SCARLET 2: ALICE (Emerald Series)

22

ALICE

The vision started with a towering shadow that has red, glowing eyes. Then I heard people crying and screaming. And begging. The shadow came from a small, black ring. For some reason, I know where the ring is.

"Alice?" I feel Clyde smoothing my hair. "Anong nangyayari?!"

I opened my eyes and saw na bumagsak pala ako sa lapag. My throat feels dry and I still feel dizzy. "I saw something."

"Ano?" sabay nilang tanong ni Grayson. I told them the visions I saw. Which surprised them.

"Is it like, a chant?" tanong ni Grayson.

"What's a chant?"

Clyde helped me get up, holding me by the waist, scared that I might collapse again.

"Si Professor Thelessa lang ang nakakakita, or sometimes nakakarinig, ng chants. It's a vision of what will happen, what should happen."

"Paano ko malalaman kung chant ba 'yon?" tanong ko.

"Most of the time, Thelessa will start singing the vision she saw, like a tale. Like it's a ballad. Her face always turns gray, and she always looks like she's in a trance," sagot ni Grayson. "You looked like you were in a trance pero that's it. Your eyes glowed, though. You almost looked like Scar– "

"I think kailangan niya na magpahinga," putol ni Clyde. Grayson looked surprised. Alam ko naman na si Scarlet ang tinutukoy ni Grayson. I've heard about it a dozen of times. Me and Scarlet have the same eyes. These violet-colored eyes.

Grayson led us to the room he prepared for us before he left us so we can rest. Clyde made me lay down on the bed. "You should rest."

Umiling siya. "You needed to rest more than I do. Balak ko rin naman lumabas to say my greetings to the king and queen."

I took his hand. "No."

"No?"

"We've been running since last night. Magpahinga ka muna." I scooted to the other side of the bed. "Higa."

He rolled his eyes bago humiga sa tabi ko. "Do the thing you did last time."

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "Ano?"

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at nilagay sa buhok niya. Ah! Playing with his hair until he falls asleep.

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Bakit?" He looked confused.

"I'll have to be closer to you to properly do it," I said.

He pulled me closer. "Then be closer."

"Isn't this...a little too close?"

"Is there something wrong with being close like this?" He said softly. "We got married."

"Oo... to save me."

"I kissed your forehead."

"You did. You kissed my forehead," I echoed.

"I've been wanting to do more."

More? I feel butterflies starting to move inside my stomach. I wanted to touch his face. I feel like I won't be able to breathe, not until I get a hold of him.

"Will you let me?"

I nodded. He held my face until our lips touched. It feels warm and the butterflies in my stomach started to dance. I feel him smile through the kiss. It was perfect.

He pulled me closer, holding me by the waist. Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. I ran my hands through his hair. It's so soft.

And then, he pulled away. We're both panting now. I see how red his face are and I'm probably blushing, too. Hinatak niya ako ulit to hug me. "Sleep."

***

I want to stop the time and just stay here. If only we could live here for the rest of our lives, forever and ever, we would. The place is just so quiet, so peaceful. So out of touch.

We remained in the castle and have been going to a lot of elven gatherings. They welcomed us as if we're one of them. I also got to meet the king and queen, Grayson's parents.

However, hindi mawala sa isipan ko ang vision na nakita ko. Tama ba 'to? Tama bang tumakas kami at hinayaan nalang ang kung ano mang nangyayari back home?

"Anong problema?" tanong ni Clyde. We just came back from dinner with Grayson and his parents. Napansin niya siguro ang pananahimik ko.

"I just..." Nagdalawang-isip ako. Ayokong sirain ang masasayang araw namin dito. But we shouldn't hide forever. "I think we should go back."

Yumuko si Clyde. "Alam ko."

That's when I realized na hinihintay niya lang pala ako. Nakita niya siguro na masaya ako dito. Hinihintay niya lang siguro ako maging handa na para bumalik. He waited for me even if he knows he needs to save his kingdom.

We went to Grayson and bid our farewells. Nangako siya na susunod siya sa amin pagkatapos niyang asikasuhin ang mga responsibilidad niya dito. He gave us a chariot kaya't nakahinga ako nang maluwag dahil akala ko magbabangka nanaman kami pabalik.

"Pwede bang sa Light Forest tayo bumaba?" tanong ko kay Clyde as soon as lumipad ang sinasakyan naming chariot.

"Pwede naman, pero bakit? Mas mabilis kung sa village na tayo bababa," sambit niya.

"Kasi... when I saw the vision last time," pag-amin ko. "I think I know where to get the ring that I saw in the vision."

"Sigurado ka ba?"

I nodded. "It's submerged in a river sa Light Forest."

It did not take long for us to land sa Light Forest. The chariot left as soon as makababa kami, probably to go back agad sa East. The forest still looks the same. Mukhang hindi pa fully sinasakop ng vampires ang Middle Kingdom.

"Alam mo ba kung saan makikita ang river na sinasabi mo?" tanong ni Clyde. "Parang wala naman akong alam na may river sa Light Forest. Dark Forest lang ang alam kong may river, connecting to the west sea."

I led the way. For some reason, I hear whispers, guiding me to where the river is. Dinala kami nito sa malawak na bahay ni Thelessa. The whispers told me to go inside. So, we did.

Not long after, we went underground through a passageway from Thelessa's basement. Under Thelessa's home is a cave and in the middle is a small lake. It's clear now. What I saw is not a river, but a lake.

I turned around to look at Clyde. I was not completely honest to him. I didn't tell him that there's more to this than just retrieving a ring.

I started dreaming of Scarlet again. It's always about her last memory. It's always about how she disappeared. And every time I see those memories, I hear Thelessa's voice. Calling me. Telling me to remember. Telling me to jump into the water.

Alam kong ito ang tinutukoy niya.

Once I jump into the water, I'll finally remember who I am.

I looked at Clyde once again...

...and then I jumped.