26

3rd Person's POV

Before that shiny thing pierced him, he rolled sidewards and quickly stood up.

He is sweating profusely from both fatigue and fright.

That was close! He thought while calming his nerves.

He managed to put some distance between them as he tried to catch his breath but the big guy immediately caught up with him. He then swung that thing which came out to be an ax. That same ax that flew towards him earlier.

It's him!

While running away, he caught a glimpse of a bolo a few feet away from him. Before he even reached the knife, the guy already caught his foot and held him upside down with a deadly grin.

Parang laruang ibinalibag ng lalaki si Rod sa pader kasabay ng pagsuka ng huli ng dugo. Nasira din ang pader na tinamaan nito dahil sa lakas ng pagkakabato dito.

Before Rod even flinched, the guy was already standing in front of him with a huge smile as if showing that he's enjoying this. Then he swings his ax towards Rod's shoulder.

Napasigaw ito sa sakit habang bumubulwak ang dugo mula dito. Lalo namang kumislap ang mata ng lalaki sa nakita. Muli siya nitong dinakma saka muling ibinato.

Halos mawalan na ng malay si Rod sa paulit-ulit na pagbalibag nito sa kanya na sinabayan ng matinding sakit ng katawan mula sa mga nabaling buto at sugat.

His current lodging is already destroyed because of the fight.

"Rod!"

Sabay silang napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Rod sa gulat nang mapagsino ito.

"C-Conrad!" he said, worries are evident in his face. "Get out! Faster!"

Pero bago pa man makapag-isip si Conrad ay nahuli na siya ng lalaki.

He grabs his neck and lifts him, tightening his grip little by little.

"Conrad!"

The newly arrived guy was in a state of shock from what was happening at the same time, he was scared of the possibility of dying that night.

Rod tried to move under the rubble, forcing his wrecked body to save this passerby.

Conrad on the other hand still tries to break free from the big man's grip as he continues to struggle for his breath.

Conrad's mind suddenly filled with regrets.

Mali! Maling-mali ang pagpunta ko dito! Kung alam ko lang na ikamamatay ko ang pagiging tsismoso ay hindi na sana ako sumilip sa bahay niya! he thought.

"Conrad!"

Agad na napatingin ang tinawag kay Rod. Halos hindi na ito makilala dahil sa duguan nitong mukha at katawan. Kahit na puno ng pinsala ang buong katawan nito at halos hindi makakilos ay pilit pa rin itong kumakawala mula sa pagkaka-stuck sa pader.

Wala sa sariling napangiti na lang ng malungkot si Conrad sa sinapit nilang magkaibigan. Hindi niya napigilang mapaisip na iyon marahil ang dahilan bakit lagi itong takot tuwing nanggagaling sa gubat.

Dahil totoong may humahabol sa kanya at gusto siyang patayin, bulong ni Conrad.

Habang tumatagal na unti-unting kinakapos ng hininga si Conrad mula sa pagkakasakal sa kanya ay mas sumisidhi ang takot na nararamdanan niya.

Hanggang sa tuluyan na siyang tumigil sa pagpiglas at dahan-dahang pumikit. Aam niyang walang saysay ang panlalaban niya dahil hindi rin naman siya makakakawala mula sa may hawak sa kanya.

Mukhang mamatay na talaga ako, bulong ni Conrad.

Nagulat na lang siya ng biglang lumuwag ang pagkakasakal sa kanya at pagbagsak sa sahig ay siya namang paghiyaw ng malaking lalaki.

Bigla siyang napadilat at agad na tumambad sa kanya ang tumatalsik na dugo mula sa naputol nitong kamay na ngayon ay nasa tabi na niya.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata ni Conrad sa nakita na agad na sumuka. Literal na naligo siya sa dugo ng kanina lang ay sumasakal sa kanya.

Ng medyo mahimasmasan na siya ay muli niyang sinilip ang lalaki. Kitang-kita niya kung gaano ito hirap na makakilos dahil sa naputol na kamay.

Sa ilalim ng liwanag ng buwan, pilit na inaninag ni Conrad si Rod. At sa sobrang pagkabigla niya ay halos hindi na siya nakagalaw sa pwesto.

Rod's green eyes were now filled with lifelessness. His lips have a creepy smile that sends shivers to the bystander. It's very obvious that Rod is no longer in his right mind. He is like a savage beast craving for fresh blood as he swiftly slashes his knife on his foe.

Hindi makapaniwala si Conrad habang pinaglalaruan ni Rod ang kalaban.

He gradually wears his opponent out as he slowly infuriates him.

"You! I'll kill you!"

The guy shouted then caught him using his remaining hand but Rod was too fast to be caught enraging the latter even more.

Tuluyan ng nawalan ng kontrol ang lalaki na basta na lang pilit na hinuhuli at inaatake si Rod na madali namang nakakaiwas at nakakaganti.

Rod landed another roundhouse kick causing his opponent to lose his balance. Once he was lying on the ground, Rod raised his foot and forcefully dropped it on the guy's chest causing him to vomit blood and passed out.

Hindi pa nakuntento si Rod sa kinahinatnan ng kalaban. Maliksi niyang iniangat ang nakuhang kutsilyo at walang pag-aalimlangang sinaksak ito.