#DS3Unscripted #BelayaxPierce #LKCouple #DaggerSeries

CHAPTER 24: HORROR

BELAYA'S POV

"Clarice Hagen was born in September 19, 1968 in Arkaville. Her mother Claire Hagen was known in the town of Arkaville by her strict religious beliefs. Clarice wasn't allowed to enjoy many things. She grew up following the stern rules of her mother. She never tried to break them. Until in 1987, she met George Carter, a traveler that was just passing by their town, and he got her pregnant.

George didn't want anything to do with the woman he just met in a pub. He left Arkaville in a haste the moment he found out. Clarice's mother were livid and she tried to force Clarice to abort the baby, telling her that the deities will forgive them for this one mistake. But at the day that it will took place, Claire was mysteriously found dead on her bed.

In 1988 Clarice gave birth to Clarissa Hagen. Clarissa was born sick, and just 5 years after her birth, she died. Clarice took her death hard. She got obsessed with the occult, finding ways to bring her daughter back. She stayed away from people and instead she locked herself in her house that no one really thought to be unnatural since at that time people are terrified to go out what with young girls keep on disappearing specially at the age of eight to seventeen. In 1998, police officers visited her home. They were investigating a missing person case filed by George Carter's parents. Clarice refused to be part of the investigation and the police couldn't force her without a warrant. They left her home, telling her that they will be back the next morning.

The next day they came back to the place but no one answered the door. They had no choice but to bust open the house. To their surprise they found Clarice dead in front of an altar that seems like was made by the teaching of the occult. On the table in front of Clarice's corpse is the decomposing body of her child with her heart on a clear jar, clearly being preserved. There was also a diary where they found out that Clarice was trying to sacrifice thirteen lives to put their souls into a gem to bring back her daughter to life. Turns out she learned this through a book of her father, John Hagen, who once used one of the rituals in the book to save his back then sick girlfriend, Clarice's mother, that was pregnant with her. He sacrificed a room full of student in his school including himself.

They searched the home and they found twelve bodies of young girls that appeared to be those that are missing. They also found the belongings of George Carter and a bottle of poison that they believed has been used not only to him but also to the late Claire Hagen."

Nakarinig ako nang mahinang pagtawa pero hindi ko binuksan ang mga mata ko habang nakakapit ako sa matigas na braso ni Pierce. Kulang na lang din idikit ko ang sarili ko sa kaniya na para bang makakatulong iyon sa sitwasyon namin ngayon. At least when I die, his firm biceps will be the last thing that I will remember.

"Kitten, nothing will change even if you keep your eyes close except maybe hurt yourself when you trip."

"If I stay like this I can pretend that this is not happening." Pinisil ko ang braso niya. Wow. So firm. "Saka kaya nga ako nakakapit sa'yo. Para hindi ako madapa."

"Ahh. Iyon lang pala ang rason akala ko may iba pa."

His tone was light and teasing that I couldn't help myself but to look at him. Binuksan ko ang mga mata ko pero the moment na ginawa ko iyon ay alam kong pagsisisihan ko iyon.

Napuno ng sigawan ang lugar nang bigla na lang bumukas ang isang pintuan sa bahay na kinaroroonan namin. Bahay kung saan napapalibutan ang paligid nang kung anu-anong kagamitan na nakikita ko lang sa horror movies. At the center of the living room is the altar with a life-like decomposing child on the table.

Handa na sana akong tumakbo nang makita kong hindi naman multo ang pumasok sa pintuan kundi dalawang babae na parang bisita lang din sa lugar na iyon katulad namin.

"Uwi na tayo. This is so creepy," one of the women said. She's trying to pull back the other woman who just laughed at her.

"Ano ka ba? Ang cool kaya. This is the real Clarice Hagen's house. Minsan lang sila pumayag na may pumasok dito."

Nanlalaki ang mga mata na nagkatinginan kami ni Trace na nasa kaliwa ko. Hindi naman kasi totoo 'tong lugar at talagang ginawa lang para sa haunted attraction na ito.

"Kaya nga mas dapat na umalis na tayo."

"Huwag ka ngang KJ. Minsan na nga lang tayo makapunta sa ganito." Parang hindi kami nakikita na nilagpasan kami ng babae at nakangiting lumapit siya sa altar. "Look! Nandito pa rin pala iyong anak ni Clarice Hagen. Ang sabi sa story hindi raw natapos ni Clarice iyong dapat gagawin niya para sa anak niya kasi nga nahuli na siya. She still need another girl to complete her ritual."

"She's collecting the lives of eight to seventeen year old girls. We're seventeen so can we just leave?"

Tumawa ang babae at pinindot niya ang kamay ng anak ni Clarice. "Naniniwala ka ro'n? It's just a story. It's not like the occult is real."

I looked at the other woman who's now trying to stop her fried. Napansin kong may suot siya na ID at nang tignan ko iyon ay may nabasa ako.

"They're actors," I told the others. "I think they need to act like they can't see us."

May masama akong pakiramdam sa nangyayari. Bahagya kong hinila si Pierce na nagbaba ng tingin sa akin pero hindi naman nagtanong pa. Even his brother Gun has a hold on his wife dahil sigurado akong itatakbo na naman niya ang babae kapag may nangyaring kakaiba. Sana all. Si Pierce kasi parang aliw na aliw pa sa akin. Sus, baka gusto niya lang talunan ko siya ulit. Pwede namang hindi rito.

I let out the most girly scream when the lights of the house started flickering at the same time that the windows and doors started banging loudly. Nang itigil ko ang pagsigaw dahil kinakapos na ako nang hininga ay sa pagtataka ko nagpatuloy ang tili na naririnig ko. Nang lumingon ako sa kaliwa ko ay nakita kong nakabukas ang bibig ni Trace na siya palang sumisigaw.

"Anong nangyayari?" tanong ng babae na mas malapit sa altar. She was the one poking the supposed dead body of Clarissa Hagen.

"Pinindot-pindot mo kasi iyong baby niya eh. Malamang lalabas iyong nanay," sabi ni Lucienne na nakikiusisa sa ginagawa no'ng babae.

"Oh no," Coal said with a laugh that is a mix of fear and hilarity.

Nakarinig kami ulit nang malakas na pagkagalabog at sa pagkakataon na ito ay ang dalawang babaeng aktor naman ang sumigaw.

"Bless us, Oh Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty, through Christ, Our Lord. Amen," bulong ni Axel.

"That's not going to work!" Trace shouted. "That's a prayer for a meal. Gusto mo bang kainin tayo ni Clarice Hagen?!"

"Iyon lang ang dasal na unang naisip ko eh! Stop pressuring me!"

Halos mapaupo ako sa panlalambot ng tuhod ko nang bigla na lang mamatay ang ilaw. It was brief but when it opened again, the two girls screamed loudly because a woman wearing a white dress is now standing beside them. Tumakbo ang isa sa dalawang babae palabas ng bahay habang naiwan ang isa pa.

Sumiksik ako sa katawan ni Pierce at naramdaman kong inangat niya ang kamay niya dahilan para makulong ako sa bisig niya. Pinanood ko kung paanong magpapasag ang babae mula sa pagkakahawak ng multo. Clarice Hagen then produced a knife. Basta na lang niyang pinagsasaksak ang babae na walang buhay na bumagsak sa sahig.

The screams was cut off like we all swallowed it down. Hindi gumagalaw si Clarice sa kinatatayuan niya. Mula sa lamesa ay may umangat na partition at sa gitna no'n ay ang gem na katulad sa nakuha namin kanina.

None of us move. Not even the ghost.

Except Lucienne.

Nilagpasan niya ang nakahandusay na babae sa sahig at basta na lang niyang kinuha ang gem. It was like the play button on what seem like a scene that has been paused. Dahil bigla na lang lumingon sa amin ang babae.

Mabilis na hinila ko si Pierce palabas at sa pagkakataon na ito ay naunahan pa namin si Gun at Lia.

"Guys saan kayo pupunta?! It's okay. Hindi na tayo teenagers kaya we're safe."

"My kitten is the size of one so we're out," Pierce said back to her.

My kitten. I didn't have the time to savor the moment. Nakarinig ako nang mabibilis na yabag at nang lumingon ako ay nakita kong tumakbo palapit sa direksyon namin si Clarice pero huminto siya sa ngayon ay nakapikit na sina Axel at Trace.

Natatawang hinila ako ni Pierce at binuksan niya ang pintuan. I almost threw myself out of the door but thankfully Pierce was holding me close. Sumunod sa amin ang iba pa. Lucienne and Thorn followed but it was Trace and Axel who came out last. Maybe because their eyes are close and they're tripping everywhere.

"We got the second gem!" masayang sabi ni Lucienne. "Isa na lang tapos na tayo. We need to go to the cemetery."

"Can't we just... stop for a drink?" I asked.

"No problem! I got you."

Kinalabit niya ang asawa niyang napapabuntong-hininga na tumalikod. Binuksan niya ang bag ni Thorn at naglabas siya roon nang maliliit na bote ng tubig. Damn it.

"Did you just say cemetery?" tanong ni Trace na nanlalambot na napahawak sa mga tuhod niya.

"Yup!"

"Hindi church?" tanong niya ulit.

"No."

"Baka nagkakamali ka lang ng basa."

"Malayo ang spelling ng church sa cemetery."

"Yeah but they're both starting with the letter C."

They bickered for awhile but there's nothing we could do to convince Lucienne otherwise. Dumiretso kami sa cemetery. Sa bukana pa lang ay alam kong hindi ko na magugustuhan ang mangyayari. I mean... it's a cemetery.

Lucienne scanned the QR code near the signage. Binasa niya iyon sandali. "It's easy! We just need to find Clarice's tomb."

Feeling ko sa susunod na birthday ni Lucienne lahat kami hindi na magpapakita.

We walked inside the spacious cemetery. It wasn't hard to find Clarice's tomb since it's the only black tomb there. Nang makarating doon ay kaagad namin nakita ang gem na nakalagay lang sa case sa ibabaw ng puntod niya.

"This doesn't feel right," Axel whispered.

"What? Ang dali nga lang eh," sabi ni Lucienne.

"It's too easy."

Of course he was right. Mula sa paligid namin ay sumirkilo ang tunog na nilikha rin ng binatang nakita namin sa school kanina. All of us turned around and I grabbed Pierce hand when the tombs began falling down.

"FUCK!"

I don't think that word just came from Trace or Axel. Mukhang galing din iyon kay Coal at Domino. Dahil sa paligid namin ay isa-isang nagsilabasan ang tila mga taong nakalibing sa mga puntod na nagsibagsakan.

"Omg!" I turned to Lucienne, hoping that she's finally scared. Pero nang mapatingin ako sa kaniya ay nakita kong nagniningning ang mga mata niya. "This is like The Walking Dead! That's my favorite TV show!"

Fuck.

"Let's get out of here. Mabagal lang naman maglakad ang zombies-"

Hindi pa natatapos ni Lia ang sasabihin niya nang bigla na lang magtakbuhan ang mga zombie sa direksyon namin. Nagkatinginan kami nila Trace at Axel at alam kong iisa lang ang nasa isip namin.

"Run!" I screamed at the top of my lungs.

I didn't know I have it in me. Mukhang tatalunin ko na ang kilalang track runner na si Lyn Jennings sa tulin nang naging takbo ko.

"Crouch low! Hindi nakakayuko ang mga zombie!" sigaw ni Axel.

Narinig ko ang tawa ni Pierce nang mabilis na tinupi ko ang katawan ko habang mabilis pa rin na tumatakbo. I looked like a cartoon trying to sneakily run but I don't care. Or maybe I looked like a dog on a leash because Pierce is still holding my hand.

"Gusto kong maging zombie!" masayang sabi ni Lucienne na mukhang nakasunod din sa amin.

"Good then I'll have the chance to shoot you!" Trace shouted.

NAHAHAPONG umupo ako sa loob nang van. Hinihintay na lang namin si Lucienne at Thorn na kausap pa ang manager ng lugar. Tanging kami lang ni Pierce ang nasa loob ng sasakyan at sina Lia dahil bumibili pa ng souvenir iyong iba. The pictures of us inside that haunted village is enough souvenir for me. Binigyan kasi kami ng kopya ng mga larawan namin. May mga camera pala kasi sa loob.

"Next birthday ni Lucienne parang mag a-out of the country ako," sabi ni Lia.

Napatawa ako sa sinabi niya dahil parang ganoon din ang naisip ko kanina. Papadalan ko na lang siya ng regalo pero parang ayaw ko ng sumama sa "party" niya. This night feels like it took ten years of my life.

"May mga umaatras nga raw kapag pumupunta rito. Bihira lang daw ang tinatapos iyong oras nila sa loob."

"Hindi na nakakapagtaka. Mabuti ng hindi mo tapusin kesa ikaw naman ang matapos ang buhay kapag inatake ka," sabi ni Trace na nasa labas na ng van. Pumasok siya at kasunod niya si Axel na may dalang mga paper bag. Inabutan niya kami ng softdrinks.

"Are you okay now, Axel?" tanong ko.

Tumango siya at naglabas ng sandwich sa bag. "Yes. I just need to eat so that I can have my energy back."

Tinignan ko si Trace bago pa siya magreklamo. Seloso pa naman siya pagdating sa paborito naming Dawson. Siyempre bukod kay Pierce para sa akin. "And you?"

"Kailangan ko ng jowa."

Napabunghalit kami ng tawa ni Lia sa naging sagot niya. Kahit kailan talaga.

"Ikaw?" tanong ni Trace. "Hindi ka kaya mapaos niyan?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako. Matagal pa naman bago ang preliminary shooting namin. "Okay lang naman. Hindi naman ako singer." I turned to Lia ang grimace. "Oh no. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Hindi naman ako sumigaw masyado. I'm used to controlling my voice." May sasabihin pa sana ako pero hindi natuloy iyon nang marinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ni Trace. Namula ang mukha ni Lia na mukhang alam ang dahilan no'n. "Iba 'yon."

"What?" I asked.

"Sila kasi ang sumira sa kainosentehan ng tenga ni Axel." Tumingin si Trace sandali sa kisame ng sasakyan. "Well technically ako pala kasi ako ang nagpaliwanag sa kaniya na hindi totoong nag vo-vocalization si Lia nang minsan na marinig niya na nasa control room ng Dagger si Lia kasama si Kuya Gun."

"Vocalization?"

"Luna called it their own sexminology. Like Lucienne and Kuya Thorn's research." Ngumisi si Trace at hinimas niya ang baba niya. "Ano kaya ang sa akin?"

"Hypnotization," sagot ni Coal na nakatayo sa labas ng sasakyan. "Kasi kailangan pang budolin iyong babaeng magkakamaling pumatol sa'yo."

"Excuse me, ako kaya ang pinaka-hot sa ating magkakapatid."

"I don't agree," Lia said quickly at the same time that I murmured, "I don't think so."

Pierce looked down at me and my cheeks instantly went hot.

Ngumuso si Trace. "Mga bulag."

Our topic halted, thankfully, when the others finally arrived. Nang pumasok si Lucienne ay nakita kong may dala siyang isang paper bag na puro regalo. Ibinaba niya iyon sa gilid ni Pierce dahil may space doon pero nabangga iyon ni Coal na papasok sana. The contents fell but before she can put it back, Pierce stopped her.

"Fucking hell," he whispered.

My body turned cold when I looked at the box he's holding.

He couldn't enter the place nor he can get close to us. Dagger's Bolsters were all following us inside the haunted attraction. But still... he can inject fear that is far more scarier than what we went through because this time... it's the horror of my reality.

Because the box on his hand has my name on it.