"The princess is alive."  

Noong narinig ni Simon ang mga salitang iyon, agad siyang nag-angat ng tingin. Gulat siyang nakatitig sa binatang nakaupo sa kanyang harapan. The music coming from the wind chimes outside the shop grew louder, like a warning. The general didn't know he was holding his breath until he finally released it. He felt relieved, but at the same time, doubtful.

How can a princess survive that attack?

"S-Sigurado ka ba?"

Umayos siya ng pagkakaupo at seryosong pinagmasdan ang manghuhula. Kalmado lang itong nakaupo. Nakatuon ang kulay pilak nitong mga mata sa mga barahang nakapatong sa mesa. He rested his chin on his hands, his jet black hair stopped just past his chin. Surprisingly, he didn't look bothered by the fact that the king's general asked him about their supposedly dead princess.

Pero hindi pa rin nito tuluyang napawi ang pag-aalinlangan ni Simon. Hindi maganda ang reputasyon ng fortune-teller sa kanilang kaharian. May mangilan-ngilang testigong nagsasabing nagkakatotoo ang mga hula nito, while others believe he was just fishing out money from the naive ones' pockets.

Either way, this was his last resort.

The fortune-teller smirked, as if he was seeing something invisible to mankind.

"Ramdam kong hindi ka naniniwala sa mga hula, heneral. Kung ganoon, bakit ka nagpunta rito? Why waste a bag of gold on a poor fortune-teller like me if you lack faith in my powers?"

Pasimple nitong binalingan ang maliit na pouch na naglalaman ng tatlumpung gintong barya. Indeed, it was more than enough payment for a simple tarot reading.

Bilang pinuno ng hukbong-sandatahan ng kanilang kaharian, Simon taught himself to mask his emotions. Giving any indication of weakness in front of the enemy is the greatest mistake a soldier can commit---it's as good as suicide. Kaya't hindi niya alam kung bakit siya madaling nababasa ng manghuhulang ito.

'Is he authentic or am I just a bit vulnerable with Princess Red's disappearance?'

Huminga nang malalim ang nakatatandang heneral.

"You're right. I usually wouldn't believe in fortune-tellers. Ninety-five percent of the ones I've met are a fraud. Ilang 'manghuhula' na rin ang inaresto namin dahil sa panloloko nila sa mga residente. Sa kahariang kagaya nito, hindi na nakakapagtakang maraming desperadong mabuhay. Rats will do even the dirtiest deeds just to stay alive," the general said.

Soon, the fortune-teller's mocking laughter filled the four corners of the almost empty wooden shop. Naaaliw itong sumandal sa kanyang upuan at dinampot ang isang nakataob na baraha. The tarot card rested in between his slender fingers, a smirk played on his lips.

"Quite true. But right now, you're a rat too, general. Am I correct or am I not wrong?"

Imbes na makipagtalo, tahimik na tumango si Simon. Wala ring saysay kung ipagkakaila niya ito. Dahil katulad ng mga dagang na nabubuhay sa lansangan, desperado siyang alamin ang nangyari sa kanilang prinsesa---ang tagapagmana at pag-asa ng kanilang gumuguhong kaharian.

Right now, Princess Rieka Ridinghood is their only hope to move forward. Especially now that the king's health is failing him.

The general can clearly remember what happened last night, during the Princess Enlightenment Ceremony...

Nakatayo sila sa kabilang dulo ng kagubatan, kung saan nila nakatakdang salubingin ang kanilang prinsesa. Sa paglalim ng gabi, hindi niya maiwasang kabahan.

'What's taking her so long?'

Ilang sandali pa, binasag ng right-hand maid ng prinsesa ang tensyon.

"H-Hindi kaya may nangyaring masama sa prinsesa?"

Walang nagtangkang umimik sa kanila. Lahat sila ay natatakot isipin ang mga posibleng senaryo. Ayaw na nilang alalahanin pa ang sinapit na kamatayan ng ibang mga prinsesa sa kamay ng maalamat na Big Bad Werewolf. Lumipas muli ang kalahating oras, dumoble ang kanilang kaba at takot.

That's when the maid suddenly blurted out in distress, "W-We need to go look for her! Baka kung ano nang nangyari sa mahal na prinsesa!"

Kinailangan pa siyang pigilan ng general bago ito tuluyang tumakbo papasok sa masukal na kagubatan.

"B-Bitiwan niyo ako! Kailangan nating iligtas ang prinsesa...s-she can't die!" Naiiyak na nitong sabi.

Natahimik ang heneral. No. Princess Red will be alright. Hindi siya mamamatay. Hindi siya matutulad sa ibang mga prinsesang tuluyan nang natuldukan ang buhay sa kagubatang ito. Unconsciously, he stared at the tiara the princess gave him earlier.

A silent goodbye.

Umismid naman ang payatot na royal adviser, "Hah! Even if she is dead, the kingdom will be fine without her. Hindi natin kailangan ng isang tagapagmanang hindi kayang maging ganap na prinsesa at hindi marunong makipagsalamuha sa ibang tao... If she fails the test, she is not worthy to be part of our kingdom. As simple as that."

Noong mga sandaling 'yon, tuluyan nang naglaho ang pagtitimpi ng heneral. How could he talk to her like that? Magmula noon, alam na niyang "kontrabida" si Elpidio sa buhay ng prinsesa, but he didn't know the so-called "royal adviser" can be this heartless.

Nagkagulo ang lahat nang biglang kinuwelyuhan ng heneral si Elpidio.

He glared at him.

"Wala ka sa posisyon para sabihin kung karapat-dapat ba o hindi ang prinsesa! You are merely the king's adviser, so try to act like one!"

Pagak namang natawa ang royal adviser. "Oh, rest assured, know my place in the palace, Simon! Sana alamin mo rin ang sa'yo. You're not her father, you're just a soldier. Kaya 'wag kang umaktong magulang sa kanya. Or do you want me to tell the king about this?"

Tumalim ang mga mata ni Simon. Kahit kailan talaga, pangunahing salot sa kaharian nila si Elpidio. Kung hindi nga lang sa kanyang "immunity", baka matagal nang tinuruan ng leksyon ng heneral ang sumbungerong ito. But just when he was about to reply, binasag ng isang sigaw ang katahimikan. Simon's eyes widened in shock.

Binitiwan niya ang royal adviser.

Kilala niya ang boses na iyon.

"PRINCESS RED!"

Shit! Did the Big Bad Werewolf attack her?

Walang pagdadalawang-isip silang tumakbo sa kagubatan para iligtas ang kanilang prinsesa. Hindi na nila alintana ang panganib na naghihintay sa kanila. They needed to save her before it's too late. His heart hammered inside his ribcage, the deafening sound filled his ears.

Hindi na niya napigilan ang takot na kanina niya pa pilit isinasantabi.

"Prinsesa!"

They stopped in their tracks.

Simon's eyes widened in horror when he spotted the basket on the ground. Katabi nito ang kandilang tuluyan nang ninakawan ng liwanag. Ilang metro mula roon, natanaw niya ang isang karumaldumal na imahe.

Blood stained the grass.

Red Ridinghood was nowhere to be found.

"H-Hindi..."

Naikuyom ni Simon ang kanyang mga kamao at agad niyang ipinag-utos ang paghahanap sa prinsesa at sa halimaw na tumangay sa kanya. Ngunit lumipas ang buong magdamag, wala silang nakitang bakas ng mga ito. Ang huling natatandaan ng heneral ay noong nakarinig siya ng alulong ng isang lobo. Without a doubt, he knew what happened.

The legend was true, after all.

'The Big Bad Werewolf attacked her.'

"Despite the clear evidence that she was attacked by a monster who killed princesses, you have 'doubt' because you haven't seen a corpse, yet." Napabalik na lang sa kasalukuyan ang heneral nang muling magsalita ang binatang fortune-teller. Nakatuon pa rin ang mga mata nito sa barahang hawak niya. "Hanggang ngayon, pinanghahawakan mo pa rin ang maliit na posibilidad na buhay pa ang tagapagmana, and that desperation led you here. Ayaw mong tanggapin na wala na ang natitirang 'pag-asa' ng kahariang ito, at iyon rin ang dahil kung bakit hindi mo pa binibigay sa hari 'yan. Am I correct or am I not wrong, general?"

He spoke as if he knew everything.

Napalunok si Simon nang sumulyap ito sa bulsa ng kanyang military cloak. Nakatago roon ang tiara ni Princess Rieka Ridinghood. Hindi pa nga niya ito ipinapaalam sa hari. 'Paano naman niya nalaman 'yon?' The general eyed the fortune-teller suspiciously. The mysterious man whose abilities are beyond anyone's comprehension.

Whether he was a real psychic or just a skilled man, he couldn't tell.

Huminga nang malalim si Simon, "Totoo bang buhay pa ang prinsesa?"

He raised the unknown tarot card.

The fortune-teller smirked and rested his feet on the table. He chuckled, "You still have doubts, huh? Hahaha! Oo, buhay pa ang pinakamamahal ninyong prinsesa. Princess Rieka Ridinghood is alive..."

Hinagis niya ang baraha sa mesa, kung saan ito huminto sa tapat ng heneral. Ngayon, malinaw na niyang nakikita ang imahe sa tarot card.

"...alive for now, that is."

Hindi naniniwala sa mga manghuhula ang heneral. Sa ilang dekada na niyang paglilingkod sa palasyo, nakita na niya ang lahat ng klase ng pagpapanggap at panloloko. Ngunit iba ang kutob niya rito. The young fortune-teller's words held conviction, like he was a slave and a master to fate itself.

At nang mabasa ng heneral ang nakasulat sa tarot card, agad siyang kinilabutan...

DEATH.

---

Here on my arm lies a mark that I made.
When I was so low, I cut with a blade
To punish my body for being a mess,
Though here is my testament, I must confess...

That seeing these scars left on my arms, legs, and chest
Makes me realize I was in a place of no rest;
I feel guilty inside for leaving this token.
Now I will see and remember that I was so broken.

---"Scars", Laura R.