Overcoming the Darkness (Series 2)

CHAPTER FOURTY-ONE

"SOFIA!"

Nagulat si Marcus nang bigla na lamang kumaripas ng takbo ang kapatid patungo sa isang mataas na puno sa hindi kalayuan. Agad niya itong hinabol.

Sofia's heart is beating fast. Hindi niya pinansin ang pagtawag sa kaniya ni Marcus at nagpatuloy sa pagtakbo. Whoever that vampyr is, it's somehow surprising that it didn't attack them as soon as it saw them. That is not a comnmon trait of a vampyr. At malakas ang kutob niya sa kung sino iyon.

Ngunit, gayon na lamang ang naramdaman niyang disappointment nang makarating sa likuran ng malapad na puno. There is no one hiding behind, but she could have sworn that she had seen a small form peeking from behind it.

"What is it, Sofia?"

She turned to look at Marcus who looks very worried.

"I think I saw Patrick," sagot niya nang hindi na nagpaligoy-ligoy pa.

"Right here?" gulat nitong tanong bago nilibot ng tingin ang lugar.

Sunod-sunod siyang tumango. "Yes, I'm sure of it."

Muling lumingon-lingon sa paligid si Marcus ngunit wala itong nakita. He even checked the other spots near the place to make sure.

"I think you are just hallucinating."

"No! I swear I've seen him. I couldn't be mistaken," she said desperately and checked it again on her own. She walked around the tree.

"Teka, saan ka pupunta?"

"I'm going to look for him," sagot ni Sofia habang naglalakad sa kailaliman ng mga nagtataasang puno ng mga Acacia at Ipil-Ipil.

"Ano?" Agad na sumunod sa kaniya si Marcus.

"I think I've frightened him off and run away somewhere."

"Sofia."

"Please, Marcus. Hindi ako matatahimik hangga't 'di ko nasisiguro kung namalikmata lang ba talaga ako o hindi."

"This is the result of you overthinking about the past events."

Sofia stopped and whipped around. Agad na natigilan si Marcus nang makita ang itsura ng kapatid kung saan kababakasan ng sakit at kalungkutan ang itsura nito. He knows that she's about to cry again but she's trying her best to keep it in.

"I think I will only be able to forgive myself once I found Patrick," mahina nitong sabi sa basag na tinig.

He could feel her pain and internal struggles through their bond. Wala itong ibang sinisisi kundi ang sarili lang. Lumamlam ang mga mata niya at nilapitan ang kapatid.

"Alright, we'll look for him here," malumanay niyang sabi.

"Thank you, Marcus."

They spent an hour searching the woods. But just as Marcus had expected, they found no one. Hindi siya nagkomento tungkol doon at pinagbigyan lamang si Sofia. She needs this. She needs to face the truth. That's the only way that she'll be able to move on. They went on for hours just searching until they reached a river in the middle of a clearing.

Sofia stopped and stared at the flowing water. Hindi niya alam na may ganoong lugar doon. She exhaled and walked towards the edge of the river bank. She looked at her reflecrion, all stressed and tired out.

Tama ang sinabi ni Marcus. Masyado na nga yata talaga siyang nag-iisip. Tapos na ang labanan. She should be able to sigh in relief now that Vein has been defeated. Pero bakit napakabigat pa rin ng pakiramdam niya?

She remembered all the years that she had wasted plotting everything against Vein. She had sacrificed so many things. A lot of people died in her stead. And now Patrick had become a beast that could harm the innocent.