Ash's POV

So how do I get back on the platform again when I can't afford to fly anymore?

I sighed, defeated.

Mukhang mapapatahak nga ako ng bundok nito pagkatapos akong ihulog ng huling tatlong huntsmen na nakalaban ko.

I didn't die, of course. They did.

"If only Grey was here-" Hindi ko natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil isang huntsman ang dumausdos sa harapan ko at tumama sa paanan ng kahoy bago natihaya sa lupa.

Tinignan ko ito.

"Move, Ash."

I took a few step backs as Grey appeared out of nowhere and took long strides towards the huntsman who managed to sit up on the ground.

She wore a black leather robe with a hood and a mask.

It's the first time I've seen a huntsman dressed like that.

An internal itch scratched the surface of my skin when I slowly titled my head to study the enemy. From the back of my mind, she looked to me, or felt, somewhat familiar.

Nagkasalubong ang aking kilay.

Very familiar.

Napapikit ako ng sipain nang malakas ni Grey ang kanang panga ng babae. Tinuwid ko ang aking leeg at inilipat ang aking atensyon kay Grey.

Nagtangkang tumayo ang huntsman nang tadyakan ni Grey ang balikat nito padiin sa kahoy na sinasandalan nito.

My jaw tightened at the sound of shattering bones. 

"That's enough, Grey." I said, almost to a hush.

Clearly, he didn't want to kill her. He only wants to see her suffer.

Never contented, Grey pushed the heel of his foot on the huntsman's broken shoulder, shoving it deeper against the tree.

Surprisingly, the huntsman just let out a sharp short sigh, instead of groaning in pain.

Mula sa balikat ng kalaban, dumako ang aking mga mata sa dumudugong braso ni Grey. Mayroon siyang malalim na hiwa malapit sa balikat niya, at sa bawat lipas ng segundong binabalewala niya ito, kumakapal ang agos ng dugo.

Saka ako napatingin sa gilid ng bisig niya. Bahagyang nakasilip mula sa ilalim ng napunit niyang sleeves ang nangingitim niyang balat.

Pabalik-balik ang aking tingin sa mababaw na hiwa sa braso niya at sa malalim na hiwa malapit sa kanyang balikat.

My eyes rolled around for a bit, realizing one was self-inflicted.

My brows raised after knowing what happened.

The huntsman was able to land a wound on him. A shallow one, on his forearm.

And Grey, knowing he was poisoned, stabbed himself by the shoulder, inflicting a deeper cut so that even though the poison can still spread, when it reaches the top of his arm, the poison will slow down.

My lips curved down to a frown as I nodded my head in acknowledgment.

A very smart and dumb decision, indeed.

Napatigil lang ako nang maramdaman ko ang malamig na titig ni Grey sa'kin.

"Do you need anything from me?" seryoso niyang tanong.

"I do, actually." I gave him a relieved smile. "A portal, so I can get back on the platform."

You can be an ally or an enemy, but Grey will look at you the same when something has pissed him off. 

I can feel power gathering a feet in front of me, so I faced front and watched how the air rippled forming a portal. All I could see was invisible waves creating a larger hole from a smaller one. The hole stopped growing when it reached the same height as me.

My hand reached for the clasp of my cape and made sure it was fastened properly.

Then, I looked at my slightly broken watch.

"You have less than two hours to stop that bleeding," I reminded Grey. "Or you'll die."

Clearing my throat, I stepped into the portal and was greeted by nothing.

No huntsmen. No Omega. Even my sister's not here.

Lumapit ako sa duguang palm scanner katabi ng nakasaradong gate para suriin ito. Pagkatapos, sumilip ako sa loob ng butas sa gate at nakita ang kulay-pilak na pader.

"Hmm." Umayos ako sa pagkakatayo.

Nagsimula na akong mag-isip-isip ng paraan na makapasok nang biglang umalingawngaw ang napakalakas na pagsabog mula sa loob ng facility.

Nakaramdam ako ng kakaibang init mula sa likod ng nakasaradong gate. Lumiwanag ang ibabaw nito dulot ng matinding init kaya umikot ako at tumakbo, at nagmamadaling tumalon, ilang sandali bago sumabog ang gate mula sa loob.

"Amber!" I screamed while flying along the shockwave of the explosion.

She promised Mom and Dad that she's never going to summon one of her meteors!

We're definitely screwed now!

Suddenly, sharp pain radiated from the center of my back. My spine automatically curled and I coughed out blood after something hard and heavy hit me behind my ribcage.

I also heard something break.

It could either be my ribs or my eardrums. Or both, as I noticed I'm losing both my breathing and hearing while heading down towards the river.

Flying pieces of metal sliced through my skin as I tried to focus on my fall despite the excruciating pain filling my senses.

I can't do it, can I? I realized, after trying several times to summon ash. Ash did gather on top of land but it wasn't thick enough to catch me or even soften my fall.

I crashed on the Academy's field once, after slipping from the edge of the roof. I was young back then and didn't know enough on how to use my abilities to save myself. 

What I knew, was that I should avoid falling head first. So I landed with my shoulder hitting the ground first.

Did I lose consciousness after crashing?

I did.

But a broken shoulder, arm, ribs and pelvis was better than a broken head.

Nasa kalagitnaan na ako ng pagtanggap na mababalian na naman ako ng kalahati ng katawan, nang mahagilap ko ang pagtitipon ng makapal na mist sa ibabaw ng lupa.

Bago ko pa mahinuha kung sino ang may kagagawan nito, mabagal akong napasinghap nang mahulog ako sa gitna rito at agad binalot ng kakaibang dilim at lamig.

The mist was softer to land on compared to ashes. It cushioned me better. It felt as though I didn't crash unto it, but rather, it reached out to catch me.

For a moment, it was bliss. I felt nothing but softness enveloping my body. 

But I slowly became heavier, until my back gently touched the ground and the searing pain from my wounds returned.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I stared at the night sky for a few seconds, feeling the mist disappear around me.

"Why are you here?" I squinted my eyes at the stars.

"Why wouldn't I be?" A cold nor warm voice echoed, along with heavy steps getting louder, closer.

Then, an arm reached out to me.

I took in a few breaths before grabbing his hand and pulled myself up.

"Well..." Binitawan ko siya. "You should not be here, because for one-" Inayos ko ang aking sarili sa harap niya. "You..."

Magkasabay na umangat ang aking magkabilang kilay.

"You should be with Reign," paalala ko sa kanya.

"She asked me to be here," sagot niya.

Napatigil ako.

"She what?" tanong ko, hindi makapaniwala.

Hindi niya inulit ang sinabi niya at sa halip ay pinasadahan lang ako ng blankong tingin.

"Reign..." I said, slowly, to make sure I heard him right the first time. "Reign asked you to come?"

His expression didn't change.

"And she's not here?" tanong ko ulit. "Only you came to help?"

His eyes grew obviously weary of my questions.

"Reign, an Omega, the top student of the Academy." Every syllable I used was emphasized. "She didn't come and instead sent you to help the class?"

He started giving me a bored look.

"Is she..." Napailing ako, hindi pa rin makapaniwala. "Is she okay?"

She never sent anyone to help our class. Who she sends to help us, is herself. Because she knows the risks. And she has always risked herself first before someone else.

Until now.

I crossed my arms against my chest and stared at Henri curiously.

As far as I know, Reign and Henri have never met before the latter arrived in the Academy. Even though he's the son of Destiny, he was still new.

And she has entrusted us to him?

Wala sa sarili akong natawa nang mahina.

"What?" kunot-noong tanong ni Henri.

"I don't know, Henri." I answered, slowly shaking my head. "I don't know, either."

Madahan kong inilihis ang aking paningin mula sa kanya at patagong ngumisi. Ngunit mabilis din itong naglaho nang makita ko si Amber mula sa kabilang dako ng ilog.

Mahigpit siyang nakahawak sa kanyang braso, at nakakaladkad ang isang paa niya sa lupa habang naglalakad.

Nagkasalubong ang aming tingin.

Pinaningkitan ko siya.

Huminto siya at sumigaw, "Ako na nga mag-so-sorry kay Mama!"

Binaba ko ang aking mga bisig mula sa pagkakapihit.

"D-Di-" Isang luha ang nakatakas mula sa namumula niyang mata. "Di ko naman sinadya yun, eh! Nainis lang ako sa huntsman k-kaya-"

Napabuntong-hininga ako at lumapit sa kanya.

Pinunasan niya ang kanyang luha gamit ang isang kamay. "Kung ikaw nalang kaya kumalaban sa huntsman na 'yun- tangina- tignan natin kung di ka ba makaka-summon ng-"

Biglang naglaho ang boses ni Amber.

Nakasayad sa paanan ang aking paningin nang matagpuan ko ang aking sarili na nakapatong sa itim na mga ulap.

Walang simoy ng hangin. Wala rin ang karaniwang lamig ng himpapawid. Ang meron lang, ay ang dilim ng gabi.

Dinamdam ko ang aking kapaligiran, at mula sa malayo, narinig ko ang unti-unting paglakas ng kulog.

Bahagyang umangat ang isang sulok ng aking labi pagkatapos malaman kung sino ito.

Why wouldn't I recognize that very specific sound of thunder?

I looked down on the streaks of light running under my feet. It spread into thinner branches before disappearing.

Lightning appeared again, then disappeared after scattering.

Light moved like a pulse inside the clouds. Glowing, then fading, repeatedly.

A storm may sound and look the same to others, but there is one storm that we can recognize.

It is easily recognizable because its lightning moves across the sky like a pulse, and its thunder sounds like a heartbeat.

And there is only one person whose storm resembles a beating heart.

Inangat ko ang aking tingin kay Amber.

"We should finish this." I informed her. "Before she finishes us."

Bahagyang umawang ang bibig ni Amber. "Nakita mo siya sa vision mo?"

"No," sagot ko. "Not yet."

Napatingin si Amber sa kawalan. "Malayo pa, pero parating na..."

Nilingon ko si Henri. "You had one job, Henri."

He shrugged his shoulders and snickered, obviously unbothered. "I tried my best."