Chapter 4
1139 Words
Nanigas ang buong katawan ko.
Hindi ako makahinga, hindi dahil sa sakal niya, kundi dahil sa awrang dala niya. It was heavy, suffocating, and terrifyingly magnetic. Nakatitig lang ako sa mga mata niyang ginto—the same eyes that haunted my dreams, the same eyes that watched me drown.
Vale. Iyon ang pangalang pumasok sa isip ko, kahit hindi ko alam kung saan galing.
“That’s right. That’s my name, thrall.” Even his voice is giving me chill. “But you can’t just call me by my name. ‘Master Vale’. That’s what you call me from now on.”
Pinilit kong huwag pansinin ang mga sinabi niya. Gusto kong matiyak na isa na naman itong panaginip.
“No it’s not, Aria.” Napalingon na naman ako sa kanya. “This is the reality. And the reality is…you’re mine now.”
Napakunot ang noo ko. Hindi maaaring nababasa niya ang utak ko.
Ngumiti siya. Iyon ang sagot sa tanong ko. Sinakop na niya ang isipan ko.
“I told you. You are now bound to me, Aria.”
“Shut up!” inis na sigaw ko kaya tumaas ang kilay niya. Bahagyang nagulat sa inasta ko.
“Did you just---
Hindi ko siya pinansin. Lumingon ako sa paligid. Ang nurse na may hawak na hiringgilya? Nakatigil pa rin sa hangin. Ang batang kanina lang ay umiiyak? Statwa pa rin. Parang kaming dalawa lang ang may buhay sa mundong ito.
“A-anong ginawa mo?” nanginginig kong tanong. “Bakit sila nakahinto? Sino ka ba talaga?”
He didn't answer immediately. Instead, he reached out, his cold fingers grazing my cheek down to my jawline. His touch sent a jolt of electricity—and a wave of ice—through my veins.
“I am the reason your lungs are still pulling air, Aria,” he said, his voice smooth as velvet and cold as a grave. “I am the reason the rot in your brain has vanished.”
Napalunok ako. “So… totoo nga? You’re the one who fixed me? But how? Anong ginawa mo sa akin?”
Bahagya siyang ngumisi, and for a split second, I saw his fangs glinting under the hospital lights.
“I didn't just fix you. I remade you,” Vale whispered, leaning closer. “You were a broken vessel, discarded by a world that didn't care. I chose to fill that vessel with my own essence.”
“Essence?” ulit ko, my voice breaking. “You mean… b-blood? B-bampira ka ba?” kahit obvious ang kasagutan ay gusto ko parin iyon matiyak.
Tumawa siya nang mahina—isang tunog na nakakakilabot pero napakasarap pakinggan. “The word is so... primitive. But if it helps your human mind comprehend what I am, then yes. I am a Nightborn.”
Biglang bumalik ang alaala ko sa sugat sa daliri ko kanina. Ang mabilis na paghilom. Ang matinding init ng araw. Ang uhaw na hindi ko maipaliwanag.
“Kaya ba… kaya ba parang nasusunog ako kanina?” tanong ko, my eyes widening. “Kaya ba ayaw tanggapin ng katawan ko ang tubig?”
Vale nodded, his gaze intensifying. “The sun is no longer your friend, Aria. And your human cravings are a thing of the past. Your body is transitiong. It is looking for the only thing that can sustain it now.”
“Dugo…” bulong ko. “No. Hindi ko kaya. I’m a human! I have a brother! Hindi ako pwedeng maging… halimaw!”
Mabilis akong umatras, trying to create distance between us, pero sa isang kurap lang, nasa likod ko na siya. How did he move that fast? Parang hangin lang siya na lumipat ng pwesto.
“You have a choice, my thrall,” he whispered into my ear, his breath chilling my skin. “You can embrace this gift and live forever by my side, or you can let the hunger consume you until there is nothing left but a mindless beast.”
“Bitawan mo ako!” sigaw ko, turning around to push him away.
Pero sa halip na itaboy siya, naramdaman ko ang kakaibang attraction. My heart—if it was still beating normally—started thumping against my ribs. Not just in fear, but in a strange, primal recognition.
Biglang bumalik ang uhaw.
Looking at his neck, I could see the faint pulse of his own ancient life. It smelled… intoxicating. Like the most expensive perfume and the freshest rain. I felt my own mouth watering, my gums aching with a dull pain.
“Hungry, aren't you?” Vale teased, a mocking glint in his golden eyes. “It’s been hours since your ‘rebirth.’ Your body is screaming for its first real meal.”
“H-hindi…” I gasped, clutching my throat. “I won’t hurt anyone. I won’t!”
Vale stepped forward, forcing me to look at him. “I never said you had to hurt a human. Not yet. But you belong to me now, Aria Sinclair. Your life was forfeited the moment you jumped from that bridge.”
“I didn't ask for this!” sigaw ko, tears of frustration stinging my eyes. “I wanted to die! Bakit hindi mo na lang ako hinayaang mamatay?”
Vale’s expression turned icy. He gripped my chin, forcing me to stay still.
“Because I found you interesting,” he said coldly. “Because in a city full of mindless sheep, you were the only one who had the courage to jump into the mouth of the abyss. And because I need someone like you for what’s coming.”
“What’s coming?”
Bago siya makasagot, biglang gumalaw ang orasan sa dingding.
Tick. Tick.
Ang mga tao sa paligid ay biglang nagkaroon ng buhay muli. The crying child continued its wail; the nurse finished her task. No one noticed that anything had happened. It was as if a film had been paused and then played again.
But Vale was gone.
Lumingon-lingon ako sa lobby, my breath coming in short, panicked gasps. He vanished as if he were never there. Pero sa palad ko, may naramdaman akong maliit na papel.
Dahan-dahan ko itong binuksan.
Tonight. 10 PM. The bridge where you died. Do not be late, my thrall.
Nanlamig ako. This wasn't a dream. This was my new, terrifying reality.
“Aria? Ms. Sinclair? Are you okay?” lumapit sa akin ang nurse, her face full of concern. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost. Bakit ka nakatayo lang dyan?”
I couldn't answer. I just clutched the paper and ran toward the exit, ignoring the burning sting of the sun as I stepped out into the street.
I had to get home. I had to see Adrian. But most of all, I had to figure out how to survive the night. 🩸
- Writer
