Fist & Pearl (Ursula State Series, 1)

Kabanata 24

Kabanata 24
Snake's Dance

HAVE you ever felt that time of crisis where it is in your hand whether someone's life will be taken away or not?

It's me, or it will be Warren.

Those were my last and only choices. And I can't put Warren into more, even more danger, than he ever put himself in.

I wanted us out of it already.

So I have to be the one to sacrifice and then it will be over. Hindi na kailangan pang magtagal ni Warren sa mundong iyon. I'll scrafice myself, Warren had already done too much.

Sacrifice is a big word, though. It's not like I'll be lying cold, dead on the floor after dancing.

But I have to do it.

To finish everything that started wrong in the first place.

I reached for Warren's hand. He's still unconscious, lying on one of the beds in the clinic where the twins brought him in.

"It will be over soon, Warren." mahina kong bulong tapos ay tumulo ang aking mga luha bago ko hinigpitan ang paghawak ko doon. "It will be over."

"Kumain ka na?" tanong ng boses kasabay ng pagbukas ng pinto ng kuwartong kinatitirikan ni Warren. Agad kong pinunasan ang aking luha at saka ngumiti kay Danny na may hawak na plastic.

"I got it from Jug&Betty's." sambit niya sa akin tapos ay inilapag niya iyon sa side table na katabi ng kama ni Warren. "Baka magising din si Warren kapag nalanghap niya."

"Thanks, Danny." ngiti ko sa kaniya bago ko binitawan ang kamay ni Warren upang tignan ang pagkaing nabili niya.

"Charlie, about last night. . ." panimula agad ni Danny at saka kumamot sa kaniyang batok. Seryosong tumingin ako sa kaniya at umiling upang ipaalam na wala lamang sa akin iyon.

"Don't let him fuck with your mind. Don't feel the need to be responsible for what happened to Warren." pagpapatuloy ni Danny at saka siya lumapit sa akin. "He doesn't know half of it, Warren kept it from him because he knew he will freak out-and Warren's right, he did."

Inispread-out niya ang dalawang braso niya upang bigyan ako ng yakap, bumagsak na lamang ang aking labi at wala na akong magawa kundi saluhin ang yakap niya at saka mapahagulgol.

"It's Warren's decision, Charlie. It's his decision." bulong pa ni Danny sa akin. Hindi ko siya sinagot. Niyakap ko lang siya hanggang sa tumigil na ako sa pag-iyak.

STROBE lights lit up the dark room. I don't actually know where I am. I was blindfolded when the Pirates took me. Basta ang alam ko lang ay nasa Nest ako. Kung anong Nest iyon, hindi ko alam, pero hindi ito ang Pirates' Nest dahil nakikita ko ang dilim sa labas o miski ang buwan-wala kami sa ilalim ng abandunadong building. Hindi rin ito ang abandunadong lugar kung saan ako dinala noon, pero masasabi kong mas malayo ito.

Seductive and sultry songs playing by the DJ in-charged. Seeing and hearing that from back-stage, I am already chickening out.

I don't want to this.

But I have to.

I should do it.

I must do it.

It is for Warren.

I kept repeating the same words on my mind to give me strength. Because after this dance, Warren will be free from them.

I just need to dance and it will be over.

"Five minutes, Charline, and you're out." pagreremind sa akin ng stage manager sabay kindat, "It will be 12 midnight in five."

Huminga ako ng malalim at saka niyakap ang aking sarili.