A Happily Ever After

Chapter Eight

JESSA

Nanatili ako sa pwesto ko at sinubukang pakiramdaman ang maaring nangyayari sa kabilang gilid ng pader. Maririnig pa rin ang mabibigat at nagmamadaling yabag ng ilang tao at ang mga boses na humihiyaw ng utos. And all of it sounded so loud and so near, I could practically feel their presence here.

"Rosales," tawag muli sa akin ni Navarro at pinisil ang wrist ko. "Let's go."

Hindi ako gumalaw dahil naririnig na namin ang isa 'pang boses ng lalaki sa kabilang gilid, the same voice who called out to me earlier. "Nasaan ang prinsesa?" Tanong nito.

"Hindi ko pa ho nahahanap ang prinsesa," sagot ng governess ko.

"Tsk." There are angry footsteps. "Dalhin niyo siya sa Hari."

Naramdaman ko na mukhang maraming kawal ang nakapaligid ngayon sa governess ko. My heartbeat feels heavier and heavier as the footsteps become further apart, signifying that they are now taking her out of here.

Napatingin nalang ako sa ibaba at kumuha ng malalim na hininga. The restless wrath has resurfaced, pressing on my chest , making my hand to clench. Another surge of violence runs through my veins, and I want to burst through the wall and reek mayhem outside for the sake of my governess.

But I couldn't do that. Hindi ko iyon pwedeng gawin.

"Hey." Navarro squeezes my wrist. I tried to look at him despite the darkness enveloping us. "I'm sorry about her."

I gulped down the angry sobbing I hadn't realized I was doing. I nodded to appreciate what he had said. "But we don't have more time for this," ang sabi ko. Tumalikod na ako sa pader at hinarap ang madilim na hallway sa harapan. "We have to get out of here."

Sabay naming pinagmasdan ang tila bang walang katapusan na kadiliman sa harapan. "We need light," I said.

"A fire, I think? Do you think may flashlights sa mundong ito?"

"Do you think my torches dito?"

"I think I saw one kanina nung nakabukas pa 'yung lagusan.. I got to see a glimpse of this tunnel under a light."

Fire. Since mukha nga namang electronics like flashlights and lightbulbs are not yet existing here, apoy ang kakailanganin namin for the source of light. We need fire.I began again in my head. I directed my gaze on the endless darkness before us, and there, I visualized the flames of the oil lamp chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, blazing hot and wild.

My body shivered with an unexpected warmth. In my ears, a peculiar high-pitched sound vibrated. And there appears to be an energy pressing on my body.

And then, one lamp hanging at the low ceiling blazed with fire. The small flame had poured warm illumination over the narrow brick tunnel. Then another oil lamp blazed from behind, adding more vibrance to the place. And another one followed, and another one, until all of the lamps that my eyes can see are engulfed in flames.

Pareho kaming natulala ni Navarro nang napanood ang kusang pagliyab ng mga lampara. Para 'bang may isang multo ang nakarinig sa pinag-uusapan namin kayai isang niyang inapuyan ang bawat lampara.

"Paano mo nagawa 'yon?" Navarro asked, breathless.

"I don't know," I answered. "Wala naman akong ginawa."

That's a lie, isn't it?

We walked.

As we went, the pebbles and sand grinded beneath my heels and Navarro's shoes. I can hear heavy and hurried footsteps above us. Definitely, nagkakagulo na ang lahat dahil sa pagtakas ko. Pasensya sila, I have to leave because I do not belong here. The only one who belongs here is Princess Blaidrah, the body I'm in.