Matias: The Forgotten Civilization

Chapter 16

Danerie's

Now that the lighttrackers of the cops are glowing in crimson red, they are in much more vigilant state. They are so keen in observing the crowd, at the same time they are trying to neglect the panicking crowd. Ngunit nang lumalala ang pagsisigawan at pagkakagulo ng karamihan sa mga pasahero ay napilitan ang iilan sa mga cops na alalayan ang nagulantang na mga tao—epektibo ang naisip kong taktika. Medyo nahati ko ngayon ang atensyon ng nga cops. Not totally, but this should be a good start for my plan.

"Huminahon ang lahat!" sigaw ng isang cop ngunit hindi natinag ang mga tao sa komosyon na kagagawan nila.

Ilang mga salita pa ang binitawan ng lider ng cops at sinusubukan niya talagang paamuhin ang madla. He even resorted to threatening the people that if they fail to calm themselves, the cops will resort to violence. But in the end, his persuasion failed since the panic of the crowd cannot be controlled with mere words now. They are left with no choice but to aid the hysterical crowd. Now that the majority of the cops are busy in attending the passengers, this makes Presence Fooler available for me given it won't be taxing.

The mechanics of the Level 3 Gathering, Presence Fooler, is that the more people that are looking at my direction, the more energy it will cost me. Kung ayaw mo maubos agad ang enerhiya mo, gagamitin mo lang ang Presence Fooler kapag walang masyadong tao na nakatingin sa direksiyon mo. That's why I efficiently use Panic first in order for the attention of the cops to split up. Now, I am sure that there will only be a few cops who will pay notice to at our direction.

Wasting no time, I looked down and ordered again the gathering of light in my left eye for the second time. The moment the gathering is activated, I immediately held Valerie's hands. In my Matia perspective, hindi ko nakikita si Valerie at hindi ko rin nakikita ang katawan ko. Tiyak na hangin na rin kami sa paningin ng mga cops. Slowly but surely, we bypass every policemen. Alam na ni Valerie ang gagawin niya which is to avoid making noises.

After so much maneuver, the escape was successful. We are almost near the entrance of the train station. That was a tough flight. Pero hindi ko pa rin itinigil ang paggamit ng Presence Fooler. Mahirap na at may biglang mangyari na hindi inaasagan. I have a spare of energy left for this given I efficiently used my gift. I can't help but applaud myself for being able to strategize about using the combination of Panic and Presence Fooler. I give Valerie a smile as we reached the entrance of the trains station.

"I though talaga na-" I immediately covered Valerie's mouth with my hands.

Ang senaryo sa harapan ko ang pumawi sa ngiting nabuo sa aking labi. It seems like it is too early to celebrate our victory. Ang sitwasyon ay napakadaming cops ang nakaposisyon sa entrance ng istasyon ngayon. May barrier pa na nakaharang upang pigilan ang pagpasok ng maraming tao. I think they are planning to ride the train, but these cops are stopping them. Kaya naman pala nakapagtataka na walang pasaherong sumalubong sa 'min na pasakay ng tren. Todo sigaw ngayon ang mga tao na pasakayin na sila't may pupuntahan pa ang mga ito.

"Tang-ina niyo! Ang tagal naman ng inspeksyon na 'yan. Mangangak na asawa ko, dapat nand'on ako pagkasilang ng sanggol!" sigaw ng isa.

"Make sure niyo ha na 'di aandar 'yang tren ha. Irereklamo namin kayo sa LTO kapag naiwan us!"

"Everywhere nalang kayo nagsusulputan. Tang-inang 'yan. Dami niyong ganap sa buhay, mga 'te!"

I am glad that I was able to stop Valerie from speaking and was able to hide her behind the wall at the right time. Kung nahuli lang ako ng kahit na isang segundo sa pagpigil kay Valerie, tiyak na masasalubong namin ang tingin nila. Marami pa namang mga matang nakaabiang sa labasan ng istasyon ng tren, tiyak na tiyak na mahahagip nila ang presensiya namin ni Valerie. I just deactivated Presence Fooler which means we are visible in their eyes. If they happen to see us capable of exiting while they are denied of entrace, that would made them cry the injustice that they have experience. And then the attention of the police will be passed down to us.

Ngayon, kailangan kong mag-isip kung ano ang magiging susunod kong hakbang. I definitely cannot use Presence Fooler. As what I said earlier, the crowd's attention is at the entrance of the station. Sa dinami-dami ba namang matang nakatingin sa bungad ng istasyon, kapag lalabas kami ni Valerie, imposibleng 'di mahagip ng tingin nila ang direksyon namin. Ubos agad ang enerhiya ko kapag nagkataon. Either I will be weakened or pass out, I will be a burden to Valerie and the bottom line is we will be caught.

"I trust in you, Erie," she said and hugged me.

Erie… Erie… did she just create a nickname for me? For the longest time, I have always wanted to be called by Erie. The reason for me wanting to be addressed as Erie is because I like how it sounds—it is pleasant to the ears. However, given I have no friends and my Dad always call me by 'son', no one has ever called me by that nickname.

Just now, Valerie did call me by that nickname. This is the first time that our paths crossed, so I'm sure I have told her nothing about the nickname Erie. Valerie mentioning that nickname is a pure coincidence or it is that because our hearts are connected with one another? Mas lalo akong nahuhulog kay Valerie. Mas lalo kong gusto siyang protektahan.

That encounter has ignited something within me. Now, I have a concrete plan on how to get out from this situation. It will cost me a lot of my energy, but I'm sure that it will be a success. Valerie, this is for you. Your trust will not wasted. You have chosen the right man to trust.

Randam na ramdam ko ang pagliwanag ng kaliwang mata ko. Though it is now glowing violently, I still didn't use it. I need to gather more light. It took me a minute before I am satisfied with the light that I have gathered. I then stared at the upper floor of the building. In that instant, the top portion of the infrastructure is on fire.

Ilang saglit pa, mukhang sumambulat na sa paningin ng mga tao ang nag-aapoy na imprastraktura dahil sa malakas na pagsisigaw ng mga ito.

"Sunog! Sunog! Sunog!"

"What the f**k is happening! Quickly call an ambulance."

"Oh my Jeez, totoo ba ito?"

Sa kabilang banda, hindi naman talaga nasusunog ang building, ilusyon lang nila ito. This is another diversion tactic given Panic is unavailable because of the range. Panic only works on the people around a center radius with me being the center. To compensate for this lacking, I have to use the Level 1 Gathering: Creation instead. Creation allows me to play the people's mind by making them believe the existence of something.

I have to gather so much light ealier because there are so many people. Ang kapangitan lang ng gathering na ito ay people who have enough mental fortitude won't be affected by this low level gathering. However, most of the crowd was not in their right state of mind so the situation is favorable for me.

I am certain that the attention of the crowd has already shifted into the top portion of the building. It should he safe for Valerie and I to move by now given this gathering won't last long. I immediately grabbed Valerie's hand and used Presence Fooler once again. We then hurriedly proceed to escape the situation.

At this moment, we are hiding in an abandoned alley. Ang daming mga sasakyan ng cops ang nagpapatrolya na tila ay may big-time kriminal na hinuhuli. It seems like that I have underestimated Dad's words about the cops' eagerness to capture a Matia. The scenario of the cops outside the train and outside the station, adding up the patrol that the police is doing right now are enough reasons for me to conclude how severe this matter is.

"So… are you doing good now, Erie," Valerie looks worried as she said those words.

"Yes. I just need to take a little more rest before we can move. I need to recover my strength." I pulled out a confident smile.

"Okay," she replied.

It has been two hours since Valerie and I are stuck in this alley. I also have recovered enough of my strength already. Sa kasamaang palad, wala akong alam na pagdadalhan kay Valerie ngayon kaya naman ay sinusubukan kong mag-buy time para mag-isip kung anong gagawin. Taking her home with me is definitely not a choice given how active the cops are. Without a doubt, a lot of them would be stationed at checkpoints just like Valerie's situation.

I am running out of choices right now—I literally cannot think of anything I should do. I have the money to take her into an expensive hotel, however, I cannot risk her to be exposed. Valerie's name being well know across the country, for sure someone will be able to recognize her. Kapag nangyari 'yon kakalat ang impormasyon sa social media at tiyak na hahabulin siya ng mga police.

I can only run to one person right now… my Dad. He should be able to think of something from my situation right now. I immediately excused myself from Valerie as I don't want to reveal to her that I have no plans yet.

"Valerie, I will just call someone and I need you to stay here for me. Scream for my name whenever you see cops. Can you do that?" I asked.

"Okay." And with her reply, I walked to the deeper side of the alley.

The moment my phone is turned on, my notifications are flooded with a lot of missed calls from my Dad. He sure is worried and is angry with what I have done. But I won't be accountable for my actions because there was an agreement and he didn't fulfill it.

I made the initiative to call Dad. Taking into account that he is always in his tablet he should be able to receive my call immediately. He didn't fail me though an answered the call after only one attemp.

"Danerie, where are you? How could you dare to disobey me?! Go home at once!" the tone of his voice says how mad he is right now.

"Dad, I cannot. I'm here at Santolan." I gave out a sigh.

"What are you doing in that place? I have watched the news and a lot of policemen are mobilized everywhere in that area right now!" He is now shouting at this moment.

I gave him no answer. The silence lasted for how many minutes—it really is deafening. Dad is an intelligent man though. He should already have a hint by now with what I am trying to imply with my silence.

"Don't tell me…" he paused and I literally heard him sigh before continuing on what he is saying. "You caused this ruckus?"

"Yes, Dad." I admitted. "I'm with Valerie."

"Danerie… Don't tell me that you just used your powers?"

Another dead air occured. Dad must be disappointed with me right now. Well, I could care less. Mas importante si Valerie. Kung kapalit ng paggamit ko ng kapangyarihan ko ay ang mapanatili kong ligtas si Valerie, gagamitin ko kahit ilang beses pa 'yan. I don't care what Dad says and I don't care if cops will come after me.

"I have a villa in Santolan. I'll send you the location right away. You go settle there while the situation has not calm down yet."

"WHAT ARE WE doing here Danerie. Sa inyo ba 'to?" Valerie asked full of shock.

We are standing in the gate of the villa where Dad told me to go. I am also amazed with how huge the place is. Kahit malaki naman ang bahay naman, mas malaki ang bahay na ito. Now, I am questioning Dad's choice. Why chose to live in that house when we own something bigger?

"Yes? Why?" I said ang grabbed the key of the gate in my pocket.

After the call with Dad, he used Lalamove to deliver me the key of the house since he cannot go out personally as he have things that he needs to attend to.

"Sure ka ba?" I answered her question by opening the lock of the gate.

"Oh. So that's it. Kaano-ano mo pala ang may-ari ng villa here?"

"He is my Dad," I answered and gestured her to enter first.

"No way?!" Her eyes widened. I just gave him a smile as an answer. "For real? You are a Partreon?"