THE MASTERS

Extra Chapter

Rommel's POV

"Pakiusap, bumalik kayo mga apo ko. Maghihintay kami sa inyo."
My head hurts when something forced me to sleep. I want to fight it but I know that it is part of the ritual that Lola's doing. After she said those words, automatically, darkness enveloped my system.

I woke up because of the sweat that's dripping all over my body. I irritatedly got up when I feel how hot my surroundings are. My eyes a bit blurry but all I can see is red. I don't think it is only my hallucination but damn. Am I in hell?! There are lots of pits that are puffing a big amount of fire. Even the sky is colored red because of its reflection.

I covered my mouth and nose when I started to feel suffocated. Luckily there ain't so much smoke but still, I feel suffocated. I jumped onto the big rocks to avoid the fire that keeps on showing on my face. I roamed my eyes around only to see never-ending fire pits and holes. I can see the lava that's flowing underneath the holes and it burns my eyes by just staring at it.

My eyes are burning and I can't help but groan. I winced in pain when I accidentally place my hands on top of the pits when it puffs a blazing fire. "Darn it!"
When I looked at my hands, it is now burned. To my assumption, it is a second-degree burn! My heart's racing rapidly and my burning hand is so damn painful to the core!

I nervously groaned when I heard a roaring creature. It's sounded like an angry bird kaya I looked up at the sky and got surprised because of the big blazing bird! Every time it flaps its wings, fire is being scattered and it goes in my direction! I immediately jumped off the big rock and hide below it.

My eyes grew bigger when the rock melted when it touches the lava-like drops that come from the Phoenix. Kaagad akong napaalis sa ilalim ng rock when my clothes almost touch it. The blazing bird squeal when its blazing eyes landed on mine. I gulped when it soars the sky at tila rocket na bigla na lamang sumugod sa akin.

Because of adrenaline rush ay automatic na napatakbo ako. I don't know where did I find the courage to let me followed by the Phoenix. My mind went blank and all I did was to run and run and run. I can't feel my feet because of the rush. I heard the Phoenix roared like it's mad because I keep on running. I saw a cave and may kalapitan na lang siya. I tried to look back only to see the beak of it—opened like it's ready to bite me.

I gave my all and immediately jumped towards the cave's mouth. I readied myself for the possible hard surface that may welcome me. I heard the Phoenix's cry—"AHHHHH!!! PUTANGINAAAAA!!!"

I can feel how the flames touching my skin as I fall down the damn hole! It was not a fucking cave but a fucking damn hole! I keep on shouting habang nahuhulog and being burned by the flames who's puffing everywhere! I tried to look down only to see the lava who's bubbling. My mind went shut down by the sight of it.

All my memories from my childhood all the way to the present played like a movie in my mind. Is this how my life ends? Will this be my deathbed? I laugh in my thoughts. I didn't see this coming. Akala ko ay mabubuhay pa ako nang matagal, I see. Life is short and I didn't know that it would be this short. 18 damn years? Not bad though. I closed my eyes to wait for my end. Kung alam ko lang ay sa Phoenix na lang sana ako nagpa-lamon. That's a bit painless.

"Mapupunta kayo sa ibang dimension kaya mag-iingat kayo sa lahat ng kilos ninyo, lalo na't hindi kayo magkakasama dahil ihihiwalay kayo sa isa't-isa sa oras na makapasok na kayo doon. Hayaan ninyong mga Puso't-Isip ninyo ang magdikta kung ano ang gagawin ninyo upang makaalis at makapasa sa pagsubok na iyon. Iba-iba ang kahaharapin ninyong pagsubok at nakabatay ito sa inyong magiging kapangyarihan. At ang pinaka importante sa lahat......kailangan ninyong makabalik dito bago pa man maupos ang kandila dahil kung hindi......hindi na kayo makakaalis doon kailanman."