"And who can also help your maiden."

Evil can see the disbelief that flashed in Everick's eyes. Hindi nagtagal, napalitan ito ng isang emosyong hindi niya aakalaing makikita niya sa mukha ng kanyang kapatid. It was the same emotion he'd seen on Joker when he was reunited with his insane little sweetheart not long ago. A treacherous and disgusting emotion that encouraged mankind to blindly jump off cliffs and do stupid things in their miserable lives...

Hope.

'Fucking disgusting,' Evil thought and immediately regretted his decision when the Knight almost shook his shoulders.

"T- Tama ba ako ng dinig? There's a way to revive Sadako?! I swear Evil, if this is just one if your shitty tricks to manipulate me again---!"

Inis na kinabig ni Evil ang kanyang mga kamay at pinagpag ang kanyang damit. Given that this bastard can heal him if he accidentally broke an arm, but that doesn't mean Everick can shake him like that ugly rag doll he still keeps!

"If you shake me again like that, forget I said anything..."

But when Evil looked at his brother, he noticed him clenching his fists. Everick had a serious expression, one that Evil rarely saw considering how long they've been cursed.

"Evil," simula nito. "Please... kung isa man itong biro, hindi ito nakakatawa. I know you're not Joker to throw around pranks so carelessly, especially on this matter. Alam mo kung gaano kaimportante sa'kin ito."

Sandaling natahimik si Evil.

Babaero si Everick. Sa nakalipas na panahon, hindi na bago sa kanya ang makitang mas madalas pa itong magpalit ng babae kaysa magpalit ng damit. He had a way with knives and with breaking hearts without remorse. Kung mayroon mang mas nakakaunawa sa kanya sa pagitan ng dalawa niyang kapatid, pinakamalapit na rito si Everick Neverwood. They've all suffered the same pain of immortality, but the three of them dealt with it differently.

Kalaunan, napabuntong-hininga na lang si Evil at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Anong akala mo sa'kin, Joker 2.0? Nakakainsulto. Tsk!" Nagsimula nang maglakad papalayo ni Evil. "I'll find her tonight so hold your horses."

Naiisip pa lang niyang makikita niya ulit ang babaeng 'yon, naii-stress na agad si Evil. Pero ika nga nila, "desperate times call for desperate measures", and this is no exception.

Not when the stakes are getting higher with this mysterious "immunity" to their powers the staff of EKT seem to have.

"PAPUNTA NA AKO! THIS IS NOT FRABJOUS!"

Natigil lang sa pag-iisip at sa paglalakad si Evil nang bigla na lang sumigaw si Joker. Ano na naman bang ipinaglalaban ng isang 'to maliban sa mga knock-knock jokes niyang korni? Nang lingunin niya ito, napataas ang kilay ni Evil nang mapansing nanggagalaiti na si Joker sa inis. Nagkatinginan sila ni Everick, parehong walang ideya sa nangyayari sa panganay nila.

"What happened? Bakit parang natatae ka na?" The Knight boredly asked him.

Pero hindi nila inaasahan ang isinagot nito...

"SOME RANDOM CHIC KIDNAPPED MY KESA! MAY GANA PANG MAKIPAG-VIDEO CALL SA'KIN!"

Video call?

Napasimangot si Evil, masama ang kutob niya rito. Base sa pagkakakilala niya sa tadhana, isang malaking kontrabida ito sa buhay niya. No, scratch that. Fate loves seeing Evillois Neverwood suffer in the most ironic situations.

"Does the kidnapper have blonde hair?"

*

Malapit nang mag-alas otso.

Makailang ulit nang sinusulyapan ni Chayse ang kanyang orasan sa cellphone. 'What's taking them so long? Wala namang traffic sa ere, 'di ba?' Isip-isip niya bago sumilip sa may bintana. She knows an abandoned hospital building is not the most ideal place to take someone for hostage (baka mamaya may multo na pala rito), pero bukod sa ito ang pinakamalapit na lugar na nahanap niya sa mapa, Chayse knew it would only be a matter of time before her new friend's prince charming comes in to rescue her.

Bakit pa siya mag-e-effort ng kidnapping kung matutugis naman siya agad, 'di ba?

"Crow-shifters," she sighed and took another swig straight from the soju bottle. Inalok niya ang babaeng kanina pa nakatingin sa kanya. "Ano kayang pakiramdam na maging imortal, 'no? It must be lonely. No wonder that spoiled brat acts like he owns the world... Want some?"

To her surprise, Marquessa Legazpi shrugged and responded, "Untie these ropes and I'll drink with you."

Natawa si Chayse at namaywang. Nahirapan pa siya kaninang buhatin si Kesa at itali sa haligi ng gusali gamit ang lubid na nahanap niya sa tabakan ng Rebellion. Hanggang ngayon nga sumasakit pa ang mga braso niya! Dapat pala nagdadala ng trolley kapag nangingidnap ng tao. But anyway, it was nice to know the other woman was very chill all throughout her kidnapping.

Chayse smiled. "You do know you're requesting me to untie you in exchange for being my drinking buddy, right?"

Kesa grinned, one eye sparkled with mischief. Her side bangs covering half her face, her pigtails in a mess. Chayse quickly understood the depths of her relationship with the Joker.

"Maybe I'm insane then. KC, right?"

"Yes. Pero hindi ba magtataka ang boyfriend mo kapag nakita ka niyang nakikipag-inuman lang? Baka nage-expect siya ng damsel in distress."

Nai-video call pa niya kanina si Joker gamit ang cellphone ni Kesa (which she returned, by the way). Kidnapper lang ang role ni Chayse, hindi holdapper. May class naman siya, 'no!

"Wala naman siyang magagawa," Kesa sighed. "I don't need saving anyway, whether I'm in danger or not. Nakaka-stress lang ang mga Neverwood."

"Agreed."

And with that, Chayse and Marquessa spent the rest of the evening conversing between themselves with several bottles of soju.

Hindi na nila namalayang lumipas na pala ang oras. Nabulabog lang ang dalawang dalaga nang bigla na lang nabasag ang salamin ng bintana. Somebody crashed in through the window and immediately yelled in a desperate voice:

"MY INSANE LITTLE SWEETHEART?! WHERE ART THOU?! NANDITO AKO PARA ILIGTAS KA---Ah? Teka, bakit...? Tama ba 'tong address?"

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa at sabay na natawa nang makita ang pagkalito sa mukha ni Evarius Neverwood. No joke, the man looked like he was ready to go to war just a while ago! Maya-maya pa, pinanood ni Chayse ang pagtayo ni Marquessa at pagyakap sa kasintahan nito.

"I'm safe, Joker. No need to wreck havoc."

"Eh?" Poor Joker blinked in confusion.

Chayse got up, dusted her slacks, and fixed her eyeglasses before approaching them. "Sorry again for the little stage play. Wala na akong ibang maisip na paraan para kunin ang atensyon ng kapatid mo."

Joker laughed, finally realizing the setup. "Oh, so it wasn't real? Phew! Frabjous way to catch our attention, human! I have to say, that was entertaining. Pero sayang nga lang dahil may jowa na si Everick."

"I wasn't talking about Everick."

"WHAT?! Kung ganoon sino naman...?"

"Ehem."

Napalingon silang tatlo nang bigla na lang umubo si Evil. Nakasandal ito sa may bukana ng pinto, walang-ganang pinagmamasdan ang mga pangyayari. When his eyes fell to Chayse, a flash of irriation made her wanna mock him even more. Pero noong akala niyang makikipagtalo at mamaliitin na naman siya ng nakababatang Neverwood, his next words shocked her...

"I command you to give me a pen and a copy of that memorandum of agreement, Blondie."

What shocked her even more? Evil's ears were red in embarrassment as he tried to act all high and mighty.

Chayse smiled victoriously.

'Looks like the king is ready to get off his throne.'

---

"Life is a labyrinth
of endless twists and turns.
You either meet a dead end,
or meet a lesson to learn."

---Chayse Dayanghirang

TKC will be updated every Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday night as per the new update schedule. I target to finish this novel this July. Thanks for patiently waiting for the update! Expect more chapters soon and stay awesome.

-Noks