Takipsilim

Chapter 17: Dilemma

Sam froze at the sight of Cedric.

S-siya ang sugong Kataha?! Ika niya sa sarili.

Agad niyang tinawagan si Yael ngunit hindi ito sumasagot, kaya't tinawagan niya si Regan.

Nabitawan niya ang telepono nang makitang nakatingin sa kanya ang sugong Kataha.

Akmang lalapitan na niya ang kinaroroonan ng mga ito para sumalakay ngunit higit na mabilis ang mga ito kaysa sa kanya.

In a snap, he was pushed into a wall with Cedric's hand on his neck.

"Nagulat ka ba?" The chosen Kataha smirked.

"B-bitaw-wan m-mo a-ko!" Sam was trying his best to break free from Cedric but the latter was far stronger than he was.

Cedric gave out an evil laugh. "No matter how hard you train, you're still just mortals. You cannot defeat us!"

Sam was losing his breath. I cannot die like this!

With all his might, he kicked Cedric in the stomach. Nabitawan siya nito.

"Damn you!" Cedric shouted.

Sam's eyes widened when he saw how Cedric's arms became bigger and how his fingers grew into big, sharp claws. His eyes turned blood red.

The Ahren formed a defensive stance, ready to fight the monster in front of him. Alam niyang dehado siya sa labang ito ngunit lakas loob pa rin niyang susubukan.

The chosen Kataha ran into him and slashed his shoulder using its claws.

Sam fell down the ground. Namimilipit ito sa sakit.

Cedric grabbed his head violently. "Sinadya ko talagang buhayin ka." He told Sam. "Look into my eyes."

Hindi alam ni Sam ngunit tila may hipnotismo ang mga mata ng sugong Kataha.

"Warn your chosen Ahren. Malapit na ang digmaan. At sisimulan ko iyon sa kamatayan ng pinakamamahal niya."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Sam. Gusto nya pa itong labanan ngunit hindi na kaya ng katawan niya. Alam niyang maraming dugo na ang nawawala sa kanya.

"Your friends are here." Cedric smirked. Tumayo na ito at biglang naglaho kasama ni Hunter. Naiwang mag-isa si Sam.

"Sam!!!!" He heard Maya and Regan's worried voices.

Sam closed his eyes and lost his consciousness.

-----

Yael did not know how he was able to reach the hospital.

Everything happened so fast. Nanginginig ang kanyang mga kamay nang buhatin si Katherina sa emergency room at tumawag ng tulong sa mga manggagamot. Sinuri nila ang dalaga at agad na binigyan ng pangunang lunas.

Lumipas ang ilang oras at ngayon ay nakaupo siya sa tabi ng dalaga na mahimbing nang natutulog sa kanyang private room.

"Please, don't tell mom." were Katherina's last words before losing consciousness.

Tatawagan sana niya ang ina ni Kath ngunit pinili na lamang niyang sundin ang hiling nito.

Sobrang takot at kaba ang naramdaman ni Yael dahil akala niya ay inatake ng mga Kataha ang dalaga.

Napakuyom ang mga kamay ng binata nang maisip iyon.

Not her. Not her. Ika niya sa sarili.

"She stressed herself too much. Masyadong pagod ang katawan ni Ms. Hontiveros at mahina rin ang kanyang mga baga at resistensya. Strangely, we did not find any illness. Magpasalamat pa rin tayo. I recommend that because she has a weak body, alaga dapat siya sa pahinga at masustansiyang pagkain. Dapat rin ay hindi siya gaanong nasstress."