Eastwood Central University.

A campus where all the good, bad, and weird things happen. 

But unlike the other programs offered, science and techology isn't as "big" as it should be. Hindi tulad sa ibang programs, kakaunti lang din ang nagtatagal sa physical sciences at halos bilang na lang sa kanyang mga daliri sa kamay ang gumagraduate dito. Most fail the subjects, some shift degree programs. For the longest time, they were the minority. Or maybe that's just Chayse's opinion?

'O baka naman nalulungkot lang talaga ako kapag nari-realize kong masyadong malaki ang mga laboratory namin para sa iilang estudyante,' she thought before taking off her goggles and laboratory gown.

'But then again perspectives change depending on who you ask.'

Hay! Another day, another experiment and report to be written. On the brighter side, at least she wasn't late to any of her classes. Isa pa, kaunti lang ang mga taong nabunggo niya kanina sa hallway at wala pa namang malalang disgrasyang nangyari...

Her clumsiness can really be a pain in the ass sometimes.

"Uy, KC! Sabay ka sa'min mag-lunch, tara!"

She accidentally dropped her books and data sheets. Dali-dali niyang pinulot ang mga ito at inayos ang natabingi niyang salamin. During class hours, she prefers wearing them instead of contact lenses.

"You okay?"

"Y-Yeah." The blonde quickly glanced at her (broken) phone and smiled politely. "But maybe next time, Janelle. May kailangan pa kasi akong puntahan."

Janelle, also belonging to the small population of females in their batch, eyed her quizzically. They were friends and all, pero alam ni Chayse na hindi dapat siya naglalabas ng anumang impormasyon kay Janelle dahil...

"Ah! Pupunta ka ba sa part-time mo? Pwedeng sumama? Ang chika ko may pogi sa grupo niyo, I wanted to verify if that information is real!"

Chayse smiled awkwardly. "At saan mo naman narinig ang balitang 'yan?"

"Oh, I have ears everywhere~" she sang in glee.

Napapailing na lang si Chayse. Heto mismo ang rason kung bakit hindi niya mapagkatiwalaan si Janelle. She's the gossip girl in their institute, making it her personal mission to know every latest "chika" as if her thesis depended on it. Noong sophomore year, naaalala ni Chayse na kamuntikan nang sumabog ang isang laboratoryo dahil lang sa nabalitaan ni Janelle mula sa kapatid ng isang professor sa klase ng roommate niya na pwede raw magdala ng kape sa loob.

Who in their right mind brings food into the lab, anyway? Nasa rules nila 'yon na bawal!

"So, can I come with you?"

Chayse kept the polite smile. "No."

"But---!"

"Look, I have important work to attend to. Bakit hindi mo na lang simulan ang paper para ma-revise natin mamayang gabi? I've already encoded and treated the data. Nasa Google Drive link na sinend ko sa'yo kanina."

"Wait, mamayang gabi? What about after class?"

"Community work."

"After lunch?"

"I volunteered at the orphanage. May program pa mamaya para sa mga bata."

Clearly, that made Janelle roll her eyes in annoyance.

"Fine. Alam mo, at this rate, baka 'di ka na makahanap ng boyfriend sa sobrang workaholic mo! I know you want to help people and all... pero kailan ka ba huling naging selfish?"

"Umm never? Mas kailangan ako ng ibang tao."

"EXACTLY!" Janelle overreated and thew her hands up in the air. "KC, sometimes I feel like you're being too selfless. Friendly advice? Find someone hot. Minsan kailangan lang natin ng inspirasyon!"

"Okay?" Not okay.

Tahimik na lang sumabay sa paglalakad ng ibang estudyante si Chayse para makatakas. She only let out a sigh of relief when she finally exited the building.

Again, perspectives change depending on who you ask.

And Chayse made a mental note to never ask Janelle's opinion in the near future. Especially concerning her nonexistent love life.

*

When Chayse entered the Rebellion's quarters, she instantly sensed that there was bad news awaiting her. Sa hindi malamang dahilan, halos walang agent na nakatambay ngayon sa kanilang lounge. She was so used to hearing the clicks from video game controllers and the television noises that being greeted by this kind of silence made her feel uneasy.

'Nasaan na ba ang mga tao?'

Maybe they were on a mission. Maybe Nap sent them on an assignment.

Maybe.

"Nap?"

Hindi na siya nag-abala pang kumatok. For starters, Nap made it clear that they can barge into his office at any time since he was usually too preoccupied to even notice. Umalingawngaw sa tahimik na espasyo ang heels ni Chayse, black and slick like the gun she owned that harbored the Rebellion's seal.

"Come in, KC."

Tulad ng kanyang inaasahan, abala ang kanilang lider sa pagbabasa ng artikulo sa deep web, scraping every site for any info on the Elite Killing Tournament. He was seated on a swivel chair that he owned for as long as she can remember. Nakatalikod si Nap sa kanya, tanging ang laptop screen lang ang nakapagbibigay-liwanag sa dilim ng opisina.

The ever present tattoos covering his arms shamelessly stared back at her.

"Nap, nasaan ang iba? Bakit parang patay ang atmosphere dito?"

"Dahil patay na ang kalahati sa kanila."

With his response, she was taken aback. Bago pa man makapagsalita ang dalaga, isinara ni Napoleon ang kanyang laptop at humarap sa kanya.

Chayse covered her mouth, eyes trailed to the fresh cut across his wrist.

It was still bleeding.

This could only mean one thing.

"N-Nap, anong nangyari?! Oh God, please tell me this is just a prank..."

Isang malungkot na ngiti lang ang isinukli ng kanilang lider sa kanila.

"I sent Unit B to investigate on-site, sa lokasyon kung saan huling namataan sa CCTV camera ang isa sa mga killers ng EKT last season."

"Ito ba yung malapit sa Eastwood Heights?"

Nap nodded, "Dumami ang bilang ng mga kaso ng misteryosong pagkamatay ng ilang residente sa area. I-I thought it was best to send them to gather more info, but it turned out to be an ambush.... they lured them out of hiding, KC... Unit B was slaughtered by the killers known as Flesh Eater and Dr. Smiley. Agad kaming rumesponde ngunit huli na ang lahat pagkarating namin doon."

A cut on his wrist signifies every battle they loss.

At this point, he'll need to find more space to carve them.

Chayse balled her hand into fists but it did little to calm her down. She wanted to punch something or scream or cry. Damn this! Twelve agents. Twelve innocent agents were mudered by those fucking psychopaths. Dahil lang ano? Dahil lang kasapi sila ng isang Rebellion na nangangarap pabagsakin ang EKT.

This is exactly the reason why Chayse so desperately proposed to form an alliance with the Neverwoods.

The Rebellion itself might have all the technology and resources they need to track down the Boss, but they are easily outnumbered and overpowered every damn time they attempt to take action.

They can't afford to risk any more of their agents. Ano bang laban ng mga armadong mortal sa mga serial killers na may paranormal powers? It was an unfair fight to begin with, and yet here they are...

Still fighting.

"I assume you have an update about the Neverwoods?" Nap tried to sound professional, but the dark circles under his eyes gave him away.

Napayuko na lang si Chayse, dreading this conversation already.

---

"Time doesn't heal the wound,
it numbs the pain we feel;
so that one day we can no longer tell
what is not and what is real."

---Chayse Dayanghirang