Danger, Danger, Mr. Stranger

#DDMS37

"Do you want to go home, Folie?" I asked, comforting her.

Pahakbang pa lamang kami nang bigla akong makarinig ng matinis na tunog na nanggagaling sa butones.

A screeching high-pitched sound suddenly blasted from the comm-button I was holding, making me drop it out of reflex.

"Hello, Deux. Nice to finally meet you."

Namula ang buong paningin ko nang marinig ang boses ng isang lalaki galing sa butones. Hindi na niya kailangang magpakilala para matukoy ko kung sino ang hayop na nagsasalita.

"You have probably heard whatever nonsense my little sister has been spouting—but I don't care," pagpapatuloy ni Zilvane. "The only thing I fucking care about is finally having you in my hands, deuxXxmachina."

"Fuck you, Zilvane!" I growled through gritted teeth. The mere mention of his name tasted like poison in my lips.

"Funny. You guys actually thought you have the upperhand of bringing a conscious Feuille inside our house?" he confidently stated. "You probably did that because you think she's free from my control, huh?"

Mataas ang araw, ngunit may kalamigan na dala ang hangin sa malawak na parang kung saan kami ay nakatayo. Mabagal ang pag-usad ng mga ulap sa langit. Marahan ang pagkampay ng mga damo sa paanan namin.

May ilang segundong lumipas bago nagpatuloy si Zilvane. Ilang segundong katahimikan na tila ba binibilang ang nalalabing panahon ng aming kasiyahan.

"But have you ever heard of post-hypnotic triggers?" kaniyang parang nanunudyong tanong. "Ah, it took me decades of practice and non-stop testing on several subjects . . . Finally, I have perfected it."

Nanghina ang mga tuhod ni Folie at muntikan na siyang mabuwal, buti na lamang ay nasalo ko siya agad.

"Xantiel!" biglang pagsingit ng boses ni Xildius galing sa suot na comm-button ni Folie. "Umalis ka diyan! Lumayo ka sa butones. Lumayo ka kay Folie!"

What?

I know how smart XV is. But even if he said that, Folie is helplessly shivering in terror. I can't just fucking leave my girl!

Gusto kong makaalis kami rito, ngunit nanginginig at nanlalamig ang buong katawan ni Folie. Hindi ko siya puwedeng iwan. Hindi ko siya puwedeng pabayaan. I've already lost her before. No fucking way I'll let go of her again.

I'm sorry, Professor. But I'm staying with my girl.

"Think about it. Paano nakatakas si Folie sa napakahigpit na seguridad ng mga Guivellnova?" Dinig ang tahimik na pagtawa ni Zilvane galing sa kabilang linya. "The only reason is because I let her. Because she's the fucking key that would connect me to you, Deux."

Pinagpapawisan nang malamig si Folie, ang mga labi niya'y kanina pa nangangatog sa matinding takot. I can hear her teeth grinding. Fuck! Even when he's not here, Zilvane still finds ways to torment her.

"You guys got it right—well, almost everything. Totoong limitado lamang sa limang taon ang pagkontrol ko sa isang tao," may nanunudyong tonong paliwanag niya. "Pero sa limang taong namumuhay si Folie bilang Feuille, maraming beses siyang nakawala sa hipnotismo ko. She was conscious and aware for the most of it, which means . . . the days and months that she was self-aware, are the days and months that give me free reign to control her again."

"Hindi ko hahayaang mangyari 'yon!" gigil na pahayag ko sa hawak na butones, tinitiyak na maririnig ni Zilvane ang bawat salita at ang pagbabanta sa boses ko. "She's with me now, and you're over there."