METANOIA

VII

VII
Stuck
~*~

'ISA KANG SALOT! '

'Salot! '

'Dapat kang mamatay!'

'Patayin na yan! '

Kalmado kong tinanggap ang mga galit nila. I continued staring at them with pride and dignity.

'Salot!'

'Mangkukulam! '

My arms are tied in a pole behind me. I am properly elevated with dead and dry logs, surrounding me. The people of Fiore, which I have devoted my life into is condemning me to join my ancestors through this. A public execution.

But instead of being afraid, I am keeping my head high. A Maverick does not back down just because they have failed to see the good in my actions. A Maverick does not bow down their heads knowing I did not commit a crime against them. But I can't fight a society where they could only see a threat with my brilliance. They after all, still ignorant with the power of Metanoia.

'Ano pang hinihintay niyo? Sunugin na yan! ', sigaw ng isa na sinang-ayunan ng lahat. Ang isang lalaki na may dalang sulo ay unti-unting sinisilaban ang kahoy na nakapaligid sakin.

Taas-noo kong tatanggapin ito ngunit,

'Mga hangal! ', mariin kong sabi sa taumbayan na nagpatahimik sa kanilang lahat.

'Mga hangal! ', ulit ko.

'Magbabalik ako! At sa pagbabalik ko, magbabayad lahat ng nagkasala! '

Sumigaw ako ng malakas habang unti-unti nang kinakain ng apoy ang aking balat.

I woke up in a jolt because of the dream. Ang matinis na sigaw ko sa aking panaginip ay umalingawngaw sa aking mga tainga.

Nagmulat ako na wala sa sarili. My skin is warm but is not burning. I am not surrounded with fire or anything.

There's a chandelier on my ceiling. The room smell like lavender. Bumangon ako at pumipikit pa dahil nakakasilaw ang liwanag mula sa labas. Old man Heinrich opened my curtains this early again.

Where am I again? Ah. Oo nga pala. Nandito nga pala sa Fiore.

Ilang araw na ang lumipas mula ng tumakas kami mula sa Azaleah. I was inside the mansion all the time. Hindi ako nakakalabas maliban sa backyard kung san kaya nila akong bantayan.

May malawak na garden naman sana ang mansyon. May maze din sa di kalayuan dun kaya lang di ko pa napupuntahan. Hanggang tanaw lang ako sa balkonahe. Medyo mahigpit ang seguridad ng Order sa akin sa ngayon eh. The Order were up day and night.

My mind was killing me. My mind would constantly drift back to mom, wondering how is she right now or was she somewhere safe. Was she okay? Did she escape safely?

And what about Cross? He wouldn't have..? No, I would not go there.

Ang Order naman, walang sinasabi sakin.

I planned on sneaking out but there is no use. The whole place is heavily guarded.

Sa pagdaan ng mga araw, nagsimula na akong mabagot.

It is not on my nature to stay put in one place. Four walls are suffocating and boring for me. I feel like a prisoner. I want the outdoor breeze, the wild thrill and the adrenaline rush.

Wala rin ako masyadong nakakausap dahil minsan lamang pumupunta dito si Mazy at Savior. While Heinrich, the coachman, minsan lang din kaming nagkakasalubong at nagkakamustahan. Minsan, nakikita ko siya na nililinis ang mga muwebles sa hall o kaya sa backyard at minemaintain ang ayos ng mga halaman. He sure have a lot on his hands with his age.