Chapter 5

Lockey stares at the screen, repeating the question over and over his head. If there's anything he could do to change the things that had happened, he would do it. But what could be the prize for risking it all?

Napasandal na lamang ito at humalukipkip. The silence inside the library helps him to think about it deeply. If Keith was here, things would be different though. He wouldn't even spend his time searching about the abominations and what they could do to people. But the death of his best friend brought him into this situation and there's no escaping it. He just had to accept it and move on.

But moving on comes with a plan and that's to find the abomination who has killed Keith.

Umabot na rin sa punto ng pag-iisip na gawin na lang ang sa tingin niya'y magkaroroon ng magandang resulta. Mabilis siyang umayos sa kanyang pagkauupo at inilapat ang mga daliri sa keyboard at nagsimulang magtipa ng isasagot sa anonymous user na ito.

@LChap: Kung ano man ang meron sa organization na ito. I'll go for it. If risking it just to know what happened to my best friend, I'll go whatever comes my way.

As he pressed send, wala pa lamang limang minuto nang makatanggap siya ng reply sa user na iyon.

@AnonymousUser123: Good to know that! See you soon!

Napakunot na lamang ng noo si Lockey. Hindi man niya alam kung anong ibigsabihin no'n. He even send another respone kung anong ibigsabihin ng user doon sa sinabi niya pero wala na itong sagot. Namumuo na lamang ang kung ano-anong tanong sa isip ni Lockey.

He just believed that this would be a good thing. Hindi niya alam kung anong meron sa Capes. Searching it up doesn't even give him some answers. Kung may makatutulong lamang sa kanya kung ano iyon, it would totally help him. But he has come a long way now, losing his own parents is painful so the only thing he could do now is to give justice to Keith.

"Lachlan." Napaigtad si Lockey nang marinig niya ang pangalan niya sa kung sino ang nasa likod niya. Nang nilingon niya kung sino ito ay nakita niya si Shanteia. "Are you alright? I've heard Keith's parents was here? How did it all go?"

Napabitaw nang malalim na buntonghininga si Lockey. "Of course, they are sad. They're trying to cope up with the death of their son. It's unbelievable. No one would get past the pain of losing their own son... I know that feeling..."

Naramdaman naman ni Lockey ang paghagod ng kamay ni Shan sa likod niya. That kind of comfort made him realizes na hindi siya nag-iisa sa ganito. But he believes that people wouldn't understand the pain he's going through. They are just comforting and not the other way.

"If there's anything I can do, please do tell me alright? I don't mind helping anyone out... especially you."

"Thanks, Shan. I really appreciate this." Ngiti naman ang kanyang ibinahagi sa kaibigang babae. Tumayo siya sa kanyang kinauupuan at kinuha ang bag. "Babalik na ako sa klase ko."

"Sige, ako rin, babalik na ako sa klase ko." At bago pa man makaalis si Lockey ay muli siyang tinawag ni Shan. "Can we go out sometime? This isn't a date or something else... I just wanna hangout with you and be there for you."

Tumango si Lockey. "Sure. I think that would be a good thing. Sabihan na lang kita kung kailan ako free."

"That'll be good."

Sabay na namang lumabas ang magkaibigan at tumungo sa kani-kanilang klase. Shan is a good friend, hindi man niya madalas makausap o makahalubilo ito noon, but she's nothing but kind and nice to him kaya nang i-reach out siya nito, he really appreciates her gesture. But that won't change the fact na wala na iyong kaibigan niya.

Some people don't even know he was a son of an abomination—well he tells no to para na rin sa safety niya. He's not sure of himself din. If he was an abomination, he would be experiencing all these abilities, but he never had those kinds of capabilities. He might not be an abomination at all—but that won't stop him from looking for justice for Keith.

As the day goes by around campus, Lockey's quiet, people he bound meeting in the hallways were reaching out to him and sending their condolences. They were so sorry for what happened, but that sorry wouldn't bring him back. There are just too many atrocities in this city and they just had no power to overcome the higher power.

Over the next week, Keith's locker would be back to normal. Aalisin na ang mga iniwang gamit o bulaklak dito at magiging isang normal na locker na lang naman. Thinking about that hits him that he's gone and he would never get a chance to do all the things they wanted to do. All the fun things and dreams in life.

Matapos ang klase, hindi na naman pumunta sa kung saan-saan si Lockey. Dumiretsyo na lamang siya sa school bus at umupo sa bandang gitna kung saan walang tumatabi sa kanya. Tahimik lamang siya sa biyahe. May ilan na napalilingon sa kanya saka ito pag-uusapan. Hindi na lamang niya ito pinapansin dahil para saan pa kung uubusin niya ang oras sa kanila?

Nang huminto at marating ng school bus ang bahay ni Lockey ay natuloy-tuloy naman itong pumasok sa loob ng bahay nila. Inaasahan niyang sasalubong si Gage sa kanya ngunit pagkabukas niya ng pinto ay nakapatay ang ilaw at walang tao.

Sa isip ni Lockey, mukhang nag-date ang magjowa at naiwan siyang mag-isa ngayon. Nang kapain ang switch ng ilaw sa dingding at nagbigay ng liwanag sa paligid, iginala ni Lockey ang kanyang paningin sa paligid hangga't sa mapansin ang nakatuping sulat sa center table.

Hey there, Lachlan. I don't have your phone number so I'm just leaving a note to you in case you got home before us—sure you will. I've cooked mac and cheese for you. You can reheat it on the microwave and the pizza on the fridge. Amora and I will be out tonight. Enjoy your dinner, bud. –Gage

Napangisi na laman siya nang basahin niya 'yon. Akala niya titigil na si Gage na tawagin siyang bud as if close silang dalawa. Maybe, Gage is just trying to get closer to him. Wala naman siyang magagawa ro'n. That's his auntie's boyfriend and this isn't his parent's house to be mad at it. He'll just do what he has to do.

Inilapag ni Lockey ang kanyang bag malapit sa hagdanan at tumungo sa kusina para tingnan kung totoo nga ba iyong sinasabi ni Gage. He was a little surprised when he found a small pot of mac and cheese. Kumuha naman siya ng bowl at nagsalin doon para initin sa microwave. Kumuha na rin naman siya ng dalawang slices ng pizza sa ref at pinatong niya iyon sa kanyang pagkain at pinindot ang timer.

Pansamantalang iniwan ni Lockey iyon saka binalikan ang kanyang bag at pumanik ito sa kanyang kwarto sa itaas. Mabilis naman niyang binuksan ang computer niya at mabilis na sinilip ang private forum kung saan niya nakauusap ang anonymous user na nakaaalam sa CAPES. Napakunot noo na lamang ito dahil ilang oras na ang lumipas ay wala pa ring response sa kanya.

Nagdadalawang isip tuloy si Lockey kung totoo ang mga pinagsasabi no'n. Though he's still trying to believe that it could be something else. No one would just reach out to him and tell him something about it and leave him hanging to his curiosities.

Maya-maya lamang ay nakarinig si Lockey nang katok sa pito. Napakunot pa ito ng noo. He didn't left the door lock so his auntie could come in on their own—and she has her own key kay nagtaka siya nang umulit pa iyon.

Dali-daling bumaba at tumungo si Lockey sa pinto at pinagbuksan kung sino man ang taong naghihintay sa likod no'n. Pero pagkabukas ni Lockey, walang tao ro'n. Sinilip pa nito sa labas kung may bisita nga ba o wala pero laking pagtataka na lamang niya.

"Hello?" pagtawag nito. "May tao ba?"

Nang walang sumagot, pinili na lamang niyang isarado ang pinto at bumalik sa kusina kung saan sakto niyang narinig ang microwave. Kinuha niya ang bowl sa loob nito. Mainit-init. Kumuha rin siya ng can of soda sa fridge na siyang binili ni Gage. He took the bowl and his soda out of the kitchen para sana sa living room siya magpalilipas ng oras hangga't sa masaksihan niyang nakabukas ang TV at isang lalaki naman ang nakaupo sa sofa.

"Hello, Lockey!" masayang pagbati pa nito.

Pero mabilis na naalarma si Lockey at binitawan ang hawak na pagkain at sinipat ang malapit na matigas na bagay upang gawin niyang pangdepensa. Nang makuha niya ang isang golf club ay ibinalik niya ang tingin niya sa lalaking nasa sofa ngunit nang balikan niya ng tingin ay wala na ito ro'n.

Nanatiling nakasarado ang pinto at wala siyang ingay na narinig.

"If you're still inside the house, alam mo kung anong kaya kong gawin at 'wag mo akong susubukan na gawin ko 'yon. Show yourself or else—"

"Or else what, Lockey?" Biglang sumulpot ang lalaki a harapan ni Lockey. Ilang dipa lamang ang layo nito sa kanya. Kanyang hinigpitan ang pagkahahawak sa golf club. Napangisi ang lalaki sa ginawa niya.

Sa isip ni Lockey, wala namang espesyal sa lalaking ito. Nakasuot lamang ng normal na t-shirt at pantalon. Sobrang casual ng kasuotan nito at walang kakaiba. Kasing tangkad lamang din niya ito kaya may laban siya kahit papaano. Slim ang katawan ng lalaki kaya kayang tablahin ito ni Lockey.

"Don't worry, you don't have to be scared about me," pagpapalubag nito ng loob. Hindi pa rin naman alam ni Lockey kung anong gagawin niya at kung paniniwala niya ang lalaking ito.

"Sa tingin mo ba paniniwalaan kita? You just get into our house without a permit. You're an intruder. And if you're thinking about hurting me... I'll fight you."

He laughed, shaking his head. "First of all, I'm not here to fight you or do anything bad. Actually, I came here to help you."

Nanliit ang mata ni Lockey sa sinabi niya. Hindi pa rin niya maintindihan iyon.

"Here's something you could look at para paniwalaan mo ako." Dahan-dahan namang may kinuha ang lalaki sa kanyang bulsa ngunit aambahan na sana ni Lockey ito ngunit pinigilan siya ng lalaki. Nang makuha nito ang bagay na nasa bulsa ng kanyang pantalon ay inilahad niya ito kay Lockey. "Here's my identification card."

Kinuha iyon ni Lockey at sinuri ang I.D. na 'yon. Wala namang kakaiba. Parang normal na school ID lamang ngunit ang sunod niyang napansin ay ang salitang CAPES sa ibabaw ng picture nito.

Simon Rogers.

"You needed some help and we're helping you out, Lachlan Champmann."

Hindi pa rin maintindihan ni Lockey kung anong nangyayari, but with the presence of someone from the CAPES intrigues him so much.

"If I'm not mistaken... ikaw 'yong kausap ko sa isang online forum?"

Tango na lamang ang isinagot ni Simon. "Yes, and I'm a part of CAPES. At alam kong curious ka kung ano ba talagang meron sa amin and that's why I am here, Lockey. I need you to come with me."

"Saan naman?"

"Out of the Summit City."

Mabilis namang umiling si Lockey. "No. I cannot leave this city. I am tracked."

Simon chuckled, shaking his head. "No, you're not, Lockey." Kumunot ang noo nito sa sinasabi ng lalaking ngayon lamang niya nakilala. "I know you wanted to know why I am so confident about that... because I am Lockey. I know your father... we know your parents. Come with me and we'll show you what CAPES are capable of and how we can help you."

"How can I believe that your intention—"

Hindi na naituloy ni Lockey ang sasabihin sa lalaki nang bigla itong maglaho sa harapan niya. Naramdaman na lamang niya ang kalabit sa kanyang likod at nandoon na ang lalaki. Takang-taka at gulat na gulat ito sa mga nangyayari.

"I am an abomination, but we don't call ourselves such derogatory terms. You're a hero, Lockey. That's why you should come with me."

"You just teleported—"

Nang hawakan siya ng lalaki sa braso nito ay biglang nag-iba ang paningin ni Lockey at nabigla na lamang ito nang masaksihang nasa ibang lugar na siya. Kasama si Simon, nakatayo sila sa porch ng isang malaking gusali.

"Don't be surprised... but welcome to CAPES."