Snow White is a Gangster (Published under Cloak Pop Fiction)

Chapter 43: The Choices

Chapter 43: The Choices

The nightmare that turned me into another nightmare was only a few feet away from me. I couldn't believe that I was in the same dining table with him–-exchanging dangerous glances. He aged a few years–-the presence of grey hairs and wrinkles were the evidence–-but he was still the nightmare that kept me awake for months when I was younger.

The attendants started to serve the food on the table while the diners remained silent. When the elder man was served a rare steak, he cut a small part of it with his knife and chewed it while staring at me. My mouth dried up as the chill reached my bones. He was chewing my flesh, blood dripping from his lips. His tongue played on the tender meat, his fangs tore it into tiny little pieces. That was only when the other people on the dining table started to get their food. They were monsters devouring flesh and bones on the table. They were bloodsuckers drinking every single drop of blood in their glasses. I couldn't believe I was dining with them.

"Eat." The cold woman ordered beside me and I blinked from the hideous vision. Subalit hindi ko pa rin magawang alisin ang pagkakatitig ko sa lalaking nasa kabilang dulo ng mesa. Nananatili lang akong nakatitig sa kanya habang kumakain siya ng kanyang hapunan, hindi alintana ang bawat butil ng pawis na lumalabas sa aking katawan sa kabila ng panlalamig. Nang maisip ng babae sa aking tabi na hindi ko magagawang kumain dahil nakagapos ang aking mga kamay, kinuha niya ang kubyertos sa aking pinggan at saka naglagay ng pagkain at isinubo sa akin. Agad kong iniwas ang aking mukha bilang pagtanggi dahilan upang matapon ang pagkain. Saglit na katahimikan ang lumipas bago siya muling kumuha ng pagkain. Subalit sa pagkakataong ito, gamit ang kanyang mga kamay ay kumuha siya ng isang malaking piraso ng karne at saka pilit na binuksan ang aking bibig upang ipasok. Wala akong nagawa habang pinipilit niyang ipasok sa bibig ko ang isang buong karne. She was humiliating me and I couldn't do anything but to gag on it.

"You're choking her," narinig kong wika ni Mikhail subalit hindi pa rin tumigil ang babae sa kanyang ginagawa.

"When I say eat, you will eat!" Nanggigigil na wika niya habang mahigpit na hawak ang parte ng aking pisngi at panga. Sa tindi ng kanyang pagkakahawak ay ramdam na ramdam ko ang sakit na nagmumula roon.

"Stop it, Elle," kalmado ang tinig na utos ni Declan at atubili iyong sinunod ng babaeng tinawag na Elle. "This is a great dinner. I want to enjoy it." At saka nagpatuloy siya sa pagkain. Hindi ko maiwasan na tumingin sa kanyang direksyon. There was something in his voice and I didn't want to read into it because I wasn't sure. It was impossible.

"The rule is that everyone in this dining table should eat. Inuubos niya ang aking pasensya." Bumalik sa pagiging pormal ang tinig ng babae habang nakikipag-usap subalit ang talim sa kanyang mga mata ay naroroon pa rin habang tinatapunan niya ako ng tingin.

"She will eat now, right Henrietta?" Wika ni Mikhail.

I looked at him and read what he was trying to mean–-just do what they say. I didn't respond but when Elle started to give me food again using a spoon, I ate it. I chewed slowly and realized that it actually tasted good. But the thought of eating an assassinated person's flesh still feared me. The Novous were crazy and we were dealing with lunatics.

Tahimik na pinagsaluhan ng mga naroroon ang hapunan habang kalmado kong tinatanggap ang mangilan-ngilan na pagsubo ni Elle. Walang kahit na sino man ang nagsalita hanggang sa matapos ang may katandaang lalaki na nasa dulo ng hapag-kainan. Inubos niya ang natitirang alak sa kanyang kopita at saka tumayo upang umalis.