Guardians | Self-Published under Taralikha

Chapter 32 : Arrival

"Hang in there," he said while adjusting my weight on his back. I was too drained to answer.

We were still inside the forest, but from our position, I can already hear the chaos. I want to go to the Capital as soon as possible, before I become deranged from all of these thoughts.

My train of thoughts was interrupted by Ryleigh's sudden grunt. Napatingin ako sa kanya at napansin ko ang red spots sa magkabila niyang balikat, hanggang sa leeg niya. Saka ko lang narealize na mukhang paso ang mga 'yon. I felt a sudden pang of guilt because he's enduring those burns while carrying me.

My body temperature is increasing in an abnormal rate and it felt like I'm drowning in a sea of fire. I can't even think straight anymore because of the heat consuming my insides.

"P-put me down," I whispered.

"Why?"

"Your shoulders . . ."

"Don't mind them. We need to reach the Capital—"

"No. Ibaba mo muna ako." I don't want to burden him anymore. "I need to drink."

Wala naman siyang nagawa kundi ibaba ako sa tabi ng puno. Pero pareho kaming nagkatinginan nang bigla na lang naming napansin ang kalagayan ng katawan ko.

"W-what's happening? Ryleigh?" tanong ko habang nakatingin sa kamay ko.

"I . . . I don't know . . ."

I thought I was just hallucinating, but looking at Ryleigh's expression, I know that I was not. The spirit particles oozing from my body were real. Fear started to creep into me when the first time I called Phoebe flashed in my mind. These aren't just spirit particles. This is my life force.

Bigla kong naalala ang sinabi ng babae sa isip ko.

"This is bad. The Limiter is breaking at a faster rate. Go to the Capital and look for the Book of Prophecies. You will find your answer there."

The . . . the Limiter? The seal that was put in me?

Agad kong tinignan si Ryleigh at kahit na tuyong-tuyo na ang lalamunan ko ay pinilit kong magsalita.

"Likod . . ."

"What?"

"Likod ko . . . c-check the seal . . ."

Mukhang naintindihan naman niya ang ibig kong sabihin dahil agad siyang lumapit sa akin. I can feel the searing heat of my breath when I exhaled on his neck. The sudden touch of his finger on my shoulder made my skin tingled. He gently tugged my shirt to see the back of my shoulders.

Hinawakan ko ang braso niya at tumingin sa kanya. I want to know what's happening but by looking at his expression, I think I already know what he saw.

"It's resurfacing," sabi niya at kusang gumalaw ang kamay ko para hawakan ang likod ng balikat ko. I felt something on the surface of my skin and I tried to visualize it. A symbol flashed into my mind.