Escaping Darkness

Chapter 2

ARA

Tears are flowing from her eyes as she packed her things. Planado na niya ang lahat. In two months sapat na dapat ang ipon niya para makarenta ng isang apartment. She would have saved enough for her and her mother. Dapat sabay silang aalis dito ng mama niya... But now she's gone. She won't be back and she has no one. Mag-isa na lamang siya ngayon. 

She wiped her tears away. Ngayong wala na ang mama niya, sobra sobra pa ang ipon niya. She promised herself that she would leave this place. Ipinangako niya ito sa sarili niya. Nagdadalawang isip lamang siya noon dahil sa mama niya dahil ayaw nito malayo ng tuluyan kay Zack. 

Now that her mother is gone, she has no reason to stay in this dreaded mansion anymore. She took her small luggage and went outside. May naghihintay na na taxi sa labas ng gate. The taxi driver helped her with her bag. Sa huling pagkakataon ay tinitigan niya ang mansyon na naging lugar ng napakaraming magandang alaala at ng napakaraming bangungot.

Tinitigan niya ang hardin na puno ng napakaraming magagandang bulaklak lalo na ng pulang rosas. She always wondered how the flowers survived even though nobody takes care of it. She stared at the mansion that has been a great part of her childhood. Naalala niya ang pagkamangha niya noong unang beses niyang tumuntong dito. She was naive to think that she is a princess and this mansion would be her castle. She thought her life would be a fairytale. She never thought that one stupid game would turn her fairytale into a nightmare.

"Ma'am aalis na po ba tayo?"dinig ni Ara na tanong ng driver. Bago pa man siya makasagot ay naramdaman niyang mayroong nanonood sa pagkilos niya. Muli ay nilingon niya ang mansyon at napadako ang kanyang tingin sa lalaking nakatayo sa bintana ng dati niyang kwarto. 

Zack's eyes are cold as he stared at Ara. Wala kang makikitang emosyon sa mukha ng binata. In fact he looks calm but his golden eyes told Ara that he is mad. Katulad ng dati ay kulay itim parin ang suot nito.

"Opo manong."sagot ni Ara ng hindi inaalis ang kanyang tingin sa binata. Pumasok na si Ara sa taxi. The taxi started to leave and Ara never again looked back.

ZACK

Hazel is dead. She's dead and she's never coming back. He's all alone again. He has no one.

Ito ang paulit ulit na tumatakbo sa isipan ng binata. He finally had a mother. Sa unang pagkakataon ay naramdaman din niya sa wakas ang pagmamahal ng isang ina. But faith is cruel. When he finally had a mother to love, death snatched her away. Now he's alone again.

He could feel the darkness closing in on him. Unti unti siyang nilalamon ng kalungkutan. Unti unti siyang nilalamon ng dilim. He's sinking in the dark. Just when he's about to sink completely, a name crossed his mind.

Ara Hope

Just like her name, she sparked hope in Zack's heart. Hindi siya nag-iisa. Nandito pa si Ara. Hindi siya iiwan ni Ara. She'll never leave him. With this in mind, he transported into Ara's room. 

Nakapatay ang mga ilaw. Sa pagtuntong pa lamang niya sa mansyon ay naramdaman na niyang mayroong kakaiba. He can't feel her presence inside the mansion. Sumilip siya sa bintana at nakita niya ang dalaga. 

Ipinapasok nito ang mga gamit nito papasok ng isang taxi. Hindi sinasadyang nagtagpo ang kanilang mga mata. 

Don't leave. Don't leave. Don't leave.

Paulit ulit na sabi ni ni Zack sa kanyang isipan. He stared at Ara's eyes. Willing her to not leave him in his solitude. Pero tumalikod ang dalaga. Pumasok ito sa taxi ng hindi siya nililingon.

Gusto niyang sumigaw. He watched as the taxi sped away. Ara didn't look back. Not even once. He felt pain in his chest. Hinawakan niya ang kanyang dibdib. Ang lugar kung nasaan ang kanyang puso. He knows this pain so well. The pain of heartbreak. The pain of despair.