"Cass" rinig kong tawag ni Avelox, minulat ko ang aking mga mata and I saw her in front of me. Nakatulog pala ako. I looked around and I realized it was just me and her.
"Me and Zavier will go hunt. I cooked food na. It's all set, baka matagalan kami kasi we are planning to get food as 1 week supply. We are all gonna stay here kasi maraming rooms dito tsaka hindi rin to malapit sa city." she explained, "Maybe bukas pa kami makakabalik, the city is quite far and we don't have cars and we can't make noise as well," she added
"Wait what? Bukas? Sobrang tagal naman," reklamo ko
I looked above the sky and the sun was nowhere to be found. I looked down and realized that the shadows are starting to fade. Pagabi na at ngayon pa talaga sila aalis?
"Don't worry, babalik kami.
ZAVIER'S POV "Ang hirap naman maghanap," reklamo ko "Kasi naman di rin naman natin alam kung saan tayo magsisimula knowing na all infrastructures are useless, tsaka isa pa may kalaban rin tayo. We’re really at disadvantage," Avelox answered and I nodded I sighed at patuloy na humahanap ng mga gamit na pwedeng gamitin at mga pagkain na pwedeng kainin. Although we have some spare meat sa mansion kailangan pa rin namin kumuha ng iba pa. Buti nalang tinuruan kami ni Cass paano mag preserve ng mga pagkain, ngayon ko lang narealize kung gaano ka importante ang refrigerator. We have to get unripe fruits as well for it to last for a couple of days. I can't believe na pwedeng mabuhay ang tao kahit walang internet or convenience store. Well, without Cass, maybe we'd be eating anything that looked edible right now. I’m glad we met with 2 famous
CASSIOPEIA’S POV "Ba't parang ang tagal nilang nakabalik?" I asked. Umaga na kasi tapos wala pa sila. I’m worried. "Baka pauwi na," he answered while gathering the body pieces of his butlers. Mayaman nga siya but he still has his respect, I adore him for that. "Di ka ba nag-aalala?" I asked and he stopped doing his stuff. That's basically a sign of annoyance. "Okay. Okay. I will stop talking," sabi ko I wonder if those morphing humans are still there. I peeked through the hole pero wala akong masyadong makita dahil sa dami ng dahon na nakapaligid sa mansion at sa tinulogan namin. Hindi naman masyadong malayo sa mansion ang tinulogan namin for now kaso ang kapal lang talaga ng mga halaman.
CASSIOPEIA "Good Morning Cass." bati ni Avelox sakin "Good morning." bati ko naman sa kanya I looked around but I saw no one except us inside Apollo's room. "Where are they?" tanong ko "Packing our things, we have to stay in another place kasi inatake na dito so I'm guessing they already marked this place." "Yeah, you're right, pero saan tayo pupunta?" sagot ko Napatingin ako sa mga sugat ko. They're healing fast. I tried to stood up and I smiled. Nakatayo na ako at nakakalakad but slow kasi medyo andun pa yung pain but the wound in my waist is still painful. Although my platelets did their job already, masakit pa rin.
CASSIOPEIA We've been staying here for almost a month now and so far wala namang masamang nangyari. We have spare clothes and I can do my stuff dahil my Science store dito. Buti nalang dito talaga kami nag stay. For the past few days, nagtutulungan sina Zavier at Apollo para linisin ang mga damo at ibang halaman na nandito sa store. Good thing may testing lab ang store na ito na pwede kong magamit. The lab is quite broken but the materials that I needed are all here but still, I need my microscope na nasa school because the microscope here has broken glass. My wounds are not completely healed yet but I can move na, di kagaya ng dati na kailangan pa talaga akong tulungan para makapunta sa isang lugar. My wounds are all closed but sometimes I can still the pain lalo na kapag natagalan sa paglakad. Most of the time, I stay here at the Sc
“I’m really sorry about that,”I apologized over and over to Apollo habang pabalik kami sa mall. I hugged him out of nowhere and I really think that he doesn’t feel like hanging out any more. “It’s fine, really. I was just surprised,” he replied I sighed and I looked away. I did hug him but I know it was just because of my hormonal imbalance. He handed me the exact thing I needed, of course my serotonin and endorphins would rise like crazy. Alam niyo na mga happy hormones natin pag tumataas, kung ano-ano na lang yung gagawin natin dahil sa kasiyahan. Sinundan ko siya papunta sa likuran ng mall and I saw barks of trees na naka-form na into square. Kulang nalang talaga yung screen. Did he make this when he walked away after asking me? I sat in front of him as he was try
“10th commandment?” Zavier asked as he was drying the smashed plants from the screen. Once it is dry, the paper will be done. So far we’ve made around 10 sheets but Avelox was boiling another batch sa loob. “So instead of finding a fruit for the ink, you found a new enemy? How … nice of you … Apollo and Cass,” reklamo ni Zavier habang nakangiti. Yes I know that smile, a smile of sarcasm. “Well as long as I’ll be researching in secret, we’ll be fine. We just need to show them that we are trying to survive, not trying to justify the humanity,” sagot ko naman “I agree,” Apollo said and Zavier sigh “Do you want me to investigate further?” he suddenly asked and I shook my head “No, walang lalapit sa facility. It’s suicide,” s
CASSIOPEIAWe've been walking for an hour already pero wala pa rin kaming nakita. Medyo masakit na rin yung paa ko sa kakalakad.Where are they hiding or should I say na san ba sila banda na nakasunod samin? All I know is we’re on tight spot after meeting that kid. I know for sure, we’ll be experiencing a lot of struggles, my research will take time now that all their eyes are on us."Let's go check that mall," he said while pointing at the mall in front of us. It was damn tall but it was broken. The roof fell off and it was just surrounded by a huge tree and some vines. The windows don't have glass anymore but are filled with plants and mushrooms."Great idea, let's go get some supplies if meron rin." I suggested and he noddedD
APOLLOShe was still unconscious.I carried her pabalik sa itaas na floor and laid her down.I performed chest compressions to mimic how her heart pumps. In that way, her blood circulation will be back in the normal state and deliver oxygen to the brain."Come on, don't die," I whisperedAfter I did my 30th compression, I lifted her chin up at huminga ng malalim."This is just CPR," I whispered again and did 2 rescue breaths or mouth-to-mouth to give her airAfter doing those rescue breaths, I did another 30 compressions again."Don't you dare die on me," I whispered while doing another 30 chest compressions
CASSIOPEIA"Ang saraaaaaaap!!" Loki said cheerfully habang tinikman ang niluto ni Avelox. I glanced at Hunter at nagulat rin siya sa sarap na inihanda ni Avelox."For the first time in 100 years or more, nakatikim na ulit ako ng pagkaing pang tao," he said at kinain muli ang niluto ni Avelox na tira-tirang baboy ramo na dala namin.It's lunch time kasi galing ng mina sina Neo, Zavier, Apollo, at Hunter sa cave na nakita namin pero wala pa rin silang nakita. While they are doing that, I minded my own business such as getting samples from the new species kasi pag-aaralan ko ito pagbalik namin. Pag may makita na kaming coal, si Lokina ang bahala sa lahat. Ngayon ko lang rin lang nalaman na he's specialty is making chemicals while mine is on biology. Basically,
CASSIOPEIA"You live here?" I asked as I look up to see the tree house he made clearly. It's not small and not huge at the same time, kasya lang talaga siya dun. A perfect tree house for one person. I looked around, I saw jars he made from mud. This guy has his own way of living and I liked it."Oo, I actually have someone with me," he responded at napatingin kaming lahat sa kanya, "But he turned into a monster," he added with a sad tone"He turned into a monster?!" Loki exclaimed at nagtinginan kaming dalawa. Is it possible that a normal human like us will turn into morphing monsters? Bakit paranag kinakabahan ako sa research na ito."Yeah, at first he was able to control it kaso habang patagal ng patagal, he started losing himself. The next thing I knew he carved a note on the tree where we first met and found his body, hanging." he replied at napaupo.That's tragic. I can't believe he was able to live with it kasi pag ako yun sig
CASSIOPEIA“Putang inang buhay to!!!” Zavier shouted habang tumatakbo kami palayo. Kayo ba naman habulin ng tatlong tiger, sinong di tatakbo.“I did not sign up for this!!” Loki shoutedNapalingon ako and yeah, the tiger was right behind me. I stopped and I activated my pen. Agad kong itinusok yung yun malaking sword sa bibig ng tiger at binitawan ang sword. Napaatras ako while the tiger was lying dead. The other two tigers stared at us and decided to run away. Thanks to my adrenaline rush I did that.“That was bad ass,” Zavier said habang tapik-tapik yung likod ko.“Great job, I can see that your training is paying off,” Apollo said and I smiled
CASSIOPEIA“Tapos na?” I asked and Loki noddedIt’s been 2 weeks. 2 weeks of trial and error and finally, we got the perfect glycerin. Na-stock up kasi kami sa paggawa ng lye, we had to make multiple lyes and test it to see if it's a good product. We boiled the ashes from the woods in the rain water for 30 minutes and dipped a feather to test it. If the feather dissolves, then it’s considered as a success pero napakahirap gawin yun. We had almost 15 tests, bago pa namin nakuha ang perpektong lye.“Sa wakas,” Zavier said with a sigh at napahiga sa grass“So we have to let this glycerin sit for a month and within that month, hahanapin natin yung iba pa nating kailangan,” sabi ko“I
CASSIOPEIAIt’s been a week now at unti-unti na kaming naghahanda para sa aming paglalakbay. Bago pa man kami lalakbay, kailangan muna naming gumawa ng Glycerin. We need it to make the giemsa stain and we have to let it sit for weeks or even months so gagawin namin yun bago mag-mining kasi para pag may nakita na kaming enough ingredients, the glycerin will be ready. At least we get to save some time.“Eto na yata lahat, Ate,” Loki said with a smile. Halatang excited na siya sa gagawin namin ngayon.“So, we’re making what again?” Zavier asked“Glycerin,” I answered at kinuha yung dala niyang coconut, “Glycerin is a sugar alcohol derived from animal products, plants or petroleum. But in our case, we’ll be making it using this coconut a
CASSIOPEIA "So, may ibang kasama ba kayo?" Loki asked while walking with us palabas ng school. He looked around but he always glanced away pag may nakita siyang frozen bodies. "Yeah, apat kami. We've been awake for almost a year now and marami ng nangyari," I said with a deep sigh. "Like what?" he asked with a huge smile. Walang kang dapat nginingitian Loki, kung alam mo lang. "Near death experience from being eaten and Cass was attacked in here too tapos hinabol ng lion. Next, she almost drowned," Apollo replied and his huge smile started to vanish and later turned into a nervous smile. "That's um… traumatic, " he replied at napatigil siya sa paglakad
CASSIOPEIA "T-Teka lang, di ba kayo uuwi? Sama niyo ko," Loki said while holding my hand at napatigil ako sa paglakad. Even if he's a genius, he's just a 12-year old kid after all, "What about your parents? A-A-Are you living with them?" he added with a nervous smile. He's smart so I think he knows the answer. He's just hoping for another possibility. There’s nothing wrong with that. "Dead," Apollo replied as he opened the lower cabinets to find anything that we might need. I know he’s frustrated too, hindi niya lang pinapakita. Binitawan ako ni Loki at umupo sa sahig na puno ng mga bulaklak at damo. His tears fell from his eyes. He's such a cry baby. He resem
AVELOX"Zavier, dito," tawag ko sabay turo ang konting daan na dinaanan ko nang makatakas ako mula sa morphing human nang magising ako for the first time. Ah ~ how nostalgic and tragic at the same time.As of now, andito kami sa school ko para kumuha ng samples, I’m not really sure kapag sinusundan kami pero whatever happens, kukuha talaga kami ng samples- it’s our last hope. We are currently looking for a route na madaling daanan kasi most of our school grounds are filled with tall grasses and snakes."T-This is your school?" Zavier asked and I nodded"It's kinda... uhhh small?" he said and tilted his head"Of course, di naman ako mayaman kaya dito ako nag-aaral. This is a public school," I explained
CASSIOPEIA"All set," I said habang nagpreprare kami ng mga gamit namin. This time, we needed to bring samples only and not supplies so we all brought test tubes and small bags na nakuha namin sa ibang stores."Kung ano mang makikita niyong samples, dalhin niyo. Do not use your hands. Use the clips that I gave you." I instructed at tumango sila"Do you guys have the keys?" Zavier asked and we nodded"Well then, tara na," sabi ni Avelox and we all went out. She locked the door and again, we parted ways."I don't think kailangan pa natin pumunta sa school ko, pabalik-balik na ako dun and no one woke up, well except the guy who attacked us before when we were about