Demoness

Chapter 6

|•Chapter 6•|

HELENA

NASA pinakadulong parte ng palapag na ito ang student council room. Nang tumapat kami rito, pinihit ni Jin ang seradura ng pinto. Kaagad na nakaagaw sa pansin ko ang isang kulay pink na sofa. Hindi dahil sa pink ito, kundi dahil sa lalaking nakaupo rito habang nagbabasa ng libro.

"Yo Zack!" bati ni Jin.

Umangat siya ng tingin at doon ko muling nasilayan ang isang pamilyar na mukha.

"You're that guy from earlier," I said, partly surprised.

Tumingin siya sa'kin at bumaling kay Jin. 

"She's the new member of the council," Jin answered before Zack could even ask.

Zack closed the book on his hand and stood up.

"We need some welcoming suprise to do then," saad niya siyaka ngumisi. Bigla akong nalito.

I look at Jin who seemed to be hesitant. "Shouldn't we brief her first about this?"

"Jin, there's a reason why it's called a surprise."

"Wait..." 

Magtatanong palang sana ako nang marinig ko ang pagpitik ng mga daliri ni Zack. 

I felt my vision spinning, as muffled voices echoed within my ears. My consciousness slipping away from my grasp until the weight of my body finally surrendered to the floor.

Nang  buksan ko ang aking mata, sinalubong ako ng hindi pamilyar na paligid. 

I found myself in a barren land with the absence of colors. Everything around me were painted in monochrome colors.

Wala ni isang buhay na matatagpuan maliban sa akin. 

As if death had visited this place and spread its disaster everywhere. Withered grass were scattered around, in contrast to the small number of dead trees present.

Malutong na tumunog ang tuyong lupa mula sa ilalim ng aking mga apak.  

"Is this what Zack meant as a test? This is pretty boring," walang ganang saad ko.

Ngunit sana pala 'di nalang ako nag reklamo. Biglang may presensyang lumitaw sa aking likuran kasabay nang pagtakip sa aking pigura ng isang anino.

I take it back! There's a freaking phantom with me! This time, it looks like a zombie with long limbs and sharp teeth.

I did not waste any second to run.

"Zack you idiot! When I complained about boredom, did it sound like I wanted death!?" sigaw ko habang nagtatakbo palayo sa panganib.

Panay naman ang sunod sa akin ng phantom. Ni wala man lang akong mapagtaguan. 

Kapag nagtagal pa 'to, kahit naman demonyo ako, may limitasyon din sa aking kakayahan. Kelangan kong mag-isip ng solusyon kung paano makatakas.

Wala akong makita na pwedeng gawing armas sa paligid. Lahat nalang puro puno at tuyong damo. Anong gagawin ko sa mga ito Zack?! Sabi na nga ba't may sama ng loob sa akin ang lalaking iyon.

Okay. Calm yourself. Think! If this is a test, surely there's a solution to it.

"Kyahhh!" hiyaw ko dahil muntik na akong matumba sa pagkatapilok.

There's not even a time to think and formulate an idea! Surely, he set this up for me to fail.

I swear! When I get back, I'll put you under my spell. I'll be your worst nightmare Zack!

Teka...

Oo nga, ba't hindi ko naisip kaagad ito? I could actually use my spell against it. 

Kung sakali mang pumalpak ang plano ko, hindi naman ako mamamatay.

'But that means you'll fail the test idiot!'

However, I'm Helena Lavigne. And running away isn't my style.

A monster should fight head on with another monster!

Tumigil ako sa pagtakbo at walang pagdadalawang isip na hinarap ang phantom. 

Humugis na scythe ang isa sa mga mahaba niyang kamay. Tinaas niya ito at handa na sanang itama sa akin nang titigan ko ang kaniyang mata.

I made sure to inflict the screams of pain within it. I gaze deep into the souls of the people it has swallowed and awakened their darkest desires. 

The cries of mercy and begs for death sounded like an orchestra of agony, leaded by death itself. 

Even a phantom will be unable to bear such pain.

Humiyaw ito ng malakas kaya napatakip ako sa aking tenga. Ngunit isang malaking pagkakamali ang aking ginawa dahil naputol ang pagtitig ko rito.

When I looked up, it was hysterically swinging its scythe towards my direction. My eyes widen by the sudden turn of events.

Sumisigaw ang utak ko na umilag pero hindi kaagad nakatugon ang aking katawan.

The tip of its blade was a few inches away from my face when suddenly...