Blood. Blood covered our entire classroom floor the moment I entered. Halos lahat kami ay naka tanga lang habang ang iba naman ang nanginginig sa takot sa dami ng dugong nakikita nila. Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa kabuoan ng classroom namin and the next thing I saw sent shivers to my spine.
Isang bangkay. A girl. Limbs cut off from it's body and letters carved on her entire body. Walang naglakas loob na lumapit sa katawan ng babae para tingnan kung sino ito. A few more moments passed ay wala paring taong gustong lumapit sa bangkay nito, so I walked towards the girl's dead body and I literally had goosebumps with what was written on the girl's body.
"Veron's princess. Welcome to hell"
My eyes widened with the message carved on the victim's body. No! This wasn't happening! No one was supposed to know who I really am. Ibang apilyido pa ang ginamit ko para lang hindi ako makilala ng mga tao dito sa campus. I'm sure the school followed the terms and the agreement that our family requested. Because if they didn't, I will kill then with my bare hands! "Oh, dear." Napaigtad na lang ako sa boses na nagsalita sa likod ko. Hinarap ko ang taong nagsalita upang makita na iyon ang isa sa mga teacher namin. Mr. Ferrer, our general mathematics professor. Bata pa siya tingnan, so I'm guessing na bago pa lamang ito sa school.
"Good morning, sir." Pormal kong bati sa guro. He simply nodded at lumakad na palapit sa bangkay. I was just there observing as he roamed his eyes on the girl's body. Disgust was visible on his face at hindi rin nagtagal ay tumikhim ito at nagsalita. "Whoever did this Is after you." Napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko, those words. How does he—
"Before you jump to any conclusions, I'm not an enemy. And you've known me for a long time, kid." Pabulong nitong sabi sa akin. I've known him for a long time? What the fuck is he talking about?! Pero bago pa man ako makatanong pa sa kanya ay may nagsipasukang mga lalaking nakasuot ng mga PPE's. Lumapit sila sa bangkay at binuhat ito at pinasok ito sa isang plastic bag at ang iba naman ay sinumulan ng linisin ang dugo na nagkapat sa sahig. After a few minutes of cleaning ay umalis na ang mga ito sa classroom namin.
"Everyone, get inside. Class is about to start." Kalmadong sabi ni Mr. Ferrer na parang wala lang ang nangyari. Everyone was still in shock pero pumasok na rin sa loob ng classroom dahil malapit nang magsimula ang klase. Umupo na rin ako sa upuan ko at mabilis na tumabi si Denise na nanginginig at mukhang takot na takot dahil sa nakita kanina. Bumaling ako sa kanya habang siya ay nanginginig parin ang mga kamay.
"Hey, you okay?" Tanong ko sa nanginginig na Denise. Bumaling sakin ang atensyon niya, she put on a forced smile at tumango. Class went on as usual, at nang tumunog na ang bell ay nagsilabasan na rin kami para kumain ng lunch.
"Ms. Castillo, can I talk to you for a minute?" Tanong ng aming professor sa akin. Bahagyang napa-taas ang aking kilay dahil sa kanya. "Denise, mauna ka na lang lumabas. I'm gonna have lunch with my cousins anyway." Tumango lang siya ng tipid at lumakad na palabas ng room.
Now, only me and Mr. Ferrer are left inside the classroom. Tumikhim ako upang basagin ang katahimikan.
"So, what do you want to talk about, sir?" Takang tanong ko sa aking propesor, I have to find out if out how he knew me and kung sino ba talaga siya. If he's an enemy, I'll let Ally dispose of him right now. "Drop the honorifics, I'm not used to you being so polite." He chuckled and took of his glasses. And to my surprise, he took off a pair of blue contact lense from his eyes and wiped off a little make from his face.
Shocked with what I'm seeing, I couldn't react properly. This goddamn son of bitch is here?! "Missed me, my dear cousin?" A smirk was plastered on his fucking face. I want to rip him to sherds! "Shut the fuck up, Axel!" Singhal ko sa pagmumukha ng nakakatanda kong pinsan. Axel is already 26 years-old and I can't believe that after all this time, nandito lang pala siya. The jerk has been missing for 4 years, nagulat na nga pang ang pamilya namin fahil sa pagkawala niya. We had no idea where he was at malalaman ko na nandito lang pala 'to sa impyernong 'to.
"Alam mo ba kung gaano nag-alala si Tita Rhea dahil bigla ka na lang nawala after ng graduation?!" Galit kong sigaw sa pinsan ko. Habang nakangiti lang ng nakakaloloko ang hayup na 'to. "Relax, baby cousin. I know that I have a lot to explain—"
"Hell, yeah, you do!" Putol sa kung ano man ang sasabihin niya. He let out a sigh and looked at me seriously.
"I'll get to that part soon, pero sa ngayon ay kailangan nating pagtuunan ng pansin ang nangyari kanina sa room. Someone Is already on your tail, Yna. And this is not good, not good at all. Hindi lang para sa'yo pati na rin kina Austin at Stella, walang dapat makaalam kung sino talaga kayo. Because the moment they find out, the other houses will stop at nothing to kill you. Kaya dapat ay nag-iingat ka." Mahabang turan ni Axel. He was right. If someone already knows about me, then we should be extra careful. Walang dapat makaalam kung sino talaga sila, because if our identity leaks into the public, we'd be putting our other leg 6 feet under.
"At hindi mo dapat sinasayang ang sakripisyong ginagawa ni Ally." I clenched my fists in frustration. I know that. Alam ko naman na sinusuong ni Allyson ang sarili nya sa kapahamakan. Pero we still don't have enough knowledge about this place and it's students. "We'll be extra careful."
Tumango lang si Axel at pinaalis na din ako. We can't be trusting just anyone. It's too dangerous. We can only trust ourselves. Buhay namin lahat ang nakasalalay dito.
