Warning: This chapter contains death that may not be suitable for sensitive readers.

The top screen monitor flashed, revealing the timer, which will only last five freaking minutes. Wala kaming sinayang na panahon at tumakbo patawid sa matarik na daan, at nang makatungtong kaming anim sa ring, ay dahan-dahang umurong ang tulay na tinawid namin kanina.

"Callum, we're all dead. And it's your fault!" Robert said, pointing at me. "If you only believe what that Ripper said, maybe the game we're playing wasn't so difficult. There's no way we're going to win this game. We're all going to die. I'm fucking swear!"

Imbes na magsalita ay tinikom ko na lamang ang aking bibig. Nanlilisik ang kanyang mga mata. Hindi ko inaasahan na sisisihin niya ako sa desisyong inaprubahan naming lahat.

Samuel patted Robert on the shoulder to get his attention. Samuel's fist smacked Robert in the face as soon as he turned his back on him. Halos mahulog si Robert sa ring kung saan naroroon ang napakaraming elecrical wires.

My lips parted from shock. Maging ang kambal na sina Kris at Chris ay na-estatwa sa bilis ng pangyayari. Martin sighs with his arms folded over his chest as if nothing has happened.

Inihipan ni Samuel ang kamao niyang pinatama kay Robert bago nagsalita. "Sorry, bro. I just assumed you were out of your mind, so I shook you awake with my fist."

Akmang lalapit si Robert kay Samuel habang hawak ang kanyang baril, pero napigilan siya ng kambal. Robert's eyes were bloodshot, as if he was prepared to murder the man who had injured his face. Samuel, on the other hand, seemed to be having a good time.

"What the fuck, dude?! Instead of punching me in the face, you should have punched our so-called leader! Can't you see where Callum led us? He led us to our own graves!" Tiim bagang na sigaw ni Robert.

The room resonated with Robert's scream. Hindi ko nagugustuhan ang inasal niya kaya't sinenyasan ko sina Chris at Kris na bitawan ang kanyang dalawang braso. Napangisi ako nung itutok ni Robert ang kanyang baril sa aking noo.

"Before the time runs out, I'll kill you first," he said, clenching his teeth.

Ramdam ko man ang sakit ng aking braso, ay nagawa kong iangat ang baril mula sa aking bewang at itutok din iyon sa kanyang bungo.

"Don't put yourself to the test; you have no idea what I'm capable of; I might kill you right now without you even realizing it," I cursed.

Lumunok si Robert bago dahan-dahang ibinaba ang baril na nakatutok sa akin. He continued to breathe strongly while massaging his scalp. After I finished speaking, his gaze shifted to mine.

"I'll sit in the electric chair, and you may either watch me die or try to save us all by picking up the key on the electric wires below," I stated flatly.

"No, Callum!" bulyaw ni Robert. "You'll be the one to pick up the key on the underground, and one of us will sit in the electric chair. That's the end of discussion!"

Martin grabbed the collar of Robert. "Damn you! Can't you see how badly Callum's arms are hurting from the first game? There's no way he can go down to pick up the key while grasping the rope."

"Then, Martin," Robert ventured, "why don't you take up the key instead?"

Kuyom ang kamao ni Martin at ano mang oras ay maari niya iyong pakawalan. Hinawakan ko ang kanyang kamay kaya bumaling sa akin ang kanyang atensyon. I gave him an assuring smile.

"I'll do it," I said as my arms tingled in pain. "I'll pick up the key and rest assured that I will do everything in my remaining strength to save us all." It seemed as if my statements were being retracted.

Martin's eyes were attempting to communicate with me, requesting that I rescind my remarks. Lumapit ako sa upuan na nasa gitna at kinuha ang lubid na nakapatong doon. Ipinulupot ko iyon sa aking kamay habang tumatagaktak ang pawis sa aking noo.

Mom, if I ever die from this game. I promise to be born again as your loving daughter.

When Chris and Kris drew me in for a hug, I shed a single tear. As I began to cry, I almost forgot that I was playing the part of a guy. They stroked my back to relax me, and I'm grateful it worked.

"Leader, we believe in you; regardless of the outcome, you are the best leader in our hearts," Chris muttered.

Dahan-dahang kumalas sa pagkakayakap si Chris. Napaawang ang aking labi nung umupo siya sa upuan habang hawak ang kadena. Pinilit kong lumapit para pigilan siya pero mas hinigpitan ni Kris ang pagkakayakap sa akin.

"Shǒulǐng, qǐng bāng wǒ jiù jiù wǒ de luánshēng xiōngdì, wǒ bùxiǎng shīqù tā." (Leader, please help me save my twin brother. I don't want to lose him.) humahagulgol na wika ni Kris.

Matapos maikandado ni Chris ang sarili sa upuan ay nanghihina akong lumuhod sa kanya. Walang humpay sa pagtulo ang aking mga luha subalit nanatili siyang nakangiti. Bakas sa kanyang mukha na labis siyang nagtitiwala na maililigtas siya.

"Three minutes left," pabalang na turan ni Robert sa aking likuran.

I gathered my thoughts and took a long breath before standing up straight. Hinigpitan ko ang pagkakapulupot ng lubid sa aking kamay at tinulungan naman ako ni Martin. Hawak ni Kris ang kabilang dulo nito habang ang mga mata niya'y nakasentro sa kakambal niyang nakaupo sa silya elektrika.

Nang masigurong handa na akong bumaba ay mahigpit na kumapit sila Kris, Samuel, Martin at Robert sa dulo ng lubid. Ang lakas nilang apat ang aking sandata upang maayos akong maibaba para makuha ang susi, at ang hihila sa akin pataas para mailigtas si Chris bago matapos ang oras.

"Leader, please listen to me; no matter how many voices you hear, you should only listen to me," Kris begged, his tone alarming me.

Dalawang minuto nalang ang natitira nang dahan-dahan akong lumambitin pababa ng ring. Kagat ko ang aking ibabang labi habang pinapatay ako ng sakit sa dalawa kong braso. Nagsimula na namang dumugo ang mga sugat na natamo ko kanina, dahilan para mangingig ang aking mga kamay.

Martin's voice asks, "Callum, did you find the key?"

Pagkatapos kong pasadahan ng tingin ang humahampas na wires sa ibaba ay napapikit ako. "N-not yet. Pull me down a little so I can look into it more!"

Fear gripped me as I sank deeper and uncovered a hole full of blades, and as I peered inside, I saw the key we're seeking for. It was dangling by its head. I swallowed hard as I realized that, after the key fell, picking it up would be impossible due to the 500 volts of cables beneath.

"I found it!" masaya kong sigaw na ikinatuwa ng aking mga kagrupo.

Hindi ko na sinabi sa kanila kung ano ang kailangan kong pagdaanan para makuha iyon. As I began to use my free hand to pick the key within the hole full of blades, tears welled up in my eyes, and blood dripped from my arms. I noticed how my left hand began to bleed profusely. My vision became blurry, but I was able to keep the key in my trembling fingers.

"Fuck! Fuck!" paulit-ulit kong sigaw nung dahan-dahan kong alisin ang aking kamay sa butas habang mahigpit na hawak ang susi.

Kuyom ang aking kamao kaya mas lalong bumaon ang talim ng blades sa aking balat. Rinig ko ang paulit-ulit na tanong ng aking mga kagrupo pero wala na akong lakas para magpaliwanag. Hawak ko nang mahigpit sa maliit na susi nung higitin ko lubid, hudyat na maari na nila akong hilahin pataas.

"Robert, fuck! W-what are you doing? Get back here! We can't pull up Callum if you're not helping us." Samuel's voice thundered.

"Why should I help him?" Robert reasoned. "I'm not going to waste my strength on that piece of shit."

Sumigaw ako nang gumalaw ang lubid at muntikan pa akong mahulog sa nakamamatay na electric wires. Pinilit kong umakyat pataas pero mas lalo lang akong bumababa. Mariin akong pumikit bago nagsalita.

"G-guys, I'll throw the key up and you have to catch it by letting go of the rope–"

"NO!" pagputol sa akin ni Kris. "Leader, please listen to me; you must use your last strength to hold on to the rope tight; I will do everything in my power to save you and my twin brother, so trust me, okay?"

Iginalaw ko ang hawak kong lubid bilang tugon na sumasang-ayon ako sa kanya. Nabigla ako nung mapansing tumataas ang lubid kasabay ng aking katawan. Muli akong nakaramdam ng pag-asa ngunit napalitan iyon ng awa matapos marinig ang boses ng kambal niyang si Chris.

"Bro, please, don't! Stop! You can save me and our leader without sacrificing yourself; please, don't!"

Sumagot si Kris, "Did you know that I was born first, before you, and the doctor told our mother that if she delivered you successfully, she would die? And you know what our mother told the doctor?" Kris said, "Please save my second son and his twin brother because I'm sure they will save each other during the hard times."

"B-bro, I don't want to lose you!" Chris whimperingly exclaimed.

"I can't live unless I save you, my twin," huling sambit ni Kris bago ko maramdaman ang sarili kong tumataas paakyat sa ring.

Tuluyan na akong napahagulgol nang makita kong wala na si Kris sa tuktok ng ring. Ang kanyang kambal na si Chris ay naghihikahos sa labis na pagdaramdam. Mabilis na dinampot ni Robert ang susi nang ilapag ko iyon. Dali-dali niyang tinanggal ang pagkakagapos ni Chris at inalalayan ito palayo sa silya elektrika bago matapos ang oras.

Wala na yata akong natitirang lakas pero noong makita ko si Chris na akmang tatalon sa ring para sundan ang kanyang kakambal, ay tumakbo ako para pigilan siya.

"L-Leader, my twin brother is gone! He already left me, and I'm now alone," Chris cried out as he gazed down at Kris, who had been electrocuted by 500 volts of cable wires.

Despite the anguish, I hugged him tightly. "I'm here, and I'm not going to leave you alone."

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-Terrolicious

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