IMMUNO (Taglish)

Chapter 23: The Revolt

"Now, talk." sabi ng babae sa nakagapos na si Jerome. Tinanggal niya ang busal sa bibig ni Jerome upang makapagsalita. "We need to know what the Lieutenant is up to. What have you heard?"

Nasa isang madilim na kwarto si Jerome at ang tanging liwanag lamang ay ang apoy na nanggagaling sa maliit na lampara. Napapaligiran siya ng lima pang tao aside from the girl na nakahuli sa kanya while eavesdropping Lieutenant Hernandez's conversation.

"How about pakawalan niyo muna 'ko and then I'll tell you everything." sabi ni Jerome. "Trust me, you're gonna need my help."

"How about I shoot your leg instead?" sabi ng babae.

"Lara, no.." sabi ng isang lalaki. Matangkad siya at medyo may edad na, pero angat pa rin ang tikas sa kanyang pangangatawan. "'Wag kang masyadong mainit, anak."

"Sorry, 'Pa." tugon ni Lara.

Nagtinginan at nagpulong ang mga tao sa loob ng kwarto, including Lara. By the looks of it, they gathered here in secret, behind the Lieutenant's back. Natapos ang maliit nilang meeting at muling humarap sa kanya si Lara.

Maikli ang buhok nito, hanggang leeg. Nakasuot siya ng pang-normal na civilian, maliban sa baril na nakasukbit sa baywang niya. Ironic, dahil mukhang maamo ang kanyang mukha, cute siya kung tutuusin, pero matapang ang kanyang pananalita.

"No. Not yet." tugon ni Lara sa request ni Jerome. "But look.. Isa ka sa tatlong pinapasok dito sa camp kamakailan, and nawala rin kayo at the same time na nawala si Claire.

"Ang sabi ni Lieutenant Hernandez, sumama sa inyo si Claire at iniwan niya kami for good. Alam naming hindi totoo 'yon dahil kilala namin si Claire. Kami ang mga kasama niya bago pa man kami mapunta dito sa camp. Hindi magagawa ni Claire na umalis at iwan kami nang basta-basta lang.

"Claire told us na bestfriend niya ang isa mong kasamang immune, at mga mabubuti kayong tao. So please, help us. We need to know where Claire is, and what the Lieutenant is up to. We know the Lieutenant is hiding secrets from us."

"I see.." sabi ni Jerome, more so sa kanyang sarili. "So Lieutenant Hernandez covered up everything he'd done that night. I'm not surprised."

"What?" sabi ni Lara. "What do you mean? Tell us what happened."

"Okay, fine. Lieutenant Hernandez planned to sell Jared, my boyfriend, because of his immunity." sagot ni Jerome. "We tried to run away to save Jared, and Claire helped us escape that night. And when the Lieutenant found out, he killed Claire right then and there. We wouldn't be alive right now if not for Claire. She saved us."

Kitang kita ang shock at remorse na sabay pumipinta sa mukha ng mga tao sa loob ng kwarto.

"I knew it." sabi ni Lara. "I knew that Lieutenant is up to no good."

"Ano nang gagawin natin, Lara?" sabi ng isang babaeng umiiyak. "Wala na si Claire. Paano na tayo?"

And everybody in the room asked the same questions to Lara.

"Wait.. So why are you here now?" tanong ni Lara kay Jerome, ignoring everybody else. "You said Claire helped you escape. Why did you come back?"

"The Lieutenant managed to keep Jared hostaged, and I'm here to get the map papunta sa facility kung saan nila siya dinala." sagot ni Jerome. "But there's another urgent matter that you need to know. It concerns you and all the innocent people in this camp."

"Tell us.." sabi ni Lara.

"The Lieutenant and his men, nanghuhuli sila ng mga infected at papakawalan nila ang mga ito tomorrow morning." paliwanag ni Jerome. "That way, they will be able to identify the ones who are immune and--"