"There are a lot of new killers this season," Everick noted as kept his eyes on the screen. Magulo ang anggulo at nakabibingi ang ingay ng paligid. Himala na lang yata at nagagawa niya pa ring maaninag ang laban.

"Mukhang baguhan lang silang lahat sa EKT."

Sa kanyang tabi, mahina namang natawa si Evarius at itinaas ang kanyang mga paa sa mesa, wiping his hair that was still dripping wet from his blood bath.

"Malamang dahil patay na yung mga dating participants. Oh, such a waste of good serial killers!"

Hindi na lang nagkumento si Everick at itinuon ang kanyang atensyon sa laban. Raff announced the last five minutes left before the match ends. Sa kabila ng panginginig ng kanyang boses kanina, he's got to admit that the mortal was handling things well for an amateur referee.

Kahit pa alam nilang lahat na nasa bingit rin siya ng kamatayan.

'Ilang referee na ba ang namatay sa kalagitnaan ng matches na 'to?'

Everick's mind wandered off to a few matches he's watched in the past. Kung hindi napupugutan ng ulo, nababalian ng braso, o aksidenteng nakakain ng mga cannibals, referees usually die of shock after a round or two.

'What a boring way to fucking die.'

Everick can think of more interesting death scenarios which includes lovely crimson stains on the floor, the addicting sound of popping bones, and shiny knives burying deeper and deeper into the human flesh until...

"---Hey! Earth to Knight! Yuhoo!"

Napabalik na lang sa kasalukuyan si Everick nang biglang sumigaw sa kanyang tainga si Joker. He almost stumbled out of his chair and glared daggers at him. "Shit! Kailangan bang naka-megaphone ka pa?!"

"HAHAHAHA! Eh, bakit ka ba kasi nakangiti nang mag-isa diyan? If you wanna join me in the asylum, just say so! I'll be your frabjous tour guide! Free~"

"Gago, 'wag na lang. Baka lalo lang akong mabaliw sa'yo."

"Nababaliw ka na rin sa'kin? Err... Sorry, but you're not my type, brother. Bawal incest."

"What the f---?"

"HAHAHAHAHA!"

Minsan talaga ang sarap balatan nang buhay ang baliw na 'to!

Huminga siya nang malalim at ikinuyom ang mga kamao. He ignored the sensation brought by the sight of death. Right now, Everick's body craved for something to satisfy him, other than the usual sexual release.

It was maddening, but it can never be helped.

Nang matapos na ang unang round ng EKT, agad na umalis nang walang paalam ang Knight. Hindi na siya pinansin pa si Evil na kanina pa nagmamasid. Alam na nito ang mangyayari.

'Madness.. This is fucking madness.'

Wala sa sarili siyang nag-transform bilang uwak at nagtungo sa liblib na bahagi ng bayan, malapit sa kakahuyan. Nanghihina siyang bumalik sa kanyang anyo at sumandal sa isang puno. Sa mga sandaling ito, nanginginig na ang kalamnan ni Everick.

'Maybe you should take your brother's advice and admit yourself in the asylum!'

He bit down on his lip, causing the metallic taste of blood to fill his senses.

Bad idea.

'You can satisfy your body's needs, but you can never sate the demons inside your head...'

Hindi na alam ni Everick kung anong mas malala. Ang pakikipagdebate niya sa masamang bersyon ng kanyang sarili o ang katotohanang hindi na niya makontrol ang kanyang katawan.

His tattoo burned on his skin, as the possession slowly took place.

"F-FUCKING HELL! STAY OUT OF MY HEAD!"

But the on earth can you keep yourself from staying out of your own head?

How ironic.

Dahil hindi tulad ng kanyang mga kapatid, hindi alam ni Everick kung paano paghiwalayin ang dalawang "nature" ng kanilang dugo. Over the years, he found it difficult to contain his bloodlust once triggered.

"DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL! HAHAHAHAHA!"

Blades flew all over the place at deadly speeds. Bumaon sa ilang mga puno ang mga samurai at tumagos naman sa ulo ng isang usa ang paborito niyang combat knife. Nabulabog ang mga ibon sa pagwawala ni Everick, but he shot each and every one of them down with the use of his pocket knives.

Umulan ng dugo.

Nakangiti niya lang sinalubong ang bawat patak nito.

The invitation of EKT weighed heavier in his trench coat's pocket.

'If Evil is the rational one and Evarius is the madman, then where do I sit in this madness?'

Nowhere... That's why he constantly needs to prove himself.

Perhaps being a middle child really has its disadvantages.

*

"Akala ko talaga mamamatay na ako kanina!"

Nakasimangot na hinila ni Kleo ang braso ni Roberta, sinusubukan kung makakalas pa ba ito. Kulang pa ba yung tahi niya kanina? Oh, poor Roberta! While Kleo was busy inspecting her doll, nagpatuloy naman sa pagkukwento si Raff ng naging experience niya sa unang gabi niya ng kanyang "trabaho". She was just half-listening, but base from his hand gestures and facial expressions, mukhang naging exciting nga ito.

'Kainggit naman.'

"---and then the Toymaker smashed his toy train into the boy, but guess what happened!"

Sa kabilang bahagi ng screen, halatang hindi kumportable si Marquessa sa kanilang usapan. All the while, she kept fidgeting and tugging at her ponytail. Nonetheless, she replied, "Err... Nanalo yung Toymaker and they lived happily ever after?"

Lalong napasimangot si Kleo nang makalas na naman ang braso ni Roberta.

"Hindi! Nanalo 'yong bata. Damn, you should've seen how that kid summoned his hounds the last minute!"

Baka pwede niyang i-request kay Raff na isama siya sa susunod na match? 'Hmph! Pero siguradong pagbabawalan na naman kami nina crow-shifter. Those bastards really think they can have all the excitement to themselves,' Kleo thought in irritation and started poking Roberta's (poorly stitched) stomach.

Speaking of the Neverwoods...

"Kamusta pala ang pagiging espiya mo?"

Agad na napahinto sa pagkukwento si Raff at itinuon sa kanya ang atensyon nito. Maging si Kesa na abala kanina sa paggawa ng assignments ay isinantabi muna ito. Well, why not? This is the first time Kleo spoke during their group call.

And no, she didn't even join this stupid thing voluntarily. Pinilit lang talaga siya ng dalawa niyang "kaibigan" para  makipagkwentuhan.

After she asked the question, Raff noticeably hesitated.

"Uh... Ayos naman daw ang video feed nila kanina. They got a good look at the participants, kahit na absent kanina ang pinaka-boss namin. Sayang. Professor Eve---I mean, Everick, was the one who took down notes, pero..."

"'Pero' ano?" Marquessa pressed.

Kleo's ears perked up at the mention of his name. Pero imbes na bumaling kay Raff, she pretended she was busy polishing Wilfredo's cranium. Wilfredo is a skull, by the way.

"Nabanggit kanina ni Evil na may kailangang asikasuhin ang kapatid nila kaya umuwi nang maaga," nagkibit ng balikat si Raff na para bang walang pakialam. "He's probably hooking up with some girl, again. Sa pagkakaalam ko, babaero ang isang 'yon."

"Probably," Kesa agreed but her eyes lingered on Kleo.

Nang hindi umimik ang dalaga, ibinaling na lang nila ang usapan sa papalapit na concert nina Kesa. Kung kanina ay "half-listening" pa si Kleo, ngayon hindi na talaga siya nakikinig. She also noticed how she was polishing the same spot over and over again while she was deep in thought.

'Probably not.'

Nang matapos ang kanilang video call, Kleopatra sighed and  laid on the floor next to her Frankenstein figurines, zombie paper dolls, and oakwood wands.

"Iniisip ba talaga ng tatlong 'yon na kakayanin nilang talunin ang EKT nang ganoon kadali? Is that why they're here in Eastwood? Sheesh. I never knew immortals can be so clueless..."

Kleopatra twisted on her side to be face to face with Roberta.

Pero habang tinititigan niya ang kanyang manika, naaninag niya ang isang piraso ng papel sa likuran nito. Kleo eyes widened when she realized what it was. Bago pa man niya mapigilan ang kanyang sarili, she reached out and read the address scribbled on it.

Just then, an idea came to mind.

Agad na napaupo si Kleopatra, the excitement making her smile.

"That's it!"

It looks like she needs to pay the playboy a visit.

---

To silence, I confessed...
my deepest and silliest fears;
and told him the stories I kept inside,
the ones I wanted someone else to hear.

---Kleopatra Claveria