✔ 02 | Flames Of Madness [Soon To Be Published Under PSICOM]

CAPITULUM 19

Carlos' residence
11:55 p.m.

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She was in that room again.

A room slowly being devoured by flames.

Hindi alam ng batang babae kung ano ang dapat niyang gawin. Unti-unti na siyang nauubusan ng hininga at pakiramdam niya anumang oras mula ngayon, masusunog na rin siya nang buhay---katulad ng nangyari sa kanilang kapitbahay.

The fire danced at the corners of her eyes as she silently cried.

Sinubukang lumabas ng kwarto ni Nova para makatakas, pero napasigaw siya sa sakit nang mapaso siya sa init ng seradura.

"T- TULONG!"

Walang nakakarinig sa kanya.

"M-Mommy? Daddy?!"

No one came.

Patuloy sa paghikbi si Nova habang nanginging sa takot ang kanyang katawan. Nanghihina siyang sumiksik sa sulok at pinanood ang pagsunog ng apoy sa kanyang mga laruan. Her barbie doll's face stared at her as it slowly turned into ashes. Poor little barbie burned alive.

Pakiramdam niya ay nakulong siya sa isang impyerno habang patuloy na lumalaki ang apoy at winawasak ang kanilang maliit na apartment.

She hugged herself and stared at the flames.

Flames that wanted to kill her.

"AAAAAAHHHH!"

Hinihingal na napaupo si Nova at mabilis na pinasadahan ng tingin ang paligid. When she realized it was only a dream, she immediately hugged her legs and sighed. Namuo ang pawis sa kanyang noo kahit pa nakasindi ang air conditioner.

Kinakabahan pa rin siya.

Watching the fire at Kingstone Industries is triggering her nightmares again.

'It's just a dream, Brian.. nakaligtas ka sa sunog na 'yon. It's all in the past now.' She tried to calm herself down.

Ilang taon na ang nakakaraan, pero hanggang ngayon ay ginugulo pa rin siya ng kanyang nakaraan. She hates it. Detective Briannova Carlos smiled bitterly, "Sometimes, we just can't escape the nightmares." Humiga ulit siya sa kanyang malambot at kulay rosas na kama. She closed her eyes and willed herself to just fucking sleep.

Pero nang akala niyang tapos na siyang bangungutin ng nakaraan, biglang lumitaw sa kanyang isipan ang imahe ng isang batang lalaki. He wore torn, dirty clothes and stared at her with empty eyes. May hawak itong posporo at bote ng gasolina sa kabilang kamay.

At hindi niya makakalimutan ang mga peklat nito sa balikat.

Burnt marks.

Ang sabi ng mga awtoridad noon, nag-suicide ang kapitbahay nilang arsonist. Hindi na masyadong maalala ni Nova ang kapitabahay nilang 'yon dahil bihira lang itong umuwi at palaging nakasimangot. Sinong mag-aakalang isang arsonist pala ang kapitbahay nila?

After the fire, the police assured them that it was a case closed. They told them that their neighbor felt guilty and killed himself in that fire. Naging "malas" nga lang daw sina Nova dahil kapitbahay nila ito.

Nadamay lang daw sila sa pagpapakamatay niya.

'Pero paano kung hindi pala isang suicide ang nangyari?'

Maybe he was killed? Maybe, he was killed by that boy Nova saw.

That boy with a match box and container of gasoline.

That boy with burnt marks on his shoulders..

That boy with cold and lifeless eyes.

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