CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

MALULUTONG na mura ang namutawi sa bibig ng tatlong Hari. Isa isa nila kaming nilapitan matapos malaman na narito ang mga taga Primeval Union.

"The Admirals were the ones leading the operation," untag ni Amadeus.

Nilingon naman agad ako ni Stavros.

"Cleo, listen. This is for the best... for now. You have to hide. Haji will help you to get away from this ship and from there, my Jack of Spade will help you to hide. His name is Clevan." Pagbibigay ni Stavros ng instruksyon.

"P-Pero paano k-kayo?" Kinakabahan kong tanong sa kanila.

I'm not dumb not to realize that they're useless without the relics. They may have warriors in possession but if Primeval Union wanted them to be out of the picture, they can definitely do that.

Hinawakan ng dalawa nitong palad ang magkabilang pisngi ko at mariin akong kinintalan ng isang mahabang halik. "I'm not going to die. I won't let you leave me this time. Be safe, I'll find you after this. Promise me that you won't do something reckless."

Tanging tango nalang ang naibigay ko sa kanya. Sana nga, 'di sila mapahamak. They will fight them for me. It was like my foster parents had said...

"You need to find the Kings. They can help to protect you. They can help you to know who you really are. Just tell them that you are the Code of Vortex"

"You better not die, Nicodemus. Ako ang papatay sa'yo gago ka." Naiiyak na wika ni Savannah habang natawa naman ng bahagya si Nicodemus sa banta nito. Hinalikan rin ng binata si Savannah na malugod na tinanggap ng dalaga.

"Sigurado kang 'di mo kailangan ng tulong ko? I c-can... help." Rinig ko namang anas ni Thyra habang nahihiyang magsalita kay Amadeus habang may binibigay rito ang binata.

"No need. I own the Seas and Oceans, Lieutenant. They're useless on my domain." Amadeus replied while he's putting a cloth on Thyra's wound on her ankle.

Nang makatayo si Amadeus ay nagulat ito nang mabilis na binigyan ni Thyra ng halik ang binata. Natulala pa si Amadeus sa ginawa nito. Thyra on the other hand, managed to focus herself assembling her gun.

"Jusko, just like Kassian's part of the plan! Giving motivation to the Kings to fight! Damn you, Kassian! You're now the living cupid, you, dork ass! You should have been the Jack of Hearts!" Rinig naming ungot ni Haji habang hindi makapaniwala sa mga napanuod. "So, Ladies? Shall we? Nag-enjoy tayo sa halik? C'mon, let's go!"

Mabilis kaming kumaripas ng takbo. Hindi ko napigilan ang hindi mapalingon sa likod habang ako'y tumatakbo. I unconsciously held my lips and remembered the kiss Stavros gave.

There's... something strange about his kiss. It was like so... familiar to me.

"Cleo! Come on! Faster!" sigaw ni Savannah nang mapansin nitong bumagal ang aking takbo. Napapitlag naman ako no'n at muling tumakbo ng mabilis.

Napansin ko namang may inaabot si Thyra sa'kin.

"Suotin mo 'yan para matakpan ang kaliwang mata mo. Baka mas lalo ka nilang makilala. Masyadong kapansin pansin 'yan at baka madali nilang makilala ka as the Android." Mabilis kong inabot ang kapiranggot na tela na inabot n'ya. I immediately wore it and I feel like... I feel like a pirate.

We all gasped when an armed man blocked our way. He's too massive. He was like a bouncer in a bar where Thyra managed. He's wearing a masked helmet to cover his face.

"He's wearing an improvised with a high sensory precision helmet. Be careful." Thyra warned,

"Please translate, Thyra." Savannah hissed while she prepared her fighting stance just in case that this man would attack.

Si Haji ang sumagot. "In short, he wears something that can scan anything that reaches his vision. A perfect device to look for..." Haji didn't manage to finish his sentence when a laser from the man's helmet touched my chest. I followed the light and it's really pointing at me.

"Found the Android. East side of the—" the man was not able to finish his sentence when Savannah charged an attack, but her attack has been dodged easily by his arm in which being protected by a big metal and robotic gauntlet.

"Sav!" I screamed as I followed her to help. Sav's coughing hard and I must really say that was a really strong punch.

I heard Thyra attacked next. She grabbed a long metal tube and started attacking the armored man. Haji did the same. They're both attacking the man and trying to halt his team to follow him here.

"Are you okay?" I asked Sav with worry plastered on my tone.

Savannah pushed me lightly and looked at me straightly. "You must go! Run, Cleo!" I shook my head spontaneously, disagreeing with her idea. I couldn't leave them here.

"I w-won't!" I replied.

Our attention has been drifted to Haji and Thyra. Haji was now on top of the intruder. He's holding a part where we could see a flesh of the man behind the armor. "All of you! Run to the nearest jet skis and go straight in a submarine twenty miles from here. You'll see a red flag once my team saw you."

Thyra approached both of us, she's helping me with Savannah to get up. We all looked at Haji who's in pain because the armored man was fighting back.

"Go!" he shouted.

"Mag-ingat ka!" Thyra said while we were all running. When Savannah finally felt fine, our phase became faster. Savannah and Thyra were fighting those who are blocking our way. I couldn't do anything but to scream in horror and fear because of their moves and consequently, I felt like I'm being a burden to them.

"I never thought that Primeval Union has become more... robotic, this time." Thyra commented while we continued our run towards the Jet skis, Haji was talking about.

"We'll talk about that later, girl. I couldn't concentrate..." then Savannah launched a powerful strike using a metal bar on an armored warrior. "... dismissing them."

They never let me touched by any one of them. This two worked in sync as if they've already fought together and honestly, I'm really amazed and at the same time, I felt so useless because they can fight on their own while I'm not.

I should fight.

We finally found the Jet skis. Thyra and Savannah immediately jumped on it. I gulped when the height was quite high for me to jump. Fear immediately enshrouded my being.

I squealed when someone grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back away from Thyra and Savannah.

"Cleo!" Both girls yelled my name but immediately responded. Thyra was able to find a big chain near from their Skis and rotated it around in the air and released it on the man who's dragging me. The chain lock on the armored man's neck. Thyra gripped it hard and I heard the man behind the armored helmet groaned. My kidnapper immediately held the chain and I saw Thyra glared.

"Savannah!" Thyra called her and as if on cue, Sav jumped right away and landed on the chain. I was quite astounded when Savannah really did run on top of the metal chain coming right at me. Still shocked from her move, Savannah was able to hit my kidnapper's head then fought back those who were still coming.

"Tumalon ka na, Cleo? Ano hinihintay mo? Himala? Jump for damn sake!" Savannah shouted at me but my jitters came back and I trembled in fear. I heard Savannah's impatient groan before I realized that she pushed me to jump.

"Oh my god!" I gasped as I thought I'm going to die. I know I'm not going to land perfectly on my designated Jetski but Thyra came to the rescue. She immediately used the chain to tie my waist up and she pulled me right exactly on the seat area of the Jet Ski.

"Rev it up, girl!" I heard Savannah screamed and both of them were now on the sea, maneuvering the Ski.

Okay, Cleo? This should be a piece of cake. This won't be a reason for another burden-added shit you have to make them rescue you.

I don't know what happened when I realized my other eye was now scanning how to maneuver this.

"Make it faster, Cleo!" Thyra shouted.

I hissed because of frustration.

Bahala na!

I revved it up and I was shocked when it moved drastically.

"Uh, guys? Bilisan n'yo pa, mukhang papaulanan nila tayo ng bala!" Thyra warned us that made me gawked. Seriously? Are they going to kill us on the spot?

"Just dodge it!" Savannah replied and that's what we did. Every time they fire up, we are dodging it by maneuvering our Skis either left or right. It's pretty hard, especially if you couldn't estimate where would the bombs and bullets go.

"Oh shit!" my head turned right away to Savannah when her Jet Ski suddenly stopped. My eye widens when I saw a bullet coming at her. I didn't hesitate to go back to help.

"Sav! Jump on my Ski!" I instructed her while I'm almost there. When she jumped and landed perfectly at my back, I immediately revved up my Ski adjacent away the target area. The bomb exploded on Sav's Jetski.

"Palitan mo 'ko rito, Sav." Utos ko sa kanya, even though she's completely clueless from what I was about to do, Sav grabbed it as soon as I released myself from the steer.

"Ano'ng gagawin mo?" she asked but I'm busy concentrating to balance myself.

"Just drive. The submarine is almost there." I replied.

"Paano mo nalaman?" Sav asked confusingly.

I just know. I muttered to myself even though I have a clearer answer to that. My eye drifted on my right hand where the bluish Diamond Insignia was shining.

It will allow you to use my power to control the Seas and Oceans.

That's what Antanaklasi had said when he vested me his gift. Maybe that's the reason why my mind was now thinking in an incredible speed. I felt like, I'm now invincible in the water because of the Relic of Diamonds.

"Hold on tight, this would be very... wave-ish," I told them both.

I faced my right palm on the water. I closed my eyes, and breathe deeply. I felt a surge of power raised within me. It's boiling inside me and it wanted to be released. When I felt another batch of bullets approaching us, I released the power with such speed and precision.

Multiple water explosions happened after that. It blasted the bullets in the air. But I'm not yet done. I can feel my body was becoming heavier but I know that I can still do more. I have to help the Kings somehow using this. I looked at Thyra. We both seemed to agree with one thing that I was planning. She gave me a nod.

I breathe deeply again. This time, I doubled the concentration because I need to make this... massive. When I thought I've already accumulated enough surge, I released it. When I opened my eye, I didn't expect that I was able to create a thirty feet tall wave—more like a Tsunami. I blasted it directly on the ship so it can wipe out even the helicopters approaching us.

I almost fell in the sea but I felt Thyra was able to catch me. The last thing that I saw? A red flag floating ahead of us.

* * *

The Doors of Vasíleio shall be ripped by the eye of the beholder. Protect the open eye so no one could steal the power of the owner. I shall vest you this wisdom, Augur.

Antanaklasi's incoherent words unconsciously repeating on my mind. I'm sure that it's a warning, na kailangan kong mag-ingat. I just can't figure it out what for.

I know that I'm dreaming. Nakakatakot lang dahil kahit alam ko ay hindi ko ito makontrol para ako'y magising. It was like something stopping me to be awake.

Augur Cleo.

Napapitlag ako nang may boses na tumawag sa'kin. My eyes opened instantly and my reflection surprised me. Kaharap ko ay tubig. Tubig na umaagos pababa at nakikita ko ang repleksyon ko roon.

May kung anong liwanag ang biglang umilaw sa aking dibdib. A golden light that reflects my left eye. Napaatras naman ako nang ang aking repleksyon ay nagsalita na waring kinakausap ako.

Alaala ng kahapon, ituwid at ipaalala sa panahong puso'y naghikaos.

Pagmamahal na s'yang dahilan ng digmaan, ipinanganak ang budhi na tatapos sa kasaysayan

Nalukot ang mukha ko sa pagtataka. Ano'ng ibig niyang sabihin?

Sa muling pagkagising, buhay ang s'yang kapalit.

Dilim sa langit, wakasan ng sakripisyong sa mga Hari'y magiging pasakit.

Muling pinakita ng repleksyon ko ang mga susing gamit ng mga Hari. Ang apat na Relics ay umiikot sa'kin habang ang mga mata ko'y may bahid ng ilaw na siyang nagbibigkis sa apat na susi.

Sa pagkabuo ng mga susi, isang batang sanggol ang ipinakita niya sa'kin. Batang may markang hugis Joker sa leeg, iyak nito'y nagpatahimik sa gulong nangyayari.

Matapos ang mga susi at sanggol, sunod na pinakita nito ang mga anino. Mga aninong nakapalibot sa batang may kaparehang marka ng Joker sa leeg. Ang bata'y biglang nagbago. Nandilim ang mga mata'y liwanag naglaho.

Mga karununga'y pakatandaan
Pagdugtungin, sagot sa katanungan
Ikaw ang natatanging Gabay,
Kumpletuhin mga susi, tapusin yaring buhay.

Matapos niyon ay ramdam ko na bigla akong hinila palayo sa senaryo. Hindi ito panaginip. Ito ang isa pang pangitain na gusto sa'kin ay iparating...

"Cleo? Cleo! Wake up!" I gasped hard when I woke up. Agad na nakita ko si Savannah sa aking gilid habang hinihimas ang aking likod na puno ng pawis.

Bakas naman kay Thyra ang pag-aalala habang hawak pa nito ang ilang screw driver na tila galing sa pagbutingting ng aking katawan.

"What happened?" I asked when I'm finally breathing normally.

"What happened? Seriously? Hindi ka lang naman huminga kanina ng ilang minuto, bruha ka!" Savannah replied then she hit my arm before she finally hugged me tightly.

I gazed my sight at Thyra to ask if that's true but she just nodded at me.

"W-Well, at least, I'm alive?" I only replied, whispering.

"Kinailangan kong buksan ka dahil mukhang naapektuhan yung Medalyon sa dibdib sa ginawa mo kanina." Paliwanag ni Thyra sa akin. "Since it's your source of life, na-stretch masyado iyon at nagresulta sa pagkasira ng water resistance ng ilang parts mo. Huwag kang mag-aalala, nagawan ko naman ng paraan."

Tipid na ngiti ang ibinigay ko sa kanya and I uttered my thanks to her. I'm really grateful that she's here with me. At least may tumitingin sa kalagayan ng katawan kong hindi akin.

I scanned the room where we at. It's too small and incommodious. T'was like a small comfort room but it has a bed with a simple bed sheet and a thin blanket.

"Are we...?"

Thyra and Savannah both nodded.

"It's the submarine, Haji, was talking about a while ago," Savannah said.

"How long did I... sleep?" I asked them.

"Ah, not long enough, mga one-week lang naman," Savannah replied and shrugging at me.

My eyes went wide, "Are you serious?!" I exclaimed.

"Naniwala ka naman kaagad," Thyra uttered. "Mga isang taon lang naman."

"Hala 'di nga?!" I'm quite being hysterical here, guys!

Thyra and Sav giggled when they saw my reaction. I glared at them right away when I realized that they're toying me.

"Ang OA mo, girl." Savannah commented. "Pinapagaan lang namin ang mood mo, kaso pati 'ata ang joke at sarcasm hindi mo na alam."

"Mga isang oras ka lang nakatulog magmula nang gawin mo yung..." Savannah finished the sentence of Thyra.

"... paglalaro ng Tsunami kanina."

That hit me, "May mga nasaktan bang inosente sa ginawa ko kanina?" I asked worriedly.

"Wala naman," Sav replied. "Ginawa mong baliktad ang Tsunami, girl. Madalas sa lupa tatama ang gano'ng kalaking wave pero ang ginawa mo, pinadaan mo sa dagat nakakaloka ka."

"Kaya walang inosenteng nadamay." Thyra assured. "Yung Tsunami na ginawa mo, dumaan lang s'ya literally sa barko ni Deus at 'di naman 'yon tumaob. Wiping out those armed men wearing high-end technical gadgets."

Nakahinga naman ako nang maluwag dahil ro'n.

Tapos ay naalala ko ang naging vision ko kanina. Hinarap ko muli silang dalawa at sinabi ko ang mga nakita ko sa vision. At first, gaya ng reaksyon ko, naging magulo para sa kanila ang mga salitang narinig ko. Masyadong malalim at hindi mo alam kung saan tutungo.

"Nakatagalog naman s'ya at kung iintindihin mo, madali lang s'yang unawain in its literal context." Savannah commented. "Ang malabo ay kung ano ang tinutukoy o... sino."

Thyra spoke next, "May sinabi si Haji sa'kin kagabi bago yung party that the vision has two sides. It's like a coin with two faces. Kung three years ago, nakita mo na mabubuhay ang Joker at magdudulot ng kaguluhan, this may be the other side of it. The solution."

Sunod sunod na tango naman ang ginawa ko dahil may punto s'ya. That may be it.

"So, all we need to do is find it out? Decipher it's meaning?" Savannah suggested.

"It's... too vague." I commented, "I feel like solving it won't answer anything. Pero isa lang ang sigurado akong naintindihan ko."

Seryoso ko silang tiningnan.

"Kailangan kong makuha ang mga Relics at itago 'yon sa'kin. Kung nasa akin ang mga 'yon, walang magagawa ang Primeval Union kung'di ang panatilihin akong buhay kung gusto nilang mapasakamay ang mga 'yon. Hindi rin dapat mapasakamay ng Joker ang mga susi, ngayon naiintindihan ko na kung bakit ako ang magiging dahilan ng kanyang pagkagising."

Si Thyra ang sumagot sa kongklusyong naiisip ko. "Dahil ikaw ang sisidlan at gagamitin ka n'ya upang s'ya ay magising muli."

Savannah gave her comment. "Kung gusto mong makuha ang mga iyon, ang unahin mo muna ay ang sarili mo. You have to know how to fight, girl."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi n'ya. "W-What? You mean..."

They both nodded.

"Makakaasa kang mapoprotektahan ka namin pero paano kung mangyari ang nangyari kanina na muntikan ka na nilang makuha? You have at least need to protect yourself." Said by Thyra.

They have a point. Alam ko naman 'yon. Remembering what just happened in the sea made me feel want to be put under the mud. It's really disheartening. Imagine they're sacrificing their life for a mere thing like me and yet I'm not doing something to be less a burden?

I looked at Thyra with pure seriousness on my eyes. "Then help me to change my programming system. I've been designed to see the logic and to be scared if needed. Kailangan ko ng tulong mo na palitan 'yon. I... I want to help. I want to protect myself too."

Thyra grinned at me. Not sure if she's happy that they were able to persuade me or what.

We all looked at the metallic door when it suddenly opened.

A man wearing a military jumpsuit with a mixture of reddish, maroon and black lining colors faced us. He has fair skin and sharp pointing nose. He's not as bulky as the Kings but you can definitely see that he loves to go to the gym.

"Welcome, Ladies. I'd like to apologize as I wasn't able to welcome the three of you a while ago when Amadeus' men saw you all." He first said then I saw his eyes drifted on me.

"My name's Clevan Salamander—The Jack of Spades. And right now? We are heading to your next destination... The East Heart."