Lost In Hinterland

Chapter 3 : Within Viper's Eyes

They had been blinded for a moment, by that trovesian's power.

"Sa'n niyo kami dadalhin?!" naiiritang tanong ni JAYDEN, habang sinusubukang pigtasin 'yong nakatali sa kanya. Others tried it, too. But they only wasted their strength.

Mabigat ang bawat hakbang ni FARRAH sa loob ng madilim na kuwebang pinasukan nila. Dito sila dinala ng mga misteryosong nilalang na iyon, na pinangungunahan ni Hailey na dahilan ng nagdurugo nilang mga bisig.

Magkahalong takot at pangamba ang naglalaro sa loob niya. Lalo pa nang mapansing puno ng selda ang kaliwa't kanang bahagi nito.

Matalim ang tingin sa kanila ng mga taong nakasilid sa makipot na kulungan, na para bang may ginawa silang kasalanan. Iyong iba nama'y bakas ang pagdurusa sa mga namumugto nilang mata.

They could hear some mourns and giggles. Their gestures made Farrah uncomfortable

"Mga inutil!" she got frightened, when a middle-aged man with scar on his face yelled. Sandali silang huminto sa harap niya, habang ikinibubli naman ni Sean ang sarili sa likuran ni Farrah. "Bakit pa kayo nagtungo rito, hindi ba kayo nag-iisip?!"

Naniningkit ang mga mata itong tinitigan ni Jayden. He got offensed, knowing that he's one of the reason why they're inside that place. "Kung nag-iisip ka, sana hindi ka nakakulong diyan ngayon. Bobo!" he exclaimed.

Farrah felt thickness in her throat, when that man oddly laughed. Ano bang mayroon sa kanya? her mind wondered.

"Mga kabataan nga naman. Masyadong matabil ang dila. Masyadong mapusok!" THE MAN shook his head in disappointment, Farrah guessed. "N'ong pinasok niyo ang mundong 'to, para niyo na ring isinangla ang buhay niyo sa impyerno," sabay halakhak nang malakas.

"Shut the f**k up!" Jayden shouted at him. Susugurin pa sana nito ang mama, kung hindi lamang hinarang ni Avery at Phoebe.

"...Pero ang malas niyo," bigla na lamang dumilim ang mukha ng mama at yumuko. "Kasi gaya namin, walang magnanais na tubusin kayo ri..."

Magsasalita pa sana siya, ngunit mabilis siyang dinaplisan ng matalim na bagay sa mukha, dahilan upang tumagas ang pulang likido roon. Dumaong ang kanyang tuhod sa sahig, dahil sa pagkabigla.

Who the hell did that? FARRAH thought.

"Chill, Dylan," nakangising tugon ni Hailey.

At sino na naman iyong... she asked herself, again.

She bit her lower lip and hold her breath, nang lingunin ang isang trovesian na puno ng blade sa katawan. Sandaling napako ang kanyang atensyon sa hitsura nito. He has a good physique, and it made her doubt his identity. Mukha siyang tao, dahil sa pangangatawan niya.

But what astounded her more is knowing that he didn't even move, yet he quickly slashed that quirky man's face... just with those gloomy eyes?!

"Masyado siyang madaldal," malamig ang boses nito.

Umiiling na nagpatuloy sa paglakad si Hailey, kaya't napilitan silang sumunod sa kanya. Nananatili namang tahimik si Sean at Phoebe, malamang ay natatakot na rin sa mga nasasaksihan nila simula kanina. Habang si Avery, mukhang malalim at malayo ang nilalakbay ng isip.

Marami sa mga nakabilanggo ang nagnanakaw na lamang ng tingin, malamang ay umiiwas sa titig ng mga halimaw na kasabay nilang humahakbang ngayon. Nag-umpisang mahabag si Farrah, sapagkat wala man lamang silang ideya kung anong kapighatian ang sinapit ng mga ito sa kamay ng trovesians.

It took a couple of steps, before they ended up in the front of a horrible cage, with thorned railings. Nanlambot saglit ang mga tuhod niya sa takot.

"Pasok!" utos ni Hailey nang buksan ng mga troviseans 'yong pultahan papasok doon. Marahas silang itinulak sa loob, sapat upang bumagsak si Phoebe sa lupa.

Their eyes traveled side by side, and noticed the wall, stained by blood.

HAILEY snapped with her fingers, and the vines wrapped on their paled arms suddenly disappeared. Right after she did it, they closed the gate and walked. Then the sound of their footsteps faded.

They're now imprisoned inside the hell...

where redemption has no assurance.

"Jayden?!"

Isang pamilyar na tinig ang pumukaw sa atensyon nilang lima, kaya't sabay-sabay silang lumingon sa kanilang likuran.

"Sa'n ba kayo galiiiing?!" maluluha nang tugon ni CHLOE, palapit sa boyfriend niya.

Jayden wrapped his arms around her, tight. "I missed you, baby," marahan nitong hinalikan ang noo niya.

Hindi na napansin pa ni FARRAH ang mga sunod na nangyari, sapagkat natakpan na ito nang yumapos ang mainit na katawan ni Haru sa kanya.

"Are you alright?" he whispered with a longing voice, without looking at her. His gestures made it obvious, how he became worried about her. She buried her face on his chest, cherishing the moment. She missed his scent. They've been far from each other for hours, yet it feels like a decade. "I'm sorry, F-Farrah!" his voice broke.

She got up, and stared at his watery eyes.

"Hindi ko natupad iyong pangako kong protektahan ka," his lips inverted, shaking. She could feel ache in her chest, as she hear him apologizing for an uncertain thing he can't obviously control. "I'm such a shame. Kung tuluyan kang napahamak, hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko. I swear!"

Farrah masked up a smile, while drying those tears in his cheek. "It wasn't your fault, okay?" cupping his face. Hindi niya kayang panoorin lamang siyang ganito. "Don't just worry about me, think about yourself, too," saad niya no'ng sumagi sa kanyang paningin ang mga mantsa ng dugo sa bandang balikat at binti ni Haru.

Tiningnan rin iyon ng binata. "Wala ito, Farr..."

"Kung alam mo lang, Farrah, ang ginawa niyan ni Haru n'ong nagising kami na wala kayo rito, lalo ka na," pagbasag ni REESE sa pagdadahilan ni Haru. She's sitting on the ground, at the corner. "Halos patayin niya na 'yong mga bantay diyan sa labas, eh. Kung hindi pa siya pinigilan n'ong isa, malamang mayroon na tayong pagtitirikan ng kandila," nag-udyok upang kumunot ang noo ni Farrah.

Pissed, Farrah glared at him and he scratched the back of his head. "Sa tingin mo matutuwa ako do'n, Haru?" kalmado niyang tanong. Bakit ba napaka-careless ng mga lalaking 'to?! Kanina si Jayden... she thought.

"Sorry na. Nag-alala lang naman ako sa'yo, eh. Sa inyo!" he catched her hands, but the annoyed lady refused. "Hindi ko na uulitin. Promise!" inangat nito ang kanang palad at alanganin na ngumiti.

Instead of replying, she passed by him and checked on their friends' state.

"Ayos ka lang ba?" nag-aalalang tanong ni PHOEBE kay Davin, na kasalukuyang may galos sa kanyang pisngi. She gently held his chin to scan his face, trying hard not to show how her heart throb fast, when she's with him. Hindi man niya sabibin, subalit malinaw na may lihim siyang pagtingin sa binata.

The guy nodded at her, shows no care at all. He's totally naughty, yet wasn't used to express his emotions, especially with a girl. "I'm fine," he said in a monotone.

Nasaktan mang muli, hindi na ito pinahalata ni Phoebe. Ilang taon na rin niyang sinusubukan na magpapansin kay Davin, subalit ni isang beses ay hindi umubra. He only take her as a close friend, a casual one, no more than that.

Every thing went silent after a moment. Malakas na umihip ang hangin mula sa siwang na nasa likod na bahagi ng selda.

They suddenly longed for the feeling of being free, where all they have to care about is themselves.

Sumagi sa isipan ni FARRAH ang mga huling salita na narinig niya mula sa bibig ng kanyang ama.

"Mag-iingat ka, anak. Ikaw na lang ang mayroon ako," she bizarrely heard her dad's loving voice from her mind. Kumirot lalo ang kanyang puso nang maalalang walang kasiguraduhan kung muli pa niya itong makakasama.

Hindi niya namalayang isa-isa na palang tumutulo ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. "I missed you, Dad," she knew he wouldn't hear her, but still she did whispered it in the air.

HARU gave her a genuine smile, while patting her head. Batid niyang kahit na anong gawin niya, hindi ito magiging sapat upang mapanatag ang loob ng kanyang iniibig.

Serenity covered their surroundings for a minute.

"Oo nga pala," FARRAH coughed. "About sa mga t-trovesians..." she sighed. "May alam ba kayo tungkol sa kanila?"

Hindi na nito napigilan ang sarili na magtanong.

"Hindi ko kabisado ang bawat detalye sa kanila, but I do have knowledge about them," AVERY responded, fixing his seat. "What they call 'Trovesians' are the creatures that live here in Hinterland."

Hinterland, Farrah wondered.

"They're feared, and at the same time, despised by humans. After the war that occurred long time ago..." he proceed. "Between them and these creatures. At first, hindi ko maunawaan kung bakit labis silang kinasusuklaman, but not after I found out that they killed tons of our race. They unmercifully ended the lives of weak people, knowing that they can't fight back," seryoso niyang paglalahad.

"What's their intensyon ba why they killed people? was it their tradition? o trip lang talaga nila?!" iritableng tanong ni CHLOE. She crossed her arms, getting upset.

"If you all only witnessed what we had seen there, you will understand," Avery explained. "There's something that keeps them doing that. No! There's someone, rather. Patuloy silang pumapatay ng mga tao, so that, they'll consistently spill human blood above the coffin where their god was imprisoned for long time, that's the only key to freed him."

Bakas sa mukha ng magkakaibigan ang takot at pagkabagabag. Some cleared their throats, some heaved a sigh.

"A-are we going to d-die here?" nanginginig na tanong ni Sean, pagkatapos ay niyakap ang kanyang sarili.

"Hindi ko 'yan kayang saguti..." hindi na natapos ni Avery ang sinasabi.

"Walang kahit na sino'ng mamamatay."

Nagtatakang binaling ng lahat ang atensyon nila kay FARRAH, nang wala sa sarili siyang nagsalita.

"Then, how can we..." Phoebe suddenly asked in dread.

"Hindi ko alam," she paused.

I badly want to save all of you, but I don't really know how, tugon ni Farrah sa kanyang isipan.

"Makakalabas tayo sa mundong 'to!" She tried hard to stop her tears from falling, but she can't. "Hindi ako papayag na may kahit isa sa inyong mawala," she firmly uttered.

Farrah was tough. Hindi niya hahayaang umalingasaw ang takot mula sa kanya. That's why she chose to hide the shivers inside, even though it might torment her heart.

"Kahibangan," DAVIN voiced out, didn't even afford to look at them. "Huwag mo na nga silang paasahin sa wala, alam naman natin na walang awa ang mga halimaw na 'yon, hindi nila tayo palalampasin," he chuckled freakish, but behind it, is him who slowly losing his hope, and courage to survive.

As Farrah heard it, she felt ache inside of her. "Naririnig mo ba 'yang sinasabi mo, huh, Davin?!" nakakunot ang noo na saad nito.

"Why? Life has no sense after all, so what's the point of living?" full of pain, Davin mumbled. "So, just let them have this f*****g messed life of mine, saksak nila sa baga nila," they couldn't deeply understand where he's coming from, only him knows.

Only DAVIN know how it feels to be dumped. Bata pa lamang siya'y bugbog at p*******t na mula sa kanyang ama ang kanyang almusal sa umaga. At pinababaunan siya hanggang sa pagtulog ng matatalim na salita ng sariling ina. Kaya't maging sa kanyang panaginip, mata niya'y may umaagos na luha.

Walang mintis na pang-aalipusta ang tangi niyang naalala sa tuwing naririnig ang salitang pamilya. They always call him "useless", and he grew up believing that he's just an accident, as they told him.

Subsequently, his parents got separated, and none of them wanted to have him. He was only adopted and raised by his aunt. Those times, he felt like he was just a toy, a ruined toy; lifeless, and has no purpose.

Doon siya nagsimulang mawalan ng ganang mabuhay. Naligaw at ilang ulit nang sinubukang wakasan ang pagdurusa.

Mabuti na lamang, nakilala niya ang mga kaibigan niya, na kalauna'y tinuring siyang sariling kapatid.

"If you couldn't see the value of your life, Davin, sorry, but we could," mabilis na tumusok sa kanyang puso ang sinabing iyon ni Farrah. He's living a life thinking that no one knows his worth. Perhaps he was blinded by what his parents made him feel. Napayuko na lamang ito. "Kung sa tingin mo hahayaan naming makuha ka nila nang basta-basta, diyan ka nagkakamali. Para ka na naming kapatid, at hindi ugali ng magkapamilya ang mag-iwanan."

FARRAH will surely do what it takes to protect everybody, all of them surely would. Even crawling against death.

After a long time, Davin began shedding tears in front of them. Buong buhay nito, he used to hide his weaknesses, and cry inside his room, where no one sees him, where no one could judge him.

"Don't worry, Davin. Palagi mo kaming kakampi," Farrah thrown a smile at his beloved friend.

Chloe went beside him and embraced him tightly. Sinuklian naman siya nito ng matamis na ngiti. Sumunod din si Reese at Phoebe, pinunasan din nila ang mga luha sa kanyang pisngi. Kahit papaano'y gumaan ang pakiramdam niya.

"Sige na, magpahinga na tayong lahat," FARRAH cheerfully clasped her palms, as if she worry about nothing. "Kailangan nating magpalakas ulit, kasi marami pa tayong haharapin."

At kasama roon ang kamatayan... she thought.

Nahiga na siya sa malamig na sahig ng selda, glaring at the old ceiling in front of her. She was thinking about the path they'd entered. And the promise she made to her dad.

Even her mind became exhausted, that eventually led her to a profound sleep.

They all immediately got up, after hearing the irritating voice of that weirdo.

"Ahihihihi!" that familiar cackles made Sean cover up his mouth with hands. They prepared themselves for the monster who's approaching.

"She's here," napaurong si Avery, habang nakatitig sa baba. Isa-isa silang humakbang paatras nang mapansin ang mabilis na paggapang ng kulay lilang ahas, palapit nang palapit sa kanila.

Those who didn't meet her yet, got frightened when BEATRIX suddenly turned into a lady, with her crazy grin, as expected.

"Did you missed me?!" she yelled, while scanning their facial reactions.

"Ugh, so ugl..." mabilis na tinakpan ni Jayden ang bibig ni CHLOE. Subalit sinusubukan pa rin nitong magsalita. She forcely removed his hands on her, and succeed after a bunch of seconds. "True naman, ah? Like who on earth can do that transformation, from a viper to an ugly lady? kung mayroon man, I swear, their face surely sucks," naningkit ang mga mata ng babaeng-ahas sa kanya. "Like this one!" Chloe pointed at her. Not knowing what she might go through, after killing off this lady with her words.

"What did you say?" Beatrix walked slowly near her, but she's hella unmoved.

"Don't make utos on me, do I look like an utusan?" she irritably said. "This gorgeous face?" she even managed to project a modeling expression.

"Stop it, Chloe," Jayden whispered, but unfortunately, BEATRIX heard it vividly. That's why she formed an 'o' with her mouth, in amusement.

"So... it's her," pinagmasdan niya ito mula ulo hanggang paa, nagtataka naman siyang tinitingnan ng isa. "Chloe, huh. Ikaw pala 'yong binanggit niya kanina."

"Yes! The one and only, Chloe," hinawi nito ang hiblang humaharang sa mukha. "The silk-stocking, sassy and stunning, Chloe Carter!" holding both of her waist with an elegant posture. "Who are you ba?"

Beatrix chuckled, while taking some steps toward Chloe's boyfriend.

"Let's make it simple," her fingernails crawled over Jayden's jaw. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Chloe nang makita ang ginagawa nito. "I'm his future wife!" she playfully glanced at Chloe, to piss her off more.

"Are you sick?!" naggagaliiting bulyaw ni Chloe sa kanya.

She wrapped her arms on Jayden's. "Don't worry, I'll invite you in our wedding. Gusto mo maging ninang ka pa ng mga anak namin!" she said sarcastically, subalit hindi ito ikinatuwa ng isa.

Mabilis siyang sinugod ni Chloe. At noong akma niyang hihilahin ang buhok ni Beatrix, mabilis itong nagpalit ng anyo, at naging isang ahas. She rapidly crawled over the other lady's arm, and reached her neck. Mahigpit itong pumulupot, at sinakal siya. "Subukan niyong mangialam, batid niyo ang kahihinatnan ng kaibigan niyo."

"Stop it!" Jayden yelled, and tried to save his girlfriend, but the viper only tightened it.

"AAAAAHHHH!?" CHLOE shrieked in pain. Her face slowly paled, almost losing her breath.

"Tama na!" labis na nababahala si Jayden sa kalagayan niya. If he could only do something to help her.

"Ahihihihi! Ano nga ulit ang sinabi mo sa'kin kanina?!" tuwang-tuwang bulalas ni Beatrix, habang nasasaksihan siyang nahihirapan. "MOOOOREEE!!" sigaw nito, at mas hinigpitan pa ang pagpulupot sa leeg ng babae.

"AAAAAACCKKKK!" Chloe find it hard to speak, even a single word.

"Don't you ever mess with me, hindi mo 'ko kilala," BEATRIX' horrible voice shakened them. Maybe, they belittled her. Hindi nila naisip kung ano ang kaya niyang gawin.

"Ano bang gusto mo?!" galit at nanginginig na tugon ng binata. Willing to do everything, for the sake of his lady.

Beatrix hissed. "Anong gusto ko?" she paused, and glared at him. "Ikaw!"

"W-what?! Anong ako?!" nagtatakang tanong nito.

"I want all of you," nakaloloko itong humagikhik. "Your scent, your body, your... wholeness!"

"I'm not having fun with you!" he said coldly.

"You think I am?" nanliit ang mga mata ng ahas. "Paano kung..."

Marahas niyang hinigpitan ang pagsakal kay Chloe. "AAAAACCKKKK!!" the whole room was filled with noise as Chloe screamed, close enough to her death.

Napalunok na lamang si Jayden. "FINE!" labag man sa loob ay pumayag na pumayag din ito sa kagustuhan ng halimaw na nagpapahirap sa kasintahan. "What do you want me to do?!"

Beatrix loose her body being twined on Chloe's neck, but still above Chloe's shoulders.

"Ipapasundo kita sa mga alagad ko, bukas nang gabi," she weirdly winked at Jayden. "Don't worry, Chloe. We'll just have fun," she whispered on lady's ear, before going down the ground.

"N-no..." CHLOE tried to convince him to refuse her offer, but her weakened body suddenly collapsed, quickly, it was catched by Jayden.

BEATRIX turned her back on them, ready to go outside, after getting what she want, her dark obsession.

"Sandali," walang emosyon na mababakas sa pananalita ni REESE, ngunit sapat upang manatili si Beatrix sa kanyang kinatatayuan. "Ano talagang pakay niyo sa'min?" ni hindi niya ito tinapunan ng tingin, patuloy lamang niyang pinagagalaw ang sariling daliri, na nagmamarka sa mabuhanging sahig.

BEATRIX looked up, and released a sigh. She's not sure if she ought to say these, but still, she did, for the sake of threatening them. "Matatalino kayo, hindi ba? Akala ko pa naman alam niyo na kung bakit kayo nandito ngayon," she shook her head, while laughing softly.

Walang ni isang nagsalita sa magkakaibigan. Hinihintay lamang nilang magsalita ang babaeng nasa kanilang harapan.

She turned around, facing their confused faces. "You all are here to die," the lady grinned. "Isn't it fun?!" once again, the old jail got saturated by her guffaw, it deafened them.

"We'll get out of here," Farrah removed hitch on her own throat, then aforesaid. "Makakalabas kami dito nang buhay."

Beatrix hissed. "Iyon ay kung tatagal pa kayo ng limampung taon."

"What d-do you... mean?" nababahalang tanong ni Reese.

Hindi maikakaila ang agam-agam ng bawat isa sa kanila, sapagkat maliwanag itong naipakikita ng kanilang mukha.

"Iyong portal na pinasukan niyo..." nakakikilabot itong tumitig sa mata nila. "...would open again after fifty years. So, good luck!" she went out, chuckling. Satisfied on how she made them terrified.

PHOEBE's knees suddenly landed on the ground, hearing those words, she would rather call a 'curse'.

They were all left dumbfounded.

Davin walked rapidly, and punched the wall. He screamed out, knowing that he can't do something in this situation.

Slowly getting drowned by fear, FARRAH wondered, while staring at the thorned railings of this hell.

Fifty years...

Wala ito sa sariling naglakad palapit sa mga rehas. Pakiramdam niya'y lumulutang siya, hindi sa labis na kaligayahan, kundi sa pangambang dito na sila mamamatay nang tuluyan.

Her soft fingers touched the spines, and blood eventually spilled from it. It was painful, it surely was, but it could not be compared to the affliction of her preoccupied mind.

Makakatakas pa kaya kami rito?