Awakened (Bloodline, #1)

Prologue

00: My Birthday Turns into Chaos

Birthdays were supposed to be special days for people, but this would be the first time I'd experience that kind of moment.

Three days.

In three days, I'd turn seventeen. I don't usually celebrate my birthday but this one's different. You see, all my life, I had been sheltered. Protected from everyone. From everything. To say my grandparents who raised me were overprotective was an understatement.

For almost seventeen years ay hindi pa ako nakakaalis sa city namin, well, except for that one time. Nana and Tata, my grandparents, were obnoxiously strict. Kahit sa field trips or special trips, hindi nila ako pinapasama.

It's dangerous, child, they would always say.

I admit, nagtatampo at nagagalit ako sa tuwing nangyayari 'yon. May isang beses nga na mismong teacher ko na ang nagpaalam para sa isang out-of-town trip dahil kailangan naming pumunta sa museum for our World History subject pero hindi pa rin ako pinayagan . . . unless I'm with Tata.

Halos nasa katabing city lang namin ang museum kaya imagine how embarrassed I was when I was the only one who went with a chaperone. Simula noon, lagi na akong inaasar ng mga kaklase ko, saying I was still babied by my grandparents. I could not even retaliate because it was somehow the truth. They would always treat me like a fragile kid who needed their protection all the time. And maybe that was the reason why I hadn't had any friends. Or any genuine connection with anyone my age.

But I'm already a teenager! I reasoned one time, but they just told me I was still a kid in their eyes.

It was frustrating, really, but I didn't have a choice. Kahit tumakas ako ay matutunton nila ako. For some reason, they just knew how and where to find me.

Kaya naman noong sinabi nila na magbabakasyon kami sa weekend para i-celebrate ang birthday ko ay naiyak ako sa gulat at tuwa. I was sheltered for all my life so going out of town, even though I would be with them, was something I'd be thankful for. Imagine, not just a region or city within Hallim, but we were going to another country! To Batara, a country next to ours!

Kaya naman nang matapos ang klase ko ngayong araw ay agad-agad akong nagligpit ng gamit. I was too excited for tomorrow! Iniisip ko pa lang ang mga lugar na maaari kong puntahan ay hindi ko na mapigilang hindi mapangiti.

"Victoria, umuwi ka nang maaga para maaga rin tayong makaalis."

Naalala ko ang bilin ni Nana kaya nagmadali akong umuwi. She reminded me about that a couple of times to the point that I got slightly annoyed, but oh well, I guess she just didn't want us to be late. Tama rin naman dahil i-che-check ko pa ang inimpake ko kagabi at baka may hindi ako nadala.

The shed near the school premises were usually full of students, but today, it wasn't, which was kind of strange. The vehicle arrived a few minutes later and I immediately boarded it. However, I was thrown into a state of confusion when the students waiting with me in the shed did not hop on.

Bakit nakatayo lang sila roon? sa isip ko, at doon na ako nagsimulang kabahan. What made everything more suspicious was when two guys went in after me, but they did not look like students. Anxiety suddenly crept into my chest.

They were wearing hoodies and caps despite the scorching heat. One of them suddenly glanced at my direction and I immediately averted his gaze. Lumapit ako sa bandang driver dahil medyo natakot ako. Inabot ko ang bayad pero napatigil ako nang makita ko ang expression niya mula sa salamin. He narrowed his eyes as he accepted the coins and I flinched when our skin made contact.