Glory and Gore (Completed)

Chapter 30

THIRTY

Blair

It's as if the world had stopped spinning for a split second.

We were all holding our breaths as the creatures emerged one by one, several yards away from us. The pack of wolves stared hungrily at each of us. Na para bang pagkain kami na matagal na nilang hinihintay.

Even from a distance, bahagya kong nakikita ang mga buto-buto nila na para bang matagal na silang hindi kumakain. Manipis ang kanilang balahibo na halos kulay itim na. Ang mga mata nila... there was something dangerous and deadly there.

Thunder rumbled in the distance, and a bolt of lightning broke the sky open like a piece of paper. Lightning lit the skies in brilliant streaks. Humampas ang malakas na hangin sa gawi namin. Sumunod ang malakas na pagbuhos ng ulan. But the creatures didn't stir from their spot. They were still looking right at us—just as predators would to its preys.

Hindi ko alam kung sino ang unang nagsalita sa amin. The only word I heard was "Run!"

And so I did.

I ran as fast as I could, the wind slapping me hard in the face. Nabalot na ng tubig-ulan ang katawan ko.

I could clearly hear the pack of wolves running after us despite the sound of the rain.

"Run!" someone shouted. Hindi ko na inalam kung kanino nanggaling iyon. But I ran, without looking back.

And I found myself remembering a familiar scene in my head...

It was our first day at Ellis University as twelfth grader.

There Celaena was, leaning over her Audi A5 that she got from her mother for her birthday. Maiksi ang buhok niya na may bahid ng kulay ng tsokolate. She had it dyed months ago—she dyes her hair whenever she feels like it. Maganda ang katawan niya. She almost looked like Emma Stone but with darker skin tone. Matangkad si Celaena, model-ish.

"Hey, Blair, going for a hot look today?" she bit her lip teasingly.

"Yes, tingnan mo nga itong lakad ko kung papasa," kunwa'y seryoso kong tugon.

Ginaya ko ang lakad ng mga nasa fashion events na nakikita ko sa TV papunta sa kotse habang naniningkit ang mga mata ko. Humagalpak ng tawa si Celaena. "Pasado na ho." And she hugged me. "Na-miss kitang gaga ka. Walang loka-lokang 'Blair' doon sa South Korea."

"Ano ka ba, I'm hard to find, remember?" natatawang saad ko. "I miss you, too, girl."

She pat my back before letting go. Pumasok na kami ng sasakyan nang magsalita si Noah, my little brother. "Aww, ang sweet naman ng mga ate ko."

"Oh, don't be jealous, Noah Arthur. You will always be our baby."

He giggled.

Astrid started the engine and hit the road.

And then just like that, muling bumalik ang utak ko sa kasalukuyan.

Muli kong narinig ang pagkulog ng langit. Just as I tilted my head to look up, thick icy sheets of rain obscured my vision. Walang katapusan ang pagbuhos ng ulan, kasabay ng pagkulog at malamig na hangin. Wala akong makitang pigura sa ulan, tanging mga puno.

Mas binilisan ko ang aking pagtakbo, hindi alam kung saan ako patungo. Don't look back, I told myself.

Another scene flashed before my eyes...

Celaena turned to me. "Kaya mo na 'to, Blair. I'll go to the classroom and save both of us seats, okay?"

Disappointed na tumango ako sa kanya. Walang lingon likod na lumiko na siya papunta sa bagong silid namin. Dumako ang tingin ko kay Maru Alegria—ang renowned king of Ellis University.

I marched my way towards their direction. Si Ryan, isa sa mga team mates ni Maru, ang nakapansin sa akin. "Look who's coming, Maru," he warned them. "It's our class president. Ooh, I'm scared," at nagtawanan sila. I had to tilt my head a bit because of their towering figures. "Hi, Miss President." Nakangiting bati sa akin ng mokong.

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata at matamis siyang nginitian. Bumaling ang tingin ko kay Maru. "Mr Alegria, ikaw at ang mga minion mo ay puwede nang pumasok sa classroom natin." Tinuro ko ang pasilyo kung saan naroon ang classroom namin. Tumingin ako sa malaking wall clock na nakasabit sa bandang itaas ng elevator. "And it says there—" then I pointed at the wall clock "—na ilang minuto na lang ay first class na natin."

With one last click sa phone niya, itinago niya iyon sa kanyang bulsa at tuluyan na akong tiningnan. "So what, Miss President?"

Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad papunta sa 'kin. He waved at his friends who walked away without glancing back so that we're the only two left. Narinig ko ang pagtunog ng bell, hudyat na nagsimula na ang unang klase. Shit.

"Happy?" nakangising sabi niya, mas inilapit pa ang kanyang mukha.

With one last glare, naglakad na ako papunta sa classroom namin. Nakasalubong ko si Evangelyn, his girlfriend.

Mabilis akong nagtungo sa silid namin. Tahimik na ang pasilyo. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang pinto. Our teacher, Ms Marquez, didn't give the slightest hint that I entered her class. She merely gave me a look at my direction when I sat beside Celaena. Pero mukhang mali ako.

Tumikhim siya. "Perhaps, Ms Wadson here wants to answer my question?" awtomatikong bumaling ang lahat ng atensyon ng mga kaklase ko sa akin. Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ko but I quickly composed myself. "Blair?" tawag uli ni Ms Marquez sa pangalan ko.

Unti-unting nagbago ang boses ni Ms Marquez. Bumalik ang tunog ng ulan sa paligid.

"Blair!" someone screamed.

I stopped running, catching my breath, my heart pounding in my ears. Tumingin ako sa likod ko. When I did, Evangelyn was sprawled on the ground. "Help me!" sigaw niya. "Please, please!"

I could make out the silhouettes of the creature running a few yards away.

Hindi ko na tiningnan kung nasaan na sila Maru, Jem at Ryan. Mabilis akong pumunta sa puwesto ni Evangelyn at tinulungan siyang tumayo. "I-I don't want to die..." nanginginig ang boses niya dahil sa mababang temperatura ng paligid.

"Can you stand?" sigaw ko dahil hindi ko sigurado kung maririnig niya ba ako sa lakas ng buhos ng ulan.

"Y-yeah, I think so."

Tinulungan ko siyang tumayo, nakaakay ang braso niya sa balikat ko.

"You shouldn't have helped me, Blair," she said. Marahas siyang bumitiw sa pagkaka-kapit sa balikat ko at sinipa ako sa paa.

I went off balance and my body fell on the ground. Naramdaman ko ang ilang mga bato na tumama sa braso ko. Napadapa ako sa basang lupa. I couldn't get up. My feet hurt as hell.

When I looked up, Evangelyn was already running away.

And I was left there on the ground.

Narinig ko ang mga yabag ng mga nilalang papalapit sa puwesto. And I knew from that moment, I would be dead. My body would be torn apart by sharp fangs and my flesh would scatter all over the ground.

Pero naisip ko na hindi ako mamamatay nang hindi lumalaban. I tried to get up and managed myself to a sitting position. I heard their hungry growls nearing me, their eyes glinting behind the fog created by the rain.

I sat there, watching them slowly make their way towards my spot.

I couldn't move anymore. Ilang segundo na lang, sabi ko sa sarili ko.

"No!"

I heard someone shout. Strangely, hindi sa akin nanggaling iyon. Nang lumingon ako sa likod ko, it was Maru.