OCTO
"...Nandoon ang lobby. Nasa dulo naman ng hallway na 'to ang infirmary. Not that I really go there, anyway. HAHAHA! Hindi ko alam kung bakit pa ako pinipilit ng siraulong si Helisson."
"Helisson?"
Isang nakakakilabot na ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi ni Carteron habang pinaglalaruan pa rin nito ang isang lubid. During their little "tour" he's been knotting them into animal shapes. Napasimangot si Red nang makitang korteng giraffe naman ito ngayon. 'How does he even do that?'
"Si Helisson ang 'healer' sa aming magkakapatid, Your Highness. I don't fucking know why the alpha insisted we need someone playing a shitty doctor. It's not like he can cure our curse or something. HAHAHAHA!"
Hindi natawa si Red.
Mas lalo lang siyang inusig ng kanyang kuryosidad tungkol sa sumpa ng magkakapatid. 'May rason kaya kung bakit nai-sumpa sila ng mangkukulam? In the books I've read, witches don't usually curse people into werewolves without a reason,' isip-isip ng dalaga habang naglalakad sila sa isang pasilyong napapalamutian ng moon-shaped lanterns.
Nang dumako ang mga mata ni Red sa kalapit na bintana, napansin niyang naglalaro sina Macednus, Linus, at Lycros ng frisbee sa may courtyard. The boys were taking turns at throwing the black frisbee---that was actually giant slab of black rock.
'Nagagawa pa nilang maglaro nang normal?'
We'll that's amusing.
But then again, this isn't an ordinary game of frisbee. Sa lakas ng pagkakahagis ni Lycros, lumipad papunta sa kagubatan ang kanilang laruan. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Red nang hindi na niya halos matanaw ang frisbee sa layo ng narating nito.
"Hah! Catch that!"
The blonde boasted and smirked. To her surprise, walang pagdadalawang-isip na nag-transform bilang mga dambuhalang werewolves sina Macednus at Linus at matuling tumakbo papunta sa frisbee. Yes, Macednus and Linus just transformed before her eyes! Bahagya pang yumanig ang lupa dahil sa pwersang hatid ng mga lobong ito.
Napanganga na lang si Red habang pinapanood ang papalayong imahe nila. Bigla na naman niyang naalala ang panahong halos tumilapon na siya sa likod ni Lycros nang inihatid siya rito. Seeing a werewolf's inhuman speed and strength up close was amazing and disturbing at the same time.
Nang mapansin ni Carteron kung saan nakatuon ang kanyang atensyon, nagkibit na lang ito nang balikat. "Werewolf frisbee. It's our favorite sport, ya know. The first wolf to retrieve the frisbee can punch the loser."
"Tama lang yata ng desisyon ni Acontes na mag-assign ng doctor," Red shook her head in disbelief. Bakit pa nga ba siya magugulat sa brutal na mga laro ng magkakapatid? They're the Big Bad Werewolves.
Sa lugar na ito, walang pumipigil sa kanilang gawin ang kahit ano.
'But what if there's a way to escape this castle?'
A few minutes ago, Red Ridinghood wouldn't even entertain that idea. Given her situation, alam niyang imposible niyang matakasan ang magkakapatid. Wala naman sigurong matinong mortal ang magtatangkang tumakas mula sa isang kastilyong pinamamahayan ng mga taong-lobo, hindi ba?
She can't outrun them.
That's for sure.
Baka hindi pa siya nakakalayo, sakmalin na siya ng mga halimaw na ito. When that happens the forest floor will be painted with her crimson blood in no time; like a morbid abstract meant for the wicked souls.
'But if I can't outrun them, maybe I can trick them?'
Sandaling pinag-isipan ni Red ang ideyang ito. Sa kabila ng "assurance" ng lider nilang hindi siya papatayin ng mga ito (which is not really an assurance now that she thinks about it), sa kanyang naranasan kanina kay Carteron, sigurado ang prinsesa na ang kastilyo mismo ang gagawa nito. If she stays in this creepy castle for another day, Red was sure she'll either die or go crazy. And as tempting as "acceptance" sounds, alam niyang hindi niya pa rin kayang talikuran nang tuluyan ang kanyang tungkulin sa kanilang kaharian.
Princess Rieka Ridinghood is the only heir to the throne, after all.
"I smell your hesitation, Your Highness. Iniisip mo ba kung paano ka makakatakas sa'min?"
Napapitlag na lang si Red nang maramdamang nasa gilid na pala niya si Carteron. From the corner of her amber eyes, she can see him staring at her intently. Shit. Did he just sniff her neck again?
"H-Hindi ko alam kung anong pinagsasasabi mo."'
"Liar...liar...liar... I might just eat you for dinner. HAHAHAHAHA!"
Agad na lumayo si Red at tinakpan ng hood ang kanyang ulo. Carteron's suspicious eyes didn't falter. Para bang kinikilatis pa rin siya nito. That creepy grin never left his lips. Samantala, sinusubukan namang isantabi ni Red ang kaba. Ayon kay Lycros, si Carteron ang main "hunter" sa kanilang magkakapatid, hindi ba? He's a natural-born predator. If that's the case, then she needs to extra cautious around this freak.
Red Ridinghood glared at him.
"Tapos na ba ang tour natin? I'd like to go back to my room, please."
'Para makapagplano ng pagtakas ko.'
But of course, she can't say that out loud. Hindi naman siguro kasama sa supernatural powers ng mga taong-lobo ang mind-reading, 'di ba?
"Bihira ka lang lumabas sa palasyo niyo, hindi ba?"
"Um... Oo. Bakit mo naman natanong?" Ano bang kinalaman nito sa tour nila?
After a moment, Carteron shook his head and started walking towards a hallway. "Naubusan ako ng Goblin hair rope since that bastard Nyctimus had accidentally mistaken it for unicorn hair last week. Kailangan kong pumunta sa storage room. Why don't you join me, Your Highness?"
Tatanggi pa sana si Red kung hindi niya lang napagtantong wala nga pala siyang ideya kung paano bumalik sa kanyang kwarto. Sa dami ng nilikuan nilang pasilyo kanina, she knew she'll have a hard time figuring out the directions.
"Well, mukhang wala rin naman akong choice." The princess sighed, making Carteron stop in his tracks.
The sadistic glint in his dull eyes resurfaced like a sunken ship at sea.
"A 'choice' is just another fancy word for an 'escape route', Your Highness. Sa buhay, madalas hindi ka laging bibigyan ng pagpipilian dahil gusto ka lang bwisitin ng tadhana," mahinang kumento ni Carteron bago tuluyang naglaho sa kaliwang pasilyo. Maliban sa mahinang tunog na nililikha ng sapatos ng binata, muling binalot ng nakabibinging katahimikan ang paligid.
Wala sa sariling sinundan ni Red ang werewolf.
That's when her eyes widened upon realizing one tiny detail.
'Kanina lang walang daan dito!'
*
Muling binasa ni Red ang gintong karatula sa tabi ng pinto ng "storage room" ng mga lubid ni Carteron...
CARTERON'S COLLECTION OF
ROPES AND LOST HOPES
Nakakatuwang isipin na pati ang karatula, nakasabit sa pader gamit ang iba't ibang klase ng lubid. 'Nag-effort pa talaga siyang pangalanan ang silid na 'to? Well, that's a bit surprising.' Red Ridinghood scanned the empty hallway. Hindi niya matanaw ang hangganan ng magkabilang dulo ng mga ito. Sigurado naman siyang hindi ganoon kalayo ang nilakad nila!
Ugh. Is this castle playing tricks on her, again?
"Rest in peace! HAHAHAHA!"
Red almost had a heart attack when Carteron's head popped out of the room. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang nakakaloko nitong ngiti sa labi habang nakatitig sa kanya.
"What do you mean?"
She crossed her arms over her chest.
Ano na naman bang kabaliwan ang pinagsasasabi ng isang 'to?
"Oh! I thought you were trying to kill yourself. Hindi mo ba alam na kapag naabutan ka ng invisible marching band sa pasilyong 'yan, maari ka nilang dalhin sa underground chambers ng kastilyo? Ayaw nila nang may humaharang sa daanan nila."
"Nasaan na ba sila ngayon?"
"Eh? How should I know? They're 'invisible', duh!"
Dahil dito, mahinang napamura ang dalaga at mabilis na pumasok sa loob ng "storage room" ni Carteron. Hindi na niya pinansin ang pagrereklamo nito nang matapakan pa niya ang paa ng taong-lobo sa kanyang pagmamadali. Hindi niya alam kung niloloko lang ba siya ng isang 'to, but she won't take any chances.
Lalo pa't mukhang posible ang kahit anong kabaliwan sa kastilyong ito.
Nang tuluyan na siyang makapasok sa silid, Red Ridinghood found herself speechless once again. Nang sinabi kanina ni Carteron na ito ay isang "storage room", inaasahan niyang isang normal na silid lang ito na may shelves ng mga lubid. Heck, she wouldn't even be surprised if she saw his ropes hanging from hooks on the walls!
But no.
Things just had to have a touch of madness inside this castle.
"S-Sigurado ka bang ito ang storage room mo?"
"Ngayon ka lang ba nakakita ng 'storage room'? How freakin' ignorant can you humans be? Disgusting. HAHAHA!"
Sinamaan ng tingin ng dalaga ang werewolf. As creepy as Carteron seems, minsan mas gusto niyang nakabitin na lang ito nang patiwarik para matahimik.
"KUNG GANON BAKIT TAYO NASA ISANG CIRCUS?!"
Yes.
A circus, indeed.
The princess scanned the place again. Mistulang isang circus tent ang mga pader. A black-and-white stripped cloth surrounded them, enclosing the large space. Kumpleto pang may mga bleachers at mini-popcorn stand. The aroma of freshly cooked popcorn almost made her hungry again. Mula sa kaninang mamahaling carpet, naging lupa ang sahig na tinatapakan nila. Sa sentro nito ay isang malaking platform na may samu't saring mga kagamitan.
Red recognized the equipment used in training tigers. In fact, a hoop was still on fire! There was also a net that's meant to catch the trapeze performers near the mini-stage where the ringmaster usually stands. Sa kabilang bahagi ng silid, naroon ang ilang makikinang na costumes na napapalamutihan ng naggagandahang bulaklak at feathers. Hats in all shapes and sizes, and creepy-looking masks that looked more fit for a horror movie!
'Bakit ba may ganitong circus sa loob ng kastilyo ng Big Bad Werewolves?'
Nang mag-angat ng tingin si Red, halos malula siya sa taas ng kisame. Mula rito, natatanaw niya ang isang tightrope na kahawig ng nilakaran niya kanina.
The multi-colored props and stage lights were almost blinding. A lively carnival music played in the background.
Noon niya lang napansing may kinakalkal na palang mga lubid si Carteron sa kalapit na pirate's chest. He took out rope after rope. Maya-maya pa, halos matabunan na ng kanyang koleksyon ang sahig.
"Paano naman nagkasya ang ganyan karaming lubid diyan? It's really disturbing." Red finally asked.
When he finally found what he was looking for, Carteron closed the chest, chuckled, and twisted his head to smile at her, "What's disturbing is that you ask too many questions... Oh and there's still a lot of space here, Your Highness! Kasya pa dito ang bangkay mo. Want a demonstration? HAHAHA!"
Red frowned at him. "At least I'm not a freak who keeps an empty circus. Sinong matinong tao ang gagawing storage room ang isang cir---?!"
Agad na natigil sa pagsasalita si Red nang biglang maglaho sa kanyang harapan ang binata. Sa isang kisapmata, she can feel him breathing on her nape. Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata nang ma-realize niyang nakapulupot na pala sa kanyang leeg ang lubid na hinahanap nito kanina.
"Wag kang magtapang-tapangan sa teritoryo ko, Your Highness... You might just find yourself regretting you messed with The Hanged Man."
Like the predator he is, Carteron sniffed her neck and grazed his sharpened nail on her soft skin.
Red Ridinghood found it difficult to speak. Kabado siyang napalunok. Walang pumipigil kay Carteron na gilitan siya ng leeg sa mga sandaling ito. Siguro nga, nagkamali siyang sundan ang werewolf sa kanyang teritoryo. 'Baka nga gawa-gawa niya lang kanina ang tungkol sa invisible marching band! Shit,' Red thought as she struggled to concentrate.
Her thoughts were soon interrupted when the sound of trumpets broke through the silence.
'A-Ano na naman bang meron?'
"Enjoy the performance, Your Highness."
Her amber eyes searched the source of the sudden music. Panandaliang nawala ang atensyon niya sa binatang nakatayo sa kanyang likuran nang mapansing may mga taong nanggagaling mula sa gilid ng circus tent---no. They weren't coming from the sides of the black and white tent... They were emerging from the colored fabric!
From the black and white stripped circus tent, Red Ridinghood watched in awe as black and white humanoid figures started making their way towards the center.
"W-Wala silang mga mukha..."
Tila ba umiindayog pa ang mga ito sa nakapangingilabot na musikang nanggagaling sa kung saan. Nang akala ni Red ay lalapitan sila, she was taken aback when she realize they were actually choosing their costumes. Kasabay nito, umalingawngaw ang masigabong palakpakan mula sa audience. Kailan ba nagkaroon ng ibang tao rito? This place was empty a few moments ago!
Now, it feels like she's stuck inside a real circus!
When she was about to look at the direction of their "audience", nagulat na lang si Red nang biglang namatay ang mga ilaw. Sa kabila nito, nagpatuloy pa rin ang musika. With every passing second, the creepy carnival music only intensified.
"Carteron, anong nangyayari?!"
Nobody answered her.
Ni hindi na niya naramdaman ang presensiya ng werewolf sa kanyang likod. Saan naman kaya magpupunta ang isang 'yon?
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!"
Ilang sandali pa, nagtaka si Red nang biglang nagkaroon ng spotlight sa sentro ng circus. To her surprise, she spotted Carteron standing on the mini-stage in a ringmaster's attire. Lalong nag-ingay ang audience. Halos mabingi na si Red sa kanyang mga naririnig, pero sa kabila nito nauunawaan pa rin niya ang mga sinasabi ni Carteron.
Ngumisi nang nakakaloko ang werewolf. May nakatali pang lubid sa kanyang leeg na nagmistulang isang necktie. He tilted his top hat and raised his hands.
"Welcome to Carteron's Circus! HAHAHAHA!"
Just in time, the fire hoops blazed and tigers growled.
The audience went wild.
Everything burned spiralled into chaos.
Kasabay ng nakakatakot na musika, gulat na pinanood ni Red ang stunts na ginagawa ng mga tigre at napapangiwi sa paminsan-minsang ingay ng latigo ng trainers nila. Despite this, the trigers roared and jumped gracefully from one flaming hoop to another, almost like ballet dancers. Maya-maya pa, naagaw ang kanyang atensyon ng mga trapeze artists na lumilipad sa ere. Their colorful peacock inspired costumes caught the light, leaving a glitter trail in the air.
Napasigaw pa ang lahat nang kamuntikan nang mawalan ng balanse ang tightrope walker.
Sa kabilang banda naman, Red saw a large muscular man lifting other performers. Somewhat like a family of acrobats.
A black beared woman passed by while dancing.
Jugglers rode on their unicycles.
Magicians did their magic tricks.
'So, the black and white faceless human figures were actually circus performers?' Hindi makapaniwalang isip ni Red Ridinghood habang pinapanood ang kaguluhan sa kanyang paligid.
Sa kabila ng katotohanang walang mukha ang mga performers (at may suot pa silang horror-themed masks), nakakapanindig-balahibong musikang pumapailanlang sa loob ng circus tent, at ang misteyosong audience na nanonood sa kanila, hindi maitatanggi ni Red ang tuwa sa lahat ng ito. It was dark, creepy, and crazy---but it was fun. Napangiti na lang ang prinsesa.
She had never been to a real circus before.
"Kamusta ang circus, Your Highness?"
Nang lingunin ni Red Ridinghood ang werewolf, hindi na siya nagtaka pa nang makita niyang nakabitin nang patiwarik na naman si Carteron. He grinned like a lunatic, eyeing her like a prey. Bigla na namang naalala ni Red ang tarot card na napili niya kaninang umaga. The Hanged Man really suits him. Carteron was just a sinister and gothic version.
"It's...amazing." She admitted.
"I see. You smell like you're enjoying yourself! HAHAHAHA!"
Hindi talaga alam ni Red kung ano ang limitasyon ng mga kakayahan ni Carteron, but the princess thinks that she already has an idea why this werewolf suggested she accompany him here.
"Let me guess... Naamoy mo rin kanina ang malungkot kong buhay sa palasyo, kaya gusto mong maranasan kong makapunta sa isang circus, tama ba?"
That made Carteron pause. Sandali siya nitong tinitigan nang seryoso. Hindi pa rin nawawala ang nakakaloko nitong ngiti.
"Maybe."
---
White stars is no less lovely being dark,
And there are buds that cannot bloom at all
In light, but crumple, piteous, and fall;
So in the dark we hide the heart that bleeds,
And wait, and tend our agonizing seeds
---"From The Dark Tower", Countee Cullen
Music: "Carnival Lament" - Creepy Carnival Music by Robert Austen Music
Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top