The sound of horse gallops tore through the silence in a deadly haste. Lalong dumilim ang kalangitan sa Underworld kasabay ng unti-unting pagkawala ng balanse nito. The ground slowly turned to ashes. Sa di-kalayuan, natanaw na nila ang pagdating ng kanilang kasamahan.
The black rider came in an ink-black horse that resembled more of a shadow than an animal. His black armor clung to him like second skin.
Nag-angat ng ulo si Pestilence at walang-emonsyong inayos ang ginintuang korona sa kanyang ulo. "Bakit ba palagi akong mas maagang dumarating kaysa sa inyo? Punctuality is gonna kill me." Sabay lagok nito ng wine mula sa hawak niyang kopita.
Pagak na natawa si Famine at bumaba sa kanyang kabayo. "I had to cause a food shortage in Africa. So, are you gonna tell me your problem, or do I need to punch you first? Nagiging ganito ka lang naman tuwing may problema ka."
Ilang siglo na silang magkakasama---heck, mula noong ginawa ng Diyos ang mundo ng mga mortal, magkakabigkis na ang Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse! Napabuntong-hininga si Famine at ipinitik ang kanyang mga daliri. Lumitaw ang isang kopita sa kawalan. Pestilence remained deep in thought. Umupo sa kanyang tabi si Famine.
"Aish! Are you bothered about the Imbalance? Ang balita ko nakikipag-alyansa na raw ang Deadly Sins kay Hades. That fake king is a fucking traitor."
"Wala na tayong magagawa, Famine. Noong una pa lang, alam na nating ta-traydorin na tayo ni Hades. He was never an honest man to begin with, even when he was a human." Pestilence grabbed his golden bow and arrow. May kinuha ito sa kanyang bulsa---isang pulang laso. "It makes me wonder what Lucifer's plans are. He is always one step ahead of us."
The white rider aimed at the sky and shot the arrow.
Pinanood ni Famine ang pagbulusok nito papalayo hanggang sa tuluyan na itong nawala sa kanyang paningin. Mukhang alam na niya kung anong gumugulo sa isipan ni Pestilence.
"It's that girl again. Am I correct? Nakita mo na naman ba?"
Nag-iwas ng tingin ang binata at marahang tumango. "It doesn't matter. Not anymore." Huminga ito nang malalim at hindi na muling umimik hanggang sa dumating na rin si Death.
Tinanggal nito ang telang nakataklob sa kanyang mukha. Walang-emosyon nitong tinitigan ang dalawang horsemen na nakaupo sa may batuhan. Kalmadong bumaba si Death mula sa kanyang kabayong yari sa kalansay ng mga mortal. "War isn't here yet? That's not surprising. Mas gugustuhin pang maghanap ng away ng isang 'yon kaysa pagpulungan ang mga ganitong bagay."
Famine grinned wickedly, "Kahit yata sumapit ang Last Judgement, wala pa rin siyang pakialam. Aish! Hindi na talaga siya magbabago."
"Nagbabago ang mundo, siya lang yata ang hindi." Pestilence sighed.
"Kapag nasanay na ang isang maya sa pagdapo sa isang sanga, hindi na ito magtatangkang maghanap pa ng iba."
Nagkatinginan sina Famine at Pestilence. Sa ilang siglo nilang magkakasama, nasanay na rin sila sa matatalinhagang mga salita ni Death. It's amusing but frustrating at the same time. Mahinang natawa si Famine, "Maya? Aish! Sabagay, mukha naman siyang ibon, lalo na pag nagagalit."
"Say that again and I'll cut your tongue out, Famine."
Napalingon ang tatlong lalaki nang dumating ang ikaapat nilang kasamahan. War came in a fiery red horse, his fire red armor shone underneath the pale Underworld light as he stared down at them. Nakatakip ang kanyang mukha, ngunit alam nilang tinititigan sila nito nang masama. War scoffed and jumped down from the horse. Kitang-kita nila ang higanteng patalim na nakasukbit sa kanyang baywang. The same blade that killed millions as he started wars on earth.
"I've heard the news from Lucifer's messager. Mukhang ginagago talaga tayo ng Seven Deadly Sins."
Death nodded, "Sila ang may dahilan kung bakit nawawalan ng balanse ang mundo. By letting Adoration be consumed by his sin, both the Underworld and Eastwood are slowly crumbling to their destruction.."
"Binigyan naman sila ng options ni Lucifer. They could've just killed Adoration or something. Pero mukhang nagmamatigas talaga sila." Pestilenced agreed and drunk the last of his wine.
"And how can we forget that shitty traitor?" War laughed, "I'll have his head chopped off and served to Lucifer in no time." Kapansin-pansin ang aliw sa tono nitong may itinatagong nagbabadyang panganib.
Napasimangot si Famine, "And how can you do that? You're banned from his castle, remember?" Pang-aasar nito.
Nanigas sa kanyang kinatatayuan si War. Tumalim lalo ang tingin nito sa black rider. Ilang sandali pa, walang patumpik-tumpik nitong inagaw ang kopitang hawak ni Famine at marahang ibinuhos ito sa kanyang ulo.
"WHAT THE FU---!?"
"Hades should've learned to keep his shitty mouth shut. You should, too."
War emotionlessly watched as Famine's black armor was soaked in wine. Ibinalibag nito ang kopita at pagak na natawa. Bago pa man magpatayan ang dalawa (which is unlikely since they're both immortals), pumagitna si Death at kalmadong itinapat sa kanya ang hawak niyang scythe. Its sharp blade harbored the cries of the dead.
"Instead of killing each other, just kill the enemies. Mas mainam nang bunutin natin nang maaga ang mga ugat ng halaman para hindi na ito yumabong."
Natahimik silang tatlo.
Napabuntong-hininga si Death at sumulyap sa kalangitan. "Ang balita ko, pupunta sa mundo ng mga mortal ang mga kasalanan. They're attending Eastwood's annual Hollow Fest."
War grinned like madman.
"Then I'll just drop by to say hello."
Ngumisi ang tatlong horsemen sa suhestiyon ng kanilang kasamahan. Pestilenced nodded, stood up, and adjusted his crown. Ash gray eyes now void of any emotion.
"Go ahead."
Makalipas ang ilang sandali, sumakay na muli sa kanyang pulang kabayo ang horseman at naglaho sa kanilang harapan. War rode his fiery red horse into the horizon as he gripped his deadly blade, ready for a kill.
'A little chaos is good. Let this be your first warning, sins.'
Pestilence just hopes it won't get too bloody.
---
I sit beside the fire and think
of how the world will be
when winter comes without a spring
that I shall never see.
For still there are so many things
that I have never seen:
in every wood in every spring
there is a different green.
I sit beside the fire and think
of people long ago,
and people who will see a world
that I shall never know.
But all the while I sit and think
of times there were before,
I listen for returning feet
and voices at the door.
---"I Sit and Think", J.R.R. Tolkien