The Orphic Secret

Chapter 35

HAVEN

"Hindi na muna tayo didiretso sa headquarters," sambit ni Lourd habang nagda-drive. Sana all maalam magdrive. We were in a separate car along with Kuya and Nicolas, dahil hindi raw kasya sa kabilang kotse.

"Bakit naman?" tanong ko.

"May pupuntahan tayo, Tita," sagot niya at tumingin sa rearview mirror para masilip ako. Umirap ako at tinaasan siya ng middle finger. Hindi naman ako nakikita ni Kuya, eh.

"Luh, ano 'yan? Pakyu?" nang-aasar na tanong ni Nicolas. Kuya Nine shifted in his seat, at pinadilatan ko tuloy ng mata si Nico. I mouthed 'Juicemother ka!'

"Huh? Ano raw? Tangina?" asar pa niya ulit. Napasapo naman ako sa noo. "Ikaw may sabi n'yan, Nico—"

"Ako ba? Sorry, Tita!"

I scoffed, and punched him in his arm. Inis akong humilig sa backrest ng upuan, at narinig ko naman ang tawanan nila. E'di wow. Pinikit ko nalang ang mata ko at hindi sila pinansin. Hmp, akala naman talaga nila nakakatuwa.

"Pero seriously," I said after being snob for ten minutes. "Where are we headed?"

This time, thankfully, it was my brother who answered. "We're going to Haven."

"Huh? Langit?"

"Haven. H-A-V-E-N. That means sanctuary, or a place where it can be safe," paliwanag ni Kuya. I awkwardly laughed. Ah, haven pala.

"So bakit tayo pupunta sa Haven?" tanong ko.

"That is where the sealed peculiars are," sagot ni Lourd. "D'on mo makikita si Sirius na pinatay mo," HALA, "pero don't worry he's unconscious for now."

"Why are they unconscious?"

"Why do you have so many questions?"

"Ah, okay sige. 'Wag nalang ako magtanong, ano?" sarkastiko kong tugon sa kanila. Nine chuckled along.

"Huwag niyo na ngang asarin si Four. She fell asleep so you have to echo our explanations to her," pagalit ni Kuya. Ngumisi naman ako at bumelat kay Lourd at Nicolas.

"Okay, fine," sambit ni Nico. He looked at me and started explaining, "The peculiars are unconscious because they lost to Callista, but before they could die, Seraphin sealed them in something that can keep them safe from Callista. Hindi pa sila pwedeng i-unseal dahil may tyansyang mamatay sila. We can only be sure to unseal them if Callista dies."

I let out a long 'ooh.' "What else should I know?"

"Nothing more that they know. Pero pagkarating natin d'on, be careful not to touch any orb. Baka bigla silang ma-unseal," singit ni Kuya Nine. We all nodded, but one word caught my attention.

"Orb?" tanong ko. "Bakit orb?"

"You'll know once we get there, Four," sagot niya.

Hindi na ako nagsalita at natulog nalang, pero hindi rin naman nagtagal ay tumigil na ang sasakyan dahilan kung bakit ako napamulat.

"Joke, practice lang. Wala pa tayo," ani Lourd. Napairap naman ako, at akmang tutulog na nang pisilan ni Kuya Nine ang braso ko.

"Nandito na nga tayo," sabi niya. Kinusot ko naman ang mata ko at tiningnan ang paligid. It looked like a deserted place. There were no signs of tree or any kind of nature. The floor seemed so dry.

Bumaba na silang lahat, at sumunod nalang ako. Narito na rin ang pala iba, at hinihintay nalang kami. Even the other ten were here. Reunion? I just wonder why Seraphin isn't here? Shy type ba 'yan?

Nagulat naman ako nang hampasin ni Adara si Ten or Kiyoshi nang malakas, "You told me na hindi siya si Rory!"

Tumawa naman si Kiyoshi, "Hindi nga. She's Exiquel Four."

"I actually kept you a secret from the others. Hindi alam ng iba bukod kay Kiyoshi, at Ephraim na you were created again," sabi ni Kuya Nine. Kaagad naman siyang sinalubong ni Adara at inalalayan siya ni Adara sa paglakad.

Napataas-kilay naman ako, maayos naman siyang nakakalakad ah? Kuya can feel things.

"Nope," Napasulyap naman ako sa tabi ko nang magsalita si Tamonjie na tila nabasa ang iniisip ko. "Even his other senses have weakened, Four. He refuses to tell the reason."

"Other senses?" tanong ko.

Tumango naman siya, "Normally, he would hear us whispering at each other, but he has lost the ability to do so."

Napaawang naman ang bibig ko at naawang tiningnan si Kuya. Adara seemed to be very careful with him, and I can see in her eyes that she's taking care of him very well. Wala sa sarili akong napatingin kay Nicolas. He looked very curious while looking at his parents.

Weird naman. Mukhang kaedad niya lang parents niya.

"Don't you feel anything knowing that they're you're biological parents?" tanong ko kay Nicolas.

He just shrugged, "I haven't thought about that yet. Masyado pang maraming problema, patapusin na muna natin."

Well, he's right. Kaya hindi ko pa rin iniisip ang tungkol sa'min ni Zero. Hindi na muna 'yon mahalaga, ang mahalaga ay mahanap ko siya.

"Isis? Unveil it now," utos ni Ephraim who was now beside Lein. The girl with long black wavy hair and eyes like Iris nodded.

Tinaas niya ang kamay niya at may mga lumabas na holographic codes. She kept her fingers moving along and the codes changed form time to time. Soft sounds of keyboard like sounds filled the air. Then a loud ding echoed around.

Nagulat ako nang biglang mag-iba ang sahig. From a dryland, it suddenly became a glass floor showing an underwater view below us. It became so dark, but I looked at front and orbs of different colors lit the place.

This is Haven?

Hindi ba't nakita ko na 'to dati sa faction rooms? Sa test? But I remember Zero was the one who showed me this? Ibig sabihin alam niya 'to? Huh?

I almost jumped when Kuya Nine talked beside me, "I bet you saw this in the factions. The first part in the factions was actually by Zero, but the last ones were by mine. Ako ang nasabi sa'yo na 'The future of Peculiars is in our hands.' This it it."

Now that he mentioned, I really remember him saying it to me. Napatango naman ako nang maintindihan kung bakit niya 'yon sinabi.

"The orbs, those are where they are sealed, right?" tanong ko kay Kuya. Tumango naman siya, at naglakad palapit sa mga orb. Kaagad ko siyang inalalayan nang muntik na siyang madapa.

"What's wrong, Kuya?" tanong ko.

Umiling naman siya, "I'll be okay once the dimension is completed. Huwag kang mag-alala."

I nodded, but I was still worried. "Bakit nga pala tayo dito una pumunta? Isn't finding Zero our priority?" tanong ko.

His head turned to me, and I can feel his eyes smiling behind the bandages. "So you can catch a glimpse of your friends, Four. And at least to prove you that they exist, so you can have peace in your heart."

I scoffed, "Puwede ko naman silang makita pagkatapos ng lahat."

Nawala naman ang ngiti niya, and it turned to a sad smile. "Of course. I just thought I neede—"

"Whatever. Tara na hanapin si Zero. Nas'an ba siya?" tanong ko.

Si Kiyoshi naman ang sumagot sa'kin, "Hindi rin namin alam, Four. Ikaw dapat ang nakakaalam n'yan. Hindi ba't ikaw ang may koneksyon sa kaniya? Malay mo, narito na rin pala siya sa Haven."

Illeasalis shook her head, "He's not in this haven, he's probably in his own haven."

Own haven? Ang arte naman. S'an naman namin mahahanap 'yon?

The Orphic Secret
By lostmortals
Plagiarism is a crime.

There are more secrets to be revealed in the end pa. Abang lang. + sorry talaga sa typos.

Btw added character:
Tamonjie by tamonjie HAHAHA

Thank you for reading!