KING OF TORMENTS [Completed]

CHAPTER 9

I was silent the whole time. Walang salita at walang kibo ako habang hinihila niya ako. As he held my arm tightly, dragging me somewhere, I couldn't help but noticed the unusual twisting of his lips as if he was trying to stop himself from uttering something.

May mga pagkakataon pa nga napapangiwi na ako sa sakit dahil biglang hihigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa aking braso. Despite my rage and the urge to spit insults to him, I didn't utter a single complain.

Muntik na akong mapatalon sa gulat nang umalingawngaw ang malakas na tunog ng bell. Nakakapagtaka lang dahil masyado pang maaga para magsimula ang klase. Sinundan ito ng isang tila naka-program na boses.

"Chaosers, please proceed to the Central Torments right know. Again, Chaosers, please proceed to the Central Torments right now."

Katulad ito ng boses na narinig ko noong papasok na kami ni Lush sa pangatlong gate. Parang parte ito ng security system ng school.

Dinala ako ni Davil sa likurang bahagi ng main building. Doon ko lang na-realize na malaki talaga ang Chaos. May nakikita pa kasi akong mga establishments sa malayo. Para pala itong isang siyudad dahil may sarili ng mga tindahan sa loob kung saan pwedeng bumili at magliwaliw.

Hindi ko na matukoy kung ilang minuto akong nagtiis sa mahigpit niyang pagkakahawak bago ko naaninag ang isang malaking quadrangle. Napapagitnaan ito ng apat na naglalakihang building. The structures of the buildings had a touch of Victorian Architecture na hinaluan lang ng modern style.

May isang makeshift na stage sa gitna nito. Mayroon ring apat na upuan ang nakalagay. 'Yong nasa gitna ang pinakamataas at elegante ang desinyo. No, not chairs, but those were fucking thrones. It reminded me of the thrones used by the royal family inside their palace. Its intricate designs screamed royalty and power.

Dinala niya ako do'n at pinatayo sa gitna habang dumiretso naman siya doon sa pinakagitnang trono. Magtatanong pa sana ako pero hindi ko na nagawa nang mapansin ang mabilis na pagdating ng mga estudyante.

Iilan pa lamang ang naka-uniform. 'Yong iba kasi ay mukhang kakagising pa lang at hindi na nagkaroon ng oras para makapag-ayos. Naguguluhan kong nilingon si Davil na prenteng nakaupo sa kanyang pwesto. Nilingon niya ako. He noticed my uneasiness and he automatically smirked. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. Then, my ego kept on chanting in my head.

'You're a Sinclaire, You're a fucking Sinclaire.'

It was actually effective because I managed to calm, and act like their presence didn't bother me. I looked at the students blankly. They were murmuring and some were even laughing while looking at me. Most of them were girls who couldn't keep their rants to theirselves. Hindi rin nakatakas sa aking paningin ang mga malalagkit na titig ng mga lalaki. Some were eyeing me from head to foot, examining my features with exaggerated malice as if it's their goddamn first time to see a woman. Their lips automatically formed sinister smirks after checking me out. If I'm not mistaken most of those guys were Mid-Class, Delinquents to be precised. Because they have those auras that were similar to gangsters. From their piercings that irritated my eyes, to their hairstyles that were mostly unruly, and the way their eyes twinkled with mischief.

My face remained passive.

Kalaunan ay dumating na rin ang ibang miyembro ng Upper Hierarchy. Parehong may ngisi ang mga labi nila habang nakatingin sa akin na kasalukuyan pa ring naguguluhan. Well, maliban pala kay Thatum na tila walang pake sa mundo, at nasa mansanas na kagat-kagat niya lang nakatuon ang tingin. Base sa mga tingin nila Davil, at kakaibang kislap ng mga mata alam kong may plano sila na hindi pabor sa akin. Dumiretso ang tatlo sa mga bakanteng trono.