Mhorfell Academy and the Night Stealer (A Spin-Off) [Book 3]

Chapter 3: Midnight Rain

Chapter Three: Midnight Rain

[Trigger Warning: This chapter may contain text and description tackling the protagonist's suicidal tendencies.]

AS MUCH as it contradicts my mother's memory, deep inside, I personally preferred the day over night, the heat over cold, the warmth over the fresh breeze, and the sunlight over the rain. While the former would remind me of the life I breathe, the latter would always unleash the taste of death. The night gives me nightmares. The cold makes me numb. The fresh breeze inflicts shivers on my spine. And the rain... the rain keeps me from forgetting. It prevents me when all I've wanted all these years is to forget.

At kung titingnan mo nga naman, sa lahat ng araw na puwede akong asarin ng kalangitan, ngayon pa kung kailan ko napiling magliwaliw at kumalimot. "Talk about impeccable timing and all, huh," bulong ko at naiismid na tiningalaan ang kalangitan.

Ayaw mo talaga makisama sa mood ko, ano?

"Magandang gabi, mga ma'am at sir. Saan ho sila?" Napahinto ang grupo namin nang dumako sa 'min ang maliwanag na silay ng ilaw ng flashlight. "Bawal ho rito. Private property po 'to."

Sabay-sabay naming ginamit na panangga ang mga kamay namin mula sa pagkakasilaw. "We know, but we're here to offer the souls' goblet to the Selene," Polaris hissed, sounding like a disturbed predator caught red handed as she's about to devour her prey.

While a grimace takes form on my face, the Clan members, however, turned their heads away as much as possible from the burning warmth of the light, frowning and cursing as fast as the raindrops could land atop our heads. 

Just as the world affirms the co-existence of blessings and curses, the enhanced genetic make-up of the Clan's children also bore sensitivities and anomalies that they claim will remain undeciphered for eternity. They may see what cannot be seen in the dark, but they shall be shoo-ed away by the light as the former has awarded them its mark. And considering we're in uncharted territory, switching these heightened senses off even for a minute could be proven unwise.

"Souls' Goblet?" Agad na tinapos ng nakatagpo sa 'min ang paghihirap ng mga kasamahan ko sa pagpatay sa liwanag. Kaakibat nito ay paglantad ng isang matanda na nakagayak na pang-guwardiya. Kulubot man ang balat nito, kasing talas ng mga nakakubli naming sandata ang mga mata niyang isa-isa kaming sinuri mula ulo hanggang paa. "Pinaglololoko ni'yo ba 'ko?"

Madam White lowered her hand with an obvious show of relief, but also frustration. "We were told she can only be seen and visited when the moon is at its highest."

Masinsinan naming inobserbahan ang palitan ng dalawa, pinakikiramdaman ang kahit pinakamaliit na galaw ng guwardiya at gayon na rin ang kaluskos ng mga puno't halamanan sa kapaligiran. Kung tunay ngang liblib ang bar na nabanggit nila, hindi na kataka-taka kung bakit tila nagmamaang-maangan ang mama. Ngunit gaano ba 'to kaliblib para mangailangan ng handog at koda?

"Mukhang mga dayo kayong naligaw ng daan," mahinahong saad ng guwardiya at ibinulsa ang flashlight nang hindi iniaalis ang tingin sa 'ming lahat. "Marami nang naligaw dito. Ang ilan, may sinundan na sila lamang ang nakakakita. May ibang nagpadala sa likido't hindi na nakabalik pa." Saglit itong napasulyap sa direksyon ko ngunit kalaunan, hinawakan niya ang harap ng sumbrero't magalang na yumuko sa 'kin na animo'y nakikilala niya ko.