Vance's POV

The road to the pit to Tartarus wasn't as treacherous as they said. It was just dark. That's it, and maybe a bit eerie, but you'll get used to it eventually.

"Pag ba tumalon tayo dito, sa aling parte ng katawan ni Tartarus tayo babagsak?" tanong ni Zack sa sandaling natanaw na namin ang malawak na butas ng lupa sa unahan. "'Tsaka sigurado na ba tayo-" To emphasize what he said, he slowly nodded his head. "Sigurado na ba tayong hindi tatalsik yung mga katawan natin pag bagsak natin?"

It's the hundredth time that he has asked if we were sure of what we're going to do: jump off the cliff ahead of us and wake up in Tartarus. 

That is, to assume, that we're actually gonna wake up in the realm and not die from the fall.

"Vance."

Muntik ko nang mabitawan ang renda ni Don nang sambitin ni Amber ang pangalan ko. For a moment, I wondered why my heart skipped a beat, and it continued to do so after meeting her tired gaze. Nilunok ko ang kakaibang kaba sa aking dibdib bago ko iniangat ang aking tingin sa kanya na nanghihinang nakasandal sa likuran ng leeg ni Don.

"Amber," I whispered back, and sneaked a peak on the other side, to where her twin was, walking along with the rest of us.

Fortunately, Ash wasn't looking back at us.

"Totoo ba na sampung araw tayo mahuhulog bago makarating sa Tartarus?" tanong ni Amber.

"That is..." I cleared my throat. "What they say..."

My answer obviously annoyed her. She clicked her tongue.

"Hindi mo sinagot yung tanong ko," aniya. "Totoo ba o hindi?"

After a moment of silence, she rolled her eyes at me and was about to turn her head away when I answered.

"It's true," sabi ko.

Pagkatapos, nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata.

"Puta-" Muntik siyang mahulog nang magtangka siyang humilig papalapit sa'kin. "Talaga?!" pabulong niyang sigaw.

Muli akong sumulyap sa kapatid niyang hindi pa rin kami napapansin na nag-uusap.

"Mmm." I hummed.

"Gago," napamura na naman si Amber. "Sampung araw tayo mahuhulog?! Mahuhulong lang?! Walang pitstop- gano'n?!"

Yumuko ako upang itago mula sa kanya ang namuong ngiti sa aking labi. "I believe so." Inangat ko ang aking ulo. "Yes."

"Bababa na'ko-" Nagmamadali niyang tugon. "Tangina-"

Pinigilan ko siyang tumalon mula sa likod ni Don. "Wait-" I held her leg that was ready to lift off. "Amber-" My eyes widened when she raised her other leg over Don's back. Catching her by the waist, she jumped off and landed not so gently in front of me.

Dahil sa padaskol niyang pagbaba, mabilis na lumipat ang aking kamay sa kanyang likod upang pigilan siyang mawalan ng balanse habang napatukod naman ang aking kabilang kamay sa tagiliran ni Don.

Surprisingly, Don didn't budge. Tumigil lang ito sa paglakad.

I was about to hiss at Amber when I suddenly realized how close my head was lowered to hers'. Bago pa magkasalubong ang aming mga mata, nagawa niya akong itulak nang malakas.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib kong tinamaan niya.

"Tabi," naiinis niyang sambit saka nagmartsa patungo sa iba.

Samantalang, iniwan niya akong nakatulala.

The fuck was that?

Pero di kalauna'y pinalipas ko nalang ang aking pagtataka at sumunod sa kanila. Don didn't move on as quick as me, though. On the way to the cliffs, he kept lowering his head and shaking it, as if disappointed.

"Shut up, Don," utos ko.

He scoffed before stopping on his tracks. Nakarating na kasi kami. Isa-isa kong kinuha ang mga bag na nakasabit sa likod niya at ibinaba ang mga ito sa nagkabitak-bitak na lupa ng Underworld.

Pagkatapos, sinenyasan ko siyang tumakbo na patungo sa kawalan. Gods know where he hangs out. He'll probably look for the nearest water and stay there until I summon him again.

Napapikit ako nang itapat niya ang kanyang likuran sa akin bago itadyak ang kanyang mga paa at saka umalis na.

"Nosy horse," I finally grumbled when he was gone.

Zack began to express his concern again, and while listening, I couldn't help but glance down at the darkness calling up to us.

"May dahilan naman diba kung bakit hindi pa nakapunta sa Tartarus yung mga magulang natin?" tanong ni Zack. "Kasi alam nilang delikado, 'tol!" Hinawakan niya sa magkabilang balikat si Ash at niyugyog ito. "Sigurado na ba tayo?!"

Sa tabi ko, nakatuon din si Paige sa ibaba at nang hindi tinatanggal ang kanyang mga mata mula rito, humugot siya ng malalim na hininga sabay taas ng kanyang noo.

"Reign et Bella..." I heard Grey say. "Où sont-ils?"

'Reign and Bella, where are they?'

"We should have followed them back to the mortal realms," Paige said to herself.

"You can all go back," sabi naman ni Ash. "I'll jump first."

"Pagkatapos ng nilakad natin patungo dito?!" ani Amber. "Sama nalang ako sa'yo, kambal."

Nakahalukipkip ang mga braso ni Zack nang senyasan niya yung dalawa. "Sige, mauna na kayo."

Dahil dito, nakaani siya ng mariing sulyap mula sa kanila.

I crossed my arms against my chest as well. "Should we wait for them?"

We all turned to Ash who tightened the straps of his backpack. Slowly and carefully, he stepped closer towards the edge. The shadow from below darkened his face, but light never faded from his eyes because among us, he was the most determined to jump.

Meanwhile, Grey raised the lantern in his hand. "Moirai," he called. "Should we wait for my sister or not?"

The light in the lantern flickered. "You will all fall and end up in the same place."

Tinignan kami ni Grey. "I suppose that means they're also on their way to Tartarus? Or we'll eventually meet there?"

Kasunod naming nilingon si Paige na na nandidilim ang ekspresyon, ibig sabihin, hindi rin siya sigurado.

"Should we or should we not?" tanong ko sa kapatid ko.

Masama niya akong sinulyapan dahilan para mag-abot ang aking kilay. I threw her back a threatening look and we exchanged the same gaze for a few seconds before she rolled her eyes at me.

"We should jump," she finally said. "Before the goddess Hecate catches up to us."

Nagtaka ako. "What? Why?"

"Long story," biglang singit ni Grey. "Let's go-" And without hesitation, he ran towards the end of the cliff and made a very big leap.

"Bro!" Umalingawngaw ang boses ni Zack sa kadiliman.

The last thing I saw of Grey was his back before he disappeared in total darkness. Mula sa ibaba, umangat ang aking tingin sa kabilang dako ng butas dahil sa presensyang nagparamdam sa amin.

Across us, a woman wearing a long black dress stood still, her pale arms hanging heavy from her shoulders.

Nanliit ang aking mga mata upang maaninag ang hitsura niya.

'What have you done?' a voice of a woman whispered in my head.

"Sino na naman 'yan- aaah!" Natapos sa malakas na sigaw ang pangungusap ni Zack dahil bigla siyang tinulak ni Amber na nagpaalam pa sa'min bago sumunod sa kanya.

"Bye World! Hello Tartarus!"

"Amber!" Nagmamadali ring tumalon si Ash.

"Hecate," binulong ko ang pangalan ng babaeng nakatitig sa'min, nangungulimlim ang buong mukha.

She stood tall and thin. She almost looked like a shadow.

'You have stolen something from me...' her voice did not sound mad. It just seemed that she already knew it was gonna happen, and she still got disappointed. 'And now you go to a place I cannot follow.'

Bilang paghahanda kung sakaling maglaho siya at lumipat malapit sa'min, pumalikod ang aking kamay upang hawakan ang trident na nakasabit sa aking likod.

The goddess noticed, and her eyes squinted. This time, she seemed impress.

'You have stolen from the gods...' she said again. 'And now you go to a place they cannot follow.'

I looked at my sister from the corner of my eyes. "What did we even steal from her?" Curiosity got the best of me.

But she just sighed.

"Paige," sambit ko.

"You were right," aniya. "There's something we need to talk about Reign."

Umiling-iling ako. "Like what?"

"I'm..." She paused to look at me with helpless eyes. "I'm-" Kumisap-kisap siya, at kahit anong galaw ng kanyang bibig, walang salita ang lumabas.

I glanced at the goddess Hecate before looking back again at my sister.

"Breathe, Paige," nag-aalala kong tugon.

"I'm scared," nanghihina niyang sabi. "Vance, I'm-"

Kusang gumalaw ang aking paa at humakbang palapit upang mayakap ko siya. Nakahawak ang aking kamay sa likod ng kanyang ulo habang dinaramdam ko kung gaano kalalim ang kanyang bawat hininga.

My sister, as strong as she was, finally got tired.

Muli kong nilingon si Hecate habang hinahagod ang buhok ng kapatid kong mabigat na nakasandal sa dibdib ko.

The goddess remained staring at us, keeping a neutral expression.

"Fear's what makes us stronger," paalala ko kay Paige. "You already know that."

"I'm not afraid," bulong niya. "I'm worried."

Binitawan ko siya at hinawakan ang kanyang magkabilang balikat. Bumaba nang kaunti ang aking ulo upang makasalubong ko ang nag-aalala niyang mga mata.

"I know," I assured her. "I know the fears behind your strength, as well as the worries behind it."

"I understand." Tinuwid ko ang aking pagkakatayo. "I feel you."

Lumunok siya bago tumango-tango. At saka ko binaba ang aking mga kamay. Sabay din naming inangat ang aming mga noo di kalaunan, dahilan para mapangiti ako nang kaunti.

'Kara, you don't have to be afraid again.' 

I remembered one of my earliest memories, of when Mom was pregnant with my sister, and everyday, Dad never failed to assure her that she was safe. That everything will turn out okay.

'I'm not afraid. I'm worried. There's a difference, Dio.'

'I know. I understand. I feel you.'

"Tell me everything once we arrive in Tartarus." It was Dad who unknowingly taught me how to calm a wise mind with a troubled heart. "We still have time, Paige."

Tumango-tango siya. "We will always have time."

For when everything seems wrong, that means everything is falling into the right places. And when it seems that we're all heading to chaos, it means we still have time.

'Vance, come meet your sister.'

Umiwas siya ng tingin, ibang bagay na naman ang pinag-aalalahan.

"Everything's going to be okay, sis." I said, after noticing that her eyes were still a cloudish gray. "Breathe..."

'Dad! Dad! Paige says she can't breathe!'

'Call your Mom!'

"We still have time, even if everything's not going according to our plans," paalala ko ulit sa kanya.

'Why? What happened?'

'I'm sorry- N-Naglalaro lang kami... tapos... hindi na siya makahinga...'

'Hand the phone to your Dad.'

Wala sa sarili akong napangiti nang maalala ang unang beses na nag-panic attack si Paige.

'Okay, Paige, your Mom told me you're just having a panic attack.'

'What's a panic attack?' tanong ko.

'Yeah, no, fuck this. Vance, let's get your sister to the hospital-'

'Dad! Don't grab her like that! You're making it worse!'

'W-What's a panic attack?' mahinang tanong ni Paige.

At saka lang siya tumahan nang i-search namin sa internet kung ano 'yon.

"I don't like uncertainty," aniya. "I don't like not knowing..."

"Of course, you don't," sang-ayon ko. "But uncertainty is one of the things that makes life worth living, Paige."

Nag-aalinlangan niyang tinignan ang kadiliman.

"After you, sis," tugon ko.

She gave me one last glance, and didn't look back as she stepped towards the edge of the cliff.

"See you," paalam niya.

"See you," paalam ko rin.

I watched my sister fall deep into the abyss.

And from the darkness, I looked up at the goddess who looked the same but different.

Nothing's changed in her looks. But they way she looked at me, turned different.

She slightly opened her mouth, releasing a cold breeze that reached me after a couple of seconds.

"Omega," malamig din ang boses niyang bumulong sa'kin. "Do not fail us."

I didn't know what she meant but I'm sure I'll know sooner or later. 

Humakbang ako patungo sa dulo. Hindi ko na binalingan ng tingin si Hecate na ramdam kong nakatutok sa'kin pagka't nakatuon ang aking buong atensyon sa katahimikan ng tawag ng tila walang hangganang dilim.

'Alam niyo yung mga bata pa tayo? Pagkatapos tayong pinanganak, may mga taon tayong hindi natatandaan...'

I suddenly remembered one of our previous lessons in the Academy.

'That is chaos controlling our beginnings. It is the god putting us on the right track, so when the day comes that we can finally remember, we are already on the path to what is destined for us.'

Siguro 'yon nga ang mangyayari sa'min. We'll fall for ten days but we wouldn't notice. We'll just probably wake up in Tartarus without remembering anything during the fall.

I remembered our lesson because it was when I have learned that in between the Underworld and Tartarus, is a realm still undiscovered and unknown.

Hesiod, the greek poet, describes chaos as the realm that lies under Earth and before Tartarus. If it is not true, no one can deny it. And if it is true, no one has confirmed.

Simply because we don't know anyone who has been in such place. Not a mortal nor a god. So we really don't know, if the realm is real or not.

Taking a deep breath, I tilted my head in hesitance. 

I'm not as confident as earlier. 

Right now, I'm hesitating to jump because of what my sister said.

Should I jump? Or should I go back instead?

"Jump." Hecate's voice rung in my ears. "Take the leap."

"You don't tell me what to do," giit ko.

"All questions can only be answered when you dive to the deep."

Hindi na ako nagsalita, pero nag-aalinlangan pa.

"Fall." Hecate whispered from behind me, as her hand gently touched my back, and a wind pushed me off the edge. "For you were meant to fall..."

Naramdaman ko ang pamimigat ng aking mga mata. As strange as it was, I didn't feel like I was fallling. Instead, I felt like I was floating, in the middle of complete darkness.

Hindi ko mahagilap kung saan ako galing, at kung saan ako patungo. Hindi na ako nag-aalala kung magiging masakit ba yung bagsak ko. Pakiramdam ko kasi... inaantok lang ako.

'Fall into the deepest realm of the universe, Omega, where the gods could never follow.'

And for one last time, the goddess spoke.

'So you can learn how to rise to the highest, where the gods could never reign.'