Taken by the Wind

Chapter 2

Amy is only 400 meters apart from their cottage which is literally on fire, dumidilim na ang kalangitan dahil napapalibutan na ito ng maitim na usok. The citizens were in turmoil, frightened of the thought that they might also be affected by the burning house.

"Takbo!!!"

"’Wag kayo lalapit d’yan!! Nasusunog yung bahay!"

"Eh kung tumawag na kaya kayo ng bumbero!?"

Everyone was screaming, some are even creating a massive impact onto Amy's shoulders, dahil sa tuloy tuloy na pagtakbo ng mga nagkakagulong tao. Having the fact that she was not aware of the danger she will be facing, Amy just normally walked hanggang sa marating na niya ang kanyang destinasyon.

There is almost nothing left, only a gigantic flame. The sirens are now sending signals to alert all of them nonstop.

Amy's eyes widened in shock. She unconsciously dropped the precious bouquet, the one which she purchased as a gift to her mom earlier. In an instant, nagmadali na siyang kumilos papunta sa kanilang garden.

"Mom?! Dad?! Nariyan pa ba kayo!" Amy exclaimed as her tears started to flow. "Mom!!! Dad!!! Nasaan na ba kayo?!" Hindi na niya napansing pang nakapatong ang mga kamay niya sa matulis na parte ng kanilang bakod.

Amy did not imagine that this would happen, lalo na’t kaarawan ngayon ng kanyang ina. Ang inaasahan niya pag-uwi niya ay pagagalitan lamang siya dahil late na ang kanyang dating. She was gripping on her neck as she coughed repetitively, due to the smoke that's affecting her lungs. Pati ang kanyang mga mata, ilong at lalamunan ay naiirita na sa usok na iyon.

"Buti na lang… wala akong asthma..." Amy said to herself before passing out.

The firefighters arrived at the scene pagkatapos mahimatay ni Amy. They are all wearing a coat and pants that are made from several layers of unique fabrics, na nagsisilbi bilang proteksyon laban sa apoy.

"Keep the water going!" The captain ordered those who are controlling the water source. Because of the camaraderie of the team, they managed to extinguish most of the flame easily.

Other rescuers are searching for victims and found Amy, who was lying on the ground. "May isa ritong humihinga pa, sir!" The man covered in a bunker gear yelled then checked if she was still breathing. "Buhay na buhay pa, sir! Dalhin ko na po siya sa evacuation area natin," he added.

He ran as fast as he could until he stopped by a hospital.

'Parang mas makakatulong ito sa bata kaysa sa evacuation house,' he thought to himself before crossing its threshold.

A nursing station was found beside the emergency room. Lahat ng mga doctor at nurse ay busy with their own tasks— such a typical hospital. Almost all of the beds are occupied, some are being watched over by their medics, while there are also patients who are together with their family or friends.

"Excuse me, sir? Pakilagay naman nung pasyente rito, so we can check on her vitals," a nurse politely said na agad naman niya rin sinunod.

The nurse urgently checked Amy's vitals. "Upon looking up for her vitals, I can say that her condition isn't bad. This girl's heart and respiratory rate, blood pressure plus her temperature are all normal," paliwanag niya habang inaayos at ipinapakita ang vital sign monitor.

"Thank you, miss. Mauna na ako, marami pa nangangailangan ng tulong ko sa malapit na cottage area," aniya.

Walang kaalam-alam yung nurse kung sino ang magulang ni Amy kaya kinailangan niyang halungkatin ang bag nito, tsaka siya may nahanap na hindi gaanong bago na cellphone. Wala iyong password kaya hindi na siya nahirapan pang maghanap kung sino ang tatawagan. "Hello, this is Iris' Medical Center. Do you know a girl with short, black hair, bubbly face and about 13 plus years of age?" She asked right away when the call got connected.

"That's... my daughter! I will head over there now," Morgana answered before she dropped the phone call.

Just for a short while, about five minutes, an exhausted woman rushed over to the side of Amy. "Sweetie! Wake up, sweetie!" dahan dahang niyang hinahaplos ang matabang pisngi ng kanyang anak.

Amy slowly opened her eyes, and immediately embraced her mom the moment she saw her. “A-Akala ko iniwan niyo n-na ako..." Amy muttered, a c***k in her voice was heard. "N-Natakot ako..." dagdag pa niya habang siya’y umiiyak.

Amy got discharged after her mother settled for her hospital bill, kahit pa hindi naman siya tumagal doon ng isang oras man lang. Naglalakad sila ngayon patungo sa lugar kung saan naiwan si Kairo.

"Mom... saan na tayo titira ngayon..?" tanong ni Amy na tila ba’y nawawalan na siya ng pag-asa.

Morgana looked at her innocent daughter, "God has plans for us, let's just not lose hope. Babalik din sa normal ang lahat, basta maging positibo lang tayo! Cheer up, sweetie." She pinched Amy's cheeks.

"Morg! Amy!" A tearful man called.

The ladies turned to look back and saw Kairo na ngayon ay mukhang palaboy na sa kalsada. Nagyakapan sila habang sinusubukang pigilan ang mga sarili na mapaluha.

They might not show it but, they are totally breaking apart. Sino nga ba naman ang matutuwa na pagkagaling nila sa trabaho, pag-uwi nila ay bigla na lang nilang makikita na nasusunog na ang kanilang tinitirhan?

"Sa palagay ko yung bahay natin... got burnt on purpose," Kairo stated, releasing himself from their embrace. "I can't stop thinking about the woman that passed by our house. Imposible naman kasing wala siyang ginawa, kahit sumigaw man lang siya sana ng tulong para naagapan agad," halos magkadikit na ang kanyang mga kilay.

Morgana sighed and held her nape. "’Wag naman sana siyang karmahin. I don't want her to experience the same thing that happened to us, kahit pa nagagalit ako. Hindi naman din tayo maaaring manghingi ng tulong sa mga police o kung sino pa dahil wala naman tayong ebidensya."

The gloomy family sat on the bench for the bus stop. They rode the bus in the front seats, not knowing where to go. They have the money, but not the place. Tahimik lang si Amy sa buong biyahe, nag-iisip ng mga pwede niyang gawin upang makatulong sa kanyang mama at papa. Gabi na nang sila ay makarating sa huling bus stop, binabalot na sila ng malamig na hangin na nakapagpanginig sa kanilang katawan. Hindi maaninag ang buwan dahil sa mga ulap na humaharang doon.