Catch Me Not

Chapter 13 : Beneath the Dark

Serenity

May kaunting mga ingay.

Dahan-dahan kong binuksan ang aking mga mata dahil sa samu't saring ingay na naririnig ko sa paligid.

Everything's blurry, so I blink several times to adjust my vision. The surrounding becomes clear, as the noise becomes understandable.

"Bakit ba kasi hindi niyo manlang kami in-update ng current location niyo?!" I heard Walter.

"I told you, this is something personal," Kevin replied, emphasizing the last word.

"Tama na yan. Kanina pa kayo nagbabangayan," Jen interfered, silencing both sides.

I rolled my eyes.

Marahan akong napabangon kahit ramdam ko pa ang nagpupulsong sakit sa aking ulo.

Napakuyom ako nang maalala ko ang nangyari bago ako mawalan ng malay.

"Guys, gising na si Serenity," ag-iimporma ni Vin, kaya agad kong naagaw ang atensiyon nilang lahat.

It was Kevin who first run towards me, embracing me like I would disappear any second later.

"I-m s-orry, Sy. Hindi kita agad napuntahan. I swear, napasarap ang tulog ko. I was unaware."

I sighed.

"It's fine, Chief Kevin. I'm just fine, surprisingly."

It's a surprise that I'm still alive. Akala ko ay huling araw ko na 'yon. Talaga bang hinayaan lang ako ng hayop na yun? He just wanted me to pass out?

For what?

What his real intentions are?

Bakit hindi niya ako pinatay tulad ng mga nakaraan niyang biktima?

"What are they doing here?" taka kong tanong patukoy sa aking colleagues na nandidito na rin sa mansion.

"I informed them about the situation. 'Yan ang una kong naisip na gawin nang maabutan kitang nakahandusay sa sahig," sagot ni Kevin.

I nodded.

Though, them being here creates an uncomfortable feeling to me because our mansion has always been so private. Hindi rito basta-bastang nakapapasok ang kung sino.

But then again, I just nodded.

"Kumain ka muna," alok sa akin ni Jen at itinuro ang tray ng pagkain. Sa buong team, kaming dalawa lang ang babae kaya naman ay medyo malapit kami sa isa't isa.

Dahil gutom na ako ay kumain na ako sa pag-asang babalik agad ang aking lakas. Hanggang ngayon kasi ay namamanhid pa rin ang ibang parte ng katawan ko.

Napatingin naman ako sa labas at nakita kong maliwanag na ang paligid. The huge grandfather clock says it's already 10:20 am.

As I started to chew the food, I also savour the memory of last night.

"You can never catch monsters, unless you become one."

Iyan ang tumatak sa isip ko. Is he inviting me to be like him?

I smirked. Too late.

"The killer...he was here last night," I started a conversation, only to meet Kevin's annoyed face.

"Kumain ka muna," he said, full of authority that made me swallow what I'm chewing in an instant.

"Chief Kevin is right. You must regain your strength first. According to Dr. Andryx, a particular poison spreaded throughout your body," Vin informed me. "Fortunately, it's not that lethal."