SCARLET 2: ALICE (Emerald Series)

4

ALICE

"No."

I kept walking away from them. Sigurado akong mag-aalala si Seth 'pag nakabalik sila na wala ako doon. I haven't even prepared the food yet. Nakakahiya naman kay Clyde kung uuwi sila na wala pang nakahandang pagkain.

"Please!" Peter pleaded. "We need help to save them. They're like my brothers. They're the only family I have."

Peter and Tinkerbell told me the whole story why a pirate called Captain Hook trapped him in a wooden cage. Apparently, Captain Hook has been taking kids for years and sell them as slaves. He's a vicious pirate king who also has a knack for stealing treasures and food. Peter, who declares himself as the leader of the 'lost boys', has been freeing the kids that Captain Hook keeps taking from each kingdom. They've been sworn enemies ever since.

To get back at Peter's actions, Captain Hook decided to kidnap Peter's brothers. The boys that grew up with Peter and Tinkerbell. Because, in Captain Hook's words, if Peter keeps hindering his business, might as well destroy the only family he has.

The word family resonated in me. Meron kaya akong pamilya before all of this? Before I woke up two years ago? Kung meron, bakit hindi nila ako hinahanap? Itong si Peter, gagawin niya ang lahat para mabalik lang ang kanyang pamilya. Bakit walang gumagawa nito para hanapin ako?

Tumingin ako ulit sa kanila ni Tinkerbell. "Please. We need an extra hand to save them."

I took a deep breath and finally nodded. "Pero kailangan ko munang mag-iwan ng sulat para sa mga kasama ko para hindi sila mag-alala at para alam nila kung nasaan ako."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of it!" Tinkerbell flew towards where the treehouse is and came back after a few minutes. "Let's go! We don't have time."

Bago pa ako kumontra ay inikutan niya na ako ulit, dousing me with her fairy dust. Peter Pan flew on his own without the fairy dust, which made me wonder how does he do that when he doesn't even have wings?

I started to float and float and float until I bump my head against a tree trunk. "Aray!"

"What are you doing, Alice?" Peter laughed. He gestured to follow him but I was so busy admiring the view from up here. The sky is a mixture of purple, pink and blue hues. It looks like the sunset just ended at mag-gagabi na. As I follow Tinkerbell and Peter, I saw the glistening ocean from afar. It's so... beautiful.

But then, I suddenly felt dizzy. As if everything is spinning around. When I closed my eyes, I saw him.

I see this guy with angel-like wings. It looks like he's carrying me and we're flying across a beautiful lake.

"Hey, lift your hands," bulong niya sa tenga ko. I see myself lifting my hands so I could touch the clouds. Maya-maya'y binaba niya ang lipad naming hanggang sa mas malapit ko nang nakikita ang ganda ng lake. Hinawakan niya ang kanang kamay ko at binaba ito hanggang sa tumatama na ang mga daliri ko sa tubig. Tumaas na naman ang lipad namin. Bigla niyang binilisan ang aming paglipad as if he was trying to scare me.

The vision blurs and then a new memory appears. It's the same guy at hindi na kami nalipad. He's standing in front of me.

"Scarlet," he said. He took my hand and looked straight into my eyes. "I think I'm in love with you."

"Alice? What's wrong?" Tinkerbell's voice snapped me back to reality. I looked around at mukhang nasa loob na kami ng isang ship.

"Nasaan tayo?" I asked.

"Were you in trance? You didn't notice that we're already inside Hook's ship?"

What did I just remember? Or rather... what did I just see? Because if the guy called me Scarlet, then I must be seeing her memory, not mine. But why? Sino ba siya? This is the first time it ever happened. I'm starting to feel hope. This is a small step on finding my memories. Maybe Scarlet is my sister and I'm seeing her memories so I can remember mine.

"Alice, focus," Peter called out. "Here's the plan. Me and Tink will distract Captain Hook and his men while you free the boys and leave this ship. You understand?"

"Paano kayo? Iiwan lang naming?" tanong ko.

"Don't worry about us, we can deal with him."

Naghiwalay na kami. They told me that at the end of the hallway are stairs towards the bottom of the ship kung saan tingin nila ay nakakulong ang mga bata. So, I did. I went down stairs and lo and behold, they're here. They're sleeping so soundly in their animal sleepwear. Ang cute.

The cage is locked. How am I going to open this?!

CLYDE

"Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na ikaw ang prinsipe ng Middle Kingdom." He said for the third time. The whole time na naglalakad kami pabalik dito sa treehouse ay puro disbelief lang ang lumabas sa bibig niya.

Nilapitan ko ang dalawang basket na nakapatong sa baba ng puno, the usual basket my mother sends me every day. Nauna nang umakyat si Seth. Hindi ba 'to napansin ni Alice?

"Clyde!" sigaw ni Seth mula sa taas. Pagtingin ko ay may hawak siyang maliit na papel. Agad siya bumaba at binigay ito sa akin. Ang tanging nakasulat lang are the words 'Captain Hook's ship'. Halata sa mukha ni Seth ang kanyang pagpapanic. "Anong ibig sabihin niyan? Wala si Alice sa taas."

Captain Hook's ship? I know Captain Hook. He's been wanted for years already dahil sa pagdakip niya sa mga bata to sell as slaves. I ran towards the way to a shoreline. Ramdam ko namang sinundan ako ni Seth. If it's a ship, of course it must be on water. Paano napunta si Alice doon?

We ran as fast as we could when suddenly, I bumped into someone. We both landed on the ground.

"Hm? I'm sorry."

Wait. I know that voice. I looked at the creature who bumped into me. He's wearing the red shirt and carrying the same honey jar.

"Pooh!"