♥♡ CHAPTER 3 ♡♥

" Welcome to Curse Academy where only one remains standing"

Past is past. It is not the place that we once knew. Everything underwent a significant change. A change that we don't know if should be accepted or rejected. Mystery lies within. Hindi na ito ang dating isinumpa at minahal ng lahat. It was just the mystery of each students back then that should be uncovered, but now...everyone is hiding something that must not be revealed. Their life depends on their secret. It might be true or false accusation. Horrors of the past is already gone, but the mystery and horror of those who are still alive are pulling them down until their last breath. It will totally kill them, from their body, mind and soul.

On that day, out of 10 buildings, only 4 were left behind and remain standing. There were those who managed to escape but ended up being killed. Curse Academy is divided into 4 territories for the four remaining buildings. Every students has their designated places to stay and unfortunately can't go out because it's another way of suicide.

Building 001, 003, 004 and 006 are the buildings left where lies lie inside. They are named as Prison building, Hell building, Curse building and lastly, ang pinaka-tinitingalang building ng lahat at pinaka-kinatatakutan...the building 003, the highest supreme territory. It is where all powerful people and groups live. It is believed to be the most dangerous building because of the presence obviously of the supreme student council officers and the most powerful group, the Blood Rebels.

The Blood Rebels' group is divided into three minor groups. The Phantom Sinners, Redblades and its main members, Black Vipers. They were believed to be mortal enemies but not this time. They do help one another for protection. The old Blood Rebels is finally back. It is a major group known to be undefeated. They are the kings and queens of this place. Everyone highly respects them. Owen Clyde and Roxanne, the leader of Phantoms and Redblades are now taking commands under their leader, Dean Carson. Mas gugustuhin pa naming maging magkaaway na lang ang dalawang grupo kaysa sa muling mabuo ang pagsasama nila dahil isa itong hindi magandang pangyayari sa aming mga estudyante. Their power became one again.

We don't really know what's happening in building 003, dahil ayon sa balita...Blood Rebels' group doesn't even have a new enemy except the student council officers who are still unknown up until now. Hindi namin alam kung sino lahat ng officers because they are hiding and we haven't even seen one of them, and it's another reason for us to think na baka may hindi sila magandang binabalak. We don't even know our president's name basta ang alam namin, all of the officers are in building 003, that's why the building's name is Highest supreme territory. Sa ngayon, wala pa kaming nababalitaan na may namatay sa building na 'yon pero malabong mangyari 'yon dahil lahat ng nakatira sa building na 'yon ay magaling sa pakikipaglaban. Supreme student council officers suddenly appeared under Mr. Wilford's command.

Thinking back of that day, kung paano ipinasok lahat ng estudyante sa Heaven's Ward dito sa Curse Academy, it makes me sick. That day, was totally a mess. Standing at the balcony of Hell building, I could see the Highest supreme territory's ground. It has a lot of spikes para siguraduhing hindi magbabalak na tumakas o tumalon ang lahat ng nasa building na 'yon.

The last man standing, huh? This is totally insane. How will you manage to kill all of the students if you can't even safely go out to invade those other buildings?

It would be hard on our part to do such thing...except only for one person and that's him, the last man standing.

.....................

♡ Dean Carson's POV ♡

I suddenly fell on the floor. Pinunasan ko ang bibig ko at nakita kong may dugo ang kamay ko. That one had hit me so hard. I didn't expect na mapupunta ako sa ganitong sitwasyon. I made a really big mistake. Seeing them, how could they possibly do this to me?! Pero sino pa nga ba ako para magreklamo? I was just their tool for all of their little secrets and big lies. Pinaniwala nila ako sa isang bagay na hindi totoo and I hate myself for believing them.

Standing infront of my two older brothers and my father, hindi na ako magtataka dahil simula pagkabata, nagagawa na nila akong saktan. I looked at them at hindi ko na maipaliwanag ang mga mukha nila because I know na nagdidilim na ang paningin nila sa akin. Kahit anong minuto, kaya nila akong patayin. D*mn!

"You should be thankful, son. Dahil kahit anong pagkakamali ang magawa mo, we always choose to forgive you" my father said. Katulad ng itsura niya na halatang galit na galit, ganon din ang tingin sa akin ng dalawa pang lalaki na nasa harapan ko. There are three of them, wearing formal suits and their eyes are looking down at me.

"Thankful? I'd rather choose to die than to be thankful with yo-" not yet done, my older brother punched me, dahilan para muli akong mapasalampak sa sahig at mas lalo pang dumugo ang bibig ko.

"Kilalanin mo kung sinong kinakausap mo" he said coldly. Bakit pa nga ba ako magtataka? Since I was born and existed in this world, I was trained to be a strong man in order to protect this family. I trusted all their words. I believed them but ended up with wrong beliefs.

Sinunod ko lahat ng utos nila because I wanted to prove that I am a part of this family. I wanted to prove that I could be a real man of Schulz family. But one wrong move, puro pasa at bugbog ang natatanggap ko sa kanila. They were teaching me to be a perfect man, to be a man without mistakes. In my case now, I made a big mistake that's why I'm here, full of blood...again.

"You made me believe all those lies!" I shouted towards my father.

"They were not, son. I just wanted you to protect what's important" he calmly said.

"Is that what you call important?! I killed all of those people threatening this d*mn family and eliminated all threats dahil gusto kong protektahan ang pamilyang 'to pero hindi naman pala dapat...dahil kayo rin ang may kasalanan kung bakit nila tayo pinagbabantaan" I said. I'm really mad at myself and I regret doing everything since from the start.

Bahagya siyang lumapit sa akin at lumuhod para tapatan habang masama pa rin ang tingin ng dalawa kong kuya sa akin. I looked at my father and no one could explain how much I hate him now. He used to be my inspiration to continue pursuing to be a better person, but not now, "Son, listen to me. We can still fix this, to bring back everything. Just believe me once more" he said at kitang-kita ko ang mga nangungusap niyang mata.

"What do you want me to do now?" I asked.

Mas lumapit pa ito sa akin at tinapatan ako sa tainga para bumulong, "Join us, together with your older brothers" saad nito kaya napangiti na lang ako ng masama bago niya ako muling tinignan.

"Do you think I would do that, father? Bring back everything? The lives of the people I killed because of your lies couldn't be brought back anymore. You made me a killer!" I angrily said.

.....................

(1 hour earlier)

"Kuya, I want that one" Caela pointed at a certain direction habang naglalakad kami sa mall kaya napatingin ako doon. Other than Caela, kasama din namin si Chloe.

Our parents are none other than Arthur and Stella Schulz. There are five of us. Three boys and two young ladies. From oldest to youngest, first is our oldest brother Jeorge, followed by James. I am the third son and Caela is the forth child celebrating her 11th birthday today. Chloe is the youngest and she's 9 years of age. In terms of age about my two older brothers, Jeorge is 29 years old and will be the next heir to the place of our father while James is just 23 years old but he's already been handling one of our businesses. He already acts like a real CEO.

Today is Caela's 11th birthday and I feel so sorry not to celebrate her special day with the whole family because of the reason...for business matters. Our parents are away that's why my two older brothers are busy and on behalf of our parents, sila ang nakikipag-meeting sa lahat ng businesses namin. While me? I'm just 15 years old and never did they ask and expect me to handle something that matters about business. They don't trust me at all thinking that giving me a business to handle would totally be a failure. But I'm consistent with this situation guarding and protecting my two younger sisters.

Since I was a child, they trained me hardly to fight and learn to protect myself and those who are important to me.

Lumapit ako kay Caela kaya't tumakbo na rin papalapit sa amin si Chloe at ngayon, they are both looking at a barbie doll na kung hindi ako nagkakamali, that's just a kind of doll but limited edition. They've grown up from a rich family so what do must I expect? I looked at the price at hindi na ako nagulat, that's too expensive but not in our case. For Schulz family, a million would only just be one peso. I'm with them right now dahil 'yon ang gusto ni Caela. Knowing that she would convince me something expensive to buy, pinagbigyan ko siya because it's her special day. Mom and dad even told me to buy everything she wants.

I witnessed how their eyes sparkled just by staring at that d*mn limited edition doll, I knew what the birthday princess would be going to ask. As expected, she looked at me, "I want this" she said showing those puppy eyes to convince me kaya tinignan ko lang siya.

"Can we buy it kuya?" she asked sadly.

"Are you really going to buy that expensive doll? You can just eat anywhere you want Caela or buy something that you really need" I said to her.

"But kuya, daddy said that we can buy anything I want. I want this doll. So please kuya, let's buy it na" pagmamakaawa niya.

"I agree" Chloe said kaya napatingin ako sa kanya at medyo lumuhod ako para tapatan silang dalawa.

"You're agreeing because you want your sister Caela to get what she wants or is it because you also want to play that doll?" tanong ko sa kanya. Sandali siyang natahimik at patagong ngumiti kaya napangiti na rin ako. Even though I am their older brother, sila pa rin naman ang masusunod because that's how much I love them.

"Please kuya" Caela said kaya napatingin nanaman kami sa kanya and I smiled. What can I do?

"Fine, we'll buy it" saad ko kaya hindi ko maipaliwanag kung gaano sila natuwa at kulang na lang ay magwala na sa saya. I took that doll na medyo malaki at halos kasing-tangkad ni Chloe. Pagkapunta namin sa cashier, I took out dad's credit card so the girl swiped it at agad rin namang ibinalik 'yon sa akin. I saw the two of them holding that doll kaya ibinalik ko muna sa wallet ko ang credit card at sinundan silang dalawa.

After a few minutes, we decided to go home since mag-gagabi na rin.

I opened the door kaya pumasok na sila sa sasakyan at umupo na ako sa front seat. I started the engine and began to drive as safe as I can because of the two girls behind me. At first, naiingayan ako sa kanilang dalawa pero bigla na lang tumahimik kaya habang nagmamaneho ako ay napatingin ako sa front mirror and I saw them already sleeping kaya napangiti na lang ako.

Driving safely, I suddenly took a glance over the side-mirror of the car and spotted two black motorcycles following us. I had a bad feeling about it lalo na noong palibutan ang sasakyan namin at ngayon ay nakagitna kami sa dalawang motor. I looked at my two sisters again na masarap pa rin ang tulog at muling tumingin sa dalawang motor na nakasunod sa amin. Mas lalo na lang akong kinabahan ng makita kong may dalawa pang motor na nasa likuran namin and now there are four of them surrounding us.

Sh*t! Sa dinami-rami ng oras bakit ngayon pa? I can fight them alone but not this time because I'm with my sisters. Hindi sila pwedeng madamay dito. But I had no choice. I couldn't stop the car and face them dahil posibleng madamay ang mga kapatid ko. I had no plan but to put the car at a maximum speed knowing that my two sisters would be shocked. But it's better than something bad happens.

And so I did it dahilan para bilisan rin ng apat na motor ang pagsunod sa amin. The maximum speed made it even harder for them to follow us. Knowing na bibilisan rin nila ang pagsunod sa amin, when I saw an intersection, agad kong iniliko doon ang sasakyan habang sila naman, diretso pa rin ang direksyon. Because of that, they tried to follow us again pero dahil sa ginawa ko ay natumba silang apat and nothing they could do to follow us anymore.

.....

When we reached the mansion, bababa na sana ako ng sasakyan pero napatingin ako sa direksyon nila. I was so shocked to see them looking at me worriedly, "What was that kuya?" Chloe asked innocently that's why I pretended not having an idea what they had witnessed.

"What?"

"Why were they following us? Did we do something bad kaya hinahabol nila tayo?" Caela asked kaya alam kong wala na akong magagawa dahil sila mismo ang nakakita.

While I'm on the driver's seat, hinarapan ko sila at tinignan ng maayos, "Of course not. We did nothing. Don't worry about it" I said towards them.

"But kuya, looks like they were mad kaya sinundan nila tayo. Can you explain what is really happening?" pakiusap ni Caela.

Matagal ko muna siyang tinignan bago ako nagsalita. Would they be able to understand our family's situation? I think not. Maybe next time.

"You won't understand Caela" I responded.

"Of course I can, I'm becoming older kuya" she replied kaya tipid akong napangiti àt napaisip.

Alam kong hindi pa ito ang tamang oras para sabihin sa kanila ang lahat but they should be aware of the things around them para hindi sila mapahamak.

"Fine, listen to me" inayos ko ang upo ko sa driver's seat habang nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa. They were both staring at me waiting for an explanation.

"We came from this family. We are rich, we have everything and we can acquire anything we want at alam niyo 'yon. With that, we cannot avoid the fact to encounter many threats waiting ahead of us"

"What does it mean kuya?"

"We don't have just one enemy, but hundreds of them. And they will definitely try to do something bad" well, I can't directly say na maraming nagbabalak na patayin kami because my sisters are still young and innocent to hear such thing.

"Why?" tanong ni Chloe.

"Simply because they are insecure. They cannot reach our status and they can't be like us that's why they will do something bad" that's what dad told me since I was a child.

I asked him many times what's the reason of having many threats in our family but he simply responded that many people are insecure because of our high status in life.

From the driver's seat, I went down para buksan ang pintuan sa likod para palabasin na ang mga kapatid ko. I know they are being confused. Pagkababa nilang dalawa sa sasakyan. They looked at me kaya't lumuhod ako para tapatan silang dalawa, "Listen to me, now that you know na may gustong manakit sa atin, you should always be careful. If you notice something and have a bad feeling about it, don't hesitate to call me, do I make myself clear?" I asked. "But kuya, what if ikaw naman ang mapahamak?" Chloe asked with their eyes worried that's why I smiled. "I'm fine. Nothing will happen to me. What's important is you must be careful all the time" ngumiti sila at tumango dahil sa sinabi ko. Mula sa pagkakahawak ko sa balikat nila ay hinawakan ko ang ulo ni Caela and I kissed her forehead. I also did the same thing to Chloe. I held their hands and stood up para makapasok na sa mansion para makapagpahinga na rin silang dalawa since halos buong araw na rin kaming paikut-ikot at kumakain sa mall.

Pagkapasok namin, as usual my vision really hurts when I see dad's security guards inside and out of the mansion and 20+ maids with their navy blue uniform. Kinuha ng isang guard ang mga dala naming paper bags kaya diretso ko na ring dinala sina Caela at Chloe sa kwarto nila. They share the same room and that's how close they are. I opened their room's door and as usual, it really irritates me seeing the whole room themed with pink color. Well, what must I expect? They are girls and they love barbies and dolls. I said my goodnight to them and left the room. I heard dad's car na kakarating lang kaya sumilip ako sa bintana at nakita ko nga siyang lumabas mula sa sasakyan niya.

I immediately went to my room, I saw that envelope my dad asked me on top of my table kaya agad kong kinuha 'yon at muling lumabas para ibigay sa kanya. He was already infront of my room which made me feel so shocked but it was just a minute before this feeling left me, "Dad, what are you doing here?" nasa baba lang siya kanina but it was just a flash to see him infront of me so sudden.

"Where are the files?" he asked with an authoritative voice so I showed the thing that I am holding at kinuha naman niya 'yon. "Good son" he said while looking at those papers inside that even me wasn't able to get a glimpse written on it. "What are those for?" I asked which made his eyes directed to me at muli niyang iniabot 'yon sa akin kaya nagtaka ako. "Bring this in my office" he said at tinalikuran na ako. He started to walk few steps before he stopped and face me again, "Remember not to touch anything, son" then he walked away. Muli akong napatingin sa envelope na hawak ko and it contains a lot of papers inside. Gusto ko sanang tignan but something was telling me not to. Kaya napailing na lang ako at nag-umpisa ng maglakad. I opened my dad's office at ipinatong sa lamesa niya ang hawak kong folder. His room was like a library na punung-puno ng files and documents.

Bahagya akong napasandal at napahawak sa lamesa niya habang nakatalikod dito dahil maayos kong tinitignan ang buong office niya. All along, iniisip ko lang naman ang rason kung bakit ayaw niyang hawakan ko ang mga gamit niya dito. I was about to leave his office but suddenly...there was a folder who fell down from his table kung saan ako nakahawak kanina kaya napatingin ako doon. I took the folder from the floor at sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, I saw the folder and accidentally read what was written on it, "SECRET FILES OF SCHULZ FAMILY" As soon as I saw that paper, nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko because of confusion.

"What's this?" I asked using a low voice. Habang hawak ko ang folder na 'yon, many times na paulit-ulit kong naririnig ang boses ni dad giving me some sort of advices not to touch anything in his office but my curiosity was killing me that time. I ended up seeing the first page of that folder. It was written, "SECRET FILES"

Kahit sino naman, mas lalong macucurious dahil sa salitang nakasulat doon. Nothing made me stop from turning into the second page of the folder. As I started to read each and every word, hindi ko na mapigilan na basahin lahat ng nakasulat sa folder na hawak ko. I did not know what to do and what could be my reaction because I knew for a fact na mahirap paniwalaan lahat ng nakikita ko:

"13TH AVENUE, UNISITE SUBDIVISION"

"1030 STREET ANGELES BUILDING"

"GROUND FLOOR OF SCHULZ BUILDING"

Based on my understanding, these were the places where my family had to meet other organizations and what could be the reason for this meet up? Masyadong liblib ang mga lugar na 'to and only those who have illegal businesses would try to use this places for their illegal transactions. Habang magkasalubong ang dalawang kilay ko na binabasa ang mga 'yon ay unti-unti ko ng nalalaman kung ano ang nilalaman ng mga papel na hawak ko.

"HALLUCINOGENS 154-GBH"

"INHALANTS THY-666"

"CANNABIS KL-34"

"DEPRESSANTS PPP-01"

"OPIOIDS 9908"

Different kinds of drugs were written down there as I tried to search deeper than I expected. Alam kong hindi kapani-paniwala but my feelings couldn't deny what my mind was trying to contradict. Iniisip kong mali ang lahat ng mga binasa ko at baka mali lang ang pagkakaintindi ko, but my eyes saw the content of the whole paper. I unexpectedly closed the folder using only one hand dahil sa sobrang pagkabigla ko sa lahat ng nakita ko. My family have been selling illegal drugs all this time. Pero kailan pa? Don't tell me na dati pa nangyayari 'to and we were not even aware of it?

Lahat ng kinakain at ginagastos namin ay mula sa hindi magandang paraan ng pagbebenta. I can't believe this! My eyes turned dangerously habang iniisip ko lahat ng posibilidad sa mga nabasa ko, but it was the truth.

The floor caught my attention again as a piece of whole paper was lying there right beside my left foot. Kinuha ko ang papel na 'yon and I wasn't expecting that I could read something that was unexpected again. The word, "TARGET HEIRS" was written there habang nakaluhod pa rin ako sa sahig and as my eyes read the names one by one, unti-unti na akong nanghina. All the rich family's only heir were written down in that paper:

Dave Axelle Davenport Andrada

Jarred Avilla Villegas

Stephen Ynares Fabregas

Caleb Endrano Chavez

Jan Oliver Reyes Renollino

Cassius Julez Estacion

Nash Claudio Von Doren

Dustin Zachary Marcus Remoquillo

And many more...

Habang binabasa ko ang mga 'yon, I didn't expect to feel that someone was right infront of me, looking down at me kaya't dahan-dahan ko itong tinignan habang hawak-hawak pa rin ang papel na binabasa ko. I saw his eyes darkened as he gazed at the paper I was holding and so do I. We felt the same that time.

Anger and betrayal.

"What are you doing here, son?" he asked kaya't mas masama ko pa siyang tinignan.

"I should be the one asking you, what's the meaning of this father?" tumayo ako at itinaas ang isa kong kamay para ipakita sa kanya ang mga hawak kong papel na siguradong alam niya kung ano ang tinatanong ko ngunit muli niya lang akong tinignan at hindi siya nagsalita.

"And also this" galit kong kinuha ang folder na nasa lamesa niya at ipinakita sa kanya 'yon.

"So you have disobeyed me, son?" he asked seriously na parang wala lang sa kanya ang tanong ko.

"This is not about me father, it's about our family. Tell me, is this all true?"

"So you've found out? Right, I won't deny it" he said.

Mas lalo pa akong nakaramdam ng galit dahil sa sinabi niya, "Kailan pa?! Do you mean lahat ng kinakain at ginagasta natin, galing sa illegal niyong negosyo?!" I angrily asked with my voice echoing all over his office.

"Watch your words" a voice of another man appeared kaya't napatingin ako sa pintuan at nakitang pumasok si James kaya't pareho ko silang tinignan na dalawa because I knew.

Pabagsak kong inilagay ang hawak kong folder kasama na rin noong papel sa table ng office ni dad, "So you knew?" tanong ko sa kuya ko na seryoso lang din.

"Kailangan mo ba talagang ipagsigawan sa lahat ang nalaman mo?! Can't you please just shut up Dean Carson?!" galit na sabi nito kaya hindi ako makapaniwalang napangiti.

"I thought we were doing our best by doing good things, but all this time our family was doing its best using illegal things? Great! That's great to hear!" as I said that, I found myself on the floor with a blood on my lips. My brother did it and now they were both looking down at me, "I told you not to touch anything here because I knew you would act like this, Carson. Grow up! But still, I can't hurt you kahit galit na galit ako sa ginawa mo because you're still my son" he said kaya napangiti na lang ako ng masama.

Never did he treat me as his son. He has his favorites at anak lang niya ako kapag kailangan niya ako.

"But if you are acting like that, we need to teach you a lesson" he said kaya muli akong napatingala sa sinabi niya. I heard the door of his office na bumukas kaya doon nabaling ang atensyon ko. Nakita ko ang mga bodyguards niya na papalapit sa direksyon namin that's why I knew.

"What are you going to do then?" I asked sarcastically.

"Be a tool to ameliorate our businesses or be imprisoned for so long, son" napailing na lang ako ng sabihin niya 'yon at tuluyan na niya akong ipinakaladkad sa mga guards niya.

To be continued...

This is the flashback of Carson's life and his relationship with his family.

Sorry po, napahaba nanaman at dahil mahaba, just inform me if ever na may ma-notice kayong mali. I'd be glad to check it again.