✔ Killer in the Attic

[35] TRIGINTA QUINQUE

The thirteenth day came by.

It was a Friday.

Hindi ko alam kung maiinis ako o matatawa. But soon, I found the sky getting substantially darker as every second passed by. Hindi ko na namalayang gabi na pala---o baka naman may malay ako, pero hindi ko lang talaga ito iniintindi? My mind if drifting off to more important matters at hand. Like Oriana's safety and how I can finish Alec onces and for all.

Because tonight, it all ends.

"Sigurado ka ba rito?" I inquired.

Apollo gave me a serious look.

Kanina pa namin pinagdedebatihan ang planong ito pero mukhang wala na talagang atrasan. He's hell-bent on doing this shit with whatever it costs him. Naalala ko tuloy 'yong sinabi sa'kin dati ni Oriana na hindi raw sila malapit ng kuya niya. That might be true, but somewhere deep in Apollo's eyes, I can see his undying love for his little sister.

"My decisions are none of your concern, Sebastian. Just don't mess up."

Ngumisi ako at humakbang papalapit sa kanya. "Fine, but I wanna be free of liabilities kapag natanggalan ka ng kamay o nabagok ang ulo mo. Tandaan mo, I haven't possessed anyone in my entire existence."

And for the fucking first time since I've met this dude, Apollo smiled genuinely.

"Just promise to save my sister, asshole."

"Will do, scar face."

"Basta ako nang bahala kay Alec. I imagined him to life, I'm gonne be the one to put an end to him. Got it?"

Tumango ako at ipinikit ang aking mga mata. Concentrating on his spiritual energy, I found a glitch. Sa gitna ng kadiliman, nahanap ko ang daan papunta sa loob ng katawan ni Apollo. At first, it felt like something was pushing me away. Maya-maya pa, naririnig ko na ang mga sigaw niya. It must really be maddening to be possessed.

Naramdaman kong natumba sa sahig si Apollo, his body was now convulsing.

Ipinagpatuloy ko lang ang pagpasok sa katawan niya. Pilit kong inalisan ng kontrol ang kaluluwa niya. Tangina, ang hirap pala nito! I was about to give up when Oriana's smiling face flashed in my mind. Naikuyom ko ang aking mga kamao. I need to see her smile again.

"BLOODY HELL!"

Apollo screamed in agony.

Almost there.

A few painful minutes passed, pakiramdam ko nawalan na rin ako ng enerhiya.

I felt Apollo's body stop shaking and he wasn't yelling like he was being internally tortured anymore. Humihinga na siya nang normal. Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang aking mga mata sa madilim na silid. I weakly sat up and stared at my hands---Apollo's hands. Lihim akong napangiti.

We did it.

Nang balingan ko ang orasang nakasabit sa dingding, napansin kong isang oras na lang bago ang "reunion" nina Apollo at Alec. I immediately got up and grabbed the bag on the floor. Kinuha ko na rin ang susi ng motor niya. Nang lumabas ako ng kwarto, halos hindi ko maibalanse ang sarili ko.

So, this is what it feels like to have a human body? Not bad.

Lumabas ako ng bahay at agad akong sinalubong ng malamig na hangin. Mabuti na lang at may suot na jacket ang kuya ni Oriana. Nagmamadali akong nagtungo sa motorsiklong nakaparada sa tapat at pinasadahan ng tingin ang kabuuan ng paligid. When I made sure nothing there's nothing suspicious in the area, agad kong pinaandar ang motor.

The cold night breeze hit me as I made my way pass some cars and trucks. Humarurot ang motorsiklo at walang kahirap-hirap na binagtas ang highway. Napangiti ako. 'This is making things so much easier!' I thought.