Battlefront

44- To the Rescue

Duguan at nanghihina na si Tiana. She had been fighting for hours pero hindi maubus-ubos ang mga kalaban. And it was getting dark. Soon, the Turned wouldn't need their cloaks anymore to hide from the sun.

At hindi lang siya ang nahihirapan. Lahat sila. Nasulyapan niya si Linus na matapang na nakikipaglaban gamit ang espadang napulot nito pero pilit pa rin itong pinoprotektahan ng kanilang mga magulang.

Tiana started to chant a spell. Mahirap lalo na at nanghihina na siya pero pinilit niya ang sarili. The enemies around her burst into flames.

Saka niya nakita si Tamara na parang reyna na nakatayo sa labas ng magarang kotse nito. Napalibutan ito ng maraming Turned kaya hindi ito nakaramdam ng takot. Utos lang ito nang utos.

Bumaha ang matinding galit sa buong sistema ni Tiana kaya nagsimula siyang humakbang palapit sa babae. Pero may humarang sa kanya.

Si Malachi Cush.

"Oh, c'mon," she said, annoyed.

"Alam mong hindi kita hahayaang saktan ang babaeng mahal ko," anang lalaki. Sa totoo lang, he looked dignified. Parang mabait na boss ang aura na binibigay nito.

"She ruined my life."

Kumunot ang noo ni Malachi. "As far as I know, you ruined your life."

"I didn't kill anyone during the Battlefront. She killed Antoine Abellarde at sa akin napunta ang sisi. Ako ang nakulong. Ako ang naging criminal. So, back off bago pa kita maputulan ng ulo."

Malachi lifted his sword and Tiana knew what he wanted. They had to fight.

She attacked first. Ang nakakagulat ay hindi malakas at mabilis si Malachi. Tiana was familiar with the strength of a Turned. Malachi was normal. Weaker than her. Hindi katulad ng mga Turned at vampire-human na followers nito.

"Ugh!" napaluhod ang lalaki when she cut him by the knee.

"You are weak. You are not taking Cratus to be strong and fast," Tiana voiced out her conclusion.

"I supply Cratus but I don't use it. I know its effects. I'm not stupid," sagot ng lalaki na nakatayo na uli. His cut had healed.

And they were back to fighting. But this was so easy for her.

Malapit sa kanila ay si Rifka na nakikipaglaban sa isang babae na mukhang mas bata rito ng ilang taon. The younger woman's face was so full of hatred.

"Getty, stop this," pagmamakaawa ni Rifka na panay ang depensa sa sarili.

So, that's Getty. Tamara's daughter. Naisip ni Tiana.

"Lagot 'yang kaibigan mo kapag pinatay n'ya si Getty. Tamara cares for her more than anyone," ani Malachi.

Napangisi si Tiana dahil sa sinabi nito. She tried to cut him in the chest but he was quick enough to move backwards.

"How about you, Mr. Cush. Does she care for you?"

"Yes."

'Yun ang sagot na hinintay ni Tiana. Sa isang mabilis na kilos ay dinala niya ang hawak na espada sa leeg ng lalaki. One second later, his head was on the ground, with the piles of the dead bodies of the Turned.

"Malachi!" Tamara screamed after she saw what happened. Pulang-pula ang mga mata nito. Like other Turned, tila may mga crack sa mukha nito.

Mas lumawak ang ngisi ni Tiana lalo na nang humakbang siya palapit kay Getty. At dahil busy ito sa pakikipaglaban kay Rifka ay hindi nito napansin ang paglapit niya sa may likuran nito. Ibinaon niya ang espada niya sa likod ng babae.