The Drifter [COMPLETED]

Chapter 7 : Drift Partners

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Eight years ago, there were four pairs studying under Lolo Leo's guidance: Helena and West, Alena and Samuel, Tere and Alma, and Mia and Alfred. She, Alena, Tere and Mia are what they call Drifters. They have the ability to enter the dimensions of the Invisibles and the Untouchables. West, Samuel, Alma and Alfred are called drift partners or Guardians.

When Drifters enter other worlds using their astral bodies, their material bodies sleep and become vulnerable to attacks from entities of both the invisible and untouchable planes. A drift partner's main role is to guard the body of the Drifter and ensure that the latter will come back safely.

However, the pairing of a Guardian and a Drifter is not something that can be forced nor planned. Their brainwaves, thoughts, beliefs and life forces must be compatible to fully communicate and help one another. A sync is very important in drifting.

At the same time, since the Guardian and the Drifter often acts and feels as one, the death of another will have a tremendous effect on the physical and even spiritual body of its partner.

That was what happened to Samuel when Alena died—he lost his mind.

"He's been dead for four months now, Miss." Seryoso ang mukha ng attendant na kausap nila.

They found the door open without guards and the doctor's office empty kaya naman napilitan silang tumambay sa hallway ng pinuntahang asylum. Doon ay nag-abang sila ng taong nakaputing uniform na maaaring pagtanungan. Ang babaeng ito ang na-ambush nila. She doesn't look annoyed but the loose ponytail and her bored expression were almost offensive.

Nagpasalamat si Helena na nakaligo sila at nakapagpalit ng damit sa isang inn kung saan sila naghintay ng umaga ni West. Ang kapeng barako na ininom nila at ang donut na dinaanan sa isang convenience store ay nagbigay ng dagdag na enerhiya para sa umagang iyon. Kahit paano ay may composure siyang humarap sa babae.

"Aren't you friends with him? Hindi kayo na-inform ng family niya?" dagdag pa nito.

Nagkatinginan sila ni West.

They will never be informed. Malaki ang hinanakit ng ina ni Samuel kay Lolo Leo dahil sa kinahinatnan ng anak nito. Kahit na ilang ulit na paghingi ng tawad ang gawin ng matanda noon at ilang ulit itong paliwanagan ng sarili nitong asawa, walang nakapagpalubag sa loob nito. All she knew was that her boy was always hallucinating and that he was losing his eyesight. At nangyari ang trahedyang iyon sa poder ni Lolo Leo na pinagkatiwalaan nitong huhubog sa abilidad ng anak.

Helena sighed. Sealed memories started coming back.

She could see Samuel kicking hysterically, cursing and crying at the same time upon knowing that Alena was dead. When he calmed down, he tried to contact Alena again and again, hoping for a response from her from the other worlds. After weeks of trying, he succumbed to an uncertain sleep; waking up at random hours and fighting invisible enemies.

The whole household got afraid of him and despite her mother's objection, he was confined to this asylum. And here, he completely succumbed to paralysis and blindness. He ate from tubes and breathe through tubes.

"What happened to him? How did he die?" usisa ni Helena. May pakikiusap sa mga mata niya.

Sinipat pa muna ng babae ang oras sa relong nasa bisig nito bago sumagot, "Everyone knows that he's bound to die. He's in and out of coma. Then one day, he died of cardiac arrest. Nasisante pa nga yung nurse na in-charge dahil ni hindi man lang namalayan kung napano na yung pasyente niya."

"Nasisante?" ulit niya.

"Don't worry. Masaya naman si Miko sa nangyari kasi ayaw na nung magtrabaho rito. Mula ng hawakan niya si Samuel ay natakot na siya dito sa asylum. Nagpapasama pa nga yun sa akin kapag kailangang i-spongebath ang pasyente o kahit kapag magra-rounds na lang sa gabi. Nasira na rin ata ang tuktok. Kung anu-anong ikinukuwento." nakanguso ng bahagya ang babae. Sumipat uli ito sa oras na nasa bisig. "Pa'no? Busy kasi ako. Dalawin n'yo na lang sa sementeryo yung kaibigan n'yo."