick sound of the wind intensified my fear and anticipation. Paano kung hindi siya pupunta rito? Paano kung hahanapin niya ako sa ibang parte ng University namin? Hindi ba dapat magsaya ako kung gano'n? Makakatakas ako sa kaniya?
When I heard something a few feet away from me— a sound of crunched leaves, adrenaline started to pump into my veins. I could feel his presence. He was close. His dark aura started to lick my body as I shuddered and writhed in fear mixed with anticipation.
The sound of footfalls was getting closer and closer. Habang palapit siya nang palapit ay ramdam na ramdam ko ang lakas ng kabog ng aking puso. I felt the knots forming in my stomach as I waited for his arrival. This was hide and seek— a game he wanted to play tonight. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pumayag ako, kung bakit ginusto kong sumali sa ganitong laro.
But this dark and twisted part of me wanted this. It craved the adrenaline this game offered. The monsters that lurked behind the curtain of shadows around were also the reason why I liked this rush of blood, the call of fear, and the thug of adrenaline. My senses were heightened tenfold as I carefully and silently listened to his footfalls.
He was near.
So near I could feel the feat grazing up my body.
Slowly, I moved a little, and I mentally cursed myself when I moved a bit carelessly, creating a little sound as I stepped onto the dried leaves.
Fuck.
Dahan dahan akong sumilip sa likod ng puno kung saan galing ang tunog ng kaniyang mga yapak. Kumunot ang aking noo no'ng wala akong nakitang kahit sino. My chest tightened when I heard the crashing of dried leaves and cracking of twigs from nearby— but I could not pinpoint where it was coming from.
