•••••Maura's POV•••••

Lakad lang ako ng lakad sa loob ng hospital room. Hindi ako mapakali. Matapos ng nangyari sa concert ni Simon Reyes, nothing seems normal to me anymore. Noon ay sa pelikula ko lang nakikita yung mga malalaking paniki and other super giant stuffs, hindi ko inakalang makakakita pala ako ng gano'n kalaki sa personal.

"Hades," Isa pa 'to, kanina pa tahimik. Sanay naman ako, e. But his silence is quite different. "Magiging maayos lang kaya ang lahat?"

Tumingin siya sa akin at nagbuntong-hininga. I hate it when he does that. Nagdadalawang-isip kasi siya kapag gano'n.

"Just tell me the truth, Hades." Inunahan ko na siya. Baka hindi na naman siya magsasalita ng totoo para lang hindi ako masaktan.

"Maura, I'm not sure," sagot niya na halatang may iba pang iniisip. "I just never thought she could do it. Of course, she's strong but what happened was just... extraordinary. " sabi pa niya.

He's right. What happened was indeed extraordinary. Even I can't believe what happened. Para akong natatakot na kinakabahan na ewan. Nagloloko na ang feelings ko.

Sa kabila ng mga iniisip ko, bumukas ang pintoan at pumasok si Reo-sensei sa kwarto.

"Ayos lang ba kayong dalawa?" tanong niya kaagad sa aming dalawa ni Hades nang makita niya na parang napakamiserable na ng mga buhay namin.

"Hindi po ako sigurado sa isasagot namin sa inyo." Napayuko na lang ako habang sumasagot.

"I understand," Obvious sa mga mata niya na wala rin siyang sapat na tulog. "I think you wanna see your friends now. So, let's go." He motioned for us to follow.

Nagkatinginan muna kaming dalawa ni Hades bago sumunod sa mentor namin. Habang kami ay naglalakad papunta sa elevator ay wala kaming ibang naririnig kundi ang footsteps namin. At ang nararamdaman ko ngayon ay walang iba kundi kaba at takot.

"Sensei, are you sure it's alright?" tanong ni Hades nang nasa loob na kami ng elevator. "The last time we went to Raven's room underground, it didn't go well."

I agree with Hades completely. Kahit sinong tao man ang sumama sa amin kanina sa kwarto ni Raven ay masasabi talaga nila na isa siyang napakadelikadong tao. I could feel my soul leaving my body when Raven's magenta eyes met mine. She was so angry to the point na walang kahit isang nurse ang makakalapit sa kanya para gamutin ang kanyang mga sugat.

"Blade's with him," sensei answered. "She will be fine. Hopefully."

Napalunok na lang ako. Jusko, sana'y good mood na si Raven ngayon.

Parang nanlamig na ang buong katawan ko nang makarating na kami sa labas ng kwarto ni Raven. Shit! I know the AC here is strong pero pinagpawisan pa rin ako. Nang bubuksan na sana ni Reo-sensei ang pintoan ay nag-sign of the cross muna ako at nanalangin ng Our Father sa aking isipan.

"What are you doing?" I looked at Hades who is right beside me.

"Praying, obviously. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari pagpasok natin." Hindi ko maintindihan ang reaksyon ni Hades pagkatapos kong sabihin iyon. Para siyang natatawa na nagtataka na ewan.

Urgh! My feelings are really acting up!

"Raven, Blade," Narinig ko si Reo-sensei na tinawag yung mga kaibigan namin.

Pumasok kaming dalawa ni Hades sa kwarto ni Raven at napasinghap ako sa aking nakita sa loob. The floor is freshly colored with red and I could see a girl in the middle, sitting and holding a small knife.

"Holy shit!" Halos hindi ako makatingin ng diretso sa mga mata ni Raven dahil sa dugo na pumapatak galing sa kamay niya.

"She's been doing this since you both left on your first visit." our mentor uttered.

"W-Why?" tanong ni Hades kay Raven na halatang nagugulat rin.

Raven's eyes are already back to normal but are still cold. Yet they look better now unlike our first visit.

"I heal faster."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" nagugulohan kong tanong.

Since we got here in the hospital, wala kaming masyadong impormasyon na nakukuha. Not even kung bakit walang maaalala si Blade sa nangyari. Tinanong namin si sensei, pero pati siya ay wala ring alam.

This hospital is owned by sensei's friend kaya pinagkakatiwalaan namin ito. We know how intimate Raven's life is, especially her skills. That's why Reo-sensei decided to confine Raven in a hospital room built here underground para mas safe.

The school doesn't even know about this, in fact. Nag-file na kami ng report na safe yung client namin. Our mission was a success, however, figuring out what really happened is not considered a success.

"Look," Raven showed us her bloody palm.

Nakapagtataka dahil wala itong kahit isang sugat o gasgas. Ngunit may bahid pa rin ito ng dugo. She showed us the knife, drawing it closer to her palm, then cut it open. Nakita talaga namin kung paano lumabas ang napakapula at preskong dugo ni Raven. I didn't feel any disgust just by looking at it because I've seen far worse than it.

"You better see what happens next." sabi ni Blade kaya pinanood namin ang kamay ni Raven ng maigi.

And indeed, the next thing happened was unexpected.

Unti-unting nawawala ang sugat ni Raven. It was like magic, healing itself until nothing else is left. Not even a slight scar. Wala na itong gasgas o ano-ano pa.

"What the hell?" Sensei is shocked, too.

"I never expected this," sabi ni Raven. "Kanina ko pa sinusugatan ang sarili ko and I have lost a lot of blood."

So that explains why the white floor has become so red. Akala ko pa naman may namatay nang tao dito dahil sa dami ng dugo. Frankly, hindi ako nakakaamoy ng masangsang na amoy. Raven's blood doesn't smell so awful. In fact, it smells so... sweet.

"My eyes... it is getting weirder." Napahawak siya sa kanyang mata.

"S-Sensei..." Lumingon ako kay Reo-sensei na tahimik lang na nakikinig. "H-Hindi ba tayo tatawag ng n-nurse o doctor?"

Umiling siya kaya nagtaka ako. "Raven will not gonna like it." sabi niya.

Wala akong nagawa kaya napatingin na lang ulit ako kay Raven na nakahawak pa rin sa kanyang mga mata na para bang sumasakit ito. Napalunok na lang ako nang maalala ko ang nangyari dun sa concert.

Hingal na hingal akong nakikipaglaban sa mga bat clones. I literally have no idea what's going on. Para silang mga bat clones ni Manuel na nakalaban namin noon, but stronger.

"Hades!" tinawag ko ang lalaking nakikipaglaban rin sa tabi ko. "What is happening here at bakit may mga bat clones dito?! As far as I remember, pinatay na ni Raven si Manuel!"

Pumatay pa si Hades ng mga bat clones bago siya nakasagot sa akin.

"I think he is not the only one who uses Bat Clones. These clones are stronger than his," Tumakbo siya sa akin at hinila ako. "We should go, Maura. Let's not waste our time killing these never-ending clones."

Doon ko lang rin na-realize na walang katapusan nga ang mga bat clones na kinakalaban namin. Kanina pa kami nakikipaglaban and we've killed a lot. But still, it's like nothing happened. In fact, mas dumami pa nga.

"I think both Raven and Hades are in danger," Tumibok ng malakas ang puso ko nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya. "I feel something... bad."

"Hades," Napalunok ako habang kami'y tumatakbo. Napapagod ako pero mas nangingibabaw ang kaba na nararamdaman ko. "K-Kinakabahan ako."

I felt his warm hands squeezed mine.

"Don't worry. I will not leave you alone, Maura." Kahit hindi niya ako nilingon, naramdaman ko ang pagngiti niya.

Takte! Kung lumingon pa siya sa'kin, siguro ang sobrang gwapo niyang tingnan.

Napatigil kaming dalawa ni Hades sa pagtakbo ng bigla kaming nakarinig na parang may bumagsak sa likuran namin. Paglingon namin ay nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa aking nakita.

"S-Sensei!" I couldn't help not to feel so happy seeing our mentor.

Kagaya namin, hingal na hingal rin siya at may dalang kunai knife. I didn't see what happened because Hades and I were running. But it is obvious na pinatay niya lahat ng mga bat clones na humahabol sa amin in just a single move with that kunai knife.

"Ayos lang kayo?" Lumapit siya sa aming dalawa kaya tumango kami. "Let's go. Nasa panganib sina Blade at Raven."

Without saying anything, tumakbo ulit kami. Parehas na kaming napapagod pero wala kaming balak tumigil dahil hindi namin alam kung ano na ang nangyayari sa mga kaibigan namin.

"Sensei, what is this feeling? Bakit parang nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin? Everything feels so different." tanong ni Hades.

Hearing his question, chills immediately came to me. Hades is right. The wind has changed. Everything is different.

"The crimson moon," Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagkaseryoso sa tono ng pananalita ni sensei. "It's stronger than I thought."

"Ano pong ibig niyong sabihin, sensei?"

“Look above you,” utos niya.

Kahit tumatakbo kaming dalawa ni Hades sa likuran ni Reo-sensei ay hindi kami nagdalawang-isip na tumingala sa itaas. Doon namin nakita ang napakapulang buwan. Kasingpula ito ng dugo… o mas mapula pa.

“Today is lunar eclipse and the crimson moon or most commonly known as the red moon ay ang labis na kinakatakutan ng lahat. I don't know if it's true or not pero ayon sa imbestigasyon ko ay takot na takot ang mga Kuroda kapag ganito ang buwan.” sensei explained.

Tumatakbo pa rin kami ng mabilis. Buti na lang at wala pang humahabol na bat clones sa amin.

“Ang mga Kuroda?” I was surprised. “Is the red moon really that powerful for the Kurodas to fear it?”

Tumingin ulit ako sa buwan. It doesn't make any sense. Gaano ba ito kalakas? I thought it was just a natural phenomenon pero hindi pala. May tinatago pala itong alas sa likod ng kagandahan nito.

“I still don't have enough details but,” Huminto si sensei sa pagtatakbo kaya napahinto rin kami. “Beauty can kill you.”

We followed where he was looking at and doon namin nakita sina Raven at Blade na pinalilibutan ng apoy. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko ang isang napakalaking paniki. It was so big and it looked like in a single flap of its wings, it could kill us in an instant.

“Shit!” Mas lalo pang nanlaki ang mga mata ko when the giant bat hit the ground with its giant feet.

“Raven! Blade!” I screamed for their names even if they couldn't hear it.

Nabitak ang lupa na kinatatayuan ng mga kaibigan namin. They were barely able to escape it kaya mas lalo pa kaming nag-alala.

Unfortunately, no one was able to utter a word from us when the gigantic bat suddenly flapped its wings after hitting the ground. Napatalsik kaming tatlo palayo, however, luckily we were able to grab onto something. It only happened in seconds but there were already casualties. But that's not it. Lumipad yung paniki at nang medjo malayo na ito sa lupa ay dahan-dahan nitong ibinuka ang bibig.

“Fuck! Get down!” Naramdaman ko ang mabilis na pagyakap ni Hades sa akin.

May kinuha rin na parang isang malaki at makapal na tela si sensei na ginamit niya para e-cover sa amin. When we heard the roar of the giant bat, I couldn't hear anything else. Nakakasira ito ng pandinig at sobrang napakasakit.

Napakasakit. Sumigaw ako ngunit hindi ko marinig ang sarili kong sigaw. It was only a matter of time when I slowly felt myself slowly falling on the ground.

Napalunok ako nang maalala ko ang huling pangyayari na aking natatandaan. Nawalan rin ako nang malay and when I woke up, nasa hospital na si Raven at Blade.

“M-My eyes... They were weak yesterday.” sabi ni Raven.

Nagulat kaming lahat na nasa loob ng kwarto at naramdaman ko na naman ang pagtibok ng puso ko. Well, in the first place ay hindi naman talaga ito kumakalma.

“What do you mean weak? Raven, you defeated Benedict in his monstrous form when no one of us could handle him and saved me!” I saw how Blade clenched his fists. I could still feel his frustration dahil instead na siya ang magligtas sa isang babae ay siya pa ang nailigtas. “Niligtas mo ako kahit na nasasaktan ka na!”

“Blade...”

Instead of saying anything, Raven just looked at him. Though the way she looked at him was not as expressionless as before anymore.

“Para sa inyo, malakas na iyon. But in reality, limited lang ang nagagawa ko during that time.”

“Meaning, you can still do more things even stronger?” Tumango siya sa tanong ni Hades.

Nagkatinginan na naman kaming lahat sa loob ng kwarto. Even si Reo-sensei ay tahimik lang at parang may bumabagabag sa isipan niya.

“I will ask Ethan about this when I see him again. However, he did warn me about the eclipse.”

“The eclipse?” It looks like napukaw nito ang atensyon ni sensei.

Raven nodded. “To be honest, I know nothing about why he warned me. But I can tell you how I was able to save you all from Benedict's paralysis.” sabi niya.

Tahimik lang kaming lahat ngayon na nakikinig kay Raven. We wouldn't want to waste a single information. There's just so much we need to know about her.

“My eyes have the ability to undo paralyzing spells or any other black magics. I was trained to master it since I was a kid. I was barely able to do it, however, for some unknown reasons,” she paused before continuing. “Benedict came from a family of bats. Obviously, trained heavily to protect the Kurodas. But he was blinded with vengeance that led him to disobey the Kurodas' orders.”

“How did you know about that?”

“One of my eyes' abilities is to read minds just by looking at them,” She pointed at her head. “If ever the person's head is blocked by a very thick clothing, for example, I can still read their minds if I get a taste of their blood.”

This time, ako naman ang nagtanong. “Can't you read a person's past memories, Raven?”

“I can, kaya nga masasabi ko na humina yung kakayahan ko dahil hindi ko nagawang basahin ang mga past memories niya,” She looked at me. “Even my physical movements were weak. Nakita niyo naman siguro, 'di ba? My wounds did not heal.” Tinuro naman niya ang kanyang gilid na nasugatan.

I saw her wounds when I saw her lying down at the hospital bed when I woke up. But it healed faster than expected. Siguro ay dahil normal day na ngayon at hindi na eclipse.

Nagbuntong-hininga siya. “Like all of you, I am curious, too. I also want to know what is happening, especially the mystery why you can not remember a thing, Blade,” Dahan-dahan siyang humiga sa kanyang kama. “Can you leave me for a moment now? I am tired.”

“Sure. Magpahinga ka muna, Raisin.” mahinang sabi ni Blade.

“Be strong.” sabi naman ni Hades.

“Please,” Hindi ko pa rin maiwasang hindi mag-alala para kay Raven. “Don't make us worry again, Raven.”

Hindi siya tumingin sa amin. “'Kay.” she just simply replied.

Napangiti na lang kami at aalis na sana nang may huling itinanong si sensei.

“Raven, right after you defeated Benedict, may nararamdaman ka bang kakaiba? Like, parang may nagising sa loob mo o nag-iba ba ang iyong pakiramdam?” Nagtaka ako sa tanong ng mentor namin.

It sounded so weird but no one said anything, though. Besides, nag-iimbistega rin naman si sensei tungkol sa nangyari at alam naman namin na nag-aalala rin siya para sa amin.

“No. I do not feel something being awaken inside of me or anything weird. Now, please,” She glanced at us with only one eye opened. “Leave.”

“Of course. Magpagaling ka.” Bahagyang nag-bow si sensei as a sign of respect kaya lumabas na kami pagkatapos nun.

-----

Pagdating ko sa bahay ay si Elizabeth na naman ang sumalibong sa'kin sa living room. Nasa beywang ang mga kamay niya na para bang naiinip kakahintay sa'kin.

Tinaasan ko siya nang kilay.

“'Wag mo akong taasan ng kilay jan, Maura. I saw the news tungkol sa nangyari sa concert ni Simon. Luckily, you're fine,” bungad niyang sabi sa akin. “What happened? It was no work of an ordinary criminal.”

Pagod na pagod na ako kaya bored ko lang siyang tiningnan at sinagot. “Long story, Elizabeth. The only thing I can tell you is that napakadelikado ng nangyari kaya mag-ingat ka.” Bumalik na sa pagiging normal na tao si Benedict matapos siyang talunin ni Raven.

“Whatever. For sure the school's taking care of it,” She flipped her hair before talking again. “The reason why I waited for you, by the way, is because may ibibigay ako.” May kinuha siyang isang white folder na nakalagay lang sa lamesa.

“What's that? Another one of your priceless gigs?” sarcastic kong tanong sa kanya.

“Sinasagot mo na talaga ako, ano? Well, alam ko naman na plastic ka but please don't make it so obvious. Nakakasuka lang isipin, half-sister,” She rolled her eyes at me. “And I don't do cheap gigs such as using white folder.”

Lumapit siya at ibinigay ang folder sa akin. Kinuha ko naman ito sa kanya. Tiningnan ko lang iyon ng ilang minuto. One word lang ang nakalagay sa cover ng folderー“confidential”.

“You of all people deserve to have it,” Bigla akong kinabahan sa sinabi niya. Ewan ko ba pero nanginginig at nanlalamig ang mga kamay ko. Mas nanlamig pa ang buo kong katawan dahil sa susunod niyang sinabi. “That folder contains all of the informations about your old friend Sheena Cruz.”