-chapter ten-

FINN

Napangiwi ako sa isipan nang makita sila. How could they easily skip floors like that? Is it because they're really powerful or does strength comes in number?

"Finn, was it?" tanong ni Marcella. "What was your benefit?"

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi nang matuon sa'kin ang atensiyon nila. I hate being the center of attention. I hate being looked at by more than ten people. Kapag nangyayari 'yon, biglang nanginginig ang katawan ko at bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko. If this goes on, I know I'd probably fall in a panic attack.

"Ultimate stealth..." tahimik kong sagot.

Napaisip si Marcella. "That's quite good. I want it."

Napakurap-kurap ako sa kaniya. How easy it is for a woman with multiple soldiers behind to utter a simple wish. I don't really like being part of someone's problem, and I didn't want it in the first place, pero hindi ko alam kung mayroon bang way para ibigay 'to.

"Pa'no?"

Nalaglag ang panga nila sa tanong ko. I frowned. Why were they asking me to give it if they'll act surprised?

"No! You worked so hard to get that, kitty." pigil ni Kairo.

Bakit niya ba ako palaging tinatawag na pusa? I don't think I have any similarities to a cat. Isa pa, hindi ko naman pinaghirapan na kunin 'to. I hardly said anything and Kairo was the one who did all the talking.

Marcella smiled. "That's nice. Join my alliance, then."

I blinked. "Ayoko."

"Why?" kunot-noong tanong ni Marcella.

Ngumuso ako. I just don't want to be part of something exhausting for a petty benefit. Lalong lalo na ang maging parte ng grupo ni Marcella. In the sense that heartaches and betrayals are more often found in packs, Marcella seems to be a person who will use anyone as a mean to get her satisfying end.

"If you're not gonna join my alliance, then I don't have any choice but to-"

Bigla kaming natigilan nang isang halimaw ang lumabas sa gitna naming dalawa. The whole floor trembled from the monster's weight. Umawang ang labi ko nang maalala na may kalaban nga pala kami ngayon. Bakit ba nakalimutan ko agad ang tungkol sa palakang 'to?

Tumingin sa gawi ko ang halimaw. His slimy tongue went out to attack me. I jumped up and made three backflips. Muli niyang ginamit ang dila para umatake kaya naman inihagis ko ang kutsilyo. I stared blankly at the knife that slid off the tongue. Pasimple akong humakbang pagilid para maiwasan ang atake.

Knife attacks won't hit, hm? Nadudulas lang ang blade sa dila niya. That must be some boss level skill. Maybe we could fight him off through electricity. It might work on the slime.

"Hoy, palaka! Huwag mo ngang inaatake ang cutie-pie Finn ko!" narinig kong sigaw ni Eura. "Napakapangit mo pa naman at bakit anim ang paa mo? Hindi ka ba nainform na apat lang dapat ang paa ng palaka, ha? Ha?!"

I peeked behind the monster when I spotted fire. Mukhang nasasaktan rin ang halimaw mula dito. Nakita ko sa likod no'n si Eura na mukhang galit na galit at may hawak na flamethrower. I didn't know that there were such things.

The monster, now angry, decided to ignore me and attack Eura. Her friends supported her in the fight and some of Marcella's companion also helped. Mahirap dahil halos lahat sa atake nila ay hindi gumagana sa halimaw. The slime was like some sort of nullifying skill to all attacks.

Nabigla ako nang may humatak sa pulsuhan ko. Dumapo ang tingin ko kay Wes.

"You need to get out of here."

Hindi ako nakasagot. He helped me run towards the door with the 'EXIT' sign. Should I go or not? Pero gusto ni Marcella ang benefit na mayro'n ako. I also don't have any desire for this power I posses. If they're going to pursue me, I should just try to end this meaningless chase now.

"... Benefit..."

Paano ko ba 'to masasabi sa simpleng paraan? Tatanungin ko sana kung may iba pang paraan para ibigay ko ang benefit kay Marcella. But I can't talk to him for long. If it's not Gavin, Reñee or Baste, I have anxiety in talking with other people.

"Benefit?" Wes tilted his head. "Are you asking for any way to transfer the benefit without joining her alliance?"

I gasped and stared at him with wonder.  Paano niya nakuha ang ibig kong sabihin? Is he some mind reader?

Iniwas niya ang tingin. "Your expressions are just easy to read."

Ah, talaga? Baste often tells me that I have a blank face. Tinutukso naman ako ni Gavin na pang-monghe daw ang itsura ko kasi wala masyadong emosyon. Wes must be really that intelligent that he can effectively read my face.

"But the answer is no. The only, other way to get your benefit is to kill you."

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya. Kill me?

"It's applying the same rule as the other games. If a player is killed, the items they possess can be absorbed by the other player. Marcella thinks it might also be the same here. If a player is killed, whatever they possess may also be given to the other." paliwanag niya. "Or maybe there are other ways but I don't know them.

"'Di sigurado?"

Wes nodded. "They wanted to test this."

On me? Mas lalo akong ngumiwi sa isipan. What did I even do to be treated as a guinea pig? Masama man pero talagang gusto ko 'tong isisi kay Kairo. If he only let me be and escape, I wouldn't be dragged in this.

I glanced their direction but stiffened when I met Marcella's eyes. Nakatitig lamang siya sa sa'kin at mukhang papunta na nga dito. Naramdaman ko ang simpleng paghatak ni Wes.

"You need to leave. She will kill you."

Why is Marcella so hung up about this benefit that she's even willing to kill? Ultimate stealth lang naman 'to at hindi napakagandang benepisyo. If I were her, I would have just ignored this. I wouldn't waste my energy on such trivial matters.

Nagulat ako nang bigla siyang tumalon pataas sa ulo ng halimaw at lumapag ilang metro sa harap ko. The players behind her dropped their jaws. Was the ice woman's fear or anger this much?

"Finn, you have to leave now!" giit ni Wes at mas lalo akong hinatak.

I thought he wouldn't blink now that his queen is here. Why is he so adamant in getting me to the other side?

Well, it's not like I can't fend off Marcella. Back in Streamtube, it was always a wonder for the people; what would happen if the Sparrow and Maia Marcella fight?

Tumalim ang mata ko habang binabasa ang susunod niyang galaw. The monster behind her seemed to have noticed the dangerous bloodlust that we're emitting. Dahan-dahan na itong lumilingon sa'min.

Inihanda ko ang throwknives sa magkabilang kamay. Marcella smirked and readied her sword-knife. That's right. What if the sparrow and the crowned queen fights? It's been so long since I felt thrill. And it's only in games where I could fully express my emotions, whether they may be my stress or anger. It's the only way I can take off the lid in my bottle.

Pero hindi na naman ulit nangyari. Natigilan ako nang isang lalaking naka-hooded cloak ang lumabas sa harap ko. I stared blankly as he raised his own weapon to defend against Marcella's attacks.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Maybe now's not the time to take off the leash.

"Why must you have a lot of guards?" Marcella asked while slashing her knife once again.

Hinatak muli ni Wes ang kamay ko. Sinubukan kong tingnan kung sino ang lalaking ito. I assumed he was a male because of his broad figure and height. I glanced at Eura's direction and found Kairo standing in there, looking at us. If this is isn't Kairo or Wes, sino?

Is it Theo? But why would he bother to cover his appearance? Not to mention, the weapon this man is using is different from Theo's.

"Finn." napalingon ako kay Wes nang tawagin niya ako. "You need to proceed to the next city, now. Or do you really want to die?"

Kumunot ang noo ko. I don't want to die, but I also don't want people to keep telling me their plans to my life like they own it. I just want to fight for my own self. I want to fight to proceed to the next city and not depend on other people to leave.

Napanguso ako. Do I look like some weak girl to them?

"I-"

"I know." putol ni Wes. "There are other chances where you can fight Marcella. Now wouldn't be a good time. Even if the Sparrow is an exceptional gamer, you're still up against five or more pros in here."

Napakurap-kurap ako sa kaniya. "Mindreader ka ba?"

"What?"

Umiling ako. This guy is really weird. How can he easily read my thoughts like that?

We arrived in front of the door. Napasulyap ako sa pintuan papunta sa 20th floor. I can't believe I really lost the opportunity to advance in a single floor.

Binuksan ni Wes ang pintuan pero natigilan ako nang marinig ang isang sigaw. From the side, I could see Amnesia charging at me. I twirled the kunai in my hand, ready for his incoming attack.

I should just try to wound him-

"Finn!"

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang marinig ang isang pamilyar na boses. Napalingon ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko nang magtama ang mata namin. The hood of his cloak fell off and his brown hair fell.

Marahan akong itinulak ni Wes papasok sa pintuan. My feet lost it's balance and I fell towards the door.

Amidst the darkness, I can only see one thing.

What is Gavin doing here?

-chapter end-