Ile Magique

Chapter 23

Matapos silang mag-pahinga ay agad nilang tinahak ang daan patungo sa susunod na route. Sinusundan lamang nila Cath na nagsisilbing mapa, sinusundan naman siya ni Jb sa likod habang hawak-hawak ang kamay ni Reya.  "Psst, Sheng. Inggit ako. Tayo din." bulong ni Jack kay Sheng sabay nguso sa kamay nina Reya at Jb na magka-hawak.

"Sira, nababaliw ka na." mahinang sambit ni Sheng na may kasamang pamumula ng pisngi. Napangiti lang si Jack at unti-unting hinawakan ang kamay ni Sheng, hindi ito pumalag. Magkatinginan sila habang naglalakad kaya't di nila na napansin na huminto na ang lahat kaya't bumangga sila sa likod ng higanteng si Yujin.

"Aba, aba! Tignan mo nga naman o." kantyaw ni Kun na nasundan ng iba pa. Matapos ang maiksing asaran ay napatingin sila sa harap nila. This is the second obstacle, may mga nagtataasan na brick walls ngunit isang paa lang ang maaaring itapak, this obstacle needs a strong balance because when you lose balance, you'll fall 20 ft. below, on a spiky metal boards.

Napalagok si Sheng sa kaba, she is weak when it comes to balance. Pero pilit niyang tinatagan ang loob niya. Jb was the first one to try, followed by Reya. Nang medyo makalayo na sila ay pinasunod na nila si Cath at Hilary. Followed by Prey and Jay and then Jr and so on. So far ay pagtawid lang ang pinatuunan nila ng pansin. No flying daggers or anything. Nakatawid na sina Jb at Reya and they were cheering for the others.

Sunod na nakarating si Hilary at Cath. At nung malapit na si Jay at Prey, nawalan ito ng balanse ngunit maagap si Jay at nahagip agad ito tsaka pinatalon. Sa ngayon ay nangunguna si Kun at Ali, Jack is not too far behind them with Sheng and Yujin. "Okay, Sheng, dahan-dahan lang. Wag kabahan, malapit na tayo." pagpapalakas ni Yujin sa loobb ni Sheng.

Nakarating na sina Kun, Ali at Jack. Now they're just waiting for Yujin who is ahead of Sheng. Nagmadali si Yujin dahil akala niya ay malapit lang si Sheng ngunit pagtapak niya sa solid ground ay nakita niyang malayo pa ito ng kaunti.

Sheng started to panic. "Help! Help me!" Sheng shrieked.  "No! Sheng, don't look down!" sigaw ni Prey. Sa sinabing yon ni Prey ay agad na napatingin ito sa baba at mas lalong nataranta. With all her might, she tried to step but her knees were trembling, nadulas siya, "Sheng!" bulalas nila.

Luckily, Sheng managed to grab hold onto the bricks. Jack was about to rescue her when Yujin volunteered fearlessly. He grabbed Sheng with all his strength then when he managed to lift her up, they continued cheering for them.

Noong makarating sila sa patutunguhan ay agad na pinasalamatan ng lahat si Yujin. He's a brave young man. "Salamat!" Sheng exclaimed, teary-eyed. He just saved her life. Everybody hugged Yujin, he was a life-saver.

Masaya silang lumayo mula sa second obstacle. Again, Cath closed her eyes to track the next route. She was about to face the others but Prey suddenly strangled Reya. Everyone was in panic. "Ahck! Prey ano ba!" impit na sigaw ni Reya.

Prey was surrounded with dark aura and then she spoke, "This is the key! I am going to destroy the key!" sigaw nito. Napakunot ang noo nila nang mabosesan si Prey, it was Maiah's voice. Cath looked at Reya. She saw visions. "Realinda Fangon Cruz." she whispered.  "Hindi kayo makakaalis dito!" galit na sigaw nito.

Jay and the boys immediately attacked Prey. Iginapos nila ito. Reya was on the ground then Cath and the girls approached her. Prey was still under May's spell. Nalagyan siya ng spell dahil sa mga octopus na umatake sa kanila noon.

"Kill the key! Burn the map!" sigaw nito. "Prey! Please I know you're still in there!" Jay desperately pleaded. "Go away!" ani ng nagwawalang si Prey. "Prey, I love you! Please come back!" he said. "Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!" it seems like Prey is fighting inside her body. "Prey... Come back." Jay whispered before he closed his eyes, then kissed Prey. He was hoping that true love's kiss would work. And it did.

Napatingin ang mga dalaga nang mapahinto sa pagwawala si Prey na sa ngayon ay nakalaya na sa sumpa ni Maiah. Nagkatinginan naman sina Reya at Cath, "Did you see it?" Reya asked, she was talking about the visions that appeared on their heads. "I did," Cath answered. They smiled with tears on their eyes. "I forgot to mention that I am Catalina Fangon Gonzales." Cath said as she held Reya's hand. "And I am Realinda Fangon Cruz." replied Reya.

"So, you're half sisters?" Hilary asked, amazed. "Cath..." Reya cried. They were so happy, now that they found the key, who was Reya. She's the one whose buried deep down the map's secret. Deep down Cath's secrets.

Tumayo sila at sinalubong ang mga bianta, hinimatay si Prey at buhat ito ni Jay. "We found the key." Cath announced. She looked gladly at her sister then turned to her friends. "Reya is the key." she said as they all rejoice.