Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Trapped

-chapter thirty-eight-

"Pwede ka bang sumama? The headmaster wants to talk to you."

Isang tango ang isinagot ko kay Sir Dominick. He smiled and lead the way. Tahimik akong sumunod.

The earlier conversation is still present in my mind. This is bad. Talaga bang seryoso ang dalawang 'yon? I may not be well-taught about the functions of romance, but I know how to catch hints. Kuya is, after all, a hopeless romantic. The behavior those two emits are similar to him.

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi. But what should I do?

I can't answer any of them. Not as long as I'm fighting for my past and for a better world. Love is not my priority, freedom is.

Bahala na nga sila diyan! Bakit ba kasi ang pupusok ng puso nila at ang bilis magkagusto? If they want an answer, they should wait.

Kailangan rin nilang tanungin muli ang sarili if they really like me, not just as a person who can outwit people, but as someone brimming with countless flaws and a bloody heart. Kung talaga ngang papayag sila sa halimaw na ako. Because if I ever get to stand in front of Leviathon again, with lesser fear, I would never think twice about stabbing his heart with a dagger.

Wala nga lang iyon sa pagpapahirap na ginawa niya sa'min.

I will never forgive a monster who will keep on killing and hurting people. Forgiveness is out of the choices. Dahil kung hahayaan ko siya ngayon because of people's morals, then what about his victims in the future? This is an act of utilitarianism.

Nang lumiko si Sir Dominick ay sumunod din ako. The corridor seemed to narrow as we continued to walk. The walls were dimly lit, with the lamps on a certain distance from each other.

I blinked. Eh? Nasaan na kami? Hindi na ito parte ng school... o hindi ko lang alam na parte ito ng school?

Naningkit ang mata ko habang nakatitig sa likod ni Sir Dominick. I can still remember what he said earlier. Destina wanted to talk to me. Hindi pa rin ako nakakapunta sa Headmaster's Office, kaya ito na ba 'yon?

Inilibot ko ang tingin. Is this a hidden hallway or is this located underground? Maliban ba doon sa nakita namin ay may iba pa? Is Destina hiding here because of her work?

Pero, bakit naman? Alam naman na nila na parte ng Anathema si Destina. They're also pointing knives at each other's neck. The Blackjack game has been called with Destina winning, pero ang kasalukuyan na lang na hinihintay ay ang pag-atake ng Curse Exterminators.

At kung nasa loob ng academy si Destina at Malverick, the rest of the Anathema members are circling the academy, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

That means the moment of attack is not just about the students, but is the true battle between Anathema and the CE.

Kung gano'n, ano ito? I'm really having a bad feeling about the end of this corridor. Nagpulong-pulong ba ang mga miyembro ng Anathema o di kaya'y may panibagong deal na namuo?

I stared at the back of Sir Dominick's head. But why is a teacher like him sending me off? Is he one of Destina's lackeys or could it be⁠—

"Serena."

Tumigil ako sa paglalakad nang tumigil din siya. A metal door stood in front of us. Wala itong window o kahit ano man.  A steel bar is used for opening. Sa laki at tigas nitong pintuan, hindi ako magtataka kung soundproof ang silid na nasa likod nito.