｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. DIOR

Shackles.

Kanina pa ako iritang-irita dahil ang bigat nito! It would make a goddamn noise every time I moved. Nakahanap nga ako ng dagger... hindi ko naman magamit dahil hindi ko magalaw ang mga kamay ko.

Pinagloloko ba ako ni Crow? Napaghahalataan ko nang ginagago na ako nito.

Matagal-tagal na rin akong nakaupo rito sa lugar where I woke up. I was inside a stall kung saan maraming clown ang nakatingin sa akin ngayon kaya sinamaan ko sila ng tingin. I was scared. Bakit naman nandito si Hades? Charot!

Speaking of Hades, nasaan na kaya siya? Pati sina Hermés at Gucci? I heard gunshots earlier... I think they were fighting. Nakarinig din ako ng mga yabag na para bang may naghahabulan. Puta, magpapatayan nga sila?

I knew it would be riskier for me if I come out of here kaya ang balak ko ay manatili rito hanggang sa matapos ang laro. It would do me more harm than good kung lalaban ako. Tangina rin kasi ni Crow... he initially gave me a toy gun!

Mabuti nalang ay wala akong nakita na babaril sana sa akin. Parang mas maganda pang weapon itong cuffs ko kaysa ang mga binigay sa akin. I could easily choke someone with this! But, the cuffs were too heavy for me to even raise my hands.

"Kuya Hades!" Napakunot ang noo ko nang makakita ng pamilyar na boses. It was Gucci! What happened?! They sounded so nervous and in panic! Puta, hinahabol ba sila?!

I had to follow them.

"Putangina, Dior, kayanin mo..." I whispered to myself as I used all my strength to yank myself up. Tagumpay akong napangiti when I managed to stand up, I was wobbly but at least, I was able to handle it.

I took my dagger and walked slowly outside of the stall. I was trying so hard not to make a noise kaya mabagal din talaga ang paggalaw ko. Any time now, may aatake talaga sa akin. Pero, mayroon akong bagay na wala siya!

Positive akong tao!

Na para bang may magagawa 'yon sa sitwasyon ko ngayon. Gusto kong batukan ang sarili ko dahil literal na pabigat ako ngayon. Napangiti ako nang makita sina Hades at Gucci na tumatakbo! Puta, lalayo pa nga sa akin!

Napatigil ako when I saw a Crow Guard running after them with a knife! Fuck... anong gagawin ko? Hindi rin ako makasigaw dahil ako naman ang pupuntahan niya. I had to make a concrete and thorough plan.

Pinanood ko sina Gucci at Hades who dashed into the ferris wheel. Alam ko na ang gagawin nila, especially Hades, he loved to watch action and suspense films. Who would have thought na mangyayari sa kanya ang mga pinapanood niya?

Silang dalawa lang ang magkasama? Tanginang 'yan, nasaan ba si Hermés?! I massaged my forehead as I thought hard about my next move. My lips parted open when Hades shot the emergency button, making the ferris wheel stop mid-air.

The Crow Guard chasing them was waiting for them in the bottom of the ride. Ito na ang aking cue na umeksena. However, it was too impossible, ang layo ko sa kanila. I needed to try hard. Nagsimula akong maglakad, trying very carefully not to make any noise.

Bigla akong napaluhod when my chains let out a loud sound. Good thing my reflexes were quick... hindi ata ako napansin noong Crow Guard! Mukha na tuloy akong tanga na gumagapang sa sahig.

Sumilip ako and sighed in relief when I saw the guard still standing on the same position he was in. Dahan-dahan akong tumayo at pinagpatuloy ang paglalakad. I was looking around, vigilant on either someone chasing me or Hermés.

Makaraan ang ilang mga minuto, I was already near the ferris wheel. Ang challenge ko this time ay patulugin itong si Crow Guard. I took my dagger at akmang susugurin ito when I felt a hand cover my mouth and pulled me away!

"Mmm!" I tried to scream but the force in the hand was too strong! I even used the dagger to fight back pero nahulog lang ito sa kamay ko. Tangina, saan ba kasi ako dadalhin nito?! I looked around and we were getting farther from the ferris wheel.

Umiinit na ulo ko. Nawawala ang angas ko.

I kicked the guard on his dick as the hand restraining me pulled me free. Nakakuha ako ng enough na lakas para tumakbo papalayo kaso ang bilis namang mawala ng sakit niya! The Crow Guard was chasing me again!

Pinulot ko ang dagger ko along the way at saka pinagtatama ito sa kanya. I did not want to resort to violence at first, pero mukhang papatayin talaga ako nito. When the guard was too weak to even fight back, sinipa ko nalang siya sa tiyan.

I looked around, searching for any sign na mang-aatake sa akin. Ibigay niyo na! When the perimeters were safe enough for me to move, I ran back to the ferris wheel. Napahinga ako nang malalim when I saw that the Crow Guard was still waiting for them.

Hindi pa ba siya pagod?

One caught my sight. I saw a chainsaw on the side. Napangiti ako as I saw a ray of light! My life saver! Madali ko itong kinuha at lumayo para hindi ito makagawa ng ingay. When the distance was far enough, binuksan ko ito.

Hindi ako papatay ng tao. I was yanking my cuffs away. Mahaba at mabigat ito so naramdaman ko talaga na I was lifting weights. Noong binuksan ko ang chainsaw, natakot ako dahil ang ingay! It felt like I was inside the horror movies I watched.

Dahan-dahan akong lumapit while the chain was at the center. I took a deep breath before the blades punched the chain binding my hands. Agad ko itong pinatay nang magupit ito. I felt triumphant... and so light.

I decided to take the chainsaw with me... for extra protection na rin. Hindi ko iniwan ang chain doon because I felt that it would be useful for me. Bumalik nanaman ako sa kinaroroonan nina Gucci at Hades.

I looked up and even though they were very far, nakita ko paano nanood si Hades sa mga kaganapan dito. He looked like he was looking for something. Hermés and I, perhaps? Pero, maiba ako. Sa tingin nila, paano sila makakababa if they shot the emergency button?

Tumingin ako sa Crow Guard na nakabantay sa kanila pero this time... dalawa na sila! Tangina, ano ba 'yan?! They looked like dogs waiting for a treat from their owner. Ano na ang gagawin ko nito?

My eyes darted to something as lips formed a smirk. I know now.

Mabilis akong tumakbo papunta sa mga watcher and placed the chain I was holding around the neck of one, choking him and depriving him of air. Akma akong aatakihin noong isa but I pointed a gun at him first. Nakuha ko ang baril sa bulsa nitong hostage ko. That was what I used.

"Lumayo-layo ka." Napangisi ako sa kanya but the guard smirked at me as well! Hindi ka magpapatalo, beh?

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makarinig ng rustling sa likod ko. Good thing my reflexes were good, I shot the one in front of me and sa susunod naman ay sa likod ko. Napaangat ang tingin ko when I heard Gucci shout!

Sinenyasan ko agad siya na manahimik!

Ako ang mapapatay sa ginagawa niya! Rushing back to my senses, I felt that my hostage was already lifeless kaya binaba ko na ito. Naglakad ako papunta sa emergency button at sumandal muna. I was tired and shocked...

I killed someone.

Mapait akong napangiti nang maalala na hindi pala si Crow Guard ang una kong pinatay. God, I miss Apollo... my love, my sunshine after the rainy days, my spring after winter... He was everything to me.

And I killed him.

I shed a tear as I tried fixing the emergency button. Fuck this, I had to survive. I had to live for Apollo. Paano nga ba ito?! I hurriedly took the carnival manual sa gilid nito at binasa.

Napasapo ako ng noo nang mabasa ano nalang ang pwede kong gawin! I had to access the main control room... and open all the rides.

Kinuha ko ang baril and made my way to the control room. Mabuti nalang ay malapit ito sa ferris wheel. I was supposed to pull down the lever kaso tumalon ang puso ko nang makakita ng kamay doon! It was only a hand... walang katawan!

I ripped a piece of cloth in my suit at saka ginamit 'yon bilang glove to remove the chopped hand. Nasusuka ako habang tinitingnan ito. Once done, I pulled down the lever controlling the whole carnival.

And that caused noise throughout the whole carnival.

Maingat akong lumabas with all my weapons as I saw how Crow Guards immediately went out from their hideouts. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko when I saw them dashing towards me! All of them were wearing black capes and a crow mask with a knife on their hands. Gagamitin ko sana ang baril ko but panic got the best of me.

"Dior, tara!" Sigaw ni Hades nang makababa sila ni Gucci. I quickly went to them as we all ran farther from the carnival.

Kahit saan ako tumingin, we had no place to hide. Walang puno, stall, o kwarto to cover us. Kinalabit ako ni Gucci as she pointed a guard's house. Mayroong tao roon so we had to let him sleep quietly.

"May kutsilyo ako," I told them as Hades took it from me. Hinayaan ko lang siya na kunanin 'yon as I carried my chainsaw and gun.

Slowly, we walked towards the guard house. Pagbukas ni Hades nang pinto, sinugatan agad siya noong guard! I was quick to point my gun but Gucci pulled it down, not wanting to cause any noise lalo na hinahabol kami ngayon.

"Putangina ka," Hades hissed as he slashed the guard several times. His eyes screamed anger as he killed the guard. Natigilan siya when I held his hand... nawawala na siya sa sarili niya. He was becoming a person he never thought he would be.

"Hades," I held his hand. His expression softened before stopping. Umatras siya... He was staring at his bloody hands. Napasandal siya sa pader at natulala. Hades just killed someone.

I looked away... I remembered someone. I remembered it all too well. Someone... who did something very wrong.

"Itatabi ko itong bangkay. Baka makita pa noong mga guard," sabi ko while Gucci volunteered to help me take the dead body away. Walang ilaw dito so we had to memorize our steps. Mahirap nang maligaw.

"Ayos ka lang?" I asked my friend after we disposed the guard's body. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko nang makarinig ako ng mga hikbi. She was crying. I had to hug her... oo, delikado but she needed this.

This was too much trauma inflicted on her.

Tahimik kaming naglakad pagbalik sa guardhouse then I saw Hades tending to his wounds. Isa lang naman ang tinama ng kutsilyo sa kanya but it sure did hurt. Patuloy ang pag-agos ng dugo mula sa sugat niya.

I took a piece of my clothing and wrapped it in his arm where the wound was. Kinuha ko rin ang kamay niya at saka ipinatong dito to add pressure. Hindi niya kailangang mawalan ng dugo ngayon... that was the only thing that mattered.

"Kamusta ka?" Tanong ni Hades as me and Gucci sat in front of him. His face screamed exhaustion and fatigue. After this, makakapagpahinga na ba kami? I could not help but to think of that.

"Nawiwindang ako." I managed to break out a chuckle as the both of them smiled at me. Kahit papaano, I wanted to give them a breath of fresh air. Kahit sa ganitong paraan nalang... kasi hindi ko alam anong gagawin namin paglabas namin dito.

Apat nalang kami.

Apat.

Tangina, nasaan ba si Hermés?

"Mahapdi ba?" I worriedly asked him as he shook his head at me. May gusto akong itanong ni Gucci pero mukhang preoccupied ang isip niya. Napagpasyahan ko nalang na laruin ang mga daliri ko.

"I have something to tell to the both of you," Gucci said, making me look at her. Kung ito ang sinabi sa kanya ni Ares, I already knew about it. I was just following his plan... kahit wala na siya rito to even see it happen.

"Yves..." Panimula ni Gucci pero nabigla nalang ako nang bigla siyang umiyak! Agad akong lumapit at niyakap siya. This girl was too young to even experience any of this... hinding-hindi ko siya iiwanan kapag nakaalis na kami.

"Yves is not a victim." Nanigas ako sa pwesto ko as soon as Gucci said that. Napabitaw ako sa kanya. Hades and I looked at each other. Hindi... what... Fuck, ano?! Ares told me a different thing... tapos ito ang maririnig ko kay Gucci!

"I'm sorry." Humagulgol si Gucci. Hindi ko alam anong gagawin ko because my mind screamed confusion. "Dapat dati ko pa sinabi."

"Ano ba 'yon?" Hades softly asked as he stared at our younger friend who were bawling her eyes out. Hindi ko siya ma-comfort kasi hindi ko rin alam ano ang ibig sabihin niya. All these time... may iba siyang alam.

I was glued to my seat as I heard what Gucci knew. Para bang lahat ng alam ko... they were all false. Hindi ako makapaniwala at mas lalo na ring hindi ako makapagsalita. I was stunned and speechless.

"I'm sorry..." Paulit-ulit na sambit sa amin ni Gucci. Hades was the first to come near her and hug her. Kagaya ko, Hades was hungry for the truth. But this time, the truth was more complex than ever.

"Ano ba talaga ang totoo?" I muttered to myself but the both heard it. I was loathing someone else all these time pero heto pala... iba pala ang totoo.

Or was it?

"Kuya Ares is right too." Napatingin ako kay Gucci. "There was no other side to begin with. We were all right."

Tumindig ang mga balahibo ko nang makarinig ng pamilyar na boses. The voice was... noticeably different. Na para bang kayang kaya kaming patayin nito. I had to keep my weapon beside me. Napatingin ako kay Hades na sinenyasan kami na huwag magsalita.

"Lumabas na kayo!" Pakanta nitong sabi as I covered my mouth, not wanting to make a noise. Hermés was mad... and alam ko na he would do anything to survive. Even if it meant taking a life.

Because as soon as any of us do, we're doomed. Gucci was right.

"Kuya Hermés had the crows kiss our death."