CHAPTER 3- BOUNTY HUNTERS

E L A R I E N

I tried to run away from it- but the way has been covered in mesh. And i've caught myself up with it. It's thicker and sticky too and it entangles to me like an insect trap on a spiders web. But I tried to get away at all cost. This mesh is not normal, I know something is big who ruled here. And I must find my way out or i'll be part of it's food chain. Di pa ako tatanggapin ng langit kapag mamatay ako ngayon. And i'm not even ready.

A liquid drop on my shoulder and its sticky-- foul smell of a dead rats and rotten fish at one. I quiver-- lachrymose and stilled panting on my spot. An eerie silence was taken over by fear and negligence. I trembled; slowly raising my head. A mucus fell on my cheeks but that moment I even feel that it's my last day on Gaivera.

I saw a woman has the body of a phantom, slowly crawling down. Famished as she smell my blood flowing in my veins through the contusion on my knees.

I had no other choice but to ran away even spider web makes me trap again but still struggling desperately and pulled out my hands and bodies from being stuck. I cried for help and even there was no hope for me; but i still wanna live. I wanna go home to papa. I have a dream and i don't wanna end up here and be eaten.

I ran as fast as I can and lead myself to a dead end. I whirled around in sudden panic; all of my bodies are shaking until I burst in tears helplessly. A monster was laughing in satisfaction in a cornered dead meat. Her saliva drop and its fang can split my body in two. Nanlalamig ang likuran ko sa malaking bato na nasandalan ko nanginig ang buo kong katawan.

Bigla itong umatake at nakuha kong gumapang at natamaan ako sa isa niyang papa at nakahawak lang ako. It crawl up until gravity trick me at napabagsak ako sa mga nagtutumpukan kalansay. I quiver upon the cold bones and skull around me. I rush again until I trip as when the floor shook --not until I heard the sound of something crawling from behind my back, she's just playing with me until I exchaust myself running and cut my knees.

Wala itong ikming nakatingin sabay ng pagtulo ng mga laway nito sa kakatingin sakin. Di ko na pinansin ang mga sapot ng mga gagamba basta makaligtas lang ako. Natuwa ako dahil nakalayo layo na ako pero biglaan ko nalang ito nakasalubong at napalukso ako paatras.

"Going somewhere?"

My soul just left my body in a second and almost collapse when it suddenly appeared and blocked my way. The place were I call freedom is no more. Its impossible now. I just hope i was just drowning in nightmares. Nagsitayuan ang mga balahibo ko at bahagya lang itong nakatingin sakin gumagapang dahan dahan at naglalaway, napapatras naman akong nanginginig sa takot at walang kahit na boses pang lumabas

I'm dead, i'm afraid i can't go home anymore. I'm sorry papa.

Patuloy itong lumalapit sakin habang patuloy sa pagoatak ang aking luha at napahinto ng maramdaman ko na wala na akong maapakan pang lupa sa bandang likuran ko. I slowy leaned shaking at napatangis ako dahil its a pitch black down there and one wrong move I might fell to my death and theres a lot of unhatch egg waiting for me down there.

I almost choked as if I feel that the air in my lungs stuck because of my heart non stop beating. It slurp and saw how it open its widely open ot jaw and the fang scares the whole out of me. I just imagine how it hurts to be eaten alive. Pero wala na talaga akong magawa.

Humagulgol ako sa takot and close my eyes and I jump down. Slowly watching the phantom crawling down to get me. I'll die anyway but atleast even my body will be crash to the ground. i can't feel the pain anymore kahit kainin nila ako hanggang sa buto nalang matira.

"Hey wake up! Kindly give a hand here!"-napatigil ako sa pag iyak ng may narinig akong nagsalita at nakita kong nakahalindusay na ang gagamba sa harap ko at nagbalik ako sa kung saan ako balak na nagpakamatay. I looked back at the pitch black cliff and touch myself i'm still in piece. Still breathing. My conscious was awake and had me kneel crying.

The phantom is dead. Its dead! How.. Napaatras ako ng bigla itong gumalaw. Its eyes are open and still blinking.

Bumigay ang katawan ko dahil diko nakayanan ang takot. Bumagsak lang ako pero parang may sumalo lang sakin, ramdam ko ang pagyakap nito at bilis akong hinablot palabas. I saw a light nearby and I feel the heat on my skin.

➖➖➖

"Inumin m--"-bilis kong hinablot ang bote ng tubig at napaubo ako. The air is stuck on my throat. Sinapo sapo niya ang likuran ko and I sob I couldnt imagine this dreadful things. Hasping as if I was drowning, my heart raced. "Stay here okay. Spike! Spike!! Nasan ka! Stay here stay put"

He ran and I still followed him from behind withiut him noticibg but when he did he let me and entered the cave and this time I reached a bone just enough to protect myself from those beast.

"SPIKE!! SPIKE!"-sigaw niya at umalingawngaw ang boses niya sa loob ng kweba.

Napaubo rin ako diko alam san nanggagaling ang mga dambuhalang usok alam kong wala iyon kanina. Tinakpan ko ang ilong st bibig ko ng aking damit at ket gsnon amoy ko ang nasusunig na karne hanggang sa makita ko harap harapan ang naglalakihang apoy. Anong nangyari dito? Nakita ko ang mga anak na gagamba na nasusunog at medyo amoy ko kaunti ang langis sa hangin.

"SPIKE!!"

"Nasa bituka! hanapin mo ang sachel ko andun ang kunai ko"-dinig kong boses at sinundan namin dun lang pala sa inang gagamba. Nandiri ako ng makita kong paglalagas ng kanyang katawan dahil sa apoy "BILISAN MO!!"

I saw how he climb up with a rope and slide down with a bag on his hand. Hinalungkat niya ito at kinuha ang sinasabi kunai. He penetrate the flesh of the phantom and I almost gag seeing the blood ran down from its corpse not a moment; I saw a hand reach out from it at may lumabas na tao na kinaatras ko. Isang babae. "SPIKE YOUR ALIVE"-pag iyak niya na parang may halong insulto

"Ew! Sheesh Ram thank you for not saving me from being digest!"

"Your welcome. Kala ko patay kana"

"Aba't! Sira ulo ka!!"-nakita kong natawa yung lalake sa sinabi niya sa babae at binatukan siya. "Happy kapa pag namatay ako tangna mo!"

"Gutom kase yun kawawa naman walang makai--"

May biglang lumuksong gagamba sakin at bilis kong gumalaw at pinapagpapalo ito ng gumapang sa katawan ko para lang makawala until it explode in my face and the blood splash directly to me and leave me in shock. Nanlalambot ang tuhod ko at nanatili lang nakaupo ng walang ikmi. Parang feeling ko I'm conciously awake but my body is froze.

"Hey! Hey?! Doncha think she's dead?"

"Maybe?"-sinindot sindot niya ako nung hawak niya buto ng tao

"I'm awak---"-napalukso paatras yung dalawa ng magsalita ako ng walang kabuhay buhay. I became traumatize and my body is all numb. I tried to swallow the beat of my heart but I can't, parang nasa ilalim ako ng tindi ng pagkabangungot. But it was all real.

"Damn! Don't scare us girl. What are you doing here? "-I looked at them and didn't replied back until I feel my body fell down to the ground.

➖➖➖

The overwhelming smells of smoke awaken me. Napabalikwas ako ng bangon na inaakalang may sunog pero tumambad sa harap ko ang isa lang bonfire. Nakuha nito ang atensyon ko dahil may mga nakikita akong kakaibang imahen sa mga apoy parang mga sumasayaw na babae at naglalaro na bata, ang maliit nitong apoy ay nagmimistulang mga isdang lumalangoy sa ere at umikot sakin. I touch it and burn my finger.

Nakatingin lang ako sa mga ito at napabalik ako sa realidad ng may naglagay na kahoy sa apoy at tumambad sa saking harap ang isang lalake na may mahabang buhok na nakatali. Napansin ko rin ang maamo nitong mukha, mukhang di niya rin ako napansin o hindi nya ako pinansin.

"Oh your awake"-yan lang ang tanging narinig ko sa kanya at ang lalim ng tingin niya sakin. Kulang nalang makita niya pati ang kalansay ko sa katawan. "Okay ka na ba? Ginamot ko narin ang sugat mo.."

Napakunot lang ako ng noo ng ilang sandali sa kanya na patuloy na nagsasalita. Napatango ako ng wala sa oras. Sino tong lalakeng ito at at nasan ako? Teka parang namumukhaan ko siya. Medyo napaaray at di ko magalaw ang mga kamay ko may mga telang nakabalot dito at pareho rin sa aking mga binti. Mukhang may dugo rin konte rito. I was trap with a monster and I know I almost died but yet.. teka sila bat yung nakita ko

"Am I still dreaming?"-i uttered and I saw him raise his left eyebrow; curious

"We--ll"-I made him huss by putting my left finger in his lips because my head is killing me. If I am in a lucid dream I can control what I want. But.. it isnt.

Then it hits me its not a dream, i'm wide awake. The ground is moving. I look around and a rope fall through my head and I grunt and almost cried para akong nahulugan ng bato sabay ng gulong gulong ko sa sahig na minamasahe ang ulo ko at ramdam ko ang bukol ko. Di ko maiwasang gumulong na parang barrel sa harap niya at paningin ko umiikot na yung mundo. I buried my head in my arms and I roll and roll until I gag at nadiri ako ng malunok ko naman dapat kong isusuka.

Nahihilo parin ako na nasa sandal sa wall at kapit talaga ng kapit para hindi na naman ako tumambling. "Nasan ako! And why the heck the world is moving!!"

"First time? Your in our ships madame better not get sea sick"-napalingon ako sa boses na narinig ko. "I'll be your captain for tonight and hopefully you'll enjoy the ride"

"She aint enjoying. You drive sucks!"

"Well mas bobo ka actually"

Isang babae na may panlalakeng suot ang bumungad sakin. Hindi ko lubos maisip na pwede bang magsuot ang babae sa ganyan? I thought ladies should wear proper clothes but she is different. My head hurt and I rapidly massage it. I was on a ship? Ganon ba ako kalayo pinatapon ng mga yun. What have I done to them to make me suffer this pain. And even kidnapp me away from papa.

I was so close to death. But thanks to god I'm still breathing, i'm hurt but i still have my life. Napaiyak nalang ako ng wala sa oras.

"Hala umiyak" biglang sabi nung lalake

"Thank yo--gwaakk!"-napasuka ako saa damit nung lalake dahil sa pagewang gewang na barko. At nakita ko naman ang pandidiri niya pero hinimas himas niya lanv ang likuran ko at patuloy lang akong napasuka at pinahiran ko naman agad ang labi ko

Suminyas siya na lumabas ako at inalalayan ako nung lalake at sa lakas ng hangin nakuha akong mapatras ng malakas at bumagsak ako sabay siya. Mabuti napahawak ako sa pinto kaya di nakuha kong mapaupo at napatungan ko siya.

"Aray!"-bulyaw niya at pinilit kong tumayo ng bigla namang gumalaw ang buong barko kaya napagsak ako ulit. "A--RAY NAPISA!"

Bigla nalang lumukso palabas yung babae ang ganda ng scene niya nakita kong slow mo na nilampasan ako pero natamaan pa yung ulo ko sa booth niya na.

"Sorry"-pagpatawad niya at tumakbo pasulong at umakyat sa hagdan dun ko nakita ang isang wheel and she drove it. A lady owns a ship than men? Hindi ako naupdate na nagbabago na nga ang mundo. Man had a powe. Woman are weak to lead than men. But now, it change.

Tumayo ako at hinigpitan kolang ang paghawak lumingon ako para abutan siya ng kamay but I saw him wasted and holding with his both arms between his legs. "Patawa--"

"You broke my balls"

"What balls?"

"Uhh? Y-ou you broke it! Shit! It hurt!!!!!"-sigaw niya na may halong tahol kulang nalang itatapon na niya ako palayo sa kalawakan. Tumayo siya at kumarengkeng yung paglakad at nilagpasan ako papunta sa babae.

"I don't see any balls around here"-mahinahon kong wika at napahinto siya he dryly chuckles and bang his head on the door not twice parang balak na niyang sirain.

Totoo naman. Wala akong ginawa masama

"Such innocent young ladie. Ram I felt sorry for that, bawi next life"- humagikhik lang si spike habang nagsteer ng wheel. What did I just do? Ram crawl down and sobbing for the pain i cause.

☆LI