The dreadful howls and growls echoed even it was miles away, and as my eyes slowly glance to the horizon, the thick sheets of the clouds along with stars splintered on it made me question myself if I could even see the eye of the heavens, or I will meet my end amidst the dusk.

The cold, wintry wind brushes my skin. And in the middle of ambiguous thoughts, a thunderous weep caught our attention—all the way from above, a holler of despair rung through our ears.

“Let’s go…” Parker immediately pulled me out of the storage room and went back to the specimen room. As soon as we met the others, they all abruptly eyed me.

“What’s that?” I asked. They all shrugged, making me look at Alex, “It was her, right?”

Kagat-labi na tumango si Alex kasabay nito ang pagbaling niya sa ibang direksyon. Muling umalingawngaw ang boses ng isang babae, tumatangis ito habang walang humpay ang sigaw.

Mas lalong humigpit ang kapit sa akin ni Parker, saglit nawala ang atensyon ko sa kanila nang makarinig ako ng dahan-dahan na pagkabasag ng salamin sa aking gilid.

“Shall we go upstairs?” I heard Cara asked.

“It will be dangerous for Amira!” Tyler argued.

I can hear them, but my attention wasn’t focused on them. And because of their endless bickering, they failed to notice what I felt.

“But that is Tita Aly’s voice! She’s asking for help!” Cara shouted.

I slowly let go of Parker’s hand and tilted my head to look behind. Blood drained out of my face as I twisted my lips. I weakly tugged Parker’s sleeves.

The faint crackling sound, along with crimson leering eyes of humans inside the test tubes, was creeping me out. They were all looking at me as if they wanted something from me.

I gulped, “Guys…” Tangina naman nasa pinakalikod ako.

Sa dami ng mg test tube sa lugar na ito, hindi lahat ay agad nasalinan ng antidote. Kalahati sa kanila ay unti-unting umaayos ang kalagayan, samantalang ang iba ay nakatitig lamang sa akin.

“I think we should go!”

“Pero paano nga si Amira? Oras na makita ‘yan ni Tito August. Alam niyo ang mangyayari.”

At dahil hindi pa rin sila tapos sa kanilang walang sawang bangayan ay nag-iisa lamang akong natatakot dito. Inis kong sinipa si Parker dahilan upang lingunin niya ako.

“Tangina— Ay, puta!” Mabilis akong hinigit ni Spencer palapit sa kanya nang tuluyan nang masira ang mga salamin.

Dahan-dahan nagbabago ang kanilang itsura, kung kanina halos sumabog ang kanilang mga ugat mula ulo hanggang talampakan. Ngayon ay unti-unting natutuyot ang kanilang mga balat at napipilas ito sa kanilang mga katawan. Ang mga nakadidiring mga laman loob nila ay nagsisipatakan hanggang sa mahila nila iyon habang naglalakad patungo sa amin.

Ang mga mata ko ay nanatiling nakatingin kay Gray, siya lamang ang naging bozo sa kanilang apat na niligtas ko.

“Amira—” Kagat-labi akong naglakad patungo rito. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa isipan ko, basta ang alam ko’y may tila nais siyang sabihin.

Gulat ang mga mata nila nang lagpasan ako ng mga bozos na naunang maglakad kay Gray.

“Shit! Should we kill them?” Peter asked.

“What the hell is with you, Amira? Bakit nilalagpasan ka nila?” Takhang tanong ni Tyler.

I frustratingly bit my lips as my eyes were locked to Gray’s. He stops in front while looking through as if he was looking at someone behind my back.

“I—I injected myself with Lycoris Albiflora, and somehow I am invisible in their views,” I answered. I heard someone pulling a trigger, making me look at my side, “Don’t kill them! I think, we can still save them.”

“Do you want us to inject the antidote one by one? That’s ridiculous!” Parker spouted.

“We have enough antidote for them, right, Spencer?” I asked.

Spencer nodded, “But the plan is too dangerous. Walang matitira na para sa atin kung tayo naman ang magiging infected.”

I looked at my brother with downcast eyes, making him let out a sigh and brood to the others, “Just listen to her. We still have lots of Lycoris Albiflora in Tita Alleona’s field. We can still make antidotes.”

I smiled and turned my head to Gray, who was still looking behind me. His voice was low, and the growling of the other bozos are overpowering his voice.

“Amira, catch!” Tyler threw a syringe filled with the antidote, which I immediately caught.

Nang alisin ko ang takip at handa ko nang iturok iyon kay Gray ay saglit kong narinig ang tinig niya, “A—Alam niya… Alam niya, Amira.” Nakatingin pa rin siya sa aking likuran dahilan upang lumingon ako ro’n.

At isang pamilyar na pigura ang nakatayo ro’n, pinapanood kami habang nais namin na pagalingin ang mga bozos sa aming paligid. Walang emosyon ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa ‘kin, nang dahan-dahan na bumagsak ang aking balikat at mga luha ay naagaw ko ang atensyon ng aking kapatid.

“Tangina!” Inis na sambit ni Alex saka niya inagaw sa kamay ko ang syringe at tinarak iyon kay Gray. Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang braso ko at bumaling sa iba naming kasama, “Kung hindi kayang maramdaman si Amira ng mga bozos. Kaya siyang makita ng taong iyon.”

“Keep her safe. Leave this to us. Susunod kami pangako,” sambit ni Parker.

Hindi ako handa sa naging mabilis na aksyon ni Alex. Hinila niya ako patungo sa may hagdan at mula sa ika-24 na baitang ay tinakbo namin hanggang sa ika-29 para lamang makalayo sa prisensya ng aming ama.

“I will not let him do anything bad to you. I’m going to protect you, okay?”

“Kaya ko ang sarili ko—”

He grimaced at me, “Dad is your weakness. You can defy any people around you, but not him. So, stop being a stupid sister, and once in a while, listen to your older brother.”

“What are you going to do with Daddy?”

Alex pursed his lips and avoided my eyes, “Anything just to keep you safe.”

Our body stunned when we heard a familiar voice; the soft voice was filled with grief and sorrow. My brother squeezed my hand as we carefully walk in its direction, he unfurled the white curtain, and the dreadful situation of our mother welcomed us.

A thick glass wall was separating us. She was shackled on a white bed stained with blood, while above her was a bunch of colorless liquid, which was being inserted by tangles of tubes injected into her body. Her entire body was covered with scratches and rashes, making her be enveloped with blood.

Alex and I carefully walk in her direction, the glass door was open, and I noticed that the room she wherein was the only way towards the rooftop.

“Mom…” Alex mumbled as soon as we reached her front.

Our mother weakly tilted her head, “A—Alex… Please, please save me…” she pleaded.

Alex immediately made his way to the cabinets to look for the key. I kneeled in front of her and held her hand as tightly as possible. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she looked at me, “Amira… Amira, my baby, is that you?”

“Yes. It’s me, mommy.”

Nang mapansin kong bumalik na si Alex, hawak-hawak ang susi ay mabilis akong tumayo. Saglit akong nakaramdam ng kaba habang tinatanggal ni Alex ang pagkadena sa aming ina dahilan upang iangat ko ang aking paningin sa pinakapintuan ng palapag na ito.

“He’s here…” bulong ko.

“Mommy, can you walk?” Tanong ni Alex. Naghihinang tumango ito kay Alex na nakatingin sa may glass door at dahil tanggal na ang kadena sa braso nito ay maingat niyang binitawan si Mommy saka bumaling sa akin, “Tumakbo kayo sa rooftop. Ako ang bahala kay Daddy.”

Marahan kong inalalayan si Mommy upang makatayo ito habang hirap siya dahil sa walang tigil niyang pag-ubo ng dugo. Mabilis na tumakbo si Alex sa direksyon ni Daddy saka ito tinulak gamit ang buong katawan upang makalayo ito sa amin.

“Alex!” I shouted due to frustration. Daddy was struggling hard in order to get back on his feet while Alex was trying his best to stop him.

I turned to my mother and bit my bottom lip, “Please, run upstairs. I promise I’m going to follow you.” I softly pushed her, and even she’s protesting with her soft eyes, she still followed my instruction.

Tears began to plummet down my cheeks as I watched my father and brother brawl. This family was really a disaster. I jolted to the glass door while tightly gripping at the katana. As I saw my father’s darting eyes looking at me, I can’t help but felt inferior.

But this is the only way to stop this madness…

“I’m sorry…” I mumbled.

I shut the glass door, making my father’s eyes widened. He looked at me with disbelief, making him forcefully pushed Alex just to reach the buttons on his side. But I was fast enough to destroy the buttons in front of me, which made the glass door malfunction by failing to open.

“I’m sorry…”

With the last shred of my tears, I turned my back behind them and run towards my mother.

I was gasping for air when I arrived at the top. And as I roamed my sight, I saw my mother down on her knees while breathing hard. She noticed my presence and slowly lifted her head with her eyes flooded by tears.

“Amira… Is he gone? Am I now safe?” She asked while trying hard to crawl in my direction.

I quickly wipe my tears and looked down at her with a smile, “He’s gone.”

“Is he really gone—”

“It’s just the two of us, Mommy.” I chuckled and smirked while looking at her, “So… Do you mind dropping your foolish act?”

#