Another gunshot echoed as it slowly pierced again to my leg. And with the scent of the blood lingering in the vicinity, the centipedes were pouring down rapidly quiver to my direction as if they are thirsty for my blood. My lips trembled as I slowly reach for the gun wounds, my blood was thicker and darker than it should be, and somehow its smell was different.

I slowly glanced towards the centipedes, and they were gathered to the pool of blood plummeting down from my legs. And with a tiny taste of it, they began to squirm in distress as if they were being poisoned by it. The centipedes started to crawl back to my mother, whose eyes were oozing with curiosity as she looked at me. But when she welcomed them, her eyes grew terrified.

“What did you do…”

I smirked at her. I carefully stood up, using the katana to support my weight.

“Isn’t that the reason why you can’t feel my presence?” I mumbled. Right, she only felt Alex earlier, but when her eyes adjusted, it was the only time she noticed me.

In the corner of my eyes, I saw the silhouette raising the gun, making me turn and deflect the bullet. And when I was about to speak, I heard the sound of an airplane nearby as well as the sudden impact of a strong wind. It made most of the centipede fly away, but some made their way back to my mother’s body.

“Oh. The guests are here!”

Dahan-dahan na bumaba ang eroplano at halos manlambot ako dahil tila wala lahat ng pagpaplanong ginawa ko upang alisin sila sa delubyong ito. Ang mga kasama kong iniwan ko, maging ang mga magulang naming lahat ay isa-isang bumaba sa eroplano habang nakaposas at mula sa likuran nila ay may isang lalaki na ang nagtututok ng baril.

“Samson, her blood is already useless.” I heard my mother said.

Nang lingunin ko siya, tila ba’y parang inaasahan niya na mangyayari ang bagay na ito. Tila muling kinilita ang buong katawan niya nang lumabas ang napakaraming centipede mula rito, mabilis na nagsamasama ang mga ito hanggang sa unti-unting nabuo ang isang trono na kaniyang inupan. At nang magtama ang mga mata namin, isang ngisi ang kumubra rito.

“I am your mother, Amira. I knew everything that comes to your mind, my dear.” She chuckled, making me bite my bottom lip out of frustration. I gasped for air as I slowly looked to the people I wanted to save and the person who most likely watched every move I made.

“You should have died earlier. Mourn my ass,” I jeered.

The woman who shot me multiple times laughed softly and glanced towards the people who thought she died, “I don’t die, Amira—Scratch that, we don’t die. Even if you destroy my legs again, they will just grow back afterward.”

Tanginang plano ‘yan, nasira lang dahil sa bruhang si Kelly. Iindahan ko muna saglit ang mga baling binaon mo sa binti ko, lagot ka sa aking bruha ka mamaya. Hindi lang binti ang mawawala sa’yo.

“How could you betray us?!”

Kelly softly chuckled and said, “How can I not? Sa tingin mo ba’y basta-basta ko lamang makukuha ang isang pahina ng diary ng walang kahit anong eksplenasyon? You’re quite stupid, Amira.”

Saglit akong napaatras nang magmistulang mga kamay ang mga centipede at inaabot sa ‘kin ang isang syringe na may kulay pulang likido.

“Amira, don’t inject that thing into your body! Please, anak!” I heard my father screamed.

A wicked smile quickly appeared on my mother’s lips as he glanced towards Kelly and Samson, “If you want to save them… Offer your blood to me.” I grimaced while looking at her. Women can be really cunning at times, huh? “Especially, what’s the harm? Kelly looks fine as well as Samson.”

I slowly reached for the syringe and languidly eyed her, “You want me to fucking mixed your blood to mine? Do you think of as a fucking idiot—”

All of a sudden, I heard two gunshots, making me looked behind. Nakangisi lamang parehas sa ‘kin sina Kelly at Samson habang kinakaway ang kanilang hawak na baril at parehas nakaluhod sina Tyler at Tito Cris. Gulat na tumingin sa ‘kin si Cara, tila humihingi ng tulong.

“That’s your fault, my dear.” My mother smiled.

Tangina!

Dahan-dahan kong pinikit ang mga mata ko’t tinanggal ang takip ng syringe. Ilang buntong hininga ang kumawala sa bibig ko ngunit nanatili lamang akong nakatigil, “You’re still weak, aren’t you, Mom?” Matamis ko s’yang nginitian dahilan upang dahan-dahan na mandilim ang paningin niya, “Hmm… I wonder why… Siguro dahil hindi sila sa takot sa’yo?”

Mas lalong kumubra ang galit sa mukha niya nang bitawan ko ang syringe saka ito tinapakan, “Mommy, sa tingin mo ba’y ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit takot tumapak ang bozos sa Alpheus City?”

“Of course,” she mumbled, and cunning smiled, “I am the god, and you are in my kingdom.”

The tentacles behind her back suddenly devoured the centipedes around, making the whole rooftop be filled with blood. I slowly stepped backward and realized the number of tentacles suddenly multiplied. And as I tilted my head, her two subordinates were actually taking their real form, yet unlike my mother’s, they only have two tentacles each.

I twitched when the ground I’m stepping in suddenly rumbled, and a part of it fell.

“You’ve been such a disobedient child, Amira,” my mother said.

Oras na matalo ako sa laban na ‘to, may mangyayaring masama sa mga hostage na hawak ni Samsom. Hinanap ng mga mata ko si Ginoong Samuel ngunit wala siya sa grupong iyon, nang matahin ko ang eroplano akala ko’y makikita ko siya ngunit wala talaga siya.

“Hinahanap mo ang kakambal ko? Bakit parang mas nag-aalala ka sa kaniya kaysa sa sarili mong buhay, ija…” Ani ni Samson. Wala sa sarili ko siyang nilingon nang bigla na lamang akong sinugod ng tig-isang galamay ni Kelly, “Nakululungkot lang sabihin sa iyo, ija, na ang taong iyong hinahanap ay patay na.”

Sa bawat pag-iwas ko’y iniinda ko ang bawat sakit ng mga balang nakabaon sa aking binti. Buong lakas kong hiniwa ang galamay ni Kelly na muntik na akong matamaan sa likuran, nang mahagip ng mga mata ko sina Parker ay napansin kong nakaposas ang dalawang kamay nila. At sa totoo lang mas mabuti na ganoon ang sitwasyon nila kaysa maipit sa gulo kung nasaan ako ngayon.

Agad akong napabitaw sa katana nang maramdaman ko ang mahapding kagat na mula sa isang centipede, mabilis akong nahilo hanggang sa dahan-dahan akong mapaluhod sa sahig. Buong lakas kong inangat ang aking ulo upang silipin ang matuso kong ina na isang halakhak lamang binungad sa akin.

“You’ve wasted my precious blood… You’ve been such a disobedient daughter… Now, taste every inch of my blood that I will offer you.”

“No! Mom, please don’t hurt my sister!” I heard Alex screamed.

My eyes were still blurry, making me cut through the sting of the fucking centipede in order to remove its venom somehow. I can hear the struggling beside me, but I actually don’t wish for them to help. I don’t want them to be hurt anymore, especially that this fight is between my mother and me.

My mother’s chuckle echoed, “Why would I listen to you? For all I know is that you are no longer useful, especially that I’ve already tracked down your sister. I’ve only sent Samson as a mindless infected to lure you… Well, you actually did.”

Damn.

I let out a sigh as my eyes finally adjusted. But before I could even smirk or mock her, all her tentacles were already in front of me. It was swaying and dancing, taunting me to make a move.

“Fine…” I lowly whispered and glared at her, “Make me strong, and I promise you’ll fucking regret it that you turned me into a hideous monster like you.”

Saglit siyang napatigil dahil sa banta ko at nang akala ko’y makararamdam siya ng takot dahil do’n ay bumaba siya sa kanyang trono saka siya dahan-dahan na humakbang papalapit sa akin.

“You’ll become a beast that you will be turning your back not just on me, but also to the people that you’re trying to protect.”

And for a moment, I’ve realized that she’s right. I squeezed my eyes shut as I prepare myself for my mother’s wrath. But all I’ve heard was the sound of shackles echoing and ringing to my ears.

“No! Ate Amira!”

Tears shimmered in my eyes when I felt someone falling into the ground and as my eyes welled up. The view that was somehow blurry began to become clearer. My lips tremble when a tight, warm embrace suddenly envelops my body. As I looked behind him, all the tentacles from my mother’s back were pricking on him.

Blood runs, gushing through his lips as he cough. He heartily smiled at me and slowly reached for my forehead, making my tears flood more.

After the touch of his lips on my forehead, his body began to react, and it was rapidly changing to a horrifying creature that I’m scared of.

“Spencer… No…”

#