CHAPTER 4- PORTRAIT

A J E N T A

"You aren't allowed in here understand?! hear me young lady. Your trespassing the wills of your mother, you're being disrespectful!" My eyes didn't leave her face. Not because I was scolded but the tone of her voice change. Its bothering me.

The way she reacted is like I've done some crime. I think they know something at ako lang ang di nakakaalam. She's scared of something, she can't even make an eye contact with me. There was a frowned from her face, showing she must have been anxious about mom's room. And I recklessly entered after been told but didn't listen.

My curiosity drives me nuts. I want to know what's hidden in that thing and why they kept me away from it till today

Ang mga misteryosong pangyayari ay di dapat pinapalagpasan at binabalewala. This can answer my question of what I seek for many years after living alone in this mansion

Then it hits me. I Look at her giving her that suspicious look and made her more anxious. She's trying to hold that mystery on herself  "Mama tell me, may something ba sa kwartong yun bat parang....? "- medyo di ko pinatapos. But trying to give a few hint at napadilat sya na halatang kabado. I know that eyes never lies.

She deeply sighed and spoke softly and trying to pretend that she didn't heard anything. She tries to cut our conversation "Anak, ayaw ko lang may masira sa kwartong yun alam mo naman ang ugali ng mama mo baka magalit sya"-she's trying to calm herself. Naghahanap sya ng paraan para di ako mas lalong mangamba.

I need to know ayokong laging huli nalang sa balita hindi ako mangmang. I haven't met my father then my mother didn't even tell me if I had a relatives. I know nothing about this house. I need to know, ayaw kong mananaliti walang alam sa nangyayari dito sa mansion. Ano ang misteryong meron dito..

I nodded to end our chit chat and try to smile like everything's back to normal. But it isn't "Patawad po mama maybe I'm just over reacted"-i wouldn't promise anything. I hate promises!

Tumayo sya at hinalikan ako sa noo at hinandaan ako ng makakain. Kumain naman ako yung tipong bumalik sa normal ang lahat. Pretended na di ko pinasok ang mysterious room nayun. Malalaman ko din. Walang sekreto ang di nabubunyag. I know something is wrong. I can feel it. My guts tells me

"Anak nasa baba lang ako kung may kailangan ka tawagin mo lang ako ah"-sabi ni mama at tumango ako sumabay naring bumaba ang iba at naiwan na ako mag isa sa kwarto. Tumayo agad ako at binuksan ko ang pinto at tsaka sumilip sa labas. Clear!

I walk like a ninja and tip toe'ing my toes at napahinto ako ng may tao palang naglilinis sa dinadaanan ko. Pano na to? I tried to figure something out para di ako manotice.

"Excuse me pwedeng wag muna kayo maglinis dito yung kwarto ko nalang linisan nyo "-teka tama ba ang sinabi ko?

"Bakit po?"

Sabi ko na eh. Why am i so impetious- Why can't think things over before rushing into. Ajenta think before you speak "Ah wag nalang.. linisan nyo nalang yung old library dun sa attic its dusty and also tell them transfer my books up there--"

"Opo madam"-sabay nila. I sighed with frustration. There's a few guilt. even I can't lift that Bookshelves upstair. " Wait" they stop and look back "Just clean it yun lang"

Umalis na sila at agad na akong tumungo sa kaliwa. Buti pa sila hindi nagpaparamdam yung multo sa kanila, pero bat lagi sakin! Marunong nang magfavoritism si ghost oh. Walang tao sa third floor kung saan nandun ang kwarto. Pinihit ko ang doorknob. "Shit lock!" Napakamot nalang ako sa ulo. Mama talaga masyadong advance mag isip. Talino! Lumakad ulit ako at nag iisip kung pano buksan ang pintong yun. Pero nag Uturn ako ulit at itry kong pumasok sa bintana. Kumakati pwet ko e.

I'm dying to know. Wala din palang bintana ang kwarto nato. "Sus anong klaseng room nato na walang bintana?"-bulong ko sa ere

Sumilip ako sa balcony at nadatnan ko ang maliit na daanan papunta sa kabila. " Ayun sawakas may bintana!" I look down at napalunok ako yung tipong mahuhulog  pati yung espirito ko. TAAS!!! Lumakas lalo yung kaba ko. I prayed na sana di ako mahulog.

Lumingon ako at wala namang maid. Naoadasal nalang ako ng umakyat ako sa balkonahe. Idinikit ko ang likod ko sa wall at tinataas kolang ang mata ko pero ang paa ko lumalakad lang, ginagamit ko rin ang both hands ko sa side ko para maguide ako na di mahulog. The gravity is playing tricked on me, I felt that my body is falling parang pagewang gewang yung paglalakad kulang nalang yung espiritu ko sisisgaw na sa takot. Sa totoo naiihi na ako. My soul is trying to get out of my body.

Nang maramdaman kong nakahawak na ang kanan kong kamay sa isang glass agad ko yung binuksan. Swerte nga dahil hindi nakalock at agad na akong pumasok at sinapo sapo ko ang dibdib ko. Parang feel ko mahuhulog na ako. Pero mas masakit kung mahulog sa maling tao. Choss

"Still alive!"-napaluhod ako at huminga ng malalim at niyakap ang sahig sabay halik na parang ngayon lang ako nakakita ng sahig sa buong buhay ko. "Buhay pa naman ako. Buhay pa. I won't do it again I swear"-sabay gulong gulong ko pa

Gaya ng dati inalis ko yung kama at kinuha ko ang door size na laki ng portrate at pinahiran ko yung dumi sa mukha ng nasa picture gamit ang hands ko. Pero ang nakakapagtaka ako ang bata na hawak ng isang diko kilalang babae, may isa ring babae sa kanyang tabi.

The portrait burst into flame but my hands didn't felt anything until it burn to ashes and disappeared. Tulala lang ako sa nangyari panong nasunog ang larawan na di man lang napaso ang kamay ko? Cracks formed on the walls. Another blast shoot the dust from the ceiling. The place began to shook and I held my ground. There's voices filled my minds. Ash danced down from the ceiling like snow and the pungent scent of blood overtook the room.

Theres a shadow arose and I could see a large woman about a tall of the ceiling. Slender bodies, hollow pale skin, red sorrow eyes, melting flesh; Smiling back at me, my body shivered uncontrollably. I crawled back as it coming closer and closer. I couldn't shout its like my voice is locked up from my throat. My body froze and she grabbed me by my neck. I tried to gasp air and my foot is no longer stepping on the ground. Her mouth slowly open up and I saw something inside and it began to drained my energy. My breath was shorten and my heart threatened to burst under pressure.

"Ajenta!"-napalingon ako at gulat na gulat at hinahawakan ang leeg ko sabay ng pag ubo at hinahabol ang aking hininga. Wala na yung babae na sumakal sakin. And the place is back to normal. I became speechless, did I just hallucinate? but i know its not

"Ajenta!"

Napalingon agad ako sa tumawag sakin at napadilat ako. Why is she here? did she secretly followed me? Why now! "How many times do I have to tell you, that you aren't allowed... "

"I'm sorry binalaan ko na po sya Ma'am at sinarado ang pinto pero nagmatigas parin sya at pinasok parin ang kwarto ninyo"-paghingi ng kapatawaran ni mama yaya sa kanya.

"Ano bang gusto mong malaman huh! Kung sabihin bawal kang pumasok. Ang Bawal ay bawal! Syempleng salita di kapa nakakaintindi! Mas makakaintindi pa sayo ang mga kinder"-sigaw nya sakin.

"Tell me anong merong sa kwartong to?! At sino ang mga larawan na nakita ko sa ibaba ng kama. Someone choke my from this spot here... "

" Pack your things were going back to states"

Nagmatigas lang ako nagkakautal utal pa sya natatakot sya na may malaman ako "NO! Not until you tell me everything"

"Boys! Get her"

Tinawag nya ang guard at lumabas ako ng bintana at mabilis akong lumakad papuntang balcony at tumakbo para takasan ang apat na lalake. Hindi ako papayag na bumalik sa america! Di ko na ramdam yung paa ko sa lupa para na akong lumilipad sa sobrang bilis ko..

"Alis dyan!!"-sigaw ko sa mga maid at nagsialisan sila sa dinadaanan ko. Lumabas ako ng bahay at tumungo ako sa backyard until I lose my balance and trip on the ground but a light suddenly appeared and pull me inside. 

➖➖➖

My eyes fluttered open as a warm of gusy of wind blew into my face, scattering wet droplets of mist dampened my cheeks.

"Bat ba lagi ang ulo ko ang nababagsak!"- the pain is killing me. It felt like my skull split in half. I looked up on a slope mountain and saw some broken branches guess I might have fell down from there.

I blink my eyes several times because of my blurry vission and I'm dizzy. There's a sound of nature whispering on through my ears. But aside from that wheres the wall of my house?

"Uh wait..." I was lost and can't utter a word. This wild forest it can only mean one thing "I'M BACK?! Is this real? I'm back? talaga bang nakabalik na ako?!" I shouted and the birds flew away from the trees.. " I'm back! Take that fake mother.. Ha. HA .HA!"

I can't find the irma haeannon from here but its okay. I'm already here. I swear I don't wanna go back.

"Yumie"-ang unang pangalan na lumabas sa bibig ko "Yumie!!" Agad na akong tumakbo at pinatabi ko ang mga sanga na nakaharang sakin. Medyo malayo ang tree house kaya tinakbo ko nalang.

I know di na sila mapakaling makita ako muli after ko silang maiwan dito. Pero namataan ko nalang ang isang sirang tree house halatadong abandon na. T--teka nandito na nga ba ako sa dimension world? o baka ibang dimension rin ito

"YUMIE!!! GUYS?! Hello....."-no respond but only. I can hear my voice bounce back to me.

Wala paring sumagot at hinanap ko sila at bigla lang akong napahinto sa aking kinatatayuan at tinaas ko ang kamay ko sa ere at napalunok ako ng wala sa oras. Ang kaba ng dibdib ko naririnig ko ang talbog nito at lalabas na sa chest ko.

"𝑄𝑢𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑢!!"-sigaw nito sakin. My body felt weak in fear [Who are you?]

Magsasalita na sana ako kaso nafroze lang ako ng mas dumarami ang mga taong nakaarmor at tinutok sakin lahat ng kanilang mga spada di rin ako makakatakas dahil may palaso rin kung tatakbo ako wala akong chansa.

"𝑄𝑢𝑖𝑠 𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑢!!"

"W---what?! Di kita maintindihan "-tangna bat kase di nalang sila magtagalog! Kahit ano pang sigaw nila di ko parin sila maintindihan.

[Who are you?!]

THIRD PERSON P●V

Ajenta woke up as she heard a footstep coming toward her. A stranger withdrew the sword, she tried to pulled her hands until her realization awoke her, Her arms and legs spread apart; Pulled up by shackles and chains.

" Take this ladie the arena is already filled with visitors"

The shackles clucked open and she fell on the floor. She tried to fight back but her hand are too weak to defend herself.

She was imprisonedin Valda. Kingdom from Etheria, a neighboring kingdom of haeannon. And she'll be fed and face the dreaded monster.

Isang napakaingay at namatao ang nakapalibot sa kanya sa battle field at naghihiyawan ang mga ito sa paglabas nya at nagkakasiyahan pa ang iba sa kanya na nakatali ang kamay at paa ng kadena. They take it off as the drum begin that made the crowd wildly cheers

"DIE!!!!!"

A strong impact suddenly hit the side of her face, unable to guard againts it. She reached to where the pain spread out and her finger met hot, sticky blood. She saw a rock about an inches away from her with her bloods on it.

And that far side of the corner the guards raised up the creaking iron gate; slowly opening. The beat of the drum makes her chest tighten in panic, the air is too thin to breath. The pungent smell of blood still lingered in the air.

A tear slipped down on her facein terror. From there it appears. Its appearance is obscure the ground shook because of its leaden body and she slowly move backward. A cracks formed on the concrete walls.

Mas lalong lumakas ang hiyawan ng madla ng magsimula. A monster standing tall. With a human skull in stucked on its horn. And its hungry for more.

She walked back slowly as their eyes met, Its eyes glowed crimson red; Pawing with the forefeet, sending dirt flying behind

Without even a warning it began to attacked her despite from its enormous size its body move fast. She had no choice but to outrun its attacked. Kahit sa masubsob sya sa lupa ay kailangan nyang tumayo at umilag nalang ulit. Wala na syang marinig kundi sa ingay ng mga naghihiyawang madla at naglilibot ang paningin. Nailipad na naman sya ng walong beses at narinig nya ang mga naiinis na madla. Hinihintay ang napaka gandang panonood ng kanyang pagkamatay.

May nahablot syang isang kalasag at nasangga nya ang napakalakas na suntok nito at di nya parin nakayanan kaya natilapon sya sa tabike. Sa lakas ng pagkatama ay di nya kinayang tumayo at agad syang binagsakan sya ng suntok sa parte ng kanyang katawan at mukha. Halos malalagutan na sya ng hininga ng patuloy parin syang pagsuntukin at hanggang sa masungadngad na sya sa lupa.

"Ano kaba lumabad ka!"-galit na sigaw ng mga manonood.

"Patayin mo nayan!!! Walang kwenta ayusin mo ang laban!!"

"Mabuti pang magpatalo kana Wala kwenta! Umayos ka"

"Ang panget ng laban nato!"

Sigaw ng mga naiinis na manonood at pinagtatapunan na sya ng bato. She crawl at napasigaw sya ng saksakin ang kanyang palad ng isang patalim.

"H--hindi pa ako handang mamatay ngayon"-nasusuka na sya ng dugo at nabigla sya ng masaksak sa likuran.

"Isa akong ohtar at hindi ako papayag na mamatay na walang kalaban laban" She whispers on herself. She stirred awake even in her weakend state.

Kaunti nalang ang tyansa nyang makatakas lalo na't wala pa syang armas o bagay na maari nyang salbahin ang sarili. Pero pumasok sa isipan nya ang mabago ng anyo na matagal na nyang di nagagawa ngayon ay nagawa na nya. Pinana nya ang halimaw sa ulo nito at mabilis naman nitong naiilagan ang mga atake nya. Pero sa bawat atake din nito sa kanya ay nakukuha niya ring gawing patas ang laban.

Napasinghap at di makapaniwala ang mga manood ng akala nilang mamatay ay bigla nalang lumakas at mas mabilis na parang kisap mata.

Di parin natatablan ng pana ang katawan ng minatour dahil sa kapal ng mga balat nito. Wala syang maisip na iba kundi tawagin ang espada ng kalayaan at bumagsak ito sa kalagitnaan ng battle field at napahinto ang minatour, Its sharp blade sound wounded its ears and rushed away, it's like rushing to save it's life.

Ajenta grabbed it proudly and creating a large crack and the place about to fell.

She smirked softly and she thrust it as like ignoring the blade plunging into its flesh, the hardness of hitting the bone and sticky warmth of blood stained on her hands. She swung her sword behind her and brought it in front of her in a whistling arc. She felt the ground shook and she carefully put back the sword to the sheaths.

Ang kaninang naghihiyawang madla ay bigla nalang namayani ang katahimikan ng bumagsak ang halimaw at sa sobrang datdat ng spada nakuha nitong mahati ang battle field at isang napakalakas na palakpakan ang kanyang narinig sa mga tao.

Ajenta sank to the ground, gasping for breathing. Everything went black. From that moment the sun was covered in darkness and the People ran home. It's like the sky speaks in anger. Thunder roaring the place. They locked themselves in their homes.

When the queen heard about the mysterious woman wondered alone on her land and the cause of the unnatural disaster. They believe that this being should be send home from where it belong. Or what else would it do to her people. And curse on their land.

She rushed together with her chancellor to the library to find the scroll, the only treasure she had..

The guards outside secured the place.

Akmang kukunin na nya ito Kasama Ang libro na may kasaysayan tungkol sa kabilang kaharian. She blows the dust away at umupo upang simulan basahin ang nakasulat.

She was stilled. There was no words for her but commanded to send the outsiders to it's home. Ligtas ang bilanggo na sakay sa karwahe. Napaga alaman niyang isang haeannonian pala ito.

Binalingan nya ng tingin ang libro pero sa halip may aninong nakamatyag sa kanya. Her chancellor was lying on the floor. May babaeng nakatayo sa taas ng balkonahe na nakitingin sa karwahe na paalis na.

"𝐽𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑐𝑖 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑐𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐 𝑠𝑢𝑟 𝑡𝑎 𝑡𝑒𝑡𝑒"

"𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝑛𝑒𝑓𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑒𝑛?! Guards seive her!!!"

The door was locked. And its only two of them inside. The girls eyes suddenly turns red and the smirked on its lips shows up;satisfied. The queen quivered in fear and run but the door and the window shuts by its own and she unsheathed her sword. Tumalsik nalang ang dugo nito at gumolong lang ang ulo ng Reyna sa sahig at masaya niyang pinulot ang kanyang matagal na minamatyag. 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑛