MORRIE

The fidgeting forest seemed endless. We had been walking for God knows how long already, following the green paint marks left by Faye, a sly Adlerian and one of Sean's teammates. I heard she was hiding in camouflage so the enemies wouldn't detect her.

Aiden and Jacquelyn were four trees ahead of us, sneaking behind the trunks in every turn. Sean positioned them at the frontlines so we would be informed if the enemies were approaching. Once they spotted someone, they would chirp like birds as a signal.

Wilhelmina and Locke were walking side-by-side with us. With an improvised bow in hand, the Watsonian could scare away anyone using his twig arrows. Locke, on the other hand, would hit anyone approaching our direction using the long stick he found lying on the ground.

How about me and Sean? We were keeping an eye on every movement in the forest. Besides the eerie silence, only the rustling of leaves and chirping of birds could be heard by our keen ears.

What we needed was perfect timing. Sean and I were working together, but the moment we found what we had been looking for, we would turn against each other. The trick was to ensure that my team makes the first move first.

"We didn't expect to be ambushed by the other team kanina," Sean said in a voice that sounded like a whisper. "We were caught off guard kaya madaling nakuha ng kabilang team ang clue namin."

"I thought different clues were assigned to each team?" My right foot almost got tangled by a vine on the ground. "Professor Dred said so before we left the starting point."

"Tama, iba't ibang clue," he nodded. "Kaso hindi mo maiintindihan kung ano ang ibig sabihin no'n dahil kapiraso lang ang makukuha mo. Hindi n'yo ba nabasa o nakita ang inyong clue?"

I shook my head. We had to thank Andre for that. "Before we could have read what was written, the other team threw a smoke bomb and stole it from us."

Sean touched his chin, his dark brown eyes went into deep thought. "Sa tingin ko, hinati sa tatlo ang clue tungkol sa susunod na challenge. Each team has to steal the other team's piece of paper so they will have a firm grasp of the hint."

"If that's the case, then Joanna has the complete clue."

Sean looked ahead. "Yes, but I doubt na didiretso sila kung saan ang susunod na challenge. That woman knows that we can follow them wherever they are heading. Baka maisip niyang iligaw muna ang sumusunod sa kanila."

These people were taking this game too seriously, huh? But that made it more thrilling. A game without challenge isn't worth playing at all.

Just when we were about to climb what appeared to be a hill, we heard man-made chirps coming in front. We quickly hid behind the tree trunks and waited as the sound of footsteps grew louder.

"Don't worry, hindi kalaban ang nakita namin," Aiden hissed as he and Jacquelyn walked past our tree. When we emerged from hiding, we saw a young woman drenched in the color of mud, only her eyes weren't covered by it. If she stood beside a tree, one wouldn't notice her immediately. This must be the Adlerian sent by Sean to spy on the enemies.

"They are going straight ahead until they reach the fork in the road," Faye reported, the white of her eyes and her glistening white teeth became noticeable. "Kung uunahan natin sila, we can ambush them before they can reach that point."

"Sigurado ka bang wala na silang ibang ruta na pwedeng daanan?"

"They can climb the hills, but I doubt they will," the female Adlerian answered. "The safest and fastest way to overtake them is to walk on one side of this hill. Magsisilbi itong cover mula sa paningin nila."

Sean and I exchanged looks, he seemed to be asking for my opinion. I see. He did not want to look like the smartest man in the room.

"If they have nowhere to go except straight ahead, we can put them on the spot where we want them to be," I said, my eyes looking for reactions from any of them.

"We also outnumber them, two is to one," Sean added, pointing at each member of our teams. "If there's going to be a clash, we have the numerical advantage."

"But we can't rely on that." I shook my head. "A war is not decided by numbers. An army of 20,000 can beat an army of 100,000. If the other team has some tricks up their sleeves and we are not prepared for them, then we might lose."

"Kailangan din nating makaisip ng strategy para ma-corner sila," Jacquelyn said. "Ano ang meron kayo riyan?"

Aiden raised his hand and answered, "Meron kaming nakuha so—"

"Some yarn," I cut him short before he could finish the word "sonic grenade" and pointed to Wilhelmina. "We can tie that string from one end of a tree to another and trip those who try to escape."

The male Adlerian shot a confused look at me. That grenade was our trump card in the game. If we revealed to our temporary allies that we had such item, it would greatly decrease my team's chances of winning.

"We have flash grenade here." Sean pointed to Jacquelyn whose belt had two dangling cannisters. "Pwede natin silang pansamantalang bulagin kapag in-ambush natin sila."

"We don't need to take out everyone in their team, only the one keeping the clues," I added. "Once they are blinded by the flash, they can either stay where they are or run like a mad man just to get away from us."

"Siyempre, hindi basta-basta susuko ang mga 'yon," Jacquelyn butt in. "Ano bang meron sila na pwede nilang gamitin?"

"Ginamitan nila kami kanina ng smoke bomb at nag-set-up sila ng mga tali bilang pantakid," Aiden replied. "Kung mauunahan natin sila, tayo ang makakapag-set-up ng trap habang sila ang mga dagang hihintayin nating tumapak sa patibong."

Locke nodded. "They can't set up their own traps while they're on the way to their destination. That gives us an advantage."

"We can't set traps in advance too." Wilhelmina broke her silence. "They can go to all directions, unless we surround them."

Faye agreed. "Parang open area na rin ang gubat na 'to, except the trees. We can place the yarn trap ahead of their path, but how sure are we na doon sila dadaan?"

Sean caressed his chin. "Joanna is also an extremely cautious woman. By the time they realize that we are going for an ambush, she can already predict our next moves. She's the top analyst in our House. Reverse psychology or double reverse psychology, she must be expecting either."

Ever since the game started, I had heard nothing but words of admiration on Joanna's skills. Those weren't fabrications. If Wilhelmina thought that Joanna was a threat, then it must be true. My Watsonian ally was never known for exaggerating other people's qualities.

"Does that mean she's also expecting an ambush from us?" I asked.

"Yeah, and us making an alliance too," Sean answered. "Lahat ng posibilidad ay naisip na niya at meron na rin siyang pangontra sa mga 'to. She's a scary woman, if you think about it."

"At bakit natin siya dapat katakutan?" Aiden's brows knitted. "Kung sa kabilang team, siya lang ang magaling mag-isip ng strategy, sa atin naman, nandito sina Morrie at Sean. We still outnumber them!"

"If she comes up with a perfect strategy or counter-strategy, our numerical superiority will be useless," I replied. "They know they're going to be ambushed. They know they're going to be outnumbered. And they can prepare for all eventualities."

"Thus the element of surprise is important," Sean added. "That's our best weapon against her well thought strategy."

"So what's going to be our plan?"

Faye picked up a twig and drew four circles on the moist ground. "Based on what I saw and heard, didiretso sila hanggang makarating sa fork." She drew an arrow pointing north.

I went on one knee and studied the layout. My hand used a pebble to also draw circles on the ground. "We are currently tailing behind them. Every second that passes, the distance grows wider."

"Pwede natin silang unahan sa fork at doon natin sila i-ambush." Sean grabbed the twig from Faye and pointed at the tip of the arrow. "A full frontal attack. Ihahagis natin sa kanila ang flash grenade para ma-disorient sila tapos kukunin natin ang dapat kunin."

"Kaso may ibang ruta silang pwedeng daanan," Locke pointed at the lower curve around the arrow. "If they counter our flash grenade, they can escape and the entire operation would be botched."

"Mahirap ding i-set-up ang yarn trap kung marami silang pwedeng puntahan," Faye agreed.

"How about a pincer move?" I suggested, some of them stared at me with confused looks. This must be the first time they heard that strategy.

"Pincer what?" Aiden echoed.

"It is a strategy used by war generals to attack the enemy's army on both sides," I explained as I drew circles on left and right of the other team's circles. "If we cover these pathways, they have no choice but to either move forward or backward. If we also cover the rear, we will have them surrounded on three directions. An envelopement."

"And how are we gonna divide our forces?"

"We will assign two members to attack the left and another two to attack the right. You still have two flash grenades so you can give one to each side. From my team, I will assign Wilhelmina on the left and Aiden on the right."

My two teammates simply nodded without any protest.

"Sa amin namin, i-a-assign ko si Faye sa kaliwa at si Jacquelyn sa kanan." Sean turned to his companions who gave him their approval. "Bale tayong tatlo ni Locke ang bahala sa rear part?"

"Yes," I answered, glancing at his Holmesian ally. "Locke must be as good as Harriet when it comes to singlestick combat. If someone tries to escape using the rear part, he can deal with them."

"Mapipilitan silang dumiretso para matakasan ang ambush," Aiden commented. "Kung maglalagay tayo ng trap sa harapan nila, wala na silang matatakbuhan."

I shook my head. "If Joanna is as good as these men claim her to be, by the moment we surround them and she sees only one exit, she would have guessed that some trap is waiting for them ahead. Their only option is to break through our formation."

"A trap is pointless," Wilhelmina added.

"But there's another way for us to lay a trap depending on their movement," I said, turning to my Watsonian teammate. My blinking eyes stared at her for quite a while. "The yarn trap can be set up by tying both ends of the thread on two trees, right? You have an improvised bow. What if you tie the yarn at the tail of your arrow and shoot it at a tree? Your body will be the 'other tree' by holding on to the yarn."

They all looked at me, seemingly amazed by the plan I thought of.

"Brilliant!" Sean interjected. "Kahit saang direksyon man sila magpunta, pwedeng gawin ni Wilhelmina ang yarn trap. As expected from you, Morrie."

"No need to flatter me," I told him. "If the flash grenade trick fails and the enemies are about to break free, that's Plan B."

"Jacquelyn will throw the first flash grenade." Sean pointed at his Moriartian ally. "If it doesn't work, Faye will throw hers next. Kapag na-stun na sila sa nakakabulag na liwanag, doon natin sila lulusubin. I hope you don't mind if I let my teammates handle the grenade."

"Dapat din nating i-consider kung ano ang meron sila," Aiden said. "Meron silang smoke bombs, remember? Kung gagamitin nila 'yon para hindi natin makita kung saan sila patungo, wala ring kwenta ang strategy natin."

"Kaya nga dapat tayo ang maunang umatake," Sean replied. "The one who makes the first move wins."

I turned to Aiden, my eyes blinking as well. "You will face your friend Matthew later in the clash. Many things can happen. I hope you won't feel any remorse once this is over."

He seemed to understand what I was talking about. "Don't worry! Walang kaibi-kaibigan, walang kamag-a-mag-anak sa game na 'to."

The three of us from Team WHAM exchanged glances. I hope these two got my message.

"Now, shall we begin?"

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