Blood Secrets

A Familiar Dream

Nadia was quick to run towards the cupboard where her uncle said she could find the vault. Agad niya itong nabuksan at hindi na siya nagsayang ng oras. She ran down the basement. Tears blurred her vision.

Her uncle Zach is dead. She saw how light left his eyes. There was some sense of urgency inside of her that had suddenly awakened. As she made her way downstairs, the stories she heard from her friends came back to her. Naalala niya ang mga karumal-dumal na kwento. In that very moment, the stories seemed real. More real than she wanted it to be.

Naalala niya ang sinabi ng kanyang tiyuhin bago ito binawian ng buhay. Na maaaring makapasok na ang lalaki kanina sa bahay nila. Her uncle had warned her not to let strangers in and that stranger she saw earlier was definitely someone who shouldn't be let inside the house. But her uncle is dead and nobody's there to protect her.

She heard the front door creak open and she stopped on her tracks. Alam niyang kailangan na niyang tumakbo papalayo ngunit tila hindi niya magawang igalaw ang kanyang mga paa. She stood frozen as she heard the man's footsteps above her.

Her heart was beating very fast that she felt like she could threw up. Agad niyang kinalma ang sarili at inisip na kailangan na niyang makaalis doon. With dead silence, she moved her feet to the floor, afraid of making even the barest sound. Pinilit niyang pakalmahin ang sarili. She's scared that the man would hear her thundering heartbeat.

Dahan-dahan siyang naglakad papunta sa pintuan, one step after the other. Narinig niyang umaakyat ng hagdan ang lalaki at napahawak siya sa seradura. Dahan-dahan niya rin itong binuksan. The floor creaked open and she felt like she had been chased. Mas lalong lumakas ang t***k ng puso niya. She heard the stop stairs stop creaking at doon niya nalaman na tumigil din aa paglalakad ang lalaki. Kailangan na niyang makaalis doon.

She knew it's not going to end well if she stayed there. Kaya naman hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip. Agad niyang binuksan ang pinto ng basement ngunit akmang tatakbo na siya palabas nang makita niyang may taong nakaharang na doon.

Mabilis siyang natuod sa kanyang kinatatayuan at nakita niyang ito ang lalaking nasa harapan ng kanilang bahay. The last man who was with her uncle Zach. The man who killed her uncle Zach.

Ngumiti ang lalaki sa gawi niya at pakiramdam niya'y nanayo ang lahat ng balahibo niya sa katawan.

"You don't need to run now, dear," he said. His voice was as soft as the night and yet she could sense the danger that lingers underneath.

Napaatras siya nang makitang naglakad ito papalapit sa kanya. What could sbe possibly do against him? He killed her uncle Zach and he could do the same thing to her. Is she going to die?

A lot of questions has clouded her head that she didn't even notice a car stopped nearby. The next thing she saw was the man suddenly grunting. Nakita niyang lumuhod ang lalaki gamit ang isang tuhod nito. Thats when she realized someone is shooting at the man. Nagmumula ito mula sa sasakyang huminto hindi kalayuan sa kanila.

The man turned to see at narinig niya nalang itong nagmura bago ito biglang nawala sa kanyang harapan. Hindi siya makagalaw. Hindi niys maintindihin kung anong nangyayari at kung bakit bigla itong nawala sa kanyang harapan. Nobody should be able to move that fast. No human can.

She realized there were already pepple running in her direction. Agad naman siyanh napaatras at handa nang tumakbo nang biglang tumigil ang mga ito. Their hands raised and they were looking at her as though comfortimg her.

"We are not going to hurt you," said the woman. "Your uncle Zach called us and we came as soon as possible."

Hearing her uncle's name made her heart swell. Hindi na niya napigilang mapaiyak. Nagkatinginan ang dalawang estranghero sa isa't-isa bago ito dahan-dahang lumapit. This time, hindi siya umatras. If her uncle Zach called these people, she should be safe.

"Do you know that man earlier? " tanong naman ng lalaki sa kanya.

"I dont think we should ask her those questions now. It can wait, Stark," said the woman. Napatingin siya sa dalawang tao sa harapan niya.

"Who are you?" She didnt know she was terrified until she heard her own voice. It was trembling. Naalala na naman niya ang mukha ng kanyang tiyuhin bago ito nalagutan ng hininga. She didn't realize she was already crying until the woman walked towards her and offered her a hand.

"We know your uncle and before he died, he called us. You will be safe and protected with us. Pinapangako namin iyan sa iyo, Nadia Melendez."

She stared at the woman's hand for some time and she thought about hwe life before. Alam niyang kapag tinanggap niya ang kamay ng babae ay magbabago na ang buhay niya. At kung hindi niya tatanggapin, she will be out here, alone and unprotected.

Kaya naman tinaggap niya ang kamay ng babae and that's how her life had changed.

***

Nadia jolted awake. Pakiramdam niya ay ilang milya ang kanyabg tinakbo dahil sa mabibigat niyang hininga. The dream was strange. It was unfamiliar and yet it felt very familiar. Wala siyang masyadong alaala sa kabataan niya ngunit pakiramdam niya'y totoong nangyari iyon sa kanya.

"Hey," someone said. Napatingin siya sa pinanggalingan ng boses and her heart swelled with joy as she realized it was Kai.

"Kai, you're awake!" she exclaimed. Hinagkan naman siya ng lalaki. Agad namang kumawala si Kai at tiningnan siya sa mata before he said, "Are you alright?"

She nodded. Although she still feels sick with her dream. Ni minsan ay hindi pa niya naranasang managinip nang ganoon. The dream she had felt more like a reminder. As though reminding her of some important piece of her life.

Napansin niyang nakatingin pa rin si Kai sa kanya kaya naman nginitian niya ito.

"I'm fine, Kai. But I have something to tell you--"

Hindi na niya natapos ang nais niyang sabihin nang hawakan ng lalaki ang dalawa niyang kamay at bahagyang pinisil iyon.

"I know," he said. "They told me about it when I woke up."

Napangiti naman siya sa lalaki but the smile appeared to be forced dahil nakita niya ang tanong sa mga mata ng lalaki. Before she could say something, Kai pulled her into another hug and kissed the top of her head.

"Please know that whatever or whoever you are, I will still love you. Nothing will ever stop me from loving you, Nadia."

The words felt like a breath of fresh air in the middle of chaos. Kaiden always knows what to say while she doesn't. At that moment, she was just silent as she rested her head on his chest, calming down as she listened to her boyfriend's heartbeat.