Glory and Gore (Completed)

Chapter 48

ACT 48: Third Round (Part 3)

BLAIR

I stared at the ceiling for what seemed like a minute. I could hear Cynthia screaming from upstairs. Pinilit ko ang sarili kong bumangon.

I have to fight, I have to get out of here alive, I told myself.

Nang magawa kong itukod ang siko ko sa malamig na sahig, parang may martilyong dumagan sa ulo ko at saglit na dumilim ang paningin ko. I was greeted by a great amount pain coming from my head. Pinunasan ko ang malapot na dugo sa pisngi ko.

I managed to stand up straight. When I looked up at the second floor, the world around me seemed to be spinning before my eyes. Ipinilig ko ang ulo at sinimulang umakyat pataas. Tanging ang handrail lang ang umaalalay sa 'kin.

Slowly, I made my way up the stairs. Naririnig ko na nang malinaw ang pag-iyak ni Cynthia. Hindi ko inakalang may patalim pa lang itinago si Astrid. Maybe this was her plan all along. Dalawa lang sa amin ang makakalabas ng buhay. She's making sure that she'll get out of here.

Natagpuan ko si Cynthia na nasa ilalim ni Astrid. Hawak na muli ni Astrid ang patalim niya. She's trying to thrust it into Cynthia's chest but Cynthia was barely pushing it away from her. There was a pool of blood under their spot.

Tinakbo ko ang natitirang distansya at malakas na itinulak si Astrid. Bumagsak siya sa sahig. I heard the clutter of knife. Pero hindi pa ako nakuntento roon. I took her by the hair and smashed her head on the table's corner and then I let her go. Marahas na bumagsak ang katawan niya sa sahig. She was unconscious.

Bumalik ang tingin ko sa timer sa itaas ng elevator—00m 12s. Mabilis akong kumilos sa kabila ng matinding sakit sa ulo ko. Inapuhap ng mga mata ko ang nalaglag na patalim. Cynthia was already holding onto it. Nakatapal ang isa niyang kamay sa sugat sa tagiliran niya. Blood continued to gush from her opened wound. Nang lumapit ako sa puwesto niya, hindi ko alam ang dapat kong gawin. At this point, she could die from the huge loss of blood in her system. Namumutla na ang kulay ng kanyang balat, indikasyon na masyado na siyang nawalan ng dugo. I have to do something, I told myself.

I tried to look for anything around us, anything that could possibly help. I found a piece of cloth on top of the small table. Kinuha ko iyon at itinapal sa kanyang sugat.

Nagulat ako nang malungkot siyang ngumiti sa 'kin. "T-thank you, Blair," aniya sa nahihirapang tono. "Just leave me h-here. I won't make it out there. It'll be much better if I die here."

I shook my head. "No, Cynthia. Tutulungan kitang makatayo at makakalabas tayong dalawa dito ng buhay. Do you understand me?"

"Ten... nine... eight..." the automated voice said. "Seven..."

"Keep pressure on your wound," utos ko kay Cynthia.

"Six... five..." the voice continued.

Tinulungan ko siyang tumayo. Pinauna ko siyang pumasok sa maliit na pinto. And then I crawled my way inside.

"Three... two..."

Awtomatikong sumara ang pinto. I saw Astrid waking up just before the door slid closed behind me. The next thing I heard was her scream. I didn't feel any remorse at all. She probably deserved it. Pero naisip ko rin na halos pare-pareho kaming lahat dito. Gusto lang naming makalabas ng buhay. I couldn't help but think Astrid and I were the same. I left her there to die, na alam kong gagawin din niya sa 'kin if she had the chance.