The Game Begins

A/N: You may play "Downtown" by Petula Clark while reading this chapter.

YSABELL'S POV

When you're alone and life is making you lonely

You can always go

Downtown

I know this is a good classic song, pero nakapangingilabot ang tono ng lalaking kumakanta sa baba ng puno.

I determine that he's a man based on his voice. He's chuckling in between the lyrics and his voice is like a child. Tila nagbabago ang boses niya dahil sa suot niyang maskara 'pagkat hindi ito tumutugma sa hubog ng katawan niya.

The fire is a meter away from us. Agad akong napasalampak sa kamang hinihigaan ni Leighton at marahas ko siyang niyugyog.

"Leigh! Wake up!" I shriek in his ears to keep my voice a whisper. My sweat beads are flowing down my face onto his neck.

When you've got worries all the noise and the hurry

Seems to help I know

Downtown

Kumunot ang noo niya bago siya tuluyang nagising. I cuff his mouth before he could even utter a complaint. I'm certain that the man who's climbing the tree already knows that there's someone in here, but I just can't risk any possibilities.

Just listen to the music of the traffic in the city

Linger on the sidewalk where the neon signs are pretty

Leighton's eyebrows furrows, but he didn't say anything when he saw how frightened my expression is. A sweat slide from my forehead to his. Mariin akong pumikit bago tinanggal ang kamay ko sa bibig niya.

"How can you lose?" the man sings, then he laughs devilishly. Kinilabutan ako dahil alam kong malapit na siyang makaakyat palapit sa kinaroroonan namin. The surroundings are starting to gleam because of his fire.

Leighton gives me a bewildered look, then he mumbles, "Who's that?"

I shake my head at him, nanlalaki pa rin ang mga mata ko dahil sa pagkabigla. We both have no idea on what's happening, but I know that this isn't fucking good. We're in an enchanted forest, far from innovation, and now there's a man climbing on our tree, carrying an axe with a torch.

The lights are much brighter there

I shut my eyes when I hear his enormous voice. Marahas kong tinakpan ang aking tenga upang makatakas sa mala-demonyo niyang tawa.

You can forget all your troubles, forget all your cares

I want to shout. Seek for help. But I'm afraid that before I could even utter a single word, that axe he's holding will be stuck in my head.

So go downtown

Tears start sliding down on my cheeks. I can't take this anymore. Masyado nang pagod ang utak at katawan ko sa mga nangyari ngayong araw at kung isa 'to sa mga pakulo ng staff ng Casa, I promise I will kill the man behind that mask and rush to go home.

Leighton nudges my shoulders. I glimpse at him with tormented eyes. Gusto kong humagulgol ngunit natatakot akong baka marinig kami ng lalaking nasa baba.

Things will be great when you're downtown

He wipes my tears using his fingers. He's frosting, but why doesn't he seem to be bothered? I sink my body to his chest at inakbayan niya ako para pagaanin ang loob ko.

I wonder why the maskman— that's what I decided to call him, is taking forever to climb up on the tree. Or maybe he's finishing the song to give us the creep that will satisfy him.

Tuluyan nang nagliwanag ang paligid sa labas ng tree house.

He's here already.

He's wearing a mask that looks like a paper bag. Una kong nakita ang mala-kuneho niyang mga tenga. His eyes are two X's at parang isang malaking butones ang kaniyang bibig. The torch on his left hand gives light to his creepy face.

"Oh, hi there. Did I startle you?" he utters in a childish yet eerie tone at tatawa-tawa niyang tinakpan ang bibig niya gamit ang kaniyang kanang kamay.

He's not holding the axe!

Mabilis akong kumawala sa yakap ni Leighton and I position myself to kick his face down the tree house. I know my action would mean nothing because even if he stumbles down the ground, he can still climb again and kill us with his axe, but if I have a single percentage of making him injured, I would do it.

But I didn't.

Dahil bago pa tumama ang binti ko sa mukha niya ang bigla siyang naglabas ng isang maliit na baril at itinutok niya ito sa aking pawisang noo.

My eyes widen. I freeze from moving an inch and my blood starts flowing rapidly throughout my entire body.

"You're gonna kick your new friend? That's awful don't you think, Leighton?" he says then his head glances at Leighton.

He's surprisingly calm, which I don't know if it's normal in this kind of situation.

"How'd you know my name?" he asks, peacefully.

The guy laughs, he forgets that my feet are still positioned to kick his ass out of here, but he lets his guard down. Because the gun is still pointed at me. And I won't risk my brain exploding the moment I decided to take a move.

I don't think I have a percentage of winning against him.

I know that he can predict my next move, so I remain stern.

I glance at Leighton. Nakatingin siya sa sahig ngunit kalmado pa rin ang mukha niya.

"Why? Didn't you signed up a while ago to the caretakers?" he chuckles devilishly again. It seems like he's a big man who swallowed a tiny kid. He lowers the gun at ipinasada ito sa aking katawan. I shiver while he's doing that. Ano mang oras nya gustuhing hilahin ang gatilyo ay siguradong bubulwak ang dugo ko at tutulo palabas ng tree house.

He didn't shoot me. Instead, he positions the gun to his temple. Is he crazy?

"Boom!" he yells as he pretends to shoot himself. Muli na naman siyang tumawa at tuluyan nang napuno ng takot at kaba ang aking buong katawan.

This guy is creeping the hell out of me.

Leighton takes a deep breath. I know he's nervous, too. And I adore him for not showing his fear to this man in front of us. I soothe myself and tried to be calm despite of the presence of this eerie person. The last thing we need to give him is the satisfaction when he sees how frightened our faces are.

I gulp. I can't pretend, but I'm trying. My face can at least fake it, but my legs are unendingly trembling.

"We did. But how can you identify that I am Leighton?" he utters with an emphasis.

The maskman looks shocked because he shifts his head a bit.

Then he laughs again, harder than before.

"I like your wittiness," he compliments in between his laugh. Napahawak siya sa kaniyang tiyan habang bumubunghalit ng tawa.

Napaurong kaming dalawa ni Leighton nang bigla niyang ipinasok sa bukana ng pintuan ang hawak nyang sulo. Inilapit niya ito kay Leighton at bigla kong naramdaman ang paghigpit ng hawak niya sa akin.

Leighton's nails are digging into my skin. He closes his eyes, and his sweat is evident because of the fire that's an inch distant from him.

"I know everything about you, Leighton," he mumbles in a low tone, but the childishness is still there.

Leighton sinks his head to my back. He's hiding his body from the light that comes from the torch. Nakapapaso ito dahil sobrang lapit na nito sa amin. I can't blame him.

Pero nakapagtatakang sa unang pagkakataon ay nagpakita siya ng senyales na natatakot siya.

The maskman's head gazes at me at lumapit siya sa mukha ko. "So as yours, Ysabell," he mutters then he chuckles. His breath is like an acid that burns me when it hits my face. For an uncountable time, I felt a shiver down my spine.

"What d-do you w-want?" I ask while stuttering because Leighton is still trembling behind me.

Right now, the brave Leighton is gone. He's now weeping, hardly.

He cocks his head pero hindi siya lumayo mula sa akin. "What do I want? Hmm..." he says playfully while thinking. Nilaro niya ang hawak niyang baril sa baba niya.

There's something about his childishness that made my body quiver.

Inilapit niya ang bibig niya sa aking tenga saka bumulong, "I want you to run," he declares coldly at para akong nahilo nang dumapo ang hininga niya sa aking tenga.

"R-run?" I ask as I try to maintain my braveness. My eyelids are trembling, my tears are dripping down freely.

He nods. "You heard me right." his voice almost came out like an air and that gives me chills.

I blink rapidly and my lips are trembling. I felt my own blood dripping down on my elbow because of Leighton's grip, but I don't feel any pain.

I'm starting to get numbed because of this guy.

"W-where?" I ask. My voice is shrill. I can't move my head because I'm afraid that I will pass out if our bodies touch each other. My chest is now hurting because of its loud thud.

"Away... from the Casa," he says. His voice is suddenly calm, but it doesn't give me tranquility.

It's weird.

Suddenly, he wants us to run? Away?

I manage to move my head to meet his. "W-why are you doing t-this? Why s-should we believe y-you?" I ask at tuluyan na akong napahagulgol. I lower my head because I don't want him to see how frightened I am right now.

"Questioning everything may kill you. Just run," he answers then he chuckles again. My body's heat rise. How am I supposed to believe him when he's acting like this?

He moves his body and the torch away from us. I feel like Leighton and I are birds in a cage and he's our owner.

I feel stuck. Again.

"I'm giving you a minute. Kick me," he orders and he drops the gun down. Narinig ko ang pagbagsak nito sa tuyong mga dahon.

Kumunot ang noo ko habang patuloy pa rin ang pagtulo ng aking mga luha. Naguguluhan man ay tumingin ako sa suot niyang maskara. "T-thank you," I mumble, then I kick his chest. I made sure that it was forceful, just to be certain that he won't betray us.

I hear him groan as he falls down the tree house. It's not that high, and I'm sure he won't get any injury because he's wearing a thick clothing.

Mabilis kong sinundan ng tingin ang pagbagsak niya sa lupa. He mumbles 'bullshit' and pretends to have a fracture on his leg. Niyakap niya ito habang namimilipit ang kaniyang katawan.

He's an ally.

A minute automatically starts ticking out in my head like a clock. Gusto kong sabunutan ang sarili ko dahil nadi-distract ako sa nakabibinging tunog nito ngunit hindi ko magawa. An echo of a tick tock surrounds my entire head.

Sixty.

Fifty nine.

Fifty eight.

Agad akong lumapit pabalik sa nanginginig na si Leighton. Hinawakan ko ang balikat niya at sinimulan ko siyang iyugyog. "Hey, let's get outta here!" saad ko sa nanginginig na tono.

Fifty seven.

Fifty six.

Fifty five.

"Leigh! Leigh!" tawag ko sa kaniya nang mapansing tulala siya. I guess he got traumatized on what happened. But he can't. He fucking can't because we only have a minute to get out of here!

Fifty four.

Fifty three.

"Leigh!" mas nilakasan ko pa ang pagyugyog ko sa kaniya, but I failed to meet with his eyes.

Fifty two.

Fifty one.

Fifty.

Still, no response from him. He suddenly hugs himself and he lays down the floor. Nagsimula siyang humagulgol at patuloy sa panginginig ang buong katawan niya.

Forty nine.

"Leigh!" sigaw kong muli sa harap ng mukha niya. Tumalsik na ang laway ko dahil sa lakas ng aking pagsigaw but I don't care! I don't fucking care about anything right now except for getting the both of us out of here as soon as possible!

Forty eight.

"Leigh- bullshit!" I scream.

Why is he not reacting?! What's wrong with him?!

Forty seven.

What should I do?! Aligaga akong tumingin sa ibaba ng tree house. The maskman is still gripping his leg at ang namatay na ang apoy mula sa sulo nito.

Forty six.

Forty five.

Forty four.

Napasabunot ako sa aking buhok dahil sa matinding pagkataranta. I don't know what to do with Leighton, but I can't leave him alone here.

Forty three.

Leighton, forgive me for what I'm about to do.

Forty two.

Bumwelo ako saka ko siya malakas na sinampal.

Forty one.

He flinches, then he suddenly glares at me.

Forty.

"What's wrong with you?! Stupid," he spits out while touching his face. Pinunasan niya ang luha sa kaniyang mukha nang mapansing basa ito.

Thirty nine.

I'm bewildered, but we have no time to ask questions. I sigh in relief as I rest my back to the bed. Napahilamos ako sa aking mukha. Thank God he's back in his consciousness.

Thirty eight.

"We have to run," mariin kong saad saka ako tumingin sa kaniya.

Thirty seven.

Then, everything sinks in to him. His face turns pale. "W-where?" he asks in a trembling voice.

Thirty six.

"Away. Away from the Casa," gigil na sagot ko. Why is he even asking-

Thirty five.

"But what about the gang?" tanong niyang muli, then it struck me.

Thirty four.

Shoot.

How about them? Are we gonna leave them here? Knowing that they're not safe?

Thirty three.

My head turn black for a while. I can't think of any alternative ways to get everyone out of this place. Together.

Thirty two.

Thirty one.

Thirty.

Fuck.

We can't leave them. Besides, we're running out of time. We have no place to go, either. Those caretakers are certainly part of this bullshit. We don't have any flashlights, and if we do, they will just know where we are. The dry leaves will also tell them about our location. And the gate, that gate is freaking high!

Twenty nine.

I grip his hand without uttering a word, then I nod at him, telepathically telling him that we should follow his thought. This is the best choice we've got.

Twenty eight.

Twenty seven.

Come back to the Casa.

Twenty six.

Agad naming tinahak ang pababa ng tree house. The maskman is still lying there while whimpering.

He nods at us.

What the—

Twenty five.

Twenty four.

Twenty three.

I rapidly shift my gaze from him... to the Casa.

It's closed.

And all the lights are off.

Twenty two.

But I can hear their shrieks at dahil doon ay unti-unti akong kinilabutan.

Twenty one.

Oh, dear God, this isn't good. We only have two choices to pick yet none of them seems to be safe to choose.

Twenty.

We didn't waste any second. We run towards the door of the Casa. Hindi naman ito kalayuan and I'm sure that we can make it in time.

Nineteen.

Eighteen.

Seventeen.

Sixteen.

Or so I think.

Fifteen.

Because I tripped down on a stone at nabitawan ko ang kamay ni Leighton. Since I'm running rapidly and due to the impact of the fall, I felt like my ankle is dislocated.

Fourteen.

A sudden pain rises to my feet. I feel the nerves pumping in my right ankle. Napahawak ako sa aking paa at naramdaman ko ang malaking umbok mula rito. Shit!

Thirteen.

Leighton glances at me when he heared that I collapsed to the ground. His teeth are now gritting.

Twelve.

He gives me an annoyed look while widening his eyes at me. "Seriously?" hindi makapaniwalang saad niya kasabay ng isang malakas na pagbuntong hininga.

Eleven.

"Just go!" I yell when I saw the uncertainty in his eyes. I know what he's up to do, and I'm not letting him risk his life just to save an idiot whose name was Ysabell.

Ten.

He hesitates at first, but he finally races to the door. My ankle is killing me, but I can't just lay here.

Nine.

I can hear footsteps. Muli na naman akong kinilabutan at kasabay ng pagdaloy ng sakit sa aking buong katawan ay ang takot sa kung kaninong mga yabag ang aking naririnig.

Eight.

Gumapang ako sa madahong lupa. I dig in my fingers to it just to make a move. Ramdam ko ang pagbaon ng lupa sa aking mga kuko as I stride towards the door.

Hindi pa rin natitigil ang tunog ng orasan sa loob ng aking isipan and it's making me slowly insane.

Seven.

I hear Leighton is pounding the door, "Open the door!" sigaw niya saka niya ako marahas na nilingon.

Six.

We're running out of time. I can see light coming from behind me.

Five.

Someone— not the maskman we met earlier, is running towards the soil where I'm laying.

Four.

I look behind and I saw two people with the same masks as the man who helped us. May dalang itak ang isa sa kanila samantalang ang isa nama'y may hawak na sulo sa kaniyang kamay.

Three.

They are a bit far, but so is Leighton.

Two.

I don't think I can make it.

One.

I glance at Leighton, he's now at the front door and I can see Danielle weeping while holding at the doorknob.

Zero.

"Leigh! Enter and lock the door!" sigaw ko sa kaniya.

But he didn't move. He's just staring at me.

Tears starts flowing down on his eyes.

I smile at him even if I struggle. "I'm okay," I mouthed to ease his feelings. "Just go," I add with a squeak.

He shook his head. Then he shuts his eyes. "No," bulong niya sa sarili niya.

The next thing he does startle me.

He runs towards me while his eyes are closed.

He squats when he reaches me. "You're so stupid!" he whispers as he carefully yet rapidly carries my body. It's like a bridal style.

Medyo nasaktan ako sa biglaang pagbuhat niya sa akin pero hindi ako nagreklamo. The two maskman are inches away from us with a glimmering blade and a blazing torch.

Leighton runs toward the Casa while he's carrying me. Napahawak ako sa leeg niya upang hindi ako mahulog sa bilis ng mga kaniyang takbo.

"You're blocking the way, stupid!" sigaw ni Leighton kay Danielle kaya napaatras ito palayo sa pinto.

Nang tuluyan kaming makapasok ay ibinagsak ako ni Leighton sa bilog na carpet. I flinch because my swollen ankle hit with the radio. "Ouch," I groan while wincing in pain.

"You deserve it," says Leighton while panting.

I chuckle even if my ankle is still in pain. I just can't handle the fact that he risked his life coming back just to save me from those guys.

"Thank you," I mumble while scanning my ankle.

"You owe me a favor. Now, you're gonna be my slave throughout your entire life," he replies in between his gasp.

Someone walks towards me, Noah.

"Hey, are y-you o-okay?" he asks as he examines my swollen ankle.

Before I could answer his question, I notice his left arm. "Hey, you're bleeding," I mutter and tried to check it, but I flinch when my ankle pumps again.

"D-don't move. I-it might h-hurt y-you," he orders then he clamps his bleeding shoulder. Napangiwi siya dahil sa ginawa niya pero sinubukan niya itong itago.

I saw Agnes and Ylise appears from the kitchen. Agnes is holding a basin with a towel and water, while Ylise is holding a medicine bag.

"Hey, babe, let me treat your wound." Ylise taps Noah's back.

Noah looks at me, then I nod at him. "Go heal yourself first," I mumble with a smile. This is not the right time to be a dick.

"Ako na ang bahala kay Ysabell," saad ni Agnes sa kaniya. Noah nods at her, then Ylise helped him to sit on the sofa.

"Kaya mo bang tumayo?" mahinang tanong ni Agnes sa akin. Umiling ako dahil alam kong masyadong malaki ang naging injury ng paa ko. Ramdam ko pa rin ang pagpintig ng dugo mula rito.

"Okay, lagyan ko ng hot compress ha?" malumanay niyang saad sa akin. She doesn't seem to be alarmed by what is happening, so is Gia and Ylise. Samantalang nagsisisigaw naman si Danielle sa harap ng pinto.

"Hey! Shut up!" Leighton yells at her dahil hindi siya matigil sa pagsigaw.

Danielle looks at him while sobbing. "W-what's happening?" she asks in between her sobs.

Leighton sighs. "Do you think we can answer that? Stupid bitch." he rolls his eyes at Danielle.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm just afraid-"

"So are we!" sigaw ni Gia sa kaniya habang nililinis niya ang sugat ni Clay sa paa. "Pero hindi makakatulong 'yang pagsisisigaw mo sa problema natin. We have casualties to treat, Danielle," she adds, then she glances at us.

Danielle lowers her head. "I'm, I'm sorry," she mumbles then she walks towards Leighton.

"Don't get near me." Leighton stops her from moving.

"I don't wanna treat this dick," she exclaims and it somehow made us laugh. It lightens up the mood a bit.

Agnes starts rubbing my ankle with the towel. Kahit papaano'y napapagaan nito ang pakiramdam ko. "Thanks," I utter that she just answered with a smile.

She squeezes the towel, then she puts it down. "Inom ka na muna ng painkiller-" Agnes was cut off by a bang.

Napasinghap kaming lahat nang bigla kaming makarinig ng isang malakas na kalabog mula sa labas.

I saw Leighton staring at the door. Iginaya niya ang tingin niya sa amin.

"They close the glass covering," he utters with a confused look.

"What?" exclaims Danielle.

"I'm not repeating it for you," pagsusungit ni Leighton sa kaniya habang nakapameywang.

"Guys! Stop fighting. Let's just figure out who's doing this to us and why they're doing this," pang-aawat ni Gia sa dalawa. She's currently wrapping Clay's leg with an elastic bandage.

"I think there's no need fo that," Ylise mumbles and I saw that she's staring at the TV in front of us.

It suddenly beams with light and it flashes a figure of someone... in a dark room. I see nothing except for his silhouette dahil sa dilim ng kuwarto.

The speakers beside the TV create a loud creak dahilan para mapatakip kaming lahat ng aming mga tenga.

Inilaro niya ang ballpen na hawak niya bago ito tumawa nang mahina. His low breathing echoes throughout the entire Casa. Nagtinginan kaming lahat at pare-parehong naguguluhan ang mga ekspresyon namin.

Tumaas lahat ng balahibo ko sa aking katawan nang marinig ko ang boses niya.

"Welcome to the game, sinners," he says with a light chuckle.