The Night Queen

Chapter 24

c h a p t e r t w e n t y f o u r

THIRD PERSON'S POV

"A dance off?" Lumingon ang lalaki na kanina'y nakatanaw sa labas ng bintana at tila may pinagmamasdan.

"The university cheerleading squad leader Vivian Ramos versus the new girl," sambit ng kausap nito. Hindi napukaw sa tingin ng binata ang dalagang naglalakad papunta sa silok ng punong kahoy malapit sa soccer field. Hindi siya umimik kaya naman nagtaka ang kausap nito ngunit umiling lamang siya. "Tomorrow at eight," dagdag pa niya.

Sa loob loob ng binata, tila natutuwa siya sa mga nangyayari. At alam niya rin kung sino ang mananalo. "Unfortunately, Vivian wants to kick her out."

"What's her end of the bargain?" tanong nito at hindi pa rin inaalis ang tingin sa kaniyang pinagmamasdan. "She wanted her out of the class," sagot ng kausap niya. Sumilay ang isang ngiti mula sa labi ng binata. Mas lalong nagtaka ang kasama niya at tila nais makita kung sino ang dahilan nito ngunit hindi pa siya nakakahakbang nang tumayo ang binata nang nakapamulsa at saka umalis. Nagkamot nalang ito ng ulo sapagkat wala siyang naintindihan sa nangyari.

Hindi pa rin makapaniwala ang binata sa mga narinig na balita. Hindi siya madalas nakikialam sa mga ganoong bagay ngunit may isang tao lang na nakakuha sa kaniyang interes.

RAIN'S POV

Hindi na nakakapagtaka kung wala pang isang oras, lumabas na ang balita. I was walking to get to the tree near the soccer field when I heard whispers and gossips echoing all over the place.

"That's her!" A girl shouted from the back. "OMG! I thought someone could pull it off against Vivian but I guess I was wrong. She will never be enough," the other student said while passingby and rolling her eyes in 360 degrees. Keep your eyes rolling, you might find a brain in there, that is, if there is.

Nakarating ako sa may puno at doon binuksan ang laptop ko. Pin has sent me a message and it's the only place where there's no CCTVs. I don't want anyone to find out that I'm part of B.AN.G. and certainly not about being a Supreme.

I sent them a message which stated wheels up at 1. We have to pay a visit.

After an hour or so, the instructor had announced an important meeting he'll attend to that's why he can't meet us. Hindi na ako nagpatumpiktumpik pa at umuwi na.

"What took you so long?" he said raising an eyebrow. He does really have the attitude and I don't know why. He's not like that in New York tho. He's strange too.

Naglakad kami papasok sa isang magubat na lugar. It's been a while since I've been here. The scent of the breeze from these waving trees, it's so calm until we have reached the area where everything is about to change.

"I do think they made quite a set up for your grand entrance," ani Pin habang nagmamasid sa paligid. "They still didn't get rid of those poison ivy," I commented. It's not unusual if I see something like this. To be fair, this is just the beginning.

"Might as well put some boobie traps," dagdag niya. I shrugged and ansewered, "Nah. Too mainstream." Hindi pa kami nakakalahati sa paglalakad ng may mga nagliliparang maninipis na mga bagay. "Told ya," he said in a matter of fact.

"That hog." I couldn't help myself from saying colorful words. Mind the sarcasm people. We tried not to get hit by one of those flying things because those are deadly. They use acupuncture needles that has venom. It is thrown to a body target and if that happens to hit you, might as well consider yourself dead.

"You should've greeted him when you landed. You specifically knew what he's going to feel. And neither of us would even deal with that," he snorted. Don't give me that complain, he's not cute. He's weird. "Speak for yourself," I said and ran while avoiding the hits.

Napatigil ako nang may dumampi sa balat ko. "Stop!" I immediately shouted as I halt. Isang inch nalang ang pagitan ng ilong niya sa manipis na tali na kasing nipis ng buhok at halos hindi ito kapansin pansin dahil sa kulay puti ito na mukhang sapot ng gagamba. "It's the strings," I murmured. A fast slit sound came from my left side so I have to dock.

Hindi ko na kailangang sabihin sa kaniya ang susunod niyang gagawin. Panay ilag ang ginawa namin at pinilit naming makalabas sa trap na iyon. Parami ng parami ang mga strings. "No!" I shouted just as he cut a strand of the string.

"Run!" I commanded. Nilabas ko ang katana ko at iwinasiwas ito. We cannot be trapped by those strings or else we'll be crushed to death. Hindi siya basta bastang string. Although manipis siya, firm ang component nito. And the next thing I knew, I fell. I tripped from one of those strings. Biglang may pumulupot sa hita ko at sa paa ko bati na sa buong katawan ko. Kapag nagpumiglas ako, mas sisikip ang mga strings.

Pero hindi pa siya nakakatapak ng isa ay may pumulupot rin sa kaniyang mga strings at hinihila ito sa iba't ibang direksyon. And that is creating the pressure. If only I could reach my katana. It was on the ground.

THIRD PERSON'S POV

Kahit masakit, pinilit ni Rain na igalaw ang isang kamay niya para abutin ang katana niyang nasa lupa. Halatang bumaon ang string sa balat niya at dumaloy rito ang dugo.

'Just a little bit more...' sambit niya sa isip niya habang inaabot ang kaniyang katana. Mas lalong bumaon ang string sa kaniyang hita ngunit nang mahawak na niya ang kaniyang katana saka mabilis na ginalaw ito paikot. Counterclockwise para putulin ang string sa braso niyang iyon. Nang matagumpay niya itong nagawa, mabilis niyang pinutol ang nasa kaniyang kabilang braso. Nagbend siya ng kaunti palikod para putulin ang string na nakapulupot sa katawan niya at saka pinaikot ito ng counterclockwise.

Naputol ang strings sa katawan niya kaya naman mabilis niyang isinunod ang nasa paa niya sa pamamagitan ng pagtalon sabay wasiwas ng kaniyang katana. Agad siyang tumakbo sa kinaroroonan ni Pin. Nagpadulas siya sa ibaba at pinutol ang string sa paa ng binata. Pagkatapos ay tuloy tuloy na niya pinutol ang mga iba pang string na nakapulupot kay Pin.

"I told you not to cut anything," sermon ni Rain. Pagkaputol niya ng isang natitirang string, agad silang tumakbo paalis sa lugar na iyon. Nakarating sila sa paanan ng hagdan. Isang mahabang hagdan.

"You're bleeding," sabi ni Pin habang nakatingin sa sugat ni Rain. Tinignan ng dalaga ang kaniyang braso at hita ngunit parang wala lang ito sa kaniya.

Madami siyang natamong sugat dahil maraming beses siyang nadaplisan ng mga strings. Ganoon na din kay Pin. Nagsimula na silang maglakad sa mahaba haba pang hagdan. Paakyat ito sa isang nakahiwalay na bundok.

Pinunit ni Rain ang laylayan ng kaniyang damit at pinulupot ito sa braso niya sabay kagat sa isang dulo para lock ito. "I will never let you come with me next time," sermon ng dalaga. He chuckled. "Too bad. I'm a sticky rice cake," pagdedepensa ng binata. "Tss."

RAIN'S POV

Hindi na ako magtataka kung biglang may isa na namang patibong ang sasalubong sa amin. But as soon as we got there, we haven't encountered any which I find very disappointing.

Have you ever experienced your arm being tied and the ties were pulled at both ends or at all direction? That's how it felt like only that it cuts deep with pressure and may crush the person.

That's how exactly what happened there a while ago. Only that, those were thin but firm and can cut your flesh it the pressure's too high. Unforetunately, at some point I have resisted causing it to leaving cuts at some parts of my body.

I would agree, it was an old technique used by ancient masters but I know one person who still does that and is still one of his expertise. Although bullets are faster than that old technique, I assure you, the person who did that to us can catch a bullet with his strings and acupunctures. It doesn't sound realistic but it does.

We're here. It hasn't changed. The wind blows strong as we were at the top. The sun is setting and there is a picturesque view of the sun.

***
The Night Queen
by jrhabellie