No Way Out

Epilogue

Epilogue

Reixel's P.O.V.

"Reix, Reix!"

Napalingon ako sa aking likuran. Could it be? Celestria? Buhay siya! A surge of joy shot through me, a feeling I hadn't dared to hope for. Gusto ko siyang yakapin, crushed her in an embrace that would tell her how much her sacrifice meant, but I couldn't move my feet. Parang napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko, trapped in place. Napataas ang isang kilay ko when she waved at me, a soft smile gracing her lips. Nagpapaalam ba siya? Was this goodbye all over again?

"Celes, saan ka pupunta!?"

I tried to shout, to make her stay, but no sound escaped my throat. It was a silent scream, trapped within, mirroring the silent hell we had just escaped.

Palayo siya ng palayo sa akin, her figure growing smaller and fainter with each step. The shadows around her seemed to deepen, reaching out like grasping hands. Hanggang sa nilamon na siya ng kadiliman. A cold dread washed over me, a reminder of the darkness that had consumed her, and all of us.

"Reix, Reix, gising," a gentle voice pulled me back.

Marahan kong iminulat ang aking mga mata. The world swam into focus, a kaleidoscope of blurry colors resolving into sharp lines. Kaagad akong sinalubong ng nakakasilaw na liwanag, burning away the last vestiges of the nightmare. Naramdaman ko na madamo ang aking hinihigaan.

Patay na ba ako? Nasa langit ako?

"Reix," this time, a soft tap on my cheek.

Nang makapag-adjust na ako sa liwanag, I saw French kneeling beside me, her face etched with worry. "French, nasaan tayo?" I asked, my voice raspy and weak, as I struggled to sit up.

"Hindi ko alam. Pagkagising ko, nandito na tayo eh," sagot ni French, her eyes wide with confusion and a touch of lingering fear. She looked around, as if she expected the Master to appear at any moment.

Iginala ko ang aking paningin sa paligid. Nasa tabi kami ng kalsada, a ribbon of asphalt cutting through a sea of green. Nagtataasang punong-kahoy lined the road, their branches reaching towards the sky like skeletal fingers. Teka lang, parang may kulang. A knot formed in my stomach, a familiar dread creeping in.

"Nasaan si Ally?" muling tanong ko sa kanya.

French hesitated, her eyes clouding over with pain. Natigilan siya saglit ng humarap ako sa kanya. The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind.

"It's you, player number 11..." she finally whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Siya 'yung eliminated sa ating tatlo," she added, her voice thick with unshed tears. The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.

Kaagad ko siyang niyakap ng mahigpit. The relief of having made it out, of being alive, was quickly overshadowed by the fresh wave of grief. Sa wakas ay nakalabas na kami sa mala-impyernong lugar na iyon, but at what cost?

"Ally..." I choked out, my voice cracking.

Ally, and Celestria... lahat kayo, babayaran nila 'to. Bibigyan namin ng hustisya ang pagkamatay ninyo.