Death Trap Pandemonium (COMPLETED)

Chapter Nineteen

CHAPTER NINETEEN
Comeuppance

October 31, 2015; Saturday
Blue Bay Retreat House, Azulan City
7:30 pm

They were right when they said that your actions really have a way to get back at you and bite you in the ass. That was the only thing going around Champ's mind as he once again laid on the cold table, staring at the lone light bulb on the ceiling. He thought back on the events before he found himself in his current situation.

Matapos niyang masaksihan ang engkwentro sa pagitan nina Markus, Kevin, at grupo ng mga salarin, hindi na halos nagulat si Champ nang magising siyang sumasakit ang kanyang buong katawan na parang binalibag siya at nakatali na naman sa surgical table.

Tanginang buhay 'to. . .

As soon as chaos erupted after Markus' unexpected sacrifice, Champ decided to high-tail out of the pool area while the killers and Kevin were occupied. Huli niyang naalala, tumatakbo siyang paakyat ng hagdanan. And then, the next thing he knew, he felt weightless and woke up in the darkened room once again.

Agad na pumikit si Champ nang makarinig siya ng mga boses na papalapit sa kanyang kinaroroonan. At that point, he knew that the only thing he could do was stall and hope that Shem or anyone would be able to seek help. Matapos ang ilang sandali, narinig niyang bumukas ang pinto.

"Well, that certainly didn't go as expected," a voice said.

"Hmmm, who would've thought na hindi pala tatanggapin ni Markus ang role ng Fool," natatawang sabi ng isa pa.

There was a slight shuffling as another one chuckled. "He played the role of The Martyr really well, I'll give him that. Although, it was an unconventional adlib, na-execute niya nang maayos."

Naramdaman niyang lumapit sa kanyang kinaroroonan ang mga salarin at pilit niyang sinubukang gawing mahinahon ang kanyang paghinga.

"Pero alam niyo kung sino ang hindi magaling umarte. . .itong bagong recruit natin na magtutulug-tulugan na nga lang, 'di pa magawa nang maayos."

Pilit pa ring nanatiling mahinahon at nakapikit si Champ sa kabila ng tinuran ng isa sa mga salarin. It might be a test for him again. He didn't want to take any chances. Ngunit hindi na niya napigilang mapabalikwas nang marinig niya ang hagupit ng latigo. Just the memory of the wounds that very same whip left on Kevin's back made Champ's skin crawl.

"A-Apollo?" Nauutal na sambit ni Champ nang buksan niya ang kanyang mga mata. Napapalibutan siya ng tatlong salarin. Tanging sina Apollo at Grim lamang ang nakikilala niya. Samantalang ang pangatlong salarin nama'y mayroong imahe ng ahas na nakatatak sa kanyang roba.

"Rise and shine, Champ," mapang-asar na sambit ni Apollo. "Allow me to introduce you to Grim and Nightshade."

Grim gave him a comically cheerful wave while the one called Nightshade simply crossed their arms. Champ wasn't sure, but he thought he heard the killer tapping their foot impatiently. Napalunok si Champ. Hindi niya mapunto kung ano ngunit mayroon sa mga titig nila na nagpatayo ng kanyang balahibo. Almost as if this is the end.

"Anong nangyayari? Bakit ako nakatali?" tanong niya nang mahanap niya ang kanyang boses. "G-Ginawa ko naman ang inuutos mo, ah? Bakit mo sinabi kay Kevin na involved ako sa inyo? At saka pakawalan niyo na ako!"

Champ flinched and screamed when Apollo suddenly slammed a dagger on the table, only inches away from his face. "Mukhang wala ka pa ring naiintindihan, Champ. Do you really think I'm the kind of person you can order around? Mauubos muna ang lahat ng dugo sa katawan mo bago ko pagalawin ang isang daliri ko dahil lang sinabi mo," Apollo spat.