Chapter 35
NERO
“Why does she keep staring at me?” I asked Cosette as we watched the girl that had appeared out of nowhere, eating the sandwich in her hands like she’s starved for days.
The milk beside the plate stayed uncapped as she would chug it now and then straight from the carton.
“I think she’s taken a liking to you,” Cosette mumbled to me, careful not to let her hear because we’ve been theorizing that while she hasn’t spoken yet, she could understand us.
While C and I were seated across the table from the girl, Dex and Siege had to stay at a specific distance, their backs against the wall, or the girl would stop eating and would just glare at the two.
I figured it’s either because she knows that they’re Azuls, or it’s because they do not look friendly at all. I’m willing to bet it’s the second one.
We waited for her to finish her food, and the girl even did a loud burp, which made C’s lips curl into a smile.
“Was that good?” She asked the kid, and it was the first time she ever responded, nodding in answer to the question.
Cosette’s eyes lit up, coming to the same conclusion we all did.
She can understand us.
“Good. That’s good.”
Cosette’s voice was calming, and I couldn’t help but admire her while watching her handle this situation like a pro.
I am so proud of her for wanting to help the girl without hesitation, and even though I feel that Dex and Siege had their well-placed reservations about letting the girl into their home, I know they believe Cosette was making the right choices in helping the kid.
“I’m Cosette, by the way. That’s Dex, that’s Siege, and this,” C paused, patting my arm, to which the girl’s eyes followed the action. “This is Nero.”
I felt Cosette’s knee bumping mine under the table, and I knew what she wanted me to do.
“Hi,” I said with a smile, and sure enough, the girl was acting somewhat shy as she looked down at the table.
I turned to look at Cosette beside me, and she met my gaze with her expression amused, though I know it’s not because she was mocking the kid, but merely she’s glad that there seems to be progress, and she found a way to get there.
While the girl was still avoiding my eyes, C urged me to continue with a raise of her brows. I rolled my eyes, feeling like I’m being used.
Whatever makes my girl happy, though.
“So, what’s your name?”
“Callista,” she answered with a heavy, unidentifiable accent, still not meeting my eyes.
“That’s a pretty name.”
I looked at Cosette for guidance on what to say next, but she just looked at me with her hands urging me to continue.
“May I ask what you’re doing here, Callista?”
Kid finally looks up again, looking at Cosette this time as she speaks in a language I don’t understand.
“Hinatid ako dito nung lalaking mabait, pero hinarang kami. Bago siya patayin, sabi niya, tumakbo raw ako. Hanapin ko raw yung gate na meron nito.”
Callista pulled a ring out of the pocket of her torn-up sweatpants, placing it on the table.
Dex and Siege visibly went alert, with the former approaching the table, though he was more careful and slow this time not to trigger Callista. He looked at the ring, and it didn’t take him too long before he said, “This is an Azul ring.”
Turning to Cosette again, I found her with her lips slightly parted, brows furrowed.
“You’re Filipino?” She asked, and Callista nodded.
“Do you speak English?” Callista shook her head.
“Do you know how to speak Filipino?” I asked Cosette in a murmur, and it was her turn to shake her head no.
“I can understand a little when my dad speaks it, but I can’t form complete sentences,” she replied.
“What did she say about the ring, little vixen?” Siege asked.
“She said a kind man was bringing her here when they got stopped. Before he was… killed, he told Callista to run and find the gate with the symbol on the ring.”
Siege and Dex’s eyes darkened, taking the news that one of their men was killed while saving this little girl.
“What can you remember from the place you were in? The route on the way here?” I asked after the grim silence that fell on us, trying to see if she would understand this time without C having to translate. Thankfully, it looked like she did.
“Wala. Madilim. Malaki. Minsan may mga maingay na alarm o parang barko. Ang alam ko lang, madami kaming nandun. Ako pa lang nakakatakas. Sinakay ako sa truck kaya di ko nakita dinaanan namin.”
Cosette sighed. “She said, ‘Nothing. It was dark. And big. Sometimes, there’s an alarm or… a brawny man? All I know is that there’s a lot of us there, and I’m the only one who escaped. I was put inside a truck, so I didn’t get to see the way we went through.’”
“Anything, Callista. Any colors? Was it in a building? Underground? Did you see any trees? Plants?”
I tried to list everything that she could’ve seen on the way out, but if she was put in some kind of enclosed truck to hide her from the bad guys, I don’t think she’ll be able to give us anything.
“How about… amoy?” Cosette asked this time, and Callista closed her eyes as if to think back on what she could remember.
“Amoy ulan.”
Cosette’s brows furrowed, muttering the word ‘ulan’ again and again as she grabbed her phone and I watched her translate the word she forgot.
Cosette then raised her head, looking at Dex, hoping the answer was enough to help him find the location they’d been looking for.
“She said it smelled like rain.”