Scarper House

4•2 - Start

⚠️TW: Mentions of rape and violence

2 - Start

It was the same circus that I know—from movies and books, pero ibang-iba pala kapag nanonood ka nang live. The tricks were awesome, and people were flying here and there. It was amazing.

"While our staff are preparing for the final act, we'd like to invite our audience to play a little game," Theo announced and my friends cheered in excitement.

Only my friends cheered in excitement. Nakakahiya lang talaga 'yong pagkakasabi ni Chad pero totoo ngang sobrang patay ng audience. Kahit sa mga naunang act, parang kami lang ang nagre-react. Sayang naman ang effort ng mga staff ng circus, hindi naa-appreciate nang tama.

"Gagalingan ko for you, babe," bulong sa 'kin ni Saint na para bang siya na ang bahala sa 'ming dalawa sa kung ano mang laro 'yon. Ramdam ko pang nag-istretching siya.

"In this game, we'll be telling facts about famous people in history and you'll have to guess who that is."

"Galingan mo, babe," bulong ulit ni Saint. Biglang ako na ang bahala sa laro.

Ramdam ko ang excitement ng mga katabi ko bago pa basahin ni Theo ang unang tanong. Kaya ramdam ko rin ang pare-pareho naming pagkalito nang marinig 'yon.

"He regularly performed as a clown at children's hospitals  and charity events but was actually a serial killer who raped, tortured, and murdered at least 33 young men burying 26 of them in the crawl space of his home."

What?

Do'n pa lang sa part na sinasabi ang mga ginawa ng tinutukoy na tao, hinawakan na kaagad ni Saint ang kamay ko. He knows how those words affected me. He knows who and what I remembered because of that.

"Sino 'yon?" parang nagrereklamong tanong ni Sean. "May nakakaalam ba?"

"John Wayne Gacy."

Magkahawak-kamay pa rin kami ni Saint kaya ramdam kong natigilan siya. Pati mga kasama namin, hindi nakaimik noong tumunog 'yong bell para iparating na tama ang naging sagot ko. It seemed like when the answer came from me, that's only when they remembered how sensitive things like that are for me.

"I heard it from the audience! John Wayne Gacy!" Theo exclaimed. "You may claim your price once you exit Scarper House."

"F-Feeling ko naman kung nandito si Krista, alam niya rin 'yang mga dark na ganiyan kasi maitim budhi n'on!" biglang sabi ni Chad, halatang binabasag lang ang kakaibang atmosphere.

"Dude, that's my girl!" reklamo naman ni Kurt. They all acted disgusted—of course, Saint was the most dramatic—until they all laughed. I found myself chuckling too. Tumahimik lang kami noong basahin na ni Theo ang pangalawang tanong.

"Our next guy is nicknamed the Butcher of Rostov, this Russian serial killer sexually assaulted, murdered, and mutilated more than 50 young women and children—with one of the youngest being nine years old. He killed them by stabbing and slashing them with a knife."

Bakit...

Bakit gano'n nanaman?

"Okay ka lang?" bulong sa 'kin ni Saint.

Instead of answering him, I answered the question. "Andrei Chikatilo."

Our friends tried to celebrate for the second prize that I can claim but I couldn't bring myself to smile with them. Even Saint wasn't able to join the fun as he squeezed my hand.