THIRTY-THREE

ARE YOU AN ENEMY OR ALLY?

NOTHING COULD STOP her now, and Giovanni clutched the spinner, and her golden threads suddenly went inside, causing it to glow even brighter. One of her golden keys then floats, and a light makes a book, which falls from her palm.

"What's this?"

The page suddenly turned, and she hurriedly stared at it before deciding to read it. There is even a note in there.

⸙⸙⸙

❝ Destiny doesn't happen by chance. It's a thread that draws you towards discovering your own future. Clotho's epithets are few, yet they resonate with the essence of her being. Known also as the Spinner, she is the one who begins the thread, a task both humble and monumental.❞

❝Her name, whether whispered in the halls of Olympus or uttered in the mortal realm, carries the weight of existence, a reminder of the delicate line between being and oblivion.❞

Giovanni placed her hands on her chin and began to walk, "Then this means that the Book of Fates are given to me now that I found Clotho's spinner." She remarked, slowly gulping.

Her status as the Holder of the Fates begins here. She now needs to find Henry in order to prevent his death. Also, avoid the fight as much as possible.

They all raced towards Henry and are now pointing their rifles at him. Henry didn't move, and suddenly darkness surrounded him. "Are you sure about that?" He was going to flick his finger when Conleth adjusted his gloves and grabbed his arms up, glaring at him.

"I told you to be a good boy."

"No," Henry grinned, "I'm a bad boy, you know."

"Hindi mo siya maaalis sa 'min, 'no!"

Tumingin-tingin si Henry sa paligid at tila pinag-iisipang mabuti kung paano makakatakas sa kulungan na 'to. Kailangan niyang makaalis dito sa lalong madaling panahon.

His threads are already acting up. At kailangan niyang malaman kung nasaan si Giovanni para mabago ang kapalaran.

"Because the guy is dangerous. At tutal, magkakaharap na rin tayo, ngayon sabihin niyo na sa 'min ang totoo. Is he a threat or an ally!? Respond to us!"Sumigaw ang mga pulis at bumunot ng kanilang mga armas at handang atakihin siya sa anumang paraan.

"Tch," He hissed.

Henry moved slightly and bit his lip. If what he has seen in those pages is real, he must obtain the Book of Fates no matter what. Giovanni made him see the truth about what was going to happen to the war kaya isa lang ang magagawa niya ngayon at 'yon ang harapin niya ang lahat para sa kanya. Para sa kanyang kaligtasan.

Kailangan lang niya ng sapat na oras para makaalis dito. It would be so much easier if he had his Book of Fates pero sa dami ng pulis ngayon, mukhang malabo na siyang makaabot pa sa Phanteon Academy at this point.

Kung siya ang tatanungin, gusto niyang bugbugin ang mga pulis, dahil sa sinasayang nila ang kanyang oras sa kalokohang 'to. Well, he's not particularly considerate to begin with. He doesn't pretend to be kind, either. You might say he's quite twisted.

And no one could have ever escaped his gaze, especially since he notices everything—as if he reads you like an X-ray. You can try to hide, but no one can avoid his judgment. At the very least, before you can trick him, you'll be the one falling into his hands. You may call him a master manipulator.

"They won't stop till you're back in the prison. Alam naman nilang kailangan kita ibalik do'n sa Phanteon Academy just as the Headmistress said so." Ginulo na lamang ni Conleth ang kanyang buhok and he just sighed.

"Move—"

Agad niyang tinabi si Conleth sa paligid niya at hinarap ang mga pulis. 'Di na niya inisip ang dami nila at maaring mangyari sa kanya then he started to walk. May kakaibang bagay na nangyari sa paligid niya habang papalapit siya sa mga pulis.

The surroundings became increasingly ominous, and his dominating walks began to worry them. Bukod pa rito, halos paiyak na ang mga ito nang itutok nila ang baril nila kay Henry.

"I'm trying to guess because of the deal I made with the Archduchess, or perhaps you're playing a game. I wasn't sure if you were acting as a puppet to the scientist so that you could keep me here with the Titans," he said, grinning frighteningly. "Sadly, though, I've figured it out."

They trembled and were unable to move. You could see Henry looking at them darkly enough for them to notice their differences with this man. He could just kill them if he chose to.

"Stop!"They shouted and pointed the gun at him, "Stay where you are!"

"What if I don't?"he asked.

"We have no choice but to kill you."

Hindi man nila sabihin, sigurado si Henry sa iniisip nila tungkol sa isang tulad niya. They see him as a threat. At 'di siya makapagdesisyon na alam niyang pagsisisihan niya sa huli. Alam niyang sarado pa rin ang mga puso nila dahil sa ginawa niya noon at 'di na bago 'yon o dahil matagal nang nagtatalo ang dalawang nation ng Rusvil at Mudned.

But everything's falling into place. That is what he hoped. For allowing himself to be baited into this imprisonment, as Hades had planned. He absolutely assumed Henry would follow his intentions, but his real strategy begins here.

Now that they're preoccupied with getting him imprisoned, he needs to show them that he's not the enemy compared to the previous Fate. Ngayon pa ba siya magrereklamo?

☫✠_____♆_____✡♆

AFTER HIS HOME was shattered into pieces due to the result of the war at sa lahat ng paghihirap na pinagdaanan niya, walang-wala 'to kumpara sa patong-patong na masasakit na alaalang naranasan niya.

'Kung patuloy silang naniniwala na wala akong puso at wala akong pake then it would be even more difficult for me to deal with the Fates than it is now.' That was all Henry could think of in this situation. He wanted to know who he could trust before assisting them.

It's not that he's a cruel guy; what's wrong with deciding to protect yourself from people who want to take advantage of you?

"He's an ally!"

The police's trembling has stopped. Henry was astonished when a girl with a bun suddenly ran after him, and it looks that it was Courtney. Napahinto siya nang makita niya ang kanyang kaibigan na matagal na niyang 'di nakikita. Ibig sabihin, nalampasan nilang tatlo ang insidenteng naiwan niya sa First Domain? Nandito rin siya bilang Teras, 'di' ba? 

Isn't it more intriguing now? Henry smirked even more and rested his hands on his pocket.

Courtney simply glanced at him and stared at him sincerely at tsaka niya hinaltak niya yung damit nito, "Marami kang dapat ipaliwanag sa 'kin, tukmol ka. You knew something about my stolen memories. You jerk." 

Napahawak si Henry sa pisngi niya and giving his best friend the most aggravated smile he could muster, "Ah, is that true?" 

"Tumigil ka na nga sa pagpapanggap mo! Alam ko na ang lahat! Kailangan mo talaga kaming gamitin para maisakatuparan namin ang plano mo, ha!?" 

Courtney put her hands on her waist and now bursting out with all of her irritation, "Tinatarantado mo talaga akong hayop ka!" 

Napahawak lang siya sa kanyang ulo, "Never mind about that. Sa sandaling magkaharap na tayo sa underworld, tatanungin kita kasama si Hades. I intend to meet with him about this topic." 

"Yeah, we really need to do something about the police who want to keep me in here." Sagot na lang ni Henry sa kanya

All Henry could have done at this point was smile at her. Courtney has always been quick witted; you could always find her alone in the library reading a lot of books or preferring herself in a place where she could read on her own. They'd been best friends for a long time, so he was confident that entrusting the case to her would work out.

He often sees her being insulted and bullied by everyone around her, but she never lets it bother her. You may say that she is someone to whom he can relate in some ways. And he respects her. Because, no matter how they looked down on her, she would always fight for what was right and refused to be labeled as a weak person.

So, this is a gamble. He needs to convince them that he didn't come here as an enemy, thus he will need Courtney's help to make this happen.

It's now or never.

"Courtney, alam kong marami ka pang tanong tungkol sa katotohanang gusto mong ibunyag, pero may gusto sana akong pakiusap sa 'yo bilang kaibigan."Lumapit si Henry sa kanya and tapped her shoulders.

Nagulat si Courtney nang makita niyang nagkakaganyan siya. He wasn't that desperate when he let those bastards in First Domain use him as a slave.

Kaya kumunot na lang ang noo niya and she instantly crosses her arms at him. Parehong parang may hinahabol siya at hindi malaman ni Courtney kung ano 'yon.

Dahil ba kay Giovanni?

Courtney can only sigh; she might criticize him for being an ass, but this is not the time for that. So she had to help him up and make sure police don't touch him. So she pulled out her revolver and looked up at Henry, "So, what am I going to do?" 

He had never seen his eyes so earnest about something. And she knows what kind of eyes those are. His dedication as a Phanteon Academy soldier. And as someone who was contracted by the Archduchess to stop the Fates.

"Then, make sure you persuade them that I'm not an enemy." Agad niyang tinuro ang mga pulis na agad namang nagpanic sa takot ng magtama ang mga mata nila.

"You idiot," Courtney grumbled, "That would just make them regard you as a threat. Will you move? I will handle this straight away." 

From this point on, Courtney will have to do everything he can to persuade them that Henry, despite his origins, could be the possible hope they seek.