•••••Blade’s POV•••••

Hindi ko feel ang “good” sa morning ko ngayong dumating na ang araw na dadanak na naman ng napakaraming dugo dito sa Blandon High.

Hindi ako nakatulog kagabi. I was wide awake all night until nag-umaga na lang. Hindi ko rin kayang kumalma dahil sa usapan namin ni Raven kagabi. She was serious as hell, at alam kong kahit ako ay hindi kayang pigilan siya kapag siya na mismo ang nagsasabi.

Ngayon, kahit saan ako nakatingin, puro mga malalim at madilim na ekspresyon ng mga tao ang nakikita ko. Students’ eyes have become that of a demon’s—glaring towards their enemies without any care about what ranks they might be in.

Tuloyan na ngang nagbago ang ihip ng hangin sa loob ng Blandon High. Nakakatindig na ng mga balahibo.

“Blade.” Napatingin ako kay Maura nang bigla niya akong tinawag.

Nasa gymnasium ang lahat ng mga estudyante ngayon, naghihintay sa official starting mark ng Death’s Party. Napagdesisyunan namin ni Maura na dito na lang kami sa gilid dahil sa sobrang dami na ng tao na nag-o-occupy sa mga seats.

“What is it? May problema ba?” tanong ko.

“Nothing. She’s coming, isn’t she?” Even Maura’s usual voice has changed.

Alam kong may bumabagabag rin sa isipan niya dahil hindi lang ang boses niya ang nagbago, kundi ang ekspresyon at ugali niya. Alam kong pinaghandaan niya talaga ang oras na ito.

“Yeah.” I nodded.

While we were waiting, may tatlong babae na lumapit sa amin. Maura and I didn’t flinch. Kilalang-kilala namin kung sino sila. Besides, we prepared so much for this moment. We trained ourselves for this.

“What the hell do you want now, Elizabeth?” Maura was the first one to talk.

“To kill you and your bitchy friend, Raven with my own two hands, of course.” The girls who were right behind Elizabeth nodded in unison.

I heard Maura scoffed.

“Oh, really?” She crossed her arms. “You think you and your tails, Daisy and Chloe could kill her? Baliw na talaga ang mundo kapag nangyari ‘yon.”

Nagkatinginan naman sina Daisy at Chloe sa likuran ni Elizabeth.

“You never let me finish.” Elizabeth sighed. “It’s true na ‘yon ang gusto kong mangyari sa araw na ‘to. But then, I never predicted that things would turn out this way.”

Like Maura, she also crossed her arms and turned to face me.

“Do you know about it already, Blade?” tanong niya.

“Know what?” Nagulat siya sa sagot ko at kaagad na nilingon si Maura.

“Hindi mo siya sinabihan?”

Lumingon ako kay Maura. Halata na nagulat rin siya sa tanong ni Elizabeth sa kanya.

“What does she mean, Maura? May hindi ka ba sinasabi sa’kin?” tanong ko sa kanya.

Hindi siya kaagad nakasagot sa tanong naming dalawa ng kapatid niya. Nanatili lang siyang tahimik na para bang nag-iisip muna siya ng maigi kung ano ang isasagot niya sa amin.

“If you won’t tell him, I will,” sabi ni Elizabeth.

“‘Wag kang makealam dito, Elizabeth.”

“E, ano pa’ng hinihintay mo? That someone else will tell Blade about the confidential files that I gave you?” Mas lalo pang kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa pinagsasabi ni Elizabeth. “Clearly, you should’ve predicted na maaaring hindi lang ako ang may kopya ng mga files na ‘yon.”

“Teka lang, teka lang. Ano bang pinagsasasabi niyo? I’ll be frank here. I don’t follow you two.” I looked at Elizabeth, then back at Maura. Palipat-lipat lang ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa. “Maura, what’s your sister talking about?”

Maura averted her gaze from us that made Elizabeth scoff.

“I really can’t fathom what you’re thinking right now, but,” She turned her back on us, preparing to leave any time. “as much as I hate siding with your team, you leave me no choice.”

“Ano bang pinaplano niyo, Elizabeth?” tanong ko sa kanila. Tuloyan na talaga akong nawala sa gitna ng komplekadong usapan nila.

“Nothing much, really. We just all want the same thing.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Half-sister, if I were you, sasabihan ko na si Blade habang hindi pa huli ang lahat.”

Matapos niyang sabihin iyon, iniwan na nila kaming dalawa ni Maura sa gilid. I was still confused. Hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng lahat ng mga sinabi ni Elizabeth.

I stole a quick glance on Maura. Naramdaman ko na hindi pa rin niya feel na magsalita. However, I figured out that it was no time for just guessing on my own. I needed to ask her.

“Maura, ano bang ibig sabihin sa mga sinasabi ni Elizabeth? Ba’t hindi mo sabihin sa’kin?” I asked. Ang lalim ng iniisip niya. Nakita ko rin na malapit nang magsimula ang announcement, kaya nagbuntong-hininga na lang ako. “Maura, we’ve known each other since we were kids, and we trust each other. Kung ayaw mong sabihin sa’kin, naiintindihan ko. Pero sa—”

“You have every right to know about it, Blade.” Tiningnan niya ako diretso sa aking mga mata, kaya medyo nagulat ako sa mga titig niya. Para kasi itong nagbago bigla. “You of all people deserve to know.”

She diverted her gaze back to the stage.

“Okay then, just tell me right after this announcement,” I said.

I could see how she nodded through my peripheral vision.

After a few more minutes, tumahimik kaagad ang mga estudyante sa gym nang makita na naming umakyat sa stage ang mga taong makapangyarihan dito sa Blandon High.

The headmaster was accompanied by The Black Diamonds, including their newest member, Jugg Fuentes on stage. Napatingin-tingin ako sa paligid, ngunit hindi ko nakita yung bagong estudyante.

“Good Morning, my beloved students!” Bati ng Headmaster sa aming lahat. No one could actually say what he was truly feeling inside nor what’s exactly behind that mask na palagi niyang sinusuot. “Handa na ba kayong makita ang pagdanak ng napakapulang dugo ng mga taong kinamumuhian ninyo dito sa Blandon High?”

Kaagad naman na naghiyawan ang lahat ng mga estudyante sa loob ng gym.

“That’s the spirit. Entertain me on this very special day, my beloved students.” Itinaas ng Headmaster ang kanyang nakabukas na kanang palad sa aming lahat. “May everything on this day happens impeccably according to your favor. Now, let the Death’s Party... begin!”

The moment when the headmaster clenched the right palm he raised, namatay ang ilaw sa loob ng gym. Mga isang minuto rin nawala ang ilaw bago ito bumalik. Nang bumalik ito, nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang biglang may umatake sa akin. Fortunately, I blocked it. Isa lang naman siyang 1st Rank Assassin kagaya ko.

“You really want to kill me that bad, huh?” Sinipa ko siya ng napakalakas sa tiyan.

Nanlaki ang mga mata nito at bumagsak sa sahig. Wala akong planong patayin siya. Besides, I did not want to defeat anyone in here other than Sniper and his whole team.

I looked at the stage, the headmaster and The Black Diamonds were no where to be found. May iba pa namang mga estudyanteng nag-aaway sa paligid, but not too many.

“Blade!” Napatingin ako sa likuran ko nang may tumawag sa akin. “A-Ayos ka lang?”

I looked at Maura from head to toe. She was panting and sweating heavily, holding a knife in her hand.

“Oo, ayos lang ako. Pero hindi ba dapat ako ang magtanong sa’yo niyan, Maura?” tanong ko nang lumapit ako sa kanya.

“Ayos lang rin naman ako,” she said before taking a deep breath. “May umatake kasing dalawang babae sa’kin at the same time, e. Weird nga dahil parang wala sila sa mga sarili nila. Hindi ko naman sila kakilala.”

What she said made me realize something. I immediately went to check the man who attacked me earlier. He was dropped flat on the ground and still unconscious. I crouched down to look at him closely.

“Sino siya?” tanong ni Maura na sumunod sa akin. “Kilala mo?”

“Nope, this random man who has the same rank as us attacked me the moment the lights came back,” I said.

“Is that so? Then, ano bang hinahanap mo?” Hindi ko muna sinagot ang tanong ni Maura.

Tiningnan ko pa ng mabuti kung ano ang nakakaiba sa kanya. My eyes widened when I saw something glowing at the back of his neck.

“Maura, look closely.” Maura did the same thing I did at tiningnan ng maayos ang likuran sa leeg ng lalaki.

“Oh my God! Is that—”

“Yeah, hindi ako pwedeng magkamali.” Kinuyom ko ang aking mga kamao dahil naaalala ko na naman ang nangyari sa amin noon. Bumalik na naman sa akin lahat, lahat.

“B-But why does he have that mark, Blade?” Maura asked.

Tumayo kaming dalawa, at hindi ko kayang pigilan ang galit na nararamdaman ko.

“We need to get out of here first, Maura,” sabi ko na tinanguan niya lang.

Tumakbo na kami palabas ng gym, at paglabas namin ay walang ibang nag-welcome sa amin kundi mga dugo sa sahig at mga walang buhay na estudyante na nakahandusay lang sa sahig.

“Dammit, their blood reeks.”

“Blade, nahihilo ako,” sabi ni Maura kaya napahinto muna kami sa pagtakbo.

“Gusto mong magpahinga?” Umiling siya sa tanong ko.

“Nahihilo lang naman ako s—Blade, sa likod mo!” Kaagad na napatingin ako sa likuran ko nang biglang sumigaw si Maura.

It was a good thing I was able to dodge the attack. But barely. Kinuha ko ang aking kutsilyo at itinuon ito sa lalaki. I was surprised to see that the guy did not even flinch. Hindi lang iyan, mas nagulat pa ako nang makita ko ang kanyang mukha.

“B-Blade... Wala na siyang mga mata!”

“Just stay behind me, Maura.” Tinago ko si Maura sa likuran ko.

Nanginginig siya dahil kagaya ko, nagulat rin ako nang makita ko na wala ng mga mata ang lalaking umatake sa akin.

He was about to charge an attack, but I was faster than him. I pierced the knife through his chest, and some of his blood splashed onto my face.

Dahan-dahan siyang bumagsak sa sahig. As much as I wanted to help him, there was nothing I could do. From the moment I laid my eyes on him, I knew he was already dead.

“B-Ba’t mo pinatay?”

“He was already dead, Maura. Look at his throat.” I pointed at the open wound on his neck.

“T-Then... Did someone manipulate his dead body? Because it was very clear in my eyes. May marka rin siya sa likuran ng leeg niya, Blade, kagaya ng mga unang umatake sa atin sa gym.” Napakuyom ulit ang kamao ko nang marinig ko ang tanong ni Maura. “Parehas sila ng marka... The symbol of a violet Raven bird.”

Huminga ako nang malalim at napatingin-tingin sa paligid. Masyado ng marami ang namatay dito sa kinatatayuan namin ni Maura. Who knows how many more ang makikita naming nakahandusay sa sahig sa ibang bahagi ng eskwelahan.

“We have to find out who’s controlling them, Maura.” Tiningnan ko siya. “Ayos ka lang ba?”

Tumango lang siya. Hihilahin ko na sana siya para umalis na kami nang bigla siyang magsalita.

“Habang may oras pa tayo, Blade, I think it’s better kung sasabihin ko na sa’yo ang tungkol sa ipinahiwatig ni Eli do’n sa gym.” I was surprised by what she said.

“Right now?” Tumango siya. Tumingin ulit ako sa paligid. Wala namang ibang estudyante sa paligid namin, at wala rin naman akong ibang presensyang nararamdaman aside sa presensya naming dalawa ni Maura. “Okay, go on.”

Huminga siya ng malalim, at napahigpit ang hawak niya sa kanyang kutsilyo.

“A few weeks ago, Eli gave me something I never expected to have. Binigyan niya ako nang isang folder na naglalaman ng mga confidential files n-ni...” she paused. She bit her lower lip before continuing. “Sheena.”

Biglang nanlamig ang buong katawan ko. I could not immediately find the right words to say. Matagal na rin nang huli kong marinig ang pangalan na iyon, at matagal na rin since the last time na sinambit namin iyon.

“S-Saan niya nakuha ang mga confidential files na ‘yon?” Sinubukan ko ang sarili kong kumalma.

“Hindi ko rin alam. Ang tanging alam ko lang is legit lahat ng mga nasa files. Blade, everything was so accurate and... detailed. As if someone really researched about it.” Even if Maura acted as if she was not affected, alam kong naapektuhan rin siya one way or another. “H-Hindi lang ‘yan ang nahanap ko sa pagbabasa ng files.”

“Ano pa?” tanong ko.

Biglang nagbago ang ekspresyon ng mukha niya na naging dahilan upang lumakas ang tibok ng puso ko. In fact, I could not completely fathom what I was feeling. Naghalo-halo ang emosyon ko. Galit, takot, pagkalito, at pagdududa.

“R-Rin... The picture of Rin was attached in there as well.” Biglang nagdilim ang paningin ko nang marinig ko ang pangalan na iyon.

Ang pangalan ng taong pinakamumuhian ko.

“Then?” I scoffed. Hatred was flowing endlessly deep within my veins, at hindi ako sigurado kung kaya ko pa bang ikalma ang sarili ko. “Sa tingin mo ba may pakealam pa ako sa kanya, Maura, matapos ang lahat ng mga ginawa niya sa’tin?”

I also could not help but raise my voice. Every time I hear that girl’s name, I could not stop the urge to kill her. I wanted to avenge Sheena’s death by killing Rin with my own two hands.

“I know, Blade. I know you’re mad. But just hear me out, please.” Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko. “Please, calm down. Gusto kong mag-sink in ito ng mabuti sa utak mo, and I don’t want us to make a reckless move. Kaya, please.”

Huminga ako ng malalim at sinubukang kinalma ang sarili ko. Binitawan na ni Maura ang kamay ko at tiningnan ako deretso sa aking mga mata.

“Blade, alam kong hindi madali balikan ang pait na nakaraan. I know mahirap itong tanggapin, lalong-lalo na sa’yo. Naging mahirap rin ito sa’kin no’ng una ko itong malaman,” she said. “Nakita natin kung paano namatay si Sheena, ‘di ba?”

Masakit man sa akin, tumango na lang ako.

“Pati ang pagkamatay ni Rin, ‘di ba?” Tumango ulit ako. Tinitigan muna ako ni Maura bago siya nagpatuloy sa pagsasalita. “The truth is, Blade... According sa files na nabasa ko, hindi fully declared na patay na si Rin.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Nagsimula na ring umikot ang paningin ko. It was hard for me to sink it in all in my head.

“C-Come on, Maura. That’s impossible. Nakita natin kung paano siya namatay. We even saw her g—”

“We don’t have much time, Blade. Please, pakinggan mo muna ako.” Tumahimik na lang ako. I could feel my sweat falling at the side of my face. “Oo, nakita natin lahat, pati ang libing niya. However, alam kong hindi isang haux ang files. Possible ang lahat ng mga pinagsasasabi do’n, Blade. We only saw Rin’s grave, not her dead body.”

“We saw how that arrow pierced through her heart,” I said, still shocked after hearing all of Maura’s claims.

“Hindi lang ‘yan, Blade. We didn’t see who shot her, did we? Indeed, nakita natin ang pag-agos ng dugo niya, but we of all people know what she’s capable of.” Seryoso lang nakatingin si Maura sa akin as if may gusto siyang ipahiwatig.

That thought flabbergasted me again, and I just wished it never crossed my already confused mind.

“S-So, you’re saying...” Tumango siya.

“Certainly. Maaaring buhay si Rin.” Nagulat ulit ako sa sinabi ni Maura. Pero mas nagulat ako nang bigla kaming nakarinig nang isang sigaw. “S-Sino ‘yon?”

“Only one way to find out.” Tumakbo kaagad kaming dalawa ni Maura sa direksyon kung saan may sumigaw na babae. Tumatakbo kami ng mabilis, pero hindi ibig sabihin na nakalimutan ko na ang huling sinabi ni Maura sa akin.  “I’m not saying that I love the last statement you told me. However, if ever she’s alive, Maura, where do you think she is now?”

“W-We can’t be certain of that,” sagot niya habang patuloy pa rin kami sa pagtakbo. “B-But Sunny Park knows her for some reason.”

“Paano niya nakilala si Rin?”

“I-I doubt na lubusan niya talagang kilala si Rin. I think what she knows about is—”

Napahinto kami sa pagtatakbo ni Maura nang makarating na kami sa lugar kung saan nakarinig kami ng babaeng sumigaw.

Both of us were panting heavily. Hindi naman talaga madali kapag nag-uusap ka habang tumatakbo. Well, ayos lang naman sa akin, but I doubt for Maura.

“What the... Anong nangyari dito?” Hindi ako makapaniwala sa dami ng mga bangkay sa paligid namin ni Maura.

There was a pool of red blood everywhere. Napakasangsang ng amoy ng buong paligid. I could not feel the fresh air anymore. Nothing was fresh.

“B-Blade!”

“What the fuck?” Hindi kami makapaniwala ni Maura nang makita namin kung paano bumangon ang isang estudyanteng wala na namang mga mata.

Sigurado akong patay na siya!

Paika-ika itong naglalakad palapit sa amin na parang isang zombie. Hindi lang iyon ang napansin ko. The more I looked at her closely, the more I realized that she was covered in stitches.

Blade, look at my stitches! Isn’t it nice?

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang may maalala akong isang tao. I shook it off and I immediately hid Maura behind my back. I had to protect her.

“B-Blade, she’s covered in stitches!” rinig kong sabi ni Maura sa likuran ko. “I-It’s like her body parts w-were sown together!”

Patuloy pa rin na paika-ikang naglalakad ang babae sa amin ni Maura. Alam kong patay na siya, ngunit wala akong ibang choice kundi patayin siya ulit. Maura was just too scared to move, and I understand her. Walang ibang kikilos para sa aming dalawa kundi ako lang.

“Maura, just stay behind me, okay?” I did not wait for her to answer, and I made the first move.

I was planning to pierce my knife through her heart, however she stopped my attack by simply blocking it. That was when I realized that she was not a 1st Rank Assassin like us, but she was wearing a blue I.D sling—a 3rd Rank.

“Can you talk? Sino ang nagkokontrol sa’yo?” tanong ko sa kalaban ko.

We both stayed alert and prepared for each other’s next assault. Lumayo muna ako sa kanya, and she did the same. It was as if she was just copying my moves.

“I don’t think you can talk anymore,” sabi ko na lang sa sarili ko.

I tried to move my right hand with a knife. I was surprised when she also did the same. My speculations were just all right. Sinusunod niya lang ang mga kilos ko.

Then, the only way to defeat her is my speed.

I doubt she could copy it. Naniniwala akong hindi naman madali kopyahin iyon.

I tightened the grip of my knife and closed my eyes to take a deep breath. I calmed down my breathing and focused on my opponent. When I finally calmed myself down, I opened my eyes and eyeballed the person in front of me. I inspected her closely until I slowly saw thin lines all over the girl’s body.

“Threads?” I was quite surprised. I never expected that there was someone who was capable of manipulating threads here in Blandon High. Not even the members of The Black Diamonds could do it.

Huminga ulit ako nang malalim at biglang gumaan ang katawan at pakiramdam ko. The next thing I knew, I was soaring to the sky as I swiftly moved my sharp knife to cut all the thin threads. When my feet touched the ground again, ang kasunod na narinig ko ay ang isang bagay na bumagsak. Nang tingnan ko, nakahandusay na ulit sa sahig ang bangkay.

“Blade!” Maura immediately ran towards me. “Ayos ka lang?”

Tumango lang ako. Dahan-dahang kaming lumakad ni Maura papalapit sa bangkay. I crouched down to see the dead body once more, and the stitches on her body became even more visible in my eyes. It looked like she was sliced down into cubes for her body parts were being stitched back together.

“I’m quite surprised you found out about the threads.” Awtomatikong napatingin kaming dalawa ni Maura sa likuran namin nang biglang may nagsalita.

“Sino ka ba talaga, ha?” tanong ni Maura sa kanya.

The more I look at her, the more my anxiousness increases, lalong-lalo na nang maramdaman ko na pamilyar ang presensya niya.

We heard how she chuckled behind her smiling mask.

“What’s the point of knowing, if you’re going to die, anyway?” She positioned herself, as if preparing to cast a spell. “Bloody Astra Art: Thread Cubes.”

Biglang nahagip ng mga mata ko na parang may papalapit na mga threads sa direksyon namin ni Maura, kaya dali-dali ko kaagad siyang hinila at dumapa kami sa lupa.

“I know that won’t be enough to cut you both in cubes like what I just did to the others here,” rinig kong sabi niya kaya nakuha niya ulit ang atensyon namin. “Blade, Maura.”

My eyes widened in surprise when it felt like her voice echoed in my mind. Napakalakas ng pintig ng puso ko, to the point na naririnig ko na ito. Nothing else was running amok in my mind but the only question,

Who the hell is this girl?