Beauty is your Curse

53rd Curse

All my life, sa lahat ng ampunan, lahat ng lugar na ayaw naman sa akin, I managed to develop a skill. To get whatever outcome I want, without exactly asking for it.

And malungkot lang, someone has to pay the price for everything I do.

In my case, it's Allison.

[Yin's POV]

"Morales, gumising ka diyan." Nagising ako sa pamilyar na boses. Carlos?

I opened my eyes, and there Carlos is. Looking ridiculous sa attire nya. May bag pa syang maliit.

"Hmm?" Kinusot ko ang mata ko and looked around. Napakalamig. Nakahiga ako sa sahig. Sa snow.

Fake snow. Snow creator.

Nakasuot ako ng gusgusing damit at red coat. At sa paligid ko ay upos ng mga posporo.

Little Match Girl.

"What in the hell— Bakit? Ang lamig? Seriously?"

"Wag kang magreklamo diyan. I just woke up in heaven, and I have to climb down a giant beanstalk just to be able to be on the ground."

"Yeah, Jackie. Tell me, why are we back in the game."

"As 2 out of the three alive survivors of the first game, someone is not happy that we are investigating and digging in Eventyr again."

That Marcus bastard.

"So ano tayo? Wild card?"

"Yeah. Nakita ko si Tinkerbell. Which happens to be Marcus' daughter, ang huling kasama ni Erin before she disappeared and person of interest ng case na yun."

Napailing ako. Carlos. Always work and no play. "Nasa game tayo and you are still thinking of your case? We should think of ways to win."

"Morales, we lost this game decades ago. Why in the hell—"

"If we win, we will shut down this Elite circle, and the school for good. No more sadism. No more deaths."

Tumango sya. It's like we reached an agreement.

[Allison's POV]

Nagising ako sa loob ng isang napasikip na lugar. Nakahiga ako. Nasaan ba ako? Kabaong ba to o ano.

Biglang may bumukas sa ulunan ko. And I did my best to crawl out of this hole.

Halos malaglag ako ng makalabas ako duon. May uling ako sa katawan. Dahan dahan akong tumayo at tinignan kung saan ako nanggaling.

Someone stuffed me in an oven. Dito sa cottage made of sweets.

It took me several minutes to absorb everything. Then I found the envelope and read it.

Nagpahinga ako ng saglit. Bago ako lumabas.

Glimmer should be around here somewhere. Magkasunod lang kami ng ranks. She should be awake by now. And the real game will start soon.

Naglakad ako palabas ng cottage and wondered the halls. Trying not to make much noise and call attention, but at the same time, looking around for Glim. She is my only ally here. At ayokong makasalubong kahit sino. Not my adopted sister, not my twin, not the pretentious bitch that is Alex.

At para bang tadhana, I immediately found Glimmer. Walking towards my direction. Naked.

"Allison!"

"Glim— bakit ka nakahubad."

Pumamewang sya at tila pinakita pa sa akin ang katawan nya.

"Bakit hindi? You should be naked. Kitang kita sa outfit mo na ikaw si Gretel. At sa akin. Well, it's pretty obvious kaya hinubad ko. Wala naman akong makitang damit."

Tama rin naman sya. But being naked? That is insane.

"Besides, I'm modest pa naman. I have my underwears."

"You call a t-back and a lace see through bra, modest?"

"Potayto. Potahto."

Napailing ako. "Let's look for something to cover you up okay."

Tuloy pa ang paglalakad namin, with only one goal in mind. Find the uninvited's identity and it's letter.

If I were the uninvited. Where would I hide it? Saan ang lugar kung saan walang taong magtatangkang magtungo roon?

"Si Allison!" Isang matinis na sigaw. Boses ni Psaricka. There they are, Elmo, Dennis, Alex and Psa running towards us. Si Glimmer, didn't even bulge kahit nakahubad sya.

"Sinaktan mo si Alden!" That is Elmo's accusations.

Ha? Anong nangyari kay Alden? "Anong sinasabi mo—"

"He is paralyzed because of you!" Even Elmo's accusations were unsure.

Si Dennis naman ay tumingin kay Glimmer. Looking at her, then at her body. And smirking.

Si Glimmer naman ay nagtaas ng kilay. Tila chinachallenge pa si Dennis.

I can't believe she is flirting right now.

Naguusap kami duon. Their stares, accusing. Ng biglang nagkaroon ng tilian. Sobrang bilis ng pangyayari. Narinig ko muna ang tilian. Tapos ang sakit sa balikat ko. Na para bang.

"Oh my god."

Someone just shot me with a bow and arrow. The arrow, lodged on my shoulders.

They rushed towards me, to catch me as I fall. Habang si Glimmer and Dennis, agad agad tinignan ang direksyon kung san yun galing.

It's a blur, but I can recognize the girl in the lobby of the second floor. In green dress, butterfly wings and weilding a bow and arrow.

Mira. She's come back for vengeance. Dahil sa sikretong, hindi ko inilihim.