ch. 50 - time is running out

CHAPTER 50
TIME IS RUNNING OUT


Narrator: Meanwhile at Marie Calendar’s, as everyone was eating their food…

Brenda: So guys. (referring to Maja and Sarah) Kailan bang spring break niyo?

Maja: (swallowing a piece of BBQ chicken) Kami?

Brenda: Yeah.

Sarah: Kaumpisan lang ang school tapos iisipin niyo agad mag bakasyon?

Jamilla: Oo nga eh.

Denise: Eh kasi gusto namin lagi mag free time. Walang stress.

Nina: Yeah. School hurts.

Jamilla: Hay naku. Kayo talaga.

Maja: Yun spring break namin ay sa huling linggo ang March.

Brenda: Ah ganun? Kami rin. March… 30 ata.

Koji: Sa April pang spring break ko.

Denise: Ha? April pa? Ang late naman, ah?

Koji: I know. Usually sa mga colleges, ng simula sa huling linggo ang March.

Jamilla: Well, sa tingin ko, universities, which start sa late January, start their break early.

Koji: Ha? Kadaya naman yan. Dapat sa university ako.

Nina: Bakit? Saan ka pumasok?

Koji: Sa Cypress. (smiling)

Brenda: Kaya pala eh. Mas slow pa sa community college kesa sa university.

Denise: Bakit hindi ka sumali dun?

Koji: Tamad ako eh. (giggling)

Brenda: Parehas lang tayo, bro. Sarap mag tamad.

Sarah: Kayo talaga, o?

Brenda: Bakit? Wala ba kayong spring break?

Sarah: Meron, kaya lang hardworking students kami. (smiling proudly)

Nina: Ah ganun? No wonder that you guys are so multi-talented with your careers.

Maja: Oo naman. Proud na proud kami sa mga careers natin.

*

Narrator: Inside the warehouse…

I was sneaking down the hallway searching for Erich.

As for Erich herself, still sitting in the chair all tied up, she panicked greatly as she was moving the chair forward.

Still at the hallway looking around to make sure I didn’t run into anybody…

Timer on the detonator down to 58 seconds now… not much time left… Erich was trying to remove her hands from the ropes… timer now down to 52 seconds.

Down at the hallway, I heard multiple voices at the door ahead of me. They were loud laughs of Spider and his gang. I didn’t bother peeking through the door, so I stayed a few feet behind it, standing still until they pop out.

Erich still stuck… it was no use. But then, as she stopped, she saw a rat crawling out from a pile of wooden crates. Erich didn’t fear it; instead, by making noises, she tried getting the rat’s attention.

However, the rat headed over to the table located on Erich’s right shoulder, jumped on it, and accidentally knocked a small copper cup as it landed on the ground. The cup bounced a couple times making loud clanging noises.

Spider’s gang heard it all.

Spider: Da fuck was that?!

Narrator: They were heading out the door. I turned away as quickly as I could, hiding behind the wall as I turned right on the hallway path.

Spider’s gang walked out the door as they were heading to the direction of the kidnapped Erich.

Erich was watching the rat very carefully, hoping it doesn’t approach her into thinking it’ll bite something under the chair that it would explode. However, the rat was making its way toward her. Erich remained calm as she closed her eyes tightly.

I hurried over to the direction Spider and his gang were heading to, and hopefully I’m not too late if I had already heard a BANG that would’ve been the last draw of her blood. I’m not that far behind, Erich!

Erich’s eyes opened when she heard Spider shouting.

Spider: Fuckin’ bullshit!

Narrator: She immediately saw them, approaching her, the rat turning away from her.

In deep shock, she saw Spider pulling out a gun from his pocket as it was pointing directly at her.

Still at the hallway, an inch or two away from my most awaited moment. I continued running… knowing the worst could happen to her if I didn’t make it on time.

Spider: What the fuck did I tell ya about watching ya moves?!... Feel like ya got something ta say, lady?! Ya wanna FUCK?! Ya wanna fuck wit us?! Is THAT WHAT?!

Narrator: Erich couldn’t help but to wail.

Spider: Yeah, that’s RIGHT! Ya can’t SPEAK! Might as well finish up ya beautiful day ‘fore we cause anymore trouble in this world. (loading trigger)

Narrator: Erich was moving around the chair like crazy, continuing to wail. But as soon as Spider was about to pull the trigger, a gunshot sounded from behind his gang.

Once they turned around, they saw another dude holding a gun. The figure, separated from their crew, was no one other than… me.