Glory and Gore (Completed)

Chapter 44

ACT 44: Round Two (Part 3)

But when I removed my hands from my face, I realized I was in a completely different place. Wala na ang mga puno na nasa paligid ko. I was inside a tight, small space. Wala na rin ang sakit na nanggagaling sa dibdib, tiyan at braso ko. Pinakiramdaman ko iyon gamit ang kamay ko. There was not a single wound there. Like it never happened. I tried to squirm and I realized I was inside a coffin. It was exactly fitted into my body size. Sinubukan kong itulak ang magkabilang gilid ko but to no avail, it wouldn't budge. Gawa sa kahoy ang kabaong, sigurado ako roon. I tried kicking below me but it was still useless. I pushed as hard as I could on the lid on top of me. Pero masyado iyong matibay.

Huminga ako nang malalim pero tila unti-unti nang nauubos ang oxygen sa kinaroroonan ko. My chest started to constrict. Nahihirapan na akong huminga. I screamed as I pushed everywhere.

"HELP!" I shouted. But of course, no one answered.

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko at pilit pinakalma ang sarili ko. "You're in a dream, Blair," I reminded myself. Sinubukan kong ipantay ang paghinga ko.

Kailangan kong humanap ng kahit anong bagay. I have to get out of this coffin. I wouldn't survive here. Sinimulan kong kapain ang paligid ko. Nang mapunta ang kamay ko sa bulsa ko, naramdaman ko ang isang matulis na bagay. I realized it was a knife. The knife I used to kill my remaining family. Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang handle niyon at ibinaon iyon sa itaas ng kabaong. I created a small hole. Nabuhayan ako ng pag-asa sa nakita. I continued thrusting the knife against the wood until the hole became bigger. Nagawa kong ipasok ang isa kong kamay sa butas. I started removing the remaining woods 'till I was able to get my body out of the coffin.

I was blinded by the sunlight coming from one side. Kinuskos ko ang mga mata ko at pinasadahan ng tingin ang paligid. Pamilyar ang silid na kinaroroonan ko. I was inside my room in our old house. Mabilis akong tumayo. My bed was still the same like it hadn't been slept on for a long time. My eyes went to my shelf. The books were placed in the same order as I had last seen it before I had left the house. Pareho pa rin ang samyo ng silid ko—amoy vanilla iyon dahil sa pabangong gamit ko dati. Hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti.

"I miss this," I whispered.

Napatda ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang biglang bumukas ang silid ng kwarto ko. Iniluwa niyon ang isang matandang lalaki. Sumunod sa kanya ang dalawang pigura. Si Mama at Papa iyon. At ang lalaking nasa harap ko ay hindi pamilyar ang mukha. I had never seen his face before. It was stranger to me. Nang tumingin ako kay Mama at Papa, nakangiti lang sila sa 'kin. I studied my father's face. It was the same the last time I saw him before his body was dragged down deep into the lake.

Malungkot akong napangiti. Tumikhim ang matandang lalaki na nasa harap ko. He was wearing a formal suit. May salamin siya sa mata at halos balot na ng kulay puti ang kanyang buhok.

"Hi, Miss Blair Jenn Wadson," kaswal na sabi niya. How did he know my full name? "I see that you have endured the challenges given to you. Before we move on to your last challenge, I want you to do something for me."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Paano niya nalaman ang nalampasan ko? Was he watching me? No, nasa isang panaginip ako. It's impossible for him to watch me, I told myself.

Maliit siyang ngumiti. He handed me a gun. I realized it was pistol. Mayroon niyon dati si Papa sa kanyang maleta nang minsan kaming nagbakasyon sa malayong lugar kaya pamilyar ang hitsura n'on sa 'kin.

"You can save one of them, Blair. But in order for you to do that, you also have to kill one of them," aniya at lumapit sa tabi ko. "Tick, tock, tick tock. The clock is ticking, Blair." He whispered in my ear.