Takipsilim

Chapter 49: Torment

Warning: This chapter contains scenes that some readers may find disturbing and/or may not be suitable for all, including depictions of self-harm. Discretion is advised.

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"Tonight, your mission will end. Ibibigay ko na sa'yo ang pangarap mong mabuhay sa isang payapang mundo na walang mga Kataha. Tonight, I will ask you to end the life of the chosen demon." Katherina looked straight at Yael.

Nanuyo ang lalamunan ng sugong Ahren. Alam na niya ang direksyon ng usapan nilang iyon, ngunit gusto pa rin niyang umasa na isang bangungot lamang ang lahat.

Katherina, huwag mong gawin ito, pakiusap. Nagmamakaawa ako sa'yo. Pagsusumamo ng kanyang puso.

And the next thing he knew, she said what he was dreading the most.

"Yael, I am begging you. Please. If you really love me, patayin mo na ako ngayong gabi."

As soon as she mentioned those words, Katherina bowed her head and started to cry.

"Patawarin mo ako, Yael." She began to cry harder. "I'm so, so sorry..kasalanan ko ang lahat.."

"L-love.." Gustong tawirin ng binata ang kakaunting metro sa pagitan niya at ng babaeng minamahal ngunit tila nakapako ang kanyang mga paa sa kinatatayuan. Gusto niyang yakapin ito ng mahigpit na mahigpit ngunit hindi niya maigalaw kahit ang kanyang mga kamay.

No, Katherina, please don't cry. Please don't do this.

Yael then realized that he too, was already shedding tears.

It took another long moment for Katherina to stop crying, and in time, looked up at him.

"Yael, itigil na natin ang pagpapanggap na maayos lang ang lahat sa pagitan nating dalawa." She said through red and swollen eyes. "Itigil mo na rin ang pagmamahal na meron ka sa akin."

"Wakasan mo na ang buhay ko, mahal ko." Katherina whispered through the sobs she was trying hard to stop. "Habang hindi pa huli ang lahat."

"Ano bang pinagsasasabi mo, Katherina?!" Yael shouted hoarsely, still in denial of everything that was happening right before his eyes.

"Nasasaktan ako na sinusubukan mo pang itago sa akin ang lahat! Alam mo na naman ang totoo noon pa, hindi ba?" Her voice was full of pain and despair. "Ako ang sugong Kataha, Yael. Nakatakda tayong magpatayan sa hinaharap at ayokong umabot tayo dun!"

"Hindi! Hinding-hindi ko hahayaang mangyari iyon." The concept was still unacceptable for Yael, and the pain he felt when he first learned the truth intensified for a billion times now. He could not find the right words to say, because nothing was going right at all.

"Love." She finally said softly, her eyes full of understanding for the man in front of her. Slowly, she walked back to where Yael was. She leaned her frail body into his. He finally wrapped his arms around her and realized how much weight she had lost since the day he first hugged her.

He did not have to remind himself to be gentle. Everything about her screamed breakable.

Is this the work of the demon inside her? The thought made Yael ache more than he thought it would.

Through sobs, Katherina told Yael how she learned the truth, and how the strange things and orders around her since she was young all added up to her realization that indeed, she was the chosen Kataha. "Ako ang dapat sisihin sa lahat, Yael. Sa pagbubuwis ng maraming inosenteng buhay, sa pakikipaglaban ni Sam sa kamatayan noon, sa mga hirap na pinagdaraanan ni mommy, sa kamatayan ng mga tunay kong magulang, sa hindi ninyo pagkakaunawaan ni Maia, at sa posibleng gulong mangyari sa pagitan mo at ng iba pang mga Ahren. I already brought so much trouble, pain, and chaos just by existing. Kaya habang maaga pa.."