Revelation In The Ruins

Mabilis akong tumakbo palayo. The avalanche would reach me in few more minutes and I'm seriously screwed kung mangyari nga yun. I was getting away and away from the cave too, pero wala akong magagawa. That sudden shaking of the ground earlier might have caused that big waves of snow.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. But I need to get away fast. Think. I need somewhere high and has enough strenght. A stronghold.

Sa sobrang bilis ng pagtakbo ko, ay natapilok ako sa may stick at natumba na naman ulit. My foot suddenly got sprained. I knew something big will happen!

Sinubukan kong tumayo pero natumba na naman ako ulit. Damn it! I can't afford to stay here any longer. The avalanche is closiing behind me fast.

"Finally going to die? Aalagaan ko ang katawan mo." Isa pa 'tong spirit. He reminds me Thane and damn so annoying.

Nang bigla kong maalala ang sinabi ni Iyana kanina. Ruins. I looked around at may namataan akong sira-sirang building just a kilometer ahead. Mabilis akong tumayo at tumakbo papunta dito.

Few minutes later, I found myself in the ruins. Sira-sira ang lahat na nandito. But the whole building itself was strong enough. May nakita akong trapdoor sa ilalim ng inaapakan ko. The avalanche was just meters behind me. Agad kong binuksan ang trapdoor and let myself fall inside it. Timing namang sumara ang trapdoor sa ibabaw ko bago pa man ako matamaan ng avalanhe.

The ground above me continued to shake. I sighed in relief. I almost got swallowed up by a big pile of snow up there. Tumayo ako at tsaka narealise that I can't see anything down here dahil sa dilim. Lumakad ako pero agad din namang napaupo.

My right foot certainly hurt a lot. I think malakas ang pagkatapilok ko kanina. I feel like I'm blind. I'm desperate for light. Naalala ko ang ring ko and managed to turn it on at nilibot ito.

Everything's a mess here. It feels like matagal na panahon na mula nang may pumunta dito. May table din sa gilid at may lumang upuan. Then also a small shelf containing books sa may tabi ng radyo.

Lumapit ako sa may malaking box na gawa sa kahoy at tsaka ito binuksan. It had medicines and first aid supplies here. Kung sino man ang nakatira dito noon, made sure eveything's in here.

Kinuha ko ang puting tela at pagkatapos gamutin ang paa ko ay pinalibot ko ito dito. Masakit parin ito but it's just a small injury. Thankfully this time I managed to stand up and look around more. Sa tabi ng radyo ay may lampara. Turrning the small lamp on, it brightened the room.

Pumatong ako sa may upuan to lift myself up para mabuksan ang trapdoor. Ngayon ko lang namataan na mataas din pala ang basement na ito. But surprisingly, the small door wouldn't open. I realised soon na pinipigilan siguro ng snow ang trapdoor sa pagbukas.

"Great. Just great." Pagpuri ko sa sitwasyong ito.

"Mamatay ka dito. Walang pagkain." The spirit whispered to my ear.

"Tumahimik ka kung wala kang magandang sasabihin." I don't need another Thane to pest me right now.

Bumaba ako sa silya at napabuntong-hininga. I just hope the other two would find me soon. I walk around hoping to come across something nang may naapakan ako. I used my ring to light it. A picture frame.

Kinuha ko ang litrato sa loob at pinagpagan ang alikabok. I saw a picture of a girl together woth another girl. Mukhang close sila, mahahalata dahil sila ay magkayakap while smiling. The other one is awfully familiar.

Sa likuran ng litrato, may nakasulat. The language was Latvian. An ancient language in our island. It said, 'the most important person in my life'. I frowned. Natamaan na naman ako ng isang malalang sakit.

I'm curious.

Looking back at the picture, the familiar girl was holding a brown-leathered book. The other one was holding a small black teddy bear. And that toy was familiar too. Saan ko ngaba nakita 'to?

I straightened myself up at napasandal sa may shelf. This picture reminded me of something. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako bigla naging curious sa bagay na ito. It must have belonged to the person who owns this place. Pero saan na ngaba ang taong ito?

"Hindi ba at iyan ang libro na hinahawakan ng bata?" The spirit said which puzzled me. Paano ko makikita kung saan ang tinutukoy niya if I can't even see him?

I turned around and scattered my view. Hindi gaano karami ang mga libro na nakalagay sa shelf na ito. Most of the books were too old at nakain na ng bookworms ang ilang pahina. While there are some readable ones.

I slid my finger to the dusty shelf until I saw that book. Hinugot ko ito at inihipan ang alikabok. I coughed a few times dahil sa nalanghap ko ang iilan. Geez.

Binuksan ko ang libro and found that it was not like any other books, it was a journal. Napansin ko dahil sa date na nakalagay sa ibabaw ng mga salita which looked like handwritten. The writing is so beautiful.

I started reading and realised it was written by a kid. Puro laro lang at kung ano ang ginawa ng dalawang magkaibigan ang nakalagay dito. Until I scanned more pages and one paragraph caught my attention.

March 14, ****

      Ngayong araw ay masaya kaming naglalaro ni Nissi. Sa lahat ng lugar sa mountain na ito, ito lang yata ang pinakaligtas na lugar. Nalaman ko na maraming mga masasamang espiritu ang gumagala kaya natakot talaga ako ng sobra. Kaya namin ginawa ang maliit na basement sa ilalim ng ruins. Masaya ako at nandito ang matalik kong kaibigan.

     Kanina lamang ay muntik na akong saniban ng isang masamang espiritu. May ability kasi akong makakita ng mga bagay na hindi makikita ng mga tao. Pero dumating si Nissi at niligtas na naman niya ako. Simple niya lang tinaboy ang mga espiritu.

Simpleng tinaboy? What does that even mean? If I know, mga bata lang sila. In the first place, how did they got wind up in this dangerous mountain? Kanina pa ako nagbabasa mula sa unang pahina, but the writer didn't mention a thing.

This page is so short. So I moved to the next date. But there's nothing much na nakalagay dito but all their adventures again. Lumipat na naman ako sa susunod. March 28? Ibig bang sabihin hindi sila araw-araw nagkikita?

March 28, ****

     Ilang araw na ang nakalipas simula nang huli kong nakita si Nissi. May nangyari kasing disturbance sa space and time ng mga portals. Napapunta ako sa iba't ibang lugar nang lumabas ako sa portal, hanggang sa nahanap ko narin sa wakas ang lugar na ito.

The writer got here by a portal. Then paano yung isa? If they're not together sa una palang, saan nanggaling ang isa? And disturbance sa time and space? Paano nalaman ng isang bata ang lahat ng ito? I decided to continue reading.

    Kanina nakita ko si Nissi. Nagulat ako nang makita ko siya sa ganoong kalagayan. Ilang araw din kami hindi nagkita kaya hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari sa kaniya. Pero unti-unti siya naging spirit. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin. Natakot ako kaya tumakbo ako palayo sa kaniya. Alam kong hindi ko dapat ginawa yun dahil alam kong nasaktan ko ang damdamin niya.

Becoming a spirit? What the hell? Namamatay ba si Nissi?

      Matapos ang ilang minuto ay bumalik ako dun sa basement. Hindi na ako nagulat mamg makita ko siya doon. Naiyak ako nang makita kong hirap na hirap siya.

Tears. May kaonting bakas ng luha ang librong ito. I could feel the emotions just from reading. Bigla nalang umiba ang paligid ko. I was still at the basement. But this time, I saw Nissi standing there, waiting.

Lumapit ako papunta sa kaniya. Pero hindi niya ako nakikita. She can't feel me either. Ramdam ko ang mga emosyon niya. Fear. Sorrow. Regret. Sinubukan kong hawakan siya. But my hand slipped passed by her. I feel like I'm a ghost.

Ilang minuto ang nakalipas ay bumukas ang trapdoor. Tumalon mila dito ang isang bata na nakasuot ng kulay puting damit. A dress. Nissi looked behind and stared at her. Isa-isang tumulo ang luha ng bata as she looked at her newly-arrived friend. Hindi ko maintindihan. All I could feel is their emotions.

Lumapit ang bata kay Nissi. She held her hand tightly and she started crying as well. Bakit sila malungkot?

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi?" Tanong ng bata. Nissi looked down.

"K-kasi ayaw kong matakot ka sa akin..."

"Nissi! Bakit mo kailangan maging isang spirit?" My eyes widened. A spirit? Nissi is a spirit?

"Hindi ako masama! Ayaw ko lang mapag-isa...nangyaring malakas lang ang enerhiya na dumadaloy sa paligid ngayong panahon. Kaya...kaya naging tao ako..." because of energy spirits can gain their physical form?

The girl then suddenly hugged Nissi. Both of them crying so hard. What's the reason? Bakit sila umiiyak ng ganito? Why do they feel so much pain?

"Ayaw kong mawala ka! Humihina na ang enerhiya sa mountain. Nissi, please don't go. Don't leave me behind!" Nissi will disappear. Leaving no trace behind, kahit ang mga alaala niya.

I watch the two of them, talking, smiling, laughing, but deep inside they were sad. They were doing things as if it was their last moments. I wonder, is that what friendship really is? Nung nawala ba ako sa isla, umiyak din ba si Jarvis? Did he think of me when I was away? 

I'm envious.

"I'm going to disappear....." Nissi said. And what she said next surprised the hell out of me. So that's why she's so familiar.

"Iyana..."

Iyana, what have you been doing all these time?

Iyana's POV

"Hoy sa likuran mo!" Sigaw sa akin ni Sade. I didn't even have to turn around at mabilis na sinipa patalikod ang spirit.

They are probabaly more than a hundred of spirits roaming around sa lugar na ito. The energy around grew bigger and bigger kaya nakuha ng mga spirits ang physical form nila. Spirits can gain their physical form through energy. For some reason, this cave emits spiritual energy kaya dito sila tumipon.

I summoned my invisible bullets tsaka ito isa-isang pinatama sa mga spirits. Most of them returned to their original form pero meron talagang mapilit. Andrea smashed the ground yet again and it caused a huge earthquake. It made most spirits disappear.

Abel managed to take out the stronger spirits because of his magic. Explosion. While Cleo used his defensive magic to make a barrier to trap spirits in at si Sade naman ang sumusunog sa kanila sa loob.

Sade, Abel, and Cleo are professional wizards. Buong akala namin ay kakalabanin nila kami but they aren't as bad as what we had in mind. Ayon sa kanila at wala silang balak magpatuloy sa susunod na phase. They have to be somewhere else at the time. Even if they don't find a portal, ay makakalabas parin sila dito.

In other words, there's no need for us to fight them. Because I feel like matatalo parin kami. I can't use my ability right now at ganoon din si Andrea, so we're basically holding back.

I shot continuously sa mga spirits sa paligid ko using my magnum guns. Maliit nalang sa kanila ang natitira. Napahawak ako sa may mga bato nang biglang yumanig ang lupa. I looked at Andrea who managed to finish the last batch of spirits. I sighed in relief.

Napaupo ako sa sahig, I'm catching my breath. Ngayon lang ako napagod ng ganito for the 16 years of my life! And I feel like mas mapapagod pa ako sa future kung magkakasama pa kaming tatlo. Andrea was panting as well but she's holding herself up. If there's one thing I consider as a weakness, that would be I lack stamina.

"Yo, magaling." Sade complimented as he lend a hand. Kinuha ko naman ito at ginamit ito para makatayo. Water. I need water.

"Mabuti nalang talaga at nandito kayo. Hindi ako makapaniwalang maubos natin ang ilang daang spirits." Cleo said letting out a deep breath.

The three of them are brothers. Sade is the oldest, followed by Abel, then Cleo. I could tell na mababait silang tao. I have dealt with many people before na alam ko na kung mapapagkatiwalaan sila o hindi.

"Hindi tayo pwedeng magpahinga dito. I'll go where Keila is. But knowing her, hindi ko alam kung nandoon pa siya kung saan natin siya iniwan." Andrea whispered to me at napatango ako.

It's dangerous for that girl to wander around alone. Mamaya kung saan pa siya pumunta. Andrea and I decided to go back. Sumama sa amin ang magkakapatid. Soon, napag-isipan naming lumipat ng ibang mapagtuluyan.

Walking through this snow made me remember all sorts of memories I didn't want to remember at all. I sighed. This mountain isn't the same as before anymore. Marami na ang nagbago. Unti-unti na talagang nauubos ang enerhiya dito. I feel bad for the spirits here, pero wala akong magagawa.

"As figured. She's not here." Sabi ni Andrea nang makarating kami sa ibabaw ng hill kung saan namin siya iniwan just an hour ago.

"The snow is heavier than before. Mukhang may nangyaring avalanche." Abel mentioned. My eyes widened. Avalanche?! Dahil siguro yun sa mga pakulo ni Andrea kanina.

"Magiging okay ba ang kaibigan niyo?" Cleo asked. He's saying she might be already dead.

"Don't worry. She's survived a number of tradgedies already. " Sabay naming sabi ni Andrea. Keila can't be outdone by a mere avalanche. Though she might be injured somewhere.

Masama 'to. Nagkahiwalay kami. Mahihirapan kami nito makita siya. Where could she have gone to?

"Kung ganoon ay subukan nating hanapin siya sa may sirang gusali." Sade said referring to the top of the hill just kilometers ahead of us. My eyes widened. The Ruins. She couldn't have gone there, right? I frowned.

I got a bad feeling all of the sudden.

Napagdesisyunan naming hanapin siya sa may Ruins. The ruins was covered in snow at may posibilidad na sa ilalim siya ng snow na ito. Then a red magic circle appeared on the snow. Abel said something before he shouted 'explosion' at napaubo ako dahil sa usok. When the smoke cleared up, the thick snow immediately lightened up. Pero wala kaming nakitang Keila.

I sighed in relief.

"Wala siya dito." I said. At nang papaalis na kami ay biglang napatigil si Andrea. I looked at her at sinundan ang tingin niya.

She was stepping unto something. Napaluhod siya at kinuha ang mga snow. She stopped nang may mahawakan siya. I frowned. Anong ginagawa niya? Lumapit ako sa kaniya. My eyes widened when I saw a trapdoor there. No. Not there.

"Andrea, let's go." Sabi ko. My voice seemed normal. But deep inside I'm panicking.

"We need to check this thing first." Andrea. Ang kulit ng babaeng ito. There's no way Keila's in there.

Pero huli na nang pigilan ko siya. She already opened the trapdoor. She was about to go in when I held her hand. Tumingin siya sa akin, confusion was seen on her face.

"Ako na." Sensing my seriousness, hinayaan niya na ako.

I let out a deep breath bago ako tumalon papasok. I felt chill nang pumasok ako. After years, I'm back in this place. I should have had destroyed this basement a long time ago. Pero hindi ko magawa.

Looking around, I spotted Keila. Her back was facing me. Something's odd with her. Napansin kong may binabasa siya. My heart punded nervously. I was sweating. Keila...what the hell did you do?

Sinubukan kong lumapit sa kaniya, pero napatigil ako nang humarap siya. Kakaiba siya ngayon. Her eyes are pure black.

"Keila, anong nangyari?" I asked. But she only stared at me. Tapos ay tumalikod ulit siya para kunin ang isang litrato tsaka nilagay sa libro.

"Huwag kang mag-alala. Hindi siya masasaktan." That voice. I clenched my fists without me realising it. Calm down.

"What the hell are you doing?" She's supposed to have already disappeared. Anong ginagawa niyang bumalik dito?

"Haha..nakakatuwa ka. I've always hated that part of you kung saan umaasta kang walang pakealam. Wala ka parin talagang pinagbago........Nissi." I frowned.

"Hindi yan ang pangalan ko ngayon." I said forcefully. Tumawa lang siya.

"Of course not. Matapos mong kunin ang katawan ko, hindi na ganoon ang pangalan mo."

"Cut this crap Iyana! Anong kailangan mo?" Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. Sumasakit ito. I feel pain. Masakit. I thought I have already moved on, pero hindi.

"Hindi ako mawawala Nissi. Alam mo kung bakit." I was taken aback by what she said. Hindi...hindi ko kaya. "There's still one promise you have to fulfill."

"Iyana! Itigil mo nato." I was almost begging her. I don't want to hear her voice. I don't want to see her.

"Sirain mo na ang lugar na ito Nissi. My spirit will continue to linger here."

"Leave her alone already." Utos ko.

"Stop that immature acts. Walang mapupuntahan ang usapang ito kung pilit mo akong tinataboy." Lumapit siya sa akin at hinawakan niya ang balikat ko.

Nagulat ako nang bigla niya akong sinipa gamit ang tuhod niya sa may tiyan. I managed to block it pero napaatras parin ako. Iyana....

"Nissi, ipapakita ko sayo kung ano ako kadelikado." She's forcing me to destroy this place so she could freely disappear.

Before I knew it, nasa likuran ko na siya at agad akong sinipa. I hit the shelf at natumba ito pati ako. I coughed dahil sa nalanghap kong alikabok. Hindi masyadong malakas ang pagtama sa akin because I managed to sloghtly dodged it.

Hinding-hindi ako papayag sa gusto niya. People might think I'm too overreacting, but destroying something you value the most is impossible for me. I swore to myself I would never hurt another person purposely, I've got enough of that. Pero anong kahalagahan nun kung sasaktan ko ang sarili ko? Not physically, but emotionally and mentally.

But fine. If beating her up is the only way to leave that body, I'll do it in a hard way.

"Iyana...last warning, lubayan mo si Keila." She only frowned.

"Mahalaga ba ang taong ito sayo?" Nagulat ako sa tanong niya.

I wonder myself. Mahalaga ba si Keila sa akin? Is she a friend? Or an enemy? I can't say I trust her. She only appeared out of nowhere nung isang araw at biglaan nalang kaming naging team kasama si Andrea. She's a mysterious one. And suspicious. Pero hindi tulad ni Andrea, I don't have anything against her.

Bago pa mana ko makasagot, mabilis siyang tumakbo papunta sa akin at tsaka ako sinuntok sa sikmura. I regained from that at agad na sinuntok siya pabalik. Napaatras siya at napahawak sa bibig niya. It was bleeding. Pero ngumiti lang siya.

"Matagal na panahon narin simula nang maranasan ko ang sakit. I miss it. Nissi, pwede naman siguro akong tumira sa katawang ito, diba?" She smirked. It's obvious na hindi siya si Keila dahil sa mga ekspresyon niya. Keila always pook so serious at hindi ganoon ang pagsasalita niya. She had a bit of accent, unlike Iyana.

"Unfortunately hindi pwede." Sinuntok ko siya ng malakas sa sikmura pero nasalo niya ang kamao ko.

We exchanged fists and kicks at kahit isa wala kaming natamaan. Iyana's always been a great fighter, she was the one I've always fought with nung bata pa kami. Before I died.

Kinuha ko ang magnum ko at pinaputok ito sa kaniya. She dodged the bullets easily. I summomed invisible bullets around her pero isa isa niya itong inilagan. Keila's ability to sense something, at ang mabilis na galaw ni Iyana.

We exhanged another fight again. Sinipa ko siya at natamaan siya sa may likuran pero mabilis siyang humarap at sinuntok ako sa mukha. I spitted blood at napaatras ulit. I was about to land another hit nang hawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko.

Nagulat ako nang makita siyang lumuluha. It made my heart feel sad. Kahit sa katawan siya ni Keila ay makikita ko parin si Iyana.

"Stop this..." her voice was breaking. Hindi niya na kaya, and I too, hindi ko na kaya. "I can't stand watching you forcing yourself to fight me...please Nissi...tama na." Napaupo kaming dalawa sa may sahig.

"Iyana—"

"Please Nissi! Nagmamakaawa ako." She cut me off. "I can't leave this place. I can't even disappear! Imagine a life being locked up sa lugar na ito, mag-isa, walang magawa..." pero kung gagawin ko yun, mawawala siya.

"Hindi ko kaya Iyana....hindi ko kaya. I can't live everyday knowing I killed my very best friend!" I was fighting the urge to cry. This is so un-me. I'm not the kind of person who'd be emotional.

"Stop being selfish!" Sigaw niya.

"If you won't, ako ang gagawa para sayo." Nagulat ako makita si Andrea na lumalakad palabas ng dilim. How long has she been there?

"Don't you dare Andrea—" tatayo na sana ako pero hinawakan ako ni Iyana. She shook her head.

"Please...do it." Andrea nodded.

"Huwag—Iyana, what the hell?!—" napatigil ako sa paggalaw nang bigla niya akong yinakap. I felt a tear fell, followed by another. And I realised I was crying.

Yinakap ko siya pabalik. Fine...fine if that's what you want. Gagawin ko. I'll stop being selfish, kahit labag man sa kalooban ko. I felt my cheeks reddned dahil sa pag-iyak. Ahh I'm so not cool. I thought as I wiped my tears away. Iyana looked at me with a smile, her tears were still there.

"Finally, you're being true to yourself." She whispered through my ears.

"I'm sorry for being selfish." Wika ko sabay pahid ng luha niya gamit ang kamay ko.

Tumayo ako at napatingin kay Andrea. Tumango ako sa kaniya at simagot niya lang ako ng katahimikan. Nakakahiya tong pinanggagawa ko. This is so not me. Definitely not. It was as if seeing her cry like that made realised I have been selfished for too long to a friend I have once considered the most important person in my life. I can't help. After all, parang kapatid ko na siya.

Nakatayo lang ako sa may mapupting lupa. It was raining snow. Alam kong malamig ang hangin, pero bakit hindi ko ramdam ang lamig ngayon? I feel so empty as I watch Andrea shaling the ground, slowly destroying the basement. Hindi ako umiiyak. I feel like those tears will going to be the last of of me crying.

Tumingin ako sa likuran ko and saw Keila laying there on the mat which Abel laid earlier. Iyana finally disappeared. Hindi koa lam kung malungkot ngaba ako. I feel neither satisfied nor disatisfied. And this girl is freaking mysterious. Hindi ko alam kung mapapagkatiwalaan siya, all I know is that she helped me. I owe her one.

"You've got a lot of explaining to do Iyana." I smiled at her. Ngayon kang ako ngumiti ng ganito, kaya siguro siya parang gulat.

"Right."