The Vagabond Princess [Wainwright Series 1]

VAGABOND 36: Last Unverferth

CODHILLE

Napakadilim ng paligid ko. Like I am in a black box.

"Hello? HELLO!" I cried out. Before I can utter another word, meron na akong nakitang isang babae na papalapit sa akin.

She is wearing a white long nightdress. She is also carrying a dead bouquet of roses. Nang katapat ko na siya saka ko napansin ang kakaibang ekspresyon sa kaniyang mukha.

"What is—" I was cut off from my words.

"Codhille!" She happily called me.

I was shock and cup her cheeks. "K-Khanarie?! W-why are you here? Anong nangyari sa 'yo?!"

She smiled again and place the dead bouquet of roses on my chest. "Rest, Codhille." Siya naman ang lumayo sa akin at naglaho na parang bula.

"What the... Khanarie! Khanarie, come back!" I search for her while holding the bouquet. When I look down at it, it changed into beautiful dandelion blossoms. "Khanarie?" I whisper through the fresh and fragrant dandelions.

A light blinded my eyes and I was brought back to the battlefield. Where is she? I could have sworn that I had saved her. Hinanap ko si Khanarie kung nasaan ba siya. Papalapit na siya sa isang Unverferth. Tinitigan ko ang kalaban at nanigas sa kinatatayuan ko.

Isang malaking baril ang nakahanda para kay Khanarie kung ito ay magtagumpay na lagpasan ang mga nakaharang sa kaniyang daan. It is a freaking machine gun, napakaraming bala ang sasalubong sa kaniya.

"KHANARIE!" Sigaw na tawag ko sa kaniya.

This can't be for real! This is not real! This is only a dream!

Lumingon ito sa akin na may pagtataka na nakaukit sa kaniyang mga mata. She can hear me! This is not a dream!

"DO NOT RUN TOWARDS HIM!" Sigaw ko muli. Kumunot lang ang kaniyang noo sa akin ngunit bumalik ang atensyon niya ulit sa kalaban.

"KHANARIE!" She did not listen and broke through the barrier of people.

"KHANA!"

She instantly froze on the spot when the gun was pointed at her direction.

"NO!" I breathed heavily. and before I can move forward, I was brought back in this black space again.

KHANARIE

Malapit na niyang kalabitin ang trigo ng baril ng kaniyang machine gun kaya napapikit na ako. Hanggang dito na lang ba ito? Handa na ba akong bitawan ang buhay ko para lang makasama si Codie?

This is so sad. Hypocrisy. I'm throwing away my life when I'm very much close to my goal.

I'm not going to die. Not now!

"NO!"

A yelp brought me back to my reverie. I am not drilled by a bullet, but I can feel liquids slowly running down my face. Binuksan ko ang mga mata ko at ang dugo pala na tumalsik sa akin ay galing sa Unverferth.

"Y-you!"

Lumipat ang tingin niya sa akin at ngumiti. "I can kill someone to save someone," tanging sagot niya.

"Why? Why would you do this?"

"I told you a while back. I have come to love you Wainwrights. Most especially Viera Wainwright. I have no grudges against you. Only these people, too."

Dinampot niya ang walang buhay niyang kapatid at itinaas niya ang kaniyang espada saka nagdeklara. "TUMIGIL NA KAYO!" Para namang domino effect ang nangyari. Tumigil ang lahat. "PATAY NA ANG LIDER NINYO! NAGTAGUMPAY ANG PANIG NG WAINWRIGHT!"