DYO BEGAN SCANNING faces, searching for his companions. He heard everything. He started walking as fast as he could. Nilibot niya ang bawat eskinita na malapit sa plaza. He doesn't want to give up yet.
It took a while before he realized what happened. Kinailangan niyang magtanong sa isang matandang sapatero sa isang tindahan. After the explosion, he felt like his strength and hope were somehow restored. Ngunit ngayo'y ramdam niya ang unti-unti na naman nitong pagkaubos.
He paused for a while to catch his breath. Isinandal ng binata ang kanyang ulo sa pader na katapat niya. He was thinking about ways to solve everything when he heard the footsteps of whoever is running. Agad siyang umatras upang bumalik sa kabilang eskinita ngunit napatigil ito nang makita kung sino ang paparating.
"There you are," he murmured.
"Do you have an idea how to get out of this mess?" Aelia asked him. Hingal din ang dalawang babae dahil sa pagod.
"I know someone who can pro---"
"Where's Endy and Juliette?" pagputol sa kanya ni Selene.
"Before the pendant exploded, the kid was just right beside me. I don't know what happened after," ani Dyo.
"We need to find them right away before it's too late. Baka kung anong mangyari sa kanila—baka kung anong gawin nila kay Juliette—I can't—"
Hinawakan lamang ni Aelia ang kamay ng dalaga upang siya'y pakalmahin.
"Let's just hope that they're fine. Before anything else, let's just find them," wika ni Selene.
Sa kabilang dako ay aligaga si Endymion sa paghahanap sa mga kasama. May kalayuan ito sa kinalalagyan nina Aelia. He also heard everything. And it is clear to him that they are all in danger.
Napadaan ang binata sa isang masukal na parte nang bayan, ilang metro mula sa eskinita kung nasaan sila Aelia. From afar, he noticed something that's moving. Natatabunan ito nang makapal na damo kaya't hindi niya ito gaanong makita. When he moved closer, he realized that it was the kid. Juliette.
He was about to close the gap when she began screaming her heart out. Napatakbo si Endy papunta sa kanya. Hawak nang bata ang kanan nitong kamay na may nakabaong isang matulis na sanga. Agad naman itong dinaluhan nang binata.
Mula sa plaza at sa kinalalagyan nina Aelia ay dinig ang sigaw ni Juliette. Wala silang inaksayang oras, they ran as fast as they could bago pa sila maunahan nang taong bayan. Juliette was in terrible pain when they arrived.
"Juliette!" nagmamadaling nilapitan ito Selene. She was bleeding badly as Endy tried to cover her cut with a cloth ripped from his shirt.
"We can't stay here, the people are still after us," hinihingal na sabi ni Dyo. Nasa likod niya si Aelia.
"Tumakbo na kayo! Walang rason para manatili tayong lahat rito," sagot ni Selene habang inalalayan si Juliette.
"No, we're staying with you!" pag-apila ni Aelia.
"No, Aelia. We'll meet later, I promise. Just go for now!"
"Sele—"
Hindi na nakapagsalita pa si Aelia nang hilahin na siya ni Dyo at sabay silang tumakbo palayo.
"Don't look back. They're going to be fine. Let's just trust Selene," ani Dyo. Lumingon lamang sa kaniya si Aelia na puno ng luha ang mga mata.
"But nothing's fine, Dyo."
"It will be." Isa lamang ang laman ng isipan ni Dyo kung saan alam niyang makatutulong sa kanila.
"Where are we going anyway?" tanong ni Aelia.
YOU ARE READING
La Cometa 1892
Mystery / ThrillerFour working individuals are set to begin their adventure in the once prosperous town where they have to collect information about its root of destruction. --- In a progressive city of Minokawa, it is expected to be one of the cities praised for its...
