Masked Glamour

Chapter Twelve

Ferula

I woke up and greeted by a complete darkness around me. I scratched and blinked my eyes but still did not see any light. My heart immediately pounded with nervousness as I slowly tried to get up. My throat felt dry and my stomach grumbled in hunger.

Itinukod ko ang aking mga kamay sa aking kinauupuan at doon ko naramdamam ang magaspang na sahig. Lumunok ako ng ilang beses pero hindi iyon naging sapat para pawiin ang matinding uhaw na aking nararamdaman.

I streched my hands in my back in hope to find something I can hold on to. Luckily, my hands felt the rough surface of a wall. I used the wall to guide me in finding anything that would end this suffocating darknesss that surround me.

Maybe I could find a switch on the wall?

But my hope was immediately washed away when instead of switch, my hands came contact with cold bars. Panick ran down my spine with the thought that I was put behind bars. I could still remembered everything what I've been through in the forest. I lost consiousness after some large creature pounced at me. Iyong hindi lang malinaw ay kung paano ako napunta sa sitwasyon na ito.

I sucked my breath when a thought crossed my mind. Are the men chasing witches are the one who did this to me? Parang nauupos na kandila akong napadausdos pabalik sa sahig. Unti-unting namuo ang luha sa aking mga mata hanggang sa hindi ko na napigilan ang sunod-sunod na pagpatak niyon sa aking pisngi.

Hungry and thirsty, I felt so helpless hearing my own sobs echoing in this dark place. Ang pag-iyak at kakarampot na hanging nalalanghap ko ay mas lalong nagpasikip sa aking dibdib. Marahas kong pinunasan ang aking mga luha.

Being locked up in this dark and closed area means a little chance for me to use and cast any kind of spell. Mabilis akong napabaling sa aking kanan ng makarinig ng palapit na mga yabag. Mabilis akong kumilos at muntik pang matumba sa biglaang pagtayo.

I grasped the cold bars in my hands before I shout, "T-Tulong!" Paos ang aking boses ngunit hindi ko iyon pinansin at muling sumigaw ng mas lalong lumapit ang yabag at nagkaroon ng kakarampot na anino ng liwanag.

From the shadow, a man's figure was revealed. He was holding a torch where the light came from. I saw him lighted another torch attached on the wall that somehow lessen the darkness around. But a gasp escaped my mouth as my eyes slowly adjust to the surroundings.

Cells.

There are cells around. I was in a dungeon! I looked to the man again and my hopes of getting any help washed away immediately as I saw the familiar patch on the upper left side of his coat. A patch that only belong to a higher rank's soldier.

I took a step backward when he throw something inside my cell. It landed an inches away from my feet on the dirty floor. It was a half white bread. A small wooden cup filled with water was placed between the space of the bars.

"Pakawalam n'yo ako dito! Wala akong kasalanan!"

A woman in the cell beside my own cell shake the bars in a harsh way as the man reached her to give her the half bread. The man kicked the bars with so much force making me flinched. The woman immediately stepped backwards almost tripping from shock.

"Tumahimik ka!"

Nanghihina akong napabalik sa pagkakaupo sa sahig. Matapos mabigyan lahat ng pagkain at maiinom ay kaagad din umalis ang lalaki. Mabuti nalang at iniwan niyang nakasindi ang ilaw na nakadikit sa sementong dingding.

I eyed the food on the floor when my stomach grumbled again. I grimmaced looking at the food or more appproriate to say, a spoiled food. I ignored the bread and choose to just settled with the water just to ease my thirstiness even for a little.

I almost curse when I tasted the water. I spit it out so fast like it burns my mouth. It taste rust. I let out a deep breath and just slumped on the floor. I leaned my back on the wall and closed my eyes. Muli ay unti-unting namasa ang sulok ng aking mga mata.

Binuksan ko ang mga iyon saka marahas na pinusaan ang mga luha sa aking pisngi. Hindi ito ang tamang oras para maging mahina. Kailagan kong makaisip ng paraan sa lalong madaling panahon para makaalis dito.

My head snapped to the cell next to me when I heard the woman sobbed. She kicked the cup of water, spilling the liquid on the dirty floor. Sitting, she hugged her legs and buried her face on her knees.

Exhausted, I fell sleep while sitting. A series of shout woke me up. I straighten my body and watched the higher rank's soldier dragging those captives from the other cell. I looked at the cell beside me and did not find the woman inside anymore.

Hush cries from the remaining captives filled the air when the soldiers finally left the dungeon. I stood and walked to the other side of the cell. I felt weak and dizzy maybe because of hunger and my throat felt so dry too.

I put my right hand on the wall. I closed my eyes and do my best to concentrate and listen to any sounds outside behind these walls. The hard pour of the rain was the only thing I heared. I opened my eyes again and heaved a deep breath. I don't know if I can make it but I have to try. If I failed, at least I tried.

Muli ay ipinikit ko ang aking mga mata saka inilapat muli ang palad sa pader. Being in this closed area almost forbid me to use my spells but I poured all the strength left in me.

"Détruire," I muttured.

I kept my eyes closed and wait for a moment. I thought my remaining strenght wouldn't make it. But when I opened my eyes again, I saw the wall slowly making cracks until it became bigger and bigger. I almost cried when it was completely destroyed.

I picked my bag on the floor. I stilled when I heard a series of footsteps again and the voices from the captives begging to let them go.

"Tignan mo roon sa pinakadulo. May isa pa roon."

Nahigit ko ang aking hininga sa narinig. Tiyak ko na ako ang tinutukoy dahil ako na lang naman ang natitira dito sa pinakadulong bahagi. Muli kong nilingon ang nawasak na pader saka ang pasilyo kung saan palapit nang palapit ang mga yabag. Hindi na ako nagsayang pa ng oras. Gamit ang butas sa pader ay pinagkasya ko ang aking sarili para makalabas.

Napadaing nalamang ako ng tumama ang matulis na biyak ng bato sa aking braso ng pilit kong pinagkasya ang aking katawan para lang makalabas.

The moment the footsteps reached the front of my cell was also the moment I set my foot on the wet and muddy ground outside.

"The witch escaped!" The soldier shouted but it was too late for I was already outside. The heavy rain poured down my weak body. I forced my feet to run as fast as I can.

Hindi ko alam kung pagabi na ba ang dilim ng kalangitan o dahil lamang sa maitim na kaulapan at malakas na pag-ulan. Mahigpit kong hinawakan ang bag sa aking kamay at mas lalong pinagbuti ang pagtakbo.

I groaned when my foot hit something on the groud which caused my fall. I almost hit my face in the muddy ground. I sighed and pushed myself up again to run. My feet are begging me to take a break. But I was scared they'll caught me again.

Hinawi ko ang mga sanga ng halaman na humaharang sa aking daanan. Panay ang lingon ko sa aking likuran sa pangamba na nasundan na nila ako kaagad.

I almost lost my balance again when I hit on someone or... something when I turned around. Hinaplos ko ang aking mukha para alisin ang basang buhok na tumatakip sa aking mga mata. Awtomatiko akong napaatras sa pag-aakala na nahuli nila akong muli ngunit ng marinig ang pamilyar na tinig ay halos mapaiyak nalang ako sa tuwa.

"Ferula?"