Chapter 3: Escape

Hinintay kong maging tahimik ang lahat bago lumabas ng kwarto. I had to make sure the rest of the students in the dorm were already in their classes. Bumaba ako sa tahimik na common room, floors washed with light from the gigantic glass windows. I sneaked like a rat out of the building.

I had a fair share of luxury views because of lola's properties, but the academy was a whole other level of magnificence. It was like living in a fairytale picture book where I was a background character who ended up having the princess' face.

The sky was radiant this morning. Thin clouds rolled like cotton on the clear sky. The tips of the castle's towers glimmered under the sun. The campus was too wide for my short strides. Kalahating oras din akong naglakad, walking through courtyards, passing hedges and fountains habang naghahanap ng daan palabas.

Nakarating ako sa dulong bahagi ng campus nang hindi namamalayan. I'd been too absorbed with the scenery to realize I was in the secluded part of the campus. Isang maliit na gate ang makikita sa dulo ng mabato at mabuhangin na daan, hidden by untamed bushes and piles of mossy rocks.

I shoved my worries aside and decided to head for the gate. It was my best option to at least get to somewhere. Dahan-dahan kong tinulak ang kinakalawang na gate until it creaked open enough for me to squeeze myself out.

Once I stepped outside, I was ambushed by thick thorn bushes and wild trees. They pricked my skin and the leaves with ragged edges brushed my face. Mukhang matagal nang hindi nagagamit ang daan na ito.

I protected my face from the rough leaves at hinawi ang matinik na halaman sa daraanan ko gamit ang maliit na patpat. It took me several minutes of hiking down the slope hanggang sa narating ko ang bungad ng bayan.

I walked a little bit more along the street lined with cottages and charming gardens until I reached the town square. I stood in the middle, surrounded by people...alive, walking, chatting, going on their normal day. There was a fountain in the middle of the square where kids were running around, chasing each other.

The town was alive.

Pero paano? Sigurado akong ito ang lugar na natagpuan ko sa loob ng gubat. The towers, the buildings, everything...was supposed to be abandoned.

"Miss..."

Isang lalaki ang tumawag sa 'kin mula sa fountain. His head was covered in a cloak sewn together by different fabric. I couldn't see his face clearly, but I assumed he was old.

"Estudyante ka ba ng Mirren Academy?"

He looked at the direction of the academy where the castle was visible behind the top of the trees. The man had a raspy voice, maybe from old age or bad habits. I managed to smile and walked away nang hindi sumasagot. If there was one thing I learned from my nineteen years of living, it was not to trust strangers. He could be scamming me for all I know.

"Hindi ka taga-rito sa mundong ito..."

Tumigil ako sa paghakbang. As much as I wanted to keep my composure and acted like I belong here, I failed. Muli akong humarap sa lalaki. "How do you know?"

Sumilay ang ngiti sa labi ng lalaki sa ilalim ng kanyang hood. "May barya ka ba, Miss?"

Barya? Pera? I didn't have money. I didn't even know what kind of currency they used here. I bit my lower lip, trying to decide if I could trust the stranger. He might have answers to my questions. Maybe he could help me leave.

Someone stood between me and the old man and placed a candy on his waiting hand. It was the guy from the infirmary. "Stop scamming students, you old hag."

The man's shoulders shook in a chuckle before he removed his hood to reveal...a not-so-old man. He actually looked like he was only in his mid-twenties, with subtle stubble on his sharp chin.

"Ah, Santi Yvo, dumating ka rin. I got bored."

Bored? So all those comments about me was out of boredom? Masamang tingin ang ginawad ko sa lalaki. He gave me a not-so-sincere apologetic nod before lighting a cigarette that suddenly appeared between his fingers. He sat on the bench with ease and raised his foot on top of his leg.

"One of these days you'll get in trouble with that hobby of yours, Marco."

"What?" He blew smoke into the air. "It's entertaining."

My jaw slacked, but no words came out of my mouth. Was I a joke to this two? I rolled my eyes in complete annoyance before walking away. Nakakainis. I knew I was stranger in this place, but they could have treated me a little better.

"Hey, Valencourt."

Nakailang hakbang na ako palayo nang mapagtanto ko na ako ang tinatawag. Santi Yvo...if that was even his real name. Hinabol niya ako at hinawakan ang balikat ko para pigilan.

"What?" iritable kong tanong.

"Where are you going on a school day?"

"None of your business."

"Are you skipping class? The Olivia Valencourt?" mapanudyo niyang tanong.

"Yes, I am, Santi Yvo."

He chuckled. A hearty, crisp chuckle with his head held back. He was clearly entertained by this. Good for him. I marched away from this condescending guy.

"Wait up!" he called, still chuckling. "Olivia Valencourt never skips class."

I wasn't Olivia. 'Yon ang paulit-ulit na sagot sa isip ko, pero hindi ko ito tuluyang masabi. Humarap akong muli kay Santi. "I need to get out of here."

His chortle faded and his lips pressed into a thin line, as if he heard something interesting. His smile came back with malice. "May tinatakasan ka ba?"

"Yes." I stared back at him, eyes cold. He had dark eyes with mesmerizing specks of gray. Umiwas ako ng tingin nang magsalubong ang mga kilay niya. It might be entertaining to him, but I was dead serious.

Santi took a step closer to inspect my face. Out of nowhere, he raised his hand and placed his palm against my forehead. "May sakit ka ba, Valencourt?"

I jerked his hand away. "I'm perfectly fine!"

"Wait here."

Bumalik siya sa fountain kung nasaan ang lalaking naka-cloak at may sinabi rito. I didn't wait for him though. I had no reason to. Instead, I walked away from them and asked the people around for a way out of this place.

Pero isang lugar lang ang sinasabi nila. The train station—which didn't make sense to me. I wasn't from somewhere far. I just needed an exit from here and back to the cabin.

Isang matandang babae ang may sinabi sa 'king kakaiba. It was about a place called the sentinel building. It was where gatekeepers, which I assumed were guards, protected the borders and every possible entryway in town.

"Pero mag-ingat ka, hija," warned the old lady. "Hindi sila madaling pakiusapan."

I took the warning in my head at nagtungo sa direksyon na tinukoy ng matandang babae. The sentinel building was located at the edge of the town and could only be accessed by crossing a wooden walkway surrounded by the chilling isolation of the forest.

Noong una hindi ko alam kung nasa tama ba akong lugar. All I could see were trees along the wooden path and gigantic ferns, and all I could hear was the sound of lone birds singing. Malinis ang hangin at amoy berde ang paligid. Nang marating ko ang gitna ng tulay, unti-unti kong nakita ang tinutukoy ng matandang babae.

It was a building, a horrible one, standing on the edge of what seemed to be a cliff. It reminded me of dungeons. The structure of the building looked like it had been a castle once with high gates, thick stone walls, and low towers.

"Found what you're looking for?"

I blinked and stood up straighter. I plastered a cold face even though there was nothing left in me but confusion and the feeling of being lost. Santi appeared, sitting recklessly on the same tree I was holding on for strength.

He hopped from the tree branch and landed, almost softly, on the ground. I wiped a tear that unexpectedly fell on my cheeks, refusing to face him.

"I won't head in that place if I were you," tukoy niya sa building sa harapan namin.

Umatras ako palayo, dahil ramdam ko na hindi 'yon ang lugar na kailangan ko. Nagpalinga-linga ako habang mabilis ang mga hakbang. I needed to trace the path in the forest where I came from. Maybe I could go back from there.

Nakalayo na kami sa sentinel building nang biglang hilain ni Santi ang balikat ko. Tuluyan akong tumigil sa pagtakbo at humarap sa mukha niyang magkasalubong ang kilay.

"What's your deal?" he demanded. "Why are you acting like you're lost?"

I could tell my emotions were getting the best of me. My lips began to tremble as well as my hands. It was the one thing I hated about myself—when things get out of my control, I cry. But what could I do? I'd been trying to act calm since I woke up in this strange place, but I was so scared.

"Wipe your tears," Santi commanded. When I didn't comply, he brushed my cheek with his thumb to wipe them for me. "Olivia Valencourt never cries in front of anyone."

"I'm...not Olivia," I replied with contempt. "I'm not her. I'm not from here!"

Hindi nagsalita si Santi. For a moment, he just stared at me, wondering what I was thinking. My eyes roamed around the place, desperate. There must be a way to leave this town.

Tumakbo ako papasok sa gubat.

"Valencourt!"

Patuloy ako sa pagtakbo sa kagubatan. If I could retrace my steps, makakabalik ako sa cabin. I was good with directions. Natatandaan ko ang ilang mga bagay, the strange shape of the trees, ang mga halamang nakaharang sa daan.

Tumakbo ako hanggang sa marating ko ang masukal na parte ng gubat. Nothing was familiar. The trees and foliage looked strangely looming, watching me make a mess of myself. Patuloy ako sa pagtakbo with tears blurring my sight.

"Valencourt, you can't go any further."

Lumingon ako at nakitang sinusundan pa rin ako ni Santi. Ano ba ang kailangan niya?

"There's a force field—"

Bago ko tuluyang narinig ang warning ni Santi bigla na lang akong naitilapon pabagsak sa lupa. I gasped for air when my head hit the ground. Halos mamilipit ako sa sakit.

Napatayo ako sa lupa, iniinda ang sakit. "What the fuck, Valencourt? Nababaliw ka na ba?" Santi held me by the shoulder para tulungan akong tumayo.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Nakatitig lang ako sa bagay na nasa harapan ko. It was like staring directly at air on a summer day, waving and rippling with heat. There was a low buzzing noise coming from it, live with electricity.

Inalis ko ang sarili ko sa pagkakahawak ni Santi. "I need to get out of here."

"For what?" singhal niya. "There's nothing in there."

Umiling ako. "There are people waiting for me."

Bigla siyang natigilan. "Imposible ang sinasabi mo. Walang ibang nakatira sa islang ito."

May kaluskos kaming narinig sa 'di kalayuan. Bago pa ako muling nagsalita, two men wearing gray uniform approached us. Saan sila nanggaling?

Santi cursed under his breath. Bigla niya akong hinila sa likuran niya at nagsalita sa mahinang boses habang diretso ang tingin sa dalawang lalaki.

"Kahit anong mangyari, sumunod ka lang sa sasabihin ko."

***