GA - Chapter 6: Enter Midnight

Grimrose Academy

SOMEHOW I can hear it. Something angry, fast, and wild is approaching. Hindi na ko nagkaroon ng oras para makapag-tago. I slowly turned around and there he was already. Balewala ‘yong kilometro na tinakbo ko.

His figure emerged from the mist—shoulders broader, posture low, like a predator ready to pounce. Tuluyan na siyang nag transform. Iba ang itsura niya sa sinasabi niyang Lycan. From head to toe his physique is still human but his muscles became so toned and visible. His hair grew thicker— on his head, arms. His eyes... glowing brighter than before— wild and unfocused. 

So this is what a Morcan looks like.

“Zed…” I whispered. I wanted to shout. Pero wala akong makuhang lakas ng loob sa sarili ko.

He walked towards me, slow— like a wild wolf savoring the moment before the kill.

“Zed please… It’s me— Shana.” Nagawa kong magsalita. Sana lang marinig niya.

Pero hindi siya huminto.

I raised my arms shoulder level with palms wide open towards him.

Light power or aether. Whatever it is. Now is the time.

Walang nangyari. Patuloy lang ng paglapit si Zed sakin.

Please, please, please…

Wala pa rin. Pumikit na lang ako. Kung ito na ang wakas ko. Bahala na.

Suddenly… A gust of wind slammed down from above. Something or someone landed in front of us.

Pagmulat ko ng mga mata ko nasa harap ko na si Nix.

“I knew you couldn’t control it.”

He was calm and even smirking.

“Back off, brother,” Nix growled. “That’s enough!”

Zed snarled, a sound that vibrated in my chest. But he didn’t move.

“I don’t want to hurt you, bro. So snap out of it,” sabi ni Nix. Naka-abang siyang kunin sa lower back niya ang isang kakaibang dagger na nakasabit sa hilt ng belt.

Ganon pa rin si Zed. Tila di nakikinig at gusto lang manakit. If it comes to worst they might hurt each other. Hindi dapat. Magkapatid sila kaya di sila dapat mag away.

“Would you please just teleport both of us away?” I suggested.

“Hindi pa pwede. It’s on cooldown. Malayo ang pinanggalingan ko bago makarating dito,” Nix explained.

Cooldown? Shoot! Walang ibang option. Nix has to fight him.

“Move back, Shana. Kailangan ko munang patulugin ‘tong kapatid ko,” sabi ni Nix. Hindi niya tinuloy na kunin ang dagger niya. He seems to be planning to take on his brother hand to hand.

Is he showing off? Ang yabang talaga. Pero sana lang kaya niya nga si Zed.

Pero bago sila makagawa ng kahit anong hakbang, bigla na lang may isang malakas na tunog. It was a loud bang. 

Napatigil si Zed, biglang napaatras ang balikat niya. For a second, I didn’t understand what happened. Umikot ang balikat niya paatras, at parang may humatak sa ulo niya pakaliwa. That’s when I knew someone had shot him from a distance.

Pero hindi ‘yon naging sapat para patumbahin si Zed. Parang mas lalo siyang nagalit at nawala sa kontrol.

Biglang tumakbo si Zed papunta sa pinanggalingan ng putok—mabilis, parang hayop na humahabol sa nanakit sa kanya.

“Sh*t! He’s here,” bulong ni Nix.

“What just happened? What do you mean? Who’s here?” Mabibilis kong mga tanong. I was in shock, in panic, and frightened.

He sighed and turned to me. “Let’s go. It’s not safe here.”

Whoever shot Zed, I don’t know if it was meant for me. Pero at least nabaling ang atensyon ni Zed sa kanya. But I have a feeling this night is not over yet.

Hinawakan ako ni Nix sa kamay. Hinayaan ko lang siya. Sa oras na ito mas kailangan kong umasa sa kanya. Tumakbo kami pabalik sa kalsada. My heartbeat still hadn’t slowed down. My legs ached. My head was spinning with too many questions I couldn’t even begin to ask.
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Pero pagdating namin sa kalsada kung nasaan ang kotse— ​

May taong nakaabang na samin. Huminto si Nix kaya’t ganon din ako.

Standing in front of the car was a tall man, dressed in all black—long coat with hood, and combat boots. His face was covered with a ballistic mask. He didn’t move. He didn’t even flinch when we showed up. 

Binitawan ni Nix ang kamay ko. This time binunot niya na mula sa lalagyan nito ang dagger niya na nasa likod.

“Finally… Makakalaban din kita…” sabi ni Nix. “...Midnight.”

As soon as I heard his name, his dark terrifying presence sinked in. Tumayo ang mga buhok ko sa braso. Parang lumamig din ang batok ko. Ang mga kamay ko— biglang nanginig.

Si Nix naman bahagyang lumapit kay Midnight. He switched to his fighting stance. Holding the dagger in reverse. His posture was low and ready to attack fast. His pose made him look like an assassin or a ninja.

Lumingon saglit si Nix sa ‘kin. “Stay there, Shana. Watch me. Akong bahala dito.”

Watch me? Ang show off niya talaga. Di ba dapat sinabihan niya na akong tumakbo?

Anyway, kahit sabihan niya akong tumakbo hindi ko ‘yon gagawin. Takot ako, oo! Pero isa akong Brea. Ang turo sakin ni Papa ay maging matapang. Lalo na sa mga pagkakataon na mas malakas ang takot. 

I have to find a way to help Nix. Pero bago ‘yon kailangan ko munang alisin ang panginginig ng katawan ko.

Nix attacked Midnight with a series of slashes from his dagger. Ang bilis niya at ang husay niya. Pinapaikot pa niya sa kamay niya ‘yong dagger. Nililipat-lipat niya din ng kamay— sa kanan, sa kaliwa. 

Pero mukhang mahusay din si Midnight. Iniilagan niya ang karamihan ng atake ni Nix. Naglabas din siya ng silver dagger. Katulad iyon ng dagger ng mga Angeals sa academy. Ginamit niya ‘yon para i-deflect ang ibang atake ni Nix.

Does that mean he’s also an aether-blessed?

“Nix!” Bigla kong sigaw. Napahawak pa ko sa bibig.

Ang bilis kasi ng pangyayari. Kanina parang pantay lang sila. Ngayon nasugatan ni Midnight si Nix sa dibdib at nasipa sa mukha.

Napaatras si Nix at tumukod pa. He was clearly bested. Pero hindi ako mawawalan ng tiwala sa kanya. His teleportation is still on cooldown. When that is over, and maybe with that power— ​he can even the odds or win.

Kaya lang… parang ayaw ni Midnight na makabawi si Nix. Bumunot siya ng baril— silver. Parehas ng baril ng mga Angeals. Tinutok niya ‘yon kay Nix. 

But then, fast flying objects came rushing to Midnight. They were sharp like the wind. It stopped him from pulling the trigger. He had to use his dagger to deflect them all. They were… cards— playing cards.

“Uyy! Someone is worried about my lil brother.”

Napalingon sa pamilyar na boses— si Ash! Finally, backup arrived. Saang lupalop ba siya nanggaling? Akala ko ang task niya ay i-ambush ang huma-hunting sakin?

He is still smiling wide as if there isn’t any danger in front of us. But his eyes… they were blood red in the middle, while the whites stayed cold and pale.

“You’re late,” sabi ni Nix kay Ash. Nakatayo na siya.

“It’s your fault, kapatid. Hindi mo ko sinama papunta dito. I had to run.”

Napagtanto ko na kailangan kong magsalita para maibsan kahit papaano ‘yong takot ko.

“Yea bakit ngayon ka lang? Saan ka galing?” I asked. Nameywang pa ko.

“Casino. I was winning by the way,” nakangiti niyang sagot sakin. 

I can’t believe this guy. Nasa casino siya imbes na gawin ang assignment niya? What the heck?!

“Still on cooldown?” tanong ni Ash kay Nix.

Umiling si Nix at ngumisi. The middle of his eyes turned crimson red. While the whites became pitch black.

“I’m ready.”

Sakto naman na dumating na rin si Zed. He was across the road from us while Midnight was in the middle.

“Yo, Zed! Are you good?” tanong ni Nix.

Zed nodded. He doesn’t look wild and untamed anymore. Mukhang nakontrol niya na ang sarili niya kahit Morcan pa rin ang anyo niya.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Buti nalang mukhang nasa katinuan na siya. Mas malaki na ang pag-asa nilang manalo.

“Alright, brothers. Here’s the plan…” sabi ni Nix.

Na-excite ako. Tumayo ang mga buhok ko sa braso. What kind of coordinated strategy am I gonna see? How does a Mordread, a Morpyre, and a Morcan fight as a team?

“Attack!!” Biglang sigaw ni Nix.

Bahagya akong napanganga. Halos ma-stuck ang panga ko. I thought he was going to provide a strategy na parang si Captain America.

They all attacked Midnight. Si Zed ang humarap kay Midnight. He used his claws and attacked like a berserker. Nakaka-ilag si Midnight at binabaril si Zed kahit malapitan. Nakaka-ilag din naman si Zed.

Habang si Nix naman ay sumusulpot kung saan-saan. He’s everywhere— flipping, spinning before attacking. Aatake gamit ang dagger niya tapos ay mawawala ulit— magiging itim na usok. Ang angas!

Si Ash naman ay parang mid-range support. Bato lang siya ng bato ng mga baraha niyang matutulis habang palipat, lipat ng pwesto. Hindi ko alam kung nag teteleport din siya pero nawawala siya na parang nabubura tapos ay lumilitaw kung saan.

Karamihan ng atake ng mga Franco ay naiilagan ni Midnight pero ang iba naman ay tumatama.

Samantala, ginamit kong cover ang sasakyan ni Zed. Mahirap na. Baka matamaan ako ng bala o ng baraha. Gusto ko silang tulungan. Paano ba kasi palabasin ‘yong aether na ‘to? Is there a magic word? Abrakadabra? Alakazam? Go go aether? Hadouken?

Kainis! What’s the point of being aether-blessed if I can’t use it?

As the fight continues, parami ng parami ang mga atake ng mga Franco ang tumatama kay Midnight. He’s losing. 

At dahil wala akong maitulong. Chini-cheer ko nalang muna sila sa isip ko.

Go, guys! Kaya niyo ‘yan!

Pero bigla na lang naglabas si Midnight ng isang handheld na bagay. It looks metallic and cylindrical. Mabilis niya itong ibinato sa sahig. Sa isang iglap nabalot ng puting liwanag ang lahat. Sobrang nakakasilaw, kaya’t napapikit na lang ako. Parang flashbang pero walang nakakabinging pagputok.

Tatlong segundo rin akong nasilaw. Pagmulat ko ng mga mata ko, sila Nix, Zed, at Ash tila silaw pa rin. It wasn’t an ordinary flashbang. It appears to be something made to fight Grimborns.

May kung anong mga maliliit na bagay na binato si Midnight sa mga magkakapatid. It was fast and precise. Parang kasing laki ito ng coins. May ilaw na kulay red. Dumikit ito sa iba’t ibang parte ng katawan nila. Ang bilang ko, anim na ganon ang kay Zed, apat kay Nix, at tatlo kay Ash.

Midnight pulled up one of his sleeves. After pressing a button on his watch… Magkakasunod na pagsabog ang bumalot sa mga Franco.

Kinailangan kong iharang ang kamay ko sa harap ng mukha ko dahil sa malakas na impact ng hangin dulot ng mga pagsabog. The explosions were small, but it was enough.

Enough to take down the Franco brothers.

Agad akong napahawak sa bibig ko. 

Bagsak sila sa sahig at para bang nawalan ng malay. Are they dead? No way! No please. This can’t be happening.

Midnight turned to my direction. Akala ko lalapit siya, pero bigla na lang siyang humawak sa kanang balikat niya. He’s injured. Kahit pa di ko makita kung duguan ba siya dahil sa kulay itim niyang kasuotan— halata sa kanya.

Bigla siyang may kinuha sa ilalim ng coat niya at mabilis niya itong ibinato sa kinatatayuan niya. After a quick clang sound, nabalot ang paligid ng makapal na itim na usok. Nagdulot iyon ng pangangati sa lalamunan ko— nakaka-ubo. Wala pa kong makita.

Pagkatapos ng isang minuto, humupa ang usok. Wala na si Midnight sa paligid. Did he flee because he was injured? 

But he… he won. And we lost so badly.

NEXT CHAPTER
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