Fire Exit (Completed)

Chapter 25: The Queen's Trial

Third Person's POV

"She's not going to wake up."

Pumikit nang mariin si Gideon matapos itong sabihin ng isang witch sakanila, nasa loob na sila ng cottage ngayon at nakahiga na ang walang malay na si Ari sa kama.

"What do you mean? S-she's not allowed to die in here!" Mau sobbed. Niyakap naman siya ni Eaton bilang suporta.

"Yes, she's in a very deep sleep. Mula sa mga witches ang arrow na tumama sakanya, it will take a while for her to gain her consciousness. Now, if you'll excuse me." Magalang na sabi nitong witch at dali-daling lumabas ng kwarto ni Ari. Naiwan silang apat na nakatulala lang sa natutulog na dalaga. Ari was unrecognizable, her skin was pale and she looks slimmer than usual.

Agad namang naupo si Maurice sa tabi ni Ari at niyakap ang kaibigan saka umiyak, "I'm sorry, Ari." She softly whispered.

"Eaton?" Gideon called out. "Can you do something?"

Eaton shook his head. "No."

They all sighed in defeat. Hindi naman nila pwedeng pabayaan lang si Ari na nagkakaganito. Ngayong nasa kanila na ang Key, dapat magising na ito sa lalong madaling panahon para makauwi na ito sakanila.

"Lumabas na muna tayo at asikasuhin natin yung mga kasama natin sa baba." Ani Eric. Lumabas na silang lahat pero naiwan si Gideon sa loob.

Nanatili lang siyang nakatitig kay Ari, hindi niya alam kung lalapit siya o ano. 'She looks fragile' he thought to himself. Dahan dahan na siyang naupo sa tabi nito. He carefully reached for her hand and gently pressed it.

"I'm sorry, Ariadne." He whispered. "I'm sorry you had to go through this. I promise you as soon as you open your eyes, ibabalik na kita sa mundo na pinanggalingan mo kung saan hindi ka na mapapahamak at sasaya ka na ulit." He then bent down to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. "Kapag nangyari 'yon, I'm going to miss you, so much."

Tumayo na siya dahil babagsak na ang luhang pinipigilan niya. Lumabas na siya ng kwarto at dumiretso na siya sa baba. Nakita niya doon sila Eric kasama ang ibang mga babae.

"Angeline?" Gideon exclaimed.

"Oy, pre!" Tawag nito sakanya at niyakap siya. Agad namang humiwalay si Gideon at tumingin sa paligid.

"Nasaan si Annie?" He asked. Agad umiwas ng tingin ang iba kaya naman inulit niya ang sinabi niya. "Nasaan si Annie??"

Eric tapped his shoulder, "They say she died this morning."

Gideon closed his fists. Hindi na maipinta ang ekspresyon niya sa mukha, galit na galit na siya. "Where's the queen?" He asked.

"The witches have her. Why?" -Eric.

"Tell them to bring the queen to the field, ipatawag niyo lahat ng citizens maliban sa mga vampires. It's time we put the queen on her own trial."

****

As brutal as it may seem, they're planning to cut the queen's head.... in front of everyone. You can't blame them, she's always been the villain in their land. Kapag namatay na ito, wala na silang ikakatakot pa.

Handa na ang lahat. Nakapasok na ang queen sa guillotine at hawak na ni Eric ang lubid. Bitawan niya lang ito at tapos na ang buhay ng Walsh queen.

"You people, are stupid!" The queen yelled.

"Shut up!" Sigaw ni Gideon. "You are responsible for hundreds of death, it's time for you to be gone, your highness." Dagdag niya pa, giving emphasis to the last phrase.

"I wasn't trying to hurt anyone." Sabi ng queen.

Gideon scoffed. "Oh yeah? Then where the hell is Annie now? The other girls, huh? Bakit walang malay ngayon si Ari?" He sarcastically said before facing everyone.

"You are now here to witness the death of this infamous Walsh queen that you've all been terrified of. It's time we put an end to this chaos."

At nasundan iyon ng ingay ng mga tao. Lahat sila ay isa lang ang gustong mangyari. Masyado ng malaking gulo ang nagawa ng queen sa lugar nila, hindi na dapat siya mabuhay.

"Eric?" Gideon called out. "Do the honor please."

"With pleasure." Nakangiting sabi ni Eric at walang anu-ano'y binitawan ang lubid. Nagtalsikan ang mga dugo kasama ang ulo nito. Nagsimula na ulit mag-ingay ang mga tao tila ba nagce-celebrate dahil sa nangyari.

Lumapit si Maurice kay Gideon at tinapik ang balikat nito, "Gids.. kailangan na makabalik ng mga babae sa mundo nila."

Gideon's expression went blank. "Hindi pa gising si Ariadne." He said.

"I know." Mau sighed. "But we can still bring them home without Ari. We'll wait for her to wake up but let's take the other girls to their home."

Gideon sighed, "Fine, you can ask Eric and Eaton for help. You take them home, I'll stay with Ari."