HARRIET

DAHAN-DAHAN kong iminulat ang aking mga mata. I could hear the sounds of birds chirping outside. The afternoon light blinded me as it pierced through the curtainless windows.

"Gising ka na pala?" tanong ng babaeng naka-facemask at nakatalikod sa akin. Based on her white uniform and skirt, she must be a nurse.

My eyes roamed around, searching for clues on where I was brought to. Ano bang nangyari sa akin kanina? As far as I could remember... I was bitten by a snake after Aiden and I had fallen into a man-made hole... then he helped me out of that misery with the help of Morrie and Mina. Hindi ko man sila nakita kanina, I heard their voices very well.

Thanks to them, I survived. Ayaw ko pang mamatay. Marami pa akong pangarap na dapat tuparin. And a true Holmesian is never defeated too easily.

Sinubukan kong igalaw ang paa ko. The numbness was still there. Parang mabigat nang subukan kong iangat. They must have injected me with some sort of antidote the moment I got here.

"Nasaan na ho ang mga kasama ko?" tanong ko sa nurse na inaayos ang mga bote sa medicine cabinet.

"Lumabas sila para mag-participate sa mga teambuilding activity," sagot niya nang hindi lumilingon sa akin. "Baka gabi na sila makabalik dito. Maraming pasabog na inihanda si Professor Dred para sa kanila."

"Ano?!" Halos mapatayo ako sa kama. I tried moving my hands but I noticed that my wrists were tied.

How dare they leave me here alone! Malakas ang kutob kong si Morrie ang nag-suggest na tumuloy sila kahit wala ako. He would never miss an opportunity para ungusan ako sa mga ganitong activity. We should be acting as allies but he couldn't put down the thought of competition!

Teka, bakit nga ba nakatali ang mga kamay ko rito? I did not need to be restrained dahil hindi naman ako napo-possess ng masamang espiritu. So why?

"Excuse me? Can you remove these, please? Nangangati na kasi ang ilong ko," palusot ko sa nurse. Ngunit hindi niya ako pinansin. Patuloy lang siya sa pagsasaayos sa mga bote.

Doon na ako biglang kinabahan. Bumilis ang pagtibok ng puso ko. I pulled my arms with all my strength kahit hindi pa tuluyang nanunumbalik ang lakas ko. But my efforts were in vain.

What's going on here?

"Did you know that there are three drugs used in lethal injection?" Hinarap ako ng nurse na may hawak-hawak na syringe. Napalunok ako ng laway habang tinititigan ang dulo ng karayom. Pilit akong nagpumiglas but my hands were still strapped on the bed.

"Una, kailangan mo munang gawing unconscious ang target mo." She pressed the plunger slowly, some drops of liquid oozed out of it. "Sunod, kailangan mong i-paralyze ang kanyang muscles. At panghuli, patigilin ang kanyang puso. Simple lang, 'di ba?"

"Si-Sino ka? A-Anong balak mong gawin sa akin?" I pulled the straps but they wouldn't fall off! I thought my troubles were done after being bitten by that snake!

"Nagkita na tayo noon, 'di mo ba natatandaan?" Umupo sa tabi ng kama ko ang nurse, nakamasid sa akin ang mga mata niyang may masamang balak. "Sa Bartholomew Building, nakalimutan mo na ba? Sandaling nagkatagpo ang tingin natin noon dahil busy ka sa pakikipagkwentuhan sa mga kaibigan mo."

Bartholomew Building? Ano bang meron doon at bakit napunta ako roo—Aha! Matapos ang soiree, doon dinala ang assassin noon. Tapos... natagpuan namin siyang patay sa pinagkukulungang kwarto. At ang suspek? Walang iba kundi ang nurse.

So that nurse was the same nurse in front of me? Kaso paano siya nagka-access sa kwartong ito? Was she one of the staff? Was she among those personnel who joined us in this trip?

Kaasar! Bakit wala na naman akong magawa?! Nasa harapan ko na siya, ang taong pumutol sa pising posibleng maging lead namin sa mga vigilante.

"Huwag kang mag-alala, magiging mabilis at hindi masakit ang pagkamatay mo." Unti-unti na niyang nilapit ang syringe sa kamay ko. I tried to struggle, but she held down my hand. Sa sobrang lakas ng pagkakahawak niya, wala akong nagawa.

"Let go of me! Let go of me, you bi—"

"Kapag natapos na ako sa 'yo, isusunod ko ang mga kaibigan mo." Naramdaman kong pumasok ang karayom sa ugat ng kamay ko. Parang kinagat ng langgam. "Uunahin ko siguro ang tahimik mong classmate, tapos isusunod ang dalawang lalaki. Ilang araw ka lang magiging malungkot. Huwag kang mag-alala, makakasama mo ulit sila... sa kabilang mundo!"

Halos naubos na ang laman ng syringe ngunit hindi pa rin nakakapumiglas ang kamay ko. Someone, please help me! Save me from this monster!

Naramdaman kong unti-unting nanghina ang katawan ko at bumagal ang aking paghinga. My energy was seemingly being drained by an invisible vacuum. Nagdodoble na rin ang paningin ko.

Kainis. Heto na ba ang epekto ng injection niya? But I still would like to live! I don't wanna die here!

My body may have been rendered defenseless but my mind was still operational. I could see what she was doing and hear what she was saying. Muli siyang tumayo at kumuha ng bote mula sa cabinet. She refilled the syringe with another liquid.

"Muscle relaxant is up next. Excited ka na ba?" tanong ng nurse. Her flat tone was indicative of her lack of empathy. Parang nag-eeksperimento siya ng guinea pig sa ginagawa niya.

Who was she? Why was she trying to kill me? Gusto niya bang patahimikin ang mga nakakita sa kanya noon?

She sat beside me again. My eyes were half-closed but I could see the tip of the needle puncturing my vein. She was about to press the plunger but something interrupted her. Three knocks on the door.

Mabilis niyang tinanggal ang pagkakatusok ng syringe at inayos ang kanyang suot. In my mind, I was screaming for help, but no words would come out of my mouth. The drug has already taken effect. Parang lantang-gulay ako ritong pinapanood kung ano ang susunod na mangyayari.

Whoever's on the other side of the door, I wished he would notice that I was in a dangerous situation. Kung bumalik na sina Mina, Aiden o Morrie, posibleng mapansin nilang may kakaiba sa akin, and they might suspect the nurse. Sana'y dala ng Watsonian ang kanyang long-range stun pen para ma-disable nila ang kalaban.

The nurse opened the door slowly and greeted the visitor with a smile. Nagulat ako nang makita ang mukha niya. Pa... Paano siya nakapunta rito? He should be miles away from here!

"I heard that my daughter was bitten by a snake."

I couldn't hear my dad's voice clearly, but his mouth's movement and the muffled sound I heard enabled me to fill in the blanks. Bakit siya nandito? Did he skip his duties as a court judge just to visit me?

"Tuloy ho kayo, sir." The nurse motioned her hand inside my room. There was a glint of malice in her eyes. "Nakontrol namin ang pagkalat ng lason sa kanyang katawan. Pero minomonitor pa namin siya dahil baka magkakomplikasyon ang antidote."

My dad looked at me in the eye, a hint of concern flashed across his face. It was such a rare sight for me to see him attending to me. Umupo siya sa tabi ng kama ko at inilagay ang kanyang hand-carry bag sa mesa.

"How many times will you put yourself in such precarious situations?" tanong niya. If only I could answer, sinagot ko na siya. Pumunta ba siya rito para sermunan ako? Was this how he express his concern for his child? By scolding me?

In my peripheral vision, the nurse was once again holding a syringe and refilling it with liquid. Nagkasalubong ang mga mata namin. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang tingin sa kanyang mga mata na tila gusto niyang pumatay ng tao.

"Maghapon ba tayong magtititigan dito?" tanong ni dad. Kung makakasagot lang ako, sinagot na sana kita. Couldn't you see that your daughter was physically paralyzed?

Lumapit ang nurse sa tabi niya. She looked down on me, her eyes telling me to bid farewell to my father.

I wanna scream, but I couldn't. Death was standing on my bedside and she was planning to take my father's life. But I couldn't do anything!

"I should pull you out of that detective school," sabi ni dad. "The thing that I should have done before."

Run! Run before death's scythe could reach you! Hindi mo ba nararamdaman ang panganib sa paligid mo? Hey! Why wouldn't you move a muscle?

"You're like your mother," he went on. "Too stubborn. Doesn't listen to what I'm saying. Like mother, like daught—"

The nurse stabbed the syringe on my dad's neck and pushed the plunger as quickly as she could. His face became twisted as he grabbed onto his chest. By the time the nurse pulled the syringe, my dad collapsed on the floor.

And here I was, lying on the bed while watching him writhe in pain. All I could do was stare at him as he drew his last breath. Seconds later, his body stopped moving, his eyes and mouth were wide open.

Tears began to fall from my eyes, rolling down on my cheeks. Nakakainis. Wala akong nagawa kundi manood. Manood hanggang sa lagutan siya ng hininga.

"Potassium chloride," the nurse mumbled. "Hindi ko na pinatagal pa ang pagdurusa ng daddy mo. It was painful, yes, but only for a few seconds. Meron na siyang history ng heart attack, 'di ba? Hindi na magsususpetya ang mga pulis kapag nakita nila ang bangkay niya rito."

Paano niya nalamang naatake na sa puso ko noon si dad?

"At ngayon, ikaw naman." Humarap sa akin ang nurse at ipinakita ang pag-refill niya sa syringe. "May nauna ka nang kasama sa kabilang buhay kaya hindi ka na malulungkot pagdating doon."

There was nothing I could do anymore. Kailangan ko nang tanggapin na hanggang dito na lang ako.

Itinusok ng nurse ang syringe sa ugat ng aking braso. Hindi ko na ramdam ang sakit dulot ng pagpasok nito. I wished my death would be a lot more peaceful than my dad.

The nurse stared down at me, watching me take my last breath. She put the syringe on the table and held her face mask's strap. Dahan-dahan niya itong tinanggal. Gusto niya sigurong ipakita sa akin ang kanyang mukha bago ako mamatay.

And the drug started kicking in. I felt a heavy pounding on my chest. Parang pinipiga ang puso ko.

The angel of death grinned from ear to ear as my eyes caught a glimpse of her whole face. She showed me her tongue that was long and split into two distinct tines at the tip, followed by a familiar hissing.

Just like a snake.

Bigla akong napabalikwas sa malambot na kama kasabay ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga. Sunod-sunod ang paghingal ko na tila muntik na akong malunod sa dagat. I needed to catch my breath first.

"Sa wakas, gising ka na."

I turned to my left and saw Professor Dred reading a book. Lumingon-lingon ako sa kwarto, hinahanap ang nurse na nag-injection sa akin ng iba't ibang compound. But she was nowhere to be found. What surprised me more was how different the room compared to the one that I was in moments ago.

Was my death just a dream? As well as my father's?

"Nanaginip ka siguro kaya parang kakaahon mo lang sa dagat," komento ni Professor Dred. "Don't worry, ligtas ka na mula sa lason. May pamamaga pa rin sa binti mo pero mawawala rin 'yan maya-maya."

Iniangat ko ang aking binti. It was slightly numb, just like in my dream. Sunod akong napatingin sa aking mga kamay. My wrists were no longer strapped.

I heaved a long sigh and lie again on my bed. Ang akala ko, talagang natuluyan na ako. Bakit nga ba hindi ko napansin ang inconsistencies sa panaginip o bangungunot na 'yon? My dad wouldn't come here at the drop of a hat dahil nakagat lang ako ng ahas.

"You better take plenty of rest." Professor Dred closed the book and looked at me. "Bumawi ka na lang bukas kapag maayos ka na."

Bumawi?

Muli akong napabalikwas sa kama. "Teka, sir! Nasaan na pala ang mga teammate ko?"

"They went on with the challenges kahit hindi ka kasama," sagot niya. "I told them na pwede namang i-postpone ang mga activity ngayon dahil unfair sa inyo na kulang kayo ng isang kasamahan. But they insisted on it."

"Was it Morrie's idea?"

Professor Dred nodded. "Hindi mo raw kasi hahayaang magpatalo kayo sa ibang team at mas pipiliin mong lumaban kaysa umurong kayo kahit wala ka."

That bastard! Bakit ba feeling niya alam na alam niya kung paano ako mag-isip? If I were only conscious when they came up with a decision, baka binatukan ko siya at sinabing i-postpone muna ang activities.

Ikinagulat ni Professor Dred nang bumangon ako sa kama at naglakad patungo sa pinto. "Sa-Saan ka pupunta, Miss Harrison? Hindi ka pa okay!"

"I can't rest while my teammates are having a hard time beating the other teams," sagot ko. Kahit paika-ika akong maglakad, walang problema sa akin. Basta malinaw akong nakakapag-isip, I could contribute something to our team.

"I advise against it. Mas mabuti kung magpahinga ka muna. Meron pang activities bukas!"

"If my team loses again in these ongoing games, baka mahirapan na kaming makabawi!" Saktong nahawakan ko na ang doorknob ng pinto. "Morrie is an idiot for underestimating our rival teams. Ang akala niya siguro, kaya nilang talunin ang ibang team kahit wala ako."

"But Miss Harrison—"

"Contained naman ang lason, 'di ba? Wala na kayong dapat ikabahala sa akin." I slowly turned the doorknob and pulled the door. "Kailangan ko lang ng walking cane para may pamalo ako kay Morrie—este, para hindi ako mahirapang maglakad."

Professor Dred let out a sigh. He knew that arguing with me would never change my mind. Lumabas muna siya ng kwarto at pagbalik niya, may dala-dala na siyang walking cane na gawa sa bakal. Perfect. Mas masakit 'to kapag hinampas ko sa mayabang na Moriartard.

"By this time, alam na siguro nila ang twist ng activity," paliwanag ni Professor Dred. "Hinati ko sa tatlong piraso ng papel ang clue para sa susunod na challenge. Kailangan nilang makuha ang hawak na clue ng ibang team para mabuo ang message."

"Thank you, sir."

"Ako na ang bahalang magpaliwanag kay Doc Wendy kung saan ka pumunta. Sigurado akong pagagalitan niya ako dahil pinayagan kitang umalis."

Wait for me, my teammates. Sana'y hindi pa kayo nagpapatalo sa mga kalaban natin. Alam kong nahihirapan kayo dahil wala ako riyan ngayon.

After all, WHAM would never be completed without the letter "H".

H stands for Holmes.

H stands for Harriet.

-30-