"Better in hell with me,
than alone in heaven."

- Vlads

●●●

Third Person's POV

She slowly opened her eyes after waking up from a coma. Nilibot nya ang kanyang paningin sa loob ng isang kwarto. She breathes hard as she took off some wires and tubes connected in her arms, also taking off her oxygen mask.

Napahawak sya sa kanyang ulo nang maramdaman ang biglaang pagsakit nito. She couldn't remember what happened after her dare. She couldn't move her hands and feet at the moment. She heaved a deep sigh again. Napansin nya ang isang tube na nakakonekta sa kanyang braso at agad iyong tinanggal ng hindi man lang umaaray. Blood splattered all over her bed but she totally ignored it and immediately cover her arms with a piece of cloth. Hinanap niya ang kanyang itim na bracelet na siyang nagsisilbing takip sa dalawa niyang peklat sa pulso.

She stood up and wore her slippers. Naglakad sya papunta sa Room 204 where she found someone's letter. Someone must have left it intentionally and she knew who it was. Naupo sya sa kama at binasa iyong mabuti. The letter wasn't for Sy but it's actually for a person who hasn't died yet.

A small curve formed on the side of her lip as she reads Jade's letter. She hid it in her hospital uniform's pocket and left the room returning back to hers. Nagsuot sya ng maayos na damit and a mask when she realized that someone is standing at the door. She zipped her favorite red hoodie jacket which is a gift from her sister.

Napatingin sya sa lalaking nurse na nakangiti lang sa kanya.

"You're awake already?"

"Obviously, I am..." she replied coldly. "Where are they?"

"Papunta sila ngayon sa red apartment."

"I see."

Nilagpasan nya ang lalaki at agad na pinuntahan ang nurse's desk. She asked if where her friend was confined.

"Montenegro, Daniela. Room 301 po sya."

"Thanks," she smiled.

The guy followed her to the elevator door and entered with her.

"Where do you think you're going?" he asked.

"Room 301," sagot nito nang hindi man lang tinitignan ang kanyang kasama.

Namayani ang katahimikan ng dalawa habang papaakyat ang sinasakyan nilang elevator. Hindi rin nagtagal nang tumunog ito at bumukas ng dahan-dahan. She went straight to her friend's room and saw her sleeping in peace. May oxygen mask ito at may bandage na nakapulupot sa kanyang braso.

"What happened to her?" she asked the guy waiting beside her.

"Got stabbed by Brylle," he replied looking at the patient. "Sa braso at balikat. I think he attempted to stab her heart but he failed due to his conscience."

"Where's Brylle?"

"Dead. Suicide. He committed suicide after stabbing Daniela..." napatingin sya sa babaeng kumuha ng unan at naglakad papalapit sa pasyente. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Go outside. Make sure na walang makakapasok dito," her voice became colder and colder the more she speaks.

"Bilisan mo."

She stared at her friend's face with bitterness and so much hatred.

"You know what. It's better if all of you should be dead. I thought all of you were dead, but I guess I still have to do the hardest part of killing and torturing all of you."

Tinanggal nya bigla ang oxygen tube. Daniela's body grasped for air in three seconds. She suddenly pushed the pillow on her face suffocating her for good. The patient's body keeps twitching and flinching trying to gasp for air, but she wouldn't let her breathe. Until the body stopped doing what it was doing.

Huminga sya ng malalim matapos gawin ang pagsuffocate sa kaibigan. She grinned putting back the oxygen mask. She immediately cut the tubes and pulled the wires connected to make her live. Binuksan nya ang pintuan at nakita ang lalaking nakasandal sa pader habang naghihintay sa kanya.

"Are you done?" he asked.

She nodded lazily like it was nothing for her like she didn't take life from what she did.

"Make sure to delete everything from the cctv. I have to go and see everybody in the apartment."

"Teka lang, sasama ako sayo pagkatapos."

"Hurry up, Froy," naglakad sya papalayo sa kasama ng may ngiting wagi sa kanyang mga labi. "Karma is a bitch, but revenge is bitchery when serve hot."

Alden's Point of View.

"Let's go," Mike cued pagkatapos nyang magbihis ng panibagong damit.

"Magtataxi ba tayo?" Kyle asked. "'Cause I don't have enough money to commute."

"May motor ako," I said.

"Nasa compound pa ang kotse ko," Mike said.

Bumuntong hininga kami habang iniisip kung ano ang gagawin. Lahat ng kakilala naming may kotse ay namatay na. We couldn't just ride there without any escape plans.

"Brylle's dead is he?" I asked.

"Bibig mo, tol!"

Bumaling ako kay Kyle. "I'm just saying that we should borrow his car. It might come in handy you know... just in case."

Napakamot ng ulo si Mike dahil sa inis. It's awkward to see that he only has one arm left at naka-arm sling pa ang isa. I'm not really used to see his situation like this.

"Let's just get his car," aniya at naglakad papuntang elevator.

Pero confident ako na walang mangyayaring masama dahil kasama ko ang mga kaibigan ko ngayon. Besides, I still haven't received any dares or truths. Natatakot na ako ng sobra dahil mas gumagrabe ang dares habang tumatagal ang laro.

The elevator door opened slowly. Lumabas kami at agad na pumara ng taxi papunta sa apartment na tinitirhan ni Brylle. Nadatnan namin ang pulisya doon at may police line na nakaharang sa daraanan.

"How can we pass them?" tanong ni Kyle.

"Tanungin na lang natin ang guard kung may susi sya ng kwarto ni Brylle. He must have left his keys somewhere in his room," suhestyun ko na sinang-ayunan naman nila.

Lumapit si Christine sa guardhouse kung saan nakatambay ang mga guwardiya. Tinanong muna namin kung ano ang nangyari and we found out that the girls have been here before. Iyon din ang rason kung bakit andito ang pulisya ay dahil sa nangyaring suicide... dahil sa nangyari kay Brylle.

"He gave me the master key and only two persons are allowed to go inside," sabi ni Christine nang makabalik pagkatapos magtanong.

"I volunteer," sambit ni Kyle.

"No, I think Alden and I should go," Mike meddled with the conversation. "Kyle and Christine, hintayin nyo na lang kami rito. We'll be back shortly."

We glanced at each other and agreed after a short while. Medyo ayaw ko sa ideya na iyon ni Michael dahil naiinis ako sa kanya, but I don't have time to argue. Ayaw kong magsayang ng oras.

"Tara."

I took the master key from her and followed Michael inside the apartment. There's no elevator here so we took the stairs to Brylle's floor.

"What do you think is the reason why Brylle committed suicide?" he suddenly asked when we're hiking the stairs.

"Because of his conscience after he stabbed Daniela," sabi ko na lang. "By the way, why did you choose me to come with you? Nagvolunteer na si Kyle kanina."

"I want to ask you something," nahinto sya sa isang hagdanan at napatingin sa akin na nasa kanyang likuran lamang.

"About what?"

"About your deepest secrets," he seriously said. "Alam kong may alam ka sa mga nangyayari, Alden..."

Mas nilaliman nya ang titig sa pagmumukha ko. I pulled a gaze away at nilampasan sya. This isn't the right place to spill secrets, especially mine.

"Wala akong alam sa sinasabi mo."

Nagpatuloy kami sa pag-akyat hanggang narating na rin namin ang kwarto ni Brylle. Andito pa rin ang ginamit niyang tali sa pagbitay sa sarili at ang kumot at iilang unan nya. Michael searched inside the drawers. Naghanap din ako ng iilang makukuhang gamit na maaaring gamitin kapag andun na kami sa apartment na iyon. I found an old photo album stuck in the corner of his closet. Kinuha ko iyon at binuksan pagkatapos.

"What's that?" lumapit sya sa akin. "I found Brylle's keys."

"It's an old album," sagot ko at nilipat sa kabilang pahina ang litrato.

Some pictures were taken way back digicam existed. It's all black and white or sepia. Napansin ko ang isang class picture ng isang seksyon na walang mga mata. It looks like someone draw pinned marks on their eyes.

"That's creepy man," komento nya.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya at agad na napaatras nung makita ang isang babae na nakatayo sa kanyang likuran.

"FUCK!"

Nalaglag ko ang album dahil sa gulat. What the fuck did I just see?

"You okay?" pagtataka nya. Kinuha nya ang nalaglag na album at ibinalik sa akin.

"I-I'm fine..."

Dahan-dahan kong nilingon ang kanyang likuran, only to find out that no one's there. Namamalikmata na ata ako.

"Bilisan na natin. Baka naiinip na sila sa baba."

Sumunod ako sa kanya dala-dala ang album na nakita ko kanina. I looked back once again at Brylle's room. I guess namamalikmata nga lang talaga ako dahil kung sino-sino na lang ang aking nakikita. Tsk.

Christine's Point of View.

"Uminom ka muna," aniya at inabot sa akin ang softdrinks.

"Thanks."

Naupo si Kyle sa tabi ko, sipsip ang kanyang energy drink. Wala akong gana uminom o kumain pero alam ko sa sarili ko na nauuhaw ako at nagugutom. Nakita kong nakatitig si Kyle sa aking tuhod at paa. Dun ko lang napansin na dumudugo pala iyon, eto ang sugat na nakuha ko nung nakita ko ang pagbisita ni Jade sa amin sa boarding house.

"Nakita mo ba talaga si Jade nun?" tanong niya bigla.

"Oo. At ibinigay niya sa akin ang sulat na para ay kay Sy kaya naman tinanggap ko na iyon."

"Paano ka nakakasigurado na para iyon sa kanya? May nakalagay ba sa sulat?"

Natigil ako sa pagsipsip ng mapagtanto ang kanyang sinabi.

"W-Walang pangalan. I assumed that it was for her kasi sino pa ba kasi ang-" natigil ako sa pagsasalita. "P-Para sayo ang sulat."

"Sa tingin mo?"

"Baka nga para sayo ang sulat na yun," napatayo ako para alalahanin kung saan ko huling nakita ang sulat.

Sigurado ako ngayon, para kay Kyle ang sulat dahil hindi pupunta si Jade sa boarding house namin para ipahatid ang sulat na para ay kay Sy dahil para iyon kay Kyle!

"Ano ang laman ng sulat, Kyle?!" rumihistro sa kanyang mukha ang gulat nang bigla kong yugyugin ang magkabila niyang balikat.

"Hindi ko alam. Hindi ko pa nababasa."

"Kailangan kong balikan ang sulat. Para sayo iyon at hindi para kay Sy!"

Mabilis kong kinuha ang aking phone para tawagan siya pero walang sumasagot kaya napagdesisyunan kong magtext na lang at maghintay ng reply.

From: Sy

Naiwan ko sa drawer ng hospital room. Baka andun pa yun kasi hindi pa oras ng maintenance.

Sht. Huli na, baka nalinis na yun ngayon. Napatingin ako kay Kyle.

"Kailangan kong bumalik sa hospital."

"T-Teka, ano? Hindi na yun importante tsaka kung para nga iyon sa akin-"

"Importante yun. Jade wrote that and was about to give it to you before he died. Kaya kung ano man ang laman ng sulat ay importante..." my voice was too desperate to even speak straight.

"O-Ok. Then, I will go with you if that's okay."

Tumango ako.

"Let's wait for them to be here tapos ay bumalik tayo ng hospital," aniya.

Kumalma ako at muling naupo pabalik. Napatitig ako sa floor kung nasaan nagpakamatay si Brylle ng aksidente kong nakita ang isang babae. Nakatayo siya ng tuwid at tila ba pinagmamasdan niya kaming dalawa ni Kyle dito sa ibaba. Hindi ko makita ang kanyang mukha pero gumagalaw ang kanyang mapuputlang bibig.

"K-Kyle... 'wag kang lilingon," bulong ko.

"Did you say something?"

"W-Wala naman..." sobrang bilis ng kabog ng dibdib ko. Nakakatakot makakita ng patay na muling nabuhay.

Kyle's Point of View.

Kakababa lang nila Michael at Alden mula sa apartment ni Brylle dala-dala ang susi ng kanyang kotse. Hinatid muna nila kami pabalik ng hospital para kunin ang sulat na para ay sa akin. Gusto ko ng pumunta sa Red Apartment pero ayaw kong iwan mag-isa si Christine. Namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan naming apat habang pinagda-drive kami ni Alden. Walang umiimik, walang nagsasalita ng kung ano. Mukhang may nangyaring hindi maganda nung nasa taas silang dalawa.

"Mag-ingat kayo," anito ni Mike.

"Magkita na lang tayo sa apartment maya-maya," sabi ko bago tuluyang nagpaalam sa dalawa.

"No. We'll wait for you here. Mabilis lang naman ang pagkuha ng sulat," Alden chided.

Hindi na kami nagtanong pa at mabilis na umakyat sa itaas para kunin ang sulat. Habang paakyat ang elevator, hindi ko lubos maisip kung sino sa amin ang mamamatay ngayong araw gayung nalaman ko na isa lamang sa amin ang matitira.

"Ayos ka lang, Kyle?"

"Yah, I'm fine. I'm just worried of what might happen to us after this."

"Are you afraid... to die?" biglang sumeryoso ang boses ni Christine. Nakatitig lang siya ng diretso sa mga mata ko.

"Not really," I replied. "If this is what I deserved to pay for my past sins, then so be it. Tatanggapin ko ng buong puso ang mangyayari."

*ting*

Dumiretso kami ng Room 204, but we haven't seen the letter or where Sy exactly left it. We called her and she was so sure that she left it exactly on the sidetable before she and Hana left the building.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure, Christine. Hindi ko yun makakalimutan agad," aniya.

"Well, it's not here. Where could it be?"

"I don't know..." narinig namin ang boses ni Hana sa kabilang linya. It looks like she's talking to the driver. "Maybe, the janitor threw it. Tanungin mo nalang at baka may nakakaalam kung nasaan iyon."

I sighed in dismay. We wasted time for nothing. The letter was nowhere to be found and I have a strong feeling that Jade wrote something important for me.

"Okay, sige. We'll ask some of the janitors. Be safe. Pupunta kami d'yan mamaya," she was about to end the call, but I took over the line instead.

"Hey, Sy. Nabasa mo ba ang nakasulat sa letter?"

"Yeah, I did. But it was weird, I don't know what Jade was talking in the letter."

"What is he saying?"

"If you're reading this, I am probably be dead. I got a dare to poison myself. Hindi ko na maalala ang ibang detalye kasi hindi ko siya binasa ng buo. But he wrote on the last part saying that Ghosts don't exist. Demons do. Apologize to the girl you don't even know."

I knew it!

"Thank you," pinatay ko ang tawag at tinignan si Christine. "We won't be able to find the letter here because it's taken away by the girl we never knew."

"W-What do you mean?"

"One of us might be killing the other using the fake curse of Truth or Dare. The demon is lurking inside one of us."

——