FLASHBACK

"Oh my God..." Bulong ng isa kaya napansin ito ng mga kaibigan. Hindi maipinta ang gulat sa kanilang mga mukha.

"B-bakit narito ka?!" Natatarantang sigaw ng isa at tinuro siya kaya napatingin ang mga kasama. Nanlaki ang mga mata nila nang makita ang kaibigan na pinapanood sila.

"What are... You doing? My God!" Nataranta nitong sabi habang nakatingin sa pugot na ulo ng kaibigan nilang si Yves.

"Kumalma ka, please... Ipapaliwanag ko!" Lumapit ang kaibigan sa kanya habang naluluha ang isa dahil sa gulat.

"Please don't say anything about this to anyone. Please..." Pagmamakaawa ng isa.

"This is murder!" Bulyaw nito habang umiiwas sa lumalapit niyang kaibigan.

"You know so much na kailangan natin ng hustisya," mariin na sabi ng isa.

"I'll walk away... And pretend I never saw anything."

END.

- -

｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. CHANEL

"Chanel..." Tawag sa akin ni Apollo as he handed me a white envelope. "May prize tayo."

Your advantage is the both of you are exempted from the next elimination.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag as I saw ours. Pero, hindi ko alam kung dapat ba maging masaya ako lalo na't alam ko na there are penalties sa kwarto ng iba.

Basta panatag na ako na kahit isa lang sa amin, kahit si Apollo nalang, ang makaligtas.

Because, hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kapag nakaligtas ako rito. I was ashamed of myself. I was the one who deserved to die — not Yves nor Achilles.

Nandito kami ngayon sa kwarto namin who looked similar to the room we woke up on earlier. Parang royalty ang aesthetic pero isa lang ang kama.

"Ikaw na rito, Chanel," Apollo said as he took a piece of the cloth from the bed. Umiling ako sa kanya. "Hindi kita patutulugin sa sahig, oy."

I wanted to chuckle at him.

Kinuha ko ang hawak niyang sapin and returned it sa bed. We both deserve to have a good rest after what happened today. Deserve niya rin na mailabas ang tae niya sa toilet.

"Chanel, sa sahig na ako," pilit niya at ngumuso pa pero umiling nalang ulit ako. Parang bata talaga.

"Mapilit ka, mare." He chuckled and took a pillow. He placed it on the middle para magkaroon ng safety barrier sa aming dalawa.

I laid down on my side of the bed and stared at the ceiling. I was honestly so tired, it felt like we were running in circles.

Kahit anong gawin namin, walang aamin. I was aware of that. Napansin siguro nila na ayaw ko ring maglabas ng impormasyon.

At this point, I was protecting not only myself. I wanted myself to be blinded by the fact na kapag walang nakakaalam, magiging buo pa rin kami.

Tumabi sa akin si Apollo na may dalang lapis at papel. I raised a brow at him. Saan niya nakuha 'yon?

"Marami akong gustong itanong," sabi niya and handed me the pencil and paper. "Magtulungan tayo..."

Oh, Apollo, I know almost everyone's secrets.

And I wanted to know yours too.

Tumango ako at sinenyasan siya na ipagpatuloy ang sinasabi niya. I saw him look away for a moment as he turned back to face me.

"Kilala mo ang pumatay?" Umiling ako but I took the pencil and wrote something.

I know who the TRUE killer is.

Alam ko sa sarili ko na nakakahiya ako. Bakit hindi ko pa sinabi noong una palang? Kung sanang mas maaga pa, hindi kami aabot sa ganito.

I was too focused on making a clear plan that I forgot that the situation already went haywire.

"Sino?" Tumingin siya sa akin, halatang naguguluhan na sa nangyayari. I was open to the possibilities na iba't iba ang alam namin sa sitwasyon. After all, there were two sides to this story.

That was the reason why Hades and I broke up.

May kanya-kanya kaming ipinaglalaban kaya kami ang naligaw sa gitna ng gulo. However, the heavens know gaano ko gustong bumalik sa kanya. It was hard throwing a three-year relationship away.

If it's not Hades, I don't want him.

Hindi ko siya sinagot at nagtanong nalang sa kanya using the paper.

The sex room isn't yours, right?

Nakita ko paano nanlaki ang mga mata ni Apollo kaya napangisi ako. One thing I noticed about my friends was that most of them were always bad at lying.

"Oo," maikling sagot nito bago umiwas ng tingin.

Who are you protecting?

"Wala akong pinoprotektahan." Lies. "Pero I was playing safe."

He wasn't. I know that sex room so well. Ayun ang kwarto kung saan nakuhanan ng video sina Yves at Achilles habang nagtatalik. I was getting impatient with this conversation.

Walang mangyayari kung magsisinungaling lang kami sa isa't isa.

I'll tell you everything I know basta sumagot ka ng totoo sa mga tanong ko.

"Hmm... No offense, lods, pero..." I looked at him. "Bakit kita dapat pagkatiwalaan?"

Doon sumagi sa akin na I was just like them, playing safe. Hindi na ako ang pinupuntahan nila tuwing may problema.

I was part of the problem now.

We are both in two sides of the story. I will tell you mine.

Napangiti ako nang makitang nakukumbinsi siya. It felt like I was becoming useful again. That there was a ray of hope na makakaalis kami rito... Alive.

"May pinoprotektahan ako." Napapikit si Apollo as he said that. "Nagmahal lang din naman ako."

Oh my God?

All I know was iba-iba lagi ang babae ni Apollo, he would always wake up with a new woman in bed. Plus, his commitment was only having sex. Seeing him in love was... New yet so strange. And to top it off, sino sa amin?

"Gulat ka, mars?" Natawa siya at my shocked face. "Marunong na ako mag-commit, oy!"

I brushed it off and smiled at him. I also patted his back to assure him that his secret was safe with me.

Saan mo siya pinoprotektahan?

Natigil siya sa pwesto niya nang mabasa 'yon. He was hesitant to answer... I knew that. And, it seems na hindi niya kaya sagutin.

"Luh, madaya!" He tried to change the topic by laughing. "Ikaw muna sumagot sa tanong ko! Ano ang alam mo sa totoong pumatay?"

I knew he would ask that.

Ganyan ang ugali niya, he was always thirsty for answers. Kaya rin siguro masipag siya mag-aral kahit most of his day was spent on fucking and mobile games. Akala niyo ba sa sex lang siya thirsty?

Yves and Achilles were forced to have sex with each other. I saw the uncut video and nakita ko ang tao na nanonood sa kanila. Before that, Yves told me na she and Achilles were already struggling.

Napakunot ang noo ni Apollo as he read the paper. Yumuko siya as we sat in silence for a few minutes. I saw his visible veins on his neck, a sign na he was hanging on to his thin string of patience.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" Sigaw ni Apollo at pinagpapalo ang pader. He was leaning his head on the wall kaya lumapit ako para patahanin siya.

"Sino ang nakita mo?" He asked as he looked at me. His eyes were bloodshot and I immediately knew the meaning of that.

Slowly, the questions in my mind were being answered. My theory was slowly being correct.

He had something to do with their death.

The child born out of wedlock.

Tila nanghina siya nang mabasa niya 'yon as his knees failed him. There was only one among us who fits that description.

I looked at the man who was a crying mess on the floor. Naiyak ako nang makita siyang ganoon so I rushed over to his side and hugged him. Hindi siya makahinga... He was panicking!

Apollo...

We were betrayed.

"C-chanel..." He cried. "Sabihin mo nagsisinungaling ka, please?"

Oh, how I wish I was lying.

Hindi ko siya masagot kaya I let him bury his face on my chest. I was caressing his back as only his cries were heard in the room. I wanted to comfort him so bad.

"Tanginang buhay naman 'to," he said after a few minutes of silence. Inalalayan niya akong tumayo as we sat on our bed.

"Alam mong mahal na mahal ka ni Hades, 'no?" I nodded but I believe it was better that we broke up before this. Baka protektahan niya pa ako.

"Humingi kaya ako ng advice noon nung nanliligaw ako!" Proud niyang sabi kaya napataas ang kilay ko sa kanya. Matagal na siyang may jowa?

That explains... Why I don't see him with another woman anymore.

"Secret lang natin ito ha!" He chuckled and placed a finger on his mouth. I nodded, natutuwa sa itsura niya ngayon. "Ayaw kasi ng atensyon ng baby ko na 'yon."

Ang harot.

"May sasabihin ako." I looked at him.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat na mararamdaman ko as I heard his next words. But all I know is binalot ako ng kilabot.

"Kilala ko kung sino ang pumatay kay Achilles."

｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. NARRATION

Pinagmumura ni Hades si Crow nang makita ang kwarto nila ni Tiffany. Pinapatahan naman ng babae ang binata pero nagwawala na ito.

"Putangina mo, Crow!" Sigaw nito. "Makalabas lang ako rito, papatayin kita!"

Maganda man ang nakuhang kwarto ng iba nilang kaibigan... But theirs was... Inhumane. Para bang tinanggalan sila ng karapatang pantao.

Your penalty is this cell.

Their room was so small that it was only the size of a coffin. That meant they have no choice but to sleep standing up.

Naawa si Hades kay Tiffany dahil alam niyang pagod ito matapos operahan sina Prada at Dior. Hindi na nga sila kumain, hindi pa sila mabigyan ng disenteng pantulog.

"Tiff..." Hindi ito makatingin sa mata ng kaibigan. Hades leaned himself to the wall as Tiffany caressed his back. "Pasensya na."

Nginitian ni Tiffany si Hades nang humarap ito sa kanya. Ayos lang ako. She wanted to say.

Wala nang magawa ang dalawa kundi pumasok sa napakaliit na kwarto. Mabuti nalang ay may bintana ang pinto kaya naman nakakahinga sila kahit papaano.

Magkatabi silang nakatayo sa kwarto habang nag-iisip si Hades ano ang gagawin para maging komportable si Tiffany. Napakasikip doon kaya kahit anong maisip ni Hades ay wala rin.

Mabuti nalang hindi si Gucci ang narito. Baka mahimatay 'yun. Nasa isip ni Hades.

"Tiff..." Tawag ni Hades kaya napatingin ang dalaga. "Alam mo ba ang litrato ko?"

Tiffany knew so well ang mga litrato nila. She knew everything except for the one with the silhouette carrying the chopped head.

The most important picture of all.

Tumango ito kaya nagpalabas ng buntong-hininga si Hades. He knew he fucked up and there were many loose ends in the situation.

If only he knew what Tiffany's picture was.

Sa kabilang banda naman, napangiti si Zeus nang makita ang kanilang premyo. Alam niya na mas kailangan ito ni Prada ngayon.

Your advantage is you can drink this healing serum. However, you cannot use this to revive a dead a person.

"Oh, Prada!" Masaya niyang sabi sa kaibigan at ibinigay ang bote na may healing serum. "Para makatulog ka nang mahimbing."

To be honest, ayaw ito inumin ni Prada dahil pakiramdam niya ay dapat niyang samahan si Dior sa peligrong ito. Para bang iniwan niya lang ang kaibigan sa ere.

This is super masakit, e. Sa isip ni Prada.

Kinuha niya ang bote at uminom ng isang shot. Ang pait... Hindi niya tuloy maiwasang isipin na baka alak ang ipinainom sa kanya.

"Tanggalin natin eye patch mo?" Tanong ni Zeus kaya tumango ang nakatatanda. Ni hindi nga sila sigurado kung ipapatubo ulit nito ang mata ni Prada. Ginawa ba namang halaman.

We're like tanga. Gusto itong sabihin ni Prada.

Tinanggal nito ang eye patch ng babae. Napangiwi si Zeus nang makita ang duguan at walang mata ni Prada. Para sa isang fighter, siya ang takot sa nakakadiri.

After all, bunso pa rin naman nila si Zeus.

Ilang minuto nilang pinagmasdan ang mata ni Prada kung tutubo ba ito pero walang nangyari. Ang tanging napansin lang ni Prada ay wala na siyang nararamdamang sakit.

Pero hindi niya alam paano ito sabihin sa kaibigan.

"Walang nangyayari..." Malungkot na sambit ni Zeus at saka ngumuso. "Scam!"

Natawa si Prada at umiling. Ginawa niyang 'x' ang mga braso niya at umaktong nasasaktan. Zeus looked at her, obvious that he was judging her.

Hindi niya maintindihan ang ginagawa ng kaibigan.

"Baka alak ipinainom sa'yo?" Napasapo ng noo si Prada. "Lasing ka, 'no?"

Akala ni Prada ay si Hades na ang pinaka-stressful na kaibigan. May mas malala pala.

"Gusto mong mag-charades?" Zeus asked, earning him a smack from the older. "Anong ginawa ko?!"

Sumuko nalang si Prada habang patuloy na iniisip ni Zeus ang nais niyang sabihin. Dalawa ang kama sa kwarto nila at humiga nalang si Prada sa isa.

"Hindi ko ma-gets..." Dinig ni Prada na binulong ni Zeus kaya napabuga ito ng hangin. "Ah!"

Napatingin ang dalaga sa kaibigan nang sumigaw ito, pinapanalangin na sana naintindihan na niya.

Or not.

"May alam ka ba talaga sa pagkamatay ni Yves?" Tanong ni Zeus kay Prada. Habang si Prada nananalangin na sana maintindihan na siya, si Zeus naman ay humihiling na sana magsabi siya ng totoo.

Umiling si Prada at binigyan ng mapait na ngiti si Zeus.

Hindi nila alam na ang mga sikretong alam nilang dalawa ay 'yung susi para makaalis sila sa impyernong ito.

Sa panghuling kwarto naman ay makikita ang galit ni Dior habang pinapatahan ito ni Hermés. Maganda nga ang kanilang kwarto pero hindi makatao ang penalty na ibinigay sa kanila.

Your penalty is each of you will be beaten up by the guards for five minutes.

Nag-alala ang dalawa dahil baka mapatay sila sa pagbubugbog ng mga kasamahan ni Crow at dahil na rin bagong opera lang si Dior.

"Hindi..." Sabi ni Dior at kinumbinsi ang sarili niya. "Kaya natin ito. Nag-workout tayo sa gym for this!"

Hermés was obviously worried, lalo na nang pumasok ang limang guards na may suot na crow mask at naka-full black overalls. Dior was barely even standing at this point.

"Let's start with the girl first. Shall we?" Natigilan ang dalawa nang mapansin na boses ni Achilles ang nagsalita. It was impossible... He was dead.

"Putangina, buhay ka?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Dior nang kuhanin siya ng lalaki. Hermés tried to stop them but he was pushed to the ground.

"This voice is a copy," sagot nito. "Your friend is really dead."

"Bastusan amputa!" Sinipa ni Dior ang lalaki sa kanyang birtud kaya napaluhod ito. Tatakbo na sana ang babae palayo nang hinawakan ito ng isang guard.

"Let her go." Lumapit si Hermés. "I'll take her five minutes. Sampung minuto niyo ako bugbugin."

"Hoy, Hermés!" Saway ni Dior. "Manahimik ka riyan. Kaya ko 'to!"

Dior was always so independent and she believed in her abilities as a female. After all, siya ang president ng feminist organization sa university nila.

However, now was not the time to be a hero.

"Your wound will open," sumagot si Hermés. "Gaya nga ng sabi mo, we trained in the gym for this."

Saglit na itinanong ng guard si Crow kung maaari bang ganoon ang gawin. Nang pumayag ito, hinila si Hermés ng mga guard at sinimulang bugbugin.

Tatalikod sana si Dior as she could not bear this sight but a guard pulled her and trapped her on his chest para hindi siya makaalis and to force her into watching Hermés being beaten. Napangiwi ito nang maramdaman ang sakit ng tiyan niya.

She wanted to scream but the guard covered her mouth with his hand.

She had no choice but to watch her longtime friend suffering the pain that was supposed for her.

Alam ni Dior na hindi ito deserve ni Hermés.

More than anyone else, si Dior ang dapat na nasa pwesto ng binata ngayon.

For a moment, she wanted to expose all the secrets she knew but the price was too high. Either way, may consequences ang mga decisions niya.

As the deadly ten minutes were done, nagmadali siyang tumabi sa kaibigan at inalalayan ito sa kama. Hermés had bruises all over his body. And, each one of his friends know na he already had bruises even before they were kidnapped.

"I'm sorry..." Wala nang ibang masambit si Dior kundi ang mga katagang 'yun.

It was an eventful night for everyone. But, all of them were feeling the same. They were anxious about each other. Hindi sila mapalagay dahil alam nila na mayroong nasasaktan sa kanila. With that, nakatulog sila, preparing themselves for another hell the next day.

However, they did not prepare themselves for what they saw the next morning.

It was their dearest friend and the mother of the group, Chanel's decapitated head placed in a table with a crown over her head.

"The crows kissed Chanel her death. She is an innocent."