HINGAL na dumating si Alastair at Oliver sa kwarto ko ng ospital. They're both panting and sweats are dripping down on their faces. They ridiculously look at me and then they roamed their eyes on the destruction that I have made. Tapos ay napansin kong nakatingin ang mga mata nila sa hawak kong kakaibang pana.

"Bella?" Alastair tried to get my focus but I didn't let him.

"Stay away from me." Mahina kong utos sa kanilang dalawa. "Get the boy out of here. Now!" dagdag ko pa.

Unang nakahuma si Oliver sa nakikita at mariing tumango sa akin tapos ay kinuha si Arnold sa loob ng kwarto ko. On the other hand, Alastair is still looking at me as if I'm a big question for him right now.

"Your eyes..." mahina utal nito sa akin nang mapansin ang pagbabago ng aking mga mata.

I ignored him and tried myself to focus on my target. The Lenses is helping me to identify where is my target right now pero mas naging malinaw ang mata ko dahil sa Diaperno Maticum. It doubled my sight in a high definition mode.

Mabilis tumakbo ang target ko. He knows the area fully. The hospital is placed just beside the boundary of Villa Tortura at Villa Morte. Mas malapit ito sa mismong Coliseum.

I stomped my feet on the ground and I need to make my vibration to reach the target. I was not surprised when I could actually feel the entire the Villa Tortura. May halos ilang kilometro rin ang kayang abutin ng vibrations ko. Diaperno Maticum heightened it for sure. Somehow, I need to be thankful for this.

"What's happening, Bella Cieco?" Tanong ni Alastair sa akin ngunit huli na ang tanong nito when I decided to jump-off the hole that I created from the hospital wall.

I was on the sixth floor and I just gracefully jumped-off from it. When I landed on the soil, I never felt any pain from my stunt. Seems like if the Maticum is activated, it activates the protection of Apollo to my body. I gritted my teeth when I realized my hypothesis.

This will exhaust me again.

"Asia!" rinig kong sigaw ni Alastair mula sa itaas. Alam kong nagulat ito sa ginawa ko but I don't intend to lose my focus now. I need to face the next victim.

I raised my bow in the sky, ignoring all the eyes who are looking at me. Most of them gasped from what happened up there but I think they were all just stunned by what I did.

When I calculated the right angle, I released the string with an electrical arrow, it created a huge impact from the ground at mabilis iyong bumulusok paitaas hanggang sa bumagsak ito sa lugar kung saan gusto ko ito bumagsak.

The left side part of the Coliseum exploded. Sinakyan ko ang isang nakaparadang ambulansya at mabilis iyong pinaharurot patungo kung saan sumabog ang pinadala kong bala.

While revving up the car, I immediately contacted Austin using the Lenses.

"Austin, make sure that everyone in the hospital is safe. Report as soon as you're done." Mariin kong utos rito and I just heard his roger signal.

"Claude, how's Nicholas with you? Is he safe?" tanong ko kay Claude when I reached out to her to check their safety. Malakas masyado ang naging pagsabog na ginawa ko sa ospital and I'm not sure if the room where I stayed is just near to their room.

"Don't worry about us, Asia. We're safe. Nasa kabilang building kami when we heard your explosions. I sensed that you change your gear to your favorite weapon. What's happening? Umatake na naman ba iyong nagbigay sa atin ng bangungot?" ramdam ko sa boses nito ang bahagyang takot. I'm not that sure kung para saan iyon pero nasisiguro akong may na-trigger si Arnold sa paraan ng pagkakatanong sa akin ni Claude sa mga huling salita nito.

"I'm chasing the Sixth Victim. I assigned Austin to take care of everyone there. Make a way to contact the other Elites to help out. Don't ask for any help from the Mafia guards, Claude. That's an order." Mahigpit at malinaw kong utos sa dalaga.

"S-sige," I know she's wondering sa huli kong utos sa kanya but I can't entertain her curiosity right now.

A loud thud from the upper area of the Ambulance van made my focus lashed out. I'm actually prepared to attack the rat when I saw that it was Alastair who's hanging himself on the passenger's door.

Masama ang tingin nito sa akin habang binabasag ang bintana ng van. Nang makapasok ito'y mariin ang pagkuha nito ng hininga. Marahil ay tumakbo ng malayo upang maabutan ang sinasakyan ko.

"I'm mad at you right now. So, tell me what's going on." His baritone voice made my feet tremble from fear. His natural self is showing. His assigned tattoo is visibly showing on his wrist.

"Let me handle this—" napaigtad ako nang biglang hampasin ni Alastair ang harapang bahagi ng van. Nayupi iyon sa lakas niya at masamang masama na ang tingin nito sa akin.

"I clearly told you that I'm the one who will fix this, Asia!" Mariing anas ng binata sa akin. "You don't know the horror that I felt when your friend and I found ourselves in front of the mall and got tricked by the Fifth victim's illusion scheme!"

That's what Arnold did para mapalabas silang dalawa ng kwarto ko kanina.

"I think I made myself clear as well that I highly respect your privacy of keeping things from me but you really have the nerve to do your stunt, Anastasia Kriselle! And I'm so sick of it! Stop keeping myself away from what's happening! I'm part of this. I'm a cursed man as well. So, include me on your plans! Include me in your life!"

Hindi ko napigilan ang sariling makaramdam ng pamimigat ng dibdib dahil sa mahaba nitong sermon sa akin. I'm not sure if I was able to comprehend all the things that he said pero mas naapektuhan ako sa huli nitong sinabi.

I'm making himself out of this. Alam kong ramdam niya ang ginagawa ko sa kanya. Alam niyang hindi ko siya sinasali sa isyu ko sa katulad niyang may sumpa. I was just scared. I don't know but I don't want to lose him as much as I don't want him to know me more. I have my fair share of deep secrets. Secrets that once he found out, I bet my life that he won't be the same again. He won't be the Alastair who is kind, caring and sweet. I don't want to lose that side of him. Dahil nakikita ko sa mga mata niya na ngayon lang siya uling nabuhay. I don't want to imply that it was because of me but I'm pretty sure it was because he found us. Masyado siyang naging mapag-isa sa buhay na akala niya siya lang ang taong may ganyang sumpa. Kung kaya't noong nalaman niya na isa rin ako roon at si Archilliah, nagising ang kabilang parte ng pagkatao nito. Nagkaroon ng kulay.

I don't want to taint it again with black because I would definitely be hurt so much.

"Make me understand everything, Bella Cieco, so I can protect you the way you protect them... and me."

Nangilid ang luha ko sa sunod pa nitong sinabi. My walls are starting to evaporate like an acid because of his plea. I know he's trying to use his compulsion on me but I'm also sure that he knows that it won't work that way. Pero bakit ganito? Bakit gusto ko na ring sabihin?

"Fine." Utas ko nang itigil ko ang sasakyan sa lugar kung saan bumagsak ang pana ko.

I still surrendered to him.

Natigilan ako when he reached for my face with his both hands. I can see that he's at awe from what I've said. He easily removed the tears lingered on my cheeks.

Bakit nagiging iyakin na ako nitong mga nakaraang araw?

"You... and the other cursed children are my strength now, Bella Cieco. When you told me that my curse is a gift that I should be thankful for, I instantly disagreed with your opinion. I never asked for this and so do you. That's what I learned from you. You learned to live with it even though you are strongly not good with the idea of being different from the others. I have my senses complete but I treated everything as if I don't have it. Your state of being blind is not a joke. And I salute you and proud of you for being so brave to live with it even though it caused you so many tremors in life."

Mas lalo pang nag-agusan ang mga luha ko sa mahaba niyang lintanya. Never kong naramdaman at narinig na may proud sa akin na ibang tao maliban sa mga taong nakasama ko na. Siya pa lang. He empathized my situation before as if he really felt my struggles and difficulties. Gosh, I don't want to be a crybaby right now. Alastair knows to use his words to make my heart flutter and he succeeded. He will always win over me.

"Bago mo ako laplapin, hulihin na muna natin si Ikaanim, huh? I-reserve mo iyan later. Lalaplapin kita." Hindi ko na napigilang iwika habang tinatapik tapik ng bahagya ang mapula nitong labi. Jusko, nasa gitna kami ng paghahabol sa nawawalang tupa pero nagawa ko pang sumegway ng kalandian.

Malala ka na, Anastasia. I couldn't remember how many times I have concluded that.

I heard Alastair chuckled. Medyo nagulat ko yata ito sa mga sinabi ko.

Talagang magugulat siya! Nagiging boses na ang mga mahahalay kong salita na nasa utak ko lang minsan, hello!

"Fine, ravish me all you want. I'm yours anyway."

Pinakita ko sa kanya ang pag-ikot ng mata ko sa sinabi niya habang bahagya akong nakangisi. Jusko, kilig ang kipay ko sa I'm yours niya. Hmmm! Sharap talaga!

"Pero paisa na ako, pang-energize." Mabilis kong sabi tapos ay mariin kong hinapit ang mukha nito upang mahalikan ko ang labi niya.

Alastair's eyes went wide from my aggressive move.

Smack lang naman ang ginawa ko. Ito naman parang virgin na natigilan.

"Huwag mo nang pahalik iyan, akin na iyan." Anas ko rito sabay labas ng sasakyan bitbit ang paborito kong laruan.

"Did you hit the target?" he asked. Naka-moved on na agad sa ginawa kong pang-r-rape sa kanya. Ang daya!

I smirked from his question. "You researched me, Alastair. Alam kong alam mo ang sagot na iyan." Mayabang kong anas rito.

I saw his lips twitched downward showing that he's impressed.

"Alam na ba ng Supremo ang nangyayari ngayon? At ang tungkol sa iba pang Enhanced?" I asked him while I stomped my feet on the ground, checking where is the rat hiding.

"Yes, and he wants me to kill them." Napatingin ako sa kanya sa naging tugon nito.

The Supremo wants them what?!

"At the back!" parehas kaming tumalon sa magkabilang side ng lugar kung saan kami nakatayo when a sudden attack from behind happened.

Tiningnan ko ang bumagsak sa kung saan kami nakatayo kanina at doon namin nakita ang lalaking pakay namin.

The man is wearing a sleeveless gray jacket showing his sculptured biceps and triceps with a scarf covering his nose down to his neck. His jacket has a hood and it covers the upper portion of his nose. Nakasimpleng maong shorts lamang ito and wearing some snickers. Kita sa kaliwang braso nito ang natamo nitong paso sa binitawan kong pana.

The man removed his right fist on the ground. Bumaon iyon ng bahagya at doon ko napagtanto na malakas ito when it comes to physical attacks.

"I command you to show yourself!" Alastair used his compulsion but the man didn't flinch.

Napakunot ang noo ko. Imposibleng hindi siya maapektuhan. Not unless he knows how to avoid it.

Muli kong napansin ang hood nito. It covers his eyes.

"Alastair removed his hood and do the compulsion. Your compulsion is only limited if there's no eye contact or if his attention is not on you!" wika ko sa binata habang tinitira ng pana ang lalaking mabilis naiilagan ang mga patama ko.

His agility is superb even without the awakening of his curse.

Kabi-kabilaan ang pagsabog sa paligid namin dahil sa mga balang hindi tumatama sa target. The guy knows how to avoid me.

Matapos ang isang bira ng pana na hindi tumama sa kalaban, Alastair moved as fast as the man. Nagpunung-buno ng braso ang dalawa. Alastair is giving him punches without exerting a lot of force. Simpleng tira lamang iyon pero nasasabayan nito ang lakas ng kalaban.

The man did a round-house kick from below to upper and Alastair was able to cover up his both arms but the impact is superb. Napaatras ang binata sa sipang iyon and I must say that it's a powerful one. The man was about to move forward to Alastair but I released the string from my hand and he dodged once again by moving backward.

Mas binilisan ko pa ang pagkilos at pinaulanan muli ito ng pana. Kapag umaatake si Alastair ay natitigilan akong ituloy sa takot na ang matamaan naman ito.

While dodging Alastair's attack, the man was able to kick a certain stone on my area. Sa bilis ay wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang isangga ang kaliwang braso ko na may hawak ng pana.

I grunted when I felt the pain lingered throughout my system. It caused Alastair to lose his focus.

"Bella!" anas nito. Sa pagkawala ng focus ng binata ay nagawang sipain ng tuluyan ng kalaban ang dibdib ni Alastair dahilan upang mapatinuhod ito sa lupa.

The unknown man run at me with a familiar type of move. He's moving back and forth alternating both legs in shoulder-width describing a triangular form.

He knows how to use Capoeira. It's a Brazilian martial art that combines the elements of dance and music. Right now, he's using the Ginga move, which is the basic then he's moving towards at my direction then he did the Macaco—it is a move wherein backflip performed low to the ground. I moved away as soon as before his landing reached my body.

Kung hindi ako gumulong, paniguradong ako ang nabagsakan niya ng kanyang katawan.

Nang makagulong ay ginamit ko ang tsansang iyon upang patirin siya from the ground. I immediately slid my foot clockwise when his feet met the ground.

Napadapa ang kalaban at ginamit ni Alastair ang tsansang iyon upang hawakan ang magkabila nitong braso at ipitin iyon sa likuran nito.

Namilipit sa sakit ang binata. Alastair is putting so much force on his arms. "How dare you hurt her arm like that? Huh?!"

Natigilan ako nang bahagya nang makita ko ang nandidilim na itsura ni Alastair. He's mad because my arm got hurt. Pakiramdam ko nga napilayan na ako nang tuluyan.

"Now tell me who you are!" utos ni Alastair sa binatang nakadapa ngayon sa lupa habang namimilipit sa sakit.

Hindi ko na hinintay itong sumagot. I quickly removed his scarf and hood.

Parehas kaming natigilan ni Alastair nang mapagtanto kung sino ang ikaanim na Victim. Dahil sa hindi kami nakahuma kaagad sa gulat, the man quickly moved away from us, sapo sapo ang magkabilang balikat nito.

My mouth-dropped when he stood up. Ngayon mas malinaw na kung sino siya. Kita sa paso sa braso nito ang natamong sugat na ginawa ko kanina nang tumakas ito sa ospital.

"Y-You?" hindi makapaniwalang bigkas ni Alastair nang makahuma ito kahit papaano.

The man is looking at us with rage. Alam ko kung para saan ang galit na iyon but I just never thought that he's one of them. He's so jolly and perky whenever I'm facing him. Mapagbirong binata at maloko kung minsan. He saves me somehow from time to time. Bakit siya?

I thought I saved him together with his twin from that night I infiltrated my mother's Laboratory? A-Ano'ng nangyari?

"Aarav..." bigkas ko sa ngalan nito.

"Nagulat ka ba, Asia?" tanong nito na may galit sa tono. May halo rin iyong sarkasmo. "Anong masasabi mo? Magsalita ka!"

Napipi ako sa hindi malamang dahilan. Hindi ko alam kung saan huhugot ng salita. Maraming tumatakbo sa utak ko pero hindi ko alam kung ano ang uunahing sabihin o tanungin.

"I n-never thought t-that we are the same." Napatingin si Aarav sa kinikilala nitong Boss. Ang hagod ng tingin nito'y may halong pang-uuyam.

"Alam ko kung paanong umarteng okay ako sa lahat kahit na sa loob ko ay hindi. Iyon ang bagay na hindi mo kayang gawin, Boss." The way he said the word Boss, puno iyon ng pang-aasar. Pinapamukha sa kaibigan nito ang isang bagay na hindi nito nagawa na nagawa niya.

Napipilan si Alastair. Natigilan sa isinagot nito.

Muli kong pinakatitigan si Aarav. Sabi ko, I'll include Alastair this time. Isasama ko siya sa mga plano kong gawin sa mga Enhanced. Pero something within me na nagsasabing sa pagkakataong ito, huwag muna. Because this is something that I should deal because I was the one who saved him and his twin from being the experimental children. Kaya papaanong nangyari ngayon na isa siya roon?

Aarav looked at me with pure disgust and hatred. These are his true and genuine emotion that he's been hiding for a long time.

I closed my eyes and open it once I prepared for everything. I need answers!

Nang magtagpo ang mga mata namin, alam kong natigilan ito sa mga matang nakatingin sa kanya. Tapos ay luminga ito sa paligid at doon nakitang hindi gumagalaw ang katawan ni Alastair.

"So, this is what it looks like if you're inside of a dream. Ginamit mo ang sariling sumpa ng batang iyon para makausap mo ako ng tayo lang? Ano ba ang maipaglilingkod ko sa anak ng taong may gawa sa akin nito?" then he raised his jacket and showed his Sixth marking on the right side of his upper navel. Hindi iyon ganoong kita pa. Makikita at lalabas lamang ang mga markings nila kapag tuluyan na silang nagising. Habang hindi pa, nagpapakita kung minsan ang tattoo tapos ay nawawala.

He remembers me. Kilala niya kung sino ako. I bet lahat sila maliban kina Alastair at Archilliah.

Ay sandali, may abs... yum yum.

"Gusto mong magising ang sumpa mo hindi ba?" seryoso kong tanong sa kanya. Asking him a ridiculous question.

Napakurap ito ng isang matindi at natigilan ng bahagya. Isang kompirmasyon na nagpapatunay na ayaw niya pa.

"Oo, nang masimulan na namin ang planong paglinis sa mundong ito." Ibinalik niya sa akin ang parehas na intensidad sa tono ng pananalita nito.

"Iyon ba talaga ang gusto mo? Ang tuluyang maging halimaw, gaya ng sinasabi ng iba sa inyo?" I replied while slowly walking towards him.

I saw his right foot flinched and moved backward. Napangisi ako sa isip ko. Napansin niya na nakita ko ang bahagya nitong pag-atras kung kayat mas tinigisan nito ang mukha at boses sa pagsagot ng aking tanong.

"Hindi ko ginusto ito, Asia! Lahat tayo hindi ito ginusto!" tumataas na ang tono ng boses ni Aarav.

"Alam ko, kaya nga nagtataka ako kung bakit mas gusto niyo pang magising ang sumpang ibinigay sa inyo instead of shutting your mouth up and just live your life to the fullest?"

"You don't know anything! Just shut up! Don't treat this suffering that we had as if it's different from you and Alastair!" pagpatol nito sa tanong ko.

"I didn't say na it's different from our suffering, Aarav. I don't think you get my point." Nang makalapit sa kanya ay mas pinatitigan ko pa siya gamit ng Diaperno Maticum.

Mas matangkad ang binata sa akin. Mga anim na talampakan ito habang nasa limang talampakan at anim na pulgada lamang ang taas ko sa kanya.

"Since nagpakita sa akin habang hindi pa nagigising ang sumpa mo, I know you're plotting on something." Wika ko sa kanya and remained my stoic look.

"I was actually planning to kill all of you. Especially those who haven't been awakened. Why? Because completing the process of the Waves would kill me in the end. Doon na ang katapusan ko." Pagbibigay ko sa kanya ng isang sikreto na alam kong hindi nila alam.

Bakas sa mata nito ang pagkatigil ng hinga sa aking sinabi. Kompirmadong hindi nila alam.

"However, without me, you will all lose the chance to be treated and get yourself back to normal."

Naalala ko ang cylindrical tube na nakuha ni Archilliah sa opisina ng Supremo. Iyon ay ang files na ginawa ng Mamma ko para makilala ko ang sumpang taglay ng pitong batang naging biktima nila noon.

Kung siya ang ikaanim, ibig sabihin, nasa kanya ang sumpa na nananaisin ng mga kalaban upang mapatay kaming walo. Siya ang kahinaan naming lahat.

"Ngayon, gusto mo pa ba?" I grinned at him when I've seen hesitation on his face. Let's add something. "Or would you want me to start killing you guys? Let's start with your twin?"

Mabilis na hinawakan ni Aarav ang magkabila kong braso at sinamaan ako ng tingin.

"Huwag na huwag mong idadamay ang kakambal ko rito, Asia Graham!" nanggigigil nitong banta sa akin na siyang nagpangisi sa akin ng tuluyan.

"Bingo. You're not with the Seventh Victim." I finally concluded.

Arnold told me yesterday na ineengganyo niya akong gamitin ko pa ang sumpa ko para magising ko na sila. I thought magkasama ang natitira pang dalawa nang sinabi iyon ni Arnold. Now that I tried some test with Aarav, masasabi kong hindi nito kilala ang huling batang may sumpa. Kasi kung alam nito, dapat narito rin ang isang iyon helping Aarav to fight us.

Or is part of his plan? Kaya nagpakita ito sa akin kahit na hindi ko pa tuluyang nabubuksan ang sumpa niya?

But the way he stepped back, he's confirming my guess.

"I a-am with that person." May utal sa pagsagot ng binata tapos ay hindi na ito makadiretso ng tingin.

I don't care if he does know the last victim. I can find that person anyway.

Pinalingon ko siya sa akin. I held his shoulder and I ordered him to kneel. She's on my own version of dream. Medyo napaigit ako nang bahagya dahil hindi pa gamay ng katawan ko ang paggamit ng higit sa isa pang mental prowess ng mga Enhanced. Pero para makuha ko ang sagot na kailangan ko, I need to visit his memory using the Diaperno. I badly need the answers now.

Paano ka naging isa sa mga biktima Aarav kung iniligtas ko kayo ng kakambal mo?

I placed my right pointing finger in the center of his forehead. I tilted his face upward and I let him succumb to my vision with Diaperno.

NAPADILAT ako ng mata. Habol ang aking hininga. Napabangon ako ng biglaan at napahawak ako ng wala sa oras sa aking ulo. Bahagya rin akong nahilo dahil sa biglaan kong pagtayo. Habang hinihilot ko ang aking ulo ay iginala ko ang aking mata sa paligid.

Madilim at wala man lang ilaw ang lugar na aking kinalulugaran. Tanging ang sikat ng buwan lamang na nanggagaling sa iisang bintana na nasa ilang pulgada ang taas ang nagsisilbing ilaw ng lugar.

Napagtanto kong nasa isang malaki akong bodega base sa mga nakikita kong mga malalaking container na nakapaloob.

"Kuya!" napalingon ako sa aking likod. Mabilis kong sinundan ang panaghoy ng isang batang lalaki. Nang maabutan ay doon ko nakita na ang isang batang lalaki ay tinatangay ng isang lalaking nakasuot ng Lab Overall Jumpsuit.

"Bitawan niyo kami ni Kuya!" sigaw naman ng isa pang bata na kamukha ng batang tahimik lang na nasunod sa mga lalaki.

Aarav and Oliver.

Plano kong sundan ang dalawang kambal dahil iyon ang rason kung bakit ako nasa loob ng memorya ni Aarav pero natigilan ako sa pagsunod nang mapansin ko ang presenya ng tao sa loob ng bodega. Hindi lang isa. Kung hindi marami sila.

Nahati ang isip ko kung pupuntahan ko ba ang kalagayan nina Nikkadorpha, Jake, Archilliah at Alastair pero mas minabuti kong sundan nalang ang kambal. I still have time to check on them.

Pamilyar ang sumunod na nangyari. Sa pagsunod ko sa kambal at kung saan ito dinala, ito na iyong panahong tinulungan sila ng batang bersyon ko.

Napahawak ako bigla sa dibdib ko nang bigla akong makaramdam ng sakit. Something is throbbing inside me and I know for sure that my body is reaching its limit to use the Diaperno Maticum, but I hold it back. Hindi pa pwede. I need to finish watching this scene.

Nahimatay na ang katawan ng batang ako sa sahig maging ang dalawang kambal na dala ko sa balikat noon.

May narinig pa akong mga komento sa mga kaibigan ng Mamma ko tapos ay tumingin silang lahat sa batang nakasabit sa metal na higaan na nakatihaya. Hindi ko sinundan ang kanilang tingin, bagkus, iginala ko ang aking paningin sa paligid.

Napakagat ako sa aking labi nang mapansin ang binti ng isa sa kambal. The Sixth marking is visibly showing. Napakuyom rin ako ng kamao dahil nahuli na pala ako noon. Naglandas ang tingin ko sa isang metal na kama kung saan sila nakahiga roon. May nakita akong isang syringe sa sahig kalapit rito na wala nang laman.

So, I was late at that time. Kahit pa sabihing naligtas ko naman si Oliver, still, I was a failure to help and rescue them fully.

This time, it's my fault. It's not anyone's fault but mine.

Hindi ko napigilan ang hindi maiyak. Napatakip ako ng aking bibig sa bigat ng aking nararamdaman. I ruined someone's life. Nando'n na ako para tumulong pero nahuli pa. I deserved their treatment. I deserve Aarav's madness.

Dahil sa nawawalan na ako sa focus dahil sa aking pag-iyak, unti-unti na akong nahihila ng reyalidad. The curse is wearing-off.

Pero bago ako tuluyang lamunin ng dilim, nagawa ko pa ring maaninag ang tinitingnan ng nanay ko at ng mga kaibigan niya.

Naaninag kong may kung anong marka ang lumabas sa noo ng batang nakasabit sa metal na kama. Ang batang kumausap sa akin noon at nagmakaawang iligtas ang kambal mula sa impyernong iyon.

"ASIA! Anastasia! Open your eyes, please! Wake up, baby!" Nahigit ko ang aking hininga ng sobra matapos maramdaman ang kawalan ng hangin sa aking sistema. I'm gasping for air while I feel Alastair is holding me at my side. Tinatapik tapik rin niya ang aking likod at hinagod hagod upang makahinga ako ng maayos.

"What happened?" tanong ko habang inaalala ang huling ginawa ko.

I froze when I felt Alastair is hugging me. Iyong sobrang higpit na yakap. Iyong yakap na nakakapisa.

"H-Hey, baka naman m-matuluyan na ako niyan." Komento ko sa binata at naramdaman kong niluwagan niya ang yakap sa akin.

"Don't you ever try to do that stunt again, Bella Cieco! You don't know what I felt when I first saw you jumping to a six feet tall building and landed gracefully. I felt that you brought my heart with you without any assurance that you would be safe on the ground. And now... you used a lot of your energy to execute your plan of keeping me away. I told you to include me! Even if it will hurt me!"

Kusang gumalaw ang isang kamay ko para hagurin ang likod ng binata. His body is so tense. He's shaking horribly. Nagawi naman ang paningin ko kay Aarav. I saw how he flinched and stepped back a bit. He also looked away.

Kumalas sa yakap si Alastair at hinarap ako. He held my face with his hands and there I saw his cheeks, covered with his own tears.

Did he cry?

"I almost forgot to breathe when I was able to release myself from your illusion and saw you crying so hard while you and Aarav are kneeling to each other. I don't know what you did but when you released him, you lost your breath for about five minutes. And that's the worst five minutes of my life, Bella Cieco. You... not breathing anymore, and... I can't. I just can't handle it. I almost lose you. Please, don't do that again. I'd be crazy next time."

Hindi ko napigilan ang hindi matawa ng bahagya sa huli nitong sinabi.

How can he be so sweet whenever we are in the midst of war?

You're making me fall too hard, Alastair. I think I already am.

"And where do you think you are going?" malalim at mapanganib na tanong ng binata kay Aarav na sa tingin ko'y nagbabalak na tumakas.

"I don't deserve to be here. I betrayed you by keeping this information by myself, Alastair." Tugon ng binata.

"You did not answer my question."

Napalunok ako sa kaseryosohan ng tono nito. He seems to beat anyone with his dominance.

"Ilalagay ko ang sarili ko sa piitang pinahanda mo. Para sa mga katulad namin... para sa mga katulad natin. Alam kong iyon naman ang gusto mong mangyari. Make me suffer and kill me after. That's what I deserve." Bakas sa tono ni Aarav na alam na nito ang kahihinatnan ng ginawa niya kaya iyon ang nasabi nito.

I held Alastair's arm. I stopped him from granting it. Umiling ako sa harap niya. Signaling him not to kill him. Dahil iyon talaga ang gagawin nito. He's still the Alastair Aldeguer of this mafia clan. Ang traydor ay pinapatay.

"Make him sleep." Iyon lang ang namutawi na gusto kong gawin ni Alastair para sa kaibigan.

Agad itong tumalima sa gusto kong mangyari.

"Aarav, ti ordino di dormire." Utos nito na siyang kinapikit ng binata at bumagsak sa lupa. Aarav, I'm ordering you to sleep.

"So, what now?" Alastair asked me. He's looking at me intently as if he doesn't want to leave his sight again away from me.

Na-conscious ako bigla. Jusko!

Bumuntung-hininga ako ng isang beses bago ko siya tiningnan. "Confine him in a secured place. Away from the others."

Nakita ko ang pagkunot noo ng binata. "But why?" he asked.

I craned my neck from left to right. "The Sixth Wave happened already. And his curse is pretty much dangerous from the others."

I clenched my fist when I remembered the memory that I have seen. Specifically, from the kid who has a strange tattoo on his forehead before I was released from the vision.

No, Aarav's curse is not that dangerous but can be lethal to anyone who will have it. What's more dangerous is the kid who begged me to help the twin. I need to know who he is and where he is now.

Natigilan ako sa malalim na pag-iisip nang mapansin naming dalawa na may paparating. Actually, marami sila.

Anim na military vehicle and dumating. Nilabas niyon ang mga bandidong may suot na mga armalite sa leeg at hawak iyon ng mariin.

Itinutok nila iyon sa aming tatlo.

"What the hell is going on?" malakas na tanong ni Alastair sa kanila. Kinabahan ako nang biglang bitbitin ng dalawang armadong lalaki ang katawan ng tulog na si Aarav.

"Saan niyo siya dadalhin?" ako naman ang nagtanong nang mapansin ko ang pagbitbit nila kay Aarav.

"We are from the Privus Trata Special Action Force Unit. We got a report that a certain group of people is causing too much trouble within the Vexigo Academia de Privus Trata. And they're not just a normal people. They are people who have been exposed before from the Apollo X49 experiment. We need to catch them all." Tugon ng isang Briton na lalaki.

Are they looking for us?

"And what are you going to do with them?" Alastair asked a follow-up question.

"They will be rehabilitated away from the students and will be examined with our scientist for further studies. And if they will be tagged as a threat...?" napalunok ako sa susunod nitong sasabihin. "They will be killed instantly."

"And that includes the both of you." Dugtong pa nito na mas nagpaigting ng pagtutok sa amin ng baril.

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa ng binata. Parehas ang tumatakbo sa isipan.

"Who gave you the report?" ako na mismo ang nagtanong sa leader nilang kanina pa dada ng dada.

"That's a classified information to discuss." Malalim nitong tugon sa akin.

"I'm ordering—" I instantly stopped Alastair from using his compulsion. I looked at him immensely, trying to make him understand the situation.

"Is it the Supremo who gave you the report?" I asked the man we are talking with.

"Again, that's a classified information to discuss. You have no affirmation to know this confidential information." May halo nang gigil ang tono nito.

"We'll be coming along. Just put your guns down." Anas ko kanila na mariin namang tinutulan ni Alastair.

"No! We are not coming with them!"

"We have no choice." I replied.

"Any target who has been tagged as a threat should have no right to request to put our guns down. Just come along with us. We don't want to kill the Heir of Aldeguer Mafia either."

May mali sa nangyayari. Bakit umabot sa Privus Trata ang nangyayari sa amin ngayon?