Deucalion

Prelude

WARNING : Some scenes are not suitable for young readers. Read at your own risk...

This is a product of the author's imagination. Characters, names, events, places, and incidents are purely fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, or locales is entirely coincidental.

No part of this story may be reproduced in any form or by any means— electronic, recording, or photocopying, remaking, exploiting, distributing, and publishing without written permission from the author. PLAGIARIZING is a crime!!!

—

I smile, not because I'm happy,

Not because I needed to.

I smile because It's the only way

To hide the pain I'm feeling.

- LhordeJhayceeZuwail

--

Prelude

Deucalion

I have this inexplicable fear of darkness. I feel like it's going to eat me alive, suffocate me till I can't breathe anymore.

My family, friends, or the people around me think of me as a strong, cruel, and fearless person. But they don't know that simple darkness can kill me, can make my head in turmoil and my heart beat fast and loud.

Isang malakas na yugyog sa balikat ko ang nagpatingin sa'kin kay dad na hawak-hawak ako. Sa gitna ng dilim, gamit ang mapusyaw na ilaw na nagmumula sa lampara ay naaninag ko ang madumi nyang mukha. Ang kamay ay naglalagkit at amoy pawis na sa ilang linggo naming pagtakbo.

"D-Dad---" nanginginig ako sa takot at walang tigil ang luha ko.

"Stop crying," he hushed me. "Be strong, okay? Be strong."

But I can't, I don't know how to do that especially after what happened.

"Look at me, sweetie."

Mas lalo akong napaluha.

"You need to be strong or you will end up just like your friends. Do you understand me?"

My friends... Lolo and Lola. Frances' lolo and father. Our tito's and tita's. Our cousins. I witnessed how they died in front of us. How those monsters killed them like they're animals.

I don't know how to cope. Ilang linggo akong nagkulong sa kwarto ko na puro kadiliman. Nagpatangay na lang ako sa takot ko, hinayaan kong hilain ako nito. Akala ko iyon na ang katapusan ko, I waited but it was useless until I finally woke up to my senses that I need to keep going, to keep living. If this is the end of the world, then I will end up with it. Willingly.

Because there's no more days, no more light. I tried to conquer my fears, to fight them. I just wish I already overcome it.

"Why can't you introduce me to your parents?" Daniel whined while he bury his face in my neck. "I thought you love me."

I punched his flat stomach and chuckled, hindi madadaan sa pagiinarte nito. Frances just introduced her boyfriend and I don't know if my parents will gonna take it if I will introduce my boyfriend to them too. Baka atakihin si daddy.

Daniel is one of Steve's friends. They're both into basketball. I love him, I know in myself that I do. Kaya ko nga sya binoyfriend but meeting my family, that is another story.

"I need to go, Daniel." I slightly pushed his shoulder.

"But it's just two in the afternoon. The curfew is six... C'mon, babe."

Natawa na ako. "I'm serious, Daniel"

He heaved a sigh and let me go, at last.

"Babawi ako, I promised." I hug him and kissed his cheek before turning my back and walked in the direction of the gate.

Nagtaka ako ng makita ang paghinto ng pailan-ilang estudyande at mag-aangat ng tingin sa kalangitan.

Inilalabas ko ang phone at earphone ko habang naglalakad at nag-angat na rin ng tingin. Bigla naman nagsitakbuhan ang mga nandon ng magsimulang kumalat ang kadiliman.

The hell? It's just two in the afternoon.

I tried not to panic kahit ang totoo ay parang kakawala na ang puso ko sa kinalalagyan nito. Para akong na-blanko.

Darkness.

My breath hardened and I can't think straight. Para akong mauubusan ng hininga habang inililibot ang tingin sa paligid. Napaatras ako ng makasalubong ang kulay pilak na mata ng mga nightwalker sa paligid.

I searched for Daniel, I know he was looking for me because he is worried sick. Pero bumagsak lang ang balikat ko ng makita syang tumatakbo na rin katulad ng mga mortal doon.

Napaluha na ako, inaalala ang mga nangyari noon na posibleng mangyari rin sa'kin.

Would it be bad to be a vampire?

Besides from craving for blood, ano pa ang iba mo pang mararamdaman?

Napasinghap ako ng maramdaman ang isang presensya sa likuran ko saka may pumalibot na kamay sa katawan ko. Am I really scared of the dark that I can't even run to hide?

Doon ko lang napansin ang paglapit sa'kin ng mga nightwalker pero tila sila nag-aalinlangang lumapit. Sino ang nakahawak sa'kin at parang kinatatakutan sya ng mga bampira?

Para akong malalagutan ng hininga sa sobrang kaba knowing that I'm in the hand of a nightwalker.

"Pl--- Please d-don't hu--- hurt--- m-me" I don't even know if he heard that but I know, he heard it. Definitely.

We have this subject in our class that discussed all about vampires. It's necessary especially to a mortal like me.

Naramdaman ko ang pag-angat ko at para akong naliliyo, binuhat nya ako sa kanyang balikat. I can't even defend myself, damn it. Darkness and their silver eyes is all I see.

Unti-unti, nakaramdam naman ako ng pagkaantok.

"I've already got her... Prepare everything. We're on our way."

His baritone voice is familiar, I've already heard it. I just can't pinpoint who owns that voice but it's familiar.

I woke up in a foreign and unfamiliar room. I have this tubes everywhere in my body. Screens were on my sides showing my conditions.

I can't see clearly but I know I'm not in my room.

I'm weak, I can't even move my hand or flinch. My throat is dry and I'm dizzy. Nakadagdag pa sa hilo ko ang tunog ng monitor at amoy ng alcohol.

"Finally, you're awake... Sleeping beauty, eh?" There's a hint of sarcasm in that voice.

Sa ilang beses na pagkurap, unti-unti ng lumilinaw ang paligid. Nasa isang kwarto ako na parang ginawang hospital room.

"W-Where am I?" I said weakly.

"Even if I tell you... Hindi mo rin alam."

Lumipad ang tingin ko sa lalaki.

"Sa-Santi?" I asked, shocked.

What is he doing here? Why am I here? Who kidn*pped me? What they need from me?

Ang dami kong tanong sa kanya pero hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa dahil tinurukan nya ako ng syringe at unti-unti na naman akong nawalan ng malay.

"At least the surgery was a success." I heard a female voice said not far from where I'm lying.

Someone heaved a sigh, I don't know why my face heats up and my heart drummed louldly knowing that someone familiar is staring at me.

"And if it's not? Are you going to take the blame, huh? You, Kael and Santi?"

Kumabog lalo ang dibdib ko ng marinig ang boses na iyon. That deep baritone voice, that's the guy who kidn*pped me.

Naghintay akong banggitin ng babae ang pangalan nya pero umabot na ng minuto ay wala pa. Pilit kong iminulat ang mga mata ko para makita kung sino sya, kung ano ang itsura nya. Pero para akong walang lakas.

If Santi is there and that guy just mentioned Kael then, I have this feeling that this guy is one of Frances' boyfriends friends.

Nang tuluyan kong maimulat ang mata ko ay nag-iisa na lang ako sa silid.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko, sa parteng puso ng makaramdam ng hindi maipaliwanag na sakit doon. Bahagya akong bumangon at umupo kahit nahihilo.

I know something's wrong. I don't know what is it but I know something's changed.

Sa lalim ng iniisip ko ay hindi ko namalayan ang pagpasok ng isang lalaki sa silid. He's carrying a tray full of foods at bigla akong nagutom.

"I know you're hungry... So eat."

I glanced at him, inilapag nya sa harap ko ang tray.

"Wha-What am I doing here, A-Aiken?" I just stared at the foods in front of me.

"Eat first then we'll tell you everything."

I don't exactly know him, we're not close and I seldom see him in Philippians kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit naaapektuhan ako sa sobrang lungkot ng boses nya.

Nanginginig na iniangat ko ang kamay para kunin ang kutsara at nagsimulang kumain.

Saktong ubos ko na lahat ng pagkain ko ng may pumasok na babae.

She's pretty, siguro hindi nalalayo ang edad sa'kin at ang height nito ay hindi nalalayo kay Frances. Her round eyes and her straight eyebrow is telling me that she doesn't like me. Her small, yes, but she's intimidating.

Kinuha ni Aiken ang tray at lumabas. Ang babae naman ay umupo sa upuang nasa gilid ng kama at nakataas ang kilay na tinitigan ako.

"Who a-are you?" I tried to maintain my harsh voice but I'm too weak.

"You have a seizure when you got here and your heart is too weak that you had a heart attack."

Kusang humawak sa dibdib ko ang kamay ko para damhin ang bawat t***k ng puso ko.

Hindi ko alam na ganon na ako kalala.

"What did... You d-do?"

"We did what we think the best solution to your condition..." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Heart transplant."

Napasinghap ako. Mahigpit na kumapit ang isa kong kamay sa kumot.

"Why? Why am I actually doing here? Sino ang nagdala sa'kin dito?" I clenched my fist, napalitan ng galit ang takot ko. "Hindi iyon mangyayari sa'kin kung hindi ako tinangay ng kung sinong gago at pinunta dito."

The girl tsked. "So you rather die in the middle of nightwalkers, huh? Scared... Weak... Drained."

My lips slightly parted but I didn't talk. Even if I don't want to agree with her, she has a point.

"T-The transplant?" Tumitig ako sa mata nya. "Whose heart---"

"You don't have to know about that---" she cut me off then stand. "You've been unconscious for almost three days, and I don't call that as a coma especially to a mortal like you who undergo a surgery."

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "What do you m-mean?"

"Let's just say..." She shrugged her shoulder. "Someone healed you."

Napalunok ako ng makaramdam ng panunuyo ng lalamunan.

"A simple thank you would do. We just saved your life... Twice." She tap her feet, looks like she's waiting for my thank you.

Inalis ko ang kumot sa katawan ko at bumaba ng kama. "I need to go ho-home."

Siguradong, nag-aalala na sila mom and dad.

I looked around. "Where's m-my stuffs?"

Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Daelan, kasunod nito si Lyon. Hindi ko alam pero kumabog ang dibdib ko at parang hindi mapakali ng titigan nila ako.

"Here's your stuff." Hindi ko alam na kasunod din nila si Elric.

Tumango lang ako, pumasok sa isang pinto para makapagbihis.

"She's unbelievable, she doesn't even say thank you to us." I heard the girls voice complained while I'm dressing.

"Cut it, Azalea. Don't act like you really need to hear it, stop acting like a brat"

Mas binilisan ko ang pagbihis ng marinig ang boses na iyon.

"Wow! Seriously? Me? Acting like a brat---" the girl stopped from talking when I opened the door and looked around.

"Something wrong?" Daelan brows furrowed.

Lahat sila ay nakakunot ang noong tumitig sa'kin. Napalunok ako at nahihiyang umiling na lang.

Si Daelan at Lyon ang naghatid sa'kin sa village, si Daelan ang nagda-drive at katabi nito si Lyon samantalang nakaupo naman ako sa likod. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kinakabahan ako oras na napapatingin sa rearview mirror at makakasalubong ang mata ni Lyon. Kukunot lang ang noo nya kaya mabilis akong nag-iiwas ng tingin.

Sa gitna ng katahimikan ay nagsalita si Daelan.

"How are you feeling?"

Gulat akong napatingin sa kanya, hindi inaasahan ang pag-aalala sa kanyang boses.

"I-I'm fine." I bit my lower lip.

"Don't worry about your parents, we told them that you're with us."

So, they planned all of this. Kinuyom ko ang kamao at pinili na lang na manahimik.

Nang itigil ni Daelan ang kotse sa harap ng bahay namin ay mabilis kong binuksan ang pinto at lumabas. Ni hindi na nagpaalam sa kanila, ni hindi sila nilingon. Patakbo akong dumeretso sa pinto at sunod-sunod na kumatok.

Hindi ko nakitaan ng pagaalala sila mom at dad sa ilang araw kong pagkawala. They really trust those bastards huh.

"Where's Frances?" I asked Steve when I saw him at the balcony.

"Ilang araw na rin syang hindi umuuwi, Wyler said, he's with that asshole."

I roll my eyes when I sense bitterness in his voice. I know, one day, Steve will find his true love. Iyong hindi sya sasaktan at papaasahin. Iyong mamahalin lang din sya ng higit kanino man.

Nagpatuloy ako sa paglalakad, nasa hagdan na ng marinig ang sunod-sunod na doorbell. Tumakbo ako pababa saka binuksan ang pinto pero wala naman akong nakitang tao. Lumabas ako saka inilibot ang tingin sa paligid, bumaba ang tingin ko sa paahan ko at nakita ang isang magandang bulaklak. A yellow dandelion.

Kumunot ang noo ko saka iyon kinuha. I looked around again, searching for suspicious things but there's no one there. Tinitigan ko ang bulaklak at may nakitang USB at letter. Kinuha ko ang USB bago ang letter at unti-unting kumunot ang noo ko kasabay ng pagkabog ng dibdib ko ng mabasa iyon.

I will always watch you from afar. Take care of yourself, Jane...

- Deucalion