the sin.

the journey to the truth..

"si tita mira mo!!" sagot niya. napatayo agad ako sa kinauupuan ko nung narinig ko..

"KINUHA NG MGA LALAKE!!" all and everything's fucked up? what is really happening???

"what? bakit daw?" sagot ko na halos pasigaw na gaya ng kausap ko sa telepono..

"hindi namin alam. sapilitan syang kinuha sa tindahan nila at wala kaming nagawa! mabilis ang mga pangyayare eh! pasensya na ineng!!" sagot ni manang..

"sige po ako na pong bahala wag niyo po sisisihi  ang sarili niyo. bye po" dun ko na tinapos ang tawag.

"ano daw sabe? mukha kang tensed eh!!" sabi ni karen.

"kinidnap ang mama mo! hanapin natin siya!!" sambit ko tapos tatawag na sana ako ng pulis pero..

*telephone ringing* ilang beses na tumunog yung landline.. i froze as i hear it.. mukhang ganun din si karen.. lalabas na sana kami sa kwarto pero nauna si gina samin.. pero bago niya sagutin..

"ano ba? bakit ayaw niyo sagutin??!" kinuha niya ng padabog yung telepono pero sinagot ng marahan at malumanay..

"hello?? sino po ito? bale wala pa po si mama kaya wala pa po yung mga paorder niya.." saglit siyang natahimik.. sabay. "gago ka ba? nasa palengke si mama!! prank call b to o budol o modus? hindi ka nakakatawa ha!!" sabay binabaan niya ng matindi yung tumawag.. nakita niya kaming nakatingin sakanya.. "oh? bakit kayo namumutla?"

"kinidnap si mama!!" sabi ni karen.

"ungas! nasa palengke si mama nagtitinda!!" sabi ni gina..

"ganito nalang.. gina at karen.. pumunta kayo ngayon sa palengke. tapos ako naman. pupunta ako sa pulis. maliwanag ba???" utos ko hindi bilang pinsan. kundi bilang nakatatanda..

kinuha ko yung wallet ko. at nagsuot ng sapatos.. dali daling naglakad ako sa pinakamalapit na police station pero bago pa man ako makarating..

*phone vibrate and ring* "unknown number??" sinagot ko agad..

"hello?" almost whispering.

"you are ms. lucid dalhalmer right?" a baritone male voice.

"sino ito??" sabi ko.

"a man from your past. procees to the nearest police station and your auntie will die." he said calmly and i could feel his smile in his voice.

"anong kailangan kong gawin??"

"you could go here and talk to me. at mabubuhay ang  lahat, walang mamamatay.. ill send you the address.."

*end of phone call*

i was left there dumbfounded. prinocess ko ng sobrang tagal bago ako nakareceive ng isang email.. isang picture. screenshot ng google maps.. isang building sa trece..

sumakay ako sa agad na napadaang taxi.. this is not just to save my auntie.. this is to know the truth myself.. kung ayaw nila sabihin.. ako nalang mismo ang maghahanap..

nang makababa ako sa taxi.. pinagmasdan ko ang lugar. luma na ang building at mukhang oonti ang tao.. isa siyang hotel..

"vivoree" ang pangalan ng hotel.. the wind was so cold pero pinagpapawisan ako ng matindi.. i cant think. all i know is. there's no turning back.. hindi ko maihakbang ang mga paa ko.. this is stupid.. my phone rang again as i stopped at the lobby. unknown number. hindi ako nagsasalita..

"what's stopping you??" the man said.  the girl at the service table was waving her hands on me mouthing *hello as i look at her. creepy. the feeling that youve been watched.. hindi padin ako nagsasalita..

"ok kid. we will not harm you or hurt you.. but if you wont step inside you'll hear your auntie's screams.."

"no! dont hurt her! papasok na ko!!" i rushed in pero may narinig ako sa phone call.

"NO! DONT COME IN LUCID!! ITS A TRAP!!" si tita.. pinatigil ng lalaki si auntie. 

silence..

"hi maam. this way please." nainip na ata si ate dahil siya na mismo ang lumapit sakin. my lust for truth is.. growing.. she guided me through the hallway to the room.. my overwhelming thoughts was.. ugh.. the hotel was in all black and white. victorian style. it looks so old in the outside with its off white color.. but it was so beautiful in the inside.. its lights are so dim. but the white walls was enough to light the path.. we reached the elevator and it opened..  my heart was beating like a steamboat tugging.. i was to ask the clerk if she could feel it..but suddenly.

"everything will be fine. just cooperate" the clerk said with a smile.. but even that cant give me a relief.. how stupid.

we arrive at this room, a large big door colored with fine varnish.. gold knob.
no one knows.. what's inside it.. is it a demon?? or new strangers?? who knows.. the f??