-Alexi-

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nagising. Coleen would never wake up by her own unless someone nag her. Unlike before, siya palagi ang unang nagigising. Felicity is just sleeping peacefully on the upper side of the deck. Sana wag lang itong humarap dahil ayokong tumaas ang presyon ko sa takot ngayong umaga. I decided to wake up early dahil mahaba haba pa ang lalakarin ko papunta sa clinic ni Mr. Arellano. Yes, today is Friday and he said to visit him on the fifth day of next week. Inayos ko ang pagkakasuot ng hoodie ko at tiningnan ang dalawang roommate ko na natutulog. Para akong nanay na may huling sulyap sa mga anak bago niya iwan ang mga ito.

I don't know what time it is, but the sun has begun to rise. Its light beamed to my face which I gladly received. Sunrise symbolizes hope. And as long as the sun keeps rising in the morning, I'll never stop hoping. Nagsimula akong maglakad mag-isa at hindi alintana ang panganib na maaaring sumorpresa sa daan. I just brought a knife with me. Most people are too lazy to wake up in the morning, so probably they wouldn't kill anyone this early, even if it's Friday. Except if they're psychopath, no one can stop them from committing a crime, whatever day it is.

I don't clearly remember the exact way going there but I'm familiar with the stony road we walked on. Mahigit kalahating oras din ang nilakad ko bago makarating sa tapat ng clinic ni Mr. Arellano. I wiped off the bead of sweat formed to my temple and took my pace towards the front door. Bumagsak ang balikat ko sa pagkadismaya nang makita ang sign na nakapaskil sa signboard. 'Sorry, we're closed'. The glass door is locked as well.

I looked at my watch. Yeah, it's still early. I guess most of the clinic office opens up at 9 am or 10 so my other resort is to wait. Humanap ako ng pwesto na mauupuan at naghintay doon. I bored myself by waiting for a few hours hoping Mr. Arellano's shadow would show up. But then, 10 am passed by and he's still not here. I did what he exactly told me. Come on the fifth day of next week. That's Friday, right? I just wish I was not conned by Mr. Arellano. I believe in his words, and I'm sure I convinced him to say a word to me. Maybe I need to give another hour to wait.

Maya maya'y nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ang batalyon ng mga guwardiya na naglalakad. They're like special agents wearing tinted glass in black formal suit, walking synchronously and holding rifles. Gumapang ang kaba sa dibdib ko. They're like 50 guards as if they were sent to attack the enemies. Agad akong tumayo sa kinauupuan ko at naghanap ng maaaring mapapagtaguan. Papalapit na sila dito at hindi nila ako pwedeng makita. Mr. Arellano mentioned it is a restricted area. I can't imagine how my life would end up if they catch me. Now I wish I have invisibility power so I could just pass by to them and run for my life but that's not the case.

Mabuti at may nakita akong makipot na espasyo sa gilid ng building office ni Mr. Arellano. Pumunta ako doon at dinikit ang likod sa pader saka dahan dahang humakbang. I feel like my heart stopped beating for a second when I saw the guards on the corner of my eye when they passed by. It happened in millisecond and I didn't dare to move my head sideward to look at them. Mariin ko lang dinikit ang likod sa pader at naglakad hanggang sa makalabas at marating ang kabilang daan. Surely my jacket got dirt when my back scratches on the rough surface of the wall but I didn't mind that.

Nang makalabas ay gusto ko nalang ulit bumalik sa makipot na espasyong dinaanan ko. Bumungad lang naman sa akin ang mga armadong guwardiya na nakatayo sa harap ng malaking building. I don't know what building is that for, it doesn't look like a school or something. It's just a big building standing firmly against the sun. The building's layer seems made of glass or mirror because it directly reflects the sunlight and it's almost blinding my eye. Meron pa akong nakitang naglalakad na dalawang guard. Kalat kalat ang mga guard na nandito pero malalayo sila kaya maliit ang tsansang mapansin nila ako. I started to walk in a normal pace not gazing to any direction but just looking straight on the way.

My heart almost left out my chest when someone's hand covered my hand at agad akong hinila sa kung saan. It happened in a matter of seconds, and the response that was processed for me to react was to scream. My mouth is blocked so the words jumbled out.

"Don't scream. It's me"

Hinila niya ako sa likod ng pader kung saan walang guard na nakapalibot at tinanggal ang pagkakatakip sa bibig ko.

He points his hand to himself. "We met at the purging. I was in your team for a couple of days there"

I inhaled air and looked strangely at this guy in front of me. My forehead creased, trying to recognize him but before I finish of doing so, hinila nito ulit ang kamay ko at tumakbo.

"C'mon. We got to run this way. Mamaya mo nalang alalahanin ang pangalan ko"

We run speedily even despite no one chasing us. We just need to avoid the guards that might see us. Malayo layo din ang tinakbo namin bago kami huminto. We stopped by here in front of the undone building. It's just a tower with a few storeys made but only columns were formed and never finished or probably will never be finished. It looks old. It seems they built this one for a long time and decided to just abandon the construction of it.

Saglit akong naghabol ng hininga habang nakasampa ang dalawa kong kamay sa tuhod. Napaupo ang lalaking humila sa akin sa semento at sinandal ang likod sa column. Nang makabawi sa hingal ay tiningnan ko ulit siya at inalala ang kanyang mukha. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang rumehistro sa akin kung sino siya.

"Bolo Guy?" I exclaimed in surprise.

"I'm Caleb," he corrected, sounding like he found the name I called to him disgusting.

"Oh yeah, Caleb. Good to see you're alive" I formed a small smile, showing I'm glad to see him again. It has been a while since we parted ways. I haven't heard any news about him since the whole Artificial City was bombed.

Tumango lamang ito at hindi sumagot. Nakatingin ito sa malayo na tila malayo ang iniisip.

"Thank you for dragging me here, Caleb. Nice to meet you again. How I wish we could have a catch-up conversation, but right now, I have other things to attend to," I spoke politely to excuse myself. "There's a person I need to meet today, and he's probably in the clinic by now." I raised my other hand and waved it as a goodbye.

Tumalikod na ako at nagsimulang maglakad pero bigla akong napatigil nang magsalita ito.

"You must be referring to Doc Sigmund"

Kunot noo akong napalingon sa kanya. "Yeah, Doc Sigmund Arellano. How did you know him?"

Saglit itong natahimik at napabuntong hininga ng malalim, tila hinahanda ang mga salitang sasabihin nito. "He's dead"

I didn't react. I don't know how to react. I just stayed still from my standpoint, staring at him, startled. I unconsciously shook my head while trying to process what he said. My mind was just saying, 'It couldn't be,' but I was unable to deliver it through my mouth. Lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko at hinihiling na sana hindi 'yon totoo.

"W-what? H-he's dead?" I repeated even though I heard it clearly and loudly. Marahan itong tumango. He seems had a hard time before delivering the news to me. His sad face could say so. I was wondering if they're friends or family related but that's the least I wanna know.

"He was scheduled to die today. They killed him earlier at exactly 12 in the midnight through lethal injection. He knew that already. Binalaan na siya noon na kung hindi magbabago ang isip niya ay mamamatay siya"

Nanghihina akong napaupo sa semento. Mataas 'yon ng kaunti kaya maaaring gawing upuan. Kausap ko palang siya noong nakaraang linggo. Hindi man lang ako nabigyan ng pagkakataong makausap at makita siya ulit. I felt a warm liquid rolled down my cheek. I just met him once and I didn't know him that much. He once told me his story. It saddens me that he's dead. It feels like the little hope I was expecting to suddenly crushed down.

"How did you know the time? Were you there?" Mahina kong tanong.

"He told me"

Kahit mahirap sikmurain ang balita ay nagluwa pa din ako ng ilang katanungan. "Anong ibig sabihin mo na mamamatay siya kapag hindi nagbago ang isip niya?"

His eyes cast to me before he pinned his look on the other column in front of him. Kumuha siya ng maliit na bato sa gilid at wala sa sariling pinatama ang bato doon. "Doc Sigmund must have already told you Sonkan has a crazy obsession with Science. They madly want to achieve immortality, and they've been conducting research about it over the years. Doc Sigmund is part of that research, and he didn't tell the remaining formulas that were left to complete the experiment. It's dangerous to tell it all orally..." He suddenly paused to get a notebook hidden in the inner pocket of his jacket and handed it to me "But everything is written down there"

I assessed the notebook he gave to me. Binuksan ko ang ilang pahina. Mukhang bago lang sinulatan ang notebook na ito. He's like a student rushing an assignment in the last remaining days before the actual deadline. But this time, the deadline was his death. He probably wrote it days ago before he died.

"Binalaan ako ni Doc Sigmund na huwag basahin ang notebook na 'yan kaya hindi ko alam ang mga nakasulat dyan. His last instruction to me is gave it to the girl who will come at his office on the fifth day of the week"

"Ang mga malalaman mo ngayon ay maaari nating ikamatay na dalawa"

Tila bigla kong narinig ang tinig ni Mr. Arellano sa isip ko. Is this what he's talking about?

I closed the notebook and wiped the tears in my eyes. Mr. Arellano didn't fail me. He still finds a way to help me even if he's dead. I wish I could hug him if only I knew that would be our last meet and thank him personally. I'm just a stranger to him, and he'll get nothing in return for helping me out, but still, he did. Sisiguraduhin kong hindi mawawalan ng saysay ang pagtulong niyang ito. I'll do whatever is written in the notebook, Mr. Arellano. I promise that.

"You must be the brave person Doc Sigmund bragged to me" wala sa sarili akong napatingin kay Caleb nang muli itong magsalita. "He said you're brave enough to stand against Sonkan"

I smiled faintly at him, feeling honored to receive that adjective from Mr. Arellano. I just hope I can sustain it till the end. "Are you friends with Mr. Arellano?"

"You can consider that," he answered in a slackened voice. I know it's his mourning phase, and I hope he gets through it. "He's my uncle even though we're not blood-related. He saved my life back then. It's Friday's massacre. I won't describe how bloody it is but I got multiple stabs. Got it while fighting for my life. Akala ko hindi na ako mabubuhay pero niligtas ako ni Doc Sigmund. Ginamot at tinahi niya ang mga sugat ko. Inalagaan hanggang sa makagaling. He's like a father to me. A good father" his tone weakened. I could feel the pain in his voice.

Muli itong tumingin sa akin at bahagyang ngumiti. "I owe Doc Sigmund a lot. As a return to him, I want to help you. Doc Sigmund mentioned to me you want to escape here. I am too. Let me be part of that"

A warm smile automatically formed on my lips. "Then you could join us. In our team" _______

Caleb and I parted ways. I told him I was going to introduce him to the U-squad in our next meeting. For now, I took my time for a walk to some random spot here in Sonkan while the sun wasn't setting down. I'm sitting at the edge of the rooftop with my feet hanging. It's quiet here. I got a soda on my side. Para akong estudyanteng magrereview ng notes bago magsimula ang klase. I locked the rooftop door to make sure no one would come here. I can't afford to be seen by anyone. Not now that today is Friday.

Binuksan ko ang unang pahina ng notebook at nagsimulang magbasa.

'I'm probably dead when you read this. I may not know your name but I'll surely remember you in another life. For the past years I have served Sonkan, I lived in despair and regret. Wala akong ginawa para sa kanila na naaayon sa kalooban ko. Para lang makita ang panibagong bukas ay kailangan kong maging puppet nila. They have come too far. They needed to be stopped. Someone needs to step forward to fight them. I hope it will be you who will change the Sonkan's history...'

I'm bad at reviewing. My mind couldn't handle too much information to memorize that's why I always get failed in exam. I used to think the more you're good at memorizing the more you get good grades. But now, what I'm reading is not about school stuff. I have to remember it all by heart. Nakatuon ang buo kong atensyon sa binabasa at hinayaang tangayin ang isip ng mga impormasyong nakalagay dito. Sa bawat salitang nakalagay ay tila naririnig ko si Mr. Arellano.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal nakaupo sa rooftop. Matapos kong basahin ang huling pahina ay siyang paglubog ng araw. Nakita ko na lamang ang pagbabago ng kulay ng kalangitan mula sa kanina'y asul ay naging abo. Ilang minuto din akong nakatulala. Halo halong emosyon ang nararamdaman. Takot, kaba, pag-aalinlangan sa sarili. I just read one of Sonkan's secret experiment. The contents of the notebook is everything that Mr. Arellano wants me to do. The exchange of this knowledge is my death. Either I'm gonna die or the people around me would.

'No one has ever won against Sonkan. Now it's your choice if you want to make a difference...'

Isa 'yon sa nakalagay sa notebook.

I pulled myself together and drank the last ounce of softdrink. Kinuha ko ang notebook sa gilid ko at inipit ito sa aking jacket. Pinunas ko ang luhang namuo sa aking mata. I hate this tears. Why I always ended up crying these past few days? Sinuot ko ang hoodie sa ulo at binagtas ang hadgan palabas ng building. It's Friday today so it's not safe to walk around especially when it's getting darker. Nakatulong naman ang paglalakad ko ng mabilis para ligtas na makarating sa dorm building namin.

Sa pagdating ko sa unit namin ay sinalubong ako ng mahigpit na yakap ni Coleen. I hugged him back and caressed her shoulder.

"Where have you been? I was worried about you. I thought something happened"

"I'm okay, Coleen. Everything is fine"

The hug lasted for a few seconds before Coleen pulled off. Diretso sa mata nito akong tiningnan. Her eyes started to water. "About what I said, forget it.." she repeatedly shook her head. "I didn't mean to say that. I trust you. I trust our vision. Forgive me. I'm sorry." She rested her head on my shoulder until her tears dropped on the floor. This vulnerable state of Coleen makes me weakened. I hugged him again.

"Forget it, Coleen. It's okay now. I know you didn't mean that. I'm sorry for making you worried"

Nang maramdaman kong kumalma na si Coleen ay kumalas na ako sa yakap. "We got a task, Coleen" I announced to her.

Mabilis nitong pinunas ang luha at inayos ang sarili. Her forehead creased. "A task? I thought we supposed to go to Mr. Arellano's clinic?"

My tongue folded unable to respond for a few seconds. I pursed my lips and took a deep breath before I rested my hands on her shoulders. "We're not going there anymore. Mr. Arellano is dead"

Her eyes blinked as her mouth was agape. "What happened?"

I looked down on the floor, devastated. "Sonkan has no use of him anymore, so they killed him." I let out a heavy sigh and lifted my eyes at her again. "We're going to have a meeting tomorrow. All of us. U-squad. I'll tell them everything in detail"

Nilibot ko ang tingin dito sa sala para hanapin si Felicity. "Where's Felicity?"

Pagbagsak na umupo sa couch si Coleen. "I don't know. It's her habit to disappear without a word"

I grimaced. "But it's Friday. Will she come home?"

She shrugged her shoulders and held her temple. "She's a ghost. She can handle herself. I never worried about her though" tumayo ito at nagpunta sa kusina. "Let's eat dinner. I bought food at Bob's"

Wala sa sarili akong tumango at isinantabi ang pag-aalala kay Felicity. Sa kalagitnaan ng paghahanda namin ng pagkain ay biglang bumukas ang pintuan. Lumikha ito ng ingay kaya parehas kami ni Coleen na napatingin doon. It was Felicity with her face bathing in sweat as she's catching her breath. Parang galing ito sa pagtakbo ng malayo. "Hi guys" she greeted between her breath. "The guards are on the way. They're gonna lock all the dorms. Everybody is required to go outside"

"What for?" that's the first response my tongue formulated.

Pumasok si Felicity at sinara ang pinto sa likod niya. Naghahabol padin ito ng hininga. "I think they changed the rules. Everyone is forbidden to stay indoors tonight. It's a hunt or hide"

"Ano na namang bagong pakulo to?" Coleen exhaled sharply. "Ilang buwan palang natatapos ang purging" anger was seething on her eyes.

I am too stunned to speak but I managed to utter a word. "H-how did you know?" We've gone through this before and now it's happening again. Memories during the purging days started to flash in my mind. The images of dead people with their stomachs ripped off, the hydras, gunfires, and everything.

"Sonkan is bad at communicating. They announce things late" Coleen remarked. She breathed deeply, trying to calm herself. "I just want to have dinner and now we're gonna be Maze Runners"

"We don't have time for chitchats" Felicity rolled her eyes. "Kailangan na nating umalis dito o pagbabarilin tayo ng mga guwardiya"

I pulled myself together despite the frustration I was sitting in. Napasabunot nalang ako sa buhok ko kasabay ng pagbuntong hininga ng malalim. I looked at both of them when my mind resumed to function. "Let's grab our stuff first. Especially our devices. We need to get in touch with the Mobs"

************

Thanks for reading!