CRIMES AND MYSTERIES V: THE SACK, THE REEF, AND THE ICE

VI. TWO IN ONE (ERNO)

E R N O

“Gising na…” I heard a woman’s voice.  I opened my eyes.  Nakatayo si Caroline sa harapan ko.  “Buong araw ka ng natutulog.  At hindi ka humihinga.”

Nagising akong nakahiga sa kama niya.  As soon as my senses returned, naalala ko na naman ang paghihirap na dinanas ni Fille na naging dahilan pa ng kanyang pagkamatay.  And it was all because she loved me…

Sana pala ay tuluyan na lang akong lumayo sa kanya.  Buhay pa sana siya ngayon.  Happy with Anjo or Lou, it doesn’t matter.  As long as she’s alive…

I remembered Ashana.  Ang alam ko mapapatay ko na siya.  But what happened?  Am I so weak now to have not accomplished an easy deed?

Then, in an instant, I knew…

“You stopped me from killing her!” akusa ko kay Caroline.

“Yes I did, because you are not a killer, Erno!  You are not like me,” sagot niya.

“I don’t care what will I become!” I scowled.

“Nagpaplano na ang Poweful Evil na lusubin kayo.  You must train them.  Kung buhay lang ang Leaper ngayon, I’m sure, iyon din ang gusto niyang mangyari,” pagbibigay-opinyon ni Caroline.

Kung buhay lang ang Leaper ngayon… The statement hurt so much.

“Matuto kang magpatawad.  Ito ang nagustuhan ko sa pagkatao mo. You forgave me for all the horrible things I’ve done.  That’s why I love you,” she continued.

“I don’t love,” agad kong sabi.

“You do love, my angel.  You love peace, you love the people around you.  You could love even those people unworthy of love,” Caroline said.

She demonstrated a positive sign using both of her point fingers.  “Ganito ka, Erno.”

Pumikit ako at hindi na sumagot.

“Give me the Leaper’s picture, Erno.  So I could put sense back in your life…” I let the picture move towards her by using my eyes.

“Close your eyes,” she ordered.

I closed my eyes again.

“Copy Fille,” narinig kong ibinulong ni Caroline.

In just a few seconds, I could feel Fille’s presence again.  I could smell her scent.  I could feel her delicate hands as she touched my face.

“Open your eyes,” said Fille’s voice.

Pagmulat ko ng mga mata, tumambad sa paningin ko si Fille, nakangiti sa akin.

“Kiss me,” her voice echoed in my inner core.

No, don’t, I ordered myself.  Ang babaeng nasa harap ko ay hindi si Fille.  I knew she was just Caroline, copying Fille.

She kissed my lips.  I knew a tear left my eyes again.

“Erno, ituro mo ang mga bagay na kaya mong gawin sa grupo.  You’re all gonna face the negative force very soon.  Breathe again, Flash.  Destroy the evil.  I love you.  Forever,” Fille’s voice whispered as she was kissing me slowly.  I let go of her embrace.

Kahit sino ay pwedeng magaya ang anyo ni Fille, but nobody could change the fact that she is dead.  Her soul is gone, her being is gone.  She will never return…

“Whatever you do,” pagpapatuloy ng boses ni Fille.  “Do not kill an innocent person.”

Then, in an impossible speed, she was quickly gone.

+Handa ka na bang harapin ang Negative Force?  Tanong ko kay Lou sa isip.

#Oo.  Palagi akong nakahanda.

+Call the rest of the CMG members.  We have an urgent meeting.  Same place.