ILY

s the

s of gu

they actu

sit up. The fatigue forced my warm eyes to stay shut. For seconds, I ru

hurt even after I had taken the

eally alarm me. I didn't even think they were gunshots.

lear now. Light blue. No

as my eyes strained to read the time on my watch. My brea

s the

back felt like they were on fire. Worse: my entire skull hurt like a raging bitch. Like I just got out of brain su

reign accent spoke loudly in the front

m. X. The

d u

alon

throat. I reclined in the backseat, held back

rive a car past 50 kilometers per hour. My intakes of breath sped up while my p

our driver? More importantly, why was the new

ked after seconds of nervous g

sounded gruff, like he just woke up from a nap, too. For a moment, he kept driving like a racer on crack

he

e ER,

angerous driving while my head ached badly. Calm and

with a total stranger driving way past the speed limi

in an effort to lull my scary thoughts. I barely knew him and didn't trust him one bit. Although he di

ide his jacket? Did Beck give him a weapon

eep my voice down. My heartbeat continued accelerati

n, the guy kept glancing at the rear view mirror and the

way from something? Someone? Wher

interior. Some hairline cracks had formed on the windows.

Someone was s

number. Now. I should call for

. Where did they put my personal belong

kind of calmed my nerves as the vehicle sped along the highway. The qu

n Metro Manila. Where on E

on the way to

as all

rembled. I was trying my best not to show my ner

. I needed m

ive. This darned flu just kept making my d

igns said. The flu and our speed just worsened my nearsightedn

ually trying to kid

y bag? Whe

mewhere, I hope,"

ut wrenched at his monotonous reply. I couldn't even breathe properly anymore. The anxiety tight

ould Beck need to be in the emergency room? Did he mean the hos

o talking about? And where

rnal turmoil, the guy shifted g

at the side mirrors every three seconds or so. Like he

middle of the highway now, alongside other strangers'

brows. He sat still. He didn't even turn his head to look a

h

weapon or anything. Good enough sign that he wasn't g

ited for his answer. My bothersome gut feeling told me I would not like what

where

at his cryptic reply

when I didn't respond. "Some gan