｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. HERMÉS

I was lucky.

Crow gave me a sniper while the others have pistols and daggers. Kanina ko pa sila sinusundan but I wanted them to come to me. I already expected Dior to light up the whole carnival once I saw what Hades did to the emergency button.

Their decisions continued to fail them. My plan was smooth - I just had to watch them like a shadow. Hindi lang sila ang pwedeng makapatay sa akin, pati ang mga Crow Guards din. I had to always look back and forth then think twice on my choices.

Nagising ako rito sa liblib na parte ng carnival. I had a lantern with me so I was able to scan the place beforehand. Moreover, alam ko na isa lang ang guardhouse dito. There was only one place where they could hide.

I prepared my sniper as I approached the guardhouse. Napangisi ako nang makitang sumilip si Hades. I wanted to laugh at that.

Checkmate.

I looked at the guardhouse where the three killers of Yves were at.

The only problem I had with me was that the place was too dark. Hindi ko sila makikitang tumakas. Hence, I had to rely on my hearing senses. When there was rustling, there was movement. Unti-unti akong lumapit sa pinto at binuksan ito.

I was right. They escaped.

I heard some rustling so I immediately ran to it. Hindi ako makabaril agad because I did not want to waste any bullets. Kaunti lang din naman ang bullet na ibinigay ni Crow. That was my downside.

Naririnig ko ang pagtakbo sa tatlong direksyon. They must have separated. Inuna kong sinugod ang yabag na naririnig kong mabagal. That was my best shot of eliminating one. I squinted my eyes and saw my first target.

I had to be careful, though. Dior was carrying both a chainsaw and a gun in her hand. However, her reaction time would be too slow since marami siyang dala. Hindi niya agad magagamit ang baril niya.

I positioned myself far enough from her. But, tumigil ako nang marinig ko ang boses niya. Fuck. Gusto kong murahin ang sarili ko dahil rumurupok nanaman ako. I was falling all soft again for her.

"Hermés..." She called me. I stopped in my tracks and faced her. From my vision, she was not pointing any gun at me. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyari sa akin but I decided not to direct my weapon at her. "Bakit mo 'yon ginawa?"

I took a deep breath.

Walang dahilan. Kahit anong sabihin ko... I was wrong. However, I did not want my life to stop too. Gusto kong magsimula ng panibagong buhay. And, I did not want my secret to plague me and my future.

My parents were disappointed enough at me... turns out that their reason was valid. I made bad choices but I did not want to face the consequences. I just wanted to erase the traces of my haunting past.

Kaya ko nga dinala ang mga kaibigan ko sa Crowbones, e.

I was the one who brought them here. They were fighting a losing battle all along.

"I'm sorry." My apology was genuine. Sa lahat... kahit hindi nila alam na ako ang dahilan bakit nandito sila. That I was selfish for choosing what would do me best. And lastly, I wanted to apologize to myself for killing my best friend and the woman we loved.

"Hermés, pwede ka pang magsimula ng panibago." She held my hand as tears brimmed my eyes. I had to look away from her. "Huwag mo itong gawin, please. Ikaw pa rin naman ang kaibigan namin, 'di ba?"

Kaibigan.

I wanted to scoff at that. Ganoon pa rin ang tingin niya sa akin after everything I had done? Ako ang kusang sumira ng pagkakaibigan namin. I was leading nine people to their death. Inaamin ko naman ang mga kasalanan ko.

However, I wanted to have a fresh start at life. I knew that most of them investigated about the case... kaya nga Chanel and Tiffany found out about it. Right then and there, alam kong kailangan ko nang gumawa ng aksyon.

"I love you, Dior," my voice cracked before pointing the gun at her head. My tears were streaming down at my face as I looked at the girl I so proudly loved. Nakita ko kung paano nanlaki ang mga mata niya at akmang tumakbo.

Not until I shot Dior dead.

Nanghina ang mga tuhod ko at umiyak nang saglit. I went near her lifeless body and held her hand. I caressed her face as I wanted to stare at her for a while. Just let me say goodbye to her. Rest peacefully, my love.

Naalala ko pa how I pursued her. I memorized every single thing about her. You could say that it was love at first sight. But, I fell for her personality and so much more. She was an independent and carefree woman. She did not need any man in her life. Best friend ko pala ang kailangan niya.

You could be with Apollo now. Hug him for me.

"Ah!"

Narinig ko ang sigaw ni Gucci, causing me to snap out of my thoughts. I planted a kiss on Dior's forehead before taking my sniper and her gun. Sinundan ko ang boses ng bunso naming kaibigan pero parang nawawala ako. I had no landmark to see where I was now.

I needed noise.

Pinaputok ko ang baril, and then, I heard her scream again. Magkahiwalay na ata silang dalawa ni Hades. Gucci only had a pistol so I can shoot her from afar. Dahan-dahan akong naglakad sa direksyon ng boses niya.

I was careful not to make a sound. Nagtago ako sa likod ng puno when I saw a figure. It was not Gucci... the man was wearing a cape. It was a Crow Guard. Nakita kaya nito si Gucci or inatake siya ng kaibigan ko?

Pinagmasdan ko ito at napasimangot ako nang mapagtantong he was not planning on moving at all. I looked around, trying to see a trace of Gucci pero wala talaga. Ang bilis naman niyang umalis. I just hoped kasama niya si Hades so I could eliminate the both of them at once.

Nagulantang ako nang may sumakal sa akin sa leeg. The Crow Guard was choking the life out of me! I was trying so hard to yank his hand off my neck when I realized that I had a gun. I mustered the strength to get it from my pocket and shoot the guard twice.

I had to make sure na patay na nga ito.

Napasandal ako sa puno habang hinahabol ang hininga ko. His grip was so hard, I really thought he would kill me. Good thing, my reflexes were fast enough for me to think while struggling and panicking.

I smiled triumphantly when I heard rustling. Nilibot ko ang tingin ko at nakikitang tumatakbo si Gucci palayo. She only had a pistol and a dagger with her which made it easier for me since hindi ko na kailangang lumapit sa kanya.

Inayos ko ang posisyon ng sniper ko and aimed it at her position.

Three...

Two...

One...

"Fuck!" I whispered to myself when the shot missed her.

Ayan tuloy, mas lumayo pa siya! I mentally cursed at myself and followed her footsteps. Compared to Dior, Gucci's running was slower since her leg was injured. Maybe, I would not use my sniper after all.

I got my shot when she tripped.

"K-kuya Hermés..." Nauutal niyang sabi nang makita akong papalapit sa kanya. Sinusubukan niyang umatras but her leg was failing her. Akma niyang kukuhanin ang baril niya nang sipain ko ito papalayo sa kanya.

Her eyes screamed horror now.

"Come back to us." It was my turn to freeze. She was already shedding tears when I stared at her. Come back to them... that stunned me for a moment.

Biglang nagflash sa utak ko ang mga araw na masasaya kami. There were no problems... just us enjoying each other's company. I remembered how Hades, Apollo, and Achilles would crash at my house para guluhin ang buhay at kwarto ko.

I bitterly smiled at that.

"Rest easy, Gucci," I said as I pulled the trigger.

I just stared at her lifeless body after. Gucci was so adventurous and brave... marami pa siyang mararating sa buhay. It saddened me kasi ganito nalang ang nangyari sa kanya. If they just knew better than to be friends with me.

Ilang beses ko naman silang pinagtabuyan noon.

I did not want friends. I just wanted a life in peace. But, they just had to enter my life. I did not want any commitments or attachments in my life. Gusto ko na ako nalang ang may takbo sa buhay ko.

Gucci, you can spend your afterlife with Zeus now.

Huminga ako nang malalim as I prepared myself to look for Hades. Siya nalang ang hindi ko nakikita. I noticed that he was smooth with moving. He moved like a shadow... we both did. But, what made me had the upper hand was...

Alam ko paano siya gumalaw.

Imposible na nandito pa rin siya. He went back to the carnival proper. I took the bullets in Gucci's gun and placed them on my pocket. I needed all the ammo I could get. I planted a kiss on Gucci's forehead before leaving her there.

Maingat akong naglakad pabalik sa carnival. I was cautious with my surroundings... alam ko na nakabantay pa ang mga crow guard sa amin. I had to watch out for two foes at once. Mahirap din makagalaw ng maayos so I had stay vigilant for my plan to work.

Napatingin ako sa sahig and saw traces of blood. This was either Gucci's or Hades', but either way, kailangan kong tingnan to make sure of it. Wala akong nakitang sugat kay Dior so it was probably between the two.

I slowly followed the traces of blood and it led to a tent. Napakunot ang noo ko, wondering if buhay pa ang may-ari nito. Baka kasi dito nagising ang iba at nasagutan sila along the way. I prepared my gun and peeked through the curtain.

Bingo.

Hades was sitting on a bench while tending to his wounds. May sugat siya sa braso and it looked deep. Para bang sinaksak siya by someone. This was my best shot. I took my sniper and aimed it at him.

Tumigil ako nang bigla niyang hawakan ang baril niya at tinutok sa akin. Fuck, how did he find out I was here?!

"Lumabas ka diyan, Hermés," Hades hissed and threw the bandage away. I felt uncomfortable since the blood was streaming down his arm. "Ayusin natin ito."

Wala akong balak ayusin.

I entered the tent and walked closer to him. He was gripping tightly to his gun na para bang aatakihin ko siya out of nowhere. But, I was just the same too. I was prepared to shoot him in no time.

"Bakit mo nagawa 'yon?" Tanong niya sa akin, his face screamed so much disgust. Siya pa ang may ganang magtanong sa akin noon?

"Why did you kill Yves?" I fired back. Nakita ko paano nandilim ang mukha niya at kumuyom ang kamao niya. I had to smirk at that. This challenge was already becoming a mind game.

"Sinong nagsabi sa'yo na pinatay ko siya?" He asked. "Si Achilles?"

Hades was getting on my nerves.

"Oh?" He sarcastically laughed. "Affected ka ata? Inggit ka ba?"

My mind told me to point a gun at him. Mas lalong namuo ang galit sa puso ko nang tawanan niya ako. I just wanted to pull this fucking trigger!

"Lumaban ka nang patas, tanga!" Bulyaw niya. "Walang baril... fistfight."

Hades wanted to beat me in his own game. Ayaw ko namang magpatalo so I put down my weapon as he did the same. I wanted to show him na malakas din ako... and I could definitely beat him at the one thing he was best at.

"Fuck you," I coldly said as we waited for the other to charge. I knew how he played... he never fought first. Kaya ganito rin ang gagawin ko sa kanya. This challenge was to the death... and I would gladly give it to him.

"Bakit hindi ka sumuntok? Takot ka?" He was taunting me. Ganito ang mga madalas na tactic niya sa mga kalaban niya. Sa tinagal-tagal ko siyang kilala, I was aware how he treated each one he fought with.

"Why don't you punch me first?" I smirked at him. Nakita ko paano namula ang mukha niya sa galit... I was beating him at his own game. Wala tuloy siyang choice but to come charging at me. He landed a punch at me but good thing I dodged.

I was not the best in punching... but I did not say that I am bad at it.

Sinimula ko siyang suntukin as he successfully but barely dodged all my punches. His fists were aiming at the softest parts of my body kaya masakit. It was a good thing I was one to go to the gym so it did not affect me much.

"Tangina mo, nakakadiri ka!" He shouted at me as he repeatedly landed punches in my body. I was not affected with what he said but it made me determined to hurt him more. Naramdaman ko na rin na may tumulong dugo mula sa bibig ko.

"Just die, you fucker!" I yelled as I landed one good blow to his stomach, making him fall in pain. I took my gun and pointed straight at his forehead. It was now or never.

A tear escaped my eye as my mind played a montage of my memories with my once friends. Kung paano nila ako sagipin sa mala-impyerno kong bahay. They were my breath of fresh air. They became the best mornings I had.

However, because of my mistakes, they were becoming the nightmare I always wanted to stop. Hindi ko na kaya na nandiyan sila.

"Matagal mo na kaming pinatay, Hermés," Hades said as I finally shot straight to his head.

He was right.

Ang mahalaga... I survived.

I smiled in victory as I finally killed the killers of Yves. Sa wakas, I could fucking get out of here. I was ready to live a new and great life. Nakaplano na ang buhay ko after this... and I would never return to Manila again.

I did not expect that my happiness would be that brief.

"The crows kissed Dior's, Gucci's, and Hades' death. They are all innocent. Hermés is the last one standing. He is also an innocent."