Saving Humanity

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Terrors of the Night, Part Two

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Terrors of the Night, Part Two

Ian

"Where's Felicity?" I ask Pauline, probably for the fifth time today. I haven't seen her since we talked earlier.

Pauline rolls her eyes, emitting an exasperated sigh. "Ewan ko, Ian. Baka nandiyan lang siya. Alam mo naman na masyadong curious sa mga bagay-bagay ang babaeng iyon."

I can't help but smile a little. She's right. Felicity is a curious woman. She likes to poke her head to places that she has no business. That's why she's also prone to danger.

The smile vanishes from my face. What if something happened to her? It has been a little more than two hours since I last saw her.

Pauline must've noticed my expression, because hers soften a little bit. She puts a hand on my shoulder, from what I can only decipher as a gesture of assurance.

"Look, Ian," she starts. "Look around you. We're safe here. Walang mangyayaring masama sa atin as long as we stay here."

I nod slowly. I want to remind her about our plans before we found this place, especially the part where we save Holly and Jared. But I'm too drained up to argue with her. Besides, I know full-well that I won't win an argument against this woman.

*****

It is already six in the evening, and I still haven't seen Felicity. Not even her shadow or a whiff of her scent. Where the hell is she?

I have asked every person in this house regarding her whereabouts, but no one knows where she is. Even Pauline and Andre are already starting to panic. This is so unlike her. She won't just disappear without telling us where she'll go.

"Sigurado ba kayo na wala siyang nabanggit?" tanong ni Tony sa amin. He fixes his gaze at me. "Nakita ko kayong nag-uusap kanina. Nag-away ba kayo?"

Umiling ako kaagad. "Hindi. And even if we did, she won't just disappear."

Andre speaks up. "Nasa kwarto pa rin natin 'yung baril niya. Alam niya kung gaano ka-delikado sa labas ng property na ito. Kung talagang umalis siya, hindi niya iiwan 'yung baril niya."

I nod in agreement. Isa pa, ano namang dahilan at naisip niya na umalis dito? There's something wrong about her disappearance. Something tells me that she didn't choose to go away.

I look around the living room. "Where's Edward?"

As soon as the words leave my mouth, Andre and Pauline stiffen, realizing what's going on in my mind. I'm about to speak up when Edward enters, hammer in hand.

"Nandito ako," he declares, voice devoid of any emotions. "Bakit? Anong problema?"

Tony answers before I could stop him. "Nawawala si Felicity. Hindi namin alam kung saan siya nagpunta."

Tinitigan ko si Edward habang nagsasalita si Tony. I waited for something--any changes in his expression that might tell me he's got something to do with Felicity's disappearance. But, nothing. All the time he looked at Tony straight in the eyes, never faltering even just for a split-second.

Panic is starting to eat at my core. I hate this. I hate that I don't have any idea where Felicity might have gone, or why she would leave. I keep replaying our conversation earlier, trying to determine if she hinted at something. But I came up with nothing.

"Nakita ko siya."

Kaagad akong napatingin kay Edward nang sagutin niya si Tony. He's looking at us one by one, confidence oozing out of him. A sign that what he's about to tell us is nothing but the truth.

"Nakita ko siya kanina na naglalakad palabas ng compound," Edward states, his voice loud and clear. "Tinanong ko siya kung saan siya pupunta, pero tiningnan lang niya ako ng masama at sinabihan na huwag akong mangialam."

His gaze lands on me. "Hinayaan ko na lang siya, kasi akala ko nag-away kayo kaya't mainit ang dugo niya."

I sigh, exasperated. "For the last time, hindi nga kami nag-away," diin ko. Bakit ba parang sinisisi nila ako sa pagkawala ni Felicity?

Tony looks out the window.

"Madilim na sa labas," Tony declares. "Masyadong delikado kung hahanapin pa natin siya. Siguro may importante siyang dahilan kung bakit naisip niya na iwan kayo dito."

Umiling ako. "No. That's not possible."

Tony looks at me softly. "Hindi natin alam ang tumatakbo sa isip niya, Ian. Respetuhin na lang natin ang desisyon niya."

With the panic taking hold of me, my body acted before my brain could. The next thing I know, I had Tony pinned against the wall, both of my hands gripping his collar.

"Hindi. Siya. Umalis," I growl, my face just inches away from him. "Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari, pero alam ko na hindi siya umalis mag-isa. Someone took her."

Tony calmly pries my hands off of him. Then he gently pushes me away.

"We have to find her," I say, my entire body shaking. "If something bad happens to her, if something..."

I trail off, unable to voice out the next words. I can't even bear to think about it.

Tony shakes his head slowly. But before he can utter a single word, I interject.

"Let me borrow your car," I plead. "Kahit hindi n'yo na ako samahan. Hahanapin ko siya mag-isa."

"Are you kidding?" Pauline says incredulously. For a moment I thought that she'll disagree, but then she gives me a reassuring look. "I'm coming with you."

"Me too," Andre blurts. He's gotten more brave these days. It's probably because he's finally learning how to defend himself and the people around him.

A swell of pride emerges from my core, overshadowing the panic that I'm feeling. It intensifies when Jack steps up and offers his assistance.

"I'll stay here," Tony declares. "Just in case na bumalik si Felicity, malalaman niya kaagad kung nasaan kayo."

Kaagad kaming kumilos ng mga kasama ko. We prepared ammunition, enough to last us the entire night. I won't go back unless we have Felicity with us.

After we made sure that everything is ready, we set off into the night.