Comrade
'Betrayal never dies rather it multiplies'
Unang tumambad sa'kin ay ang puting kisame. Nasapo ko ang ulo ko sa sakit nito. Even my body hurts.
"Kamusta?" Napatingin ako kay Ryder na may dalang prutas. Nasa hospital na naman ba ako? I was planning to stand up pero damn it, I can't. Ang sakit ng tagliran ko at ng hita ko.
"Don't force your body," napalingon naman ako sa nagsalita. Si Rye na nakadukdok ang ulo sa gilid ng kamang hinihigaan ko.
"Congratulations. You've won," sabi ni Carrie na nakaupo while reading a magazine.
"Yep, welcome to the group," sabi naman ni Flynn habang nakaakbay sa syota niya.
"Next month na ang battleship, be ready for the deadly training okay?" Sabi naman ni Yvo habang kumakain ng mansanas.
"Yvo," pagbabantang tawag sa kaniya ni Carrie.
"What? It's true. Deadly ang training natin. Tsk," pagdedepensa naman ni Yvo. Are they watching for me when I was unconcious? Tumingin ako sa paligid. Hindi lahat ng Elites nandito.
I heavily sighed. I bet isang araw na naman ako tulog or 2 days. Humiga na lang ako at inalala ang nangyari. Haist. That eliminations made me sick. Ano na kayang nangyari kela number 3, 11 at 1?
"Later sa headquarters, Rye and Ryder, guide niyo nalang si Blaise," sabi ni Damon and they stood up.
"Get well," pahabol na sabi ni Laila while smiling at nagsialisan na sila.
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Tahimik lang kaming tatlo na nasa elevator papunta sa headquarters ng Elites. My hands were full of bandages as well as my thigh. Hindi pa rin ako makalakad ng maayos dahil sa tagliran ko. Pahamak naman kasi.
I bet this is the basement of the academy. Pagkabukas ng elevator ay tumambad sa akin ang malawak na training room ng elites. May mga dummies, may mga weapons, gym equipments and of course the elites. Ung ibang lalaki nagbubuhat ng barbels while the others are just resting. The girls were just chatting to each other habang ung iba may hawak na armas.
"This is the headquarters. The meeting of the elites occurs here. The training here is only exclusive for the elites members only," sabi naman ni Rye.
"What is so special about here? Pareho lang ito sa training room sa itaas," I said. Well, totoo naman. Mas malaki lang 'to but same weapons and equipments. Elites nga lang ang gumagamit.
"We conduct various illusions here as well as traps," sabi ni Veron at tumingin sa'kin mula ulo hanggang paa. "Illusions and traps?" I asked at nakipaglaban sa pagtitig niya.
"Yes. Illusions. Tulad nang ginagawa sa battleship. Battleship is not just an ordinary tournament. It has these 'deceiving' techniques," Ryder said emphasizing the word deceiving.
"Like what?" I asked.
"Illusions. Traps. Poisons. Gases. Bombs," sabi naman ni Damon while carrying his barbel. "Anything that will kill you and surprise you," sabi naman ni Rye while rearranging the weapons.
"You don't have any clues in the upcoming battleship huh?" Flynn guess and he is right. Wala naman talaga akong alam sa battleship. Hindi ito pinapanuod sa ibang tao. Once a year kung mangyari. Walang akong ideya sa kung ano ang nangyayari sa loob ng battleship.
"Battleship lasts for 5 days. May isa kayong hahanapin sa loob ng lugar. Of course paunahan ito. Definitely pwedeng-pwede nang pumatay. This is the last test before sitting in our thrones," Spade said. 5 days in that place? How can I stay there without a bedroom or something?
"Battleship is a group scoring, that's why we needed to be a 10 member team to be qualified," sabi ni Ryder. The 10 members are for the representations of the Trojan Academy.
"No food, no drinks, no equipments, sarili mo lang ang dadalhin mo sa lugar na iyon and in that place, makakakita ka ng mga pagkain, inumin at mga armas but... some of those things are deceiving," sabi naman ni Laila. Clever battleship huh.
"Betrayals may occur kahit grupo tayo. Yes, it is a group scoring but still, the person who tends to get the object will have a special awards such as throne, money, fame, recognition and etc." Flynn said. I think that's normal. In a world like this, betrayal never dies rather it multiplies.
"We will be competing next month with 3 or more groups composing of 10 members each," sabi ni Carrie.
"May Clarksons?" I asked that made them stopped for a bit.
"Yes, sila ang pinakamatinding kalaban natin. They are getting stronger and stronger," sabi ni Damon. I wonder kung nandun ang silver mask na pumatay sa pamilya ko. It's my chance to kill that guy. It's my oppurtunity. Walang pipigil sa'kin pag nakita ko siya ng harapan.
"You will start your training sessions next week dahil sa kondisyon mo. So better get well," napaangat ang tingin ko kay Rye and my forehead started to crumple.
"My training sessions? Not with all of you?" I asked at umiling sila.
"We are going to watch your moves and teach you some strategies for a week then kasama mo na kami after that," sabi nila kaya tumango ako. So here we go again. Another training sessions with the elites. Hindi pa nga ako nakakarecover sa nangyari sa'kin sa eliminations ay eto na naman kami.
"You may leave," sabi ni Rye and I was about to go out of the picture nang magsalita si Damon.
"I want to ask something," napalingon ako kay Damon.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Harper? Are you related to the late Harper clan? Leuenwortz is the surname of your family but why are you using Harper as your surname?" Napatigil ako sa tinanong niya.
They are Elites. Madaling makahinala at makaramdam lalo na sa mga nangyari. They must be doubting my actions due to that silver mask guy. Ano idadahilan ko? It took me about minutes staring at them and thinking of what will I answer.
Shit. I can't find words.
"Blaise?" Tawag sa'kin ni Spade in a questioning tone. "Why do you want to know?" I asked habang nag-iisip ng maisasagot but still walang pumapasok sa isip ko.
"Isn't it fine to ask, Ms. Blaise Harper? " Yvo said emphasizing the word Harper.
"Harper is my surname. Pinalitan ko yon when I was eighteen. I just like to be unique since wala ng gumagamit ng Harler." Damn Blaise. Seriously? Iyon talaga ang ginawa kong palusot.
I observed their reactions and expressions. Ang hirap basahin. Parang wala lang sa kanila.
"I told yah. Parang case lang yan ni Veron. Pinalitan kasi hindi trip," Laila said.
"Okay. My mistake. You can have your rest now," sabi ni Damon at parang nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag dun. After that, I went out of the picture habang inaalalayan ni Rye. I know they are still doubting. Malalaman din nila but not now.
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