Glory and Gore (Completed)

Chapter 38

THIRY-EIGHT: Welcome To The Game

Blair

Naramdaman ko na lang ang marahas na paghila sa akin ni Maru. "Blair, let's go!" mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa braso ko.

Wala sa loob na tumango ako sa kanya. With one last glance at the army of men in red cloaks, we ran as fast as we could. Si Jem ang may hawak ng mga supply na nakuha nila. Pero si Ryan... Bakit siya nandoon sa loob? There's only one explanation for it. He betrayed us. I was sure of it.

I could hear the echoing of their footsteps as they ran behind us. They were getting nearer and nearer. Mas binilisan ko pa ang pagtakbo ko. The cold evening air shocking my throat and lungs as I inhaled deeper, faster. Sa bawat pagbagsak ng paa ko, nararamdaman ko ang matinding sakit na dala niyon sa tuhod ko. My heart was beating frantically inside my chest. All or nothing, I told myself.

When we turned the corner that's when I heard it. It was almost the sound of a laser gun I'd heard in most of the sci-fi movies I watched. Marahas na bumagsak ang katawan ni Maru sa aspalto. As I looked at his body, it seemed lifeless. Bumagsak ako sa tabi niya. "Maru! Wake up!" pero hindi siya gumagalaw. Slowly, violet veins started creeping up his neck and to his face. At nakita ko ang syringe na nakatusok sa kanyang braso. Tatlo ang pagkakabilang ko. Natutop ko ang bibig ko.

"Blair!" Jem screamed at me. "We have to leave him!"

I remembered shaking my head at him but he was already pulling me away from Maru's lifeless body. Was he dead? Tila hindi rumerehistro ang mga nangyayari sa utak ko. Panaginip ba ang lahat ng ito?

I was sobbing when we started running again. Jem was holding my hand and tightly squeezed it. I glanced in his direction. Determinado ang nakabahid sa kanyang mukha. Biglang napunta ang isip ko sa mga kaklase ko na nasa warehouse. I silently prayed that they were all safe.

We both kept running but we knew our time is up. Tinatahak na namin ang pabalik sa arko para makalabas na sa siyudad na ito. Only a few steps more... Pero mula sa dilim, nakita ko sila. They were standing under the city's welcome arc—the men in red cloaks. We were surrounded.

Tumigil kami sa pagtakbo. I glanced sideways, the army were only a few yards away from us now. Naglalakad na rin ang papunta sa puwesto namin ang mga nasa kanan. At that moment, alam kong wala na kaming laban.

Before I could even hear the sound of laser careening towards my direction, Jem was quick to shield me. Mahigpit niya akong niyakap. And then another sound, his body jolted once more before falling on the asphalt. Napaupo ako sa tabi niya. I was holding his lifeless body.

"I-I'm sorry I couldn't save us both," nakangiting sabi niya. A tear escaped from his eyes. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin.

"N-no... don't say sorry," I whispered to him. Hinawakan ko ang pisngi niya. Under the moonlight, his blue eyes were like ocean. Napakagandang tingnan. "T-thank you, Jem. Thank you and I'm sorry," mahigpit kong niyakap ang katawan niya. He let out one final breath before I felt his body shudder. I screamed and I kept on screaming. Naramdaman ko ang pag-agos ng luha sa pisngi ko.

I felt my chest tightened into a knot like a cramp and a quiet rage was building inside me. I clutched Jem's shirt. Maru... Jem... they're both dead.

I couldn't even fucking save them. Just like Celaena, my bestfriend. I left her there to die as well.

Hindi ko narinig ang paglapit nila sa akin. Ang tanging naramdaman ko lang ay ang mahigpit na paghila nila sa braso ko palayo sa katawan ni Jem. I screamed, crying out his name. But it was no use. Tears blurred my vision. His body was lying there. I imagined him, just lying there, staring at the night sky, enjoying the view. Jem, who helped me in so many ways I couldn't even thank him for.

I tried to squirm but they were too strong.

At naramdaman ko na lang ang pagbaon ng tila karayom sa leeg ko. Nahigit ko ang aking hininga. I felt the liquid ran through my veins. It's making my head hurt. Nagsimulang umikot ang paningin ko. What's happening?

Hindi ko na makita ang katawan ni Jem. I inhaled a trembling breath, sweat gathering on my skin. It was cy cold. Maybe this was death but this wasn't what I imagined it would be. I thought it would be peaceful. Oxygen was slowly being ripped and snatched from my lungs until I couldn't breathe anymore.

They gently put my body down on a cold surface. As I lay there dying, memories of everything started playing like a video before my eyes.

And then slowly, blackness filled the edges of my vision and the only thing I could hear was the faint rhythm of my own heartbeat.