Capes 1: Charge

Chapter 23

Habang nagpapahinga si Lockey sa kanyang kwarto ay saglit lamang nang marinig niya ang sunod-sunod na katok sa kanilang pinto. Napabalikwas ito mula sa pagkahihiga at bumango para pagbuksan ng pinto kung sino man iyon. Nang matungo ang pinto upang makita kung sino ang nasa likod ng pinto at sa naturang pagkabukas pa lamang nito ay bumungad sa kanya sina Simon at Malcolm.

"Lockey!" pagtawag na bungad ni Simon.

Napatayo at napasilip din naman si Klein kung sino ang bisita. Binati naman siya ng dalawa at muling natuon ang atensyon sa kanilang kaibigan.

"I think you should come with us," paganyaya ni Simon.

"It is something you should see," dagdag naman ni Malcolm.

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ni Lockey. "Ano naman 'yon?"

"May ginagawa ka ba?" tanong pa ni Simon.

"Well, Klein and I are reading the textbooks from our class. May test kami so we're asking each other some questions to prepare ourselves for the test."

"Would it be possible na ituloy niyo na lang mamaya?" muling tanong ni Simon. Ngayon ay sinilip naman niya si Klein na nakamasid sa kanila. "Okay lang ba, Klein? We'll pull Lockey for the mean time. Importante lang 'to. Alam kong importante rin ang test niyo, but this is more on a personal kind of thing. . . I hope you don't mind."

Umiling naman si Klein. "No, I don't mind. I can read by myself."

"Thank you," ani Simon at bumalik ang atensyon kay Lockey. "You're good to go! Come on."

Bago sumama si Lockey sa mga kaibigan niya ay nagpaalam muna ito kay Klein at sinabing ipagpapatuloy nila ang ginagawang pagre-review. He went out of the room and closed it behind as he stepped out and followd his friends to his room.

Tinapik naman ni Simon ang dibdib ni Lockey. "Hindi mo naman sinabi na gano'n na pala kayo ka-close ni Klein, ha? He never got to talk to us. I don't think he liked us."

Napakibit balikat naman ito. "Klein's not hard to get along with. You would get to know him more if you got to talk to him, sometimes you have to make the first move. I did, and now he was the one who was coming to speak to me. But anyway, what you guys are up to?"

"Let's get there quickly," Simon said grabbing their shoulders, and in just a quick second, they were transported into their room. "I should've done that sooner, but anyway, here you go. . ."

Tumungo si Simon sa tapat ng computer setup ni Malcolm. Sumunod din naman si Malcolm kung saan umupo ito sa kanyang upuan. Simon pointed the screen for Lockey to watch. Nang lumapit ito at itinapon ang mata sa monitor ng computer ay nakita nito ang video. Malcolm played it and it was chaotic.

Napako ang mata niya sa video habang pinapanood ang ilang tao na nanlalaban mula sa mga awtoridad. Lockey knew that it wasn't just a normal incident where there was a power of authority because shown, but their cruelty on arresting those people with inhuman abilities. He couldn't believe what he was watching. Nasa isip ay kulang na lang patayin nila ang mga ito.

"Napaka-imoral," komento nito. 

Natapos ang video nang maputol ito nang sitahin ng awtoridad. The video he watched happened in Summit City and all those they called abomination has been captured by the authority. Wala silang magagawa ro'n. Hindi nila mapipigilan kung ano man ang batas na ipinapanukala. Kung ang mga normal na mamamayn ng bayang iyon ay ang tanging nasa isip lamang ay kung anong gagawin nila sa mga susunod na araw habang ang mga tinuturing nilang abomination ay araw-araw na nasa panganib ang buhay.

"That was the thing we wanted to show you," Simon said. "What was happening in Summit City now is very alarming. I don't know how you could live all your life there without feeling threatened by the government. It sucks to live there with an ability like us."

Napakibit balikat naman si Lockey. "I didn't worry about it because I thought I didn't have any abilities just like my father. Remember, I was tracked before. Now they hadn't found anything that I could be an abomination, I wasn't on their radar anymore. Knowing that my father left such a reputation definitely made them feel so terrorized." Napailing na lamang si Lockey.

"Do you want to do anything?" tanong naman ni Malcolm.

"What do I want to do? I don't know. . . I couldn't even control my ability yet so I don't know. The government is far more dangerous than we think. We don't know what would be their next move. I cannot go back there until I know what I'm gonna do."

"You should always know that we got you," Simon said and put his hand over his shoulder. "We're here for you. I think everyone in the Capes is here for you. It seems like Summit City is the biggest enemy we have. They are our enemy. They can kill us or whatever they want to erase us from existence."

"I wish I could do more. . ." Lockey said. Napatingin naman ang dalawa sa kanya. "I don't know how I could avenge my father and my best friend's death. A lot of things had happened and it's all in that City."

"Don't worry, Lock—Ouch!" Simon said when he touched Lockey's skin. Napatingin naman ito sa kanyan balat at sinuri. Gano'n din naman ang ginawa ni Lockey at kinapa ang braso na nahawakan ni Simon. Wala namang nagbago. Wala naman siyang naramdamang kakaiba. "Oh, man. I don't wanna touch you anymore. You electrocuted me! But kidding, that's crazy, Lockey!"

Napangisi naman ito at napakamot sa likod ng ulo. "I didn't even feel a thing. . ."

"Alam mo, kahit sinasabi mo na hindi mo pa kontrolado 'yang abilidad mo, I just know you'll do great things ahead and one of it, you could save Summit City from those people who were leading the city right now. I can see you making a difference for it."

Napatango at napahugot na lamang nang malalim na hininga si Lockey. He might not understand how he will do it all at this moment because a lot of things have come his way. Pero ngayon, hindi na siya titigil na alamin ang bawat impormasyon na kailangan niyang malaman. He has to get the full potential of his power and get to the time where he ends up in one of those photos he found in the basement. It could mean something to him—probably a lot of answers to his questions.

But for now, Lockey has to keep it low until he gets everything under his control.

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