Marami silang hindi alam tungkol sa mga kataw.

For as much as Rionach can remember from the few documentations the Society had about them (those that were made available to the public), these creatures were believed to possess an extraordinary power that even the greatest paranormal enthusiasts can't figure out.

Base sa kanyang kaalaman, dalawa lang ang maaaring hatid ng kapangyarihan nito:

Sumpa o hiwaga.

"J-Julian?"

Pero habang nakatitig siya sa imahe sa likod ng mga kaliskis, Rio felt her confidence slowly fading. Not surprisingly, it was instantly replaced with bewilderment. 'Paano nangyari 'to? Paano siya naging kataw?' Hindi pa man niya napo-proseso ang mga pangyayari, nabigla na lang siya nang mawala sa kanyang tabi si Clouie.

"JULIAN!"

Rio tried to pull her back, but her fingers barely brushed the hem of her shirt.

Her outstretched arm fell to her side as she watched the girl and the kataw. Noong mga sandaling 'yon, natulala na lang si Rio nang niyakap rin siya nito pabalik.

'Ano ba talaga ang kapangyarihan ng mga kataw?'

It was a mystery she would surely be willing to dive into.

Pero habang nakamasid siya sa dalawa, napagdesisyunan ni Rio na, sa ngayon, mas matimbang ang ginhawang dulot ng misteryong ito. For now, knowing Julian is alive is enough. Maya-maya pa, kumalas si Clouie sa kanilang yakap at agad na inusisa ang kababata.

"P-Paano 'to nangyari? At s-si Julia... ibig sabihin ba nito, pati siya...?"

To their dismay, the creature shook his head.

Whatever hope Clouie was clinging to quickly died.

'Hindi ba siya nakakapagsalita?' Rio's eyes sparkled in interest. Kung anuman ang nangyari kay Julian, mukhang mas marami pa silang matutuklasan.

She can't wait to tell the others---

An arrow was shot.

An inhuman scream escaped Julian's lips as he stumbled back, the waters rippled around him. Nanigas sa gulat si Clouie nang makita ang panang nakabaon sa balikat nito. "Julian!" Nang sinubukan niyang lapitan ang kanyang kababata, Damien's voice instantly voice stopped her.

"Unless you have a fucking death wish, get away from that thing..."

Sinundan ni Rio ang pinanggalingan nito, at hindi na siya nagtaka nang makita ang bilyunaryong nakaupo sa sanga ng kalapit na puno. Half concealed by the shadows, Damien suddenly looked like a dark archer ready to strike the enemy dead.

Hindi pa rin nito binababa ang kanyang pana.

"Don't make me repeat myself."

Rio adjusted her eyeglasses before waving her arms to catch his attention. Hindi niya naiintindihan ang sitwasyon. Kung hindi niya ito pipigilan, baka kung ano pang mangyari kay Julian.

"Don't shoot! Walang panganib!"

Pero para bang walang naririnig ang binata at sunod-sunod na nagpakawala ng mga pana. Rio instantly panicked and avoided the arrows like a dancing maiden under the moonlight.

'HALA! Bingi ba siya?!'

Sinubukan niyang balaan si Clouie, pero nang makita niyang naglalakad na ito papunta sa malalim na bahagi ng lawa, agad na nataranta si Rio. She tried calling her name, but it seemed like she was in some sort of trance. Wala sa sarili itong nagpapatangay sa halina ng kalmadong tubig.

Rio attempted to pull her back, but the water surrounding her feet glued her on the spot. Para bang may mabigat na pwersang pumipigil sa kanyang lapitan ang dalagita.

She was unable to move.

"Oh, no..."

From behind her, she can hear Damien curse under his breath.

Rio watched in horror when Clouie's head submerged, slowly disappearing beneath the surface of the lake.

At noong mga sandaling 'yon, biglang nagpakita sa kanya ang mga imahe. The visions came as still images, flashing before the psychic's eyes one by one. Bumigat ang pakiramdam ni Rio nang makita ang imahe ng isa pang kataw na nakaabang sa lawa. 'Di tulad ni Julian, mukhang wala itong balak kaawaan ang mga tao.

An evil lurked in these waters, and it chilled her down to the bones.

"NAYTHAN, YUNG LAMBAT!"

Suddenly, Caelum's voice dominated the silence.

Napabalik na lang siya sa kasalukuyan nang bigla namang sumulpot sa kanyang gilid si Nemesis. She was pulling her back to the shore, away from the lake and it's grip on her.

"Rio, okay ka lang?"

"H-Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyayari, Nemo... Pero kailangan niyong iligtas si Clouie. Unlike Julian, it isn't willing to spare her!"

"What are you talking about?"

Hindi rin niya sigurado. Hindi rin niya alam kung bakit para bang may gusto itong bawiin kay Clouie.

*

Meanwhile, Naythan and Caelum were already diving into the unknown dangers of the lake. Bitbit ang lambat, sinubukan nilang mangisda ng kataw sa kabila ng biglaang pagdilim ng tubig. Despite the diving equipment Damien provided them earlier this evening, para bang pinipigilan sila ng lawang sumisid sa ilalim nito.

Shallow waters no more.

'Nasaan ba kasi ang pangit na kataw na yun?' Naythan was already feeling uneasy with this setup. Bakit ba kasi siya napilit dito?

And no, he's not scared!

Err, well... maybe a little.

Nahito sila nang may mahuli ang lambat. Sa pagkagulat ni Naythan, kamuntikan pa niyang mabitiwan ito. He could barely see Caelum signaling him to hoist it up, back to the moonlit surface.

Noong nasinagan na ito ng ilaw ng buwan, doon na niya nakilala ito...

'Clouie!'

She was still and pale. Nagmadali silang iahon ang dalagita at dalhin sa gilid ng lawa kung saan nag-aabang ang iba pa nilang mga kasama. Hindi na alintana ni Naythan ang basang mga damit at ang ginaw na dala ng hangin.

He was staring at the girl, taking in her lifeless form.

"Sorren, perform CPR."

Nobody dared to speak as Damien stepped aside and allowed his faithful butler to intervene, in an attempt to revive the girl.

Pigil-hininga silang lahat habang pinapanood ito.

Sa kanyang tabi, mukhang sa iba nakatuon ang atensyon ni Caleum. His eyes trailed to Clouie's neck, were a pendant eerily caught light. Hindi na nagkumento si Naythan nang naupo ito sa tabi ng katawan at kinalas ang kwintas. For some reason, this caused Rionach to gasp in surprise, as if she just noticed this.

"Yan ang...?"

Caelum nodded and handed the stone-like pendant to her. "Ang dahilan kung bakit nananakot ang kataw sa lawang 'to. Ito ang mutya ng tubig."

Naythan's jaw dropped. Ayaw pang mag-sink in sa kanya ng impormasyon. 'Di niya alam kung dahil ba slow siya o talagang medyo bopols siya sa paranormal.

"Teka nga! Ibig sabihin, gustong kunin ng kataw ang mutya kay Clouie kaya siya nanggugulo?" Naythan asked. "Wow. Plot twist."

Caelum nodded. "Matagal nang pinaniniwalaan na tagapagbantay ng mga kayamanan ng tubig ang mga kataw. I have no idea how Clouie got this, pero mukhang ito rin ang dahilan kung bakit iniisa-isa ng kataw ang mga taong may koneksyon sa kanya. First, Julia. Now, her own best friend."

Pero sa kabila nito, hindi pa rin humihinga si Clouie.

At wala na rin itong pulso.

Sorren stood up, fixed his white suit and shook his head at Damien.

"It's too late."

Silence fell upon them.

Rionach smiled wearily as she held the charm in her hands. Ang sabi nila tanging ang mga may mabubuting-puso lang ang makakahanap sa mutya ng tubig. A charm with an untapped potential in providing protection against the evil elements of this world. For a moment, she thought she was unworthy of finding this.

Maybe she is.

Pero magmula ngayon, habambuhay nang dadalhin ni Rio ang bigat ng maliit na mutya.

---