Oneirataxia: My Fictional Man

CHAPTER 35

Chapter Thirty-five

Ang nakakabinging katahimikan ang sumalubong sa akin sa pagmulat ng aking mga mata. Malamig ang sahig na aking kinahihigaan. Amoy kalawang at alikabok ang paligid. Madilim. Nakakatakot.

A bolt of panic blasted off me as soon as I remembered what happened prior to this.

Mr. Monteclaro... he abducted me.

Agad akong napatayo kahit nanghihina pa ang aking mga tuhod. Nilibot ko ang paningin sa paligid at kahit medyo malabo pa ang aking nakikita ay may ideya na ako kung saan ako dinala ni Mr. Monteclaro.

The typical 'abandoned building' where abductees are usually being captive, may it be in stories or even movies. That mediocre man! Did he think he can do something to me? Oh, ridiculous.

Sandali akong napatigil sa pagsuri ng aking kinaruruonan nang marinig ko ang mabibigat na yapak mula sa labas. Lumipas ang ilang segundo at tunog naman ngayon ng kandadong tila binubuksan ang narinig ko at pagkatapos ay tuluyan nang bumukas ang pinto. Naglikha pa ito ng nakakarinding langitngit, patunay na pinaglumaan na nga ito ng panahon.

"Oh, looks like you're just calm, huh?" Ang malalim na boses ni Mr. Monteclaro ay umalingawngaw sa buong silid.

Oh yes, why would I be hysterical? He couldn't do anything to me since I'll be ending this story anytime I want now.

"Kung hindi ka pa kasi pumunta sa mundong ito ay tiyak hindi ka madadamay. But well, it seems like Benjamin is so smitten over you. So now, I will use you as bait."

Napakurap ako ng ilang beses sa narinig mula sa kanya. Siya ba ang misteryosong tumawag sa akin?

And perhaps he was also the one who called Benjamin and even threatened him.

Oh, God. Did he really think I'm Benjamin's weakness?

"I love you."

He loves me. Does that qualify for me to become his weakness? It could be, I hope so, but I don't want him to be trapped on this monster's bait.

And... what will Mr. Monteclaro do to him then?

"How dare you!" I snapped at him when rage slowly consumed me after processing everything inside my head.

He just laughed evilly and walked closer to me. I stepped back but I only got tripped off when my right foot was blocked by something cold and hard, a metal I guess. I groaned when I felt my leg got scratched by a sharp surface. I glanced at it and saw it already bleeding.

"Stop right there!" I shouted when Mr. Monteclaro still continued to trudge, looking down at me.

Ang kanyang mga mata ay tila nasisiyahan sa nakikitang dugo mula sa aking binti patungo sa sementong sahig. What a fucking psycho! Bakit pa ba napunta ito sa mundong ito!

Tumigil naman siya sa paghakbang at kinuha ang cellphone mula sa kanyang bulsa. Seconds later, my brows furrowed when I saw a flash from his cellphone.

"What the fuck did you do?" I tried to stand so I can snatch his phone but I helplessly fell back into place. Masyadong nanginginig ang aking mga paa para makatayo at dahil na rin sa sugat kaya nahihirapan ako.

"Oh, obviously. I captured a poor photo of you and sent it to Benjamin. Oh, gracious, he's calling now!"

His phone rang for a second which fed him satisfaction. He immediately answered it and put it beside his ear.