Sorry for all the errors! Hope you drop some comments! This is part I, the next one, hopefully, will be up by tomorrow. 💖

Enjoy reading and have a good one!

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#TCS36: The Story Continues I

Bawat pagpatak ng segundo ay pabigat nang pabigat ang paghinga ko. I remained silent and calculating. I needed to collect every piece that I have right now to rationalize everything. I don't wanna jump outside and start a massacre.

Marian, on the other hand, was at the corner of the room hugging her knees and shaking badly. She was telling the truth earlier... parts of it. I saw it in her eyes. The fear. The terror. She's scared of what happened to Lysa.

However, some of what she said... my instinct was telling me to be careful about it.

"What's the next move?" Akira suddenly sat beside me. I heaved a sigh.

"I cannot fully trust what she said, but I do think, she told us the truth about the Senses." I voiced out while staring at Marian. Hindi ko rin hinayaan na marinig n'ya 'yung sinabi ko kay Akira.

"But we can't stay in this room forever or bring her with us, she's dangerous." Akira replied seriously. I got his point. Kahit ako, parang ayoko isama 'tong si Marian. Who knows, if she's planning something behind our back?

Better be careful than sorry.

Napatitig na lang ako sa picture na hawak ko. Three witches. Sino 'yung tatlong witches? Agh! The information we acquired is not enough! This won't make us win nor make us do the right decisions!

I couldn't even think of anything that will make this game rational. Everything's all over the place, everything's so freaking confusing! Who the hell made this game like this? Could look so simple yet so freaking complicated in reality!

Ang gulo! Pakiramdam ko walang patutunguhan lahat ng 'to.

I feel so dumb right now. Hindi ko rin alam pa'no o saan magsisimulang mag-isip kasi wala talagang konkretong pwedeng basehan lahat ng nangyayari. Kung bakit ba naman kasi hindi ako nagfocus din tungkol sa Empire.

Damn, Rebel for giving us the mission about Justice.

I was too pre-occupied about him. The sweetest and kindest guardian of the Evans. Sus! Evil din naman 'yong pinsan kong 'yon, lowkey lang talaga. Pa'no ang hahaba ng sungay 'nung mga kapatid no'n maliban kay Ate Silhou—este Miracle.

Isa pa 'yon. Bakit ba bawal tawagin na Silhoue si Ate? Psh. Gulo talaga ng lahi ng mga Evans. Parang akala mo gets mo na tapos joke lang pala. Lakas maka-wow mali.

Teka nga, Evans din naman ako ah?

Pero bakit hindi naman ako kasing gulo nila?

Wait... hindi nga kaya, nagkapalit palit kami 'nung mga baby pa lang kami?

Hindi kaya anak talaga ako ni Tita Dyosa? Kaya ba super ganda ko, na walang kakabog sa beautiful face ko?

Oh my gosh! Tapos sina Pierce at Thorn pa na parehas banal at mabait? Hindi naman gano'n sina Tita Dyosa ah? Hindi nga kaya...? OH MY GOSH!

"Huy!"

"Aray!" Napa-amang kaagad ako kay Akira at saka aakmang susuntukin s'ya 'nung pinigilan n'ya 'yung kamao ko at saka mahinang tumawa.

"Bakit ka ba nambabatok at nangugulat na lang ha? Gusto mo talaga ng away ano? Papalag talaga ako, konti na lang, ano? Ano?" Dire-diretsong sabi ko kay Akira kaya naman natawa na naman s'ya.

I crossed my arms and pouted because of him. I lost my train of thoughts because of him! Where was I again?

"You," He started while supressing his laughter. Joke talaga yata ako sa lalaking 'to eh, lagi na lang natatawa sa 'kin. Psh. "You are making funny faces, you know? Like this." Then he suddenly creased his forehead and looked so intense, then pouted, next his eyes widened, and now he looked so confused.

Wait? What? I did that?!

"Loko loko!" Asar na sabi ko saka s'ya binatukan.

"You really did that!" He told me accusingly with a huge playful smile on his face.

Tinakpan ko 'yung mukha n'ya kaya naman bigla n'ya akong kiniliti. We laughed like we were playing, when suddenly I felt someone stare at us. I immediately straightened my body and sat properly, I also faked a cough because Akira's still chuckling.

I forgot about Marian! Andito pa pala 'to.

I stood up and fixed myself a little. At least, I feel calm and a little lighter now. Ewan ko ba naman kasi sa utak ko, nasa isang topic ako kanina tapos biglang napunta sa pagkakapalit palit ng mga anak? Like how? Anong konek no'n sa game? Kaloka!

I breathed in and out then I walked towards Marian heedfully. When I was near her she suddenly turned her head just to look at me. I arced my brow at her.

Makatingin 'to. Akala n'ya ha? Palaban kaya ako sa tinginan! I could stare and not blink for a whole minute or two, you know! Ano? Contest ba gusto n'ya? Pagbibigyan ko s'ya. Ako pa ba? Mabait na bata ito.

She immediately broke the eye contact and hid her face. I smirked, I won. Easy peasy.

"I have questions for you, so you better look at me in the eye." I instructed her, as I gaped down at her.

I felt she hesitated a bit but she still followed my order. Good. I thought I'd go scaring her again. Instead of levelling down to match her face, I pointed my finger at her to instruct her to stand up. I saw her gulped and trembled but eventually complied.

"Who are you, really? Not your identity in this game, but the real one." Mataman pero matigas na banggit ko sa kan'ya. She stepped back a bit and I saw how her lips quiver in trepidation.

"I'm Marian Gariano. A Middle Tier. Malapit nang maging Elite. I'm one of the leaders of the Middle Tier." Mahinang pakilala n'ya halatang natatakot at kinakabahan. I studied her expression, at least for now, she's stating the truth.

"Whom enjoined you about the fakers, I mean the Senses?"

"Seventh." Maikling sagot nito. Si Katniss.

"What did she tell you?"

"Someone shot a student at the oval months ago. It was them. They infiltrated the school. Hindi malocate ang buong grupo nila no'n pero sa bawat paglipas ng araw, nagsimula silang gumalaw. Do'n nagpakilala sila sa mga Royals biglang Senses." I gazed at her with a stoic face yet attentive ears.

"Continue..." Akira slowly went to us while throwing deadly glares at Marian. Pretty sure, Marian knew she's messing with the wrong people with how we are treating her right now. She's gonna be so freaking dumb if she's lying straight to our faces when I am holding her dearest life.

"One student was killed again, and the body was sent into the chambers of the Royals. Strange knives were all over the body." Kwento nito, I saw how her eyes recalled the situation on how the news got to her.

"Knives?" Akira inquired shortly, Marian nodded.

"Hindi ko alam, masyadong masikreto ang mga Crowns tungkol sa detalye. Pero ang alam ko may kakaibang design daw ng letter M 'yung mga knife. Nakatarak daw 'yun sa bibig, mata, ilong, tainga at kamay 'nung bangkay."

I honestly felt so bad about the victim. Who in their right mind would do such a cruel thing? They already killed him, but sending the lifeless and cold body with knives all over? That's beyond ferocious.

"Why are you involved in this?" Akira questioned again.

"Because Middle Tiers are the ones dying and the Commoners. No one was targeted on the Elites, Royals and Crowns. All they gave them were warnings." I felt goosebumps on my arm as I realized things.

The M stands for Mortem and Morbelque. Na s'yang tunay na nangmamay ari ng organisasyong 'yon.

The Senses are only attacking the Commoners and Middle Tiers, not because they are the weakest in the school, but because of the information that the children of the real and only Morbelque alive just transferred to the school.

Ibig sabihin bagong salta lang ang mga tunay na Morbelque. Ibig sabihin maaring nasa Commoners at Middle Tiers ang mga ito.

Damn. Hindi biro ang kalaban namin. Hindi na laro ang bagay na ito. We need to protect the Morbelque siblings. We need to be more careful about their identities.

"Kaya kami pinatawag. Seventh warned us to protect the states and report any suspicious things that's happening. 'Yun ang unang beses na nagpakita mismo ang isang Crown sa amin at direktang nagbigay ng utos. Seryoso ang Crowns kaya nila ginawa ang bagay na 'yon."

Napabuntong hininga ako. I could see that she's saying the truth.

"Senses? Why are they called Senses?" Tanong ko naman habang nakatitig pa rin kay Marian.

"Walang nangyaring kakaiba no'n matapos ang ilang araw, pero isang gabi sa dorm ng mga Commoners, may naglagay ng mga patay na catfish at parrot sa labas ng dorm. It freaked out the commoners. But it was harmless all in all. Little did we know; they are starting to get their names known."

Nanatili kaming nakikinig sa sinasabi ni Marian. This happened when we were at the Salvos Castra mukhang ayaw rin ipaalam nina Rebel na may ganitong nangyari.

"They sent out different kind of dead animals each day. Akala namin 'yun na tapos nagkaron na ng mga kakaibang message na galing sa dugo ng mga hayop na patay ang kasunod na nangyari."

"Thou shalt not speak..."

"Thou shalt not smell..."

"Thou shalt not touch..."

"Thou shalt not hear..."

"Thou shalt not see..."

Kumabog ng husto ang puso ko sa mga narinig. Senses. The fucking five senses. Kaya naman pala do'n sa mga parteng 'yun ng bangkay nakatarak 'yung mga kutsilyo. Dahil nga sa mga senses. Tapos 'yung mga pinatay pang hayop may kinalaman sa kung saan pinaka-matalas ang senses nila. Just like the catfish and parrot. About the mouth: for the catfish, it is the sense of taste and the parrot for speaking. Goodness. It's giving me hundreds of shivers!

"Hanggang sa nagpadala sila ng letter na pangsulat ay dugo sa mga Royals na ang nakalagay ay Senses." Nakagat ko ang labi ko dahil sa narinig. "The Crowns and Royals wanted to avoid chaos in the school, thus making the leaders of each state protect the members and track down the Senses."

"Kaso sa bawat subok naming hanapin kung sino sila, may namamatay. Ilang estudyante pa ang mamatay? Ilang estudyante pa ang magbubuwis ng buhay? Ayoko na. Hindi ko na kaya. Hindi ko na babanggain pa sila..." Umiiyak na sabi nito halatang halata ang takot at panginginig.

"Sino bang mas malakas? Bakit walang magawa ang nakatataas?" Halos namamaos na hinanakit na tanong n'ya sa 'min.

Napahawak ako sa noo. Damn, Crowns really have a lot on their hands. I know they are doing their best, and based on what's happening right now. I'm pretty sure, the Crowns already tracked down the Senses.

"Someone from the Senses is here..." Mahinang bulong ni Marian.

"Anong gagawin natin? Pa'no tayo makakalabas ng buhay? Maawa na kayo... tulungan n'yo ako..." Nagmamakaawang sabi nito sa 'min at saka lumuhod para humingi ng tulong.

"More info about them?" Akira asked coldly. Napa-iling iling na lang si Marian.

Now, besides the Witches, we also need to be careful about the Senses. How fucking lucky are we?

I clapped my hands. "No time for begging Marian." I uttered with a bored look on my face. I started to stretch and a small smile escaped from my lips.

Marian was so shocked when she saw me did that. "No time for fear. You gotta stand up and fight. Naturingan ka pa namang leader ng Middle Tiers. Hanggang dyan ka na lang?" I taunted while chuckling softly.

Marian stood up and stepped a little back. "You... you are evil..." Halos mautal utal na sabi n'ya.

"Nah," I said as I turned my back on her and headed towards the door. Akira trailed after me. "I just learned from someone evil." And I walked out of the door with confident.

Naramdaman namin na sumunod si Marian. "How was Lysa killed?" Akira asked.

"Sinaksak nina Brandon at Jacki." She almost broke down because of it but when I glared at her, she immediately hid at Akira's back and tried to follow us closely.

'Yun naman pala eh, nakukuha naman pala sa tingin.

"H-Hindi ba kayo natatakot baka may umatake sa 'tin..." Marian spoke in a whisper of dreadness.

"They don't have guns." I stated nonchalantly. People in here are stripped off of weapons and the likes. I didn't have my things when we arrived in here, and that will be the case for everyone. Every weapon they will acquire will be probably from what they could take in this mansion.

And besides why would I be afraid? Akira's freaking here. Although he's always the "walang paki-alam" type, I always knew he'd protect me. Ayieee. Kilig na sana si magandang ako, kaso alam ko namang lahat kami, hindi lang me. Char!

Natampal ko ng kaunti noo ko kasi kung ano ano na namang naiisip ko. My gosh. I need to kalma.

Nadaanan namin ang mga panibagong mga bangkay. Pakiramdam ko bumaliktad ang sikmura ko habang nakikita ko ang mga karumaldumal na sinapit nila pero pinigilan ko ang sarili. I don't wanna screw things up again. I needed to be strong.

We already have this in the stimulations in Salvos Castra. Although this is now the real thing, I needed to get used to it. Because the moment the Evans showed up in our faces, I knew there's no turning back. Because sooner or later, our hands will be covered by blood.

Habang maingat na iniikot ang babang palapag ay tiningnan ko ang paligid.

I held onto the pictures.

"Akira." I stopped on my track, kaya napatigil din 'yung dalawa.

"Bakit?"

"I think there will be more clues around the whole mansion." I concluded as I became warier of the surrounding. Someone might be watching.

"Okay. I'll try to search as we go." He retorted without any hesitation.

"Hindi ka man lang magtatanong kung bakit?" Kunot-noong tanong ko.

"I trust you." Napatitig ako sa kan'ya at saka napangiti. Jusko! 'Wag mo ako pakiligin Akira, baka makalimutan kong nasa game tayo, patay na! 'Yung madugong scene na 'to nagiging hearts sa mga mata ko! Gulay!

We arrived at the living room. Walang tao. I walked without making any noise. Akira did the same. Marian was frozen on the spot because we were too calm about this. Her watchful eyes heeded to our moves.

I secretly smirked because of that.

Marian Gariano is trustworthy outside of this game.

However, not inside of this hunt.

In the end, Akira and I both found nothing. Napabuntong hininga ako at saka ko nakita 'yung bangkay 'nung babae kanina na pumunta sa comfort room kasunod lang ni Lysa. I went to her with knotted forehead.

I saw the knife that was stabbed on her mouth mercilessly. Akira held my hand when he saw that I was about to touch the bloodshed.

"Let me," I commanded, Akira's expression was cold but I did not budge. I removed his grasp and examined the dead body.

The knife. The knife had a carved of an elegant letter M. I gritted my teeth. The one who did it wasn't Lysa. It was the Senses.

Ibig sabihin hindi lang kaming twenty ang nandito sa mansion. Tiningnan ko ang pagkakabaon ang punyal. It's weird. This is not what it should be... parang amateur ang gumawa. Parang hindi Senses na sobrang linis at pulido.

It's a little clumsy. That's why there's another stab at her back. The one that caused her death.

Nang matapos kong tingnan ang bangkay, kaagad akong dumiretso sa comfort room na nasa may kusina. Pagkapasok ko ro'n, napakaraming bakas ng dugo sa sahig, at talsik naman ng dugo sa pader.

Napansin kong may kakaiba sa splatter ng dugo sa pader. May parang guhit. Sobrang straight na guhit na pa-diagonal. Parang... kaagad kong tingnan 'yung itaas ng CR. The freaking ceiling had some little marks of blood too. However, parang binura na 'yon.

I looked at the trash can and found a string covered in blood.

Damn it. I smirked as my mind started to formulate things.

No one was here when the girl died. She was the only person here. Hindi dapat s'ya mamatay kung hindi s'ya pumunta sa CR na 'to. The washroom itself was a death den. Some kind of deadly thing was set up in here.

Intentionally. Para may mamatay. May mamatay pero may alibi pa rin kung sino man ang gumawa nito. Nagawa na 'to kaagad. Hindi naman kasi maseset up kaagad 'to. At saka kaya pala ganun 'yung stab wound sa babae, nanlaban siguro sa set up pero sa huli mas ipinahamak n'ya lang sarili n'ya noong 'yung kutsilyong nasa likod na n'ya ang tumarak at tumapos ng buhay n'ya.

When I got, everything noted inside the washroom, I went out. Akira looked at me keenly.

"Mind to share?" He asked smiling.

"Ayoko nga." Tapos dinilaan ko s'ya. Kaagad n'ya akong binatukan.

"Magsolo mo kayang harapin lahat ng kalaban, ewan ko lang, 'wag kang iiyak sa 'kin ha." My mouth formed into a small circle because of what he just told me. I instinctively punched him on the arm.

"Hindi ka na majoke?" I retorted while laughing although I was so near in punching his face. Nakuuu talaga. Grabe umatake talaga 'tong isang 'to?

"Guys?" Nag-aalinlangang tawag ni Marian. "H-hindi oras para t-tumawa ngayon..." Napaiwas s'ya ng tingin sa 'min.

"Bakit? Anong oras ba dapat?"

"Omygosh, Akira!" Siniko ko si Akira dahil sa sinabi n'ya. Nakakaloka kami ni Akira. Perfect match talaga! As in perfect match in pagiging out of place ang mga ugali! Yes, I admit to it. Haha.

Lakas na dapat intense at super kabado kami ngayon pero nagtatawanan kami. Baka mapagkamalan kaming baliw. Kaloka.

"Tara na nga sa taas." Kaagad kong hinila si Akira, takot na sumunod lang si Marian. Iba rin 'tong si Marian eh, talagang come on bumanos lang ang peg. Sunod lang nang sunod. Mukha ba kaming katiwa-tiwala ni Akira?

Umakyat kami sa taas. Nang makarating do'n isang napakalaking frame ang nakita namin. May mga nakakatakot na imahe ng mga witches na sinusunog sila ng buhay. May mga salita sa ibaba na nakalagay ay...

Maleficis incenderent.

At kasunod noon ay ang mga salitang nakalagay ay...

E CINERIBUS IGNIS EXCITABITUR.

Nakacarve mismo sa frame 'yung mga salitang 'yun kaya naman hindi ko mapigilang maging kuryoso. Lumapit ako at hinawakan ito. Sinundan ako ni Akira, hanggang na nagulat ako 'nung may makapa ako sa frame.

I was about to press or find something to do about the frame when Marian scream echoed through the floor.

Akira and I both turned and saw how Jacki and Brandon appeared. Jacki have Marian's neck with a knife on her skin. Jacki wasn't even kidding I saw how a crimson liquid flowed down a little from Marian's skin, the latter grimaced as she felt the sting.

"Please..." Pag-mamakaawa ni Marian.

"Give her to us." Brandon ordered us. I really don't care if they want Marian, but what gets me was he ordered me to do it? Heck. No one ever dared command me if they are not part of the family or the gang.

I cracked my neck and shot my eyebrows up.

"Should I? Should I not?" I stared at them without batting an eyelid.

"Step back, little bitch." Madiing utos ni Jacki. I shrugged my shoulders.

"Should I? Should I not?" I repeated what I said earlier in a more sarcastic tone.

"Fuck you, liar!" Madiing sambit ni Jacki sa tainga ni Marian, habang nakatingin dito. "Bakit mo proprotektahan ang sinungaling na 'to?!" Galit na tanong ni Jacki sa akin. I stepped forward, they both stepped backward.

Brandon on the other hand stepped to get Akira, but was interrupted when I stood up high and proud in front of him. He did not hesitate when he pointed the knife at me. I smirked at him. "Kapag nanutok ka ng kutsilyo..." My side lips rose as I slowly mention the words. "Siguraduhin mong mauunahan mo akong gamitin 'yan ha?"

He suddenly jumped to stab me, but I was fast enough to grab his hand and he looked at it as he tried to remove my grasp. "Ito na 'yung lakas mo?" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ko.

Nanggigil s'yang pilit na gustong isaksak sa akin 'yung patalim pero walang magawa gawa dahil hawak ko ang kamay n'ya. I stepped forward, Brandon clenched his teeth. I glanced at him in boredom.

"Really? This, is it?" Pang-aasar ko pa. I mean, iisa pa lang kamay ang gamit ko para pigilan s'ya pero bakit parang kahit tatlong daliri lang kayang kaya ko na? Humakbang ako ng isa pa at napaatras na s'ya.

I held on to his wrist more tightly and squeezed it. Konti na lang magcracrack na ang buto ng isang 'to kaya naman dahan-dahan ko na itong inikot dahilan ng pagkakabitaw n'ya sa kutsilyo, kaagad ko 'yung sinipa para tumaas at saka muling sinipa papunta sa likod gamit ang handle nito para masalo ni Akira.

"Thanks." I heard Akira's nonchalant voice when he got my delivery.

"Ahhh!"

"Tangina naman, Brandon?! Anong kalokohan at gaguhan 'yan?! Hindi mo mapatumba ang kutong lupang 'yan!?" Sigaw ni Jacki patungkol sa akin. Napatingin ako sa kanya dahil sa insultong sinabi n'ya tungkol sa 'kin.

Alam ko namang maliit ako pero grabe naman 'yung ikumpara ako sa kutong lupa? It hurts you know! I pouted and made a sad face at her. And slammed Brandon's body on the floor.

"Fuck, agh!" Malakas na reklamo nito 'nung nameet ng mukha n'ya 'yung sahig.

"Alam mo, ayoko sanang umupo kaso nabalibag na kita eh, kainis kasama mo eh, tawagin ba naman akong kutong lupa? Aba! Dyosa 'to ano!" Reklamo ko sa kan'ya.

I held his head while my foot was crushing right wrist and the other hand was stamping the floor for mercy. I didn't feel any mercy. Poor him. He shouldn't—they shouldn't have pissed me off.

Kaagad kong pinuntirya ang sensitibong parte ng leeg n'ya para makatulog na s'ya, at aba! Sobrang bilis naman no'n! Nagawa ko kaagad. Samantalang hirap na hirap ako no'n sa mga alalay ni Sven. Kaloka naman ito!

Jacki panicked when Brandon became unconscious. She suddenly pushed Marian to the floor and run for her life.

"Nice choice, eh?" Natatawang sabi ni Akira at saka lumapit sa umuubong si Marian. Kaagad hinawakan ng umiiyak na si Marian ang leeg n'ya.

"Lies, they can kill you, you know?" Banta ni Akira kay Marian. Tumango tango si Marian at hindi makapagsalita o makatitig sa aming dalawa.

Lumapit sa akin si Akira. "Ang duga mo, ba't 'di ka man lang kumilos?" I queried while walking towards the frame again.

"Kaya mo naman, ba't kita tutulugan?" Tamo talaga 'tong taong 'to. "'Tsaka mapapagod lang ako. Let me save my energy." Grabe! Napapaypay ako ng sarili ko dahil sa dahilan n'ya pero isang ngiti lang, wala na! Poof! I'm left swooning again! Argh!

"Gamutin mo muna 'yang si Marian." Siniko ko s'ya kasi halata namang nahihirapan si Marian. Kailangan ko pa 'yung babaeng 'yun. May hindi pa sinasabi 'yun.

Inirapan ako ni Akira pero sumunod din naman sa sinabi ko at saka tinulungan si Marian na dalhin sa isang room para gamutin. Ako naman ay nanatili sa harap ng frame at saka binasa ulit 'yung nandun.

Kung andito lang 'yung gadgets ko, e 'di natranslate ko na 'to. Kainis naman ngayon pa nawala. Kaagad kong diniskubre 'yung frame. I tried to move it and luckily it did, and a hidden door opened for me.

Kaagad akong pumasok don at nang makapasok ako ay sumara 'yun. Isang kwarto na parang sobrang sinauna. May mga torches at saka parang may kung ano anong drawing sa pader na gamit pa ang mismong bato pang-ukit.

It's like a historical place. It gives me a sense of peace and safety. I don't know... it just has that vibes. Parang lugar kung saan ligtas ka kapag may mga sumugod kalaban. Parang taguan at walang ibang nakakaalam no'n.

I traced the weird drawings. And my forehead knotted when I noticed a familiar symbol.

H with a crown.

What's this?

When did I see this symbol? Why does it looks do familiar?

Napatingin akong muli sa kabilang pader. Imbis na drawings mga parang letters na hindi ko mabasa kung ano ang nakalagay. Naglakad ako hanggang sa nakita ko ang isang cabinet na punong puno ng mga tila sinaunang libro.

Kaagad kong kinuha ang isa do'n. Wala namang nakasulat. Psh.

Pwede kayang magbaon? O kumuha ng walang paalam? Hehe. Ang ganda sana eh. Pwede kong sulatan ng mga kung ano ano.

Kumuha ulit ako ng isang libro. Agaw pansin ang cover nitong parang sunog na tapos ang mga letrang nakaukit do'n ay parang letra na nakita ko na... WAIT! Oh my gosh! Ito 'yung phrase na nasa frame.

Kaagad kong binuksan 'yung libro. Mga drawings ang nandon. It was kind of weird and eerie. It gives you a hunted and witchcraft vibe. Tapos torch lang ang ilaw mo? E 'di mas lalong creepy. Sana pala andito si Akira para naman may lovey dovey moment na naman kami.

Speaking of, oh my gosh! Baka ako'y iniisahan na ni Marian kay Akira! Kaagad akong lumabas sa room na 'yun dala dala 'yung libro at saka pumunta sa kwarto kung nasaan sila. Luckily, wala naman akong naabutan na kababalaghan.

"Okay na?" Tanong ko.

Tumango si Akira at Marian. Lumabas na rin s'ya ng kwarto at nagpatuloy kami sa paghahanap ng clues. Samantalang ako ay umupo muna sa isang sofa do'n habang naghahanap 'yung dalawa para basahin 'yung story.

Habang tinitingnan ko 'yung mga drawings napakunot noo ako at saka unti unti nagkaroon ng liwanag sa utak ko ang lahat lahat. Damn it! This... this is...

"HAHAHAHA!" Natawa ako, hindi ko napigilan.

"Biblee?" Akira asked.

"Ah, hahahaha. Grabe joke book pala 'to. Laughtrip. Hahahaha!"

Napailing-iling na lang s'ya at saka ako tumayo at tumulong na rin sa paghahanap habang hawak pa rin ang libro.

Habang naghahanap kaagad akong tumungo sa isang kwarto. May kakaibang drawer 'yun at laman. Kaagad kong binuksan 'yun at iniwan do'n ang libro. Kaagad ko ring sinara ang drawer na 'yun habang natatawa.

Goodness, I love games.

I fucking love games.

At lumabas ako sa kwarto habang may kaunting usok na lumabas mula sa batong drawer na 'yun.

Burn the witches.

From the ashes, a fire shall be woken.

* * *

We continued to explore the massive mansion. And guess what? Of course! One way or another we are gonna cross paths with enemies! And before they even saw us, I went beside Marian.

"Liar." I whispered in her ear which made her flinch.

"What are you s...saying?" Nauutal na sabi nito.

"A citizen? Really?" I mocked her and looked at Akira's back.

"I-I am one..." Marian retorted, I chuckled at her evilly.

"Shall I cut your tongue for you to stop spitting a cock and bull story?"

Natigilan s'ya. I smirked at her as I directly stared at her eyes. "Trust me, we are of the same kind. You know, I can smell my own species."

"H-Huh?"

"Come on, Witch. You need to act like one."

And with that, I left her jaw dropped.

However, before we started fighting the other group, Marian pulled me back. Her grip on me intensified as I looked at her eyes. Those eyes of fear, became eyes of vigor.

"Prove me you are one." She challenged strongly.

"Burn the witches, but rise from the ashes." I recited word per word. Marian heaved a sigh and let go of me when she heard the phrase.

Naglakad na ulit ako at sabay kaming sumugod ni Akira para makipaglaban pa sa mga kalaban namin.

These people I'm fighting right now, wait, oh, it wasn't supposed to be people... it is supposed to be Witches.

One witch, one hero, eighteen citizens?

Two witches, one hero, seventeen citizens?

Three witches, two heroes, fifteen citizens?

Bullcrap!

From the beginning, it wasn't that way. Because from the start... it was fucking...

Sixteen witches, two heroes, and two citizens!

Why?

Because the story that was told from the beginning wasn't finished at all. It has a continuation and that continuation?

I know it all.

Because, yes, Witches, the game is fucking on.

* * *