SCARLET 2: ALICE (Emerald Series)

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ALICE

Once upon a time, there were five princes: Theo of the North, Grayson of the East, Jude of the South, Zayden of the West and Clyde of the Middle. They grew up together, played together and went to school together. They're each other's best friends. They're like brothers to each other.

They saw each other through ups and downs. When Theo had his first heartbreak, they were together. When Jude's aunt died, they all cried with him. When Zayden had a hard time with his parents, they took his side. They always have each other's back.

"Grayson!"

Clyde hugged his cousins. Grayson, Theo and Zayden. They're all here.

"Bakit ngayon lang kayo?!"

Kinurot ni Zayden sa pisngi si Clyde. "Aba, pasensya ka na ha? Kailangan pa kasi naming magpaalam sa mga magulang namin kung pwede kaming mangielam dito eh!"

"Ay, nagpaalam pa kayo?" natatawang sabi ni Theo. Agad siyang binatukan ni Grayson. They then saw me standing behind Clyde.

"Hi, cousin-in-law!" bati nila sa akin. I wanted to cry when I saw them again. There were supposed to be five of them. Now... there's only four of them.

Hindi nila alam na ako 'to. Si Scarlet. Ako na naging dahilan kung bakit namatay ang isa sa kanila...Si Jude. I wanted to cry and say how sorry I am but I held it in.

"So, anong plano natin?" tanong ni Zayden.

"Malakas ang pakiramdam kong nasa Middle Castle si mama," sagot ko. "Let's go."

"Wait! Nang tayo lang?" awat ni Theo. Simpleng um-oo sina Clyde. "Magpapakamatay pala tayo, hindi niyo agad sinabi! Nag-iwan sana ako ng letter sa mga magulang ko."

We travelled a solid thirty minutes to reach the castle on foot. Napatigil ako sa nakita ko. I can't move my body any step closer. Is that...Is that Seth?

"Rachelle!" sigaw ni Theo. Napatingin sa amin ang mga vampire. Nakatali sa poste si Seth at si Rachelle. They're all covered in blood. Mukha silang binugbog at puno ng sugat ang kanilang katawan. Grayson took out his bow and arrows and started shooting at the vampires. Theo shot iced spears at them. Zayden turned into a large eagle and flew towards Theo and Rachelle.

Clyde pulled me with him. Sumunod sa amin si Grayson, leaving Zayden and Theo behind para asikasuhin sila Seth. Si Seth... wala na siyang malay. Gusto kong magpaiwan para ako mismo ang titingin kung buhay pa si Seth pero mas kailangan ako ni Clyde sa tabi niya. Please...Please don't die, Seth.

Clyde opened the castle door. More vampires attacked us and all this time, I just let Clyde and Grayson to protect me. I didn't want to use it...my powers. I didn't want to use my hands. This power, this ability, this is given by my father. The same person who made me kill Sky. This is the power from the Dark Side. I won't be the monster they wanted me to be.

We ran upstairs hanggang sa makarating sa kwarto ni Queen Emerald. When we opened the door, I thanked all the Gods in all the heavens dahil nandoon silang tatlo: Queen Emerald, King Matt and Thelessa.

"Anak!" Queen Emerald practically ran towards Clyde. "I really have the best son ever!"

She started crying while hugging him. Nakita kong niyakap din sila ni King Matt. I, on the other hand, crossed the room and hugged Thelessa.

"Ligtas ka," she said in a calming voice. "I knew it."

"Kailangan na po nating umalis!"

Tumakbo kami palabas ng castle. Paglabas namin ay nakita naming binubuhat na ni Theo and Zayden sina Seth at Rachelle.

"Kailangan nating bilisan!" sigaw ni Zayden. "I flew and scoped the area at nakita kong nagtawag sila ng back-up. Papunta na sila dito."

"Matt..." Queen Emerald called King Matt. "Paano ang castle?"

Her eyes filled with tears. King Matt took her hand. "Babalik tayo. This is our home. We will have our home back."

We ran towards the Light Forest. Ito nanaman ang pakiramdam na parang susuko na ang lungs ko dahil sa bilis ng aming pagtakbo. I'm running out of breath. We slowed down a bit para makabawi sa paghinga.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" tanong ni Theo while still carrying Rachelle. "We have to hurry and find shelter. Nanghihina na sila."

Lumapit ako kay Zayden who's carrying Seth. He's barely breathing. Please don't die on me, Seth.

"Tita, pwede po kayong magtago muna samin," Grayson offered. "It's the farthest here so it'll buy us time to form a plan."

"Pwede..." mahinang sagot ni Queen Emerald. "And my sister is there. I need her."

"Pero marami tayo. The boat going there can only hold two people while a chariot can only hold four," kontra ni Clyde.

"At kailangan na ng immediate care nila Rachelle," dugtong ni Theo.

"So, saan?" inis na tanong ni Grayson.

"Alice?" Sabay-sabay kaming lumingon sa bagong dating. There's a fairy flying beside him.

"Peter! Tinkerbell!" They ran and hugged me. "We heard something and saw you. Do you need help? Do you need a ship?"

A ship? "You have a ship?"

"We took Captain Hook's ship!"