It was a hard time getting Everick to agree to transport Kleopatra to the Rebellion's hideout.

Pero dahil sa sunod-sunod na pagbabanta ng EKT sa tahanan ng mga Claveria---with the latest attack from Felicia Feline---nakumbinsi na rin nilang ilipat pansamantala si Kleopatra sa spare room katabi ng opisina ni Nap. Maigi na rin dahil mas mababantayan nila ang dalaga hanggang sa matapos ang lahat ng ito. Hangga't may posibilidad na buhayin si Kleo, hindi siya tatantanan ng kanyang ama.

Palagi't palagi siyang susundan hanggang kamatayan.

'Even in death, the poor girl can't seem to rest peacefully.'

Outside the glass window, Chayse watched as Everick sat beside the maiden, talking to her and making sure she laid comfortably. If that gesture itself isn't a testament of how deep his love is for Kleopatra, she doesn't know what is.

Napabalik na lang si Chayse nang marinig ang tugon ni Puppet Master sa kabilang linya.

"Nonesense, KC. I can handle the rest. Nakakalimutan niyo yatang isa ako sa kinatatakutan ng ibang killers noong nakaraang mga season ng Elite Killing Tournament. I made quite a reputation, if I say so myself."

Napasimangot na lang ang dalaga. Hindi niya alam kung matutuwa ba siya o hindi dahil mukhang inaalala nito ang pagpatay sa mga inosenteng tao. Despite proposing to this agreement and crafting the plan, noong una ay hindi maiwasan ni Chayse ang magkaroon ng pag-aalinlangan tuwing naaalala niya ang track record ng mga killer na ito. But at the end of the day, she reminds herself that they're human too, no matter how corrupted they are.

Being evil isn't a choice. Some of us are just forced to deal with shitty things and do what we can to survive, even if it defies all morality.

There's goodness in everyone, and she clings to that idea in hopes of a brighter future ahead.

Sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata, napansin niyang pumasok sa kanyang opisina si Nap. Ni hindi ito lumingon sa kinaroroonan ni Chayse, tila malalim ang iniisip at problemado.

"Okay, okay. Teka at may sinasabi na sa'kin sina Nap. Meet you in the headquarters in a bit. Ciao!"

At pinatay na niya ang linya.

*

Evarius Neverwood waltzed across the hallway while swinging his staff.

Hindi niya alintana ang wirdong pagtingin sa kanya ng ibang Rebellion agents. Ngumisi siya nang nakakaloko at pinakinggan ang iniisip ng isa sa kanila.

"Mali talagang pinapasok nila rito ang mga Neverwood! Paano na lang kung i-massacre na lang nila kami bigla?"

Joker laughed and blocked the agent's path with his staff. He leaned in and looked at him with a crazy glint in his eyes.

"Oh? Sorry pero choosy rin naman kami sa mga pinapatay namin. 'Di ka pasok sa standards. But if you want me to stitch a smile on your ugly face, just let me know!"

Natigilan ang agent at nanlaki ang mga mata. Ilang sandali pa, kabado itong humakbang papalayo bago kumaripas ng takbo sa kabilang bahagi ng pasilyo. The others looked at him like he were a madman. Humagalpak ng tawa si Joker at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad. Hay, ang boring naman dito! But then again, nothing else is entertaining while his insane little sweetheart is at school.

Doon niya nakitang pumasok sa isang opisina si Chayse.

'I wonder what Miss Brains is up to?'

Joker suddenly had the mischievous urge to lean against the doorframe and listen in to their conversation.

*

"Nap?"

Nag-angat ng tingin ang lider ng Rebellion mula sa tinitipa nito sa kanyang laptop. His expression didn't betray his thoughts, but the blonde knew him long enough to decipher him like an open book. Agad siyang umupo sa katapat nitong silya at tinanong, "May nangyari na naman bang masama?"

Pasimple siyang sumulyap sa pulsuhan nito, naghahanap ng panibagong sugat.

Napansin naman ito ng nakatatanda at napangiti. "Kung iniisip mong may namatay ulit sa mga kasamahan natin, you can rest assured that we don't have any casualties... At least for today."

For today.

Pero walang kasiguraduhang hindi magkakaroon ng sakuna bukas o sa susunod na araw o sa susunod na linggo.

Tumango naman si Chayse.

"Kung ganoon, anong problema?"

"Marami tayong problema. You need to be more specific, KC."

She literally rolled her eyes at his response. He was clearly deflecting all her questions.

"Nap, seryoso," mariing sabi ni Chayse. "I can sense that something is bothering you from a mile away. Alam kong hindi na dapat ako nanghihimasok kung personal man itong problema, pero alam din nating dalawa na sa puntong ito lahat ng buhay natin ay konektado sa Rebellion at sa mga nangyayari ngayon. If there's something I can help you with, just tell me."

Napoleon studied her for a moment before taking a deep breath and closing his laptop.

"You were right to assume that this is a personal problem, KC. Pero mas gugustuhin kong bitbitin ito nang mag-isa bago ko pa kayo mahatak pababa."

"Anong sinasabi mo?"

Now, she was very confused. Upon closer inspection, Chayse saw an envelope lying on top of his desk, just under the paperweight. Nang titigan niya ito nang maigi, doon niya napagtantong pamilyar ang pangalan ng nagpadala nito pati ang address ng Limekiln.

Kabado niyang sinubukang abutin ang liham.

"I-Is that from...?"

Nap noticed it and immediately snatched the letter, frowning at her invasion.

"KC, asikasuhin mo na lang ang ibang bagay. May pasok ka pa rin mamaya, hindi ba?"

What bullshit. That's when she snapped. Chayse rapidly stood up, a flicker of doubt and frustration on her features as she stared him down.

"NAP! Ano ba talagang nangyayari? Ano bang tinatago mo? At bakit ka may liham mula sa Boss ng EKT?!"

Napoleon's expression remained neutral. Kalaunan, napabuntong-hininga ito at marahang umiling.

"We all have skeletons in our closet, KC. It just so happens that mine can't fit inside. Mauunawaan mo na lang ito pagtanda mo."

"Anong mauunawaan? Don't you think this is something I should be concerned about now?" Chayse knew she was raising her voice, and that never happened. Pero dala na rin ng stress at sa dami ng kanyang iniisip, she'd be damned to let this slide. Hindi siya papayag na wala siyang makuhang sagot kay Nap! "And now that I think about it, you never told me why you were immune to the Neverwood's powers! Aminin mo, kasama ka ba nila? Isang laro lang ba ang samahang ito at ang mga adhikain natin? Niloloko mo lang ba kami?!"

Silence dominated the room in the next minute. It was the kind of silence that suffocated anyone, draining the life out of Chayse.

And that's when their leader finally told her the truth.

"Immune ako dahil nagkaroon ako ng access sa immunity drugs na nilikha nila... It was an exclusive benefit... to both new and old members of the cult."

The cult?

"I-Ibig sabihin..."

Tumango si Nap, isang pagod na ngiti sa kanyang labi. But it only made him look several years older, if that was even possible for an immortal like him.

"...isa ako sa mga taong nasaksihan ang pagsakripisyo sa magkakapatid na Neverwood. I was there on the night they were abused and cursed."

---

Evil is a by-product of human desires
that drives one mad with desperation
infiltrating the vessels one by one
with an uncurable intoxication.

---Evillois Neverwood