A Dragon's Plight (ONGOING)

CHAPTER 7

When I regained consciousness, I was once again back in prison. Muli kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata. Hindi ako makapaniwalang dito ulit ang bagsak ko pagkatapos ng matinding pag-iwas na ginawa ko sa loob ng isang araw. Tatlong araw lang ang lumipas pero nandito ako ulit.

Thinking back on the previous moments, I realized that the ambush was orchestrated by Clarisse. They baited me with every hair-pulling, scratches and hit. And stupid girl that I am, I played right into their game.

I remembered the agreement I had with Harvey Villamor and I mentally cringed. There would be no more help from his spouse and no more loopholes for me this time. I'm pretty sure a severe punishment is in my immediate future.

Kahit na mapatunayan ko pa that I only acted in self-defense, I was told to never cause another dragon any inconvenience. And hitting Clarisse and her minions, I did more than be a nuisance.

I deeply sighed, resigning myself to my miserable fate.

Nakahiga pa rin ako sa kama nang dumating ang isang magandang babaeng dragon na matapang ang itsura. Sa pananamit niya, nabatid kong isa siya sa mga nagsisilbi dito sa tanggapan ng High Council kahit na sa opinyon ko ay mas nababagay sa kanya ang maging isa sa mga kawal. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay magaling siya sa pakikidigma.

May awa sa mata niya para sakin kaya binigyan ko siya ng munting ngiti.

"Ako si Freya, isa ako sa mga tagapagsilbi ng konseho. Pinapatawag ka na ng mga miyembro ng High Council." Buo ang kanyang boses pero parang malamyos na tinig 'yun sa aking pandinig.

Tumayo ako sa pagkakahiga at tangkang lalabas na ng silid nang pigilan niya ako at iabot sakin ang isang lumang roba na kulay itim. Mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa roba na para bang ayaw niya itong ibigay sakin.

"Hubarin mo daw ang damit mo at isuot mo 'to. Tanging ang damit panloob mo lamang at ang roba ang maaari mong isuot." She said with gritted teeth.

Napalunok ako sa narinig pero lakas-loob akong nagsalita. "Alam mo ba kung anong parusa ang ipapataw nila sakin?" Tanong ko habang naghuhubad ng t-shirt at maong.

"Isang libong latigo sa harap ng buong angkan."

Muli akong napaupo sa sagot niya. Malamang ikamatay ko ang parusang ito. Nung una akong pinarusahan, isandaang latigo ang ipinataw sakin pero hinimitay na ko sa huling apatnapung hataw. Hindi ko lubos maisip kung pa'no ako makakaligtas sa ipapataw nila ngayon. Siguradong katapusan ko na.

Hinanap ko ang bag ko. Kailangang maisauli ko muna kay Kuya Alaric ang librong binigay niya bago ko lisanin ang masalimuot na mundong 'to.

Nang makita ko ang mga gamit ko sa paanan ng kama ay agad kong hinalungkat ang laman ng backpack ko. Maingat na binalot ko sa hinubad kong kamiseta ang libro para bigyang proteksyon ang mga pahina at pabalat nito.

Nilapitan ko si Freya at hinawakan ang kanang kamay niya. Maingat kong nilagay dun ang libro. "May ipapakiusap sana ako sa'yo. Kung maari, pakibigay ang librong ito kay Professor Alaric. Pag-aari ng pamilya niya 'to at gusto kong maibalik sa kanya."

She took the book and hid it in the folds of her dress. "Huwag kang mag-alala. Gagawin ko ang anumang ipag-uutos mo kahit na labag sa kagustuhan ng mga opisyal. Makasisiguro kang matatanggap 'to ni Alaric."

Nagtataka man sa sinabi niya na susundin niya ko at sa paggamit niya ng pangalan ni Kuya Alaric na para bang magkaibigan sila, nagpasalamat na lang ako at niyaya na siyang lumabas ng silid.

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When we got inside the huge gymnasium of the school, I saw that the bleachers were full of spectators. I tried to block out the audience and focused my gaze on the members of the High Council seated in chairs under the basketball ring. It was ironic that a venue intended for developing sportsmanship and camarederie among athletes will once again be the place where brutal punishments are meted out.

I walked to the middle of the court where an arm pillory that was as high as my waist was set up. I walked with head held high. I wouldn't give these people the satisaction of seeing me cringe. Hindi ako kailanman magmamakaawa para sa isang bagay na sigurado akong hindi nila ibibigay.

Instead of being frightened, I suddenly felt at peace. Kung mamamatay man ako ngayon, mas mapapaaga ang pagkikita namin ng mga magulang ko sa langit. I was so looking forward to our reunion that I wanted to rush the whippings.

Nilingon ko ang babaeng kasama ko at nakitang nakasunod pa rin siya. Nang marating namin ang gitna, we both stopped without being asked to. Harvey signaled a nod to the servant behind me. She turned to me and asked me to disrobe. She then locked my fisted hands to the contraption.

After being held in place, I looked straight into the eyes of Harvey Villamor as he started to speak of the sins I have commited against members of he clan. He mentioned evidences and testimonies against me which consisted of a video of me hitting Clarisse and sworn statements from her friends. Lastly, he mentioned the punishment. I didn't bother refuting them. Magsasayang lang ako ng laway. Hindi ako magagawang pakinggan ng isang taong sirado na ang isipan.

Nang maglakad palapit ang lalaking may hawak ng latigo, humarap sakin ang babaeng sumundo sakin para kausapin ako. "We can feel that the change is near. You've found your mind and your heart's oasis. I'll put my trust in that and hope things turn out for the best."

Hindi ko naintindihan ang ibig sabihin niya pero mas napanatag ang loob ko. I feel as if I was ready to face anything.

Freya walked away from me and towards one of the double doors in front of where I was standing. I glanced at the other exit to the left to where she was standing. To my surprise, Kuya Alaric was there and looking solemnly at me. They were standing as if guarding the doors. Their bodies and their stance were tense. It was as if they were waiting for something to happen and are bracing themselves for it.

Nawala lang sa kanila ang atensyon ko nang humampas sa likod ko ang unang hataw. Napapikit ako sa sakit at sa gulat. Pero tiniis ko ang nararamdaman.

I gritted my teeth and endured the next fifty lashes without moans or screams of pain. Nanatili akong nakatayo pero nang lumapat muli ang latay sa parte ng likod ko na may sariwang sugat, hindi ko napigilan ang pagbigay ng tuhod ko pati na ang kumawalang singhap mula sa bibig ko. I kneeled with my head supported by the pillory and focused my entire consciousness to the beat of my heart instead of hearing the sound of the whip against my skin and bones.

Lub dub. Lub dub. Lub dub.

I was somehow lulled by my heartbeats. It was the only sound that penetrated my mind. Wala na kong iba pang binigyan ng aking pansin kaya hindi ko na namalayan ang mga bulungan sa paligid ko at ang paghinto sa parusa ko. I didn't even notice that I was emitting an eerie glow. And I didn't feel that the weird light that seeped from inside me started to heal the wounds on my back, arms and legs. Only two open wounds right between my shoulder blades remained and it was where a pair of majestic dragon wings erupted. Wings of different colors as thin as gossamer, but as strong as steel. Wings that covered me from head to foot to protect my modesty.

And when I emerged from the cocoon of those wings, a dragon with glowing eyes the color of rubies and scaly skin with changing colors awakened.

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