Shades Of Black

Chapter 15. Good Night

P  H  O  E  X  E

. . .

A few minutes later, everything went silent. And I don't know how much time I wasted for waiting for the nightmare to come.

When I get impatient or maybe scared because I was seeing darkness in a long time, I opened my eyes. I was surprised that I didn't see a ceiling. A house, rather. The familiarity of it, the white and plain color but it has a style. A house in a middle of forrest. It's Scarlet's house!

I look at myself but I can't see my own body, nor feel it. I don't know how am I standing here, I don't know if I really exist in this place.

Napatingin ako sa pinto nang bumukas ito. Nakita ko na lumabas si Lina na may dalang tasa ng kape. She was looking so far and it's like she's waiting for someone. Is it us? Is she waiting for me and Scarlet?

Kahit na hindi ko makita ang aking katawan, nasinagan naman ang aking mata. Napatingin ako sa araw na sumisilip sa mga puno. Sa tingin ko ay 7 AM na. Hindi pa rin kami nakakabalik ng mga oras na ito?

Narinig ko na may sinabi si Lina pero hindi ko ito marinig. I tried to speak but there's no sound nor voice I made.

Nagulat naman ako ng may makita akong movement sa bandang kanan niya. And I saw myself standing there... holding a knife. I know myself too well, that I can't stand like a man, that I can't hold a knife like that. That I can't give a look like bloodlust. That I can't be confident to stood like that. It's Epiales, not me. Immitating my feauture.

I tried to shout when Epiales thrusted the knife in Lina's head. Shocked, froze, blood flows down on her face. I don't know how to react. He removed the knife again and stab her in her nape, and in her shoulder, her back, in her arm.

Parang naligo ang katawan ni Lina sa dugo pero hawak hawak pa rin siya ni Epiales para hindi ito tuluyang matumba. Napaluhod na si Lina pero ang mata niya ay nakadilat pa rin. Unable to react.

Hanggang sa binitawan na siya ni Epiales at napadapa ito sa sahig, ang daming dugo ang umaagos ngayon sa kinatatayuan nila. I can see myself grin in there. That's not me!

"YOU. DIDN'T. SAVE. ME."

I gasped when I hear that terrifying voice from Lina looking at my direction. That's when I realized that I woke up. Namumuti na ng kamao ko na nakatikom sa ilalim ng kumot na nakabalot sa akin. My teeth clenched and I know I am beyond angry. He's such an evil! Ngayong naigagalaw ko na ang katawan ko ay bigla akong napatayo at binagsak ko ang aking kamay sa keyboard. I clawed it and catch my own breathe.

"How dare him!" I hissed and let go of the broken keyboard. I felt my eyes getting swelled by the tears.

Natauhan naman ako sa ginawa ko kaya naaatras ako hanggang sa tuluyan ulit umupo. Lumingon ako sa buong kwarto at nakita ko sila na nakatingin sa akin. Shocked.

Hinabol ko naman ang paghinga ko dahil napakabilis ng pagtibok ng puso ko, gulat na gulat sila ng makita ako. Parang naguusap sila at mukhang naantala ko sila.

"I'm sorry," atsaka ako napahilamos sa aking mukha. I bit my lip for shouting with their presence. Napasulyap naman ako sa keyboard na nasira ko at natakot ako dahil nasira din ang piyesa nito.

"Nagulat ako, ampota." umiiling na sabi ni Arius

"I didn't meant to," atsaka ako tumingin kay Henry na ngayon ay nakatitig na sa akin "Im sorry. . . For the keyboard." nagkibit balikat naman siya at iniwas ang tingin. Paniguradong alam niya na ang napanaginipan ko.

"What happened?" tanong naman ni Sirius at lumapit sa nasira kong keyboard. I feel sorry on that innocent keyboard.

"Nightmare," hindi ko maipaliwanag sa kanila ang nasa panaginip ko. I can't bear thinking about it.

"You dreamed about Epiales immitating you? For real?" tanong naman ni Scarlet kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya. Hindi siya makapaniwala at parang may nalaman siyang hindi kapani-paniwala. She's being sarcastic again. So she already knew about Henry's plan?

"Yes," I spit the word. "Henry is right, he's planning to kill Lina."

Scarlet gasp and the twin knitted their eyebrow except Henry who are sitting as calm as his face. Hindi ko alam kung may pakialam siya o wala.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin iyon at inalala ulit ang mga nakita ko sa panaginip. Dapat ay maagapan namin ang pagpatay ni Epiales kay Lina. It was around 7 AM in the morning, Scarlet and I should be there before sun rises.

Napatingin naman ako sa relo ko at nakita ko na 1AM na kaya naman kumunot ang noo ko habang tinitignan sila. Nagiisip din sila ng malalim.

"Hindi pa kayo natutulog?" when I said that, they looked at me and yawned.

"Hindi pa."

***

My eyes were wide awake as time goes by. Anxious of what was Epiales thinking right now. Scarlet and the twins left the room and follow Mr. Walter to the Guese room. While me and Henry stayed in this room.

2AM. I saw him yawned and stretched his back on his chair. He looked at me with that serene look. I don't know what is he thinking.

"Count me in," I suddenly said but he didn't even gave me any reaction.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah," napapikit ulit ako nang maulit sa isip ko ang pangyayari.

I've made my decision. He cross the line to use my feature. The image of me killing someone lits my bloodlust. I have been containing this anger for the continous death around me. This time, I want to make a change not because someone blackmailed me, it's because its my choice.  Plus, if I will not cooperate to them, I might lose them. I admit these guys were cool and I wanted to stay, to know them more. Scarlet, Arius, Sirius, and Henry.

"If you are Epiales," my teeth clenched when I remember that guy's name. "How the hell would you know about Phoexe's nightmare?"

Napataas ang kilay ko at napaisip, that's right. Epiales knew my sketch book, my every nightmares... But the question is how? Did he saw it? but how come that I didn't saw him? How did he get all of the information about us?

"Is it possible that Epiales isn't working alone?" hindi ko inaakalang tanong na lalabas sa bibig ko. There's a hint, but still clueless about his identity.

"We don't want to look it that way. But some people said that life is unpredictable, the thing you don't want to happen sometimes do happen in life. We'll consider it as consequences."

"Consequence? You think if we know that he's not working alone, it's already done?"

"Yes, already done. We're dead. You don't know if that person is like us." kinilabutan naman ako ng marinig ko iyon. What if he really have a partner or a group? Like us, who has a special ability to track and to protect ourselves. The failure of this mission is if the other team has a great defense.

If that's the case, they have a big step of advantage to win this mission.

Napansin ko naman na nakapikit na si Henry sa upuan niya. Is he still searching for someone's thought or he's just sleeping?

"Just sleeping," sagot niya. Kaya naman napaiwas ako ng tingin. Is there anyway I can prevent myself not to be read by him? I need some privacy and it's getting on my nerves that he's still reading my mind.

Napatingin naman ako sa set ng computers sa harap namin, hindi ko na magets ang mga nakalagay dito dahil puro number. Sumakit naman ang ulo ko ng makita ko iyon. Pero biglang mag pumasok na paraan sa isip ko kaya naman bigla na lang itong lumabas sa bibig ko.

"If I had eyeglasses, can you still read my mind?" biglang kumunot ang noo niya at tumingin sa akin ng matalim.

What? Did I say something wrong?

"Try it. But when you know the answer, don't think about telling them to others, even them. Don't think about weaknesses." atsaka ito pumikit ulit, he rest his head at the back of the chair and relaxed. Does that mean he can't read minds when a person has an eyeglasses? That's his weakness? He can only read minds in direct contact of eyes. Therefore, a person with eyeglasses is like a hindrance and blocking him to read their mind. I wonder, can he still read a person's mind if they are wearing contact lens?

"DONT. think about it." hindi naman na ako nagisip ng kung ano-ano kaya iniwas ko na lang ang tingin ko sa kaniya.

Maya-maya ay dumating na si Mr. Walter na merong dalang kumot. He looks tired but he seems tougher.

He greeted me with a smile that makes my heart so warm. I didn't know that an old man can make me feel so comfortable like this.

"Magandang gabi, Ms. Eren. Do I have to get you a room for privacy? Henry is staying here," ibinaba naman niya ang kumot sa katabing lamesa nito. Napatingin naman ako kay Henry na ngayon ay mukhang natutulog na.

Umiling naman ako, "No, I want to stay here besides I can't sleep anymore. And I think you need a rest too, Mr. Walter. I'll be right here, I'll keep in watch." sagot ko naman kaya tumango na lang siya at muling ngumiti.

"Okay," atsaka niya nilapag ang kumot na dala niya. He unfolded it and wrap on Henry's arms.

Lumabas naman si Mr. Walter pagkatapos no'n kaya nanatili ang katahimikan sa buong room na ito. Tinignan ko ulit ang kapaligiran at namangha nanaman ako nang makita ko na may isang malaking chandelier sa napakataas na kisame. Halos mas malaki pa ang room na ito kaysa sa unit ko. Meron ding malaking bintana sa gawing hilaga ng room. But it seems so dark there.

"Why are you doing this, Henry?" I asked out of the blue. "What do you want from Epiales?"

"I think it's rude to ask me that." he murmured, not opening his eyes.

"That's unfair. Pakiramdam ko ang dami mo nang alam sa akin, pero halos wala naman akong alam sa'yo." it's not sense to think of that alone. Naririnig niya rin naman ako, gusto ko ring mapagmasdan ang reaksyon nito sa mga sinasabi ko.

"I'm so glad to know that someone can understand but you know, it's frustrating to talk to you because it almost make me feel like I knew nothing."

"Are you confessing to me right now?"

"Every words that you've heard from me was all a confession, what makes this different?"

Hindi siya sumagot sa akin pero nanatiling nakasara ang mata niya. Ano pa bang aasahan ko? Hindi siya sumasagot sa mga tanong na wala siguradong sagot, o mga common sense na sagot. 

"Good night, Ms. Eren." nagulat ako ng magsalita si Henry, nakapikit pa rin ang mata niya at mukhang papatulog na rin siya.

"Have a sweetdreams," I greet back.

So many happened this day—I mean yesterday. I dreamed about being stab by the red haired girl which is Scarlet. I told Arius and Sirius about my nightmares, their expression is unbelievable. I joined Lina and her friends for their little campaign. Scarlet showed me about her abnormal blood.  I met Epiales and knew his capabilities. Death almost claimed me, but Sirius and Arius saved me. Scarlet healed me. Henry forming a team with us. The twin's idiotic laughter. Scarlet and her sarcastic tone. The death of Henry's keyboard.

Can I count that for another nightmare in my memory?

. . .

Unedited