Napoleon cleared his throat, earning the attention of the others.

"Now, let's get this over with," kalmado nitong sabi at tinitigan ang iba pang tao sa loob ng silid. There was an air of authority to him that was, at least, enough to have them shut their mouths.

"We're here to test the antidote. Salamat sa tulong ng Eastwood Scientific Organization, agaran tayong nakalikha ng lunas mula sa bulaklak na nakuha kagabi. And this is all thanks to Chayse's leadership," Nap acknowledged, making her shrink in her chair.

As if nothing scandalous happened a few minutes prior.

But instead of feeling proud, she felt pressured.

Huminga nang malalim si Chayse at naupo na lang sa tabi ni Kesa. The girl tried to engage her in small talk, but she wasn't in the mood and just smiled politely. Naramdaman niya ang mga mata ni Evil sa kanya habang nakasandal ito sa kabilang bahagi ng silid. To avoid his stare, she just roamed her eyes at the other people seated. The Black Sheep chose to sat at the farmost corner, his weary eyes just focused ahead. The Puppet Master sat beside him, fumbling with a few almost invisible strings, quietly assessing the situation. Wala si Nica, malamang ay naiwan sa bahay nina Kleo para bantayan ito. Sa kanilang likuran, halatang hindi mapakali si Everick sa presensya ng ilang scientists na kasama nila ngayon. Men and women in white labcoats gathered around the back of the room, standing like guards alongside a couple of agents of the Rebellion. Sa kanyang kaliwa, napansin niyang abala sa pagtitipa sa kanyang cellphone si Joker. Seryosong-seryoso.

Nang silipin niya ito, napataas na lang ng kilay si Chayse nang mapansing nalalaro lang pala ito ng Tetris.

'What the heck?'

Pero ano pa nga bang aasahan niya sa mga Neverwood? If they weren't unserious, they're either crazy or manipulative.

Pinanood ni Chayse ang pagbukas ni Nap ng suitcase na hawak ng scientist. It contained several syringes of a red liquid, saftely insulated in black cushion. Doon niya lang napansin ang panibagong mga sugat sa braso ni Nap, at agad na nanlamig ang dalaga nang mapagtanto ang ibig sabihin nito.

'Ilan na naman kaya?'

She bit her lip in guilt and sat upright.

"I'll have to personally test this out. Aabutin ng 30 minutes bago ma-absorb ng katawan at maipakalat sa bloodstream ang antidote," paliwanag ni Nap bago i-inject ang laman ng syringe sa kanyang braso. Tahimik nilang pinanood ang pagpasok ng likido sa loob ng kanyang balat. A reddish mark around the area left as a reminder of the intrusion. "And now we wait."

Chayse feels like she's being suffocated in those thirty minutes.

Hindi pa nakatulong na nahuhuli niyang sumusulyap sa kanya si Joker paminsan-minsan sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata. As if he was reading her...

And maybe he is.

'I almost forget he's a mind-reader too,' she almost cringed. Gaano katagal na kayang binabasa ng isang 'to ang isip niya?

Joker smirked.

"I'm not telling, Miss Brains~ bahala kang mag-overthink diyan. Alam mo bang 'yon ang number two cause of death ninyong mga tao? Una ang katangahan HAHAHAHA---ARAY! HEY?! Wala akong ginagawa!"

Natigil lang ang pagtawa ng nakatatandang Neverwood nang batukan siya ng kanyang kapatid.

"Mabuti dahil kahit kailan wala ka namang ginawang tama," walang-ganang sabi ni Evil. "And to think you're the eldest? Tsk. Eldest species of an idiot who ever walked on two legs."

"GRABE KA NAMAN MAKALAIT! Not demure! Not mindful! Not cutesy!"

"Tsk! Ang iingay ninyo," reklamo na lang ni Everick na halatang masama pa rin ang timpla dahil sa nangyari sa kanya.

Chayse caught a glimpse of the playboy's neck, knowing what happened to them last night. Kung tama ang balitang nasagap niya kay Evil, mukhang mapipilayan na nga sila dahil hindi magamit ni Knight ang kanyang healing abilities. She made a mental note to investigate further on this.

'The devil never played fair anyway. But what is he up to now?'

"Time's up."

Napalingon sila nang tumayo ulit si Nap at iminuwestra ang kanyang braso. Tuluyan nang nawala ang pamumula nito bunsod ng antidote. The leader of the Rebellion then turned to the brothers and challenged, "Now for a little test run. Do your worst, Neverwoods."

Evil stepped towards him as if waiting for this moment.

"Is that a challenge?"

Pigil-hininga ang lahat ng nasa loob ng silid nang magharap ang dalawa. Chayse silently wished the antidote didn't work because she knows Evil can get a little too carried away with his commands.

"I command you..."

'Evil, tinuan mo lang!' Nanlisik ang mga mata ni Chayse nang panandaliang sumulyap sa kanya si Evil. Napasimangot ito bago ibinalik ang mga mata kay Nap.

"...do a chicken dance."

What?

And just like that, Napoleon---the mysterious and righteous leader of the Rebellion---suddenly dropped down and flapped his arms. Natulala na lang ang lahat nang sinimulan na nitong sumayaw at kumendeng na parang isang manok. With sound effects pa.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Of course Joker had to burst out laughing and get a bag of popcorn from who-knows-where. Lumipat pa talaga ito sa may harapan para mas mapanood ang eksena!

"Now this is a entertaining!" He commented.

"Can you read his mind?" Evil asked their eldest brother, folding his arms over his chest.

"Yep! Mga manok lang ang nasa isip niya. Mukhang gumana nga ang antidote."

Napabuntong-hininga naman si Chayse. Hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang matuwa nakalikha na sila ng antidote o mabahala dahil vine-videohan si Nap ng iba pa nilang mga kasama.

'He's gonna kill us after he wakes up from his chicken era,' she thought.

---

Some flowers wait for the rain to come
holding on to last bits of sanity 'til then,
when the days pass and leaves wilt,
it'll only be a question of when.

---Chayse Dayanghirang