Heshiena's Point of View

Magaan ang pakiramdam nang ako'y bumangon. Pero tila ba'y ang bigat-bigat ng atmospera. May kakaiba sa paligid na hindi ko alam kung bakit. 'Yong dating maaliwalas na hangin ay tila naglaho. When I finally done combing my hair in front of the mirror, my forehead quickly furrowed in confusion when silence greeted me.

But from where I am standing, I heard indistinct voices.

"Guys?" No one answered. The silence was the only one responded. "Umm, guys?" muli kong pagtawag sa kanila.

Once again no one answered. I was quick to bite my lower lip when my heart beat rapidly. Muli na naman akong tinablan ng matinding kaba. My fear once again resurface. Nanginginig pa akong bumaba ng hagdan. My hand, on the other hand, were profusely sweating.

"Baka tulog pa sila," I told myself with my firm belief.

My face grimaced when I saw the time. It's already past nine. Late na akong gumising. Pero nakapagtataka naman kung tulog pa ang lahat. Minsan si Fuego, Chry, o Nkri ang unang magigising.

Napalingon ako sa labas nang marinig ko na naman ang indistinct voices. To remedy my curiosity, pumunta ako ng veranda. As I get there, I saw a crowd in the school grounds. Mabilis akong lumabas ng cabin. Marahil ay nandoon sila sa nagkukumpulang mga tao.

That explains why the dorm was quiet.

"What happened?" tanong ko sa aking sarili nang makarating ako.

Nakipagsiksikan pa ako sa mga estudyante para lang makita kung ano ang pinagkakaguluhan nila. Tila tinakasan ako ng kaluluwa nang makita ko ang mga iba't ibang hayop na nakahandusay sa lupa. They were even covered by their own blood. Maging ang school ground ay halos nabalutan na rin nito. This is cruelty!

Iba't ibang klase ng hayop. May mga agila, kabayo, dolphins, toro, paboreal, kuwago, ahas, baboy-ramo, aso, pagong, usa, uwak, at marami pang iba. Napaatras ako. Napatakip ako ng aking bibig. They're the Olympians' sacred animals for goodness' sake!

"We're all screwed! These are the Olympians' sacred animals!" Someone shouted.

Everyone couldn't process what was happening. Napasinghap ako nang biglang umihip ang mabigat na hangin. Howls from the different animals echoed. The skies started to overcast. Sumunod ang malakas na dagundong ng kulog.

The waves of the ocean is threatening. Dahil dito ay lahat natakot.

"There's someone inside the premises who wanted to offend the Olympians!"

Nagsitaasan ang balahibo ko sa braso nang kumidlat. Screams embraced the environment when the lightning strike the school grounds simultaneously. Nagtakbuhan ang lahat papasok ng mga gusali. My head was almost hit the stairs when I was thrown by the impact.

Inulan ng kidlat ang buong lugar. The academy experienced the wrath of a god. And it was so unfortunate knowing that it's Zeus who want to condemn us for killing their sacred animals. Kung sino man ang matatamaan sa kidlat niya ay panigurado'y abo na lang ang matitira.

You'll cease to exist.

Mabilis akong tumayo nang mapansin kong may paparating pa na kidlat. But before Zeus could showered us his wrath further, the sea reaches the sky, protecting the academy. Nabalutan ng iyakan ang paligid.

"Heshiena!" Napatingin ako sa taong tumawag sa pangalan ko.

It was Nkri. She was rushing towards me. At tinulungan akong makatayo. Pareho kaming nagmamadaling umalis sa school grounds. As we entered the building, Zeus stopped from antagonizing the academy. Nawala na rin ang tubig na naka-protekta sa amin.

But the thunderstorm remained. Sumunod din ang malakas na ulan. Napatitig ako sa kalangitan. Tila ba'y nagbabangayan sina Zeus at Poseidon.

"Let's go back to the dorm, Zuki wanted to talk to us," Nkri said.

Dahil sa takot na hindi pa nawala ay napatango na lamang ako bilang pagtugon. She then wrapped me with her comforting arms. Pagdating namin sa dorm ay nadatnan namin na nasa living room ang lahat. They were silent. Nagsipaglingunan pa nga sila nang pumasok kaming dalawa ni Nkri.

"Alright, now that everyone is here—" Huminto siya nang may mapansin. "Where's Violeta?" nagtataka niyang tanong.

Everyone agreed. Then they looked at us. Mabilis na nagkibit-balikat si Nkri bilang sagot. Habang ako naman ay iniling ang aking ulo. Zuki heaved a sigh. Napatitig siya sa akin na ipinagtaka ko. Pero nang mapagtanto niya kung ano ang ginawa niya ay tumikhim siya.

"Let's get this over with," Chry sluggishly said.

Zuki looked at her in disbelief. "Violeta is not here. Everyone must know what I'm about to say!" he sounded upset, and worried. "Lives are at stake here!" Each one of us was taken aback by the next thing he said.

"Chill, bro," pagpapakalma ni Dash. Hinarap niya si Mavros na katabi niya. "Mavros, you can shadow travel, right?" he asked. Mavros nodded as a response. "Good. Pwede pakihanap si Violeta at nang kumalma na si Zuki?" panghihingi niya ng pabor.

Mavros heaved a sigh. Shadows starting to gather under his feet. Hanggang sa nilamon siya nito't nawala nang parang bula. Napatingin ulit kami kay Zuki. At siya na naman ang napabuntonghininga nang malalim.

"I saw a vision last night," he said. Nagulat kami. Napaayos ng upo si Chry. "Isa sa nakita ko kagabi ang nangyari kanina sa school ground," pahabol niyang sabi.

Mas lalong nagsilakihan ang mga mata namin. Habang ako naman ay mabilis na kinilabutan. Walang nagsalita sa amin, naghihintay lamang sa susunod niyang sasabihin.

"In my vision, I saw Artemis was stabbed behind her back with a celestial sword," he started. "It's not clear who stabbed her. After I saw that, images of flowers, doves, pomegranate, swans, and myrtles flashed inside my head," pagpapatuloy niya.

"Those are Aphrodite's symbols," said Nkri. "Are you saying Aphrodite is the one who stabbed Artemis?" Napasinghap ako sa tinanong niya.

So, the gods are turning each other's back?

"No," mabilis na hindi pagsang-ayon ni Zuki. Hinawakan niya ang kaniyang baba, tila may inaalala. "She's not, because she was also stabbed." Nanginginig niyang wika. Kasunod naman nito ang pagtubig ng kaniyang mata.

Tinignan niya kaming lahat sa mata.

"The moon was covered with blood and it spread into the sky. The flowers starting to withered." Napamura ako sa aking isipan nang madagdagan ang kilabot sa katawan ko. "Then there's darkness," he said.

Napahawak si Zuki sa kaniyang nanginginig na kamay.

"I heard screams, and explosions every corner of the place. I couldn't see what's happening, but I am pretty sure, a war is coming." Kumabog ang puso ko sa sinabi niya. A war is coming, if it's true, I am not freaking ready! "I heard a voice saying: Your sacrifice is worth more than your life!"

Hindi ko alam kung pang-ilang beses na akong kinilabutan. Kaya ba hysterical siya kanina nang malaman niyang wala si Violeta? Dahil lahat ng buhay namin ay nasa peligro?

"After that, I found myself inside a spacious chamber. The home of the gods," he said. Everyone remained silent till this point. Couldn't find a word to utter. "I saw eleven shadow figures standing in a circle, and one was seated on the golden chair. I was quick to conclude that they're the Olympians when Poseidon's face started to show among the eleven."

Huminto si Zuki sa pagsasalita't muli na naman akong tinitigan. Katulad ng ginawa niya sa akin kanina. Napatingin din ang lahat sa akin nang mapansin nila si Zuki. Dahilan para ako'y kabahan at magtaka.

"The goddess who was seated on the golden chair said—" Lumunok si Zuki bago ipagpapatuloy ang sasabihin niya. But I could see the hesitation in his eyes. "I'm sorry, child. You should have never been born. It's a mistake," he finally said it.

My eyes grew wider in surprise. Tears started to threaten me. My system trembled with such pain. I gritted my teeth when my emotions started to crawl into my skin.

"I'm a mistake after all," pumiyok ang boses ko.

"No." Nkri was the first person to comfort me. But, that doesn't change anything.

Zuki bent down his head. "The people in shadow figures started to chant―" Hindi natapos ang sasabihin niya nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng dorm.

Iniluwa roon si Mavros na tila kinakapos ng hangin. May namumuo pang pawis sa kaniyang noo.

"Si Violeta . . ."

"Imitheos Academy!"

Hindi na namin nagawang magtanong nang makarinig kami ng boses. Mabilis kaming lumabas ng dorm. There we all saw Mario were levitating in the air with Violeta on his arms. Napatakip ako ng aking bibig nang mapansing may nakatutok na espada sa leeg niya.

"We are all pawns by the Olympians!" Sigaw niya na puno ng poot. "Marami na silang napinsala dahil sa kasakiman nila!" He once again yelled. "What I'm about to do right now is what they only deserve!"

Violeta were surprisingly calm, but behind those eyes there's a trail of fear.

Tumingin sa amin si Mario. Sumilay ang nakakakilabot niyang ngiti sa labi. Habang ako naman ay napakunot ang noo. May kakaiba sa kaniya. "Anostatos!" Lahat kami napatingin sa kaniya. "Thank you for almost ruining my plan. But well, it's so satisfying to see you all having a hard time to―" Nahinto siya sa pagsasalita nang mapansin niyang tinignan naming siya nang nagtataka.

He scoffed in disbelief, "remember in the clinic?" Napasinghap kaming lahat sa sinabi niya. Sinundan niya naman ito ng nakakakilabot na tawa. "Whatever." He rolled his eyes in disgust.

Chry was quick to manipulate lightning, and tried to strike him with it. Before it could hit him, he transported himself to the other angle. His eyes were white. I could see the souls with those eyes. Nkri summoned her armor and a spear.

Ginawa rin ito ni Blaze. Dash manipulate his plant vines to drag Mario to the ground. Mavros manipulate orbs that are made of darkness and shoot him. Sinabayan naman ito ng mga matutulis na yelo ni Blei. At mga bola ng liwanag ni Zuki at mga palaso ni Erin.

Ace was about to charmspeak him when he suddenly levitate and seemed strangled by a spirit. Napasinghap ako sa gulat nang itinapon siya papunta sa mga kakahuyan. Fuego manipulate his waves of fire. Habang ako naman ay hindi makagalaw dahil sa bilis ng pangyayari.

Mario effortlessly dodges all their attacks.

"Your sacrifice is worth more than your life!"

Nagsilakihan ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Mario. That was the exact words Zuki saw in his vision. Nagsibagsakan ang aking mga luha nang makitang hiniwa niya ang leeg ni Violeta. Kasabay ng kaniyang paglaho ay siyang pagbagsak naman ni Violeta sa lupa.

"Violeta!"

Biglang nalanta lahat ng bulaklak. The crescent moon turned into blood red. Maging ang kalangitan ay ganoon rin. Nabalutan ng pangamba ang paligid. Natakot sa posibleng mangyari. I was about to rush towards Violeta when my knees became numb.

Literal na tila tinakasan ako ng kaluluwa. Bumigat ang talukap ng aking mata. Pinagkaitan ako ng hangin para makahinga. Bumagsak ako sa lupa. Halos hindi ko na maikuyom ang aking mga palad. It's as if I'm running out of energy.

"Heshiena!" it was Nkri's voice.

"Rush them immediately to the clinic!" Umalingawngaw ang galit na boses ni Chry.

"Si Violeta!" Kahit na nanghihina ako ay rinig na rinig ko ang iyakan nina Ace, Blei, at Erin. Habang ang mga mata ko ay unti-unting pumipikit. Pero patuloy ko pa rin itong nilabanan. "She's not breathing . . ."

Sa isang iglap ay nandito na ako sa sahig. Mavros rushed me inside the cabin. At iniwan ako para kunin si Violeta. Dalawang segundo lang ang nakalipas ay bumalik siya. Kahit na papasuko na ang halos lahat ng sistema ko'y aktibo pa naman ang pandinig ko.

Sunod-sunod kong narinig ang mga nagmamadaling yabag.

"No!" Humahagulgol si Zuki. "This is . . . in my v-vision too.".

Namayani ang katahimikan, maliban sa mga iyakan. "The prophecy," said Fuego. "One soul's death is the only way . . ." Saktong pagdilat kong muli ay sumalubong sa akin ang mga tingin nila sa 'kin, "to wake her curse, disarray."

"When the Olympians bestowed their curse to her, it is bound to the souls of the new generation of demigods, that's us," I heard Zuki said. "The curse was triggered by the full moon, each month she suffers great pain when each of us gets hurt. Or a mere presence of it can weaken her. The moon is her curse, and we are basically the strings of it that seal her existence from the black river of the underworld."

They all looked at me with sympathy. I released a final scoff before giving up fighting to stay awake. Tumawa ako habang walang tigil sa pagbuhos ang aking mga luha. Sobrang malas ko sa buhay. Mas lalo lang naging malas dahil itong klaseng buhay ang natanggap ko.

"Heshiena . . ."