Deep Through The Unknown III

I closed my eyes like he did, and concentrated myself on letting out my energy. People think my energy is weak or too small, and seriously I don't know kung totoo ba talagang mahina ako. Pero alam ko sa sarili ko na kaya kong magpalabas ng enerhiya kahit gaano man ito kalaki, at hindi ko alam kung bakit. I do know so because I can feel it.

I felt my own energy radiating out of my body, flowing through my veins papunta sa mga kamay ko, as I transferred the given energy to him. I can feel his emotions. He's doubting all of these, but I know he can feel my energy.

Patuloy lang ang enerhiya ko papunta sa kaniya. I envision it as a water...a stagnant, cool flowing water. May lumalabas ditong kaonting tunog, the sound of water breaking down the rocks...accompanied by the small noises of the moving air, the swaying trees...

Binuksan ko ang mga mata ko at medyo nagulat makitang nakatingin lang derecho sa akin sa mga mata ang lalaki sa unahan ko. It's almost as if he's that surprised, which he is. He held both of my wrists and took it off his shoulders. He smiled, a genuine one.

Ngayong hindi ko na binibigay ang enerhiya ko, I can feel the toll it brought my body. Mas humina ang enerhiya ko kesa kanina, but still, I can manage. Rather I felt...rejuvinated.

"Unang beses ko naramdaman ang ganitong klaseng enerhiya..." he said clenching his fists, then opening them again, na para bang sinusubukan niya ang mga ito. "It was...pleasant." Pleasant was indeed a right term. Mukhang nakikita niya din kung ano yung nakikita ko nang pinasa ko ang kalahati ng enerhiya ko sa kaniya.

"But giving your own energy to your enemy heh." He smirked looking down below that monster. "You sure are naive."

"You think?" Sinundan ko ang tingin niya, the monster is still roaming around, at dahil sa laki nito ay hindi siya kasya kung gagalaw siya ng gagalaw.

At sa tingin ba talaga ng lalaking 'to ibibigay ko talaga sa kaniya ang karamihan sa enerhiya ko?  He must be thinking that I don't have enough energy reserves right now dahil sa laki ng bibigay ko. I gave him a portion of my energy that should be enough to treat a very critical disease, and that should be enough to generate the ability needed once or twice.

Pero hindi ko siya pinagkakatiwalaan kahit ginawa ko yun, and I won't do it just like that. Mag back-up plan ako sakaling gamitin niya man sa akin ang ability niya. Ah I'm not a fool, certainly so I'm not naive. I quit being one a long time ago.

"EEEEEEEEEEKKKKKKK!!!!!!!" I gritted my teeth while hearing that shrieking sound again. I already experienced damaging both of my ears tonight, at wala akong planong sirain 'to ulit.

"Nakita niya na yata tayo." Sabi niya. "Hindi ko alam kung saan nagmumula ang malaking enerhiyang dumadaloy ngayon sa katawan ko dahil sayo, although I don't even feel any enough energy from you....yet releasing such huge energy..." he sighed. "If you die I won't be able to pay my debt to you of saving my life once. Pero hanggang isa o dalawang beses ko lang masusubukan ang pinapagawa mo sa akin, considering I've never done it before."

True. Doing it so suddenly without even practising for it may only result to waste of huge spiritual energy.

"You're saying in order to focus more I need to distract it." Which is technically suicide on my part. "Pero magagawa mo ba talaga?"

"Matapos mong ipamukha na mamamatay tayo kung hindi ko magagawa? Tss, I will do it."

"Then I'll do my part without hesistations." He let out another bitter smile.

"You don't know how to fear death, do you?"

It was a compliment for him but not for me. Dahil noon pa man ay ayaw kong mamatay, I refused death several times before by thriving for survival. But it doesn't mean I fear death, and I do fear it at the same as well. Ah ang gulo.

Tumalon kami pababa ng mabatong lugar nang makita kami ng halimaw at sinubukan nitong abutin kami. Dahil sa laki ng mga kamay nito ay nawasak ang bahagi ng lupa sa itaas. Small pieces of debris are falling dahil sa nangyari. I'm glad we were able to jump before we got
caught up in it.

Tinaas niya ang dalawa niyang kamay at tinutok ito sa malaking halimaw, as the latter looked at our direction.

My heart's still pounding two times faster, and I am aware this emotion is already mine, dahil kaninang kumalma na ako, ay nawala nadin ang mga nakuha kong emosyon sa lalaking 'to.

Darn it. I'm actually really scared to face that monster, dahil hindi ako sanay dito at hindi ko alam kung ano ang magagawa nito. I don't know what will happen next and I am not excited to know.

Tumakbo ako palayo, hoping for the monster to follow me. Nagulat ako na hindi niya manlang binigyan ng pansin ang lalaki na ngayon ay matinding nag co-concentrate. I thought it would be harder to attract its attention pero madali lang pala ito. He swung its big arm around papunta sa direksyon ko at mabilis naman akong pumailaim. Then its huge hands formed into fists hoping to crush me down with it.

Mabuti nalang at bumagal ng kaonti ang atake niya kaya mabilis akong nakailag mula dito. Napaubo ako dahil sa mga nabubuong mga alikabok mula sa lupa dahil sa lakas ng impact ng atake nito. Simply distracting it while running away from that monster will be proven useless kung magpapatuloy pang ang ganitong gawain. I need to at least trap it or hold it down. Considerng my energy was probably low bago pa man ako pumunta sa area nato, at kailangan ko pang ibigay ang kalahati sa natitira kong enerhiya sa lalaking yun, kung tatakbo lang ako ng tatakbo ay baka mapagod lang ako sa huli.

If I could only summon my weapon, it would be a lot easier. Pero hindi sa hindi ko ito kayang palabasin, I just know that my energy won't be enough. Kung papalabasin ko ito ay baka mawawalan lang agad ako ng malay. And I hate loosing my consciousness! Nagpapahiwatig lang iyon na kahit gaano ka man kalakas kung mahihimatay ka din lang naman, parang ang useless mo narin. Well that's how I see it.

Nagpalabas na naman ng malakas na sigaw ang halimaw, ramdam ko ang inis nito. As long as someone has spiritual energy, nararamdaman ko ang nga emosyon nila, at dahil sa lakas ng emerhiya na pumapalibot sa malaking halimaw ay kahit malayo man ito sa range ko ay nararamdaman ko parin siya.

If only the others are here, this would be lot easier, and yes I'm depending on them again. That's all I'm good at, depending at someone.

Pero wala sila dito ngayon. Kaya ano ba ang magagawa ko kung ako lang na mag-isa? No, that's hardly even a question. It would be a different story kung pwede kong magamit ang weapon ko, and that simply means I have to do everything on my own...and I'm not so confident with that idea.

Nagtago ako sa likuran ng malaking bato habang yumayanig na naman ang lupa ng kaonti, dahil ito sa laki ng halimaw at sa mga galaw nito. If this continues, the cave might not hold out for too long at mawawasak.

Lalabas na sana ako ng tinataguan ko para tumakbo paounta sa ibang direksyon, ng mabilis na takoan ng halimaw ang daanan ko sa unahan. I tried to use the other way by simply turning around, but I should have already expected another huge palm to be blocking my way there. I clenched my fists...naiinis na ako. Pwede din naman akong tumalon papunta sa itaas but it's just that big!

Ginamit ko ang natitirang daan palabas nang bigla ko nalang naramdaman ang pagtaas ng katawan ko mula sa lupa, and something clasping my lower body. I feel my body being crushed like a small ant dahil sa lakas ng pagkawak ng halimaw sa katawan ko, and looking down....imagining me falling from uo here na kasing-taas ng Hargeon Tower...I feel like I'm going to die!

Dinikit ng halimaw ang pagkawak niya sa akin sa unahan ng mukha niya, as if eyeing me so intensely. Now that I'm much closer to it, mas bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. If this monster was a person, people might think I'm falling in love, pero hindi! I'm currently facing a monster, through and through. And the thought of my body splitting apart under its massive teeth brings me fear.

Kailangan kong makaalis dito! Nasaan na ba yung lalaki? Did he decide to offer me instead at tumakbo na siya? I should have known better! People always betray you, friend or foe, under a certain circumstances. I need to think. I'm on my own now. Damn it! I'm so useless...

"Ano pang hinihintay mo? Won't you just eat me up already?" Galit kong tanong. I'm anxious and scared at the same time. Nakatingin lang ito sa akin, and I get that feelimg whereas he's studying me.

"Revenge, need...invaders...die.." lumaki ang mga mata ko at biglang napatingin sa mga mata nito, at dahil sa laki, ay isa lang ang tinitignan ko.

I heard it...a small murmur. I felt the sudden change in its emotion, kanina ay puros galit lang ang nararamdaman ko sa kaniya...but now I feel that sudden longing, that regret...I thought monsters only feel anger? And that voice. Ano yun?

"You're...hurt..." nagulat na naman ako sa sarili kong pananalita. I didn't mean to say what mind would. But do monsters speak the same language as humans?

I felt another wave of shockness on the monster's emotions. But after that...there was nothing more, or was he simply silent? Or lahat ng ito ba ay mga guni guni ko lang at nagiging delusional na ako dahil mamamatay na ako? I really am seriously anxious.

"Grab on!" Nawala ang mga naiisip ko nang marinig ko ang boses nung lalaki kanina. Nagle-levitate suya ngayon sa hangin.

Hindi ko siya inaasahang magpapakita, akala ko tumakbo na siya palayo at iniwan ako. But it seems that's not the case. I was hesitant to grab and accept his hand, baka kasi tuloy bitawan niya na naman ako at mahulog. Pero wala na akong oras umarte!

Mabilis kong kinuha ang kamay niya at agad namang napaatras ang halimaw at nabitawan ako. As if there's something that caused it to let go of me. Tsaka ko nalang nakita ang umaawas na pulang likido mula sa kamay nito na ginamit niya kanina sa paghawak sa akin, and I'm still levitating dahil hawak-hawak niya parin ang kamay ko.

"My wind slicers are ten times stronger than usual, that it was enough to penetrate that monster's thick skin."

"Did you master....?" Hindi ko na kailangang ipagpatuloy ito dahil nakuha miya na naman ang ibig kong sabihin. Unfortunately, he frowned and shook his head.

"I was able to concentrate the energy and mixed it with my own at ramdam ko ang kapangyarihan. But I'm not confident enough to stop the air inside that monster which keeps it alive."

"Gawin mo nalang."

"Hindi mo na kailangang sabihin."

Ang malaking kamay ng halimaw ay muling pumaibabaw at pabababain na sana ito para tamaan kami, and I was expecting this guy to axtually dodge it. Pero hindi niya ginawa and i stead lifted his hand on the air ay nagpalabas ng battle axe niya. The moment his axe touched the monster's, its three fingers were suddenly cut down at nagpalaba sna naman ng mas malakas na sigaw ang halimaw dahil sa sobrang sakit.

It's such an instense pain na para bang unang beses nitong masaktan ng ganito. I...I almost pitied it. Pero naalala ko na kung hindi ito ginawa ng kasama ko ay tiyak na mamamatay lang kami. Tinaas ulit ng kasama ko ang kamay niya, sending another batch of pain on the monster, at sa huli matapos ang ilang minuto ay bigla nalang itong hindi gumalaw.

"Nagawa ko nga." Bulong niya at dahil sa tabi ko lang siya ay hindi ko maiwasan marinig yun. He was quite surprised to be able to do it.

Natumba ang halimaw causing a huge earthquake at nagsimula nang mahulog ang mga bato mula sa itaas ng kweba. Mas hinihpitan niya ang kapit sa kamay ko at nagpalabas siya ng malakas na hangin, pushing us out of the cave bago pa man ito tuluyang mawasak.

Napuno ang paligid namin ng alikabok at napaupo ako sa lupa, coughing up. The cave behind us is no longer what it is earlier, naging patong-patong na ito ng mga malalaking bato. If I was alone, I would have died!

"That was close." Sabi niya at tumayo. He offered me his hand to help me, pero hindi ko kinuha at tumayo gamit ang sarili kong paa.

"Akala ko tumakbo ka na palayo." I said back habang pinapagpag ang cloak ko. I was all dried up.

"May trust issues ka ba?"

"Then tell me why I should trust an enemy."

"You gave me your energy." Napatingin ako sa kaniya, he was being serious.

"Hindi kita pinagkakatiwalaan. Iniisip mo ba talagang—"

"I know. I kind of grasp your personality already, kaya alam kong hindi mo gagawin yun ng basta-basta lang."

"It's good you understand."

"Ang pangalan ko ay—"

"Alvin," he frowned. "Tama ba?" I remembered that memory from earlier. Hindi sa akin yun, and it began when I transferred his emotions to mine, kaya posibleng sa kaniya yun.

"Paano mo nalaman?" I only shrugged. "And your name?"

"Adriana...Claies." Hindi ko alam kung saan ko hinugot ang pangalang yan, but it's better to fake my name lalo na na isa siyang kalaban. And my name's already fake to begin with.

"Hmm." I got a clue that he's doubting it, pero wala naman din siyang rason para tanungin ako ng totoo kong pangalan.

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad na hindi alam kung saan na kami at kung saan pupunta. Habang naglalakad kami sa masukal na gubat, ay bigla nalang hinawakan ni Alvin, and now I can mention his name freely that it was proven his name is that, sa balikat to stop me from walking ahead.

"Umiba ang direksyon ng hangin. May enerhiya itong dala, and it's not coming from mine."

"Ibig mo bang sabihin ay may tao sa paligid?" He nodded.

"It might have been coming kung saan nagtatago ang mga tao. Bilisan na natin at umalis na sa lugar nato." Tumango lang siya at tumakbo.

Sinundan ko lang siya sa likod at mas bumibilis ang takbo namin sa bawat ilang segundo. Na para bang may hinahabol kaming time limit. Hindi ko alam kung bakit masama ang pakiramdma ko dito, but I just know we have to hurry. Halos isang oras na ang sinayang namin sa lugar na'to, and it has been that lomg as well simula nung huli kong na-contact ang mga spirits ko.

I'm not worried about my spirits at all, dahil kahit mga spirits lang sila ay contracted parin kami. Ibig sabihin kayang-kaya nila ang sarili nila. However, I'm worried about myself more. If they end up using their abilities, kawawa ang katawan ko nito. And worse, if they won't use their abilities, the people might get in trouble. I got the sense na sinusubukan nilang protektahan ang mga tao na nandun, wherever they are.

"Malapit lang sila." He said and our pace became quicker. Hindi malayo mula sa amin ay nakikit na namin ang dulo, kung saan wala ng halos na mga punongkahoy. "Up ahead—!"

Napatigil siya sa pagtatakbo at muntik na sana akong mabangga sa kaniya pero mabuti nakang at ginamit niya ang kamay niya para tigilan ako. The breeze was much stronger here, at bang buksan ko ang mga mata ko ay nagulat nalang ako na may bangin sa unahan namin. If h hadn't stopped, we would have fell down there.

"It's a dead end." I muttered.

"Not really. Tumingin ka sa ilalim."

Sinundan ko ang mga tingin niya at lumuhod sa lupa para mas makita ko kung ano ang sa ilalim ng bangin. Madilim ang sa ilalim kaya hindi ko alam kung gaano ito kataas, but since nandito nanggagaling yung enerhiyang dala ng hangin na na-sense ni Alvin, ay siguro ay may daan pa sa ilalin. Or it could be na nasa ilalim sila.

I looked closer, and then I saw it. It may be dark, pero dahil sa dilim ay nakikita ko ang kaonting liwanag sa ilalim. It means someone might be down there. At dahil wala ng mga matataas na puno sa lugar nato ay mas maliwanag pa ang buwan. Isang gabi lamang 'to, pero pakiramdam ko ang dami ng nangyari. It had only been hours ever since we infiltrated this town. I let out a sigh. A long night indeed.

"We're going down." I said at tumingin sa kaniya.

"Pero hindi natin alam kung ano ang meron sa ilalim. Delikado 'to."

"I don't usually take risks without a plan. Huwag kang mag-alala, since we're in a close area, mas may advantage ka dahil sa air ability mo." He frowned for a moment pero tumango din naman.

Kumapit ulit ako sa kamay niya at ramdam ko ang pagtaas ng katawan ko mula sa lupa.

"I can only control the air, not your body. Kaya kumapit ka ng maayos."

Before I knew it, we were already blown by the wind downward. Hindi ko mapigilan higpitan ang kapit ko sa kamay niya, at siguradong nasasaktan na ito sa higpit. Pero medyo takot ako sa heights, not that critical, pero nakakatakot parin kaya! Iniisip ko na kung paano naubos bigla ang enerhiya niya at nahulog kami?

Ilang segundo lang ang imabot namin at matapos yun ay lumapag na ang mga paa ko sa lupa. I let out a huge sigh of relief, feeling the tension slowly leave my body. Looking around, mukhang tama nga ako, dahil halos sarado ang space dito, mas malakas ang daloy ng hangin, even the dusts are almost visible. Napatingin ako sa itaas at nakita kung paano mas naging malayo ang buwan. Mas madilim dito kesa kanina, but I can see that better than I had expected.

Although I feel a little uncomfortable around this place, there are small traces of emotions near me. Hindi ko nga lang maintindihan kung ano ang emosyon na nararamdaman nila because everything feels messy. Lumakad ulit kami, pero ngayon ay dahan-dahan ang pace namin. Alvin is behind me, following.

"T-tulong!" May narinig kaming sumigaw and looked around. Malapit lang ang boses na ito, but I don't feel anyone else other than the person behind me.

"Ate...tulong." Napatingin ako sa likuran ko sa gulat.

May isang batang lalaki na kumakapit sa cloak ko. I frowned. Hindi ko manlang siya naramdamang lumapit. This kid....I don't feel any emotions from him. Pero umiiyak ito. I can see tears flowing from his eyes. Somehow, I don't trust him one bit.

"Bakit? Anong problema?" Tanong ni Alvin habang nakaluhod para mapantayan ang bata.

"M-nay malaking halimaw po...k-kailangan n-namin ng tulong...ayaw kong mamatay a-ang pamilya ko!" I saw gow Alvin'a eyes widened and wuickly hugged the kid.

"Huwag kang mag-alala. Nandito na kami. Ituro mo ang daan, ilalabas namin kayo dito." The kid smiled and nodded at nagsimula nang lumakad sa unahan namin as I walked beside Alvin.

"Anong ginawa mo?" Bulong ko sa kaniya.

"Why are you even asking? The kid's family is in danger." He whispered back.

"We don't even know if he's lying or not. Wala akong nararamdamang emosyon sa bata. Paano kung kalaban pala siya?"

"Enough with your trust issues! Bata lang siya Adriana, and you're even doubting a kid."

I wanted to say more pero lumakad na siya sa tabi ng bata habang hawak-hawak ang kamay nito. I frowned. I'm not saying that because of my trust issues. Mahirap lang talagang magtiwala. At alam kong bata lamang siya, but when someone's lying, it doesn't matter what or who they are.

It's weird enough that that kid doesn't have any emotions. I already figured out na may ginagawa si President to keep his emotions from being detected, alam ko dahil naramdaman ko ang tuwa niya nung sinabi niya ang pangalang 'Angela', he has emotions. But this kid...kahit umiiyak na ay parang bato parin. Is he even actually alive?

And I understand why Alvin refuses to see my point of view. His family died, and he couldn't even do anything back then. Kaya parang nakikita jiya ang sarili niya sa batang ito. Kaya hindi muna ako gagawa ng kahit anong masamang bagay, unless I discover that kid really is untrustworthy.

"Sa likod po ng malaking bato nayan." The kid finally said after walking for several minutes. Dahil sa medyo madilim nga ang lugar, ay hindi ko na alam kung saan at kung ano na ang pinipuntahan namin.

Malaki ang bato na nasa unahan namin ngayon that we had to climb it. The stone was a huge wall, at mukhang hindi ito madaling mawasak. Kung nandito si Andrea ay isang hawak kang sa batong ito at wala na 'to ngayon sa unahan namin. But she's not here, so we have to go through it our own. Hinawakan bigla ni Alvin ang kamay ko and my body once again lifted up pass by the huge rock alomg with the kid. We landed on the other side successfuly. This guy is getting used to holding my hand. Baka nakakalimutan niyang kalaban ko parin siya.

My eyes widened when I saw Theone laying at the corner, then Ziandra sitting near him. Malapit sa kanila ay ang mga grupo ng tao na nakaupo. Ang iba ay sugatan, habang ang iba ay nahihirapan. I can see some kids crying at sinusubukan silang pinapakalma ng mga magulang nila.

Unknowningly, mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa direksyon nina Ziandra. Nagulat yata siya nang makita ako, at sa likuran ko ay sumusunod si Alvin. Dahil sa dilim ay hindi niya na napansin na may nakapasok. I heard her sigh in relief. Looking at Theone, sugatan din siya. His right arm is bleeding too much, and his breathing is ragged. Si Ziandra naman ay may mga sugat pero hindi ganoon kalala. I gritted my teeth in anger. Marami nga ang nadamay dahil sa planong ito, the people wouldn't have rushed here to seek refugee kung hindi kami umatake. Damn it.

I may be feeling guilty, but I'm not regretting my decisions. I can't. Matapos ang nangyari, I just can't regret it now. I let out another sigh. Kumalma ka Ke'ala. Wala kang magagawa sa pagdra-drama mo.

"T-Thank God..." Ziandra was barely able to say that. I felt too much relief from her, na para bang nawala bigla yung takot na nararamdaman niya kanina pa. She was happy with me arriving.

"I'm sorry...I'm late."

"I-I thought...mawawala na ako.." she said, tears building her eyes.

Right. They did tell me na mawawala sila kung mamamatay sila even when they are spirts. Spirits are technically people too, but they can cross over the boundaries of the dead and living. One can only become a spirit if their deaths are not acceptable.

It had only been few months ever since I met my spirits. Hindi kami ganoon ka-close, but of all the others, more than people, I trust them. It's probably because we're contracted that I can trust them. They were always there whenever I ask of their help, and considering all we've been through, I can't just let them disappear! They're still...they are still beneficial to me.

"We'll...we will get you all of here. But before that, enlighten me first." Agad niyang pinunasan ang mga nabubuong luha sa mata niya at seryosong napatingin sa akin.

"Remember when you asked us to look around? We discovered another form of spiritual energy coming from this place, and before we knew it, nasa loob na kami ng isang gubat." Bahagya siyang tumigil at agad na mas hinigpitan ang isang piraso ng tela na nakapalibot sa braso ni Theone, para tumigil ang dugo.

"Maliit lang ang bayan, kaya medyo hindi gaano karami ang mga tao that we were able to ran into them. Diyan kami sinubukang habulin ng mga halimaw. Ilang oras nadin kami palipat-lipat ng ligtas na lugar. We plan on escaping this place, pero hindi na namin mahanap ang daan palabas. We're lost."

"How did you even gain your physical forms?"

"The odd energy around this place was enough for us to regain our physical form. Salamat nadin dito ay napigilan namin ang ibang halimaw sa pagpatay ng mga tao. They are probably more than hundreds of people here right now. Kaya kung hindi ka dumating, we would have already used our ability dahil hindi namin sila kayang protektahan lahat. There are some people who actually have proper abilities, pero halos lahat sila ay normal lang."

"In other words we have to leave this place as soon as possible."

"Teka, paano ba kayo nakapunta dito? We're suppose to hide behind that huge rock. Mabuti nakang ang at medyo maraminang bilang ng mga earth-user dito, and they all worked hard to build that wall."

"Alvin used his ability, he is an air-user." Tumingin siya sa likuran ko and her eyes widened. She was probably surprised kung bakit may kasama akong isang black.

"Don't look at me like that. Don't worry, we're not friends." Alvin replied behind me.

"At nakapasok kami dito dahil sa isang—" I stopped when I suddenly realised something.

Sabi ni Ziandra ay nandito sila para makaiwas sa mga halimaw, and then they built that wall. Then how did a certain kid manage to walk out of that wall para lang humingi ng tulong? They won't let a kid out so easily para lang sa rasong yan, and more impossible is how they leave a child outside. At wala din akong nararamdamang presensya mula sa batang iyon kanina. I got a bad feeling. Again.

Tumayo ako at tinignan ng derecho si Alvin. He was confused for a moment, but then realised I was actually looking behind him. He followed my gaze and saw the child there, chuckling to himself.

Bigla nalang may lumabas na dilim na aura sa buong katawan niya, as he lifted his hand. May lumabas dito na isang kutsilyo, at tinutok ito kay Alvin since siya ang malapit sa kaniya. He's threatening him.

Everything happened too fast before we could even do anything.