OPERATION: NIGHTSHADE

THE REAL NIGHTSHADE

SAGE

It was dark and scary. All I can see is myself, standing in front of a lifeless body. His eyes wide open, staring at me as his mouth chanted the same words repeatedly.

"Murderer. murderer. murderer"

I tried so hard to move my hands and cover my ears but to no avail, I cannot move my body. Alam ko sa sarili ko na panaginip lamang ito, ngunit hindi ko alam kung paano gumising. Every second I remain in that room feels like torture. I can feel my breath hitching and  my sweat drippling down my body. Everything felt real. 

The crimson red liquid scattered all over the floor, filling the four corners of the room. I know that it will drown me later on that is why I need to wake up of this dream. I tried to speak, scream and breakthrough from whatever is binding me but nothing works. 

Hindi nag tagal ay umabot na ang dugo sa aking leeg. That is when I decided to give up, hoping that I will wake up eventually. At hindi nga ako nagkamali. In the middle of the sound of gushing blood, I heard medals clanging, it was faint at first, until it get louder and louder and then...

I woke up in the cold floor of the prison, covered in tears and sweat. The first thing I saw was one of the wardens opening the cell door.

Tumayo ako upang ihanda ang aking sarili. After what happened yesterday, we made an agreement that he will send someone to fetch me before the morning breaks. He also explained that it is possible that we get ambushed on the way because the family of the man I killed hired someone to go after my head. That is why he handed me my dagger, ngunit hindi ako sigurado kung may ganoong kakayahan nga akong ipagtanggol ang sarili ko

The wardens escorted me towards the entrance of a dark tunnel. Ayon sakanila ay sa gubat nagtatapos ang lagusan na ito. Binigyan nila ako ng isang kaputsa at sulo. Mahigp[it nilang ipinagbilin na isuot ko ang kaputsa pag labas ko sa tunnel

Nang malipon kona ang lakas ng loob ko ay saka ako dumiretso papasok sa tunnel. Hindi gaya ng classic na disenyo ng buong gusali ay gawa naman sa mga sinaunang bato ang lugar na ito. Gamit ang ang sulo ay ibinubugaw ko ang ilan sa mga insekto na naririto. May mangilan ngilan ring pagkakataon na sumabit ako sa sapot ng gagamba. 

Matapos ang mahabang lakaran ay nararamdaman kona ang malakas na hangin na malamang ay nangagaling sa kabilang dulo ng lagusan. Hindi nagtagal ay nasilayan kona ang liwanag mula sa sulo ng mga nasabing susundo saakin.

Isinuot kona ang kaputsa at saka dumiretso sa mga taong ito. Agad akong sinalubong ng dalawang guwardya at inigiya ako patungo sa loob ng isang karwahe.

Pagpasok ko ay bumungad saakin ang isang babae na sa tingin ko ay kaedad ko lamang din. Pagkaupo ko ay agad niya akong tinapunan ng tingin. Her gaze was not welcoming nor insulting. It was very neutral

Marahan niyang inilabas ang isang pocket watch at saka itinaas ang isang kilay.

"You are five minutes late. You must have enjoyed strolling too much" aniya at saka ibinalik ang pocket watch sa kanyang bulsa.

Agad akong humingi nang tawad at tumango naman ito. Inilabas niya ang kanyang kamay sa bintana at sumenyas na umandar na.

"I'm Harper" pagpapakilala niya"Did he also save you?" she asked, her gaze was fixed on the green forest outside the window. I rarely see things like that. I leaned on the window and enjoyed the scene before me.

"I guess, how about you?" 

"I saved my self, he just happened to be there. I assume he also told you to join him, the Nightshade" 

"Nightshade?" I asked. He did ask me to join him but he never said everything about Nightshade.

"I guess he never told you anything. He's always like that" she replied and let out a sigh "Well, it will be better if you discover it yourself"

Magsasalita pa sana ako ngunit hindi inaasahang may bumangga sa karwahe at tumaob ito. Agad na kumilos si Harper at saka kinuha ang pana sa may kompartment ng karwahe. Akmang lalabas na sana ako nang biglang hinablot ni Harper ang kamay ko at iminuwestra na wag gumawa ng ingay.

I heard the clashing of swords outside indicating that the ambush has started. Agad kong kinuha ang dagger ko ng mapansin ko ang bahagyang paggalaw ng pinto. Pansin ko din ang pagiging alerto ni Harper nang bigla niya itinutok ang kanyang pana sa pintuan. 

The door swing aggressively as a bulky masked man forced open it. My hands started to shake and my grip on the dagger tightened. I know that I also have to protect myself this time but I don't know if I can do it again this time. 

I was drowning of the possibilities when a flying arrow snapped me out of reality. 

It went straight to the man's head leaving him to drop dead on the ground. Napalunok ako ng madiin sa nakita ko. I looked back to see how was Harper was doing but to my surpise, she seems unaffected by the fact that she killed someone.

"Stop spacing out if you want to live" she said and stepped outside the carriage

Its not that I can't fight, in fact, every time that I am in danger, some sort of an hidden instinct arouses inside me, and before I knew it the battle will be over. It must be from all the training my father put me through. 

I take a deep breath before stepping out the carriage, I was surprised to see that the escorts have already taken over the enemy. All of them are wearing the same mask. 

The once green forest was now a bloody field. None of the enemies shows signs of life, including the one we encountered. Napasinghap ako ng makita ko ang bagay na iyon, ngunit sa mata ng mga kasama ko ay para lamang ipis ang mga iyon. 

The sit was horrible. Maging ilan sa mga escort ay hindi rin nakaligtas mula sa kapit ng kamatayan. This world feels very heavy and different.

Lumuhod si Harper at saka kinuha nag maskara ng isa sa mga kalaban. It was a black wooden mask with strange writing carved into it. 

She walked towards me and showed me the mask. Her face shows no hint of regret. 

"Keep this image in your mind. The bloody field, your wounded comrades and this mask...." she paused 

"This is Nightshade, Sage"