UNEDITED...

DENISE

Natuon ang pansin ni Fire sa magkahawak na kamay namin ni Sky. Marahang kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi. Unti-unti kong binitawan ang kamay ni Sky pero mas lalo lang humigpit ang paghawak niya sa kamay ko.

"Sky..." I called him with a dangerous tone.

He eyed me innocently. Tila hindi nakuha ang gusto kong iparating. Ngumuso ako at tiningnan ang magkahawak na kamay namin para makuha niya ang ibig kong sabihin. Ngumisi lang siya at mas hinigpitan pa ang paghawak. He even pulled me closer.

"Sky..." naiinis na tawag ko sa kanya. Sumimangot siya pero binitawan din naman agad ang kamay ko. Nilingon ko si Fire. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin sa 'kin. I noticed that Ice were looking at her brother worriedly. She turned to me too and sighed heavily. Tila may gusto siyang sabihin sa 'kin. I wonder what it is?

The blonde fairy smiled innocently at us. She looks like a princess fairy. She was wearing an overflowing gold dress. Nakakasilaw ang kagandahan niya. I suddenly felt insecure. Walang-wala ang sira-sira kong damit ngayon at ang duguan kong katawan. I secretly frowned. I wonder what she wanted us to do.

"Hi, I'm Leona. It seems that you had a hard time passing this level," she commented while looking at us. I frowned. She doesn't need to state the obvious.

"Yeah. It seems so. What's the purpose of these six doors? It seems that you prepared a surprise for us," seryosong wika ni Sky. Lumapit ako kay Ice na katabi si Silver. Sugatan ang ilan naming kasama pero hindi sila nagtangkang pagalingin ang sarili. Time will heal them but it will take long. Siguro mamaya na nila pagagalingin ang mga sarili nila kapag wala na talagang pagpipilian. Kapag may kalaban na.

"Oh? I hope that we can stay like this for a chat. Looks like you're in a hurry," ani Leona. Tipid na ngumiti siya sa 'min. She crossed her legs. "I bet, I have no choice but to tell you. These doors lead to different dungeons. Only three of them leads to the same dungeon. The last dungeon you still need to conquer. One door for each parties," she answered. "And you can't pass through these doors unless you're worthy."

Umangat ang isang kilay ko. "How can we prove our worth?" kunot-noong tanong ko.

"You know, everything you did inside that dungeon is not a secret to me. Everything. But I will let this pass since you will deal with it when you went back in Alkia Town. I have a question. Only one question and only Zeus can answer this. It's not that hard. My decision lays on your shoulder. The fate of these two parties depend on you. If you got it wrong then you will be separated from each other. You will have to take different dungeons and you're not sure if it's the last dungeon you need to conquer," she answered.

Kinabahan ako. Lumingon sa 'king lahat ang mga kasama ko. I heaved a deep sigh. "Why me?" nakasimangot na tanong ko kay Leona.

"Because you got an interesting pet. You caught my attention. That Icy Blue Fox is a rare one. One of a kind. It will not obey anyone so easily. I wonder why it chooses you as its master unless..." she commented but she didn't continue. Napansin ko ang biglang pagtalim ng mga mata ni Silver kay Leona. Kumunot ang noo ko. The way she spoke, I know that something was off. Ngumiti lang si Leona kay Silver.

"Unless?" kunot-noong tanong ko kay Leona.

"Unless..." she paused and looked at me. Pinag-aaralan niya ang mukha ko. Tila nagdadalawang-isip siya kung magsasalita. Sa huli ipinilig ni Leona ang ulo bago muli akong tiningnan. "Unless you're strong enough to control it," she said but I could sense that it's not the real deal. Magsasalita pa sana ako pero hinawakan ni Silver ang kamay ko at tumingala sa 'kin. Nagbago ang isip ko na magkomento pa sa mga sinabi niya.

Tumingin ako sa mga kasama ko. "What do you think? Ayos lang ba na ako ang sumagot sa tanong niya. We have no choice anyway," kibit-balikat na sabi ko sa kanilang lahat.

"If we lose it here, it's going to be your fault. It's fine," Light commented. Tiningnan ni Sky nang masama si Light. Maging ang mga ka-party ko ay ganoon din ang naging reaksiyon.

"We can't blame her if the question is really hard and impossible," Cember commented. Hindi ko alam kung nahimigan ko ang pagiging sarkastiko ng tono ni Cember. Hindi ko na lang ito pinansin. Wala akong oras na makipagtalo.

"Go Ahead, Zeus. I believe in you," Sky said that gave warmth to my heart. And yes, it was racing fast again like hell.

Tiningnan ko ang ibang ka-party ni Sky. They nodded at me.

"To pass through me and these doors, you need to answer this. You were fighting a dungeon boss together with Fire, Phoenix and Sky. You are all in the verge of dying but you can still save only two and flee. Who will you sacrifice between these three? Fire, Sky or Phoenix? And Why? You must pick one. Sacrificing 'No one' is not an option. Dying together with them is not an answer too. I expect, no one will speak except Zeus," she said. "Take your time, Zeus," she added.

Everyone of us gasped because of the question. Ngumiti naman sa 'min si Leona. Damn! I need to sacrifice one of them? I bit my lower lip. Nilingon ko si Fire, Phoenix at Sky. Napalunok ako. Sumimangot ako sa kanila. Ako ang naiipit sa tanong.

"No hard feelings," paalala ko sa kanilang tatlo. Ngumisi lang si Sky sa 'kin. Seryoso naman si Sky at sumimangot si Phoenix. My mind started to drift away. I started to analyze the question. It surely has a loophole. There's surely a way out. I kept repeating the question in my head. I almost memorized it. Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto na akong nag-iisip. Napaka-tahimik ng buong silid. Tanging paghinga lang namin ang maririnig. Naghihintay silang lahat sa isasagot ko. Ilang minuto pa ay nabuo na ang desisyon ko. Napalunok ako. Determinadong tumingin ako kay Leona.

"Leona," tawag ko sa atensiyon niya. She looked at me and smiled. "What's your answer?" she asked.

"The one I will sacrifice is... Sky," determinadong sagot ko. Everyone in the room gasped except for Sky. It looks like he was expecting my answer. Leona's smile widened.

"Why? Because he came from another party?" she asked curiously.

And this is the hardest part. Namula ang mukha ko. Tiyak na pagtatawanan ako ni Sky dahil sa magiging sagot ko. Tiyak na aasarin niya ako nang walang tigil. He will tease me and I can't afford it but I have no choice but to be honest. Maririnig ito ng lahat ng taong nasa silid na ito kaya ngayon pa lang ay nahihiya na ako. Parang gusto ng umurong ng dila ko. Huminga ako nang malalim.

"He's annoying. He always tease me and he is getting under my skin. I wanted to throw him inside a dungeon full of dungeon bosses so that they could eat them alive. I wanted him to learn his lessons," seryosong sagot ko. Halos lahat ay napanganga sa sinabi ko.

"Damn! I knew it! You will sacrifice him because of your personal interest! You're not worth it," naiinis na sabi ni Cember. But Sky chuckled heartily. Narinig ko rin ang mga hinaing ng ibang ka-party ni Sky pero hindi ko na lang sila pinansin. Hinusgahan agad nila ang desisyon ko. Tahimik naman ang mga ka-party ko at nakikinig lang. Siguro dahil sa tagal na naming magkakasama, kilala na nila ako. Alam na nila ang ugali ko.

"Oh? That's the reason why?" naaaliw na sabi ni Leona.

"No because that's just what I thought of him," nakangisi kong sagot. "The real reason why I will sacrifice him is that..." I heaved a deep sigh. I need to be honest. I repeated it inside my head. "He will surely ask me to do it. He's a good leader. He's someone who will not sacrifice his teammates to save himself. He'd rather die alone. Yes. He will annoy me because he's trying to be heroic. But I believe in him. I believe that he will not die and he will survive. I hate to admit it but he's not that weak. I'm putting all my trust on him," seryosong sagot ko. Alam kong namumula na ang mga pisngi. Damn it! Why do I have to say these things? Nakakahiya! Mukhang wala na akong mukhang ihaharap kay Sky! Napansin ko na natahimik ang lahat dahil sa sagot ko.

"So Fire and Phoenix are weak?" nakangising tanong ni Leona. Tila gusto niya akong hulihin sa mga sagot ko. Parang hinahanapan niya ako ng mali.

Umiling ako. "No. They are not weak. I know their capabilities. They're the best teammates I can have. But since I'm their leader, they probably followed all my instructions and get involved in that mess. It's my fault that they are in the verge of dying. That means I'm not good enough to be their leader. I'm responsible to keep them safe," seryosong sagot ko.

"Is that all?" nakangising tanong ni Leona. Tila hindi ko siya nakumbinsi sa sagot ko at alam ko kung bakit. There's something off in her question that I just discovered. I don't need to sacrifice anyone and die together with them. That's what she meant when she said dying together with them is not an answer too. She didn't want us to flee either.

"Not yet because actually I don't have to save any of them to flee. What we really need to do is fight together and win. We are in the verge of dying but it doesn't mean that we can't win and survive, right? And you haven't mention the dungeon boss' state of condition. Maybe I can assume that he's in the verge of dying too," nakangising sagot ko sa kanya. Napansin ko rin ang pagliwanag ng mukha ng mga teammates ko. Tila ngayon lang nila nakuha ang lahat.

Malakas na tumawa si Leona. She looked at me with amusement. Ngumisi naman ang mga kasama ko. I bet, we could now pass through the doors without problems.

"You're a smart one," Leona commented.

"Yes. And I hated my speech. It made me want to vomit," nakasimangot na saad ko sa kanya. "Are we done here?" tanong ko sa kanya. She nodded.

"You all pass," Leona confirmed. Mas lumawak ang pagngisi ko.

"What are the right doors?" kunot-noo kong tanong. Tatlong pinto ang bumukas. Since we are only two parties, we can use the two doors.

"Thanks," seryosong sabi ko kay Leona. I looked at Sky. He smiled at me meaningfully. Damn! Was he teasing me because of my incredible speech? Ngumuso ako.

"I'll see your party in the next dungeon," agad kong sabi bago ako nag-iwas ng tingin. Tiningnan ko si Silver at ang maliit na kamay niya na hawak ko. He nodded at me. Nauna na kaming maglakad patungo sa pinto pero natigilan ako dahil sa paalala ni Leona sa 'kin.

"Zeus, don't trust the people around you too much. Remember, the one you thought you really know and believed in, is the one capable of betraying you," Leona said with warning.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "I will bear that in mind," seryosong saad ko kahit nagtataka sa paalala niya. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang alam niya. It seems that she knew everything. Maraming mga tanong sa isip ko pero wala akong mahanap na sagot. Sumunod na sa 'min sina Ice.

"That was a wonderful speech," natatawang pang-aasar ni Ice sa 'kin. Sumimangot ako.

"Don't tease me," sabi ko at alam kong namumula ang mukha ko. Ano kaya ang iniisip sa 'kin ni Sky ngayon? Pinagtatawanan ba niya ako? Kapag pinagtawanan niya ako, susuntukin ko talaga siya. Naiinis na napahilamos ang isa kong kamay sa mukha ko. Damn!

Pumasok kami sa loob ng isang pasilyo. May mga maliliit na lampara na nakasabit sa bawat gilid ng pader. Sumara ang pinto nang makapasok kaming lahat. Sobrang tahimik at kinabahan ako. If this will lead us to the next dungeon, then this path will not be an easy one. Napapraning ako habang pinagmamasdan ang mga dingding. Baka kasi may mga patalim na bigla na lang lumabas. Baka may mga sibat na lumabas. Baka may laser at mahati ang mga katawan namin. I know it sounded cliche but that's a possibility.

Nagulat na lang ako nang may matapakan si Silver na isang brick. Lumubog ito at may kakaibang ingay akong narinig. It seems that chaos will now start.

"Fucking shit! Everyone! Run!" natatarantang sabi ko. Agad kong hinila si Silver upang tumakbo. Nagulat din sina Ice dahil sa mga patalim na biglang lumabas mula sa kisame at gilid ng pader. Tumakbo sila agad at sumunod sa 'min ni Silver. Sunud-sunod na mura ang lumabas sa bibig ko dahil may iba pang patibong na natrigger dahil sa pagtakbo namin. May mga sibat, shurikens, kutsilyo at lasers na biglang sumusulpot sa iba't ibang bahagi ng pasilyo. We are doing our best to duck and jump to avoid any of these dangerous weapons. Wala kaming tigil sa pagtakbo kahit pagod na pagod na kami at hinihingal na.

Mas lalo kaming nataranta nang may isang malaking bola ang biglang gumulong patungo sa direksiyon namin. Mas lalo kaming nagmadali. Kasabay ng mabilis na pagtakbo namin ay ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso namin. Natuwa kaming lahat nang makita ang liwanag mula sa isang bukas na pinto. Mas lalo kaming nagmadali. We jumped to the exit but we were shocked on what's waiting for us there.

Napasigaw kaming lahat nang mapagtanto na isang mataas na falls ang naghihintay sa 'min sa ilalim.

"Are you kidding me?" malakas na sigaw ni Ice. Nahulog kami pababa kasabay ng rumaragasang tubig ng falls pero mas nauna pa sa 'min pababa ang malaking bato na kanina lang ay humahabol sa 'min. Lumubog kami sa tubig at agad na lumangoy sa batuhan sa pampang. Napangisi pa kami nang makita na kasunod na namin sina Sky. They were now falling down too. Bumagsak sa malayo ang isang bato dahil sa bilis ng paggulong nito. Mabuti na lang, nauna kami sa kanila. Masaya pala silang panoorin habang nahuhulog. The water splashed on our faces when they fall in the water near us.

Naiinis na umahon si Silver sa tubig. "I hate water," naiinis na bulong niya. He wiggled his tails and ears to dry himself. Tumawa ako. He's from the cat family that's why he really doesn't want water.

"That was refreshing," nakasimangot na komento ni Ice habang pinipiga ang damit na suot niya. Napailing ako. Bumigat tuloy ang suot kong kapa dahil sa tubig. Umahon na ako at piniga ito. Leona is right. Nasa harap na kami agad ng South Gate. Ito na ang huling dungeon. Malapit na naming mahanap ang Lost City.

Umahon na rin sina Sky na nakita ko mula sa gilid ng mga mata ko. I'm afraid to have an eye contact with him.

"Hey, Zeus," he called out when he approached me. My heart jumped. Tiningnan ko siya at inirapan.

"Why? Pagtatawanan mo na ba ako?" naiinis na tanong ko sa kanya. Napansin ko ang pagkagat niya sa ibabang labi niya. Halatang pinipigilan niya ang pagtawa. Umiling siya.

"Really? I know you want to tease me," sabi ko sabay irap. He chuckled. Tiningnan ko siya nang masama.

"Don't talk to me or come near me," babala ko sa kanya. Agad ko siyang tinalikuran at lumayo sa kanya. Nakakainis ang puso ko. Shit! Mabuti na lang hindi na niya ako sinundan.

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TO BE CONTINUED....

Haha.. Thanks sa pagbabasa. :D Lovelots.. Thanks sa comments and votes.. mwaahugs.. Pagpasensiyahan na ang typo at grammar.