Saving Humanity

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Set-Up

Chapter Thirty-Seven: Set-Up

Holly

Si Kris.

Halata din sa mukha niya ang pagkagulat nang makita niya kami. She steps back voluntarily, accidentally letting go of the loaf of bread she's holding.

"Anong ginagawa n'yo dito?" she asks, voice trembling.

I'm too shocked to even utter a single word. Even Jared freezes in place. But then, upon seeing Kris' shaking hands and the bread on the floor, I realize that we're not the only ones caught off-guard. That means, like us, she isn't supposed to be here.

So I decide to take advantage of the situation.

"Ikaw, anong ginagawa mo dito?" I ask her, making my voice as firm as I could despite the rising panic in my chest. "Sino may sabi sa'yo na pumasok ka dito?"

She averts her gaze, focusing it on the ruined bread. She clasps her fingers together and starts swaying, clearly desperately trying to think about something to get her out of this situation.

"Holly's asking you," Jared speaks up, realizing what I'm doing. He provokes her more by stepping towards her. "Answer the question."

Kris looks up at me, tears welling in her eyes. Hindi ako sanay na makita siyang ganito. She's one of the fiercest women I've ever met, maybe even as fierce as Sgt. Agustin. Nakita ko kung paano niya tinalo ang kalaban na mas malaki pa sa kanya noong first match. It pains me to see a strong woman reduced to something like this.

Max clearly broke her.

"Please, huwag n'yo kong isumbong," pagmamakaawa niya sa amin. Lumapit siya sa akin at mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay ko. "Naaawa lang ako sa mga nakakulong dahil ilang araw na silang hindi binibigyan ng makakain. Huwag n'yong sasabihin na nakita n'yo ako dito, lalong-lalo na kay Max."

There it is. The clear evidence of Max's influence on her. Even saying his name creates such a ripple of fear within her.

Umiwas ako ng tingin. I can't stand seeing her like this. Anong ginawa ni Max sa kanya?

"Umalis ka na dito," utos ko sa kanya. My breath hitches at the last word, but I manage to get the firmness of my voice back. "We won't tell anyone."

Relief floods her eyes. She shoots me a grateful look before finally leaving the place. Pakiramdam ko ay nawala ang lakas ko, kaya't napakapit ako sa balikat ni Jared bilang suporta.

"Ayos ka lang?" tanong niya sa akin.

Tumango ako bilang sagot.

A voice suddenly speaks from Dr. Valdez's cell.

"Sinong nandiyan? Anong ginawa ninyo kay Kris?"

"It's me, Dr. Valdez," wika ko. Hindi ako nakatanggap ng tugon mula sa scientist, kaya lumapit ako sa butas ng pinto ng kanyang selda upang makita niya ako.

"It's you," he breathes. "Nandito ka ba para itakas kami rito?"

Umiling ako. "Not yet. Humahanap pa ako ng tamang pagkakataon. May gusto lamang akong itanong sa'yo."

Tumingin ako kay Jared, at tumango siya bilang senyas na ipagpatuloy ko ang ginagawa ko.

"By any chance, do you own a nightclub called Oblivion?"

There's a pause. Sinubukan kong sumilip sa loob ng selda para tingnan ang reaksyon ni Dr. Valdez, pero masyadong madilim sa loob. I can only imagine the amount of adjustment he'll have to do with his vision once we manage to get him out of here.