The Nightwatch

FIRE

15.

Nang idilat ni Wade ang kanyang mata ay tila hindi siya nanggaling sa pagtulog dahil agad siyang bumangon at pinihit ang doorknob tulad ng ginawa ko. But as I said the door is locked from outside. We're trapped in here and half of the hospital is already burning.

Pumunta ako sa uluhan ng kama at pinindot ang intercom.
"Is there anyone out there?! Please, we need help! We're trapped in here!" I yelled from the top of my lungs.
"That's nonsense, the fire started from the first floor. Let's assume they're all dead by now" saad ni Wade mula sa pinto.

I can't think clearly dahil nag-papanic na ako. Mabilis na kumakalat ang apoy at hindi pa din kami makalabas ni Wade. I know he is able. He's smart and well trained but I can't help but to worry about him cause he's still not fully recovered from the gunshot the other day.

Tumakbo ako papuntang banyo at binuksan ang vanity roon at nagkalkal. I opened several cabinets hanging from the wall pero wala akong nahanap na makakatulong sa amin buksan ang pinto.

Wade knew I am searching for a thing that we could insert on the doorknob and lock pick it.
"We have no time to do lockpicking. The glass wall is our only choice" dinig kong sabi.

Paglabas ko ng banyo ay kitang kita ko mula sa glass wall ang apoy na kani-kanina lang ay nasa bungad palang ng hagdanan. Pero ngayon ay nagsisimula na itong tupukin ang kalahati ng palapag ng kinalalagyan namin. Are we gonna die here.

Nakatayo lang si Wade pero gumagana ang mga mata niya. He's scanning the whole room and now I know he's searching for a thing that could help us break this glass wall. Napayuko ako at nakita ang isang stool na nakatayo sa tabi ko.

"Maybe we could try this one" kinuha ko ito at binigay ni Wade. Nang tanggapin niya na ito ay hinawakan niya ng maayos ang upuan at bumwelo bago ihampas sa glass wall. Pero tulad ng inaasahan ay hindi ito madaling basagin at natatakot na ako na hindi namin kayanin bago pa umabot sa pasilyo ng kwartong ito ang apoy.

Wade slammed the stool several times against the glass wall but it only made a small crack. He tried again and again and again but it made no progress. I don't think we'll still be able to get out of here alive. Habang busy siya sa pag-basag ng salamin ay muli akong pumasok sa banyo at kinuha ko mula sa vanity ang dalawang white towel. Magsisilbi itong panakip sa aming ilong kapag once na nakalabas na kami ng kwarto.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!" pagbalik ko ay wala pa ding nangyayari sa salamin. It is still standing firmly in the middle of the chaos happening here. It somehow reminds me of myself, still standing strong despite all the mess. Lumingon sa akin si Wade at parehong nangungusap ang aming mata.

"Are we gonna die here?"

Pero lumapit siya sa akin, hinawakan ang pisngi ko at pinagdikit ang aming noo. If this is just any normal moment I would be totally freaked out. But this is between life and death again. The world is now trying to kill us together. But we are fighting hard to stay alive. We are fighting to stay alive together. Napapikit ako ng madama ang noo niya sa noo ko.

"Listen to me, Bree. We're not gonna die here doing nothing, okay? So you have to trust me and yourself" nilayo nya na ang ulo niya pero nanatili ang malapit naming distansya.
"Find something in the bathroom that could help you lockpick the door. You try opening it while I'm working on this stupid glass wall"

Agad ko siyang sinunod at muli nanamang bumalik sa banyo. Tama siya, mamamatay man kami pero hindi ng hindi lumalaban. We have to keep fighting even if there's a little chance of surviving. That little is still a chance. Fight for your chance.

Nahalungkat ko na ang laman ng vanity at iba pang mga cabinet dito pero wala akong nahanap na makakatulong. Puro towels, bottle of shampoo and conditioner lang ang nandito. Nadi-distract ako ng umiinit na palagid. Napayuko ako at napapikit. Though I'm dying inside, I'm not yet ready to die literally. I still have plans and purpose. My life has still a purpose. I haven't got the Justice for my family yet. Not until that day I will allow myself to die.