-Alexi-

WE STOOD in awe, watching their limbs and body organs exploded into pieces. Frozen on our spot. Immobilized by disgust. It wasn't pleasant to look at all. Kung wala lang harang ay tiyak na nagsitalsikan na sa amin ang mga lamang loob nila. Naghalo ang green at pulang likido sa loob ng glass capsule. Their heads were cut off from their necks and now it's floating. May ilang bulang nakapalibot doon. These days had passed, my eyes were exposed on gore things. I hope I can still get a peaceful sleep after this. So that's it? They're dead. Tinakpan ni Shane ang kanyang bibig para ipitin ang tili na nais kumawala.

"Ew. Ew. Ew. Ew." She repeatedly said. Napatingin ako kay Fare na dumuwal.

Coleen immediately retreated from the shock. She typed something on the tablet's keyboard while peeking at the notebook, reading the next instructions there.

"What are we gonna do?" Mahina kong sambit nang mahanap ko ang sarili kong boses. Dalawa sila ni Felicity ang nakaharap sa hologram screen. Iba't ibang green letters at numbers ang lumalabas doon na hindi naiintindihan ng karamihan sa amin.

Felicity flickered her head towards us three when she finally decided what to do next. "Unplug all the red wires on each test subject. NOW!"

The last word she raised a tone of made all of us hastened and go to the captives. Lumapit ako sa isang glass capsule at tiningnan ang likod no'n. Maraming maninipis na wire ang nakakabit doon. We started to unplug the red wires in the fastest way we could. Umangat ang tingin ko sa test subject na tinatanggalan ko. Gaya ng dalawang naunang test subject kanina ay nagsimula ding mag seizure ang kanilang katawan. The glass capsule where this test subject was on began to shake a bit. Pinagpatuloy ko ang pagtanggal sa mga red wires. I couldn't count how many red wires I unplugged, but as I finished, I closed my eyes when the test subject inside the capsule exploded like what happened to his kind earlier.

I proceeded to the next one. Gano'n din ang ginawa ko. Nakita kong tumakbo si Coleen papunta sa isang test subject para tulungan kami. Naiwan si Felicity na magbantay sa monitor. I finished at least ten test subjects and I started to feel the tiredness. Gano'n din ang iba kong mga kasama. Bakas ang bagal sa kanilang mukha habang isa isang pinagtatanggal ang mga red wire sa bawat glass capsules. I took off my mask to breath properly and wiped the beads of sweat forming in my forehead.

"Is there another way?" Reigan, who had enough courage to voice out, stood in the middle so we could hear him. "We're only a few people working this on. It might take us hours before we all unplug the wires, shut down their lifeline, or whatever sh*t it is. The test subjects here are hundreds. Time's running out"

Lumibot ang tingin ko sa mga glass capsule na maayos nakahilera sa bawat row. Yeah, they're too many to count on. Ilan palang ang nasisira namin. It's unrealistic if we say Reigan has no point when he does. Saglit namayani ang katahimikan sa aming lahat. For those people who read the notebook knew there is other way.

"There is" sagot ko para basagin ang katahimikan.

Coleen shot a glare at me. "No, we're not gonna go there"

Tumingin sa akin si Reigan at hinihintay ang susunod kong sasabihin. He wore a serious face.

"If we do that then this whole room will be bombed. Isa ang dapat maiwan para magbantay sa monitor habang sumasabog ang paligid" I continued.

"And we're not gonna do that" agad na sambit ni Coleen. Suot nito ang seryosong tingin na tila nagbabanta. "We promised none of us will die. We promised that all of us will get out of here. Alive"

"I'll do it" Reigan declared causing our eyes to shift back to him.

"No, no, no. Kuya no. You will not do it" Callista's voice appeared on our lines. "

"None of us will do it. Period," I announced firmly as I stuck my eyes to Reigan, showing a disagreement on my face. "It's not one hundred percent accurate and we're not sure if it can wipe their whole experiment"

Coleen cut the tension by clapping her hands again. "Go back on your track. Time is running"

We dismissed the second option and continue what we're doing. Nagpatuloy ulit kami sa pagtatanggal ng mga wire sa mabilis na paraang kaya namin. Determination filled my mind. We're here already. Hindi ito ang oras para magsayang ng kahit isang segundo. Hindi ito ang oras para mapanghinaan ng loob. I don't want to disappoint Mr. Arellano. We're almost there. I made a promise to the closest people I lost that I will bring the Sonkan down. I lost my concentration when my fingers jolted causing my hands to pull off from the wires I realized in milliseconds that I was grounded.

Napadaing ako habang nakasapo sa aking kamay.

"Hey, what happened?" umangat ang tingin ko kay Reigan na biglang sumulpot sa harap ko. It was too late for me to wonder how come he gets here that fast.

"Nothing" I shook my head. He didn't buy it. Hinila nito ang isa kong kamay at sinipat ito.

"It's just a minor ground" marahan kong binawi ang kamay ko. Bumalik ang atensyon ko sa mga wire. Tinulungan ako ni Reigan na bunutin ang lahat ng 'yon. We watched how the test subject's body exploded. Organs crushed. Eyes pluck out. Hands parted away. They're part of the experiment, and I know we have to get rid of them, but I still feel bad even though conscience shouldn't matter in this situation.

"We're killing them for purpose," Reigan muttered as if he read what was on my mind, and that was his way to convince me what we were doing wasn't wrong.

"Yeah" I lifelessly replied with a nod before turning my back to proceed with the next test subject. Gumala ulit ang tingin ko sa mga glass capsule na tila walang katapusan ang bilang. There's no clock here but I could here it ticking inside my mind, making me feel more pressured. Hermione is currently looking for us and any moment, the guards will be here to arrest or worst shoot us. Bago pa man ako makalapit sa isang glass capsule ay isang kamay ang humawak sa braso ko para paharapin ako sa kanya.

"I think we should consider the other option" Reigan straightforwardly said. His tone is firm and decisive with his eyes pinned on mine.

"No" matigas kong sambit na may kasamang pag-iling. Nagsukatan kami ng tingin na tila nasa isa kaming kompetisyon at walang balak bumitiw.

"Why?" His eyes sharpened. "You know we can't destroy all of them. All of us will be killed once the guards summoned here--"

"Because I don't want you to volunteer. I don't want you to be left here and die" I snapped at him, as if I lost all the threads of patience tangled on me. We're running out of time and here we are, wasting every second arguing.

Dahan dahang kumurba ang gilid ng labi nito. "Is that your way of admitting you're starting to like me back?"

I looked at him in disbelief then sighed in exasperation, rolling my eyes upward. "Well, Reigan this is the time where we're all required to take everything seriously?"

His face quickly shifted into a serious one. Looking at me with those dark orbs like it was piercing through my soul. My feet want to step back in intimidation. "I'm serious about it though"

"Ahhh!!!"

Parehong naagaw ang aming pansin dahil sa isang matinis na tili ng isa sa aming kasama. Both of our heads snapped on the direction where the scream coming from. Kusang gumalaw ang aming mga paa para tumakbo papunta doon. It was Fare's voice. My heart skipped a bit, making me stunned for a moment. Everything happened so fast as if someone's adrenaline rush comes in. Nakita ko nalang na may nilalang sa harap ni Fare na sumakmal sa kanya at bago pa siya nito maatake ay isang putok ng baril ang kumawala. Ang nilalang na 'yon ay galing sa isa sa mga glass capsule. Test subject. Dumako ang tingin ko kay Reigan na nakataas ang mga kamay, hawak ang baril, indikasyon na sa kanya galing ang balang pumutok.

I give no time to take a look at the creature and immediately run towards Fare. I squatted to level myself with her. "What happened?"

Her hands were trembling as she repeatedly shook her head. "I-I don't know. I think I pulled the wrong wire and the glass just opened"

"Right. Our number one rule is don't be stupid and you did" saglit akong napatingala kay Shane na nakatayo sa tabi namin. I helped Fare to stand up and let her calm herself. Now we're looking at the male test subject, lying on the floor. Eyes were closed. His body is wet since he came inside from the glass cage. He still looked like a human, except that he had a tail and scale on his skin. Sunod kong nilapitan ang bukas na glass capsule. The water there drained out. Maybe Fare really pulled the wrong wire. After a quick assessment of the glass, I turned my look back at the test subject.

Coleen bent her one knee to look closely at the male subject before she moved her head to Reigan. "Saan mo siya binaril?"

"Not quite sure" Reigan shrugged.

Nilapat ni Coleen ang daliri niya sa test subject. "There's no blood came out but he doesn't have a pulse either"

"So he's dead," Shane stated but it sounded like a question.

We were interrupted by a short screech on our lines, indicating someone was calling us. We turned off our lines momentarily so it wouldn't cause distraction sa iba naming mga kasama. Maya maya'y narinig namin ang boses ni Caleb. Maingay sa background nito. I tried to distinguish the sound, but it was to no avail. "They're going there. You only have 15 minutes"

We all hastened as Caleb's line went dead air. It seems impossible to destroy all of the test subjects by the time left, but we have to try. It will only happen once. Ito lang ang kaisa isang pagkakataon namin para gawin 'yon. We paced back to the glass capsules but halted when Shane spoke.

"Guys...look"

Rinig ko ang matalim na pagbuntong hininga ni Coleen bago ito humarap "What?!"

We all turned our heads back to Shane. Her face went pale while her finger jerked towards the male test subject. Nakatayo ito ngayon habang nag-iinat ng ulo. Rinig namin pati ang pagtunog ng buto nito. Shane was too stunned to move as if her feet was nailed on the floor. "He's...a-alive"

Napalunok ako ng laway kasabay ng pagtaas ng balahibo sa aking balat. I saw Reigan shot him but now he's standing within a few meters with us. My gaze darted on the test subject's eyes. It's not a human eye anymore. His pupil is like a pointed blade like alligator's. Pati ang kulay ng mata nito ay iba na rin. It was a mix of brown and greenish. His tongue is flicking and it has two distinct tips like a snake. Ngayon ay nakabaling ang tingin nito kay Shane. Walang gumagalaw sa amin. Nanatili kaming natutop sa kinatatayuan at nagpapakiramdaman sa isa't isa.

Dala na din ng takot ay gumalaw si Shane. Akma itong tatakbo ngunit mabilis na nakalapit sa kanya ang test subject at sinakmal ito sa leeg. Walang kahirap hirap nitong naisandal sa pader si Shane pataas gamit ang isang kamay. Fear crept on my skin, realizing that creature have a different strength. Patakbong lumapit si Felicity at bumwelo para sipain ang nilalang ngunit bago niya pa man nagawa 'yon ay nahuli na ng test subject ang paa nito at walang pakundangang initsa sa sahig na tila isa lamang itong magaang bagay. Felicity let out a groan as she's struggling to move.

"Felicity!" I rushed towards her. The pain on her face is visible. Tinulungan ko itong tumayo. Sunod na sumugod si Reigan. Sinuntok niya ito sa mukha at pilit na hinihila ang kamay ng test subject para pakawalan nito si Shane na anumang oras ay mawawalan na ng hininga. Shane tried to kick the test subject's belly but it's like she's kicking a rock. Sa ilang pagpapakawala ng suntok ni Reigan ay binitawan na din ng test subject si Shane.

Shane's body slid on the wall as she coughed hard and grasped her neck. I looked at Reigan who was fighting against the creature. Even though he is a skilled gangster, the creature's strength is no match for him. He let go a punch but the creature caught his hand. Gumanti ng suntok ang nilalang sa sikmura ni Reigan at ramdam ko ang panlalambot ng kalamnan nito. The punch must be really hard because it caused Reigan to spit a few drops of blood. Sa isang iglap ay binalibag siya ng nilalang sa sahig. Reigan's fall produced a loud thug.

"Reigan!" I immediately stand up and run towards them ngunit malakas na sumigaw si Reigan habang nakataas ang isang kamay.

"Don't go near!"

Na kay Reigan padin ang atensyon ng test subject at mukhang hindi pa ito tapos dahil lumapit ito para daganan si Reigan ngunit mabilis itong nakagulong palayo para umilag. He struggled to stand up but the creature grabbed his shoulders and tossed him back to the floor. The creature hovered on his top and punched him repeatedly. Each of the punch produced a lowly thud, indicating how strong the strike is. Sa bawat suntok ding 'yon ay pagkawala ng dugo sa katawan ni Reigan. Coleen appeared from somewhere and gave the creature a flying kick. Mukhang tumalab naman 'yon dahil bahagyang naurong ang katawan ng nilalang.

Coleen is quick to move, so she wasted no time and lets out a few bullets towards the creature. But those bullets brought nothing. The bullets just go inside the creature's body but never make him bleed. I saw how the bullets go inside the creature's heart and it was nothing. Sandaling tumigil sa pagbaril si Coleen nang mapansin 'yon. Reigan pushed the creature away on his top and kicked him. Inabot nito ang rifle sa gilid nito at pinagbabaril ang nilalang.

The creature's height was closer to Reigan's. The creature said nothing while receiving the bullets on his body. Ngumisi lang ito at tumayo saka mabilis na sumugod kina Coleen at Reigan. He easily palmed their necks, pinned them on the wall, and raised them high. I roamed my eyes around, looking for something heavy enough to hit the creature.

"So all of these creatures don't die when they're awake, huh?" Felicity muttered.

"Yeah, and our friends are dying there," I snapped at her as I pointed my finger in the creature's direction. Intending not to sound mean but we're running out of time. This isn't the right time to give random comments. Bagaman natataranta ay nagpatuloy lang ako sa paghahanap.

"What are you doing?" Hindi ko namaayang nakasunod pala sa akin si Felicity.

"Finding something to save them"

"They don't even die on bullets, though," Felicity answered as she started to head somewhere.

"Where are you going?" I hissed.

"I'll look at the computers. Maybe it's indicated there how to kill the test subject if they're not dying"

I exhaled sharply and shook my head out of frustration. Saktong may nakita akong nakadikit na fire distinguisher. Kinuha ko 'yon at tumakbo papunta sa halimaw. Nang makalapit ay ginamit ko ang buong pwersa para hampasin ang batok ng test subject. He's tall and I barely reach his head so I aimed for his nape. He stayed still until he loosened his grip from Coleen and Reigan's neck. Dalawa silang bumagsak sa sahig nang bitawan siya nito. They're both panting and coughing while holding their necks. Meanwhile, the creature's attention switched to me.

Dahan dahan itong lumingon sa akin. Masama ko itong tinitigan kahit alam kong wala 'yong talab sa kanya. His height was overpowering mine. Before he could move closer, I raised both of my hands while holding the fire distinguisher and ready to hit him hard but he caught one of my hands. Tinaas ako nito sa ere at binalibag sa pader. I feel like a thin object flying until my back hit the wall. May kung anong bukol akong naramdaman sa likod ko nang tumama ako sa pader. Within milliseconds is my fall. I fell on the floor after my back crashed on the wall. At this moment, I felt my limbs parted away. I whimper in pain and tried to recover as soonest as I can.

With heavy eyelids, I opened my eyes. Shane and Fare was on the both side of the test subject, holding his arms tightly. Reigan was at the front of him, hitting his head with a fire distinguisher repeatedly. Sunod na lumipat ang tingin ko kay Coleen na bagaman nahihirapan ay naglalakad parin palapit sa direksyon ko. She grabbed me by the shoulders to help me to stand up but before I could even lift my knees, someone's body crashed to us. Muli akong napatumba at gano'n din si Coleen. I lift a gaze to see who it was. Nasa gitna namin si Reigan at siya ang tumilapon sa direksyon namin. He held his abdomen with his face contorted in pain. Lumipat ang tingin ko sa nilalang at napagtantong malakas niyang sinipa si Reigan kaya tumilapon ito.

I saw the two girls, Shane and Fare lying on the cold floor, whimpering. Bumaling ng tingin sa amin ang halimaw. He was changing. Mas dumami ang kaliskis nito sa balat at nalagyan na din ang mukha nito. He roared to us with his teeth showing. Each of his tooth are pointed. He really doesn't look like a human anymore. Matalim ang tingin na ipinupukol nito saka bumwelo para atakihin kami. Nakakailang hakbang pa lamang siya nang bigla siyang mapatila. I thought there's a manual or remote who stopped him from moving because he just stood still with eyes opened as we heard a gunshot. Seconds before I realized someone shoot him. In the head. There's a small hole on his forehead. Hanggang sa tumulo ang butil ng dugo mula sa butas na 'yon at maya maya'y bumagsak ito.

"It's on the head. It's always on the head" I slowly turned my head to Felicity whose holding a gun. Nakataas ang kamay nito at sa dulo ng baril ay may lumalabas pang manipis na usok.

I closed my eyes and let out a sigh of relief. We beat the creature, but our dilemma is not yet done. The guards are on the way by now, and there is a much bigger problem than that.

"Guys look at the glass capsules" Coleen said, who was the first one to recover. Lumipat ang tingin ko sa mga glass cages. The water there is draining. After it drained out, each of the glass capsules are starting to open one by one. Tumingala ako sa taas dahil sa biglang pagbabago ng kulay ng ilaw ng buong silid. Mula sa bluish ay naging red ito kasabay ng pagtunog ng nakakabinging alarm.

Now we're doomed.

********

Thanks for reading!