Vampire's Pathos

Blood 06

Eara Laire Arella

I slowly opened my eyes, at napapikit nalang ako sa sobrang liwanag nung ilaw na tumama sa mata ko.

Wait, ilaw?

I'm not dead?

Naimulat ko kaagad yung mata ko at agad kong tinignan yung nasa paligid ko.

I was lying in a white bed, and with all the equipment and things that I see.

I must be in the infirmary.

Dahan dahan akong napaupo sa kama habang hawak yung ulo ko. Sobrang sakit ng ulo ko. Just what happened to me?

"Good, you're finally awake." Napatingin ako sa nag iisang tao sa loob ng kwarto.

"Ano pong ginagawa ko dito?" I asked the nurse who was sitting still on her table, at napatayo nalang siya papunta sa isang cabinet.

"You were brought here with a large wound on your arm. Hindi mo ba naaalala?" She asked me in return, while taking something from the cabinet, at napatingin ako kaagad sa braso ko.

White bandages were carefully wrapped around my arm, and I could still see small stains of blood from it. Kalahati ng braso ko yung may bandage. I even had an arm sling around me. Which means sobrang laki nga nung sugat ko.

Even my clothes were changed. It was a plain white shirt, but I was still wearing my skirt. Sobrang duguan siguro ng damit ko para palitan ako ng pantaas.

"Kind of." I lied.

The truth is that I remember everything, pero hindi yung parte kung paano ako nakapunta dito.

Sinong nakakita sa akin at sinong nagdala sa akin dito?

Did that person see.. something?

Or maybe even everything?

"Here."

Napatingin ako sa nurse na lumapit sa akin, and I looked at the things she had on her hands. A couple of bandages, medical tape, antiseptic, pain relievers, and basically what I needed to take care of my wounded arm along with my unharmed phone.

"Thank you.. Miss..?" Napatigil ako sa pagsalita nung naalala kong hindi ko alam yung pangalan niya.

"Fleece is fine." She smiled at me at napatango ako.

"Thank you, Nurse Fleece." The things were carefully packed in a bag, at iniwan niya sa tabi ko yung mga gamit.

"Use this to take care of that wound. Kapag kulang, or if you need any help with it, you can always come back here." I nodded as I understood what she said, at napabuntong hininga nalang siya. Kaya nagtaka ako doon.

"Please refrain from going to the abandoned building. That place is up for demolition and is an accident prone area. Buti nalang may nakakita sa'yo nung naaksidente ka. If not, you could only expect the worst." Nanlaki nalang yung mga mata ko dahil sa narinig ko sa nurse.

What? An accident?

Who came up with that excuse?

"Kilala niyo po ba kung sino yung nagdala sa akin dito?" This time, I saw her look at me with a confused expression in her face.

"I want to thank that person." I even smiled to look more convincing. Para hindi niya malaman kung ano yung totoo kong balak, and I saw her look preoccupied at saka nalang siyang sumagot. 

"I don't know, but it was a guy." I was certain that I looked disappointed, kaya naman nagsalita ulit si Nurse Fleece.

"I'm sorry." I shook my head and I smiled at her.

That person being a guy was my only clue, but that confirms it.

The guy who brought me here knows something.

Ang sabi ni Nurse Fleece, I'm excused from all the classes today. I woke up past twelve, kaya tapos na rin naman na yung klase. I think classes are going to be half days for the rest of the week. Sinabihan niya rin ako na may pasok bukas, Saturday, in order to keep up with the other subjects.

She also told me not to move so much, and I ought to follow her instructions.

Nagpaalam na ako kay Nurse Fleece and I headed for my dorm as I contemplated on the moments that it happened..

After those men with Ms. Teves were done investigating.. Agad naman silang lumabas ng room. After coming out of that room, bigla nalang may nagtext ulit sa akin.

It was that same number who told me where to find Aiya's body.

From: 09xxxxxxxxx

Gusto mo bang malaman kung sino ang may gawa nang lahat?

Nanlaki yung mga mata ko nung nakita ko yung message. This person.. Is it the killer?

Is it.. Aerovan?

It didn't even take a lot time for another text to be sent to me.

To: 09xxxxxxxx

Who are you? Are you the killer? What are you even after?

I couldn't stop myself from texting back, at napatayo ako kaagad sa upuan ko dahil sa sunod niyang sinabi.

From: 09xxxxxxxx

Now, now.. You always have a lot of questions, but I'll be the good one here and I'll give you all the answers you want. Just come here at the school's abandoned building. I'll be waiting. 

Good, nagsabi siya ng location. I should tell this to the higher ups. Tatakbo na sana ako para habulin sina Ms. Teves, but I stopped when another message came.

From: 09xxxxxxxxx

Come alone or I'll kill your friend.

Nanlamig yung paa ko nung nakita ko 'yon, but what do I expect? I should've known. Napatingin ako sa paligid ng classroom, at nagtaka ako nung hindi ko mahanap si Kate.

Did the killer get her?

Naramdaman kong umakyat yung kaba ko sa dibdib ko.

There was no other choice, pupunta talaga ako ng mag isa. I know self defense. So, I'll be fine. I think. I probably shouldn't come empty handed, so I got a scissor from my pencil case.

If worst comes to worst, I'm not hesitating to kill.

As long as I could save Kate.

I hid the scissors in my skirt's pocket at tumakbo na ako palabas ng room. I need to stop whoever this person was. Even if it means I'll die trying.

Nung makalabas ako ng room, napatigil ako kaagad nung may nakabangga ako. The sudden impact kind of made me unsteady, at napaatras ako ng konti nung makita ko kung sino yung nasa harapan ko.

It's.. Aerovan.

"You should start minding your own business." Agad niyang sinabi at nakuyom ko nalang yung kamay ko, and I got ahold of myself.

"You won't believe what I'll do to you if you get in my way." Amidst his glare, I just thought about the possibilities.

I looked at my phone, and then I glared at him.

If he was the one who sent this message. Then magkikita pa kami mamaya, and by that time, hindi na ako mag aalinlangan pa.

I hid my phone inside another pocket, at iniwasan ko nalang siya. Saka ako nagmadali pababa sa building kung nasaan ako ngayon. After running around for a bit and asking fellow students. I actually found my way to the abandoned building.

The path was dark, and only the moon's light passing through clouds was the only reason I wasn't lost. When I got inside, I immediately had my guard up. The first floor was spacious. Like a hall, at sa gitna may hagdan pataas.

There was even a glass window that even reflected the moonlight that shone through it at the end, before the stairs split leading to an east and west wing.

And my eyes soon caught a person coming down from the west stairs.

"I didn't think you'd really go here.." The voice said as if it was mocking my decision.

Judging from the voice, it was from a woman. Dahan dahan siyang bumaba ng hagdan, and when the moonlight from the window slowly hits the woman. Kinabahan ako nung mapansin ko yung damit niya.

Her pure white dress reached her ankles, but it wasn't so pure anymore.

Kasi punong puno ng dugo yung damit niya.

It was like she bathed in blood.

"You're disgusting!" And soon enough her whole body was engulfed in light, and I didn't recognize the person..

More like I didn't want to.

This wasn't real. Hindi. Hindi siya yung nakikita ko. Imposible. There's just no way-

"Bakit parang gulat na gulat ka?" Naramdaman kong mamutla yung sarili ko nung marinig ko ulit yung boses niya.

No. It's not Ka-

"Of course it's me!" I could feel myself shrink back as she opened her arms to introduce herself to me.

The killer wasn't Kian Aerovan.

It was someone.. who was always near me. Someone who always looked vulnerable in all of this. 

It was Kate.

It was Kate Arsen.

It was her all along.

The first dead person, siya ang nakakita. Aiya's death. The letter K on the crime scene.

It's all becoming clear to me now.

"Bakit hindi ka na nagsasalita?" I saw a crazed smile creep up her face, at napaatras ako kaagad nung bigla nalang siyang sumulpot sa harapan ko.

What just happened?

She smiled at me once more, before finally laughing out loud like a mad man.

What have I gotten myself into? I put some distance between us, at nagtaka ako nung may tumama sa likod ko.

"Boo." I heard a whisper behind my ear, at napalingon ako kaagad sa likod ko.

Only to see her there behind me, and laughing at my reactions. Was I hallucinating? Or was she really teleporting between the place?

"Surprised?" She asked, at napaatras nalang ako ulit nung nakita ko yung mga mata niya.

Her eyes glowed with the brilliant light of the moon.

Crimson red.. just like the blood around her dress.

"What are you?!" Ang tanging kong nasigaw sa kanya, at natawa lang siya sa tanong ko. As if what I had asked was ridiculous.

"Come on, Eara. You're smarter than that." Naalala ko kaagad yung nabasa ko nung nakaraan.

No, it shouldn't be.

Those are fictional! There's no way that they existed!

"Hindi ka pa rin naniniwala? Even though there's already a living proof in front of you?" She told me with her voice sounding like she pitied me.

At napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko when I slapped with the cold hard truth.

"Vampires are real, sweetie." She said sweetly, and she was right in front of me again.

"And we like blood." Nanginig ako sa kinatatayuan ko, and I just watched her lick her lips like she savored it.. at sa tingin niya palang mukha na niya akong kinakain ng buhay. I could feel her blood l**t around me, at para akong nakahinga ng maluwag nung nawala nalang siya sa paningin ko.

And she was back on top of the stairs with her back facing the large window, and her crimson eyes staring at me.

Her prey.

"Eara! Gusto mo maglaro tayo?" Maligaya niyang natanong sa akin, and she showed me a bright smile. The kind of smile that she showed when she was around me.

Nakuyom ko nalang yung kamay ko, and I glared at her.

"Oh, I like that look! This is just a question game! Kapag nasagot mo lahat, you win and I will let you go! But if you get even one of the questions wrong.."

I saw her in front of me again, but this time, I stood my ground.

"I will eat you alive like I did those two girls." Naalala ko yung mga bangkay na nakita ko dahil sa pananakot niya.

Pinigilan kong ilabas yung galit ko, and I exhaled before answering and smiling back at her.

"Then let's play your game."

Nakita ko siyang magtaka sa inasal ko, did she think that I'd be swallowed by fear?

Well, she was wrong. Wala akong nararamdaman kung hindi galit dahil sa pagpatay niya sa mga studyanteng 'yon. Did she also make friends with them? Then at the end she'll also kill them? I couldn't help but think about what those dead people thought about as they died.

Sigurado akong hindi nila ginustong mamatay.

I saw Kate collect herself, and in return she shows me a wicked smile.

"Let us start our game!" She announced as if my life was just nothing.

Hindi siya tao.

Everything human about her already disappeared. Right now, she's nothing but a monster.

The real plan starts here, and I will kill her.

I have to.

"Takot ba kami sa araw?" She mischievously grinned at her own question, at hindi ko na kinailangang mag isip pa.

"No." Matipid kong sagot, and then she showed up in a different place. She was up the second floor, just behind the railings at tinatawanan niya ako.

"Wow! Paano mo nalaman?" It was really obvious that she's making fun of me.

I'm not that stupid. She has morning classes tapos hindi siya pwede sa araw? Tanga nalang siguro ang magkakamali doon.

"Are we afraid of crosses?" Kung hindi siya takot sa araw, there's a large possibility that she isn't affected. And besides, this is a catholic school. Sa laki ng campus na 'to, there's bound to be a chapel somewhere.

There might even be events or a mass that students are required to go to at the chapel.

So the answer is..

"No." After saying the answer, she showed up a few feet in front of me, and she clapped slowly.

Like she was proud of my answer.

"You're very good at this game. Unti unti mong nalalaman kung gaano kababa ang mga uri niyo!" I ignored what she said and already prepared myself for the next question.

It's like she's purposely telling me these things to indirectly tell me that..

Beings like them have no weaknesses.

"Okay, this is the last question. Get it right, and I'll let you go." She smiled sweetly, and I just continued to glare at her.

I don't think that she'll let me go after this.

She's just toying with me purposely before she can finally kill me. I could already guess that much. Judging by how she killed before, and based on her behaviors now.

"Sabi nila takot daw kami sa bawang, do you think that it's true?" She curiously asked like a child, at parang pinipilit ko nalang na hindi masuka sa lahat ng kababuyan na ginawa niya.

This question is also..

"No." That was my answer, at ngumiti na naman siya.

"Congratulations! You won the game!" Binati niya pa ako ng may pagkalaki laking ngiti sa mukha niya, and she rejoiced in my victory.

"You can go now!" She even gestured for the exit, and I turned around just to see her in front of me.

Just like what I expected. Her eyes turned sharp, determined to never let go of her prey. Like a wild animal who's ready to bite its neck.

"Did you really think I would easily let you go?"

"No, but I have a gift for you." Without even letting her react that fast, nilabas ko na yung gunting and I struck in it a place where I think would have done damage.

Right in the heart.

I heard her scream, but that was none of my concern. While she was writhing in agony, nagsimula akong tumakbo palayo.

It was safe to assume na pwede silang mamatay by being struck in the heart, but I don't think that my weapon of choice went deep enough to actually puncture it.

So, I have no other choice but to run away.

How can I kill her? How?

That's right, dala ko pa rin yung phone ko di ba? I was already reaching out to my other pocket, nung bigla ko nalang narinig yung pagsigaw niya.

"I ALMOST DIED YOU b***h!"

After hearing those words from far away, I saw something pass by my arm. Hindi ko napigilan yung sigaw ko nung naramdaman ko na yung sakit, at napaupo ako sa kinalalagyan ko. Nakita ko yung gunting sa harap ko, and I scoffed.

So she threw it back at me.

Dahan dahan akong tumayo, and I tried put pressure against my left arm to at least stop the bleeding. Pero sa tingin ko, walang kwenta rin yung ginagawa ko. The wound was huge, and I think the only thing that's making me move right now is adrenaline.

I can't call anyone for help like this. If I just remove the pressure from my arm, mas mabilis akong mawawalan ng malay.

And I don't think mindless shouting would get me anywhere. Malayo 'tong lugar na 'to sa main buildings. Which means sobrang bihira lang na mapadaan ang isang studyante dito. While still hanging onto hope, hindi ko pa rin napigilan yung sarili kong mapaisip.

Am I going to die?

No, I can't die here.

"Run, Eara! Run for your dear life!" I heard Kate scream, and she was laughing.

I really couldn't do anything but run just like what she was saying, and I kept glancing at my arm. Tumutulo na yung dugo mula sa kamay ko, and it's leaving a trail of blood.

What could I possibly do in this state? The chances of me escaping is nil. Not when I'm bleeding like this. I tightened the grip around my arm to at least assure myself that I was still alive.

I should've went for the forest right after running away from the building.

No. That's not right.

I shook my head while trying to think about what ifs.

Wala ka nang magagawa, Eara.

What's done is done.

Alam mo 'yon.

Ang dapat mong isipin ngayon, ay kung paano ka makakaalis ng buhay sa kalagayang 'to.

Nakagat ko nalang yung labi ko nung nararamdaman ko nang umikot yung paningin ko, but I still struggled to run.

I'm losing so much blood.

Dito na ba talaga ako mamamatay?

I couldn't help but reveal a dry smile at my situation.

Maybe it's my time.

I was slowly accepting the fact that I won't be able to get out of this one alive. Mamamatay na ako dito, and in the hands of a person who betrayed me.

Huh, isn't it a befitting end?

Bago pa tuluyang magdilim yung paningin ko, I was sure that I bumped into a person. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nandoon yung taong 'yon or what that person is doing.

But this was my only chance.

I grabbed that student's uniform, at sinubukan kong tignan yung mukha niya.

My vision was so blurry that I couldn't even see it, so now to mask the futile attempt of identifying that person, sinabi ko nalang lahat ng kaya kong sabihin. That was the least I could do before I die.

"Kate. She.. She was the one who did all of this... I-"

After that, I don't remember anything. I most likely lost consciousness during that time.

Now, the question is..

Who was the one that I saw? And was that the person who brought me to the infirmary?

I was sure that Kate was chasing after me.. Kaya anong nangyari kay Kate? What happened after I fainted?

That person probably knew everything. Halata naman kasi sa sinabi niyang dahilan kung bakit ako nasugatan ng ganito.

But how?

Dahan dahan kong binuksan yung pinto sa kwarto ko, at bumungad sa akin yung kama ko. And Kate's bed that was just beside it.

I felt a sharp pain in my chest as I closed the door, at dahan dahan akong pumunta sa kama ko.

I should just sleep.

I'd go back to my normal life tomorrow.

Pretend that nothing happened.

Everything between me and Kate, there is nothing.

Pretend that it was all an accident.

The incidents were no one's fault. I'm not guilty. Hindi ako yung pumatay sa kanila. You're not involved in any way.

Pretend that you saw nothing.

Everything that happened that night wasn't real. Yung mga pulang mata sumilay sa'yo nung mga oras na 'yon, it was nothing more but a dream.

It's nothing but a bad dream..

A bad dream..

It should just be a bad dream, but why does it hurt this much?

Hindi ko na napigilang tumulo yung mga luha ko, habang iniisip ko lahat ng nangyari. I shouldn't have let my guard down. I should keep everything away para hindi na ako masaktan.

Yes.. I should do that.