•••••Raven's POV•••••

Mag-isa lang akong naglalakad patungo sa classroom ko. But while I was walking, I noticed something very odd.

I know na maaga pa but, bakit wala akong nakikitang kahit isang estudyante since pumasok ako sa school?

Mas lalo akong nagtaka nang pagdating ko sa room ay wala akong kahit isang classmate na nakita. I was about to enter when I suddenly sensed a presence.

Napatingin ako sa lalaking tumatakbo. Lalagpasan na sana niya ako ng bigla ko siyang pinigilan.

"Hey." I saw his surprised face when he saw me. Mas lalo pang nadagdagan ang pawis sa mukha niya. "Where are the other students?", I asked.

Napalunok muna siya bago niya ako sinagot. "N-Nasa D-DRJ Territory silang l-lahat ngayon k-kaya please, 'w-wag mo kong p-patayin!"

Kita ko ang panginginig niya sa takot at kaba na nakatingin sakin. Seriously?

"Go.", tanging sabi ko at siya naman ay dali-daling tumakbo papuntang DRJ Territory siguro.

I just sighed. Pumunta nalang ako sa DRJ Territory, still wondering what happened.

*****

"Gosh! I can't believe this!"

"Ano kayang kasalanan nila?"

"Siguro malaki ang kasalanan nila kaya ganito ka-brutal ang nangyari sa kanila."

"Siguro isang 4th Ranked Assassin ang may gawa nito."

"They could be one of us."

Isa lang yan sa mga bulungan na naririnig ko. Nakipagsiksikan ako until I reached the front. But it wasn't really hard for me because when they saw me, they quickly made a way for me to get through.

My eyes widened in surprise when I saw what they were talking about. Kaya pala halos silang lahat ay may takot na nakapinta sa mga mukha nila.

Two men laying down on the ground, dead. From the looks of it, they were tortured dahil sa dami ng sugat nila sa katawan. Slitted throat and blood still coming out. Unrecognizable narin ang dalawa kasi sunog na ang mga mukha nito. But, they look so familiar to me.

"Raven." Napatingin ako sa taong tumawag sakin.

"Miyahara." The three of them, Miyahara, Taylor and Smith were standing right behind me.

"May i---" Taylor wasn't able to finish what she was about to say nang biglang tumunog ang speaker.

^All students, please proceed to your respective classrooms now within 10 minutes. If you're still not in your classroom within 10 minutes, expect that you will be spending the rest of your life inside the Death Room Jail. Always remember, we are monitoring you. Thank You.^

And with that ay mabilis na nagtungo ang mga estudyante sa kanilang classroom.

'We are monitoring you' huh?

*****

Lunch break na at nandito kami ngayon sa canteen. Hindi pumasok ang magaling na mentor namin sa klase and we don't know why.

"Raisin ano nga pala ang pinag-usapan ninyo ni Sniper kahapon?", out of the blue na tanong ni Miyahara na nasa tabi ko lang.

I stared at my red velvet cake for a minute, then stared at him.

"He just asked me about that.", walang ganang sagot ko. For sure alam na nila kung ano ang tinutukoy ko.

"Did you tell him?", tanong naman ni Smith sakin.

"Yeah.", tanging sagot ko naman. A moment of silence ate us.

Everyone was busy. Parang nakalimutan na nila ang nangyari kanina.

"Hey Raven wanna go with us this Saturday? Manonood kami ng sine." I looked at Taylor and saw how she flashed her puppy eyes on me.

"Stop that Taylor it's annoying." I was referring to her puppy eyes. Nag-pout lang siya sakin pero pilit parin niya akong pasamahin sa kanila. But still, my answer is 'no'.

"You know what Raisin, you should call us by our first names. Para ka kasing laging galit samin kapag tinatawag mo kami sa last names namin eh.", Miyahara said.

I looked at him at tinaasan ng kilay. Na-notice ko pa ang 'Here-they-go-again' look ni Hades.

"Just mind your own business would you?" Cold ko siyang tiningnan. Napalunok naman si Taylor.

Seruously? Hindi pa ba siya sanay?

"Chill! Suggestion lang naman kasi yon eh. Ang seryoso mo kasi sa lahat ng bagay kay---"

"Just shut up Miyahara.", I cut him off. I heard him 'Tss'. Tumayo ako para mag-cr.

"San ka pupunta Raven?", Taylor asked.

"Somewhere.", walang gana kong sagot. Dami nilang tanong eh.

Pagkatapos kong mag-cr ay naglalakad lang ako mag-isa sa corridor. They were no other students around. Dahil narin siguro ay almost 1:00 p.m na at magsisimula na ang klase.

While I was walking, I sensed a dark and heavy aura. Huminto muna ako sa paglalakad and observed my surroundings.

"I know you're in there. Come out now.", sabi ko.

I know this familiar presence.

She laughed like a witch. "Kumusta nga pala ang mga sugat mo pabida queen?", she asked.

I turned to face her with a blank expression. Bored ko lang siyang tiningnan.

"What do you want Angeleeka Buenavista?", walang gana kong tanong. Tsk! Gusto ko pa naman sanang kumain.

"I want you dead." I was surprised and quickly dodged the shiny thing that was thrown at me.

Shit! That was close!

I looked at the knife that was thrown at me. Napakatalim.

"Ano? Tititigan mo lang ba yan?" Napatingin ako sa kanya at nagulat ulit ako nang nasa harapan ko na siya. "Die."

She attacked me with another knife but luckily, mabilis akong nakailag. Atake lang siya ng atake sakin habang ako naman ay ilag lang ng ilag.

Until my back touched the wall. Shit. Nasa corner na kami ng corridor. Huminto muna siya at ngumisi sakin na parang isang demonyo.

"Any last words Raven dear?" Tumawa ulit siya na parang baliw.

Oops! Scratch that. She's totally crazy.

I just sighed. I have to get that from her. May gusto akong malaman tungkol sa bagay na iyon.

Nagsimula na ulit siyang umatake sakin. Nang makalapit na siya, I quickly dodged her attack at malakas siyang sinipa sa gilid niya.

She screamed in pain. Bago paman siya makalingon sakin ay malakas ko ulit siyang sinapa. But this time, mas malakas pa kaysa nung una.

She screamed in pain again and fell down to her knees. Nabitawan niya ang kaniyang kutsilyo kaya dali ko itong kinuha and used it against her.

"You're a pain.", tanging sabi ko. Humarap siya sakin at dahan-dahang tumayo habang nakahawak ang isang kamay sa gilid niya.

"Bwiset ka Raven! Nang dahil sa'yo ay namatay yung dalawang alalay ko! Masyado ka kasing pabida!", galit na galit niyang sabi.

"So I was right then. Yung dalawang bangkay na nakita kanina sa DRJ Territory ay yung dalawang alalay mo na kumulong sakin sa Stanza Nera.", I knew it. Kita ko parin ang sakit na nakapinta sa mukha niya. Malakas pala talaga yung pagkasipa ko. "Who cares anyway. Both of them are dead so you're on your own now."

Lumapit ako sa kanya, still holding the knife that I got from her.

"You can't defeat me Buenavista. Just give up." I stared at her blankly. She flashed me a smile before talking.

"Victory is mine Raven."

Naramdaman ko ang isang pigura na umatake sa likod ko. Pero bago paman ito makarating sa akin ay bumagsak na ito sa sahig.

"You should stop this shit Angel.", rinig kong sabi ng isang lalaki na may malamig na boses. "You okay?", tanong nito na sa tingin ko ay para saakin.

I just looked at the guy by my shoulders. Still with my cold eyes.

"What a lame illusion she had.", sabi ko at tumingin sa babaeng nakahiga sa sahig.

Lumapit ako sa babae. Lumuhod ako para magkalapit kami. May kinuha ako sa aking bulsa at pinakita ito sa babae.

Ito yung kwintas na suot niya nung kinulong nila ako sa Stanza Nera. The one Smith told me about. Nakuha ko ito nung sinipa ko siya sa gilid niya. Hindi lang niya napansin.

"You made an illusion of yourself so I'd let my guard down and attack me on my back? You can't fool me by a mere illusion Buenavista." Napatingin siya sa akin habang may nakaimpintang sakit sa mukha nito. 

"A-A-Alam m-m-mo? P-P-Paano m-m---"

"Raven don't get too close to her." Hinawakan ng lalaki ang braso ko pero bago paman kami tuloyang makalayo kay Buenavista ay bigla niya akong inatake.

Hindi ko inexpect na may tinatago pa pala siyang kutsilyo. Kaming dalawa ng lalaki were both shocked but it was too late. Malalim niyang sinugatan ang tiyan ko at dumudugo na ito. Shit! I was about to fight back when this guy with me stopped me. Galit ko siyang tiningnan pero hindi niya iyon pinansin.

"Ako na.", seryosong sabi nito at tumingin kay Buenavista na ngayon ay nakangisi sa kanila na parang baliw.

"You're a traitor Sniper! Hindi mo alam yang ginagawa mo!", galit na sigaw ni Buenavista kay Sniper.

Yes. The Assassin Student Council President is here. I don't know how he found me though.

"Just shut up. Isang salita pa galing sa bibig mo Angel at papatayin na talaga kita." Kita ko sa mukha ng presidente ang galit nito.

"W-What the hell are you d-doing Sniper? T-This is our fight not y-yours.", nahihirapang tanong ko sa kanya while my other other hand's holding my wound. May mantsa narin ng dugo ang damit ko.

"You know, masarap pakinggan na tinatawag mo ako sa first name ko. But like you said, I should make myself worthy of my postion. I am the Assassin Student Council President, not a puppet. I'll prove to them that I'm worthy of my name.", seryosong sabi niya sa akin at tiningnan ako diretso sa mga mata. Alam kong seryoso siya but, why does he really have to do this?

I was about to speak nang biglang sumakit ang sugat ko. Tsk! He saw my wound and clenched his fists.

"You're crazy Sniper." Both of us looked at my crazy mentor. Mas lalo pang nadagdagan ang galit ni Sniper nang tumawa na naman ito. "Bakit ka ba nandito ha? Diba may meeting ka?"

"I said shut up Angel. It's none of your business of why I'm here.", kalmadong sagot naman ni Sniper sa tanong niya.

"Dapat lang sa babaeng yan na mamatay kasi ang sobrang pabida! Masyadong mataas ang kom---"

"I said shut up right? Tigas rin pala ng ulo mo eh. Pano kaba naging mentor?" Angeleeka's eyes widen in surprise because in just a glance ay nasa likod na niya si Sniper. Kahit ako ay nagulat rin dahil sa bilis niya.

After all, he wasn't named as a President in a demon school as powerful as Blandon High for nothing.

Hinarap niya si Sniper. "Walang hi---" Hindi na siya nakapagtapos sa sasabihin niya nang tamaan siya ni Sniper sa kaniyang tiyan gamit ang isang kunai knife.

Malalim rin ang pagkasugat nito kaya napasigaw siya sa sakit at unti-unting napaupo sa sahig. Sinipa pa ni Sniper ang tiyan niya kaya mas lalo pa siyang napasigaw sa sakit at napahiga sa sahig. Mabilis na nagkalat ang dugo ni Buenavista sa white tiles ng skwelahan.

"This what you get for hurting Raven. Hurt her again at sa impyerno kana susunod na maglalakbay.", seryosong sabi ni Sniper sa mentor ko at dali-daling pumunta sa direksyon ko.

I'm still wondering. Isn't it odd? Why is he doing all of these? At tama ba yung narinig ko galing sa kanya?

I wanted to ask him that but decided not to.

"A-Are you going to j-just leave her t-there?"

"Yes why? Kailangan pa kitang ipagamot."

"N-No. I don't w-want her to die. I s-still have things to ask h-her." Nakita ko siyang nagbuntong hininga. He got his phone and texted someone. After that, he placed his phone back to his pocket.

"Don't worry. Ipapadala rin siya sa clinic. For now, I'll bring you there okay?", sabi niya.

"B-But you still have a m-meeting right?", tanong ko.

"It doesn't matter. What's important is magamot yang mga sugat mo. Kaya wag ka nang umangal pa." And with that ay binuhat na niya ako. Wala na akong ibang magawa. But I couldn't help myself asking,

Why are you letting him do this to you Raven? Why do you feel like you've known this guy for so long?

*****  

I woke up and everything was white. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako. Dahan-dahan akong bumangon. Napahawak ako sa ulo ko ng bigla itong sumakit pero kaagad namang nawala. I looked at the wall clock. 3:00 p.m na pala. Inalis ko ang blanket sakin para umalis na sana pero nagulat ako ng makita ko ang suot ko.

"Shit!", napamura ako. Biglang bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang nurse kasama sina Miyahara, Smith at Taylor. 

"What's the problem Raven?", they asked simultaneously. Their eyes also widened in surprise. "Whatever you're trying to say Miyahara and Taylor just shut it.", sabi ko nang may sasabihin sana silang dalawa saakin.

Galit kong tiningnan ang nurse. She gulped when she saw me. "B-Bakit po?", she nervously asked.

"Who changed my clothes?"

"A-Ako p-po. Sabi po kasi ng p-president na b-bihisan ko po kayo ng u-uniform kasi nasira y-yung damit n-niyo.", she answered nervously. Damn that president.

I saw their surprised face again and as expected, Miyahara was the first one to react.

"Raven we already knew everything. But still, I don't trust that guy.", he seriously said. I just rolled my eyes on him.

"Stop with the reaction Miyahara.", sabi ko at tumayo na. Aalayan sana nila ako but I stopped them. I feel way too better now. Di bale muna tong uniform ko ngayon. This is water under the bridge for now. Besides, nasira rin naman yung damit ko kanina.

"Umuwi na nga tayo. Wala naman tayong magagawa dito eh.", I heard Miyahara said at nauna nang lumabas sa clinic.

"President Sniper told us everything Raven. Siya rin ang nagpapunta samin dito.", Taylor said. Kita ko ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya.

That explains it. That Sniper's a weirdo.

"Let's go.", sabi ni Smith samin.

"Thank You.", I heard Taylor thanked the nurse.

I just followed them. For sure Ethan will welcome me questions again at home.

*~*~*~*~*~*  

It's almost a month since I updated my story huh. Well since exams are over and it's already our sembreak, I can probably update this story at least once or twice a week. 😁😁 I really do hope I can update my story daily tho. ✌✌ Thank You so much for those who supported my story especially to the person to whom I dedicated this story to. Labyooo labs ayiieeee! Thank You for encouraging me to update even tho my action scene for this chap. sucks. 😘😘😹😹 I won't show Raven's true fighting skills for now. I promise I'll improve my writing especially my action scenes and upcoming fantasy scenes. Char lang! I do really hope you will all continue on supporting my story. Labyooo all and happy Sunday everyone! 💋💋💋💋💋