The Paramount Code (The Odd Ones, Book 1)

032. Silent Agony

Matapos maupo ni Matthew at ng dalawang anak na kasama nito sa harap niya, agad umayos ng upo si Daniel, at ipinatong ang mga kamay sa ibabaw ng mesa. Panay ang paggala ng tingin ng dalawang binata sa loob ng opisina niya, habang nakatuon naman ang mga mata ni Matthew sa kanya.

Napabuntong-hininga si Daniel, at bahagyang napayuko. "Yung nangyari kay Gwen..."

"Viktor came back for her. I'm sure of it," biglang saad ni Matthew, dahilan para mapatingin sa kanya nang direkta si Daniel, "And I think he's with Sonya, another metahuman. That woman has psychic abilities, at kaya niyang i-possess ang katawan ng ibang tao."

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Daniel dahil sa pagtataka, "Pero wala naman sila roon sa video..."

"Sonya can turn herself into a ghost anytime she desires. She can lose her physical body and gain it back at her commands, at iyon ang dahilan kung bakit hindi niyo siya makikita. She can also use her abilities on other people... She can turn them into 'ghosts' and make them invisible from the naked eye."

Daniel looked a little taken aback after he heard the details from Matthew, "Paano mo naman nalaman 'to? At kung alam mo pala ang tungkol sa kanila, bakit hindi mo ginawan ng paraan para mapangalagaan si Gwen?"

"Because I couldn't... That incident was bound to happen to her..." ani Matthew habang nakatitig nang direkta sa kanya.

"Ano ba ang ibig mong sabihin?"

"Yung mother superior sa ampunan kung saan siya lumaki, katulad din natin siya. She has prerecognition, and she told me about her visions about Gwen. All the tragedies in her life wake up something in her..." Napabuntong-hininga si Matthew, "Noong gabing nasunog ang ampunan at iniligtas ko si Gwen mula sa masukal na kagubatan na 'yun... that was the first time she showed her abilities as a telekinetic. Her fear and anger woke that up, as if her power has its own mind. Her telekinetic powers show up during the moments when she needs help the most."

"Ibig sabihin, matagal nang nagising ang ability ni Gwen bilang isang telekinetic?"

"Oo, matagal na... Noong kinupkop ko siya, akala ko gagamitin niya ulit 'yun... I thought I could see that skill again, pero hindi na nangyari. Habang lumalaki siya, tanging ang pagiging telepath lamang ang ipinapakita niya. That was when the mother superior's words made sense to me. Her telekinetic abilities are triggered by her fear and anger, and is there to protect her. It's like her own body's way of protecting itself."

William sighed, his face full of concern. "She doesn't deserve this. She already suffered a lot... Sana maging maayos na ang lagay niya."

"Oh, she will be okay. She's Gwen, and she's my daughter. Ikaw ang inaalala ko..." ani Matthew sa kanya, "Hindi tama 'tong ginagawa mo... Pinaalalahanan ka na nina Apollo at Luna, hindi ba?"

"Wala akong pakialam. Itutuloy ko pa rin 'tong ginagawa ko. Ilalabas ko ang lahat ng mga pinaggagagawa ni Benjamin at ng Paramount Program... Malalaman ng lahat ang sikreto ng Paramount Labs. Dapat nga tinutulungan mo ako, kasi posibleng may kinalaman din si Benjamin sa nangyari kay Gwen."

"Kahit pa hindi mo gusto si Benjamin, wala siyang kinalaman sa nangyari kay Gwen. There are still people in the Paramount Labs that are more powerful than him, and there are projects within the organization that he is not aware of. He has no idea what the higher ups are doing that are not involved in the Paramount Program. Ni hindi niya nga alam kung sino si Gwen eh," ani Matthew, "At kung pwede lang, Daniel... Siguraduhin mong huwag kang papalpak sa kung ano man ang plano mo. If you fail and they find out that you're behind this betrayal against them, pwede ka nilang patayin."

Daniel scoffed and shook his head. "At sa tingin mo, may pakialam pa ako kung mamamatay ako o hindi? Ang isipin mo, si Gwen... Ilayo mo sa 'kin ang anak mong 'yan. Masyadong nakikialam."