The Queen’s Arrows (English-Filipino) COMPLETE

The Day

Today is the day.

It's The Fall day.

"Gather up, everyone!" Napalingon ako kay Clarian. The batch representative of the freshmen. She was elected by privilege, because she's the student president's sister.

There are only eight of us, fighting for the position of the Freshman Rep. I joined because I wanted something to show my father. Something that is worth his while to be proud of. I'am risking my life, for him.

She talked us towards the orientation. The representative of each batch will not be a Fallkru— that's what they call the contestants of The Fall— they will be with the seniors. Scattered around the dome, in full camouflage attires and armed with weapon of choice.

"The Fall dome might look like an average, futuristic dome to all of you. But that's only from the outside. The moment you get in, you find yourself in a jungle. A jungle that feels like you'd be trapped in forever. On the first entry, you see 4 tunnels. Now, we won't be giving you hints. You will be choosing your fate in those tunnels. Each tunnel corresponds to a different task.." she clicked on her remote, to show us a projection of the challenges in each tunnel.

"We have the serpents. Bears. Wild cats. And the holographs." Napakunot ang noo ko sa huling challenge.

"Yes, holographs. They're the trickiest. You can't hurt them, but they can hurt you—"

"So how can we defeat them?" Said my co-Fallkru.

"You disable them. Oo, wala na kayong oras para hanapin iyon, at e figure out iyon. That's why they're the trickiest."

After Clarian's orientation. We were brought to the weapon room. I quickly armed myself. They also gave us bullet proof armors, in case we'd be in the holographs' tunnel and they have guns. We have armed knee pads, and high maintenance boots.

I wore a thigh pocket for my knives and daggers. Also wore a pocket for my elbows and back. So I'd be ready to pull out one, in case of emergency. I loaded up my quiver with my silver arrows, and brought extra in my pack for refill.

"1, 2, 3, 4-" I was counting my arrow ammo when I felt a soft nudge on my shoulder.

It's Pierce.

"What?" I softly yet impatiently asked. Yes. I'm freaking nervous. And I'm getting anxious, while counting my ammo again.

He handed me a vile. It has a color green liquid inside. He handed it to me and looked around like he doesn't want anyone else to see.. like it was a secret. Kunot parin ang noo ko, hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko doon. So he took my pocket on my shirt and put the vile in.

"Just take it." He said.

"What's this?"

"Poison," he casually said in a low voice. "Archer told me to give it to you. He said pick the 3rd tunnel."

Mas lalong nag kunot ang noo ko. Is this allowed? He's being unfair to the other Fallkru.

"Don't worry, he won't be in trouble. He made that poison," napamangha ako. He makes poison?

"What's with the poison anyway?" I whispered.

He sighed before stepping closer to me when a Fallkru walked pass us. "Dip your knives or arrowheads on the poison. One dip is enough to kill a serpent—"

"Wait I'm choosing serpents—"

He covered my mouth and quickly shhed me. Yikes, I was being loud. Luckily, nobody heard me.

"Yes, you are. It's the simplest. Hanapin mo ang pinakamalaking ahas sa kanilang lahat. Kill her, their queen. Cut off her head, that is the only way you can automatically kill the other snakes."

"Wait, what happens if hindi ko naputol ang ulo niya?" I feel so illegal. I feel like I shouldn't be accepting this.

"You'll only kill the queen. The snakes will be furious and their rage towards you will heighten. Kaya.." he stepped back once. "Galingan mo." He said before walking away.

"Why are you not with us?" I quickly blurted out the question before he took another step. "Why are you doing this?"

"To your first question. I think it's a waste of my time. And to your second.." he looked at me up and down and gave me a small smile. "Brother's orders." With that, he walked away.

I inhaled deeply before letting out a huff. Kinuha ko ang vile sa pocket ko at nilagay sa sa thigh pocket na suot ko.

When the sound of the bell that signals us to be at the waiting porch rang. I quickly took my pack, wore my quiver, carried my bow and hurriedly went to the porch, along with eight of my co-Fallkru.

"Are you ready Fallkru?" Chandler said to the mic. We all shouted 'yes, sir!' in unison.

"Eight freshmen, 10 sophomores, and 6 juniors. Good luck," he raised his glass of champagne. "May the best hunter win." After that the door of the dome buzzed.

The council members were in line at the side of the door. So malalagpasan namin sila sa pagpasok namo sa dome. Malalagpasan ko si Archer.

Medyo mabagal ang pagkapasok sa dome. A little tracker is injected in to our wrists. So it was one step at a time. Nang malagpasan ko si Archer. May ibinulong siya sa'kin. So I leaned in closer to him, pero pasimple lang.

"From your left to the right. The third." He said, which I automatically understood, so I nodded.

"Why?" I whispered back.

"Tell you after. Good luck." He said before softly pushing me to the dome keeper who injected the tracker on my wrist. He wished me 'good luck' and I nodded before entering.

Here we go Aries. There's no turning back now. All you have to do is find the pin under those serpents. You got this. Let's—

"Aahhhh!!!" We all screamed when we all fell down, like in a tube. I didn't know this was underground. It was dark. I couldn't see anything. I didn't see Prim enter, nor Skye. Naalala ko ang pagkukwento namin tungkol sa pagsali sa The Fall. Grace was too gentle to enter.

When we hit the ground. I groaned in acute pain. My back hurts but I could take it. Then we saw the tunnels. Just like in the projection. It was old stone, it's shut closed by a metal door though.

"In 10 seconds, the tunnels will open and you get to choose your fate. Remember, we hunt to feed not for greed. Feed your souls with this position in the council, with your right and faith in yourself. Killing your co-hunter, intentionally, will resort to a felony. Good luck hunters. President, out." Chandler said through the speakers.

Bahagya akong napaigtad nang biglang bumukas ang metal doors. I saw Skye and Prim. Holding their weapons, ready to fight. While I was just standing there. Staring at the third tunnel. What if he's wrong? What if he's just tricking me? So I would.. die? The Deluna's hate the Argente's as much as we hate them. Should I trust him?

I heard a loud buzz. Means we can now run to our desired tunnels. I was the first to run to the third one. Maybe, I should just trust him in this?

The tunnel is deep. Habang tumatakbo ako palayo, umiitim ang paningin ko. Hindi ako sigurado kung may lilikuin ba ako or wala. Napabilis ang takbo ko nang may narinig ako na foot steps sa likuran ko.

I grunted when she attacked me. It's a girl. She shouted before attacking me with her knife. It scratched my back, but I could take it. I quickly took my dagger from the thigh and started slicing the air. Wala akong makita. I don't want to kill her, so I held on to her neck when I had the chance. She tried punching me in the stomach, but I kicked her stomach which made her grunt in so much pain.

"I'm sorry." I whispered before slicing her thigh. I made sure that it wasn't deep enough, only enough for her to have a hard time walking.

"Damn you." Wait, that voice sounds like..

"Skye?!" I tried recognizing her. "It's me Aries. Can you see me?"

"f**k you, Argente. Pumasok ka na, you're near." She groaned again while holding on to her thigh I guess. Wala talaga akong makita.

"No, I won't leave you here. This is my fault—" napatigil ako sa pagsasalita nang may naramdaman akong vibration sa ilalim ng chin ko.

I felt my chin. There's a small bump. Like a little chip.

"Ries?" I heard Archer's voice. What the f**k?! "Ries can you hear me?" He contacted again.

I was about to speak pero inunahan niya na ako. "Good. Don't talk. Ikaw lang nakakarinig sa'kin. Don't help her. Just go. May dalawa pang papunta diyan. You're already near." Napa-awang ang mga labi ko. I can't just leave my friend here!

"Ano pa bang hinihintay mo dito?! Go! You don't have to stay here for me, we're not friends." She harshly said, but I wasn't offended. Sanay na ako sa ganiyang ugali ni Skye.

I inhaled sharply before running away from Skye. I closed my eyes when I heard her scream. What is she doing? She might be provoking her cut. God, I'm so sorry, Skye.

I yelped when I fell on my stomach. I tripped when I saw the light. They're right, it is a jungle. But it looks like a little area in the jungle. There were vines everywhere. Dahan dahan akong naglakad palayo sa tunnel hole. I made sure that my eyes and ears are sharp. To hear some hissing and crawling of any snakes.

"The queen lives at the highest peak.." I looked up when I heard Archer's voice again. Pierce might've sticked it on my chin when he shushed me. "Find a way to get up there. Use the vines or the trees. Don't get bitten, Aries. Please." My forehead knotted when I heard him beg.

"I don't want you getting out of there hurt." He said before the chip silenced.

I'm on my own now.

I took a step closer to the grass. Nothing suspicious happened. It was quiet. Too quiet. I took my bow and an arrow. Readying myself for an attack.

"You're using silver arrowheads right?" I heard Archer again. I nodded. "Good. Hindi mo na kailangan ang poison diyan. However, you'll be needing your knives. Your big ones. Lather with poison. Masusunog ang ahas sa poison, mas madali mo lang silang mapatay. Got it?" I nodded and the chip is silent once again.

Akmang aapak na naman ako nang may narinig ako na hiss. Naramdaman ko din ang presensya ng dalawang Fallkru na nakasunod sa'kin ganiha. Pareho na kaming alerto.

"Look for clues, diba?" Narinig kong ani ng isang Fallkru. Napakunot ang noo ko. What clues?

"We'll never find the queen here, Liv." The other one whispered.

"Ikaw? Argente ka diba? Any ideas where the clues might be?" Narinig kong tawag sa'king ni Liz.

I was just staying still, focusing on the hissing. I didn't want to answer them kasi hindi ko rin alam. Kusang binigay na agad sa'kin ang sagot. Nakaramdam tuloy ako ng guilt. It seems so unfair, I feel so privileged. But this is how I'll survive. I might as well just be thankful to live.

"Ba't naman iyan sasagot? She's an Argente, palagi nilang gusto ang nakakabuti para sa sarili nila—"

"Shut up, Cher." Liz said.

"I'm guessing it's on the rocks. Carved, molded, glued or something. Or maybe under the molds on the trees. We— we'll find them." I tried.

Cher scoffed. "Please. You mean I'LL find it." She said before carving the moss off of the first tree. She hissed when she felt blood spurt on her face. We faced her. "What the f**k is this?!" She cursed. And a camouflaged snake fell on the ground.

"Oh shit." The other snakes started to appear. Maybe because they felt a threat. I quickly turned my back on them and poured the poison on my knife. Lumalapit pa lang ang mga ahas kay Cher. Pinapalibutan nila ang mga ito.

"f**k! Cher sandali!" Sigaw ni Liz at inapakan ang isa sa mga ahas. Nang magalit ang ahas. Inatake nila si Liz. I ran away from them and climbed on the highest rock I've found. Liz was screaming. She was submerged of snakes. I feel so bad for her, damn it. Umakyat si Cher sa tuktuk ng puno at nagtago.

Takot na nagtago si Cher sa mga dahon ng puno habang umiiyak na tinitigan ang katawan ni Liz na halos buto-buto nalang. Kinain na ng mga ahas. I trembled. I can't f**k this up. You can do this, Ries. Trust in yourself.

Mabilis akong napailag nang may ahas na tumalon sa'kin. Idk how they could jump that high! I quickly looked around the place. I saw the queen! Nasa pinakatuktuk ng mga rock formations. She's probably 5-10 tall rocks away from me.

"Putcha! Argente tulongan mo ako!" Narinig kong sigaw ni Cher, habang sinisipa sipa niya ang mga ahas na lumalapit sa kaniya.

I immediately took out three arrows and shot the snakes all in one swift of my bow. Cher was mesmerized as she stares at me climbing the next rock.

"Almost there—" napasigaw ako sa sakit nang makaramdam ko ang kagat ng ahas sa thighs ko. I pulled the snake away from me and threw it back down. I hissed as I put pressure on my wound using the piece of cloth that I tore from my shirt. Great, now I'm wearing a cropped top. Very appropriate, Ries.

Malapit na ako sa queen. Marami na ding mga malalaking ahas na nakasalubong ko and all of them were slashed in to pieces by my blade. They were easily cut because of the poison, that made their flesh soft against the blade.

Two more rocks to climb and you're there. I was about to check on Cher when an arrow shoot past me. Gulat na nilingon ko ang pinanggalingan, and there I saw a very angry girl. She was pissed because she missed.

"Damn you, Argente!" The girl cursed, and fought her way towards me. Medyo malayo pa naman siya. I saw Cher at the opposite side of me. She was climbing the tress to get to the queen. No!

I took my arrow and shot her leg, but not through. I made sure na gagasgas lang iyon sa kaniya, to slow her down. She cursed and held on to her wound after glaring at me. I saw 3 bodies down at the very bottom. Liv, and the other two was just unconscious, I think.

When I reached the very top. I couldn't see the queen. She was gone! The top of the rock formation, was sort of like, a mini pride rock, in the Lion King. I looked around, and saw a small cave. I was about to get in when I heard a pair of boots landing behind me.

"Well well well. If it isn't the favorite huntress," I heard her speak and with my rearview sight, I immediately blocked her blade with mine.

"Nice to meet you," I said in sarcasm and pushed her. She almost fell from the rock but she recovered. She scoffed and went to me again. We were both fighting. One on one, with only our blade.

I hissed when she scratched my arm and so I scratched his thigh as well. It was deeper, I made sure of it. She was about to come at me again when she suddenly fell. Nag-aalalang tiningnan ko siya. What did I do?! She was screaming in pain, while holding on to her thigh.

"Ares!" I heard the other girl when she reached pride rock. She grabbed Ares and asked her what's going on. I didn't want to listen, not because I don't want to, but because I could hear a loud hiss.

"Watch out!" The girl that helped Ares shouted. I swiftly prepared my blade and stared at the python. I can tell that he's not the queen because I heard Archer mention that the queen was a cobra.

I inhaled softly and exhaled roughly before gesturing the snake to come at me. I heard the other girl curse and tried to fight off the other snakes that somehow resurrected! I focused on the python in front of me. I knew he's guarding the queen. He was staring at my blade which made me curious. Why look at my blade and not at me?

That's when an idea hit me. I swirled my blade from both sides and threw it on right. The python' gaze followed the blade, so I quickly grabbed my knife that was on my left elbow pocket and stabbed the python's neck. He hissed in pain and I encircled my arms on his neck, suffocating him. His mouth automatically opened while forcing his way off of me, giving me the opportunity to defang him.

"What the f**k are you doing?!" I heard Ares shout at me. Nakatago na siya sa gilid ng pride rock. She sounded so scared and angry at the same time. "Paige, hurry up!" She shouted at the girl.

As soon as I defanged the python, the queen attacked me. Buti nalang at nakailag ako. But she did sever my arm around the python. I screamed slightly in pain. I can feel the venom from my thigh, pero hindi masyado. Mas masakit ang kagat ng queen sa braso ko. I have an armor on but her teeth were long, and it severed my flesh.

I didn't know what to do! It was painful, I almost couldn't bare it. I was lying on the ground, I thought the queen would kill me when I heard a loud shout.

"Hey!" It was Skye! How did she make it?! She threw an arrow at the queen. I was relieved when the queen fell down. I looked around, hindi ko na nakita sina Ares at Paige. I smiled at Skye when she went closer to me and tried to grab my hand.

"Skye!" I panicked when a snake flew at her neck and bit her. She immediately lost her consciousness and fell from pride rock. "No!" I cried and shouted at the same time. It was a long fall! No way she could survive that!

Anong kulang?! The queen is dead! Wh- Why does Skye have to die like that?! I snapped out of my misery when I heard more hissing. I was panting, and sobbing at the same time. This is exhausting! I can't feel my right thigh and my left arm. I didn't know what to do—

Light bulb! The- The queen's head! I looked up and saw my blade. I tried reaching for it but I just couldn't. Napabalikwas ako nang may tumalong ahas palapit sa'kin. Kinuha ko ang maliit kong kutsilyo mula sa thigh pockets ko and I stabbed them all. Their blood were sprinkling on my face. I tried to stand nang maubos ko na ang ahas na palapit, but I can't stay comfy. May mas maraming pang ahas na paakyat at mag dedefend sa reyna nila.

Despite my weak thigh and arm. I forced myself to stand and grab my blade. Using my right arm, balancing on my left leg only. With all my force, I cut off the queens head and took it. In a blink of an eye, all of the snakes were seizing, and they all died.

I was panting so hard, my eyes are getting weak. The damn venom is getting to me. I'm suddenly tired. When I heard a steel door open from the cave that the queen was hiding. I tried to focus my eyesight on the person coming in, but I couldn't.

"Thank God, you're alive." It's Archer! I tried to look up at him, but my eyelids were already heavy. I feel so dizzy. Nawalan na ako ng malay pagkatapos 'non.