Chapter 8: VIII

All I hear was the sound of a lifeline. I slightly visualize fragments of particles as white hues of light surround my eyes. A heavy breathing echoed in my ears—it was mine.

Where am I? I asked myself out of confusion.

"Severe arterial bleeding reported, the patient might suffer comatose or worst he will die due to brain hemorrhage," a voice of a tense woman echoed in my brain.

"Hold on, Alakin. We're almost at the emergency room. Do not sleep!" A voice of a man spoke. I don't know who he was, but that voice is familiar.

"Is he going to make it?" someone asked again, but I didn't hear the response anymore.

My visions of white turned to black. All I can hear now are voices calling my name.

"Alakin"

"Alakin"

"Alakin, do you hear me!?"

"Alakin!"

"Wake up, Alakin!"

I tried to slightly open my eyes as white light hit my eyes and to figure out whose voices are speaking. I saw four people in front of me, yet it was still blurry, and they are indeed waking me up.

"Do you hear me? Wake up!" When I heard that shout, that was the only moment my consciousness came back.

The people I saw in front of me, are Elyt, Haliya, Tril, and Dem. Each of them is holding a flashlight since it was dark in the surroundings.

"What happened?" I asked in confusion.

"We fall," Elyt answered, and it just came to me that we are on a pit. I groaned as I felt the pain in my back.

"They're not really going to stop until they kill us!" Tril whimpered.

"Ang taas pala nang binagsakan natin. May nasaktan ba sa inyo?" saad ni Dem.

"Yes!" We all exclaimed in unison kaya medyo nagulat siya. He just gave us a plain smile.

"Guys, I'm really sorry. If I'm not just too impulsive, it wouldn't happen to us." Haliya sobbed.

We all gaze at her. Agad-agad namang nilapitan ito ni Tril. "Haliya, it's not your fault, don't blame yourself. No one's to blame, those people behind this hell camp are the one that's to blame," wika ni Tril at niyakap si Haliya na nanginginig sa takot.

"End that thought, Haliya. May mas malaking bagay pa tayong problema," saad ni Elyt saka tumingala. Sabay rin kaming napatingala muli. Ngayon ko lang napansin na parang hindi proportion na square ang nahulugan namin. "Nasa ilalim tayo ng tatsulok," dagdag pa ni Elyt at saka napatingin sa amin. Seryoso ang mukha nito, mahahalata mo talaga ang aura niya kahit na madungis ang mukha nito dahil sa putik na dumikit sa buong katawan nito.

"Ano na naman kaya ang pahiwatig nito?" tanong ni Dem saka hinubad ang damit at tinali sa bewang niya. Napansin ko naman na lahat kami ay napatitig sa katawan niya (especially Tril whose eyes were glued with his body) may bakas rin ito ng putik. He has a nice body though, he has four pack abs.

"Aba'y ang lalagkit naman ng titig niyo guys," wika nito nang mapansin kaming nakatitig sa katawan niya. Doon lang nabasag ang momento. Tril coughed to end the awkwardness.

"You have a nice body, Dem," ani Elyt. Dem smirked.

"Ikaw bro a’," pang-asar na sambit nito.

"Take that as a compliment from a man's perspective," Elyt quickly responds.

"Thank you, bro," he confidently answered. "'Di maipagkakaila, titig na titig ang isa d–" Naputol ang sasabihin nito ng biglang sumagot si Tril. She knows Dem was pertaining to her.

"I wasn't impressed. Did you know why I stared at you like that?" Silence for a while then she continued, "Because I'm dismayed. I expected more actually..." Tinignan ito ni Dem ng masama. Tril laughed. "I'm just joking," dagdag pa nito at saka nilapitan si Dem. The next thing that happened put us all in awe. She kissed her on the cheeks. "Your body is perfect." We heard her said to him. Namuo naman ang mga ngiti nito sa labi. Ilang sandali pa ay nakaramdam ako na parang may bumubulong muli sa taenga ko.

It was a different voice that haunts me. It occupied my ears and my brain started to create illusions. An illusion where only myself, I can vision.

I was in the wilderness; the fog kissed my skin, and the silence of the night is getting louder in my ear. Suddenly, screams devoured the silence of the night. Different voices were heard screaming. My eyes take a journey at the surroundings, finding remnants of the voices.

"This needs to stop!"

"This needs to stop!"

"This needs to stop!"

Those words whispered in my ears, and it feels like traversing from time to time into my head. I covered my ears with both hands and close my eyes. My heartbeat is racing, and my sweats are flowing.

My nerves are wracking when I realized... this was Kampo Morte. But why do I see visions like this? Like I've been here before.

Fear lives in me now and at any moment it will consume me. I need to end this before it ends me. I silence my fears with a scream, "STOP!"

"ALAKIN!"

I'm on bending knees now; crying. Naramdaman ko ang pag-aalog ng balikat ko.

"Alakin, do you hear me!? This is Elyt! Are you with us?" All of them were now in front of me comforting.

"I can't take it anymore!" I screamed in tears.

"Alakin, tell us what's really happening with you?" Tril asked.

"Wait guys, excuse me," Haliya interrupted and caress me. "Alakin, does it haunt you again?" She asked worriedly. I get the reaction; I understand why she's a bit worried. Haliya was the only person who have an idea of what exactly is happening to me.

"Haunts? What does that mean, Haliya?" Elyt wondered.

Haliya stared straight at my eyes, our eyes met as if it was talking. I know she wanted to tell them something and wants to have my go signal. I didn't respond to her, tears constantly flowing in my eyes while I'm holding my head with both of my hands as I was losing my sanity.

"May dapat ba kaming malaman?" tanong naman ni Dem.

"We all know that something's bothering, Alakin, since then, right? So maybe he reacted like that out of fear," Tril insisted.

Haliya diverted her attention to her. "It's more s-serious than that, Tril."

"What?" Tril confusedly asked.

"What haunts, Alakin, made him b-behave different," Haliya said and now their attention is on me. "Remember that time when we're unraveling Thraia's case?" They're all on ears with Haliya's words. "That moment when we almost trapped on the cellar... may dahilan kung bakit kami natagalan. Something happened..."

"What happened?" Elyt query. Haliya looked at me again.

"I don't know what's really happening with him that time, but I know there's something wrong with him. Alakin almost gave up that moment and he asked me to die with him." The reaction on their face speaks for itself. Tril covered her mouth in shock, Dem face the ground and Elyt was just staring straight at me with obvious confusion within him. They were astounded at the same time, can't believe what they were hearing. "I'm sorry, Alakin, but they really need to know the truth about what's happening to you," Haliya apologize, well she shouldn't. I guess what she did was acceptable. Besides, I'm already suffering.

I chuckled. "Now that you heard it. Are you now questioning my sanity?"

Elyt quickly responded, "No. We are more worried about your well-being, not the person who you are not. What haunts you doesn't equate to your sanity. It's just that we are all capable to experience that, and we can't blame ourselves if we can't control that." I was a little bit relieved when I heard that from Elyt. One of the reasons why I'm afraid to talk about what's bothering me is due to the fact that they'll question my well-being and address me as insane. I guess there's some part of us that we're all afraid of that perception towards us. That's why it's still rampant today that many people still choose to silence their selves for the thought of being silent by judgment. "You accepted us as your friend, so I guess now is also the time you accept help from us," Elyt added.

"Elyt is right, Alakin. So please tell us w-what's really happening with you?" I can sense worries in Tril's voice.

"Telling all of you what's really happening with me will just increase the chances of triggering your fears more. I don't want to pass this burden to anyone of you," I insisted. Napailing sila ng sabay-sabay.

"That's why you choose to suffer alone?" tanong ni Tril, kaya natahimik ako ng bahagya.

"I'd rather receive that burden than see you suffer on your own. I don't know how big of a burden it was but at least you have us, right?" Elyt said and gazed at the three.

"Tama! Kaya bro huwag kang matakot magkuwento sa amin. At saka ilang beses mo na rin kaming nailigtas sa kapahamakan, ngayon kami naman ang tutulong sa'yo para kahit papaano ay makaligtas ka sa mga bagay na kinatatakutan mong mag-isa," wika ni Dem. I made an eye contact with them. I guess they are right. How long will we allow ourselves to suffer when there are people who are willing to hold our hands when we drowned into problems we don't speak up? Now is the time to speak up.

"The first day I step foot on this camp, there's this woman who haunts me..." They were astounded.

"Wait, huwag mong sabihin na multo 'yan bro!" Dem interrupted with a sudden fear on his face.

"Dem, please let Alakin talk first," pagsuway ni Tril.

"I saw her every time I close my eyes. I hear her voice calling my name... she's always with me. I don't know but sometimes I think she guided me to survive, but sometimes she's like a death trap." I heaved a deep sigh and continue, "That's why I'm not afraid of anything except what my mind can create. I know it's just an illusion, but it feels real."

"What if she's a woman from your past?" Tril asked.

"I don't remember anything, she's not familiar with me either, and I don't think I know someone like her," I assure.

"What if she needs help?" Napatingin kami kay Haliya. "'Di ba nga may paniniwala tayo na hindi natatahimik ang kaluluwa ng isang tao hangga't sa hindi ito nabibigyan ng hustiya. What if she's a victim of this hell camp? Like she's a camper before, but, unfortunately, she died because of this stupid life-threatening game... and she's helping us because she was once on our shoes, but she wanted us to help her also as an exchange," she theorized.

"You believe in ghosts?" Elyt asked. Haliya stared at him.

"Well, kind of... b-based on some documentaries I've watched and stories I've heard." She stuttered while saying those.

"Ako hindi naniniwala. Hindi ba sabi-sabi lang naman 'yan?" Dem interrupted.

"Kung hindi sila totoo sa paniniwala mo, bakit ka natatakot sa multo?" Biglang natahimik saglit si Dem.

"Natatakot kasi ako na ang mga hindi ko pinanawalaan ay magkatotoo," sagot nito. Dem is right at that spot.

"We might have different beliefs, but we shouldn't underestimate the power of evil," Haliya said.

"What's more evil than these people behind Kampo Morte..." I heard Tril whisper.

"You have a point, Haliya but what if it's really just an illusion..." Napatingin kaming lahat kay Elyt nang sabihin niya 'yon. Ano kaya ang ibig nitong sabihin?

"What do you mean?" Tril questioned.

"I mean, if they can create and build case games like this advanced, there's a huge possibility they can play with our minds. Like we said they choose us, so probably they have the profiles of our capabilities from school. They have an idea of Alakin's capabilities, they knew how intelligent he was. Well, intelligence is really a threat. So, they create a way to distract him," Elyt explained.

Ngayon lang pumasok sa isip ko na lahat ng sinabi ni Elyt ay may kabuluhan. I mean, all of them has a point but Elyther's theory is just right on my instincts.

I was lost for a second.

Ilang sandali pa ay nakaramdam ako ng malamig na tubig na dumampi sa balat ng mga paa ko kaya nanumbalik ang animo ko.

"Guys, lahat naman kayo may punto at maaaring ang isa sa inyo ay tama o lahat kayo ay tama ngunit may mas malaki tayong problema ngayon..." Nabaling ang atensyon namin kay Dem. "May tubig na lumalabas," dagdag pa nito at saka napatayo silang lahat nang mapansin ang inaapakan nila.

"Wala pa ito kanina a'. Saan galing 'to?" Haliya wondered.

"Maybe, it's just groundwater," Elyt said.

Suddenly, a familiar sound clattered in my ears.

"Do you hear that?" Tril asked with her eyes widened. They all look at each other. Suddenly, I remembered the clue. The last line...

"Drown in time." Napatingin silang lahat sa akin nang sabihin ko 'yon. Ilang sandali pa ay bigla na lang may lumabas na rumagasang tubig sa gilid ng lupa. Hindi namin napansin na may mga tubo pala rito, akala ko kanina ay mga bato lang.

We were wiped out because of its unexpected current. I heard everyone exclaiming and coughing. Suddenly, the water splash stopped.

"Is everyone okay!?" I shouted.

"What the hell is this!?" Tril angrily yelled as she coughed because of the water she intakes.

All of us now are soaking wet. Suddenly, I vision the light coming from my bracelet where my arms are soaked in the water—it's waterproof. I immediately looked at it.

"Look at your bracelets," I told them, and they immediately look at it.

May symbol na biglang nag-appear sa screen. It's a triangle, an inverted one.

"Ngayon may kabuluhan na kung bakit tayo nasa ilalim ng tatsulok," wika ni Dem.

Ilang segundo pa ay nakarinig kami ng isang sound. Masakit ito sa pandinig kaya agad-agad kaming napatakip sa aming mga taenga.

Lumapit si Tril sa toktok ng tatsulok.

"There's chains in here!" sigaw nito at saka iniangat ang malaking chain. "I think it's connected aboveground; we can use it to climb," she suggested.

"Is it safe?" tanong ni Haliya at lumapit kay Tril.

While she was checking if it was safe, I lift my head up to look at the surroundings. I observed above 6 meters high, there's a wooden stair.

"Do you think it's the way, Alakin?" Lumingon ako sa biglang nagsalita. It was Elyt who's also observing. He gazes at me sharply.

I was about to answer him, but water broke out again, it's from the 10 pipes on the left side— we're standing at the center of a triangle.

Every three sides have full of pipes, around a hundred— that is I guess 3/4 in size with an outside diameter of 1 point something, as I estimated. The water is now above our knees.

"There's a timer. Every 2 minutes the pipes open and the water splashes," Haliya said trembling while looking at her watch.

Tumingin ako sa paligid para aralin ang posibilidad na muling bumukas ang mga tubo.

"If every 2 minutes, 10 pipes were opened. If there are an estimate of a hundred pipes on each side, then let's say we have 300 pipes in total that surround us. In 1 hour, all pipes will open, and it will surely drown us," I said. I also observe that pipes open by row starting at the lowest point.

"Then we really need to do something right away," Tril said while she was still holding the chains. Nagulat kaming lahat ng biglang dumikit ang bracelet niya sa chains. Like she was magnetized. Pilit niya itong hinihila ngunit hindi ito matanggal.

"F*ck!" she exclaimed out of frustration. Lumapit si Dem sa kaniya para tulungan ito ngunit ganoon lang din ang nangyari sa kaniya. Now they were both magnetized by the chains.

Akmang lalapit si Elyt sa kanila para tulungan ngunit pinigilan ko ito. Napatingin ito sa akin ng may halong pagtataka.

"We need to help them," giit nito.

"I know, but you will be chain too," sabi ko sa kaniya kaya medyo na-realize niya 'yon. "Tril and Dem, just hold on we will find a way," bilin ko sa kanilang dalawa.

Bigla naman nabaling ang atensyon namin ng magsalita si Haliya habang may hawak na bote sa kamay niya na hindi ko alam kung saan niya napulot.

"I found a bottle floating on the water I'm sure it came out from the pipes." Now I have the answer to where she got it. Lumapit ito sa amin at pinakita ang kulay brown na bote na may laman sa loob--I think it's a necklace.

Binuksan ito ni Elyt at saka kinuha ang kuwentas na nasa loob at may pendant na maliit na papel. May nakasulat rito.

I burn soul with flowing liquid flames

It grew over time until darkness descended.

Time comes I'll take over pain

Until the soul is deemed evil.

"Anong ibig sabihin n'yan?" nagtatakang tanong ni Haliya.

"I don't know, it's too deep," I answered. I really don't know what it was, but I guess it's a riddle.

Tinignan ni Elyt ang likod at may nakasulat din na letter.

"Letter R." Napatingin ako sa kaniya at halata sa mukha niya ang malalim na pag-iisip na para bang may bumabagabag sa kaniya habang may halong pagtataka. Hindi ko na lamang muna siya pinansin, tinuon ko muna ang atensyon kay Tril.

"Tril, is there a lock on the chains?" I asked. Naghanap ito.

"Yes, there is!" saad nito at pinakita gamit ang kaliwang kamay ang malaking lock sa kadena. "I think it needs a passcode.

"What kind of passcode? Is it numbers or letters?" tanong ko ulit.

"Numbers!"

"Then that's a mistake, we found letters not numbers," sabi ko naman kay Elyt at Haliya. Napaisip si Haliya saglit habang si Elyt ay nakatulala lamang habang titig na titig sa kuwentas na hawak niya.

"We can!" Haliya suddenly shouted out of excitement, kaya natauhan na rin si Elyt at nabaling ang atensyon sa kaniya. "Alakin, remember what you did on the first case we solved? The A1Z26 code? Maybe, we can use the same technique to break the letters to reveal to us the numbers that we can use as a passcode." Haliya hit that spot, I didn't think of that. A smile formed on my face.

"That's genius, Haliya. Thank you for reminding me," I responded.

"But there's a problem," Elyt interrupted.

"What?" I asked.

"If that's the case we need to open the pipes to find all the bottles." I heaved a sigh when I realize that. "And we can't also wait for it to open because it will probably drown us in time," he added.

"So, it's a risk," sabi ko. I don't know what it will cost us, but we need to do something immediately before it's too late.

"But..." I looked at Elyt when he utters a word, he continued, "there are also possibilities we can survive if we wait in time for all the pipes to open."

"How?" I asked.

"If the water rises, we can absolutely reach the stairs." I look above and he was right with that idea. "I conclude all of us can swim, am I right?" he asked.

"I can't swim," Haliya said. Elyt let out a sigh.

"It's okay, I'll help you, I'll lift you up," he said.

"But how about them? They were in chains, they'll probably drown."

"Their left hand was in chains, not their feet. They can at least climb a little bit higher until we collect all the bottles."

Habang nagdidiskusyon kami ng ideya ay biglang may narinig kaming tunog mula sa bracelets namin.

"Two minutes again!" Haliya shouted and then the other pipes opened again. This time we weren't wiped out. Napansin ko ang tubig ay parang umiiba ang tekstura at parang may naamoy akong kakaiba ngunit pamilyar sa aking ilong.

"Elyt, your plan is good, but we will not make it in time," I said when I realize what's with the mixture of water.

"What's that?" Tril asked.

"Wait is that a—" I interrupted Haliya,

"Gasoline." I glared at each of them. "We'll not wait in time, they'll burn us down here, or we can die of both drowning and burning, we need to discover the bottle in the pipes right away!" I muttered, horrified, and started to approach the pipes,

Nang makalapit ako roon ko lang napansin na may symbol ang mga takip ng pipes.

"Who among you is good at math?" I questioned when I understood it was a mathematical sign. Actually, I'm not that good at math.

"It's equilateral," Haliya quickly responded and stood next to me.

"We are on a pit with the shape of an equilateral triangle," I said, almost in a whisper.

"So, what does it mean?"

"Equilateral triangle has an equal angle of 60 degrees, perhaps that will give us a hint as to where to look for the letters."

"We don't have time for solving," giit ni Elyt.

"Let's just do estimation," I suggest.

Nagsimula na kaming mag-estimate, three angles for the three of us.

"I think I found the angle here. Pare-pareho ang sign ng mga takip ng pipes, equilaterals. Should I open it?" Haliya asked.

"Let's do it together," sabi ko nang mapansin kong nahanap na rin ni Elyt ang angle sa side niya. Nang mabuksan namin ito ay tubig ang lumabas, malakas ito kaya medyo nadala ang katawan namin.

"Guys!" Narinig namin ang sigaw ni Tril. Napatingin kami sa kanila. "The chains are getting heavier!" she exclaimed. Napansin ko rin na biglang bumaba ang chains.

I guess we're just putting their lives at risk. Maybe, what we are doing is wrong. Habang nag-iisip kami ng solusyon kasabay rin nito ay ang isa pa naming problema, ang tubig ay nasa bandang bewang na namin.

"Ano 'yon?" tanong ni Dem habang nakatingala. Biglang lumiwanag ang paligid sa taas. Sa puntong 'yon nagsitaasan ang balahibo ko ng mapansin kong may umuusok. May torch na nakapalibot sa taas.

"It, s fire!" I shouted.

"There's no way the killer drowned and burned the victim with fire," Tril whimpered.

"He did," Elyt quickly responded while looking at his hands still holding the bottle.

"F*ck! We're going to die the same way the victim died," Tril muttered.

"No, we're not. We've reached this far, and we always survive because that's what we want, that's what we choose. Surviving is a choice—" Naputol ang sasabihin ko ng biglang magsalita si Elyt.

"So as giving up." Napatingin kaming lahat sa kaniya na may halong pagtataka. I don't know what's going on with him, but he seems pessimist right now.

"That's an option not what we choose," I respond. Katahimikan ang bumalot sa paligid.

"I-think let's start finding another way, there's always hope for survival," nauutal na pagbasag ni Haliya ng katahimikan.

Nagulat kaming lahat ng biglang sumigaw si Elyt. "All I did was survive! I'm f*cking tired!" He then started to be hysterical and forcefully open the pipes. The water continues flowing.

"Elyt, what are you doing!? Stop it!" Lahat kami ay sinigawan na rin siya para pigilan ngunit mukhang nawawala na rin ito sa sarili kaya hindi na kami pinapakinggan. Doon na ako nagpasya na lapitan siya para pigilan sa ginagawa niya. "You'll put us to death! Stop it!" sigaw ko sa kaniya at saka hinawakan siya sa balikat. Nagulat ako nang bigla niya akong hinawakan sa leeg at saka sinakal.

"I'm tired of people telling me how to act!" sigaw nito. I don't know why he's acting like that but seeing from his actions, he was in a rage.

Narinig ko ang tensiyonadong boses ng mga kasamahan ko para pigilan kami. Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya para tanggalin ito ngunit sobrang higpit ng pagsakal nito sa akin. Lumapit na rin si Haliya para tulungan akong tanggalin ang kamay nito sa leeg ko.

"Elyt don't do this, please!" pagmamakaawa nito.

I was gasping for breath at the moment. It feels like at any time life will be taken away from me.

While I was in a state of fight or flight, I saw visions in my memories.

I woke up in a white room. My eyes take a journey at the surroundings, and I realized I was in a hospital. I heard voices from a man and a woman having a conversation.

"I'll take down everything," the man said. Nakatalikod ito sa akin kaya hindi ko mamukhaan habang ang babae ay tinatakpan ng tindig niya kaya ni isa sa kanila ay hindi ko makilala.

"I'll give you the authority to take care of him. Make sure he's going to live until he remembers who he was," dagdag pa nito kaya bumalot sa aking isipan ang pagtataka.

He tilted his head and I saw him smirking at me, but his face is still unknown to me.

"He's awake," huling sabi nito at saka bumalik ang animo ko.

I looked Elyther in the eyes and my attention is now on his necklace—the one his brother gave him. I grab it and it choked him for seconds until it broke and that's where I found a way to forcefully push him.

"Our sufferings won't end if you'll kill me down here!" sigaw ko sa kaniya habang kinukwelyuhan siya. Kwenilyuhan niya rin ako.

Natigil lang kami sa pag-aaway nang may dumaang dagger lagpas sa ulo naming dalawa. The sound of the dagger that hit the pipe got our attention. Sabay kaming napatingin lahat sa bumato. It was Tril.

"That's a nice shoot!" namamanghang saad ni Dem.

"I know, I'll just buy you another one," sagot nito kay Dem.

Tumingin ito sa amin. "You may want to use that. Please remember to thank me in the afterlife!" naiinis na wika nito. "What's wrong with you people, huh? We're already on the verge of death and here you are picking a fight as if death was a desire!" Huminga ito ng malalim. "What's the point of the bond we build on the verge of our death if we will always just end up fighting for the sake of being alive? Guys, please stop it and let's just end this," she calmly added. Doon lang kami natauhan. Elyt and I loosen our grip on each other.

"I'm sorry," paghingi nito ng tawad pagkatapos ay tinalikuran ako at sumandal na lang muna sa gilid para magpakalma.

Hinawakan ako ni Haliya sa balikat bilang pahiwatig ng gusto niyang sabihin na okay na at kailangan ko nang kumalma. Tumango ako sa kaniya para ipaalam na maayos na ang kalagayan ko. Pagkatapos ay dumiretso na siya kay Elyt para damayan ito.

Ilang sandali pa ay may napansin ako sa isang pipe kung saan tumama ang dagger ni Dem na binato ni Tril. Ang cover nito ay triangle. Nakabaliktad na triangle. Therefore, not all pipes have equilateral symbol.

"The angle is a trap, the equilateral symbol on the cover is a trap!" sigaw ko.

"What do you mean!?" Tril asked.

"Not all pipes have an equilateral symbol, there's an inverted triangle in here," sabi ko at hinarap sila. "Elyt, what's written on the paper again?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

"I lost it," malamyang sabi nito. Napatigil ako saglit ng marinig 'yon. Tumalikod ako ngunit bigla ulit siyang nagsalita. "I burn soul with flowing liquid flames. It grew over time until darkness descended. Time comes I'll take over pain. Until the soul is deemed evil." Elyt memorized it.

"Wait… I just realize it sounds familiar. I think I heard that before," Haliya said, wondering. Natahimik kami saglit at nakapokus ang atensyon sa kaniya. "I remember!" She suddenly shouted. "It's an excerpt from a famous child prodigy writer... but I forgot his name," wika nito.

"Ibig sabihin may kinalaman ito sa kaniya," ani Dem.

Naramdaman ko na may biglang pumatak sa kamay ko hanggang sa dumami ang mga patak galing sa kalangitan at tuluyan na bumuhos ito.

"Minamalas ka nga naman, umulan pa!"

"The water is about to come out again plus the rain. If we open the pipes to look for something then it might submerge us immediately," Haliya said, terrified.

Doon nag-flashback sa akin ang sinabi ni Haliya na ‘Emotions is nature within us’.

Something came into my mind. Inverted triangle. Water.

"We don't need to open the pipes anymore. I think I know the answer!" I shouted. "The water might be the cause of our death, but it is also the answer for our survival," dagdag ko pa.

"What do you mean?" Haliya asked.

"What we are looking for is inside the pipes with a cover of an inverted triangle. The symbol of water is an inverted triangle." Napaisip silang lahat. "If we analyze it with our philosophical view, there are various aspects of our being that we can connect to nature and one of them is the symbol of water as emotions. There are seven known emotions, happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, anger, disgust, and contempt." Natahimik ako saglit. "I guess this case is all about knowing what drives the killer to commit the crime, it was due to emotions. I guess it was anger. If anger was kept within ourselves for a long time it will turn into worse, the uncontrollable and violent one... rage," dagdag ko pa.

"The letter R," Tril said when she realizes that.

"'Yon ang hinahanap natin," wika naman ni Dem.

"T-that's the title of the excerpt I read," Haliya said. Now it made sense.

"If we decode it using the A1Z26 code, we have 18 1 7 5 as the passcode," sabi ko.

Hindi naman nagpaligoy-ligoy pa si Tril agad niyang inabot ang lock.

"It worked!" sigaw nito nang makalaya sila ni Dem sa chains. Bigla rin bumaba ang wooden stair.

"The stair!" Haliya shouted pointing at it. Ngunit kasabay nito ay ang pagbukas ng lahat ng pipes.

"That's the way, let's go!" We were wiped out by the current but glad I held onto the stair kaya nakaakyat ako. When I looked at them, I saw them almost drowning because they can't swim due to the current. Paikot-ikot ito. Napansin ko na papunta si Tril sa direksyon ko kaya inabot ko ang kamay ko para mahawakan niya.

"Tril, hold my hand!" Luckily, she grabbed it!

"F*ck! The worst water I taste!" she exclaimed.

"You go first," sabi ko sa kaniya at pinauna siyang umakyat. I saw Dem swim towards me, kaya nang makalapit ay tinulungan ko siya.

Hinintay ko munang maka-akyat sa taas si Tril bago isunod si Dem baka magkaproblema pa kami sa hagdan. Kinuha ni Tril ang mga nakaharang na torch at pinagbabato ito palayo.

"I'm good!" sigaw nito. Kaya pinaakyat ko na si Dem. "I love you so much, bro," wika nito sa akin habang papaakyat.

"Grab my hands, Haliya!" Narinig kong sigaw ni Elyt kaya nabaling ang atensyon ko sa kanilang dalawa. I saw Haliya drowning and Elyt is trying to grab her but the current that's swirling made it difficult for him to help her.

I was about to jump and help her, but Elyt already embraced her in his arms.

"It's okay, I got you," he said calming the crying and anxious Haliya.

I looked at them for seconds. Napansin kong biglang humina na ang current ng tubig.

"G-guys, let's go!" I interrupted the moment and offer my hands since they were heading toward me.

"You should go up, Alakin. I'll take care of her," sabi nito. I take back my hand.

"Okay, just be careful," I said and started to climb the stair.

Habang papaakyat ako ay palingon-lingon ako sa kanilang dalawa. I'm just checking if they followed.

Pinaakyat na nito si Haliya kaya medyo nakampante ako.

Nang makarating ako sa tuktok ay hinila ako ni Tril at Dem. I lay on the ground because of exhaustion. Humina na rin ang ulan. Ilang sandali pa ay nakaakyat na rin si Haliya, tinulungan ito ng dalawa.

"Is everyone okay?" I asked while still lying on the ground, coughing. I heard them respond and somehow it was a relief. I started to get up and my attention was on Tril who was looking underground with worries and fear on her face.

"Where's Elyt!?" she asked loudly with a trembling voice. I look around and she's right. There's no trace of Elyt.

Ilang segundo na tumigil ang mundo namin ng ma-realize aming ang pangyayari.

He didn’t follow.

"Elyt!" Tril shouted, trying to get a response but he didn't answer.

Nabaling ang atensyon ko sa bracelet ko ng mapansin kong may nakasabit rito. It was Elyther's necklace. Hindi ko namalayan na nasaakin pa rin pala ito. Sa puntong 'yon ay bigla akong kinabahan ng sumagi sa aking isipan na baka, hinahanap ito ni Elyt kaya hindi pa siya nakaakyat.

Naagaw ng atensyon ko ang mahuhulog na torch sa baba.

"No!" sigaw ko. Hindi na namin napigilan ito kaya ang pagliyab ng apoy galling sa baba ay nagrepleksyon sa aming mga mata.

Hindi p'wedeng mangyari ito. Hindi p'wedeng may mamatay sa amin. We will go home alive.

When that thought hit me, I didn't second think to stand up and go jump at pit. Hindi na rin alintana sa akin ang aking kaligtasan kahit na wala itong kasiguraduhan.

"ALAKIN!"

Huling narinig ko sa kanila bago tuluyang bumagsak ang katawan ko sa tubig.

Habang nilalangoy ko ang paligid para hanapin si Elyt ay naramdsman ko ang init sa katawan ko. I know anytime soon it will cause burns on my skin.

Where are you, Elyt? I asked in my mind.

Sa ilang Segundo kong paghahanap ay nahihirapan na akong huminga. I think I am suffocating. Umahon ako saglit. At sa pag-ahon ko roon ko napansin ang katawan ni Elyt na nasa dulo. Lumangoy ako papunta roon.

"Elyt!" agad ko siyang inalalayan nang makalapit ako sa kaniya. Nawalan na ito ng malay. Dinala ko siya sa hagdan, nagdoble ingat ako sa nilalangoyan ko. Sinigurado ko na maiiwasan namin ang bahagi ng tubig na may apoy. Bumaba si Dem sa hagdan para tulungan akong iakyat si Elyt. Nang makaakyat kami ay agad naming itong hiniga at tinignan ang kalagayan niya.

Niyuyugyog namin ang katawan niya ngunit hindi ito magising kaya lahat kami ay tensiyonado na sa mga nangyayari.

I started to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation. I put my left hand on his chest and the other hand on top of the first hand. I position my body directly over my hands and push it in a rapid motion. I even do mouth to mouth to give him air. Ngunit sa ilang minutong nakalipas ay hindi pa rin ito nagigising. Pinulsuhan ko siya sa leeg at sa puntong 'yon tumigil ang mundo ko ng malaman kong wala na itong pulso.

"Alakin, what's wrong!?" Tril asked, horrified. "Alakin, what's happening!?" pangungulit nito.

I was lost for words for a moment. A heavy feeling in my body occupied my chest. The heavy feeling rises, and tears started to come out of my eyes.

Hinarap ko silang lahat.

"H-he's dead," wika ko. Tumigil ang mundo nilang lahat at nagsimulang pumatak ang luha sa mga mata nila.

"No! no!" Haliya burst into tears and hugged her knees.

Umiling si Tril. "You're joking, right?" She refused to believe.

Dem started to perform CPR on him.

"Tang*na naman bro, gago ka ba!?" Dem did everything he could but still there’s no sign of life. He stood up out of frustration and grief and started to throw things.

Napaupo na lang kaming tatlo habang pinagmamasdan ang walang buhay na katawan nito sa harap namin. May napansin ako sa bulsa nito. Agad-agad ko itong kinuha. Naalala ko ang kwintas niya, pinagmasdan ko muna ito ng maigi at saka inilagay sa kamay niya.

"I'm sorry, Elyt," bulong ko sa kaniya at sa 'di inaasahang pagkakataon ay napansin kong gumalaw ang mga daliri niya. At first glance I couldn't believe it, pero habang tumatagal ay nakasisiguro akong gumagalaw nga ito.

"Elyt?" I whispered. Inilapit ko ang taenga ko sa bibig niya para marinig at maramdaman ko kong humihinga ba ito. Namuo ang galak sa puso ko nang maramdaman ko ang paghinga niya. Tila ba'y tumigil din ang pagtibok ng puso ko. "He's alive," mahinang bigkas ko sabay CPR ulit sa kaniya.

"What?" nagtatakang tanong ni Tril nang marinig 'yon sa akin at napatingin din si Haliya habang yakap-yakap pa rin ang tuhod at patuloy na pumapatak ang luha.

"He's alive!" I said in a loud voice kaya pati ang atensyon ni Dem ay nabaling sa amin.

Patuloy lang ako sa pagperform ng CPR sa kaniya. I know he will make it. "Elyt, do you hear me? Wake up!" I shouted at him and at last he spit water and gasp for breath. Agad-agad ko siyang pinatagilid para mailuwa niya lahat ng tubig. He then started to cough.

"Elyt!" sigaw ni Haliya at Tril dahil sa galak, niyakap pa nila ang isa't isa.

Dem tap his back. "Bro, I love you! Alam kong 'di ka mamamatay!" pasigaw na wika nito dahil sa tuwa at niyakap si Elyt.

Nang makaluwag-luwag na siya sa paghinga ay hinarap niya kaming lahat.

"D-did I d-die?" nauutal na tanong nito.

"It doesn't matter anymore, you're alive!" wika ni Haliya at sabik na niyakap ito.

Nakatutok lang ang aming mga mata sa kanilang dalawa at sabay-sabay kami nina Tril at Dem na nagkatitigan sa isa't isa na para bang nakikitaan naming ito ng malisya. Ilang sandali pa ay nakiyakap na rin si Dem sa kanila para putulin ang awkwardness. Tril also held me to join the hug and there we had a group hug.

Kumawala kami sa yakap nang magsalita na muli si Elyt. "I owe my life to all of you, guys."

"You should thank, Alakin, bro. Siya 'tong hindi nagdalawang isip na tumalon at buwis buhay na iligtas ka," giit ni Dem.

Ang atensyon ni Elyt ay napunta sa akin. "Thank you, Alakin," wika nito, nginitian ko naman siya bilang tugon.

"By the way, Elyt, what happened to you down there? Nakasunod ka lang sa akin kanina. Anong nangyari?" Mabuti na lamang at naisipang itanong ni Haliya 'yon kasi bigla rin akong nagtaka.

May ito sa ilalim ng damit niya. Pinakita niya ito sa amin. It was a bottle with papers inside.

"This bottle mysteriously came out, that's why when I saw it floating on the water, I try to get it because I believe this is necessary." Iniabot niya ito sa akin, agad ko naman itong kinuha at binuksan habang siya ay patuloy lang sa pagpapaliwanag. "But the moment I got it, the current wipe me out until I hit my head on one of the pipes and I lose consciousness."

"What is that?" tanong ni Tril nang mapansin niyang hawak-hawak ko na ang papel. Hindi ko na sinagot si Tril, sinuri ko na lamang ang papel na hawak ko.

The first page was a headline from the newspaper; I read the important part of it.

"Elyasar known as the child prodigy writer drown and burned to death, and the accused was his adopted brother. According to the bereaved parents, the motive of the murder was due to massive rage of their adopted child toward their son." Pagkatapos kong basahin 'yon ay tinignan ko ang kasunod na papel.

"So, we're right. He's really that writer." Haliya sighed after stating those words. "I didn't know he was already dead. I love his works. He's great," dagdag pa nito.

"He's not," Elyt said, almost in a whisper.

"What?" Haliya.

"I-I mean there's more paper left. Alakin continue reading it," sagot na lamang nito. Medyo naguluhan kami sa kaniya roon.

"This one is a letter," wika ko at saka nagpatuloy na sa pagbabasa.

"To my loving parents.

I wrote this letter out of rage.

I murdered your favorite son. Yes, I killed him because he stole everything from me, especially your love, he was always the best in your eyes despite everything I've done. What did I do to deserve nothing? I did everything to be the best, at least for once, but you never recognize any of it. Why? Is it because I didn't inherit your blood? What made him special? Aside from being good at taking credit. Even my works he stole it. I am supposed to be that child prodigy writer. He wasn't the real writer, I am. All my works, he took credit for it, and there you are being proud of all the lies. Your own son fooled you just to have your validation. That's the only thing that saves me from my pain, yet he even stole it. He ruined everything.

Mom, Dad, I am your son too. You took the responsibility to love and take care of me, but where did it go? Why did you choose to be a parent if you just neglect one of your children? How can you be called parents if you failed to be responsible for my upbringing?

You deprived me of the love of a parent; now I'll take my chance to deprive you of the love of your child."

"That's unfortunate," Tril said.

"Yet not a justification for what he did," I quickly answered.

"His rage towards them drove him to commit the crime," wika ni Elyt. Tumayo ako at naglakad kaunti kaya napatingin silang lahat sa akin. "Where are you going?" Elyt asked.

"Our business has ended here. We need to go back to the campsite right away."

"Pero wala pang announcement," saad ni Dem.

"We will not wait for next, we'll end it ourselves."

"We will break the rule?" nangangambang tanong ni Tril.

"We are not breaking a rule, it's part of the rule," I said. Ang mga mukha nila'y naguguluhan ngayon.

"Remember what I said? Rule number 3, we are not allowed to go back to the campsite unless we discovered something." Napahinto ako saglit at saka tinaas ang kamay ko kung nasaan ang bracelet. "We discovered something, so we are allowed to go back. And look, there's no announcement right now after we found out this case so... I guess it's a hint," pangungumbinsi ko sa kanila.

"I agree with, Alakin," wika ni Elyt at saka tumayo na rin at pumunta sa akin na para bang hindi siya binawian ng buhay ng ilang segundo.

"I don't need all of you to trust—" Naputol ang sasabihin ko ng sumagot agad silang tatlo.

"We trust you," sabay-sabay nilang wika kaya gumaan naman ang pakiramdam ko.

Nagsimula na kaming lisanin ang lugar na ito. All we have now are each other. Wala na rin kaming mga gamit since 'di na namin binigyan ng pansin kanina 'yon pero nasa bulsa ko pa rin ang phone ko na malamang ay sira na rin. Bukod sa sarili, ang tanging dala lang namin ay ang kumpiyansa sa sarili na malalampasan namin ang pagsubok na ito at malaman kung ano talaga ang totoo.

Habang naglalakad kami ay marami na naman akong natutunan sa pangyayari kanina.

There are moments we can control our emotions but most of the time we can hardly handle them. Because it was nature within us, without it we will not function as humans. When we drown in our emotional state, there's a little portion of hope and we look forward to seeing a hand at the end of our arms. Arms that will save us from our drowning selves. But sometimes those hopes are cast away and the worst part is, the people who we expect the most are bound to force us to let go of those hopes.

We often blamed the people who experienced the trauma, but we refuse to blindly look at the perpetrator of the trauma.

I am stating this not as a justification for the criminal towards his acts because it is evident that it is cruel and immoral, but I hope this will serve as a lesson that people who we grew up with and the environment we live in have a huge part in our future actions.

I believe that there's a problem with their parenting and they should also be liable for their child's upbringing.

On the other hand, we all have storms within, pay attention to your emotions so when the storm arrives you are prepared to face it. The moment we start to neglect the emotional trauma it will kickstart our whole being to lose function on our nature of emotions, and it will affect who we are and our actions. There's nothing wrong when we start to feel; the only wrong is making it an excuse to commit pain to anyone or worse make a decisive action that will take away life. We are not responsible for what we feel but we are responsible for the aftermath.