Ilang araw bago sumapit ang gabi ng seremoniya, binangungot si Princess Rieka Ridinghood ng iba-ibang mga imahe.

In her nightmares, she saw the corpses of the previous princesses. Bathed in blood, with horrified expressions on their pale faces. Isang nakakapangilabot na bakas ng mga karumal-dumal na pangyayari sa loob ng kagubatan. Sa tabi ng kanilang mga bangkay, naroon ang mga basket na tuluyan nang napaglipasan ng panahon.

Kinalimutan ng mga taga-Eastwood.

Ang mga kandilang makapagbibigay-liwanag sana sa kaharian ay tuluyan nang nawalan ng apoy.

'Walang nakakaligtas.'

Sometimes, in Red's nightmares, the images of those dead princesses change.

Sa ilang pagkakataon, ang kanilang asul na mga mata ay napapalitan ng kulay na kawangis ng mga dilaw na hiyas na sagana sa kanilang palasyo. Ang kanilang "light colored" na buhok ay nagiging kasing-dilim ng kalangitan. Midnight black locks that were an unusual shade for the royal bloodline.

Sometimes, in Red's nightmares, those dead princesses became a reflection of...

Herself.

'That's impossible. How can I see myself dying when I'm already dead?'

Gusto niyang matawa, ngunit walang lumabas na boses sa kanyang bibig. Saka niya napagtantong hindi nga pala siya makakilos nang maayos. Teka, nawalan nga pala siya ng malay kanina! That man in the woods drugged her...

He was kidnapping her!

In that moment, Red suddenly became aware of her surroundings.

Ang malamig na hanging nakakapagpatindig sa kanyang balahibo, ang madilim at masukal na kagubatan, at ang mahihinang kaluskos sa likod ng ilang halamanan. Bukod dito, nahagip ng kanyang mga mata ang pulang cloak na suot niya kanina. 'Pero bakit parang nakabaliktad ako? Oh, shit. Don't tell me...'

Realization hit her when she heard him whistling.

The stranger was carrying her on his shoulder like a sack of rice!

'Ang lakas ng loob niyang tratuhin ako nang ganito!' Mahinang napamura si Red at sinubukang magpumiglas sa hawak ng binata. Sa kabila ng panghihina ng kanyang katawan dala ng drogang ibinigay nito sa kanya, Red Ridinghood tried to get away from him.

"Ibaba mo ako!"

Lalo lang sumiklab ang galit ni Red nang marinig ang kanyang baritonong boses.

"Oh! You're awake now, kitten? That's great. Malapit na tayo sa kastilyo."

"Anong kastilyo? Darn it. Bitiwan mo na nga ako!" Asik niya sa mahinang boses na ikinatigil ng binata.

She couldn't see his expression, but she can feel his amusement. Malamang, nawiwili siyang panoorin ang pagpupumiglas ng "kaawa-awang" prinsesa. Malamang natutuwa itong isipin na madali niyang makikidnap ang iniingatang tagapagmana ng kaharian.

But if he thinks she wouldn't put up a fight, then screw him.

"LET ME GO, YOU FOOL!"

"Damn! Not too loud, kitten. Baka may makarinig sa---"

Natahimik si Lycros.

Maya-maya pa, binalingan niya ang direksyong pinanggalingan nila kanina. Panandaliang naaninag ni Red ang seryoso nitong eskpresyon. His green eyes glared at nothing in particular, but his jaw clenched tight. Napansin rin ni Red ang tensyong namuo sa katawan nito. Maya-maya pa, mahinang inanunsiyo ng binata.

"They're getting closer. Kailangan na nating umalis dito."

Bago pa man siya makaimik, nabigla na lang si Red nang ibinaba siya nito sa damuhan. Gulat niyang pinanood ang pagbabagong-anyo ng estranghero. His body started morphing...

Bones cracked. Teeth sharpened. Golden fur covered his human skin.

An animalistic growl left his lips.

'A-Anong...?'

Sa isang kisapmata, tuluyan nang naglaho ang estrangherong nanlinlang sa kanya. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Red nang makita ang higanteng lobong nakatayo sa kanyang harapan. Any doubt she had of him being a "werewolf" quickly went down the drain.

Noong mga sandaling 'yon, agad siyang nakaramdam ng labis na takot.

"L-Lumayo ka sa'kin!"

She tried to back away, but the giant wolf quickly hoisted her on his back.

"Hoy! Ano bang ginaga---AAAAAAAAAH!"

Soon, Princess Rieka Ridinghood found herself zooming past the trees, as she clung on to him for dear life. Umalingawngaw sa madilim na kagubatan ang sigaw ng prinsesa. Nang mas binilisan ng lobo ang kanyang pagtakbo, pakiramdam ni Red ay tatakasan na siya ng kanyang kaluluwa. Hilong-hilo na siya sa kanilang "biyahe" at hindi na nga siya magugulat kung maisusuka niya mamaya ang huling putaheng kinain niya kanina sa palasyo.

'Bakit ba nangyayari 'to sa'kin?!'

Maya-maya pa, hindi na niya marinig ang sarili niyang sigaw.

She can't hear anything at all.

And that terrified her more than the werewolf that was kidnapping her...

*

Being the heir to the throne, Red never really saw these parts of the forest. Nakakalungkot man isipin, pero tanging sa pahina ng mga antigong aklat niya lang nalalaman ang tungkol mga lupaing sakop ng kanilang kaharian. The princess was forced to study behind close doors, with several strict and abusive teachers who were all assigned by the royal pain in the ass---err... royal adviser, Elpidio.

"Ilang ulit na ba nating pinag-aaralan 'to?! Hindi mo napapamahalaan nang maayos ang kaharian natin kung tatanga-tanga ka!"

"Chin up, shoulders back, stomach in... Tangina. Ayusin mo naman ang postura mo! You're the worst princess I've handled!"

"Don't show emotions. Don't you dare fucking cry. Dala mo ang karangalan ng kaharian, kaya't bawal kang magpakita ng anumang kahinaan."

Sa loob ng labing-walong taon, hindi niya nasilayan ang mundong nasa labas ng kanilang palasyo. Kung kaya't wala na siyang nagawa kung hindi dumepende sa mga mapa at babasahing kinabisado niya noon.

As the werewolf slowed his pace, kabadong inilibot ni Red ang kanyang mga mata. Tumambad sa kanya ang nagtataasang mga puno. Hindi siya maaaring magkamali. Kamukha ng mga ito ang naka-drawing sa binasa niyang aklat tungkol sa kalikasan ng Eastwood.

'Pine trees? Kung ganoon, nasa kanlurang bahagi kami ng kagubatan. The palace is around five miles away. Shit! This is bad...'

Bago pa man siya makapag-isip ng paraan para maisahan ang lobo at tumakas, she noticed something different in this place. Here, the towering pine trees twisted in odd angles. Their branches curled and merged together...

Forming a giant arch.

'W-Wala ito sa mapa ng Eastwood. What the hell is this place?'

Kabado tinitigan ni Red ang lagusan, kung saan naghihintay sa kanila ang isang walang-hanggang kadiliman.

'Kung makakaalis ako nga---'

The huge wolf with golden fur gave her a sideways glare.

A warning.

In that moment, Red knew that it was pointless. Kahit pa tumakbo siya papalayo ngayon, maabutan lang siya ng dambuhalang lobo. Bukod dito, nanghihina pa siya mula sa kanilang pagbiyahe. Lalong bumigat ang pakiramdam ng dalaga.

That little shred of "hope" was ripped out of her chest.

She's as good as dead now.

Wala nang nagawa pa si Red kung hindi magpatianod sa lobo, at isantabi na muna ang kanyang munting "problema". Ang parehong problemang matagal nang nagpapaalala sa kanya ng kanyang kahinaan at pagkukulang.

Nang makalagpas na sila sa arko, tuluyan na silang inangkin ng dilim.

The place smelled like damp moss, wet soil, and sandalwood. Suddenly, she felt the cold night breeze swept passed her, sending a shiver down her spine. Red can sense danger beyond this darkness, and that made her even more nervous.

'Saan ba niya ako dadalhin?'

Pero agad ring nasagot ang tanong niyang 'yon nang biglang magbago ang paligid.

Sa isang kisapmata, natanaw ni Red Ridinghood ang isang kastilyong nakatayo sa gitna ng isang malawak na kapatagan. Napapalibutan ito ng luntiang mga halaman at ilang mga puno.

She was pretty sure this wasn't in any textbook back in the palace library!

Under the moonlight, Red noticed its gothic-styled architecture. Even the moonlight couldn't do anything to hide it's dark and intimidating appearance. The castle was crafted from limestones, adorned with  rectangular stained-glass windows. Its turrets rose upwards like spikes. There was a lovely courtyard that looked well-kept.

But what caught her attention was the tall octagonal tower at the castle's center.

'This must be what hell looks like,' she thought.

How ironic... Dahil hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang matakot o mamangha sa ganda ng impyernong ito.

Nang makarating na ang lobo sa harapan ng kastilyo, agad siya nitong ibinaba, at muling nagpalit ng anyo. Nag-iwas ng tingin si Red nang mapansing nagkapunit-punit ang suot nitong damit, exposing too much skin. Sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata, napansin niyang nagsasalita na pala si Lycros.

But his eyebrows furrowed in confusion when she didn't respond.

'It will only be a matter of time until he finds out about my disability.'

Red pushed that thought aside and tried to calm herself down.

Maya-maya pa, naramdaman na niyang hinawakan ni Lycros ang kanyang kamay. Iginiya na siya nito papasok sa kastilyo. Doon na siya tuluyang nataranta. She cursed under her breath and tried to pry his hand of hers.

"What do you think you're doing?! Damn it! Wala akong pakialam kahit na werewolf ka pa! You can't disrespect me like this!"

But Red Ridinghood was immediately dragged into the dark yet majestic castle.

The grand double doors slammed shut---but she didn't hear anything.

She simply can't.

Sa kabila nito, hindi aakalain ni Red na mas nakakamangha pa pala ang tanawing bubungad sa kanya rito sa loob. The arched stone ceilings were too high, creating an illusion of an endless abyss above their heads. Ang tanging nakikita lang ni Red sa itaas ay ang malaking chandelier na siya ring nagbibigay-liwanag sa lugar. 'Even the chandeliers back at the kingdom weren't as elegent as this one,' she noted.

The walls were decorated with a dozen grosteque oil paintings, wolf heads craved from stone, and bloodied ropes strangely lying on the carpeted floor.

The inside of the castle had a touch of darkness and elegance.

A fusion of beauty and madness, all wrapped up inside this thousand-year-old castle.

'How can elegance and chaos exist in the same place?'

Kinaladkad siya ni Lycros sa engrandeng staircase. Kinakausap siya nito, pero hindi siya umiimik. Patuloy lang niyang sinusubukang kumawala sa kanyang hawak. Red Ridinghood saw him frown at her.

He doesn't look impressed.

'Naghihinala na siya.'

Dumoble ang kabang nararamdaman ni Red. Damn. Ano ba talaga ang kailangan nito sa kanya? Kung papatayin lang din siya ng werewolf na ito, bakit kailangan pa siya nitong dalhin dito sa kastilyo?

Then again, she remembered what he said before she fainted earlier....

"You'll meet my brothers soon, kitten."

Brothers.

The "Big Bad Werewolves", if she's not mistaken.

Pero ano na lang kaya ang gagawin sa kanya ng mga...?

Oh, shit.

"DARN IT! Let go of me, you stupid werewolf! Kung inaakala mong papayag akong pagpistahan ng mga halimaw na kagaya niyo, you must all be delusional!"

Galit na sigaw ng prinsesa kahit pa hindi niya naririnig ang sarili niyang boses. They'll surely kill her and cook her meat! Like those savages she read in fiction!

Red saw Lycros sighed, before he dragged her towards another door at the end of the darkened hallway. Red Ridinghood's heart pounded inside her chest when she saw the logo on top of the arched doorway. Nakaukit ito sa bato.

'Bakit parang pamilyar ito?'

Ngunit bago pa man niya alalahanin kung saan niya ito nakita noon, she was pushed inside the dark room.

Naglaho ang presensiya ng binatang nagdala sa kaniya rito.

"L-Lycros?"

Wala siyang makitang kahit ano.

Namuo ang tensyon sa loob ng misteryosong silid, habang pinipilit ni Red na isantabi ang kanyang takot. Ikinuyom niya ang kanyang mga kamao para matago ang panginginig ng mga ito. Huminga siya nang malalim at sinubukang tahakin ang daan papalabas nang mabunggo niya ang isang nilalang.

"Lycros? Ano bang ginagawa..."

Red Ridinghood's voice died down when a candlelight flickered in the darkness.

Sa liwanag na nagmumula sa kaisa-isang kandila sa silid, naaninag na niya ang "nabunggo" niya kanina.

With emotionless eyes, the man stared at her, with a creepy grin on his lips...

But he was hanging upside-down.

'Ano bang kabaliwan ito?!'

When he started sniffing her, mabilis na humakbang papalayo si Red. Ngunit agad rin niyang naramdaman ang gilid ng isang mesa. Natatarantang lumingon sa unahan ang prinsesa, her eyes widened in fear. Noon niya lang napagtantong nakapatong ang kandila sa dulo ng mahabang mesa, katapat ng isang binatang tahimik na nakamasid sa kanya.

His dark eyes studied her as he casually sat on his chair like he owns this place.

There was a sense of authority in his features.

A scar was etched across his left cheek.

'N-No...this can't be happening to me...'

Pinagmasdan ni Red ang pagsasalita ng misteryosong lalaki, ngunit wala siyang marinig na kahit ano sa kanyang mga sinabi. Kalaunan, napasimangot ito sa kanya.

Damn.

"Kung papatayin niyo ako, gawin niyo na!"

Red wanted to get this over with. Hindi na niya kailangang marinig pa ang sinasabi ng mga ito para mahulaan ang plano nilang gawin sa kanya. Kung ang mga binatang ito nga ang maalamat na "halimaw" na taun-taong pumapatay ng mga prinsesa, Red Ridinghood realized there's no point in prolonging her agony.

But he only stared at her.

"What?! Are you just gonna sit there and wait for a full moon? Kill me, you damn werewolves!"

Because unlike the other princesses before her, she's not afraid to die.

But as soon as the fire of that lone candle flickered, lalong lumiwag ang silid. Isang kakaibang mahika. Tuluyan nang nawalan ng boses si Red nang mapansing hindi lang pala dalawa o tatlo ang mga binatang kasama niya rito sa loob ng silid...

There were seven of them.

All seven of them started talking to her, and that made her panic. Hindi siya sumasagot sa kanila. Bakas ang naguguluhan nilang mga ekpresyon habang nakatitig sa kanya. At one side of the room, Lycros was leaning against the wall, with a serious expression on his face. Forest green eyes met hers.

Red felt suffocated.

They kept talking.

"S-Stop... Darn it. STOP! I..."

Papalapit sila nang papalapit sa kanya.

"T-TAMA NA! Please, h-hindi ko kayo..."

No. She can't admit this. Bilang isang prinsesa, hindi siya dapat magpakita ng kahinaan, kahit na nasa bingit na siya ng kamatayan. Hindi siya pwedeng maging kahihiyan sa kanilang kaharian...

No.

She can't.

Agad siyang lumayo nang umakbay sa kanya ang isa sa magkakapatid.

He said something.

What? What did he say?

"Just kill me! Darn it. Lumayo kayo sa'kin...h-hindi ko kayo... I'm actually..."

Pero hindi sila huminto. She watched in anxiety as their mouths moved, their expressions changed, their eyes were waiting for her explanation. Nahihirapan nang huminga si Red. Buong buhay niya, ito mismo ang kahinaang kanyang kinatatakutan---ang sariling kapansanang nagpapaalala sa kanyang hindi siya karapat-dapat sa trono. It was too much to bare for eighteen years. Their expectations pierced into her, so deep that it's impossible to ignore the wounds.

Princess Rieka "Red" Ridinghood was different, useless, and just for display.

And right now, she just wanted to scream.

So she did.

"I CAN'T FUCKING HEAR YOU, OKAY?! I'M DEAF!"

The seven werewolves stared at her.

She pitied herself.

Napayuko na lang si Red. Hindi na niya namalayang may namumuo na palang luha sa kanyang mga mata. 'A princess shouldn't cry, huh? Well, fuck them!'

Red was tired of being a princess.

She was so damn tired of chasing those expectations she couldn't quite grasp.

"I was born like this. I'm different... Kanina, nawala ko yata ang hearing aids ko. K-Kaya hindi ko kayo naririnig. So, please...stop talking. Ayoko na. P-Patayin niyo na lang ako."

Naupo na lang siya sa sahig, nanghihina at nahihirapan. Nakayuko lang siya, habang hinihintay ang hatol sa kanya ng pitong mga taong-lobo. Wala na siyang pakialam kung anong iisipin ng mga ito sa kanya.

She's gonna die, anyway.

Ilang sandali pa, nilapitan siya ng isa sa mga ito. Marahang nag-angat ng tingin si Red at tinitigan ang lalaking nakasuot ng isang itim na cloak. Half of his face was covered by the hood, only showing his lips.

Lips that were forced to smile at her

"Ano naman ang gagawin mo?" Pagod niyang tanong rito. If he's gonna kiss her like what Lycros did, she'll probably just punch him in the face.

But he didn't.

With that secretive smile, he waved a hand across her face. Agad na naramdaman ni Red ang mahikang nagmumula sa binata. Unti-unting kumalma ang kanyang damdamin. She yawned, slowly closing her eyes. Maya-maya pa, tuluyan nang sumuko sa antok si Red Ridinghood.

But before she closed her eyes, she noticed the Big Bad Werewolves still staring at her.

An unknown danger and depth in their eyes.

*

It's only been an hour of her untimely sleep...

"I found these in the forest."

Mahinang anunsiyo ni Lycros. Kasabay nito, maingat niyang ipinatong sa mesa ang isang pares ng hearing aids. Of course, it was easy for him to find these using her scent. At least that explains why she wasn't talking to him! Mabuti na lang at nakuha pa niya ang mga ito.

Anyway, kung tutuusin, hindi naman nalalayo ang abilidad nila ni Carteron sa pangangaso.

'Tsk! Lamang lang siya ng konti sa'kin. But my hunting abilities are as good as his!'

Siyempre, iyon ang gusto niyang paniwalaan.

Because who, for wolfberry's sake, could ever beat their creepy brother at hunting?

Speaking of Carteron, binalingan ni Lycros ang kinaroroonan ng kapatid nang pagak itong natawa. He elegantly untied himself from the rope and dusted off his clothes. Ngumisi ito nang makakaloko sa kanya. A sadistic look in his eyes.

"Don't be silly, brother. I could have found those faster, you know. Naging busy lang ako. Hahaha!"

"Busy?" Napapailing na lang si Helisson. "Busy sa pagbibigti at pagsalambitin sa ere? Seriously Carter, you need to find a new hobby. Natakot tuloy si Miss Red kanina."

"Miss Red? Oh! You already have a pet name for our dinner? How thoughtful of you! HAHAHAHA!"

Lycros glared at him. Kahit kailan talaga, walang-puso ang isang 'to! Well, that's what makes him the hunter of the pack, of course. Lahat naman sila ay may kanya-kanyang tungkulin at expertise.

"She's not our dinner, you dumbass! Magpakita ka naman ng kaunting respeto sa prinsesa!"

Napasimangot na lang si Carteron.

Alam niyang gusto pa sana nitong makipagdebate (o makipag-one on one death match) sa kanya, ngunit hindi nila ito magagawa sa presensiya ng kanilang "alpha".

"So... Princess Rieka Ridinghood is deaf, huh? The records didn't tell me anything about that."

Binalingan nilang tatlo ang kanilang lider na kanina pa nakatitig sa pares ng hearing aids sa mesa. His dark eyes assessed the objects. An unreadable expression on his face. Maya-maya pa, huminga nang malalim si Acontes at seryosong bumaling sa kanila. Puno ng awtoridad ang kanyang tono. Nakadagdag pa sa "intimidating" nitong hitsura ang peklat sa kanyang pisngi.

Like their other brothers, Lycros knows Acontes shouldn't be messed with.

He's the alpha, after all.

"We'll keep her and wait to see if the Etteilla chooses her."

The forbidden chamber.

Sa hindi malamang dahilan, kinabahan si Lycros. Paano kung hindi pala siya piliin nito? Paano kung mabigo na naman siya sa paghahanap ng karapat-dapat na dalaga para sa trabahong ito? As selfish as it sounds, but Lycros can't afford to fail the pack now. Siguradong papalayasin ulit siya ng mga ito!

"And what if she is the one we're looking for?" Mahinang tanong ni Helisson na sandaling inalis ang atensyon sa kanyang inuukit na wooden figurine.

"Then we proceed with the plan. Sa ngayon, marami pang kailangan tuklasin ang prinsesa. Because of this, I expect you all to behave and help her---NOT sexually assault, harrass, or make her throw your werewolf frisbees 24/7."

Acontes grabbed Red's hearing aids and stared at them for a longer than necessary.

"Nyctimus' sleeping spell will only last for another hour, though. Kailangan nating pag-usapan ang mga preparasyon at pormal na pagkakakilala sa kanya... Lycros, tawagin mo na sina Macednus at Linus nang masimulan na namin ang pagpupulong."

"Namin?"

"Don't make me repeat myself."

Lalong napasimangot si Lycros. "Hindi talaga ako kasama? Aray naman."

Humagalpak naman ng tawa si Carteron at inabot sa kanya ang isang lubid. "Heto, baka kasi gusto mo nang magbigti. Thank me later. HAHAHAHA!"

'Tsk! He's crazy.'

Samantala, nagkibit naman ng balikat ang pinuno ng "Big Bad Werewolves". Sa kabila ng kalmado nitong ekspresyon, naroon ang babala sa mga mata nito.

"You aren't officially accepted back into this pack, remember? Hindi pa rin namin nakakalimutan ang kasalanang ginawa mo, five hundred years ago."

Napayuko na lang si Lycros.

'Ang hirap talaga ng sitwasyon ko.'

Kung may pagkakatulad man siguro sila ni Red Ridinghood, iyon ay pareho nilang sinusubukang punan ang kanilang mga pagkukulang. Trying to reach those shitty expectations that they didn't ask for in the first place is just like trying to shield a candle light from a strong wind...

It's nearly impossible.

---

Indeed, indeed, I cannot tell,
Though I ponder on it well,
Which were easier to state,
All my love or all my hate.
Surely, surely, thou wilt trust me
When I say thou dost disgust me.
O, I hate thee with a hate
That would fain annihilate;
Yet sometimes against my will,
My dear friend, I love thee still.
It were treason to our love,
And a sin to God above,
One iota to abate
Of a pure impartial hate.

---"Indeed, Indeed, I Cannot Tell", Henry David Thoreau