Chapter 84: Over

Napansin ni Selton ang pag-iba ng ekpresyon ko. "Anong balak mo?"

We couldn't stab Rosalina with a knife or anything like that because she will immediately sense it. She's not easy to deal with. We shouldn't underestimate her.

We need to buy time. Dark's still unconscious and I don't know when he'll wake up. And Selton on the other hand wouldn't tell Rosalina where the book is. I don't know if I will be able to buy enough time until then. Hindi ko alam kung gaano katagal bago mahanap ni Rosalina ang aklat. Because when she does find it, I'll be damned. She'll do the ritual immediately.

She's about to reach her goal and I'm sure she's impatient now. She wants to have the power immediately and she's willing to do everything it takes to have it. Everything she has done already proved it.

I'm worried about Selton. Rosalina might torture and kill him if he doesn't give up the book! We couldn't underestimate her power. I need to think of a plan. Quick!

"Where is the book, Selton?!" I was startled by Rosalina's shout. I can see the veins from her neck showing. "You can't burn it so where is it?"

"I buried it," Selton managed to look calm.

I was startled when Rosalina produced fire from her hands again and directed it to Selton. I shouted because of fear.

It was as if everything was in slow motion...

Naka-ilag si Selton. He was fast! Thank God! I felt relieved for a bit.

"You have a fast reflex, good for you. Siguro 'pag hindi ka naka-ilag, patay ka na ngayon."

"Selton, buy me some time." I whispered to him.

"What?"

"Keep her busy and trust me on this," I looked intently at his eyes as if I'm communicating with them using mine.

He nodded at me. I gave him an assuring smile.

"What are you two talking about? Whatever you're planning, it's not going to work! You can't get rid of me so tell me where you buried the book!"

"Fine," Selton calmly said.

Bakas ang gulat sa mga mata ni Rosalina. "This is kind of unbelievable. You're willing to risk her life now, Selton? Is it because she can't love you back?"

"This is what you want. I want all of this to be over. Pagod na 'ko kaya tapusin mo na 'to." Sagot ko.

"You've finally given up, good. There's no hope for you after all. You're destined to die, might as well accept it." She looks satisfied now. "Let's go, Selton, show me the book so I can do the ritual."

When they both started to walk away, agad akong tumakbo papunta sa kung saan si Dark.

I caressed his face. Tears again started falling from my eyes. "Dark, I need you to wake up. Please, wake up."

May kaunting dugo sa kanyang nuo pero hindi ko alam kung gaano kalakas ang pagkakatama niya sa lupa. I'm worried of him. I know how much he wants this to be over. We need to end this once and for all.

Hindi ko namalayan, may luha pala akong nalaglag sa mukha niya. I immediately wiped it away. I caressed his hair and his face. He looked peaceful and I don't know what's going on in his mind right now. Is he dreaming?

We only have a little time before Rosalina figures out what Selton is doing. She's smart and she'll know it sooner. At kapag nangyari 'yon at hindi pa nagising si Dark, she'll kill Selton. She'll kill everyone before she kills me and I don't want another bloodshed. Ayokong may mamamatay pa.

I cried even harder. My vision is already blurry because of my tears. I've been clinging to hope ever since. And now, I feel like giving up but I'm still clinging to it. Kahit malabo, naniniwala akong may pag-asa pa rin...

I was startled when I felt a hand on my cheek. I then wiped my tears to see clearly and a fresh batch of tears came out of my eyes again.

"D-Dark," I said, smiling while sobbing.

"Baby..." Namumungay ang kanyang mga mata, habang pilit na pinapalis ang luha mula sa mga mata ko.

Agad siyang umupo mula sa pagkakahiga. "What's happening?"

"M-Madame's dead," I said while crying and I drifted my attention to where her body was.

I saw how he gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. I immediately held his balled fists. "I know how to kill Madame's twin,"

He looked at me intently. "How?"

"We both need to use our power against her. Hindi ko siya kayang patayin ng ako lang. She's too powerful for me since she has a power of a powerful witch... She said earlier that it takes two people who has the rarest power to get rid of her."

His eyes widened but he immediately recovered after a few moments. He looks determined. "Let's do this,"

I nodded at him and we both stood up from the ground.

I don't want to kill her... but I have no choice. She has done so much. She killed a lot of people in order to get what she wanted. And now, we should put an end to this...

Dark made me look at him. He held my shoulders. "Hey, relax."

I nodded and took a deep breath. "Let's end this cruelty, Dark. This is all too much. She has ruined a lot of innocent lives... more than we can count."

This time, he was the one to nod. He kissed my forehead.

"Is it possible that w-we'll die in the process of killing her?" I said what's on my mind. She's powerful and it may cost our lives.

"I don't know, baby. But let's think positive, shall we? We'll get through this together."

I nodded and hugged him tight. He did the same to me.

"I love you, Dark." I said, tears continued to fall.

"I love you more," I heared the pain in his voice.

We were both startled when we heard Rosalina's shout from somewhere. Mas nagulat pa kami nang mag-apoy sa isang parte ng kagubatan.

"No... no... Selton!" I shouted while feeling so weak.

Dark immediately hid me on his chest. My whole body is trembling so bad.

"Stay strong, Zaya. We still need to end this, right? You need to stay strong and use all the strength you have to get rid of that monster."

I wiped my tears again. Hindi ko na alam kung pang-ilang beses ko na bang ginawa iyon. I've been crying so much because of everything that's happening.

I saw Rosalina walking towards us. She looked so, so mad. What I mean about that is she looked mad as ever. This can't be good.

Nagulat kami ni Dark nang may apoy na nakapalibot saming dalawa. Rosalina created a ring of fire for us.

Despite her madness, she still managed to smirk at us. "Looks like Mr. President is already awake,"

"Where's Selton?" I still asked her even though I already knew the answer.

"He's probably dead by now. He was distracting me! He wasted my time for nothing! He wouldn't give up the book! Ano 'tong pinlano niyong dalawa?!"

"You've done too much, Rosalina. You've destroyed people's lives. And now is the time you should pay!" I said to her.

"What are you going to do, huh? How can you even kill me? I was wrong, you're still clinging to hope after all. I'm so sick of this. I need to get all of your blood now and worry about the book later!"

Dark and I looked at each other before we looked back at Rosalina.

Bumuntong hininga ako at pumikit. I know Dark did the same.

I used all the strength I have. I could hear the strong winds. I opened my eyes to see the sky getting darker. The sky's black now that I couldn't even see the clouds.

Palakas ng palakas ang hangin. It also started to rain. Kahit simula nang nababasa ng ulan, wala akong pake. All I can think about now is getting rid of Rosalina. I'm angry and I'm hurt. I can feel my emotions overtaking me. I know this shouldn't happen but there's no going back anymore. I will do everything I can to kill Rosalina at this point.

I could hear the thunder roar. Louder and louder.

"What the..." I heard Rosalina.

She looked shocked and fear was etched on her face. She doesn't look like how she used to anymore. She doesn't look sarcastic and ruthless now. She looked... fearful.

"Oh my God, no... no! I can't... I-I can't believe this! The two people who have the rarest power are right in front of me?! Oh my God..." She kept on stuttering. She's mindblown. "I... h-how come I didn't figure out that you are the other one, Dark Damier?! So that's why... that's why you looked interesting too! The both of you have special powers within. How... how..."

I saw a tear escaping her eye. "I just can't believe this. If I only knew beforehand, I would've sucked out all of your powers!"

I can feel all my strength building up inside of me. It's as if I have been trapped in a bubble in so long and that now is the time I'd be free. I can feel something unleash inside of me. I feel like I ripped the bubble I'm trapped in, little by little.

"You can't do this to me!" I heard Rosalina's shout.

She's trying so hard to use her power. She's been throwing fireballs and everything she can throw at us but it can't get through as if something is shielding both Dark and I.

After Dark and I built up all the strength we have, we aimed at her and released it. Before Rosalina could say another word, there was a loud bang and she fell to the ground so badly. Nagpagulong-gulong siya at napatihaya.

Agad naman akong napaupo sa lupa. I felt as if all my strength and energy was sucked off from my body. I felt dizzy and weak.

The surroundings suddenly turned bright. I looked up at the sky only to see that it is already blue, back to its normal state. The clouds are also showing now.

I felt Dark hug me. I hugged him back with equal tightness. I could hear his deep breaths. We are both panting.

"We... we're alive." I said, tears started to flow. Why am I such a crybaby, goddamnit.

A small smile showed on Dark's face. He looks tired and weak too. "Yes, we are. We are, baby."

Inalalayan niya akong makatayo. We both walked to where Rosalina is.

She looks so weak and can barely open her eyes. She looks pale and her lips turned bluish-purple. Hindi na siya katulad ng dati na mukhang makapangyarihan at nakakatakot. She just looks as if she's... dying.

I don't know why a tear even escaped my eye. She's evil and she deserves it but why do I feel something pinch my heart?

"Y-You... have been really careful and cautious with your movements that I myself didn't suspect you, Dark Damier. You played your part so well..." She said in a very low voice while her eyes were barely opened. "Destiny has bound you together, I see... The rarest power will surely be passed to your future kids. You better... watch your back when the time comes."

Nanindig ang balahibo ko sa mga sinabi niya. "What do you mean?"

She managed to smirk although she's on the brink of death. "Your life wouldn't be easy. There are lots of hunters all over the world. Never underestimate them. They will hunt you down together with your kids. Be ready for that..."

She tried to laugh but she coughed blood instead. She clenched her fists.

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa mga sinasabi niya. I feel as if she's threatening Dark and I. I'm not gonna lie but it could be possible. It's not going to be easy for us in the future.

"Don't listen to what she says, Zaya. She's just threatening us because that's all she can do now."

Rosalina smirked one last time before her eyes closed completely and her breathing stopped.

Dark immediately hugged me. "It's all over now,"

Agad akong kumawala sa yakap nang may maalala. "We need to get her fresh blood! One jar of it!"

Dark looked confused. Saka ko lang naalala na hindi niya pala alam ang pinagsasabi ko. I immediately explained to him how we can get out of here.

Although both of us are feeling weak at the moment, we managed to look for a jar where we can put Rosalina's blood. Nananaig pa rin ang kagustuhan naming makalabas kesa sa pagod na nararamdaman.

We can't use Madame's blood anymore because it isn't fresh and I can stand the fact that we'll get blood from her. She has gone through so much and I might just cry.

"Look away, Zaya. I'll manage this." Dark said in a soft voice.

I obliged. I can't handle looking at it and he knows that. I felt something thug my heart because of that.

After he finished he made me look at him. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm so tired. But I want to get out of here first."

He nodded and kissed me on the forehead.

We saw the doors of the dorms open up slowly. The students went out carefully, still analyzing what happened. Bakas ang takot sa mukha ng iba, at ang iba naman ay may matagumpay na ngiti.

"Kuya! Zaya!" Julia shouted while sobbing. She ran towards us. Halos madapa na siya pero wala siyang pakialam. She hugged us both. "Thank God you're both safe! I-I don't know what I'd do without you!"

I can't help but to cry. I hugged her tightly.

"P-Pres, m-makakalabas na po ba tayo?" Natatakot na tanong ng isang estudyante.

Dark smiled at her. "Yes,"

Agad namang sumigaw sa saya ang mga estudyante. Narinig ko pang magpasalamat ang iba.

I then remembered Selton. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. There's no fire anymore. "I need to find Selton!"

Kahit na pagod at mahina, tumakbo ako sa kung saan kanina may apoy. I ignored Dark and Julia's yells.

He can't be dead. I can't take it. Selton, please be safe...

Nang makarating na, hinihingal ako ng sobra. Ang bigat ng pakiramdam ko. "S-Selton? Selton! Where are you?"

Hinalughog ko ang kagubatan sabay sigaw ng pangalan niya. Halos madapa na ako at matusok sa kung ano-ano pero tila wala akong pakialam mahanap lang ang kaibigan.

"Selton, where are you? Please... please be alive." I said while sobbing.

"Demerine?" I heard his weak and low voice.

Agad akong nabuhayan ng loob. I turned to every area I could turn to and I saw him, sitting behind a tree, obviously wounded.

Agad akong tumakbo sa kung saan siya. Napapikit ako ng makita ang braso niyang duguan. It looks like he escaped from the fire but he's wounded!

"Oh my God, I-I should call for help." I said while trying to think of something to do.

"How are you?" He asked me, caressing my face.

I was caught off guard. "Why can't you think of yourself first, huh? You're obviously hurt!"

May gana pa siyang ngumiti. "You also think of other people before yourself,"

He was right about that but how can he smile like that as if he's not in pain?!

He chuckled at my obviously panicking and scared face. "Calm down, will you? It's just a small wound. I'm fine."

"How can you say that? Ang laki ng sugat mo!"

Before he could say a word, we heard someone talk. "Leave him to me. You need rest. You're clearly weak."

"Demi?" Nagulat ako sa presensiya niya.

"Go," Tipid at malamig niyang sabi.

I looked at Selton. He gave me a reassuring smile. "Think about yourself now, Demerine. I'm sure you're so tired after doing what is right."

I smiled back at him. Tumayo na ako at nagpasalamat kay Demi bago umalis.

Habang naglalakad, naalala ko si Onyx. My eyes widened. How is he? I think the fire reached him! He can't be dead!

Agad akong tumakbo sa kung saan siya. I was then shattered to see him, lying down on the ground, blood was all over the place. He's breathing rapidly.

I tried to caress his body while crying. "H-Hey, O-Onyx, hang in there please."

I can hear him making sounds as if he's talking to me and it breaks my heart more.

"I-I'll call for help, o-okay? Please hang in there." Sabi ko, pilit na pinalis ang mga luha.

Lakad-takbo ang ginawa ko para makabalik sa kung saan si Dark. He looks pissed. Tumiim ang kanyang bagang.

"D-Dark, O-Onyx is injured. W-We need to help him!"

His expression changed. Agad naman siyang tumakbo at 'yon din ang ginawa ko. We ran as fast as we could.

But we're too late. Onyx didn't make it. I can't help but to cry silently. Dark looks serious but I can see that he's devastated as well.

He kneeled beside Onyx and he closed Onyx's eyes. He caressed his beautiful black skin. "Rest well, buddy. You were an amazing horse. No one could replace you."

Dark hugged me on our way back, caressing my back while I was still crying. It would've been nice if Onyx can get out of this place with us but it's not going to happen. Naabot siya ng apoy.

After I calmed down a bit, we decided to go to the vault which Madame was talking about. Since we can't get out using the golden gate because it's clearly binded by a spell, the vault is our only way.

Nang makalapit na sa mismong vault, tila 'di ako makapaniwala. It's really over now. We will get out of here and this is for real this time.

There was a translucent tube that I think is where you put the blood in order to get out. Dark looked at me before he stepped closer to the vault.

He then poured out Rosalina's fresh blood on the tube and we were both startled when it produced sound and the metals on the vault moved. The metal spinned and it's as if everything is in slow motion yet again.

And there it was... the vault door was opened. I could see the grass from the outside. I feel like tearing up again at the sight of it.

Agad kong niyakap si Dark. "This is real now! We're going home!"

"Yes we are," Dark said and I could feel his smile.

*****

Paunti-unti na naming pinapalabas ang mga estudyante at mga guro. Ang iba'y halos madapa na dahil tumatakbo. Who wouldn't run? This place was hell and everyone wants to get out so bad.

"Kelly, let's go!"

Agad akong napabaling sa babaeng lumapit sa akin. It's none other than Kelly Madrigal, the girl who hated me because I'm close with Selton. She hated me ever since she knew that. I guess she really likes him based on how she acted towards me.

"Well... I guess, I should thank you."

I wasn't expecting that from her. I thought she's going to say awful things to me before we get on different paths.

"Oh please, don't look shocked as if I'm so evil not to be thankful." She said in her bitchy tone, looking away.

I can't help but smile. "Go live your life well, Kelly."

She looked at Dark this time. "Thank you, Pres."

Dark just nodded at her. We both watched Kelly and her friends get out of the university.

"Zaya, thank you! And Mr. President, thank you po!" Chad said with glee.

"Go live your life well, Chad. Learn from your mistakes and live better." I said with a small smile.

"I will," He said and he walked out with his friends.

It took a while before everyone got out. Sa dami ba naman ng tao rito sa loob.

Konti na lang kaming natira sa loob. Kasama ko sina Dark, Julia, Godwin, Mrs. Kang, Demi, and Selton.

Before we got out, we packed up the stuff we needed to bring with us. I chose to bring just a few things with me because this place gave me a lot of bad memories that I may not forget but still, I hopefully wouldn't remember day by day. What I would bring with me besides the material things are the good memories I had with the people I love and care for.

We have decided to burn the place down. Selton buried Madame's body and both Dark and Godwin helped him out since both of them know how painful it is for Selton, not to mention his injured arm.

When we successfully packed up the stuff we wanted to bring with us, we went out of the place.

Nang tuluyan na akong makalabas ng unibersidad, hindi ko maiwasang mapaiyak na naman. We spent rough years inside of Death University and we finally got out.

Funny thing is my car is still outside, naka-park pa rin sa kung saan ko ipinark iyon dalawang taon na ang nakalipas.

Nagtirik kami ng mga kandila para sa mga namatay sa loob ng unibersidad.
Dark and Godwin helped together in burning the university down.

"It's finally over," I can't help but to say it out loud. This time, it's true. Tapos na.

We may not forget about this place but all we could do is think about all the ups and downs we have faced inside.

We fought and we didn't give up. We did it. We're finally free.

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This is the final chapter of Death University. Thank you for making it this far. Epilogue next :">