Trickster of the Butterfly

Final Chapter- Farewell (?)

From the roof of the DOLE building right in front of the PLM, I could see the whole elegant facade of the school. The brass flame of excellence on top of the pedestal in the middle of the garden glinted under the afternoon sun, the grass around it was ever so lush, and the white walls of the school had that regal look to it. The entrance gate had students going in and having their bags checked. It was moving kind of slow since the guard was actually checking the students' bags, not just poking their stick and taking a glance, now that's a first.

I thought I'd take one last look at my alma mater before I left it... probably forever. Memories were made here, some of the best. Quizzes were failed, terror teachers were feared, chicken chops were gorged on, a building almost crushed me, and friends were made, my best friends. It was my second home, atleast, even for just one school year.

Does it hurt to leave? Heck, it stings.

But it's for everybody's good.

I peered over at the walls by the Muralla street. Nobody seemed to be around to see me time jump. I slipped through a time portal to two seconds into the future, to the silent and serene area under the tree planted on the fort walls. The guard didn't notice me suddenly popping up from thin air, good. I've done a lot of practice with time portals. The exhaustion I get from using them gets intense at times depending on distance so I limit its usage. That's when my practice with parkour comes in. I'm just starting but after a month of trying it out, I'm a bit more confident I could get away from or chase any goons much more easily. Janus' parkour gang was just so inspiring, especially after all their assassination attempts on me for the past weeks.

Now this place got me even more sentimental. Me and the gang hung around under this tree almost every single day, talking, playing card games, eating lunch, this was our bonding spot. But even this had to go.

I climbed up the stairs to the top of the fort, where I could see the golf course right outside Intramuros. A soft breeze blew constantly and threw my hair to the side.

My family. I remembered our family trips to these very walls. We would climb up here and have picnics in the summertime. I haven't talked to any of them ever since I left that night. They deserve an explanation too but, I have to keep my distance. They'd have to wait till the constant attacks on me can't endanger them anymore. May God keep them safe.

I guess only Alora could hear my explanation for the meantime. Why the Voice had told me to tell only to her, I don't really know. But it's not that I regretted it. I treasured every second in that short moment I was able to see her and talk to her once more. I was more than thrilled to atleast be with one of my most precious friends for a moment longer. I wanted to tell her more than just the apology, more than just my powers, more than just a goodbye. I wanted to tell her that I actually liked her.

Dorky thought. I said I was going to protect her, not leave her mad wondering why I told her what I felt and just taking off. I'd look like a bigger jerk than how I already look. Truth is, it's not like my feelings would do any help to her at all. They're the very reasons I almost killed her in the first place. Extreme emotional distress was the trigger and I pulled it.

Besides, I'm not even sure I'll be able to come back. I guess I did us both a favor by just leaving as cleanly as possible. But I'd still want to see her again...

Oh, what am I thinking?! It's not the time nor season for this thing. I've got a mission and I've got to do this first.

I slapped my face, adjusted my backpack's straps, and jumped off the fort's edge. I opened a time portal in mid-air and I made it transport me safely on to the grass of the golf course. It was technically trespassing but nobody's noticed me running across the huge field yet.

I ran and ran and ran. I needed to shake off the depressing thoughts of leaving. I need to condition myself to not turn back.

Wherever Janus is, however I'm going to beat him, and whatever's going to happen, I'm sure I've got God on my side. I remembered the sphere born of time and space that contained my brothers' powers and memories. I wonder, when is the right time I'd have to return these to them? And what about that one vision about the smoky giant who said he was going to "pry open the sun with his own two hands"? That was the only vision that didn't, or hasn't come true yet. I really do hope it's figurative because I do NOT know how to beat somebody like that.

Almost to the far end of the golf course, I was getting quite tired. I think I've got enough strength left for one more time portal and I'll just parkour away.

I opened another time portal and went straight through, putting myself in the middle of Orchidarium Luneta, just across the street from the golf course.

Whew! That was exhasuting. I hid behind some plants so I don't get caught for trespassing. I just needed to catch my breath.

...

Ten minutes seem enough. Time to go. I guess I'll just walk out of here casually. Nobody would notice anyway. I really do feel bad for breaking a ton of rules today. Oh Lord, please forgive me.

Right as I was going to step out from my hiding,

"Freeze Randelo!" a guy in a black SWAT team-style suit pointed a weird-looking sniper at me. It had a long nozzle and it was all black.

Normally, I wouldn't be terrified of the dude if he were just one guy. Besides, I could just escape or take him out with my powers.

But then there's two problems. First, there were more than ten of them all fully armored and the three in front of their line formation were armed with the strange snipers. No, wait, they were tranquilizer guns, I remember now. Papa had one on display at home. The rest held nightsticks at the ready. Second problem, I'm a bit too exhausted to use more of my powers. Shoot, I shouldn't have used the portals and ran too much.

"What do you wa- agh!" I felt something, no, two, no three needles dug into my right leg.

I felt woozy, my vision began blurring, my knees buckled and I fell face-down on the floor.

"Take him," I heard a voice said, too muffled for me to hear well. Then I blacked out.

________________________________________________________________________

That's the end of Trickster of the Butterfly my readers!  Quite truthfully, I poured in a lot of effort for this last chapter.

To every reader, voter, commenter, I'd like to say you guys encouraged me to keep on doing this thing. I started it two months ago and I experienced all sorts of ups and downs writing this. But you know, I just know it's worth it because I could let people read something that could pique their interest or even teach them something. And primarily, it's worth it because it is my offering of worship to God.  He gave me all the good ideas and strength to write this stuff.

Sa totoo lang ang daming hugot ko rin sa puso yung ibang parts nito. But you know, He keeps them in check and kept it going till the end. Praise Him for that.

For all of you who've supported Trickster of the Butterfly, thank you very, very much. 

For my followers, thanks to you too.

See ya!...

Till Book 2...