La Cometa 1892

Chapter 16

IT CAN'T BE.

Not now.

Emilio screamed once more as pain drilled his bones from the inside. He felt a surge of power humming in his flesh, a kind of strength that shouldn't be there.

His eyes widened when he realized what was happening.

The four are kneeling in front of him, asking him. The pain is too excruciating for him to comprehend the words slipping from their mouths.

Inipon niya ang lahat ng natitirang lakas upang balaan ang mga ito. "A-ang sumpa..."

"Ano hong meron sa sumpa?" Endymion asked.

"Nagsimula na ang sumpa." He felt like his body was going to fall apart in pieces as pain started piercing through his soul once again. His screams slowly turned into a deep gruttal inarticulate sound.

He tried everything that he could to speak again. He needs to warn them before the beast within him destroys its cage.

"I-ikadena niyo ako. Ngayon na!" Those are the final words that he uttered before Dyo noticed the fading of recognition in his eyes.

Hindi nagaksaya ng oras ang apat. They forced themselves to move despite of the fear and exhaustion gnawing their bones.

Everything is in chaos. Napuno ng ingay na mula sa mga naglalaglagang kagamitan ang buong bahay. The bottles filled with something that they could not identify shattered. Panic swelled from their whole being. Chain. They need to find a chain.

They can't fully comprehend what is happening, ngunit naamoy nila sa simoy ng hangin ang paparating na delubyo.

Mabilis na kumilos si Dyo nang makahanap siya ng kadena. Tinawag niya si Endy upang magpatulong.

Nagpumiglas ang albularyo habang kinakadena nila ito. The light from his eyes is already flickering. Matapos ikadena ang pinagtulungan nilang buhatin ito papunta sa kwarto na una nilang napuntahan kanina. They locked the door before leaving.

Nakakatindig-balahibong mga sigaw, ingay ng kadena at pagkalampag ng mga gamit. Kinikilabutan sila at napapatalon dahil sa mga ingay na iyon na nagmumula sa kwarto. Mas dumidilim ang pagkuyom ng mga kamao ni Dyo at Endymion sa bawat tunog na naririnig.

Tumayo si Aelia mula sa pagkakaupo nang may maalala. Dali-dali nito sinuyod ang iba pang kwarto sa bahay. She's here, and she needs to find her. Binalikan niya sa kanyang alaala kung saan niya ito unang nakita.

It took a moment, bago niya ito matagpuan. She opened a door and there she was, sitting on her rocking chair, eyes focused on the ceiling.

"Lola..." Aelia saw tears streaming down from the old woman's cheeks. Sigurado siya narinig niya lahat ng nangyari. Hinawakan ng dalaga ang mga nanginginig na kamay nito. She felt sorry for Emilio's grandmother. Wala itong magawa kundi tiisin ang sakit na dulot ng mga bagay na kanyang nasaksihan at narinig. Pinunasan nito ang mga luha ng matanda at hinalikan ito sa noo.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

The door creaked as the three entered. Tinabihan nila si Aelia at ang matanda. Their hopes are slowly fading. Unti-unti na silang nilalamon ng pagod, ng takot, ng galit. Who would have thought that their job and passion could lead them to the chaos that they are in right now.

Their minds are ringing. Punong puno ng ingay ang paligid, everyone's screaming. Sumilip si Selene sa isang butas. Napaatras ito sa nakita. She covered her mouth to stifle a cry. Three bodies are lying on the pool of their own blood, motionless.