Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Chapter Twenty: The Raskell's Lone Survivor

Napatingin ang lahat kay Meredith, waiting for her reaction. Ngunit humalumbaba lamang sa mesa ang babae. May pinipigilang ngiti ito sa labi.

"Meredith, what now? Hindi ba natin pwedeng pabayaan na lang si Serena?" tanong ni Shaina. "We should just focus on making you the president."

"But are we really sure that Serena doesn't want to be a president? She could be lying. Her words can't be trusted." kontra ni Jeremy

"Meredith?"

Bumuntong-hinga si Meredith. "We'll keep an eye on Serena. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang goal niya. It might be a problem for our plan." sabay sulyap nito kay Jeremy na tumango.

"Paano ang pagsali niya sa council?" tanong ni Antonio. "Hindi ba magiging problema iyon?"

"I believe Serena doesn't have any interest in this fight. However, both sides are using the games to enslave her. Dahil sa kakaibang obserbasyon at talino niya." sagot ni Meredith. "But she won't be a problem, because that bet has a difference. If she loses, she has to join the council in their terms. Susundin niya ang lahat ng utos nito. If she wins, she becomes a part of the council. May authority siya at power pero may karapatan din siyang humindi sa mga plano nito."

"Why would she want authority?"

Naningkit ang mata ni Meredith at tumuwid siya ng tayo. "Iyon din ang tanong. Ano ba ang gusto niyang makamit?"

Sino nga ba talaga ang babaeng 'yon at anong plano niya?

"Shaina." tawag ni Meredith. "How's Tanya doing?"

"All fine. Sumama siya sa breakfast nila kanina" sagot ng babae.

"Ano ba ang plano mo para kay Tanya?" Jeremy asked.

Ilang segundo pa bago sumagot si Meredith. "Serena's hard to crack. So we focus on the closest person to her, ang kaniyang partner na si-"

Biglang bumukas ang pintuan at pumasok ang isang humihingal na estudyante. May hawak-hawak itong papel sa kamay. Meredith stopped talking and gives the boy her full attention.

"Miss Meredith, may announcement po ang Headmaster! Bagong rule daw po!"

Jonathan took the paper and handed it over to Meredith. Seryoso itong binasa ng babae at nalaman ng lahat na masamang balita ito nang bumakat ang iritasyon sa mga mata nito.

"Bakit? Ano ba 'yan?" inagaw ni Jeremy ang papel at halos malaglag sa kinauupuan niya nang mabasa ito. "What?! Extreme bets now only amount to death, gano'n din pag wala nang chips at kapag mae-expel?"

Bumalot ang takot at gulat sa silid. Sure, the death was already established, pero wala pa namang may nag-umpisang i-bet ito. Most were just trying to ruin the student's life by making them a pet.

"Baka naman joke lang 'yan?" nanginginig na tanong ni Maria.

"The first death bet was made by Rica, noong naglaro kayong tatlo against Serena." tukoy ni Meredith kay Antonio. "Serena won and Rica was expelled. If it was the other way around, I'm sure Serena is dead."

Hindi lang sa silid na 'yon namuo ang takot. Mula sa storage room pataas sa common area at papunta sa field, the news enraged. Iyon na ang naging usap-usapan ng mga estudyante na hindi makapaniwala sa anunsiyo. The paper further explained that it was suggested by the government and must be followed to avoid dissolution.