Chapter 10: I Promise
I got back to the place where I found Kristan lying unconsciously. I had to move away a little bit because of the stinging smell from the dumpsters. The burnout lightbulb of the lamp post made this side of the street less noticeable from any incidents.
I slid my hands inside the pocket of my red hoodie. Sandali kong ginala ang paligid bago napagpasyahang akyatin ang isang mataas na pader.
I nearly threw up when my sandals accidentally stepped on a decomposing head of an animal which I assumed was a dog. Kumunot ang noo ko dahil mas malala pa pala ang nasa likod ng pader. Hindi lang pala tapunan ang lugar na ito ng mga basura, kung hindi maging ang mga patay na hayop ay rito tinatapon.
Now, where are the assholes?
Naglakad-lakad ako sa kadiliman habang iniiwasang maapakan ang mga basura. I should have worn my knee high boots instead of these flat sandals.
Oh, my feels! I couldn't believe I was walking through these tons of garbage just to look for a damn cat that I don't even own in the first place.
Natigilan ako nung may mga marinig na boses sa hindi kalayuan. Sa likod ng isang malabundok na basura ay may kaunting liwanag akong nakikita.
I sighed. I found them.
Habang palapit ako nang palapit sa kanila ay palakas nang palakas ang tawanan nila. No'ng madatnan ko ang lugar ay wala akong naabutan. Tanging isang siga lang ang andoon.
"Meow."
There, I saw the poor Lilly just near the campfire. What are they even trying to do by putting her near the fire?
Nakatali ang mga binti nito kaya hindi makagalaw. Nilapitan ko siya at aktong kakalagan na no'ng may naramdaman ako sa likod ko.
"What are you doing here?"
I knew he wasn't alone.
I knew they were not humans.
Still, I ignored them.
Napangiti ako nung makalagan ko si Lilly. Binuhat ko siya sa aking braso bago tumayo. Hinarap ko ang mga kalalakihan na masama ang tingin sa amin.
"A woman..." One of the garbage men looked so surprised. Sa kanilang lima, siya ang sa tingin ko ay pinakabata. "What in the world are you doing in our territory?"
"Hey, easy..." One of his acquaintances tapped his shoulder. "She's a girl. We don't talk like that to girls, Owen." Tumikhim siya saka lumapit sa akin. "Why don't you sit down and let's have some conversation?"
"Fuck. I am feeling a bit horny lately," I heard one whisper.
"Is that your cat?" The young boy asked.
Napatingin ako sa kamay nung isang lalaking lumapit sa akin dahil hinawakan niya ako sa braso. Thankfully, I am covered with jacket. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang magagawa ko sa kanya kapag hinawakan niya ako sa balat.
"We will calmly give you back your cat after our, of course, nonviolent conversation," he smiled, showing his fangs. "We promise to be gentle with you."
I stood still. These men are gangsters or they called them insurgents in our place. Matagal-tagal na rin magsimula nung maka-encounter ako ng gaya nila.
I flinched my head when he tried to touch my face.
"She's a vampire," the young boy noticed.
Tila mas lalong naengganyo ang mayabang na lalaki sa sinabi ng kasamahan niya. Tumawa pa siya saka tinangka ako uling hawakan.
