Children Of The Abyss

50

3RD PERSON

After the news spread like wildfire. The institute is back to it's ways. May mga pagbabagong binigay ni Hades.
New rules are applied lalo na sa mga elite at watchers. Isa lang ang binigay sa keepers, accept their job as one.

"Where's Alistair?" kanina pa naikot ni Desmond ang buong institute. Kahit sa kwarto ay wala ito.

"Did you check her room?" malungkot na tumingin doon si Ree.

"Why don't you go to the dungeons? Baka bumaha na ng dugo doon." Milo comments.

Nahawa na yata si Milo kay Ree. He was right. Nasa dungeon ang hinahanap nila. Malamig na nakikipagtitigan sa isang preso. She can't use her ability in here.

"Masaya ka ba sa nangyari?" he asks her.

Namamaga na nag mga mata niya. He keeps her crying everytime na magkikita sila. She bawls her eyes out dahil sa ability ni Alistair

"Tama na." she begs.

Kung nakalaya na ang dalawa niyang kasama siya ay hindi. Kiera lost her position as the leader of the Elite. Pinalitan siya ni Seige na anak ni Eris, the goddess of strife and discord.

"Did you stop when she wants you to?" mas nawalan ito ng awa kumpara noong una.

Kuminang ang singsing niyang suot sa ilalim ng torch. The red diamond shines hanggang ngayon.

He looks at her coldly, "Ask for more water, baka sa susunod dugo na ang iiyak mo."

She can hear her pleading cries echoing, "I'm sorry! Hindi ko na kaya please..."

Too late. He thought.

Lilith died when they confront Kiera. Nakatakas din si Medea. Alistair almost killed Kiera noong nakarecover ito. Ree got hysterical and fainted for the second time.

He made her cry blood on the first day on her jail. Kung hindi napigilan nila Milo ay baka mamatay ito kakaiyak

Naayos din ang watchers room. Restricted ang paggamit nito lalo na kung walang importanteng gagawin.

Ree gave Alistair the painting that Lilith made for him. Gusto itong ibigay ng dalaga pero hindi pa sila nagkakausap noon. She gave one too. Ang picture nila kasama si Quinzel at Viper.

"I made that." she said noong nakatingin ito sa headboard ng kama, "I saw you that day, kinakausap mo si Quinzel, telling her you are proud of Lilith." her tears form under her eyes.

"That's why I ask sino iyon." he smiles bitterly.

Sila ang pinakaapektado sa pagkawala ni Lilith. Ree her girl best friend and Alistair her other half.
Palagi nilang nililinis ang kwarto nito dahil ayaw niya ng maalikabok dito.

"I miss her." she said.

"Ako din." he grips her phone na nakita nila sa drawer. Mukha pa ni Lilith ang wallpaper.

The novels he bought for her stayed on the bedside table, hindi nila ginagalaw ang mga color pencils at half-filled adult coloring book nito.
May mga pangalan kung sino ang nagkukulay dito. Madalas ay kay Alistair at Lilith.

"Anong sabi ni Hades sayo?" tanong ni Milo habang nakain.

"I will be his daughter's keeper." tulad ng sinabi ni Hecate sa kanya noon.

Binaba ni Ree ang kubyertos, "Tatlo na lang kami dito sa susunod kung ganoon."

"Matagal pa naman iyon. Kakausapin pa niya si Colette." he explains.
"Please Ree and Alistair control yourselves kapag wala ako."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Ree, "Bakit naman?"

"Alam ko ang ginagawa niyo sa dungeon tuwing wala ako. Milo can't control the two of you." he preaches.

"Yes, father." sabay nilang sagot.

Nasa balcony silang lahat pagkatapos kumain. Quinzel and Viper sleeps together sa kwarto ni Lilith. Ayaw nila na walang laman iyon.

"Tingin mo nasaan na tayo kung andito siya?" Ree leans on Milo's shoulders.

"Probably Tagaytay, somewhere there is fresh air. The way she likes places the most." Alistair said.

"The silence in this place is too much." Milo comments.

Walang nagbabangayan sa loob ng dorm nila tulad ng dati. Walang Lilith na maingay at mapanakit. No trips to the mortal realms, no family day they planned beforehand.

All gone because of envy and jealousy.

Gone because of the sacrifice she made.

Kapag pumupunta sila sa mortal realms ay dahil lang sa mga mission. They do it quickly saka babalik sa institute.

Two weeks later Desmond is leaving the institute. He will be Colettes keeper from now on. He made a vow and drink the water from Styx as an oath to keep his words.

"Ree, don't eat too much ice cream, bawasan niyo ang junk foods and Milo, don't let Alistair slip from your sight."

Para siyang matandang kapatid na nagbibilin sa nakababata. He will leave for Camp Semideus today. To guard the Princess.

Meanwhile in Hades' castle. He keeps a soul by his side. Siya ang natatanging nakasuot ng puting bistida sa lugar na iyon.

"Do you really want to know what happened to your father?"

"Yes, King Hades." she bows.

"You put a strong spell on him." he explains.

Nakakunot ang noo niya, "Spell?"

"I ask Morpheus about it." he cocks his head to the side, "You uttered words in your sleep habang active ang ability mo."

"I don't sleep talk." depensa niya.

"Just like Colette. She says words only mortals knew." he pats her head.
"Get ready to leave. Your time is up."

"Can I ask one more thing?" she pleads.

He looks at her, "What is it child?"

"I want to kiss him. One last time." request niya.

"Go ahead." malungkot niya itong tinignan.

Nasa balcony silang tatlo pagkatapos umalis ni Desmond. Staring at the night sky. Walang hanging panggabi.

Umupo ang kaluluwang nakabistida sa tabi ni Alistair.

"Ang lamig." he shivers.

"Hindi kaya!" Ree drinks her juice.

"Baka nilalagnat ka." sabi ni Milo.

"I'm not. Can't you feel it?" he looks annoyed.

Nagagalit ka na naman. Wait, tatanggalin ko yung kunot sa noo mo. The soul smiles at him.

She planted a long kiss on Alistair lips. He felt cold but hot tears started streaming down his face. She hugs him one last time too.

"I love you." she whispers before disappearing.

"Lilith." he cries.

Nagulat din sila Ree at Milo dahil nakita nila ito bago nawala. Ree cried on Milo's shoulder that night.

(A/N: Saan ka pumunta Medea? Nangapit-bahay ka pa yata.)