So before I go into a battle that might or might not drive me mad, let me tell you an interesting story, human...

About two thousand years ago (no, I don't remember the exact date) before religion and war and politics became the driving forces of all civilizations, ipinanganak kami ng mga kapatid ko. Syempre, ang panganay namin si Joker, bunso si Evil, at ako ang dakilang nilalang na tinaguriang "middle child".

We're just one year apart from each other in age, by the way.

Sa kasamaang-palad, hindi namin maalala ang naging buhay namin bago kami sinumpa na maging mga imortal. About "how" we got cursed... well, I'll save that story for another day. Anyway, we discovered our abilities a few hundred years later, and spent until the end of the 1800's mastering them.

The curse caught the three of us off guard and stole everything from us.

Indeed, the first hundred years of being immortal was quite enjoyable. Ginugol ni Joker ang panahon na 'yon sa pagpapatawa at pangtatangkang patayin ang kanyang sarili (he's a bit suicidal and masochistic, if you haven't noticed yet), while Evil spent his years studying, manipulating others, and hating the world because...well, because he's evil. Just evil.

At hindi niyo na naman na yata kailangang malaman kung anong ginawa ko noong mga panahong 'yon.

The bottom line is: we slowly got tired of everything and saw no point in living anymore. Yes, immortality can only give you temporary pleasure.

Pero pagkalipas ng ilang dekada, habang namimili kami ng weapons sa Tartarus black market, nalaman naming may paraan para mabawi ang ninakaw sa'min.

That search led us to all parts of the world. Salamat sa shape-shifting abilities namin, kung saan-saan na kami nakarating---Belgium, Russia, Cambodia, Sweden, Japan, Egypt, Washington D.C., Italy, and at some point, we even had tea with Queen Elizabeth in England.

My brothers and I have been on a wild goose chase.

A chase that finally led us to Eastwood.

May koneksyon ang lahat ng ito sa EKT, at hindi ako tanga para palagpasin ang pagkakataong bigyan ng katapusan ang kwento namin.

We've already suffered so much...

"So, we either end the curse and die knowing we have reserved slots in hell, or live long enough until the we get VIP seats for the end of the world," I said more to myself when I landed on the crumbled streets.

Natatanaw ko na ang apat na serial killers na kailangan namin mapabalik sa katinuan. The Muffin Man was chasing people across Drury Lane, Poison Ivy used her plants to strangle men, Black Sheep made a streetlight flicker and killed anyone underneath it, while the Puppet Master was staring at the humans like he was making a mental checklist for his potential puppets.

'Kailan ba ako naging babysitter ng mga ito?' I sighed.

Kung hindi lang talaga sila mahalagang parte ng plano, eh. Tsk!

I stood in the middle of the madness, breathing heavily with anticipation.

"Interesting...but I guess it can't be helped," I cursed under my breath and ran a hand through my hair before gripping the ancient knife I've been keeping in my coat. Ayoko na sanang ginagamit 'to, pero mukhang kakailangan kong ubusin ang lahat ng mga kutsilyong nakatago sa damit ko.

Believe me, you'll be shocked to know how many I carry with me.

Gripping the golden handle, I charged towards Poison Ivy. Huli na noong makita niya ako, na naging dahilan para dumaplis ang mga ugat na nagtangkang sumakal sa'kin. I cut through the monstrous plants and ripped a man-eating venus flytrap.

'Slash and stab.'

"You'll fucking pay for this!"

Poison Ivy growled when I wrapped her own babies around her. "Nah. Wala akong perang pambayad, pero ikaltas mo na lang sa bank account ng bunso namin," I winked at her before twisting around to block the Muffin Man's metal jaw. Napaatras ako sa lakas ng impact, pero hindi pa rin niya binibitawan ang patalim.

Dumilim ang mga mata ko nang mapansin kong nagkakagasgas na ang blade.

"You know why I don't want to use this?"

Sinipa ko siya sa sikmura at kumuha ng tissue, nandidiring pinunasan ang laway sa kutsilyo ko. "Ito ang patalim na nahanap ng mga archeologists sa libingan ni King Tutankhamun noong 1925. They found this in the pharaoh's tomb and it was believed to be made of meteorite," I finished my brief history lecture and tested the theory myself.

Binato ko kay Muffin Man ang patalim na walang kahirap-hirap na bumaon sa balikat niya.

He roared in pain as I marched up and twisted it until I heard a bone pop.

Oops.

'Slash and stab... show no mercy,' a part of me mused.

Sa mga sandaling ito, lalong lumalim ang paghinga ko. Hindi nakatulong ang amoy ng dugo sa sitwasyon. My pupils dilated at the scent and I wrestled myself away from the killer before I could skin him alive or torture his sorry ass. Oh, what a lovely sight that would be!

Tsaka ko lang napansing namatay ang mga ilaw nang binalutan ako ng dilim. It was already dawn, but the sun was barely up to provide enough light.

Shit.

Naging alerto ako nang marinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa sa likod ko.

Black Sheep.

"I'll give you five seconds... And when the lights return, you'll be nothing more than a dead man, Neverwood."

I gripped the dagger and blindly sliced everywhere.

"Five."

Naging matalas ang pakiramdam ko habang pilit inaalam kung nasaan ang serial killer. Damn. Why can I feel the bastard's presence?!

"Four."

Mahina akong napamura nang may humawak sa paa ko. With one swift move, I chopped off the hand, loosening the grip.

"Three."

*

"That fucking idiot!"

Inis na sabi ni Evil nang makarating na sila sa bahay nina Kleo. His sharp eyes observed the empty house and the mess left by his brother's fight with Diablo. Sinipa nito ang ilang patalim at sinamaan ng tingin ang dalagang nakaupo pa rin sa isang gilid, hindi umiimik o gumagalaw. Kung hindi nga lang siguro niya naririnig ang malalamin nitong paghinga, baka akalain niyang wala na ring buhay ang isang 'to.

"Alam niyong posible itong mangyari kapag binuhay niyo ang patay, but you and my brother still carried on with this lunacy?!"

Her bangs covered her eyes and she didn't make any indication that she heard him. As much as he wanted to command her to answer him, alam ni Evil na magsasayang lang siya ng laway sa isang 'to. This human named Kleopatra Claveria wasn't really responsive and it pissed him off.

To his other delusional brother, he said, "They're wrecking havoc because of those premature memories."

The Joker nodded after gently placing an unconscious Marquessa to a couch.

"They'll calm down, no need to worry about them."

Napapailing na lang si Evil, "Well, idiot number two, it's not 'them' I'm worried about..." Agad nitong kinapa sa kanyang bulsa ang lunas na pinadala sa kanila ni Everick. Magiging madugo ang pagpapakalma sa isang 'yon. No doubt that they'll suffer a few severe injuries, again.

Dahil dito, mabilis silang lumabas at hinanap ang kanilang kapatid.

*

Sigaw ng isang naghihingalong sibilyan ang pumunit sa katahimikan.

'What the fuck? Nasaan ba siya?!'

"Two."

I closed my eyes and steadied my breathing. Hindi ako kumilos at pinakinggan ang paligid.

'Slash and stab.'

Napangisi na lang ako at mabilis na nag-shape shift. I turned into a crow just in time when someone attacked me from behind. Barely making it out of his grasp, I cawed and pecked his eye. Napasigaw sa sakit si Black Sheep kasabay ng pagbabalik ng mga ilaw.

"You were saying?" I smugly said and was about to pick up my knife when strings coiled around my limbs.

The Puppet Master stood a few feet away from me, staring blankly. Ibang-iba ang persona niyang ito sa Nicholas Gaspard na nakilala namin kagabi. Hindi mo aakalaing siya 'yong tahimik na nagbabasa lang ng libro buong magdamag.

I struggled with the strings. Tangina, mukhang mahihirapan pa akong abutin ang mga kutsilyo ko. I laughed dryly and glared at him, "I can't blame you if you want to turn me into a puppet. I guess my killer charisma can be of good use to you."

"I doubt that."

Napadaing nang humigpit ang mga sinulid sa katawan ko. Pumupunit sa damit at bumabaon sa balat. Para akong pinipiga. With ragged breaths, I tried breaking free from these fucking strings, only to learn that they were more difficult that I thought. Hindi ako makakilos.

Well, what an interesting situation I'm in... Please note the sarcasm.

'If you move, you'll die. If you don't move, you'll die.'

Don't fucking remind me. Neverwoods never die!

"GAAAAH! B-BULLSHIT!"

Pero habang tumatagal, pakiramdam ko wala na talaga akong kawala. Only then did I realize that the strings were dragging me into the mouth of a large human puppet, it's jaw open wide enough to engulf me. Nakatayo lang sa isang gilid si Puppet Master habang pinapanood ang lahat.

Kinakaladkad ako.

Papalapit nang papalapit.

"You'll make a fine puppet, indeed."

I was already seeing red. I bit my lip hard enough to recognize the metallic taste of blood. Nanginginig na ang buong katawan ko habang pilit kong kinokontrol ang sarili ko. Nasaan na ba ang dalawang baliw na 'yon? Damn them!

"And maybe I'll turn that girl into a puppet, too."

Nagpantig ang tainga ko sa sinabi niya...

"What did you fucking say?"

Mahinang natawa ang Puppet Master. "Ang sabi ko---" pero wala nang salitang lumabas sa bibig niya. Kung sabagay, mahirap nga namang magsalita kung sinasakal ka na. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Puppet Master nang iangat ko siya sa ere, my hands gripped his throat.

I was aware that I'm almost breaking his windpipe, but I couldn't stop myself.

No.

I couldn't control myself.

Paano ba ako nakakawala? Shit. This is bad. Wala na akong alam sa mga nangyayari.

"B-Bitiwan mo ako..."

I grinned deviously. "As you say so," I replied before throwing him straight to a street light. Bumulabog sa buong bayan ang ingay ng pagkabali ng mga buto niya. Blood oozing out of his temple. The sadistic side of me laughed like a madman and craved for more..

More..

More.

I need fucking more of this.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Hindi ko na kilala ang boses na kumawala sa bibig ko. Para bang wala na akong malay sa mga nangyayari. But somehow, I knew I pulled out a dozen knives and started slaughtering humans who were trying to take videos of what was happening. Manhid ang buong katawan ko habang tumitilapon ang mga kamay nila sa ere. The stench of blood and their horrified faces made me grin in satisfaction.

Slash and stab.

That's what everyone does for survival. Whether you like to slash your blade at your enemies neck or stab them in their backs, it doesn't make you any less of a monster.

"None of you humans are interesting anymore... DIE! DIE! DIE! HAHAHAHA!"

Gamit ang meteorite dagger, walang pagdalawang-isip kong sinaktan ang mga nasa paligid. Cries, deafening. Blood, splattering. Flames, burning around me... but I couldn't care less. Inangat ko ang dalawa kong kamay at tumingala sa kalangitan. I smiled in sadistic bliss as everything bowed down to the madness.

"KNIGHT, YOU SADISTIC NUTHEAD! SISIRAAN MO BA TALAGA ANG BUONG BAYAN?!"

The voice was familiar. One of my brother's for sure. Oh, who the fuck cares?

Isa pa, nakakatawang isipin na naging "Knight" ang palayaw ko, even though I never saw myself as anyone's savior.

I am a destroyer.

---

Congratulations! You've failed once again
to break someone as worthless as I;
Please take this trophy of sheer stupidity,
for I'll be on the other side once you die.

---Kleopatra Claveria

Note: Yow! Thanks for reading TKM and for patiently waiting for updates haha I really appreciate it :) Only about 10 chapters left before this ends, btw. Stay awesome! -Kuya Noks