Midnight Angels

Chapter 34

'The Mythomaniac'

ZIA

Tahimik kami ni Atlas na nagpapatrol. Nakatingin lang siya sa mga buildings habang nakikiramdam ako sa paligid. I closed my eyes for a bit but suddenly opened it when I heard footsteps approaching us fast. Tiningnan ko si Atlas at parang hindi niya pa ito naririnig. "Atlas, someone's coming." Mahina kong sabi kaya agad siyang umalerto at lumapit sa akin.

"Which point?" Tanong niya.

"Six o'clock." Sagot ko kaya agad kaming tumingin sa likuran namin pero may napansin na naman akong paparating sa ibang direksiyon. "Three o'clock." Sagot ko kaya tumingin agad siya sa gilid niya. "Another one at twelve o'clock." Sambit ko at napapikit na ako dahil hindi ko na alam kung ilan sila.

All I know was that they're fast.

Inilabas ko kaagad ang pakpak ko. It was red.

"Vampires." Sambit ko nung marinig ko ang mismong pagtubo ng mga pangil nito. All the sound that they were making were registered into my system. "Shit! Bakit ba kasi ang bango mo?!" Reklamo ni Atlas kaya agad na napaawang ang bibig ko at tumingin ako sa kanya.

"Is it my fault now?" I asked and he just nodded. Hindi ko nalang pinansin ang sinabi niya. Kinuha lang ni Atlas ang handheld transceiver niya at tsaka may sinabi dito. "This is Atlas. North point patrol with Zia. We need assistance. Now." Sabi niya at tsaka na siya nagpalit ng anyo tsaka siya tumingin-tingin sa ibang direksiyon.

"Mga estudyante ba 'to sa UHT?" Tanong ko sa kanya nung makita kong inaamoy niya ang hangin. Tumango lang siya kaya huminga ako ng malalim at nakiramdam lang sa paligid. Agad akong umiwas nung maramdaman kong may paparating sa gilid ko.

Agad ko itong tinulak papunta kay Atlas at binunggo naman ito ni Atlas papunta sa isang puno.

Napapikit kaagad ako at tiningnan ang kamay kong nasasaktan at dun ko lang nalaman na walang pang-itaas na damit 'yung lalaking bampira at tumatawa pa siya nung makita niyang nasasaktan ako. Just then, dumating na 'yung mga kasama niya. They're all guys, with no shirts.

What is this? A shirtless vampire party?

"They planned this. They know about the spell in you." Sabi ni Atlas sa akin habang nasa wolf-form siya. Atlas just growled at them and the vampires just tutted him. "Uh-uh, doggy. You know the rules. Wolves and vampires can't fight in UHT." Nakangising sabi nung isa sa kanila.

"Do I look like someone who follows those damn rules?" Tanong ni Atlas at agad na binunggo ang tatlong bampira kaya tumilapon sila sa isang building. I was about to move when three of them locked me in their arms. Napasigaw kaagad ako dahil sa mga hawak nila sa akin.

Their skin having contact with my skin was excruciating. It felt like I was burning.

I tried making fire or ice with my hand but I can't. It was because of the pain on my skin that I can't seem to think straight. I couldn't even move the moment they laid their hands on me. I was swallowed by pain. I couldn't use anything to protect myself.

What is this? Why can't I do anything? It was like the spell was preventing me to even protect myself.

Agad na bumunggo sa amin si Atlas kaya tumilapon 'yung mga bampira na humahawak sa akin. Napaluhod kaagad ako at hinawakan ang pakpak ko na nasusunog. It's not even my skin but it was more painful than the burns on my skin. I didn't even know how they managed to burn my wings.