Project X (published via Sanctum Press)

Chapter 23: Timor

ELISE'S POV

Nakaupo ako sa loob ng opisina ni Mrs. Perez habang hawak hawak ang mainit na tsaa sa kamay ko. Nasa loob din ang nurse, at dalawang peacekeepers. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken.

"Sigurado ka ba talaga, Elise?" tanong ulit ni Mrs. Perez sa ikawalong ulit. Tumango ako at inulit ko ulit ang mga sinabi ko kanina.

Kung paano namin siya nakalaban sa gubat, kung paano ko nakitang meron siyang frostbite at ang pagtakas niya bago ako mawalan ng malay. Wala na akong pakialam kung madadagdagan ang sanction ko dahil lumabag ako sa curfew, pero kinailangan kong sabihin ang buong katotohanan.

"But how? How can one of us be a traitor?"

I closed my eyes and finally drank. The tea hit my stomach with a warm wave. I finally thought, how?

But that was a logical question. I tried to answer the question for myself. But all I can think was, that Elle is working for neolution. That she tried to kill Flare.

But maybe she was the one who killed Jia. "Did she hurt you?" Ms. Perez asked, I shook my head. "No."

"I just don't understand, we should have known. we should have been able to sense it." Mrs. Perez said, dazed. "She's one of the elites, sa lahat ng pwedeng pag-isipan kung sino ang traydor, we've looked past the best students we're training against them."

Speaking of traitors...

"Mrs. Perez," tanong ko kay Mrs. Perez na nakaupo sa harapan ko, nilingon niya ako nang parang wala sa sarili.

"I had a vision. Neolution wants a guinea pig from us. Ang sabi niya, magagawan lang daw iyon ng paraan ng isang 'Madam' sa loob ng Cross Institute. My theory is, hindi lang si Elle ang nagtatrabaho sa kanila, there might be someone else too. Higher than what Elle is capable of." ani ko. For a split second, I noticed a minimal shift in Mrs. Perez's facial expression before it went blank.

"That's a strong allegation, Elise. We can't just point fingers at anyone," she said.

"Hindi po ako nambibintang. I'm just saying that if there's still someone who works for neoulution, then we're still at risk. We'll never be safe,"

"I'll see what I can do," she forced her mouth into a thin line and avoided my gaze which maybe means that she's not going to spill something or she just doesn't know about it.

I was about to ask a lot more questions when Mr. Jones barged in the room with two guys at his side. Si Brian kaklase ko siya sa iilang mga subjects ko at na may echolocation na nakakapag track ng bagay o tao sa paligid sa pamamagitan ng sonar or radar sense, at si Khal na may telesthesia, enhanced sense of sight ang ability niya. Being able to see a distant or unseen target using extrasensory perception.

"No sign of Elle, we searched the whole grounds and area." nahihingal na sabi ni Mr. Jones, "None detected by the tracking system either." Mrs. Perez sighed, "it's like she vanished into thin air."

"We have to inform the council, and we have to strengthen the security," Mrs. Perez voice cracked at her last words, and I think she's trying to stiffle a sob.

"It will be okay," nasabi ko nalang, hindi naman ako magaling magpagaan nang loob. Alam kong bilang principal ng school, pressured siya sa nangyayari ngayon.