-Alexi-

THERE'S A blood starting to ooze down from Callista's coat. It took me a few seconds before I realized that she was shot. Nanlalaki ang mata kong nakatitig sa pagbagsak ni Callista habang sapo sapo ang bahagi ng kanyang katawan na natamaan ng baril. Gamit ang natitirang lakas ay gumapang ako pataas ng hagdan habang sinisigaw ang pangalan ni Callista. Tears starting to fall down from my cheeks.

"Callista!"

Nasa kamay na ngayon ni Mr. Barri ang baril at nagpakawala ito ng bala upang paghiwalayin ang posas. Callista tried to stand up but Mr. Barri hasn't contented yet. He shoot Callista again, preventing her to move. Sa pagkakataong 'yon ay may lumabas na dugo sa bibig ni Callista. Nanginginig ang aking labi habang pilit na gumagapang pataas ngunit agad akong hinarang ni Mr. Barri at tinutok ang baril sa akin.

"I should kill you too" there's no remorse filled in his eyes while grinning devilishly. He wasn't having a second thought to pull the trigger again to shoot me but in milliseconds before it happens someone shoot him from the back. Straight to his head. Kusang bumagsak sa harap ko ang katawan ni Mr. Barri. Pool of blood automatically flowed around his head. I lifted my gaze to see who it was with widened eyes. And there I saw, Reigan. Standing frozen. Nakataas padin ang dalawang kamay nito kasabay ng pag-usok ng dulo ng baril na hawak niya. Ramdam ko ang kanyang panghihina nang bumaba ito ng hagdan na muntik pa niyang ikatumba nang lapitan niya si Callista.

"C-Cali" her name was the first one he uttered with his voice trembling. He slightly lifted her upper body on his arms as beads of tears started to escape from his eyes because it finally registered to him what had just happened. Kaiden was standing a few meters from them, staring at the two siblings blankly. Unable to process what he's seeing. Napatakip na lamang ako nang aking bibig habang pinagmamasdan si Reigan na hindi makapagsalita habang nakatingin sa naghihingalong kapatid.

"It's..it's okay, kuya," Callista managed to stretch her lips, forming a weak smile, hoping it would lessen his brother's current agony. Drips of blood were escaping from her mouth.

"N-no, Cali. Not this time. You still have a birthday to celebrate" Reigan can barely utter a sentence because his voice is trembling too much. "C'mon stand up there. We can make it"

"I'm still the most beautiful girl in your eyes, am I not?" Callista said in a weak voice.

Reigan repeatedly nodded his head as he placed Callista's palm on his cheek, with his tears rolling down. "Yes, little sweetie. You're the most beautiful woman in my eyes. C'mon let's go" Reigan attempted to lift Callista but she shook her head. She didn't utter anything except leave a warm smile on her face. Her eyes were the ones who left speaking. As if she's telling him this would be her last moment of being with his brother. Tumulo lamang ang kanyang luha. Hanggang sa tuluyan nang pumikit ang mga mata nito.

Shock was painted on Reigan's face with his eyes widened. He tried to shake Callista's shoulder, trying to wake her up because it hasn't sink in to him yet. "Cali? Callista? N-no please. No--wake up" nang hindi na ito magising ay napayuko na lamang ang ulo ito kasabay ng mahihina niyang paghikbi. This isn't the first time I saw him crying but this one is different. It seems this is his most painful cry. So much painful that no words can describe how it's breaking him now, pieces by pieces. As if something died inside him at this moment. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang sakit habang pinagmamasdan ko ang mahihina niyang hikbi na naging hagulgol. Nagpakawala ito ng malakas na sigaw kasabay ng pagbanggit niya sa pangalan ng kapatid. The pain is unbearable that it cut deeply in his heart. And the wound will be left from it will never heal.

I could have saved Callista but I failed. Again.

Meanwhile, Kaiden frustratedly pulled his hair and curled his fist. Mula dito ay kita ko ang mga luhang tumatakas sa kanyang mga mata. He faced the wall and couldn't help himself to slam his fist on it. It was mixed with pain and anger, and punching the wall was his outlet to burst it all. This scene is so painful to watch. The leader of the Mobs and his right-hand man have just lost one important girl in their lives.

Our time is running out, and we don't have enough time left, but Kaiden requested one thing. We give him his moment to hug Callista. He was sobbing silently while hugging her corpse. Feeling her last warmth. After that, we get ourselves together. Reigan helped me to stand up. Pinasan ako nito sa kanyang likod at nagsimulang bumaba ng hagdan. Leaving the two lifeless bodies there.

"I'm sorry" I finally grasped the word I should say after a long silence.

"Don't say anything, please" tanging sambit ni Reigan. Pinikit ko na lamang ang mata ko kasabay ng muling pagtulo ng aking luha. Pasan pasan ako ni Reigan hanggang marating namin ang huling baitang ng hagdan papunta sa basement.

"You can put me down. I can run" I said to Reigan. He was about to protest but I cut it off by saying "please".

Nagpakawala ito ng malalim na pagbuntong hininga bago niya ako binaba. Binuksan ni Kaiden ang pinto papuntang basement at mabuti'y walang sumalubong na halimaw sa amin doon. Habang tumatakbo sa basement ay paulit ulit ko namang tinatawagan si Coleen. I'm starting to get panicked because I couldn't contact her since earlier.

"Where are they?" Kaiden asked. Nandito kami sa gitna ng basement, hinahanap sila.

"I'm trying to contact them" I replied. Anxiousness was evident in my voice.

"Alexi!"

Maya maya'y may narinig akong pamilyar na boses. My head flickered to find where that voice comes from. Sa paglingon ko'y nakita ko sina Coleen at iba pa naming kasama na tumatakbo. I waited till she gets near. Nang makalapit ay agad ako nitong niyakap. As she pulled me into warm embrace, my tears want to burst out. My knees weakened that any moment I might fall. Mahina itong bumulong "Thank God, you're alive" tumagal ng ilang segundo ang pagyakap nito bago niya ako pinakawalan. "I thought something's happened since I couldn't connect any of you"

None of us was able to respond a thing. Sina Kaiden at Reigan na nasa likuran ko'y nanatiling tahimik. Coleen's forehead creased in confusion as she eyed each one of us. "Where's Callista and Mr. Barri? Did you get him?"

Another seconds of silence passed. Gumuhit ang pagtataka sa kanilang mukha habang hinihintay ang isa sa amin na sumagot. Mentioning Callista's name is too painful for the two Mobster guys as of now. The image of Callista lying on the staircase, dying probably flashed on their minds. Ako na sana ang sasagot ngunit naunahan ako ni Reigan.

"Both of them died"

Shock registered on their faces as some of them gasped, trying to process the news they heard. Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanila at mariing kinagat ang ibaba kong labi upang pigilan ang luhang gustong tumakas sa mga mata ko. Pakiramdam ko'y kasalanan ko lahat at hindi ko alam kung ano ang mukhang ihaharap ko kina Kaiden at Reigan pagkatapos ng lahat ng ito. We accomplished nothing and someone from our group died. All of the plans we made are useless.

"W-what happened?" Shane was the first one to recover from the shock.

"Let's not talk about it. We should go" Kaiden said in a cold manner as he stepped forward and started to walk first. I watched how Reigan followed him, completely dismissing the question. Bagamat binabagabag ng kuryusidad ang iba naming kasama ay sumunod nalang din sila.

Coleen cast a glance at me before she followed our comrades "You're head's bleeding"

I gave her a sly smile. "I'm fine" saka ako tumingin sa iba pa naming mga kasama at sumunod.

Chaos is what exactly is happening inside the tower, and we're all able to go out of there. There were no guards or monsters around, which favored us, but we still kept running. Nasa unahan namin sina Reigan at Kaiden na nireremind kaming maging alerto. I was running with them, but my mind was still clouded by Callista's death. We're not that close but we had a bond together. I watched her die in front of me. The trauma I got from the purging, which I kept locked inside me, rose again. And the fact that she died because she was trying to save me was so painful. Same as what happened with Joan.

Why it never be me? Why it never be me who should die?

"On your left!" Narinig ko ang malakas na sigaw ni Coleen kaya lahat kami ay napatingin doon.

From a distance, we saw a group of monsters under the human figures running towards us. Test subjects. They're aggressively running as if they finally found the prey they're going to devour. I counted them by sight. There were five. The people in our group who were holding a gun set themselves in defense mode and released a couple of bullets to the enemy. Ang isa sa mga test subject ay mabilis na gumagapang habang umiiwas sa mga balang tumatamang sa kanilang direksyon.

"Stay behind us!" Coleen shouted, referring to us (three girls) who can't shoot as skillfully as them. Hinila ko sina Shane at Fare sa tabi ko. Gumilid kami ng kaunti at nagtipon tipon doon. I'm holding Fare's hand tightly since she's trembling so badly. Our eyes were fixed on our comrades who were fighting the test subjects as if we were watching a live-action movie.

"That Ghost Lady is so cool. I wonder where she all learned those stunts." Shane can't help but express her amazement at Felicity instead of fearing for her life. She probably forgot that we're closed on getting killed tonight only if we don't have skillful friends who are good at fighting and handling guns.

Felicity and Coleen were dealing with two monsters. Parehas silang umiiwas na mahawakan ng halimaw at patuloy lamang sila sa pagbaril. Sina Kaiden at Reigan naman ay sa tatlong halimaw. They all all knew where the test subject's weakness is so the fight didn't last that long. They easily defeated them by shooting their foreheads directly. Nagulat ako sa biglang pagtili ni Shane dahil sa test subject na puno ng kaliskis ang bumungad sa amin. Before she could attack us, someone shot her in the head, making her passed out in instant. Felicity, who's the one who shot the test subject looked at us while she's blowing the tip of the gun as it produces small cloud of smoke.

I thought we were going to resume our run since the attackers were dead, but meanwhile, a man with the red ink tattoo on his neck had half of his face painted with dried blood, beating the test subject alone. Paulit ulit hinahampas ni Reigan ang halimaw sa ulo gamit ang rifle. Nakapatong siya sa ibabaw ng test subject na halos hindi na makagalaw. The test subject is still alive. We all know how strong them is not until their head was blown. Reigan is a stronger person than average when it comes to fighting. He survived Mortal Combat even though he got multiple stabs. I saw how he almost killed Ardizzone when he rescued me.

Ngayon ay nagmukhang walang kalaban laban ang halimaw. Half of the test subject's skull is broken already. Yet, Reigan isn't contented and he's still slamming the rifle on his head. He's angry. And he needs outlet to burst all of his anger. Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya habang nagbabadyang magtubig ang aking mga mata dahil alam ko kung saan nagmumula ang galit na 'yon. Maya maya'y lumapit sa kanya si Kaiden para hilahin ito.

"Enough. He's dead already"

Hindi nagsalita si Reigan at tinulak niya lang si Kaiden para bitawan ito saka siya tumayo. Sinundan lang namin siya ng tingin habang siya'y nauunang maglakad palayo.

Nagkakagulo padin sa loob ng tower. Guards were distracted there, so no armed people were chasing us. We used that advantage to continue running until we got out of the basement and reached the barracks where we were hiding earlier. I looked at the tower from the distance and some parts of it are burning already. We stopped running. We're standing here in the middle of the stony road but still in the tower's premises while hiding in the dark.

"Where's Chad?" Fare asked.

"I'm paging him" Coleen answered. She's agitatedly walking back and forth while holding the button of her earbud. I turned my device as well and tried to page him.

"We gotta move" we all turned to Reigan as his voice poked our attention. He's looking at a certain direction. I noticed the orange light reflected on his eyes causing my gaze to shift on where he's looking. Isang tower ang bumagsak habang nag-aapoy ito. Napatingin din ang iba naming kasama doon. Narinig ko ang pag-usal ng mura ni Coleen.

"We can't leave Chad" Fare insisted.

Matalim na tumingin sa kanya si Reigan. "Then get yourself burned"

Coleen gave up on reaching Chad, so she got herself together. "He's right. We gotta move. Chad wasn't in the tower. He'll be safe." She looked at Fare, hoping her words would convince her.

Marahan kong tinapik ang balikat ni Fare. "Let's find him later" I said softly.

Nagpatuloy kami sa pagtakbo ngunit kusang napahinto dahil sa isang liwanag na sumisilaw sa aming mga mata. I lifted a hand to block the light from my eyes. When our eyes adjusted from the light, we noticed it was from the car's headlight. Apat na sasakyan ang nakahinto sa harap namin at mga armadong sundalo na hindi na mabilang sa mata ko. Sonkan soldiers. Sa gitna nila'y nakatayo ang isang babae kung saan pula ang buong kasuotan. A wide grin painted on that woman's red lips while looking at us.

"Hermione" I muttered.

"Sh*t! they caught us" bulalas ni Shane.

Nanlalaki ang mata kong nakatitig kay Hermione kasabay ng paglakas ng kabog ng aking dibdib. It's like we're criminals being surrounded by the cops. Ang pagkakaiba nga lang ay batid kong hindi sa kulungan ang bagsak namin. Chances are, these are the last moments we will be seen alive. Maya maya'y humangin ng malakas at kusa nitong tinangay ang buhok ko. A loud sound appear caused by an aircraft. I lifted my gaze above and looked at the two choppers flying. Gaya ng sa headlight ng sasakyan ay iniilawan din kami nito. The choppers' light beaming at us, making sure it's us whom they caught.

"Put your guns down" maotoridad na sambit ni Hermione.

Sa bilang nila'y malabo ng makalaban ang aming mga kasama. Bago pa man nila maiputok ang kanilang baril ay tiyak na pare pareho na kaming nakabulagta sa lupa. I looked at them and give them a signal to put their firearms down. Labag man sa kanilang kalooban ay binaba nila ang mga armas sa lupa.

"Now hands up" Hermione instructed next. She took her pace forward to us. We followed and raised our hands like we were surrendering.

The Red Lady left a one-meter distance from us when she stopped walking. Pinasadahan niya kami ng tingin isa isa na tila ang mga tingin na 'yon ay isang hatol. Her grin widened when her gaze darted at Reigan. "Oh, The Mobs' kingpin is here" until her eyes moved to me "And you too"

Mas lalong lumakas ang kaba sa aking puso. Kilala niya ba ako?

Hermione didn't say anything further after that. The next thing I knew, the two choppers in the sky landed. The soldiers arrested us, gripping both of our arms tightly as if they were about to break it. Sinakay nila kami sa chopper. None of us utter a word. Pinagmasdan lang naming until unting lamunin ng apoy ang tower. I let my hair be carried by the wind together with my tears as we go up. I closed my eyes, hoping all of it was just a dream. Gusto ko ng magising sa bangungot na ito. Everything is too much to process. I can't bear them all.

The sightseeing from below only lasted for a minute before they covered our heads with black bags. It's probably preventing us from seeing anything about where we're going. Will they kill us? Giving us all painful death? I don't want to answer my question even though the circumstances given are obvious. What else would they do? We just invaded Sonkan's tower, caused the test subjects to go on the loose, and killed their important asset. Mr. Barri.

Ilang minuto kaming nanatili sa loob ng chopper habang lumilipad ito. Hanggang sa naramdaman naming pababa na kami. As we landed, I felt they cuffed my hands which they probably also did to the rest of my companions. There's no way of resisting since it's impossible for us to escape kaya nagpatangay nalang kami sa kanila. Halos kaladkarin nila ako kahit hindi naman ako nanlalaban habang naglalakad. I couldn't see anything under this black cloth but I feel the cement texture of the footway. Kanina'y ramdam ko ang hangin sa labas ngunit ngayon ay pinasok nila kami sa makipot na lugar. I could distinct that by the temperature of surroundings. It's warm. It's quiet.

Hanggang sa tinanggal na nila ang takip sa aming mga mukha. Bumungad sa amin ang rehas na bakal. An unoccupied cage. Maliit lamang 'yon. I moved my gaze around and realized, it's not only one cage. May mga katabi pa itong kulungan at magkakaharap sa isa't isa. Unang tinanggalan ng posas si Coleen saka ito tinulak sa loob. Sunod ay ako. Magkatabi ang kulungan namin. They did the same on the rest. Hindi na namin kasama si Hermione. Only the soldiers accompanied us. Maybe this is their kindest chance they're giving us to extend our living in the next few hours or probably until tomorrow.

Matapos kaming mailagay sa kulungan isa isa ay iniwan na nila kami. Shane gripped the bars and shouted at the soldiers who were leaving. "Can you deliver some food to us? We're starving!"

"I salute your audacity to ask that. We're literally closed on dying," Felicity, in her monotone voice, blabbed out.

"I don't wanna die hungry" Shane fired back.

Sinandal ko na lamang ang aking likod sa malamig na semento. We're still wearing our disguised attire. I didn't expect I would be thankful for the thickness of the coat I'm wearing. Kahit papaano'y advantage ang kapal nito sa lamig. Katapat ko si Reigan na gaya ko'y nakaupo at nakasandal din ang likod sa pader. Nakapikit ito na animo'y natutulog. If his eyes were open, I don't think I can directly look on it. The guilt within me couldn't handle that.

"Hey, Alexi. You okay there?" Rinig kong tanong ni Coleen. It's not the question that people normally ask when they want to confirm if the person is really okay, but it's something that even though she knew I was fine, she still wanted to check on me.

"Yeah. Just sleepy" casual kong sagot.

"Close your eyes then. Don't think anything"

I closed my eyes, and the image of Reigan crying beside Callista flashed in my head. His feeble sobs are just painful, replaying in my ears. After this night, I know I will forever blame myself for Callista's death. Forever I will bear the guilt of Reigan's sorrow.

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Thanks for reading!