How many times have you thought about killing yourself? 

'I think I already lost count,' Red Ridinghood thought before taking in a deep breath. Sa gitna ng kadiliman, walang-gana niyang inayos ang kulay pulang hood ng cloak na tumatakip sa kanyang mga mata. Her amber eyes were hidden from view. Shadows casted on her pale face. Her crimson red lips were pulled into a tight line.

"So, I'm a guest in the castle of the Big Bad Werewolves, huh?"

Pinigilan niyang matawa nang pagak. Kung nakikita siguro siya ngayon ni Elpidio, baka kanina pa ito nagpa-fiesta sa kanilang kaharian. He was doing a good job as the king's royal adviser and as the man who lives to see her suffer. Sa lahat ng kamalian ng prinsesa, siya ang unang pumupuna. Minsan, siya pa mismo ang naghahanap ng maibabato sa hinirang na tagapagmana.

'Of course, he'll be delighted if he finds out I'm trapped in this hell with seven werewolves.'

Seven werewolves that can kill her anytime they wish.

Princess Rieka knew she's as good as dead now.

"But, whether I'm physically or emotionally dead, it doesn't make any difference. Instead of dwelling in sorrow, let's just get over it."

With that thought in mind, Red Ridinghood pushed open the double doors. Umalingawngaw sa katahimikan ng kastilyo ang tunog na nilikha ng mga ito. Kasabay nito, agad siyang sinalubong ng liwanag na nagmumula sa loob ng dining hall.

Humalimuyak ang amoy ng mga rosas at masasarap na putahe.

Indeed, it was enough to make her stomach growl in hunger.

'Shit. Kahapon pa nga pala ang huling kain ko.'

When her eyes adjusted, Red saw the strange interior design of the spacious hall. Nagpakurap-kurap ang prinsesa, baka-sakaling namamalikmata lang siya.

Ang kabuuan ng silid ay napapalamutian ng mga itim at gintong dekorasyon. The walls were painted black, giving an elegant yet creepy atmosphere to the place. The long table was covered in a black satin mantle piece with pleats and gold-colored roses adoring the sides. Sa ibabaw ng mesa, naghihintay sa kanya ang samu't saring pagkain---tomato bisque soup, roasted turkey, garlic bread, and herb-basted potatoes. Sa tabi ng mga ito, naroon ang walong gintong kopitang naglalaman ng wine. Ironic enough, the goblets even had little wolf carvings.

She didn't know whether to be amazed or creeped out.

Inilibot ni Red ang kanyang mga mata. Pero imbes na ang pitong werewolves, ang nakita niyang nakaupo roon ay mga...

"Voodoo dolls?"

Kunot-noong nilapitan ni Red ang mga voodoo dolls na nakaupo sa bawat isang silya. "Bakit naman may ganito rito sa dining hall? Damn. Are they trying to scare mo? Baliw na nga yata ang pitong 'yon." Napasimangot na lang si Red at akmang hahawakan na sana ang isang manikang may lubid pa sa leeg nang bigla itong magbago...

"If you touch me, I'll bite you. HAHAHAHA!"

Sa isang kisapmata, lumitaw ang binatang may nakakakilabot na ngiti sa labi. Sa gulat ni Red, mabilis siyang umatras bago pa man nito kagatin ang kanyang daliri. "What the hell?! K-Kanina lang..."

"What's the matter, Your Highness?" He smirked at her.

When she turned to the other voodoo dolls, noon lang na-realize ni Red na kanina pa siya tinitingnan ng mga binata. They stared at her like she was crazy.

Wala na ang mga manika.

Shit! How the fuck did this happen?

"G-Gaano katagal na kayong nandiyan...?"

The seven werewolves blinked at her innocently. 'Innocently? Tsk. What a joke!' She stubbornly thought. From the head of the table, Acontes calmly glanced at his wrist (without a watch). "We've been here for exactly 9 minutes and 15 seconds, my empress. You look surprised. May problema ba?"

What the hell?

"Hmm... Do you think ma chérie is screwed in the head?" Narinig niyang bulong ni Macednus sa katabi niya.

Naaaliw namang pumalakak si Linus. He looks amused.

"Oh! Our guest reminds me of Alice,
in that classic children's story,
when she crossed paths with the Hatter,
and realized all the best souls are crazy!"

Napasimangot naman si Macednus habang nilalaro ang isang rosas sa kanyang kamay. "Tsk! Kaya ayaw kitang kausap eh. Is it really necessary to speak that way, you poetic idiot?"

"Para namang hindi ka na nasanay sa isang 'yan. Fudge. He even rhymes while taking a shower! Hanggang sa pagtulog yata, tumutula pa rin si Linus. Hahaha!" The blonde-haired Lycros laughed his ass off, almost knocking himself off the chair.

Ss kanyang tabi, tahimik lang na kumakain si Nyctimus na parang may sariling mundo. For a moment, everyone just stared at him while he chewed his food. Ni hindi ito lumingon sa kanila.

Awkward silence.

Helisson sighed. "He never talks."

Macednus shrugs. "Sigurado ka bang kapatid natin 'yan?"

"Unfortunately, yes. I already did a DNA test... One hundred and fifty-nine times."

Acontes sipped his wine before adding, "Do it again, just to be sure."

"Aw, don't be too hard on the poor dude! Buti pa nga si Nyctimus, pina-practice nang maging bangkay. Now, even a rock is louder than him! Paano kaya kung---ARAY!"

Napadaing na lang sa sakit si Lycros nang matamaan siya ng green peas sa mata. He glared at the suicidal maniac in front of him.

"DARN IT, CARTERON! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"

"And you expect me to believe ya? You can't even beat me in hunting, brother. HAHAHAHA!"

"TARA DITO NANG MAHAGIS NA KITA SA ILOG!"

Soon, there was choas. Nakatuod lang sa kanyang kinatatayuan si Red habang nagpapatayan na ang magkakapatid. She wouldn't even be surprised if they transformed into werewolves and make the dining hall their battle ground!

'Ano ba itong pinasok ko?'

Still, the scene earlier bothered her...

"What about the voodoo dolls?"

Lumingon sa kanya si Nyctimus. Noong akala niyang magsasalita na ito, the magician just shrugged. Clearly uninterested. Ibinalik na lang niya ulit ang atensyon sa kanyang kinakain.

"My empress, sit down. The food will get cold," Acontes said before smirking. "O baka kailangan pa kitang pakainin? I don't mind..."

Macednus chuckled, "Or, perhaps, you wanna sit on my lap, ma chérie? Mas kumportable rito." He winked.

Red rolled her eyes. Akala ba nila madadala siya sa matatamis na mga salita? To hell with that.

"Damn it. Are you guys messing with me? Kanina lang wala kayo rito! There were voodoo dolls and---!"

"Gutom lang 'yan, Miss Red. Don't worry about these idiots. Kapag nagpatayan sila, we'll just dispose their corpses... Here, take a seat." Helisson smiled charmingly and pulled a chair for her.

'Dispose their corpses? Well, that's assuring.'

Kindly note the sarcasm.

Huminga nang malalim si Red at pilit pinakalma ang sarili. 'Kailan pa naging consequence ng gutom ang hallucinations? Sigurado ako sa nakita ko!' Nanginginig ang kanyang mga kamay sa inis. Damn... Right now, she felt like she was being encaged in a labyrinth of darkness and mysteries.

They were keeping secrets from her, and she can't do anything but be a slave of her own curiosity.

Kaya sa huli, wala rin siyang nagawa kung hindi umupo.

"Ah, here comes the princess,
all dressed in red!
With amber eyes
and raven locks on her head.
They say a ray of sunshine is lovely
-that's true!
But in my opinion,
it can never be as lovely as you."

Bungad sa kanya ni Linus sa kanyang kaliwa. Nakangiti ito nang nakakaloko. His light brown eyes were full of mirth, when he spoke in rhymes.

Bad mood pa rin ang prinsesa.

"Wow. What a fancy way to greet me a simple 'good morning', Linus. Pasensya na, nagsayang ka pa ng laway," kibit-balikat na sagot ng dalaga nang alisin na niya ang pagkakatakip ng hood sa kanyang mukha. What? She can be a bit bitchy sometimes. Aminado naman siya roon.

"Oh? I beg to disagree, my dear.
For a true poet's words are unlimited,
there's nothing to fear..."

Naalala ulit ni Red ang pagpapakilala nito sa kanya kanina sa tunnel. Indeed, he was a living poetry. Nang dumako naman ang kanyang mga mata sa lion medallion nito sa leeg. Lalo lang siyang inusig ng kuryosidad.

But before she could even ask about it, Acontes cleared his throat to catch their attention.

Panandaliang natahimik ang magkakapatid at binalingan ang kanilang "alpha". In between her lessons on posture and royal etiquettes, nagagawa pa ring magbasa ni Red noon ng mga nobela. She read dozens of werewolf-themed cheesy romance fictions, but she had no idea that things are a lot more different. Unang-una sa lahat, ni hindi niya alam na totoo pala ang mga werewolves.

"Now that everyone's not trying to kill each other... I think it's about time to show some hospitality, you mutts." Mariin nitong sabi at pasimpleng sinamaan ng tingin ang iba pang werewolves. "Or do you want me to throw you off a cliff again?"

Napalunok sila Lycros, Macednus, Linus, at Carteron habang kalmado namang tumango sina Helisson at Nyctimus (na ngayon lang ulit sila pinansin).

'Damn. He really is scary.'

Nonetheless, the eldest werewolf's eyes softened when they met hers.

Well, just a little.

"Since you are our guest, please allow us to give you a tour inside the castle, my empress," pormal siyang nagsasalita, but there was danger and mischief brewing in his dark eyes. Naikuyom ng dalaga ang kanyang mga kamay para itago ang panginginig ng mga ito.

She glared at the alpha.

"Ano namang klaseng 'tour'? Because if it involves ambushing me in the hallways and murdering me on the spot, pakisabihan na ako nang maaga. As you can see, hindi ako nakapaglit ng damit pamburol."

Napalingon sa kanya ang lahat. Damn. And just when she didn't want anymore attention.

'Minsan talaga, wala sa lugar ang pagiging sarkastiko mo, Red!' She mentally slapped herself.

Pagak namang natawa si Carteron. "Eh? Sino bang nagsabing may plano pa kaming iburol ka? We'll just dump your dead body in the forest. Saves us the effort. HAHAHAHA!"

Tsk. Ano pa nga bang aasahan niya sa mga halimaw na 'to?

Meanwhile, an amused smirk played on Acontes' lips. Nang hindi inaalis ang kanyang mga mata sa dalaga, inutusan niya ang kangyang bunsong kapatid.

"Nyctimus, you know what to do."

Napasimangot si Red sa sinabi nito. Masama ang kutob niya sa binabalak nila, at hindi pa nakatulong ang pang-asar nilang mga ngisi. Sa isang kumpas ng kamay ni Nyctimus, lumitaw ang pitong nakataob na kopita sa kanyang harapan. Pinagmasdan ni Red ang repleksyon niya sa isa sa mga ito. It was made of gold, of course.

'Because silver is one of a werewolf's weaknesses.'

Before she could even ponder on the thought, she heard the alpha spoke again.

"Dahil pito kami at masyadong malaki ang kastilyo, kailangan nating i-schedule kung sino sa amin ang unang magiging 'tour guide' mo, prinsesa. Inside each golden goblet is a tarot card that presents every one of us... Now, choose."

Tarot card?

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Red Ridinghood sa kanyang narinig. Muli niyang binalingan ang pitong nakataob na kopita. 'How will I know which one is which?' She felt their eyes staring at her. Damn. Red felt nervous! Although she still doesn't trust any of them, mas mapanatag sana ang prinsesa kung ang tarot card ni Lycros o Helisson ang mapipili niya.

Heck, she wouldn't even mind if she picked Nyctimus' card!

'Pero baka pareho lang kaming mapanisan ng laway.'

Red sighed. "Fine."

Tinitigan niya muli ang pitong gintong kopita. Pinapakiramdaman ang bawat sa mga ito. After a few moments, Red reached out to the third goblet to her left. Her heart pounded inside her chest as she lifted it up.

Agad niya ring nabitiwan ang kopita nang makita ang tarot card.

A loud crashing noise that filled the hall, but none of them cared, anymore.

Nanlalata lang na nakatitig si Red Ridinghood sa tarot card na nakabaliktad---hindi. Hindi ito nakabaliktad. Sadyang nakabitin lang nang patiwarik ang lalaking nasa larawan. She read the word written on the tarot card...

THE HANGED MAN

At iisang werewolf lang ang naiisip niyang sinisimbolo nito.

That's when she felt him standing behind her, sniffing her neck like a true predator. Nanindig ang kanyang balahibo. Alam niyang nakangisi ito nang nakakaloko. She can almost imagine the sadistic glint in his dark eyes.

She heard the mockery in his tone.

"Mukhang ako ang magiging tour guide mo sa araw na ito, Your Highness. Do you want me to tie you up, now?"

---

Surviving, instead of living each day,
Sheltered inside sturdy walls I create.
Fleeting moments when hope will linger so nigh,
But those feelings of wretchedness still once again rise.

Getting through every moment and each empty day,
Feeling lost and panicked in this chaotic maze.
Still not giving up and not giving in,
With my greatest fear being that it won't ever end.

---"The On-going Battles With My Demons", Pat A. Fleming