Maxism Ford's View
"It's done. What's next?" Hinubad ko ang coat na suot ko at inilapag sa upuan. Lumapit ako kay Volt na naka-tayo habang naka-halukipkip sa harap ni Bansot.
"She's alive." Sabi niya habang naka-titig pa din sa katawan niya. Nangunot ang noo namin ni Paris at lumapit sa kaniya.
"What do you mean?" Naguguluhan na tanong ni Paris. Finally, he faced us.
"This body is alive and so the rest. Anyways," nilagpasan niya kami. Sumunod kami sa kaniya. Inihagis niya sa akin ang isang mason na agad ko namang nasalo, "Time for work. Let's wreck this wall already. Paris, while we're working, read the article in that newspaper. Max, let's do it." Tumango na lamang ako at isinuot na ang gloves. Pumwesto na ako sa tabi ng pader. Kinapa-kapa ko iyon. Baka may secret passage. But I guess, there ain't dahil the wall is a pure cement. Tsk. Mahirap-hirap tibagin 'to.
"Ito lang? Wala nang iba?" Tanong ni Paris. Tumango ako.
"Yeah. Wala na akong ibang nahanap bukod pa diyan. Sabi ng librarian, pina-sunog daw lahat ng dyaryo na may kinalaman sa...basta! 'Yung nasa article na nandyan, isa daw sa mga dark, dark, dark secrets noong 1800s. Sige na, basahin mo na." Sabi ko at nagsimula na sa pagtitibag katulong si Volt.
"The headline is: Inventor J.T Lodge announced his new invention 'The Immortal'." Panimula niya, "Woah, invention? Is this it?" Komento niya. Napa-ismid naman ako.
"Basahin mo na lang!" Daming sinasabi. Psh.
"Sabi dito: 'The great J.T Lodge has been working on his newest invention, The Immortal, together with Engr. Izaac Dragunovv and Dr. Devonacci Hanctary. "This will change the world of technology. No, the new birth of technology," they said in an interview. For the very first time, the Big Three decided to join forces in one project. J.T Lodge is famous for his techs and inventions. Engr. Izaac Dragunovv, despite of being a heir, is paving a way in the history. And our blue-blood, Prince Devonacci Hanctary, also pave his way in the world of medicines and now, collaborating with J.T Lodge to change the world."
"B-B-Blue blood!? What the fuck, guys!? Prinsipe 'to!?" Hindi makapaniwala at histerikal na sigaw ni Paris at itinuro si Devonacci Hanctary. Maging kami ni Volt ay nagulat. S-Seriously!? PRINSIPE!?
Wait, kung isa siya sa mga tumulong sa pagbuo ng imbensyon na sinasaad sa dyaryo, bakit nandito siya? I mean, AAAAAAHHH! Masisiraan na talaga ako ng bait dito!
"Continue!" Aish! Isa pa 'tong si Volt. How could remain calm and composed despite of these discovery? Hanga din ako sa kaniya.
"Wala nang ibang nandito sa dyaryo. Here, look at this. There's a picture in here!" Nagmamadali siyang lumapit sa amin ni Volt. Nagtinginan kaming dalawa at tumigil sa pagtibag panandalian at tumingin sa litratong naroroon. It's a group of men in their 1800's formal fashion. Devonacci is really there. I think the one with an eyepatch is J.T Lodge and the one in the middle is the Dragunovv.
"Ito pa pala." Sabi niya nang inisa-isa ang naka-stapler na mga dyaryo. Pare-parehas kaming natigilan sa nakikita.
'Over a hundred young teens died in "The Immortal" invention'
"Holy...shit." napa-nganga na lamang ako sa nakikita. It was a picture of...bunch of bodies piled up. Medyo blur ang picture and I think the photographer secretly captured it. Lodge was there wearing his lab coat. Examining a body.
'"The Immortal" a FAILURE?'
'J.T Lodge, a serial killer?'
'Parents mourn for their childrens' deaths because of "The Immortal"'
"Shit." We whispered under our breath. Napa-hawak ako sa bibig at napa-iwas ng tingin. It shows there how many teens died because of that invention. Nakasaad din doon na pinaghahanap na nila si J.T Lodge. People raid his territory and burned it. Kasama na doon ang imbensyon niya. Hindi ipinakita ang itsura ng 'The Immortal' na 'yon so I guess, kasama na 'yon sa mga nasunog. Devonacci and Dragunovv remained safe. Ayon sa article, inalis daw sila ni J.T Lodge sa paggawa ng proyekto and he worked on his own. J.T Lodge 'kidnapped' over a hundred of teenagers for his invention. And all of them died during and/or after the process.
'J.T Lodge captured and shot after escaping attempt.'
"Nakakabaliw na!" Wala sa sariling sabi ko at malakas na inihampas ang mason sa pader. Pare-parehas kaming nagulat nang bigla iyong gumuho. Napa-atras kami dahil sa nakakasilaw na liwanag. Nakarinig kami ng parang daloy ng nagko-collide na mga kuryente. Hindi ko alam pero biglang bumigat ang pakiramdam ko. I mean, parang may humihila sa akin pababa.
"Holy mother...of God!" W-What the fuck is that thing!?
Nanghina ako dahil sa nakikita. Nabitawan ko ang mason kasabay ng pagluhod ko. Natulala sa ganda ng nasa harap ko. Maganda ngunit mapanganib.
"The Immortal... Or should I say,
the Dragon's Seal." I gawked because of what Volt said. Hanggang sa doon na nag-sink in lahat sa utak ko ang sinabi niya at ang nakikita ko.
The absolute, the perfect, the potent---the Dragon's Seal!
"H-How... The Immortal...? Dragon's Seal?" Naguguluhan na sabi ni Paris na mukhang mababaliw na katulad ko. Fuck! This is crazy! This is insane!
Kumuha ako ng tipak ng bato at itinapon 'yon doon. Pare-parehas kaming napa-singhap nang bigla iyong tumigil kahit na hindi pa iyon tumatama sa mismong bagay. A gush of electricity flowed towards it and boom. It was shattered into pieces.
This is real. The Dragon's Seal...was right in front of me.
Wala sa oras kaming napa-lingon sa likod nang makarinig ng parang pagkulo ng tubig. The waters in the cylinder glass are boiling. Naalerto kaming tatlo at nabahala.
"Volt! Anong gagawin natin!?" Fuck! Paano kung masunog sila!? Wait, no! It was just boiling pero hindi iyon mainit. I think so. Fuck! Mababaliw na nga ako dito!
"I don't know---Crap!" Nakarinig kami ng pagkabasag. Pare-parehas na laki ang mga mata namin nang unti-unting magkalamat ang mga glass. Napa-tingin kami sa Dragon's Seal. It was glowing even more. Parang nagwawala na ang mga kuryente---FUCK!
"AVOID IT!"
*bzzzzzzt!*
*splash!*
God, please keep my sanity within me.
Paris Kean's View
"A-Aray ko...." daing ko nang maalimpungatan nang maramdaman ang tubig sa hinihigaan ko. Unti-unti kong minulat ang mga mata ko at itinulak ang sarili ko paupo. Inaninag ko ang taong nasa harap ko. Naka-mulat ang mga mata at naka-tingin sa akin.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! VOLT! MAX! VOLTAGEEEE!!!" Sigaw ko sa sobrang takot at umatras palayo sa katawan na iyon. Pakiramdam ko ay naubusan ako ng dugo. Sobrang bilis ng pagtibok ng puso ko. Nangatal ang mga ngipin ko dahil doon.
"Fuck.. Paris? Anong---FUCK!" Mura din nila nang makita ang katawan nila. Hindi ko alam pero bigla na lang tumulo ang mga luha ko dahil sa sobrang takot. Takot dahil sa taong nasa harapan ko. Naka-tingin sa akin.
Napa-tingin ako sa mga cylinder glass. Basag na ang mga 'yon at nagkalat ang mga bubog sa sahig. Doon lang ako natauhan, "Volt! Max! The bodies!" Natatarantang sabi ko bago tumayo at lumapit kay Xerene. No, she's not Xerene. She's...DEATH.
Nagdadalawang isip pa ako kung kukuhanin ko siya or what. Naka-sunod ang tingin niya sa akin at nanghihina ako sa paraan ng pagtingin niya. I don't know if she's concious already of what. But one thing for sure, she's alive. Buhay siyang naka-labas sa cylinder.
Binuhat namin ang mga katawan at inihiga sa kama. Tinakpan namin ang hubad nilang mga katawan gamit ang mga kumot namin. Ang nakapagtataka, the rest are still unconcious but DEATH was awake. She was really creepy. Now that she's out of that cylinder glass, we could perfectly see how white her skin was. She's like a vampire sa sobrang puti. Her hair is so long and so black.
"Can you hear us? I am Volt. Voltage Xircuit." Pagkausap ni Volt kay DEATH habang maingat na itinu-tuwid ang mga paa niya. Si Max naman ang bahala sa mga kamay niya.
"Be careful, Max. Her bones are weak and brittle. Baka mabali mo 'yan." Seryosong paalala ni Volt na ikina-lunok ko. Many years passed and she was on that kind of position. Malamang sa malamang ay rurupok ang mga 'yon.
"A-Aalisin na ba natin 'yung wires na nakakabit sa kaniya?" Natataranta kong tanong habang naka-tingin sa wires. They are completely penetrated on her skin.
"No. We musn't. We can't do that. We should know first everything before doing so. If we'll do, we must do it without harming Xerene." Malamig na sabi ni Volt na tinanguhan ko na lang. Tama siya. Both of them are connected to each other. Kung anong mangyayari sa isa ay ganun din sa isa.
"Dalhin na kaya natin sila sa ospital?" Suhestiyon ko. Natataranta na talaga ako at hindi na makapag-isip ng maayos. Sasabog na ang ulo ko dahil sa mga nangyayari. I can't take it all.
"Mas lalong hindi pwede, Paris. This should be hidden. This should stay hidden. Hindi sila pwedeng lumabas sa publiko ng ganito ang lagay. Masyadong delikado." Max. Nagulo ko na lamang ang buhok ko sa sobrang stress.
"You two, stay here." Napa-tingin kami kay Volt na nagsusuot ng coat.
"Saan ka pupunta? Volt, kung ano mang gagawin mo, kami na lang ang gagawa. Mas kailangan ka dito!" Sabi ko at lumapit sa kaniya. He looked at me seriously.
"I'm going to my brother to ask for some help. You two, stay here. Whatever might happen, STAY. Protect them. Especially the Dragon's Seal. I'll be back as soon as possible."
"Pero, Volt---" hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko nang umalis na siya at hinawakan ni Max ang balikat ko. Bumuga na lamang ako ng hangin at ang tanging narinig ay pagsara ng bakal na pinto at ang tunog ng ragasa ng mga kuryente. Muli akong tumingin sa Dragon's Seal. It was like a plasma globe. Bigger and dangerous. That thing, could surely kill.
"We need his help. I'm sure tutulungan niya tayo. You know him, Paris. You know them." Max. Tumingin ako sa kaniya at tumango na lamang. Sumulyap ako kay DEATH na naka-tingin sa amin. Napaka-talim niya kung tumingin. It was like as if it was piercing us into two. They may have the same face but they have differences. By behaviour? Personality? Malalaman din naman 'yan.
I sighed at tumingin sa pinto. We stayed here just like what he said. Minamasahe namin ang katawan ni DEATH at pinakain din naman siya. She can't even chew. Mukhang mapapasabak kami sa pagiging caretakers nito. Lima pa naman sila. No, LIFE Dragunovv was just in coma state but I guess he can recover fast. Unlike the others, ilang centuries pa ang tinagal.
*BOOM!*
Nagulat kami ni Max dahil sa narinig. Napa-tayo kami ng wala sa oras at nagmamadaling lumabas. Nanlaki ang mga mata namin dahil sa nakikita.
"Ang Sinister Phantom!----?" A-Anong ginagawa nila dito!?
"Shit! Paris! Anong gagawin natin!?" Damn, damn, damn! Wrong timing, Volt!
Gervanni Lucrese's View
"Luna, you sure you're fine?" Malumanay na tanong ko sa kaniya at hinaplos ang buhok niya.
We're here in my unit. She collapsed earlier at mabuti na lamang ay hinabol namin siya. Walang ibang nakakaalam ng buong nangyari bukod sa aming mga kasama niya, sa Presidente at ang Heneral. Nasa salas silang lahat. She's awake now pero wala naman siyang sinasabi. *sigh*
"About what happened earlier, I won't ask you questions. Hindi kita pipilitin. But I hope you'll tell me. I wanna know, Luna. Rest, okay? I'll be outside." I said and put the blanket on her. I kissed her forehead at lumabas na. I glared at that Lancelot. Tch.
"How's she?" Tanong agad nila nang makalabas ako. Umupo ako sa single couch. I sighed and shrugged.
"She's still resting. Do you know anything about her? I bet she told you her situation about why...she didn't age at all? Yeah?" Nag-tinginan sila dahil sa sinabi ko. Walang nagsalita.
"I don't know a thing about it." Lancelot. Of course he doesn't. Ako nga hindi ko din alam, eh. At hindi naman sila close ni Luna. Duh?
"I don't think we're in the place to say it---"
"Tell it to me because I need to know." Madiin na sabi ko. Nag-iwasan sila ng tingin. Lancelot looks so confused. Doesn't have any clue about what we're talking about.
"We can't, Dragon. We promised her to keep the truth to us only. I'm sorry---"
"I'm a Dragunovv." That's it. Is that enough para makumbinsi sila? Ugh, hell with that Dragunovv surname. I don't know myself nor anything about my family. What the fuck am I!?
"W-What did you say!?" Napa-taas ang kilay ko dahil sa pagtaas ng boses nila. Is that a big deal?
"Dragunovvs had been exterminated for years and it was said not even an infant was alive---"
"My Uncle had twins." Putol ko sa sasabihin ni Estaroza na nagpa-milog sa mga mata nila. Now this is a damn serious matter.
"Uncle? Y-You...are really a Dragunovv!?"
"Yeah. I'm Lucrese Izaac Elyxir Flyme Dragunovv III," I paused to catch my breath. That was fucking long, "And my other name is Gervanni Lucrese Hexlock. I have a cousin names Yohanne Minuet Dragunovv 'Hexlock', my uncle is Yohan Raghkeid Dragunovv, he has twins---"
"Wait, wait, wait. Yohan Raghkeid? Brother of LIFE Dragunovv?" President.
"Yeah. You believe me now?"
"Excuse me but, what are you talking about?" Lancelot. Can he just shut up and be attentive? Epal siya. Argh.
"Uhhhm, by any chance, do you know anyone who named 'Hanctary'?" Freya. Nakuha niya ang atensyon naming lahat. Hanctary?
"Why did you know that!?" General brawled na nagpa-gulat sa amin.
"D-Dad?"
"I'm sorry for that but, Freya, who told you that? Do you know that saying those names are forbidden? You shouldn't tell it to anyone other than us. It's too dangerous!" Madiin na sabi ni Estaroza sa anak niya. Mas lalo naman akong naguluhan. Curiousity kills me now! I want to know everything all at ONCE.
"But---Dad? Why?"
"Just don't! And forget that---"
"At least tell us so that our curiousity will subside. You tell us or we'll look for it?" Nanghahamon na sabi ni Minerva. Nagsukatan sila ng tingin ni Estaroza. The President sighed and shooked his head.
"But promise me, all of you, this will be between us. Everything I will say, tell you, will remain concealed. Do you understand?" Seryosong sabi niya. Muli kaming nagtinginan. We had no choice but to nod.
"Hanctary, they are the monarchs of England around 18th century." Nalaglag ang panga namin dahil sa sinabi niya.
"T-Then why is it forbidden? They are part of England's monarchy!" Katwiran ko na inilingan niya.
"Yes. But according to a book that was made during that time, there was a chaos between the Dragunovv's and Hanctary's. Too dark to be revealed in public." Napa-lunok ako ng wala sa oras. He's too damn serious at kinakabahan ako. It was my damn family against a monach family and I don't have any clue about me, about anything about my family!
"Are they doing illegal things? Like, selling drugs?" I asked. I don't know! I don't know that 'too dark' but it's the first thing that gotten into my mind just by hearing it. And I wish it wasn't. How I wish.
"No. More than that." This time, it was the President.
"Killings. Massacres. Slaughters. They do that." Holy mother of...god.
Evil.
That's the thing she said when I asked about my grandparents. I---I... I don't know what to say. I'm cold. I can't even utter a word. That was...a dark secret of ours. My great, great, great grandparents are killers! Crap!
"Aloïsia never said anything about this but I just heard this... There is one more person just like Aloïsia. Hidden. Alive. And a hundred years alive too---"
"That's true. There's another of me."
Napa-igtad kami dahil sa boses na 'yon at wala sa oras na napa-tingin kay Luna. Nanlalaki ang mga mata namin at gulat na gulat. K-Kanina pa siya doon?
"A-Aloïsia---I'm sorry for telling them---"
"No, it's okay. I understand. It's better to tell them before they do it themselves. That's too risky. And dangerous." Simpleng sabi niya bago umupo sa tabi ko. I gulped as I stare at her.
"And she has been awaken." She? Who? Sino ang tinutukoy niya?
"What do you mean...there are two of you?" Naguguluhan na tanong ni Minerva na halatang kabado rin.
"I'm----"
*kring! kring! kring!*
"Oh, sorry. Can I answer this?" Lancelot. I rolled my eyes in disbelief. Seriously? We're there already!
"Sure. Go on." I answered with a bored tone. He immediately answered it.
"Hey---Oh, wait, calm down, man.---Yeah, yeah.---Sure, no problem.---Now? But I'm not in my place.---Wait up." Nanatili kaming tahimik. I looked at Luna. Blank expression and no emotion. Two of her...
"Aloïsia? Can I have a favor?" Nakuha niya ang atensyon naming lahat dahil doon.
"Sure. What is it?"
"Well, can I let someone in in here? In your place? Trust me, he's a good man. I knew him." Sabi niya at maliit na ngumiti. WHAT?
"No---"
"Sure! Why not? Feel free." Kinunutan ko siya ng noo dahil doon.
"Luna!?" Ngumiti siya ng malawak sa akin at pinanlakihan ako ng mga mata. Napa-simangot na lamang ako. The call ended. This guy... Tsk.
"Thanks, Aloïsia."
"Welcome." She answered with a smile. She clapped, "So, what are we going to do now?" Sabi niya at isa-isa kaming tiningnan. Hinawakan ko siya sa braso at iniharap sa akin.
"I want to know everything about my lineage, Luna. I want EVERYTHING to be spilled. I want to know if my Mom was still alive, what happened to the Hanctary Clan, about you! I feel like being left out, Luna! I have my rights to know it all, right? I'm a Dragunovv too." Pagsusumamo ko sa kaniya at hinawakan ang mga kamay niya. She looked at me straight in my eyes. She smiled. Bitterly.
"Yes, you do have the rights, Flyme." She said and cupped my cheek. I smiled back at her. That's it, time to know everything about me. I will accept everything wholeheartedly because it was me. It was US. It was what I am. And I must.
"But before anything else, I need to tell you something." Sabi niya na tinanguhan ko. The others are just listening. Attentively.
"You are Lucrese Izaac Flyme Elyxir Dragunovv III."
"Yes, yes I know already." Sagot ko. Heck with that name? Too long!
"And you are LIFE III." Naka-ngiti niyang sabi but it was a weak one. Marahan na lamang akong tumango. Sumasama ang kutob ko.
"And the other me, her name was Dearil Ernaline Azazel Thana Hanctary." Fuck! That long too!? Adik ba ang mga magulang namin para pangalanan kami ng ganon?
"And she was DEATH." D-DEATH?
"And I, Franchetti Xerene Covry, is just a clone." My heart skipped a beat. Tumayo siya at humarap sa aming lahat. Isa-isang tumulo ang mga luha niya.
"I---am, just a clone of hers. I am not a Covry. But a Lodge. I am Franchetti Xerene Lodge. Jerick Thomas Lodge, or J.T Lodge...
I am his daughter."
It was a moment if silence for us. I saw how Estaroza and the President's jaw dropped the moment she spilled it. Who the fuck is Jerick Thomax Lodge!? J.T Lodge!? Seriously? Wait, what does she mean she wasn't a Covry but a Lodge?
"DEATH and I are connected. This face, is not mine. It was hers. Everything in me, wasn't mine. It was HERS. And now that she's awaken, I will reach my own end. It either, one of us will die or one of us will remain asleep. Her time has come. I'm leaving." She said as her tears flow down to her cheeks like a river. I completely lost my energy. I felt so lifeless because of what I have heard. My Luna...
"I'm sorry, Van. But I'm leaving. Soon." Sabi niya sa akin habang naka-ngiti ngunit patuloy pa din sa pagluha. Napa-awang ang bibig ko. Hindi makapaniwala. We are speechless. Silence enveloped us all. Not until we heard a loud banging of the door.
"LANCELOT---X-Xerene? Denise? Minerva?"
"VOLT?"
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!?"
What the....?
BINABASA MO ANG
The Dragon's Seal: DEATH after LIFE (UNDER REVISION)
Science FictionPrevious Title: Their Final Battle THE REVISED VERSION IS UP.
