CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 6

I stretched my shoulders to ease the numb I am feeling. I looked around and grimaced when I noticed how messy his room was.

I stand up and smiled when I felt I no longer feel the pain in my wounds. Well, It's been 6 days since I was beaten to death.

I walk towards the window to shove the curtain to the left. It's already 7 am in the morning, and it means I have to wake up that dummy. We still have a long day to go.

Just when I finished my business with the curtain which was already full of dusk, the light reflected towards the window and the dust that has been removed from the curtain dance with the light enticingly.

I coughed when I enhaled some of the dust and covered my nose afterwards. I looked below to notice the doppelgangers staring but not doing anything. They can't reach the place where I am because of two things, (1) the house is full of traps that won't get us killed but the people or doppelgangers to be exact who will want to enter will be killed in a minute, and (2) because his safe house was directly hit by the sunlight which they were afraid to touch.

Asta explained before that it was because they were part of the darkness. Light is their weakness but they aren't that vulnerable in it. It will hinder their capability to see but won't let them get killed.

Being blind temporarily and entering a house full of traps is a suicide.

I sighed and smirked before walking towards Asta's position who was sleeping soundlessly even if the light's directly hitting his face.

"Asta! Wake up!" I shouted and pinched his ears  strongly. I'm lucky that I was the one who wake up first or else I'll be the one writhing in pain right now.

I chuckled when he woke up shouting in pain and there are red taint in his ears.

"Rise and shine dummy!" I exclaimed and smiled cheerfully which he returned with a glare.

"Screw you Mei-Mei," he growled and stand up and did stretching before walking outside the room.

I frowned when I heard what he called me and followed him afterwards.

"Dummy! I want something nice and fluffy for breakfast!" I shouted as I ran after him. Seriously, even though I have long legs, I still can't catch up with him.

"Aish," I heard him grumbled in disagreement but I know he will cook what I just said.

I remember someone like him, the person who can't refuse a plea. Oh, how much I missed those girls.

"Eat a lot, we have to clean another lot today, you need to have high stamina, you are still lacking," ani nito habang sunod sunod ang subo sa fried rice nito.

Napasimangot ako at saka tumango bago nagsimulang kumain ng marami.

"On second thought, Just stay here and rest," he added and smirked.

Him as my trainer? Hellish. Two days after I healed, he immediately summoned me to one of the dangerous places though he said it wasn't that dangerous, and I'll survive. Hah! Barely.

(FLASHBACK)

Tuloy tuloy lang ang lakad ko habang patingin tingin sa paligid. I tightened my grip on the two knife he gaved me while I focus my attention on the surroundings.

He told me to be alert, and no, I'm not sure if I'm succeeding. Hindi ako makapag pokus ng maayos dahil narin sa kabang nararamdaman ko.

I can feel my palms being sweaty and the cold sweat that kept running in my forehead doesn't help at all. My eyes are getting giddier and I can feel my knees wobbling like the only thing they can do right now is to walk.

I halted when Asta stopped walking. I bump on his broad back and winced in the sudden impact.

I looked over his shoulder and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the reason why he stop.

Hell, there's a large amount of people coming to our side. Just like the last time I saw them, they are still in their normal clothes, some of then were even in a proper attire and some were wearing normal clothes but they have weapons on their hands.

By weapons means, baseball bats, clubs, paddles, some cooking tools, gardening tools and more that I can't name.

I swallowed my saliva as I felt the tension that continue to rise. I looked over Asta but what shocked me was the look in his face.

It wasn't the look of someone in despair, It wasn't the look of someone who is in danger. He's smiling while looking back at the doppelgangers. He smiled like he wasn't the prey, he smiled like he's the predator who saw his preys and was ready to lunge his attack.

And yes, he's ready. His katanas was already out on it's scabbards and was waiting for the right moment to attack.

I step back when I noticed how different he was from someone I knew. I stopped stepping when he looked at me, there's a flicker of emotion in his eyes, the hunger... There's a hunger to kill, to lavish...

Masyadong malalim ang pagtingin nito na hindi ko maiwasang pagtayuan ng buhok, especially at my nape. His stare sent chills down to my bones.

"Remember our deal, if you manage to deal with at least ten of them, I'll allow you to boss me around for a day, and if you won't, I'll make sure you'll writhe in pain,"  he reminded with his bloodshot eyes. I gulped and nodded quickly as I tighten my grip on the knife's handle.

Ten? As if I can do that?!  I can't even kill a single fly, how can I kill a man?

But... This is a life and death situation... If I won't be the one to kill, they'll be the one to kill me.

Isa pa, masyadong mataas ang pride ko para tumanggi sa deal. Never did I let someone degrade me, especially a guy!

Besides, I'm a changed woman now, just kidding.

I heave a sighed and closed my eyes tightly for better concentration.

Calm down, strategise and fight.

Fight to survive. Fight to survive, Joy and kill when it's your last resort to stay alive.

As I open my eyes, I erased all the worries and uneasiness in my face. I focused on my target. The weaker ones that weren't holding dangerous weapons. That's my target.

I looked at Asta who was surprisingly looking at me too, a smile of encouragement was plastered in his mouth and excitement on his eyes.

And then as we break our eye contact, we run together in different direction, trying to divide the quantity of enemies into two.

Maybe I'm lucky or maybe, they're underestimating me that's why only the people who I think was weak, run towards my direction.

Nang medyo makalayo layo at makapunta sa isang open area where the light shines openly, I sighed deeply and hide my knifes in my bag's sidepocket and get the baseball bat that was covered in wire and nails that Asta created.

I'm hella sure this will damaged someone's face, covered in blood and absolutely disfigured. I'm sorry in advance.

A woman in mid twenties sway her club towards my direction which I hardly invaded due to surprise. Because of that, my reflexes acted on its own and I hardly smash my baseball bat in her direction that directly hit her face.

I winced when I felt the vibration of the impact in my hand. Damn, it was surely strong.

One think I am proud of was having large amount of strength in my arms that's why I'm confident in my smashing.

I'm a former volleyball varsity player wayback college and was given the position of a spiker.

Naturally, I am able to control my strength but it gets out of hand if I'm surprised, the reason why the woman who attacked me was now in the floor, her face covered in blood and just like what I concluded, her face was already disfigured.

There were bloods left on my baseball bat and the blood continue to drop on the floor.

One down, Nine to go.

Tila hudyat iyon nang sabay sabay na pagsugod ng natitira.

I know I'm being redundant but I can't help but to shrieked in horror whenever I see their facial expressions.

Its like their wicked smile and their dilated eyes never failed to send shivers to my spine. They are constantly getting creepier than usual, and aggressive than before.

Sunod sunod lang ang pagiwas ko sa bawat atake ng tatlong sumugod sa akin. Two boys whose I think was around fifties and a middle-aged woman. They lunged their ordinary baseball bat on me which I now easily invaded as my body began to cope up with their attacks.

Parang may sariling utak ang kamay ko kapag inihahampas ko ito sa direksyon ng kalaban who always ended up lying in the floor after being hit once.

The only problem with me was, closing my eyes after attacking.

"Fucking hell!" I shouted in pain when they successfully hit my lower abdomen that made me kneel on the floor as I clutch my stomach.

Sunod nito ay ang pagpalo sa likuran ko na naging sanhi ng pagdausdos ko sa sahig.

Hindi ko namalayang napalayo na sa akin ang baseball bat. Patuloy sila sa paghampas sa likod ko which really hurts me the most. Napipigilan lang panandalian ang impact nito dahil sa bagpack ko pero hindi ibig sabihin noon ay hindi ko nararamdaman ang intensidad ng paghampas ng mga ito sa aking likod.

Tuluyan na akong napalibutan and my sight started to get blurry as I vomit some bloods because of the pain. Nakayuko lang ako at pinoprotektahan ang ulo ko sa hampas ng mga ito.

My body starts to feel numb like it was being used to the pain that was constantly hitting me right now and I can't think straight as of the moment because of the slight dizziness I am feeling.

Hindi pa gaanong magaling ang sugat sa nga katawan ko at mukhang nadadagdagan na naman.

No... Asta has his own battle to fight that's why I can't ask for his help right now. Which means I need to fight this battle alone.

And if I can't survive right now, How will my friends feel? I always keep my promises.

And the situation I am in right now, is a situation who doesn't give you heartwarming choices.

It's to kill or to die.

I closed my eyes when I decided what to do. No way in hell that I'm getting killed here!

Sabay kong binunot ang kutsilyong nasa magkabilang bulsa ng bag ko at saka iwinasiwas ito sa mababang parte ng katawan nila.

It's not just six feet but ten. That means five people were ganging up on me.

I made sure I made a deep cut on their feet and targeted their knees as I sliced it circularly twice to make sure I'll hinder their capability to walk.

Sabay sabay na napatumba ang lima pero walang emosyong nakaluhod lang sa sahig, may kakaibang ngiti sa kanilang labi pero walang bakas ng pananakit sa ginawa ko sa kanila.

Kahit nahihilo ay sinubukan kong tumayo at dahil napapalibutan pa ako ng mga ito ay wala akong magagawa kung hindi lumaban.

Pikit mata kong isinaksak sa ulo ng dalawang nasa harapan ko ang mga kutsilyong hawak ko bago dumilat at isinunod ang nasa gilid. Rinig ko pa ang sabay na pagbagsak ng katawan ng nauna kong bitakma.

Their blood splattered towards my face everytime I pull my knife out of their heads. I also need to use large amount of strength so I can push the knife to their heads easily which is hard since I can feel my hands getting numb to the pain, inside and out.

Sa panglima at huling taong nakapalibot sa akin ay hindi ko na nakayang bunutin ito at napaupo nalang sa sahig habang patuloy ang pagagos ng dugo na nanggagaling sa ulo ng mga ito.

I looked at my hands that were shaking continuously. Para akong ibang tao. I can feel the sticky feeling made by the blood and saw the bright red color of the blood that didn't just cover my hands but also the knife that I used and the clothes I am wearing.

Napatingin ako sa limang taong binawian ko ng buhay. Napasigaw ako sa takot nang makitang nakaanggulo ang mukha ng mga ito sa direksyon na makikita ko habang may pareparehong ngiti sa labi.

"Asta!" I shouted his name as loud as I can as I felt the streams of tears in my cheeks. I wipe it with my hand but regret it later when I realized that my hands were full of bloods.

"It's creepy right?"  He startled me and began to shove my body on his back. Hindi na ako naginarte at hinayaan ang sariling pumasan sa likod nito.

He too, was covered in blood but there wasn't  crucial wounds in his body unlike mine who was close into dying though there are visible bruise in his face, it's not that serious.

"Damn you," I whispered in a weak voice as I try to stop myself from being unconscious.

"You badly need a training, but good job for a first timer though," he replied and chuckled before adjusting his carrying on me.

Isinandal ko ang ulo ko sa balikat nito at napatawa.

"I thought I'm gonna die," I weakly admitted, admitting my lose on our deal.

He nodded so I smacked his head in annoyance. Opo, may natitira pa akong lakas.

"Ouch! I'll get back at you later, tsk!" He grunted iritatedly and walk faster.

I laughed and pinched his cheeks one last time before letting myself succumb to oblivion.

That happened 2 days ago and as you can see now, after being chased for death in 3 days, I won our bet. I killed more than on our bet, yes I'm not used to it until now but I'm getting there.

Today was my sixth day of being with Asta and I've been fighting with him outside for 3 days. It wasn't enough as experience but it made me stronger.

Sa loob ng tatlong araw na pakikipaghabulan ko kay kamatayan ay ang mga oras rin na nangongolekta ako ng resources na kakasiya sa aming sampo.

Kamusta na sila? Wala akong ideya. I am not restless with their situation even though their location was marked as the dangerous place. Kampante ako sa security level ng bahay namin, at isa pa, ang mga lugar na pinupuntahan namin ni Asta ay mga lugar na pwede naming daanan after making it mark as safe places.

It's hitting three birds in a stone. (1) to train my body, (2) to gather resources and (3) to return safe and sound.

"I'm going out to patrol. Stay here and ready our things. I know you're worned out so go and rest. Save energy for tomorrow," aniya saka tumayo at kinuha ang dalawang katana niting kakatapos ko lang hasain kanina.

"Take care," I replied and continue to eat while my mind wander towards somewhere.

He hummed and sip on his coffee one last time before walking towards the door. Narinig ko ang pagsara ng pinto pero hindi ko ito pinansin at mabilis na tinapos ang pagkain.

After washing the dishes, I returned towards his room because it was the only room available. Basically, we've been sharing one room for six days now which isn't a big deal. Most of the time, I'm asleep because of tiredness or he's busy plotting and planning.

It's like I met a second version of myself, but stronger and wiser.

I took a quick shower and lay on the bed afterwards. I can feel my body being excited like it knew where she's going tomorrow. I also can't stop thinking about it, the reason why I woke up early. I'm nervous, yet it didn't help me to stay awake. I drifted to sleep as I dreamt about nothing in particular.

MEANWHILE in a place where we all don't know, lies the weak and tortured Chris.

Lashes after lashes kept coming towards her direction, for how long? She already lost count.

The only thing that gets her sanity was because of the trust that she has on her friends.

"How long will you stay mute? Cry! Cry in despair! Damn bitch!" The old lady exclaimed in anger as she kept beating Chris who won't react on her wishes.

"N-Never," she asnwered weakly. It was the first time that Chris talked again after how many days of being beaten.

"H-Heh... Then I will have fun beating you. Remember, your friends treated as a trash and I took you. Your friends dump you already, because you betrayed them. Heh," then she continue to give her lashes that only Chris could do was to grunt in pain but never once did the old lady get the satisfaction to make her cry.

Nang magsawa ang babae sa kakalatigo sa kaniya ay naiinis itong naglakad palayo at iniwan ang babaeng nababalot sa sariling dugo.

"Pour her acid, alcohol or anything that will make her shout in pain. I don't care, just don't let her die. I'll kill you, understand?" She demanded towards someone who was still in the dark.

Chris attention wasn't on them but on herself, on her emotional status. She's almost there, she'll break down. She can feel it, but they wont let her.

She knew her friends won't let her to succumb to darkness and that's what kept her in light. That's what keeping her fighting.

Pero hanggang kailan? Hanggang kailan niya kakayaning lumaban?

"Don't. Get out of here, I'll take care of her," malamig na saad ng pamilyar na boses.

Imbis na iangat ng babae ang ulo ay nanatili itong nakayuko habang pinagmamasdan ang nagdurugong katawan.

She doesn't feel the pain anymore. She's numb, she's physically numb after being hit numerous times that she lost count of it. She will just stare at the blood dripping from her body but she won't react to the pain.

It was like her brain was doing it to shutdown the pain she's feeling outside because she's already in pain inside.

Napaawang ang labi nito nang makita ang unti unting pag galing ng sugat sa katawan niya. Butas butas na ang damit nito dahil hindi lang naman latigo ang pinaparusa sa kaniya ng matandang gurang, iba iba ang ipinapalo nito araw araw na hindi niya na matandaan ang itsura.

She turned her head upwards and looked at the familiar face.

Who is he? Bakit pamilyar ang pagmumukha nito?

Nakatingin rin ang lalaki sa kaniya habang parehas na nakataas ang kamay nito habang may red and dark circle na nasa palad nito that was directly hitting her wounds.

The look in his eyes wasn't pity, he wasn't pitying over her but there's a flicker of worry in his eyes.

His eyes are familiar, like she saw it before but who is he? Why does she felt that this guy has a big reason why she was in this situation.

Ni hindi niya nga maalala ang dahilan kung bakit siya patuloy na sinasaktan ng matanda. Ang natatandaan niya lang ay ang huling memorya niya sa mga kaibigan ngunit wala na siyang maalalang iba.

Bukod sa hindi niya malala kung sino ang mga ito ay ang pagtataka niya rin kung nasaan siya.

The only thing she remembered was her saying how she trust her bestfriend and nothing more.

"I'm sorry..." The guy mouthed and again, he vanished infront of her.

Then another guy appeared. He brought a flask that has greeny something inside. There's also an injection beside it.

WALA na akong lakas para tumanggi noong hinawakan nito ang braso ko. Wala na akong lakas para magpumiglas.

And as he started to inject the green substance in my pulse, I felt myself drifting into oblivion.

Then a flashed of memories with them scattered in my mind.

It was us during our high school days, it was just the four of us and then two transferries become our friend.

But before that memory finished, I already felt like something was vanishing, it was me.

What was I thinking again?

That, I don't have answers.

****

No update tomorrow! Busy po ako Tom. Try ko sa Thursday. Thank you! 💛