Shattered Souls

Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Cold and Dark

Celeste and I held each other's hand as we followed the rest. My heart felt so heavy knowing we would abandon them while they were up against a powerful man but what else could we do?

Truth be told, wala kaming maitutulong sa kanila. Ang tanging magagawa lang namin ay bawasan ang mga magbubuwis ng buhay para sa laban na ito.

Trust them.

Trust him.

We will win it.

Sinalubong kami nina Erikson at Randolf. Tinabihan ako ni Erikson at si Randolf naman ay kay Celeste. Ngumiti sa akin si Erikson kaya tumango ako.

"Are you good now?" I heard Randolf asked.

Doon lang uli pumasok sa isipan ko ang kalagayan ni Celeste.

Celeste slightly nodded. "I feel better now."

"Wait..." I roamed my eyes around. "Where's Lady Vienzara?"

"Hindi ba siya kasama nina Nigel?" tanong din ni Erikson.

"Hindi ko siya napansin." Luminga pabalik si Randolf. Napailing ito. "I think she stayed there."

Natigilan ako sa paglalakad. Did she stay there?

Erikson shook his head at me. "You can't go back, Astra."

"Pero nanghihina pa rin siya." An image of her leaning against the trunk while panting hard flashed in my head. "If she stayed there, may posibilidad na madamay siya."

She's one of the reasons why our chances of winning were even possible. Kinumbinsi niya ang kanyang Ama na samahan kami sa laban na ito. We can't just leave her after all that she has done for us.

"Fuck it!" Erikson grabbed my arm. "We can't go back. You hear me?"

"But—"

"Kung hindi siya nakumbinsi ni Lord Vienzara na sumama sa atin, paano pa tayo? Paano niya tayo pakikinggan?" Bumuntonghininga si Erikson. "Can you listen to me for once, Astra?"

Shit. Mas malala pa talaga sa akin ang babaeng 'yon. Aminado akong minsan ay padalos-dalos ako ng desisyon pero alam ko namang limitahan ang sarili.

"She's with her father. Hindi siya pababayaan ni Lord Vienzara," pangungumbinsi rin ni Randolf. "I know you are worried but we need to do what we are told to. Para sa kaligtasan din natin 'to."

Tumango ako. "I'm sorry."

Nagpatuloy kami sa paglalakad. Randolf is right. Hindi pababayaan ni Lord Vienzara ang anak. Bakas man ang pagod kay Yngritt kanina ay alam kong kaya niya pa ring makipagbakbakan.

"Randolf..."

"I know, Mr. Nadija."

I didn't need to ask. Naramdaman ko rin na may mga umaaligid sa amin kaya mas binilisan namin ang paglalakad para makasabay sa mga kawal nina Nigel.

"Enclose everyone in a circle!" Nigel ordered the troops. Nakulong kami sa gitna nang paligiran ng mga kawal. "Punan ang bawat puwang. Don't let anyone get inside. Don't let your guards down!"

There were eyes staring at us from the thick fog. Kung tama ang pakiramdam ko ay hindi hamak na mas marami pa sa amin ang mga ito. We were outnumbered.

I could hear the guards who were protecting us panting hard. Hindi lang kami ang pagod, maging sila. We were not just outnumbered but outpowered, too.

"Listen, Mr. Nadija, Mr. Wenson," Halos bumulong sa amin si Nigel. "You need to get out of the castle. Isama niyo sina Astra at Celeste. Halos nasa labas ang iba pa nating kasama. The troops we have here can't handle them longer. Do you understand?"