｡˚⛓˚｡⋆. NARRATION

Three people.

Tatlong tao ang nakagapos sa upuan at nakatakip ang bibig gamit ng tela. That was the price Gucci, Apollo, and Ares had to pay for their loss. Sa pangalawang pagkakataon, Apollo and Ares had to fight for their lives.

They were faced with a challenge where their lives was at stake.

Naunang nagising si Gucci na biglang nag-panic. She scanned their location which seemed like a warehouse pero walang bakas ng pinto or bintana. Mabuti nga ay nakaka-hinga pa sila. It was plain gray and black.

"Mmm!" Sumigaw siya, trying to wake up her bound groupmates. She tried to clearly word what she wanted to say but her voice came out muffled. "Gising, kuya Ares! Kuya Apollo!"

On top of that, she was trying to yank herself free from the ropes. Nasugatan ang mga palapulsuhan niya because the wrists were so tight, it felt like it was going through her flesh.

Nang tumingin siya sa harap niya, she saw Dior, Hermés, and Hades. The difference was, they had collars attached to their neck, restraining their movements.

Ano nanaman kaya ang pakulo ni Crow? Gucci thought.

"Gucci? Gucci!" The girl faced front as she heard Dior's voice. Gucci yelled through her gag as she watched her friend run towards her. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Gucci nang hindi ito makaabot sa kinaroroonan niya. Dior's collar was not long enough to touch Gucci's face.

Kaunti nalang sana ay maabot na niya. It was just little space separating them.

"Lapit mo upuan mo dito!" Dior ordered. "I'll take off your ropes!"

Gucci tried to move her chair but it seemed like it was stuck to the ground. Nagtaka si Dior bakit hindi ito magalaw nang kaibigan nang napagtanto niya na it was nailed to the floor.

"It's nailed..." Dior muttered, making Gucci sigh. Gucci's tears were already brimming in her eyes as Dior can only stare at her. Dior looked everywhere, trying to find what she can use to set her friends free.

"Nasaan ako?" Gucci faced Apollo who spoke muffled. Lumapit agad si Dior sa kanya at sinubukang hilahin ang collar niya para matanggal ito.

Napaawang ang labi ni Apollo nang mapagtanto na he was tied to a chair and gagged on his mouth, with Ares and Gucci being the same. Tumingin naman siya kay Dior at sa mga kagrupo nito who had a metal collar on their neck.

"Are you okay?" Apollo managed to ask Dior whilst having a cloth muffling his words. Tumango ang babae but her face showed otherwise. She was in panic.

She had to get them out.

"Baby, try to hop your chair towards me," utos ni Dior kay Apollo, nagbabaka-sakali na her boyfriend was strong enough to push his chair whilst being restrained.

Nakaramdam ng panic at stress si Dior nang hindi ito gumana. Napagpasyahan niya na gisingin ang mga kagrupo niya for help. She knew that the boys went to the gym everyday kaya for sure, they were strong enough.

"Hermés! Hades!" Inalog niya ang mga kaibigan niyang tulog pa who just groaned at her, nananaginip pa ata. "Tangina, mga mantikang-tulog."

Think, Araceli, think. Dior repeatedly chanted on her head.

"Putangina?" Lumiwanag ang mga mata ni Dior nang marinig ang malutong na mura ni Hades na kagigising lang. "Gago, ba't kayo nakatali?"

"Hades, come here, quick!" Sigaw ni Dior from the other side of the room kaya naman tumakbo papunta sa kanya si Hades. "Kaya mo bang tanggalin ang collar natin?"

"Try ko." Tumango si Hades. "Maghanap ka pa diyan ng pwedeng pang-cut nito."

Dior nodded as she continued searching for a hacksaw. That was the best tool. However, if not, anything would do... As long as they can be free from their collars.

"Hintayin niyo kami, mga tukmol!" Sigaw ni Hades sa mga kaibigan niyang nakatali. Apollo shouted something back but it was too muffled to even understand.

Habang si Hermés ay... tulog pa rin.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" Dior yelled because she could not find a single tool to help them. Her heartbeat was rising and she was having panic attacks again. She wanted to sit down but the time they had left was already running out.

While Crow was not there yet, they thought they could escape.

Sa kabilang banda, si Hades naman ay inilalaan ang buong lakas niya para tanggalin ang kanyang chain. It even came to the point that he even wounded himself.

"Tangina," he sung to himself because his efforts were to no avail. Saglit siyang napatingin kina Gucci kaya mas naging determinado siya na makawala rito. They wanted to save them.

"Bakit ba tulog ang mga matatalino sa amin? Punyeta," Hades whispered to himself as he eyed Hermés and Ares who were sleeping soundly. Yes, it was a good thing na naunang nagising ang mga madiskarte.

However, their powers did not suffice anymore.

Apollo was already accepting it. Hindi na niya mabubuo ang mga plano niya kasama si Dior at ng mga kaibigan niya. He made many promises in his life... to live long, to get married, to build a family, and all other things.

Sabi nga nila, promises are made to be broken.

Pero, isang pangako lang ang hindi niya kayang sirain.

He promised Dior's parents, before they died, that he would take care of her no matter what.

On the other hand, Gucci was anticipating to meet Zeus and their friends who died earlier. It was enough that she knew the truth... but deep inside, she also wanted justice. She realized that Ares was thorough with his plan.

She was aware that this might be her last. But, she already died when she saw her friends lifeless in front of her. She could not wait to see them.

Good thing her asthma attack was not acting up now. On the contrary, kalmado siya ngayon. She felt at ease when she saw her friends fighting for them.

That was more than enough to make her feel that their friendship was still not at the brink of collapse.

"What's happening?" Napasalamat si Dior sa kung sinuman nang marinig niya ang boses ni Hermés. She immediately ran to him while his eyes darted to his friends tied up in front of them.

"Hermés, tulungan mo kami!" Dior exclaimed. "Hindi mahaba itong chain natin para mapuntuhan sina Apollo. May alam ka bang pwedeng pang-alis nito?"

Tulog pa ang diwa ni Hermés kaya natulala lang siya sa kawalan.

Ikaw ba naman ang biglang magising habang nananaginip pa.

"What..." Hermés rubbed his eyes while Hades sighed. Makaraan ang ilang segundo, bumalik na sa katinuan si Hermés at saka pinagmasdan ang mga nakagapos niyang kaibigan.

"It's impossible," sagot ni Hermés as he examined the chains binding them. With solely a person's force, hindi ito matatanggal sa kanila. They know they need either a hacksaw or a chainsaw.

"Baka naman may iba pang paraan." Hades was desperate. Abala siya sa pagtatanggal ng chain niya. Among them, Zeus and Hades were the strongest. Kung hindi na kaya ni Hades, none of them could.

Napalingon sila kay Ares who groaned. His eyes darted to his tied up self and his groupmates. Sinubukan niya ring igalaw ang upuan niya but it was to no use.

"Ares!" Dior called. "Baka may idea ka paano tayo makawala?"

Ares tried untying the knots but it was too tight. Doon niya napagtanto na it was tied military-style. Crow must have had training in the military before. The handkerchief in his mouth was also too tight for him to make a proper sentence.

"Good morning, little ones!" Natigil ang lahat nang marinig ang boses ni Crow. "Trying to escape, eh?"

Mabagal na bumalik si Dior kina Hades and Hermés. She was afraid of anyone in her friends being electrocuted again. Sa ngayon, she had to play safe for that matter.

"Our challenge for today is Russian Roulette." Naestatwa sa pwesto ang mga magkakaibigan at what he said. Tanging ang mura lang ni Hades ang narinig.

Was Crow fucking serious?

This challenge was... based on luck.

Napalunok si Dior at napatingin sa mga kaibigan niya who were tearing up. Kumuyom ang kamao ng babae as she muttered all sorts of curses to Crow in her head.

Hermés felt that this time... it was too unfair and barbaric. Tatanggapin niya pa if it was a challenge based on skills or agility. But not luck. Para bang tinanggalan sila ng karapatan to fight for their lives.

"Russian roulette is a potentially lethal game of chance in which a player places a single round in a revolver, spins the cylinder, places the muzzle against the head or body, and pulls the trigger." Pagpapaliwanag ni Crow.

"If the loaded chamber aligns with the barrel, the weapon will fire, killing the player," dagdag niya.

Natatakot si Hades... dahil alam na niya ang nasa isip ni Crow. He already knew how he worked with the challenges he gave them. Hindi siya naaawa... he wanted them to suffer.

What Crow said next made Hades' assumptions true.

"You will be assigned to one captive." Everyone gasped at Crow's statement. "You will pull the trigger on their heads."

Dior's breathing got quicker by the second. Nanghina ang mga tuhod niya, and she had to calm down so she could catch her breath. Kahit ano, kaya niyang gawin. Just not this. Kahit sarili nalang niya ang barilin niya, but not the others.

"What if binaril ko ang sarili ko?" Tanong ni Dior, sinusubukang ibalik ang pagka-astig niya kahit sobrang natatakot na siya ngayon sa mangyayari.

"Then, Mr. Apollo will die with you." Tumikhim ang bibig ng babae sa sinabi ni Crow. Sabi niya nga, hindi na niya babarilin ang sarili niya.

"Who wants to go first?" Maligayang tanong ni Crow but their silence only filled the room. After all, bakit sila magvo-volunteer?

They wanted to prolong this challenge so much kahit alam nilang wala silang takas dito.

"Wala? Then I'll pick!" Mas lalong kinabahan ang mga magkakaibigan sa sinambit ni Crow. Everyone was looking at each other, trying to savor the potentially last moment they could get a good look at their friends.

Tumulo ang luha ni Gucci nang marinig ang pangalan niya.

Sumikip ang dibdib nina Dior and Hades. They treated Gucci as their baby sister and alam nilang marami pa itong plano at mararating sa buhay niya. They hoped that luck was by her side this time.

"Eenie meenie minie mo..." Crow playfully sung. "I'll assign to you... Hades!"

Ngayon, tumulo na ang mga luha ni Hades.

"H-hindi ko kaya..." His voice cracked as Dior hugged him and Hermés patted his back. Gucci had to look away at that.

Kapag may nakikita si Gucci na umiiyak, naluluha rin siya.

However, it hit different since it was her friend crying this time.

"Hades, please get your gun on the table." Pinakyuhan ni Hades ang speaker as he slowly walked to the table. Nanginginig niyang ipinasok ang bala sa baril at ipinaikot ito.

Kaya pala ganoon kahaba ang chain na nakakabit sa kanila...

Kaya pala maliit lang ang espasyo sa pagitan ng dalawang grupo...

The gun was supposed to fill in the space between them.

Napaluhod si Hades nang makaharap siya kay Gucci. The younger tried to flash a smile between tears as she was already seeing the life after death.

She wanted to see her dead friends so much.

"Kuya, it's okay..." Gucci managed to say that sentence so clearly, which made Hades cry louder. Dahan-dahang tumayo si Hades at itinuro ang baril sa noo ni Gucci.

"P-pakiyakap sina Prada at Chanel para sa akin." Hindi niya magawang i-assure si Gucci na mabubuhay siya... this time, none of them were sure.

Wala nang calculations nor theories to help them.

Pumikit si Hades at dahan-dahang pinaputok ang baril in...

Three...

Two...

One...

The bullet did not come out.

Nanghina ang mga tuhod ni Hades as he cried in front of Gucci. He was so happy that their younger friend was still able to have a bright and loaded future ahead of her.

Nakahinga nang maluwag sina Dior at Hermés. The two were hugging each other. Both were unable to look at Hades and Gucci.

Dior thanked whoever is up there that her friend survived.

"Ms. Gucci has survived!" Bati ni Crow. "Now, who's next?"

Oo nga pala, the nightmare was not over yet.

Gucci wanted to feel relieved but her groupmates were still not free from the danger. Despite all that, nakita niya paano siya nginitian ng mga kuya niya. All of them thought of the same... Gucci should live.

"The next is Mr. Ares!" All of their breaths were caught as nervousness filled Ares' body. Apollo was looking worriedly at his friend.

Sana naman he got the same luck as Gucci's.

"Hmm... The shooter is..." Everyone were anxious at Crow's words. "Hermés!"

It was a double kill.

Hermés was frozen in his place. Before they got into Crowbones, Ares and Hermés would be each other's buddies. They had an unnoticeable friendship dahil siguro... parehas sila ng personality. As much as how angry Hermés was, Ares was still his friend.

However, one was wrecked.

Dior's cries were heard all over the warehouse. Nanghina ang mga tuhod niya at saka lumuhod, humahagulgol sa yakap ni Hades. Her screams were laced with so much pain and desperation. This was the cruelest thing someone could do to a person.

Killing the love of your life.

"N-No!" Dior's screams and tears were so heartbreaking, Apollo had to look away. The couple were both crying at the fate destiny had given them. "H-hades, I can't do it, p-please."

"I will electrocute Ms. Gucci if you would not accept the task," malamig na paalala ni Crow.

Wala na silang kawala ngayon.

Nauna nang kuhanin ni Hermés ang baril. It had to be now or never. After all, wala na silang magagawa. Kung bibigyan man sila ng ibang choice, they would gladly grab it without delay.

However, this time, there was none.

It was a die or die situation.

"A-ares, I'm sorry," Hermés' voice cracked nang humarap siya sa dating kaibigan. Their memories suddenly flashed in Ares' mind. Kahit ganito ang naging katapusan, the memories of them together was worth taking to the afterlife.

"You were a great friend." Sinubukang kumalma ni Hermés as he could not get himself to point the gun on Ares' head. Mas lalong naluha ito when Ares mouthed to him 'It's okay'.

I'll finally see the love of my life again, Hermés. I am ready to go now. I'll hug our friends for you. Don't worry about it. Gusto itong sabihin ni Ares kay Hermés.

Hermés closed his eyes and slowly pulled the trigger.

Pagdilat niya, Ares was already dead.

Pinuno ng hagulgol ng mga magkakaibigan ang warehouse. Hermés dropped gun and his knees to the ground. He just... killed his friend.

"Ares..." Hades cried as he slammed the wall. God, ilan pa ba ang kailangang mawala sa kanila bago matigil itong peligro? It broke them all to see a friend's life taken away from them.

And this time, sila rin ang may kagagawan.

"Fuck..." Bulong ni Hermés sa sarili niya at napasandal sa pader. He was devastated. His friends' blood was in his hands and... he killed him.

Hermés wanted to kill himself as he saw Ares lifeless.

But, what made Hermés much more dead than he already was was the next words of Crow.

"Ms. Dior, please go to Mr. Apollo and do your task," Crow said.

Dior was a crying mess. Hindi siya makagalaw... she was shaking. Any time now, she knew she was going to faint. Her body was failing her... she couldn't move. And, she hoped that it would stay like that for a while.

Just so she would not kill the love of her life.

Hades and Hermés had to look away from Dior. Mas lalo lang silang naiyak habang naririnig ang mga hagulgol ng kaibigan. Dior... never cried. Hindi niya mawari ang gagawin niya. She just wanted to kill herself that moment. Pero, hindi pwede.

Slowly, Dior managed to walk towards the table.

Paubos na ang kanyang lakas... but it went flat zero when faced with the gun. Nagpakawala siya ng buntong-hininga as she placed the bullet inside the case and spun it.

Dior was never a lucky person.

But now, can fate at least give her the luck she deserved all her life?

Napaluhod si Dior when she faced Apollo. Her tears never stopped streaming down from her eyes. Her heart was aching so much... that she just wanted to point the bullet in her head instead.

Apollo managed to remove the cloth in his mouth. He was a crying mess too. Ang hagulgol lang ng dalawa ay ang dinig sa buong lugar. Damn, it was too heartbreaking.

This was too cruel.

"A-ayos lang, baby." Apollo said through his sobs. Dior could not stop her tears from falling but she got the strength to stand up properly.

"Tangina mo, hindi ka mamamatay." Sinubukang ibalik ni Dior ang angas niya.

As she slowly pointed the gun in his head, all their memories played a montage in her head. Naalala ni Dior kung paano siya hinaranahan ni Apollo, how he brought her coffee kapag gumagawa siya ng plates, how he cuddled her when she needed or not, at kung paano nila ipinangako sa isa't isa na tatanda silang magkasama.

They were each other's home.

Alam ni Dior na at this point, couples who were in the same age as them were unlikely to last long.

What broke her heart was... she already found that someone.

She already found someone whom she wanted to spend a thousand lifetimes with.

"Mahal kita, Araceli," Apollo said, tears painting his handsome face.

Oh, how Dior loved when Apollo would call her by her second name. That made her heart beat a thousand times faster than being called 'baby'.

"I love you, more than heavens combined," sabi ni Dior at dahan-dahan na pinaputok ang baril.

"The real killer is..." Apollo muttered but only the gunshot was heard. Gucci was quick to see how Apollo's two fingers went up as...

Dior shot Apollo dead.

Napatakip sa bibig si Dior at napaluhod in front of her dead boyfriend. Her voice was epitome of grief... Sobrang miserable. This was the only time where their friends saw her cry like that. She was carrying her problems all these time...

Pinuno na masyado si Dior.

She could only stare at the man lifeless in front of her as her alive friends hugged her. Wala na siyang lakas para umimik o yumakap pa. Physically, she was alive. But inside, she was dead too.

She lost her life.

Bumuntong-hininga si Dior at tumayo. Lalapitan pa sana siya ni Gucci but she shook her head and distanced from them. She needed time to breathe.

Hermés stared at his once best friend. Nanghina ang mga tuhod nito at saka umiyak. Ever since they came here, he saw Apollo as his competition. But, now... he just wanted to grieve for his friend.

He sighed as he realized that twelve friends were down to four now. And this time, he was sure who killed Yves.

He was still confident that Apollo killed Achilles. But, Crow begged to differ.

"The crows kissed Ares and Apollo their death. They are both innocent."