ALTERSEVEN

Chapter 29: Dilemma

JOSHUA'S POV

I opened my eyes as a soft familiar music was whispering in my ear. It was from somewhere near me yet I couldn't pinpoint exactly its origin. The calming notes and melody felt as light as the feathers floating down around me. I looked around. Everything was white. Everything was at peace.

Where am I?

I tried to walk and thank God I can still move. I closed my eyes and realized that I was inside my own dream. This is not real. In a split second, darkness started to embrace everything around me. I just get on the flow. The next second I opened my eyes, the image that popped before me was an abandoned building, wrecked by time.

“Eri, bilisan mong tumakbo! Malapit na siya!” I looked at the young lad who was desperately running through the woods. He was with a young girl na mukhang pagod na sa pagtakbo.

“Pero p-pagod na ‘ko,” sabi ng batang babae. My heartbeats started to race.

“Gusto mo na bang mamatay?” pasigaw na tanong ng batang lalaki dito. I stepped another one to take a closer look with them. They both looked familiar.

Napalingon ako sa likod nang may marinig akong sunod-sunod na putok ng baril at makita ang isang malaking lalaking nakasuot ng itim. Someone’s after them.

“Tumakbo na kayo!” sigaw ko sa kanila. Iika-ikang nagpatuloy sa pagtakbo ang dalawang bata.

“Eri!” rinig ko pang sigaw ng batang lalaki nang madapa ang kasama nito.

Oh sh*t!

“I-iwan mo na ko! T-tumakas ka na!”

Don’t leave her…

“No!” inabot ng batang lalaki ang kamay nito sa batang babae.May kakaiba akong naramdaman sa puso ko nang makita ang magkadaupang palad nila.

Sa isang iglap ay biglang nagbago ang lahat. I was surprised to see the young girl in front of me. Her clothes were dirtied by blood and… I was holding her hand. Parehong may bakas ng dugo ang mga kamay namin. Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

Bago pa man ako nakapagreact ulit ay nakarinig na naman kami ng putok ng baril. Nagpatuloy kami sa pagtakbo sa madamong bahagi ng gubat pero ramdam kong malapit na sa likod namin ang kung sinumang humahabol. I felt so helpless yet seeing how desperate the young girl is to escape makes me want to protect her.

I will protect you…

Sa pagtakbo ay bigla ko na lang nabitawan ang kamay niya. Pagtalikod ko ay hindi ko na siya makita pa. I tried to run and go back pero wala akong makitang bakas niya.

Nasaan na siya?

Ramdam ko ang paninikip ng dibdib ko sa sobrang hingal at pagod. Paulit-ulit, hinanap ko siya sa madilim na gubat pero hindi ko siya matagpuan. Napupuno na ng magkahalong takot at pag-aalala ang puso ko.

Hindi pwede ‘to. I need to find her. I need to protect her. Huminga ako ng malalim at saka ubod ng lakas akong sumigaw. I called her name so many times. I even heard my own voice as it echoed in the whole forest.

Then slowly, I was swallowed by the darkness again.

“Josh?” napadilat ang mga mata ko. I was running out of breath when I looked around and saw my brother beside me. Napabangon ako bigla.

“Are you having some nightmare?”

Napahawak ako sa ulo ko nang maramdaman ang bahagyang pagkirot nito.

Damn! What's the meaning of that dream?

“Josh?”

“I-I’m okay. Pwede mo na kong iwan,” mahinang sabi ko sa kanya.