Captured by darkness ( Dark series #1 ) UNDER-EDITING

Chapter 21

Mercilessly

Halos gabi na pero nandito parin kami ni Aviana sa loob ng kotse. The sounds of the night was all we could hear, the wind are whistling while the crickets are hissing, and this is not what I imagined.

"Now, we're stuck in the middle of nowhere." Yawning, looking outside the window. 

"Magpalipas na lang kaya tayo ng gabi dito?" Aviana's voice still filled with fear and worries.

Mababaw lang ang gabi at maliwanag dahil sa liwanag ng buwan. Sapat na para makita at makausap namin ang isa't-isa. Pero sa sobrang pagod at antok, hindi ko na nasagot ang tanong niya. Ramdam ko na ang pag idlip ko, pero wala pa atang oras may umaalog na sa balikat ko. Ano ba iyon?

Salubong na kilay ang binungad ko kay Aviana. "Ano ba Av? Antok pa 'ko... Magpatulog ka please,"

"May kotseng dumaan, I think they're not too far away from us. Hindi nila tayo napansin kasi nasa tago yung kotse. Maybe we could ask them for some help." hope was visible in her eyes.

Tuluyan nang nagising ang diwa ko dahil sa sinabi niyang may dumaan na kotse. "Talaga? Tara. Puntahan natin," Walang pagdadalawang isip kong sabi.

Binuksan namin ni Aviana ang flashlight ng cellphone namin, enough to give us the way. "Hey! Axia, ayun sila oh," Turo niya sa may talahiban.

The night gave us cold and creeps as we walk through the empty pasture. Lalapit na sana kami nang bumaba ang nasa loob ng kotse. There are five men holding a gun. Bigla akong namutla sa nakita ko. Parehas kaming nagkatinginan ni Aviana, and as if on cue, we both turn off the flashlight of our phone. 

We hurriedly yet carefully hide at the back of the tree near at the crime place. Kung lalabas kami dito, siguradong patay kami. Ano bang nangyayari? Bakasyon ang hinihingi namin, hindi giyera.

The headlights of the car gave us enough to see what's the men doing. Nakatalikod ang mga ito sa amin. Lumakad ang isa mula sa compartment at may kinuhang lalaki na nakatakip ang bibig at nakatali ang dalawang kamay.

The victim was hopelessly wiggling his body as he tried to escape. He has this devastated face when suddenly, one of the men kick the victim's stomach with full force. I immediately covered my mouth to hide my whimper. 

Napalunok ako at binaba ang tingin ko sa pouch na hawak ko, I look at it as if I could see the camera that Malcolm gave me. It just came on me and took my camera with trembling hands. 

"Ano ba! Gaga ka? Mamamatay na lang tayo, may balak ka pang kumuha ng litrato!" Galit at mahinang bulong ni Aviana. 

"It's a proof, we can report it to the police" I said back, whispering. 

"No! 'wag na natin idamay ang sarili natin. Mapapahamak lang tayo!" Shaking her head, for dissapproval.

Hindi ako nakinig sa kanya at mas lumapit kung nasaan ang mga lalaki. Hindi ko kayang manood na lang sa tabi habang pinapanood na may nasasaktan. Siguradong hindi ako patutulugin ng konsensya ko, lalo na pag wala kong ginawa. Just a few pictures, it'll be enough.

Nang makahanap ng pwesto, tinutok ko ang camera ko kung nasaan ang mga lalaki. Nakatalikod pa rin sa akin ang mga ito. Tanging hostage lamang ang nakaharap sa pwesto ko. The hostage was crying, still trying to untie the thick rope from his hand.

The taller man, removed the packing tape. "Where's the money?" with its cold voice. 

"H-hindi ko alam... Wala kong alam!" Nanginginig sa takot na sabi ng hostage.

The man seems impatient as he took the gun out on his pocket, and pointed it at the poor victim. But eventually, he just put it back on his pocket and let out a deep growled. 

"Kill him." and turned his back. 

Every move that they made I was capturing it. I know it's dangerous, and it could lead me to death. But I guess, if it's the end of me. I'll gladly accept it, doon rin naman punta ng lahat, mauuna lang ako.

One of the man mercilessly fired the gun at the poor victim. Dahil doon, muntik na akong mapasigaw. Mabuti na lang natakpan ko ang bibig ko.

Nanginginig na pinapaypay ko ang film na pictures para makita ang nakuha kong litrato. Habang nakatingin rito ay hindi ko mapigilan ang pagdaloy ng luha ko.

How could someone kill mercilessly?

Tatayo na ako pabilik sa pwesto namin kanina ni Aviana, nang humarap ang lalaking bumaril kanina sa hostage. This time my heart literally died. I tried to catch my breath, but it keeps beating so fast.

I tried to wiped my tears that keeps falling. It's just my imagination right? It's not Malcolm who fired the gun? It's not Malcolm who kill the man? Sa kabila ng impit na pag iyak at nanginginig na mga kamay, nagawa ko paring kuhanan ng litrato si Malcolm 

My fucking Malcolm, Why?!

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