Caught In Flames

51 : Believe me

ARTEMIS

It was dark. I couldn't see anything aside from myself. It was as if I was glowing. But I guess I wasn't glowing enough to see where I am.

Don't you just feel the urge to go sentimental when it's dark and you're alone and you know that no one could possibly hear you and your thoughts. That you wouldn't hear a single soul judge the way you think and call out your unusual thoughts?

My brother. My memories. How could I have forgotten them? People say humans tend to bury memories deeply, especially when simply thinking of it hurts. What happened? What's so wrong about those thoughts that I reached the point of trying to hide them from my own consciousness?

The team. The game. It's been months but I still couldn't grasp the situatiom and what it all has to do with me? Is it because of my brother?

The murders. The victims. How could my brother do all that? Why? For a moment I felt afraid of what he could do to me if he was able to do that to other people. But I'm his sister. He and I are the only ones we have. The only family we can turn to. Why can't he tell me why he's doing all this? Do I have to ask? I'm his sister. He's my brother. I decided to trust him not to hurt me because we're family. But why won't he tell me anything?

Months and he's still isn't ready to atleast tell me he's my brother. And he wasted two years. Why didn't he come see me? Why didn't he visit me in the hospital when he knew I needed him? Bakit hindi siya nagparamdam? Am I not important?

Kapatid niya 'ko!

My parents. Bakit sila naaalala ko pero ang kapatid ko hindi? That dream. That argument. The words they spat before the accident. Why can't I connect the dots?!

Napatakip ako sa mga mata ko at kinagat ang labi ko. I'm overthinking. I want to wake up. I want to get away from here!

▬▬▬▬▬▬

CONVERSATION
two years ago

the cunning

"Apollo, I'm serious, you have to believe me!"

"Tigilan mo nga ako. Nantitrip ka na naman, eh."

"I'm serious. You know those games na nagbibigay ng dare tapos habang tumatagal─"

"No. Wala akong interes sa mga gano'n. Now go do your project because I'm not helping you out."

"Fine! Just believe me!"

"Believe you? It's my sister you're talking about. Para namang hindi mo kilala 'yon."

"But it's not just her. I swear, Pol."

"Akin na nga 'yang papel na 'yan! Ano ba kasi 'to?"

"Program."

"Ng?"

"Detritus."

"You scanned through the whole thing and you immediately know there's something wrong? What are you, a genius? Ang layo sa course natin sa mga ganiyan."

"No. But my brother knows these things."

"How did you get this anyway?"

"Her friend gave me. She said she tried to stop them pero hindi sila sumunod."

"Which one?"

"You know that tech-savvy Art hangs out with? What's her name again?"

"Sue."

▬▬▬▬▬▬