For Sale: Bed Warmer (COMPLETED)

FSBW XXXVII (PART 2)

Juno’s POV

“The answer is Maps.” Mahina at tila siguradong bulong ni Neptune. Parang isang magic word ay nagawa nitong baguhin ang nakaflash na bugtong sa harapan namin, revealing the correct answer which is Maps.

I should praise Neptune for his logical skills. We were able to move in the next stage because he answered the riddle correctly. If weren’t because of him, maybe we are still stuck in that pace 2 of the so called labyrinth of MAC.

Naging alerto kaming lahat ng unti-unting umangat ang kaninang pader kung saan naroroon ang bugtong. We pointed our guns and stick on one another para kung may biglaang pagsugod ay hindi kami mabulaga.

Nang matagumpay na umangat ang lift ay may nakita kaming kahon sa gitna ng daan. It’s a black box with gold lining.

“Here’s the price! Congratulations!” muli, pumailanlang sa tahimik na lugar ang boses ni Macley.

I ordered my men to walk through first dahil mamaya ay kagaya ng nangyari kanina ay bigla nanamang sumara ang mga lagusan.

Sinenyasan ko si Venus na lumapit upang icheck ang laman ng kahon. He, slowly pick up the box and open it habang kami ay mataman na nagmamatyag kung ano nanamang pakulo ang inihanda ng MAC. We can’t let him fool us again.

Kinuha nya mula sa loob ng box nag isang nakatuping papel at nang buksan nya ito at iharap sa amin ay bumungad sa amin ang pasikot-sikot ng laboratory.

“Take Me with You and I’ll Lead You Anywhere.” Muli ay narinig ko ang boses ni Macley. “It’s a map!” parang nangbubuskang pang-aasar niya. “Para wala na kayong masabi, let me give you the blueprint of my laboratory. I hope you’ll use it in a good way dahil kung hindi, I will be sad.” pinagmukha nya pa talagang nalulungkot ang kanyang boses. He’s really getting into my nerves! Fuck it!

Marami pa syang sinabi pero hindi ko na ito pinansin. Again, I order my man to walk with caution habang binabasa ni Venus ang mapang hawak niya.

KAGAYA nga ng sinabi kanina ng mabuksan namin ang pinaka-unang lagusan, this labyrinth is composed of twist and turns sapagakat mayroon oras na we will be walking in the same hallway pero we will be entering another opening after answering the riddle they prepared. We find it easy to crack the riddles because we have the source from the outside. They are the one to give us initial information and by that, we can come up with an answer na mukhan tama naman dahil we were able to open those lifts.

As I look at my wrist watch, it’s already 3 in the morning. We have been roaming around here for a day. We haven’t eaten nor take a nap because we are busy solving those fvcking riddles. Thankfully, we are now at pace 9 which, based on the blueprint, is the last level. Tired? Yes, we are. Mentally and physically dahil sa paghalukay ng mga maaring maging sagot sa mga tanong.

I turn my hand into a fist, giving them the signal to stop when we were about to enter a door. Yes, a door. A regular door that we use in our homes. Ito nalang kasi ang nakita kong lagusan. Unlike sa mga nauna naming dinaanan, walang code na nakaflash sa kahit saang parte ng matataas na pader kung kaya’t I jumped into the conclusion na ito na ang daan palabas.

Pinihit ko ang seradura habang naka-umang naman ang baril sa pinto. Mabilis ko itong itinulak pabukas bago ini-umang rin ang aking baril. Sinenyasan ko si Mars na maunang pumasok na syang sinundan ni Saturn.

Matapos nilang masigurado na walang anuman ang naroroon ay isa isa kaming pumasok sa loob. Matapos makapasok ng lahat ay parang may sariling isip ang pinto at bigla nalang itong sumara at nawala. Narito nanaman kami sa isang hallway. Maliwanag dito at nagtataasan ang mga pader. May daan sa kanan, pati sa kaliwa at maski sa aming harapan. Tila ba tatlo itong magkakakonektang lagusan.