JINX

EPISODE 20

"Pastor Roman!" He is more surprised than they could have imagined. Pastor Roman stops at his tracks, leaving a great distance between him and Mister Clock. The man in a half-mask clench Joseff's wrist as he sneakily pulls him close to him.

'Is he nervous? What is happening? Who is Pastor Roman? Is he certainly a pastor?' Miguel felt he had revealed another secret of Mister Clock right now. First, he showed weakness the first time they had an actual conversation. Miguel figured out that Mister Clock is also a human with real emotions. And now, he's trembling secretly in front of a man they had just known today. The man who wears Clerical clothing instantly reads fear from Mister Clock's expression, making the man who claims himself as Pastor Roman chuckles.

"You will undoubtedly do everything I'll tell you to do, don't you, Mister Clock?" Miguel silently observes his behavior, already seeing signs of apprehension. He frowns by the unexpected behavior, rather than more confident dor his accomplishments of torturing them.

'What Is gotten into him?' Miguel asks himself as he feels a gentle tug from the hem of the long sleeve he's wearing. He turns his attention to see Ash beside him as if she wants to say something. Miguel's eyes look around the area to check if someone is looking at them. He ascertains that everyone's attention is on the notoriety of tension between Pastor Roman and Mister Clock.

Even if he had faced trials that pull him an inch closer to death, he could still endure the pain he is withstanding right now despite having no substantial rest. Bending a little bit sideways, his ears meet her lips in a couple of seconds.

"Do you notice Mister Clock's sudden alteration of behavior?" All he could do is nod before standing back up to watch the silent staredown contest between the two, causing a suffocating atmosphere around the building. His hand trails into Ash as he holds it tight, not exhibiting any evidence of letting go. She is like a sister to him, and that he will do anything for her for them to get out of the place together and alive.

"What made you come and visit us, Pastor? You should have just given us a call so that you won't have to watch us after the play."

"Oh, don't be silly, Mister Clock. I come here unprepared as well, but as I spend time inside my car to sink everything, I must say that everything I've prepared for you is now under control."

"Prepared for me?" He pauses, trying to think of any special occasion. "Oh, hahaha! Pastor Roman, you didn't have to prepare something for Valentine's Day! Being able to watch them play Jinx is already enough as a gift! Perhaps you can give them the gif you've prepared for me?"

Instead of agreeing, a light and fake chuckle escape from his mouth. That got Mister Clock curious.

"Uhm, did I just said something funny, Pastor?" He asks, getting a bit pissed off of the Pastor's sudden attitude. Pastor Roman clears his throat before pushing his glasses pad arms so that it won't fall entirely.

"You're funny, Mister Clock. You're truly something." This time, the pastor takes a step forward, followed by the person who carries a shoulder bag. Stopping himself at a three-step distance and not removing his gaze from him, pastor Roman's expression turns from a drastic look that makes his hand sweat more. "I precisely came here for you, Mister Clock. And the gift I've prepared for you is a remembrance for Valentine's day but, the facility is not something that I assure you; it is not what you think it is."

"What..." Mister Clock clears his throat and repeats what he has to say. "What do you mean by that, pastor Roman?"

Pastor Roman tilts his head in a split second to his right before his head erects on its original plane again. A group of guys comes inside with dangerous materials on their hands, lining up beside the pastor. The players were invisible now as if they don't matter at the moment. Two guys who stood beside Mister Clock quickly traps him, separating him from Joseff. They all gasp at the situation, not knowing what's going to happen next.

"What's the meaning Of this!?" He tries to liberate himself but failed obviously. The height and strength won't work on him correctly. A grin forms on Pastor Roman's lips before he signals the person beside him to take a step forward and talk.

"Ask him." He nodded before turning his attention to him.

"Mister Clock, did you break our rule?"

•••

|Friday, 15th of February

The church is indeed not the holiest place now, especially when you're worshiping evil.

Am I judgmental? Am I evil? Or was I right the whole time? I know we praise different Gods— we have Ahura Mazda in Zoroastrianism; Onkar (One true God), Sat Nam (True Name) in Sikhism, Shiva in Shaivism, Vishnu in Vaishnavism, Allah in Slam, Triune God, Yahweh, The Father, The Son If Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in Christianity and so much more that I can barely recall. But no matter who we praise, in the form of drawing, animal, statue, or sculpture, evil will always be evil.

And who do we have here? The man who calls himself close to God. The man who confidently wears the Clerical clothing, the man who walks inside the room with power over his head.

Or wait, is he evil? Or is he just being too loyal to whoever he calls his God, Leader, or Father? I don't know anything yet.

When he ordered them to capture Mister Clock and asks him the questions he's afraid of answering, I badly wanted to ask... Mister Clock, how does it feel to be powerless? How does it feel to have hands around your wrist, locking you to the fright you're afraid to confront? How does it feel to be useless? To feel the pain of surrendering, the same feeling you forced us to feel? To follow the instructions like you wanted us to do? Tell me, Mister Clock. I want to hear it from your mouth. I want to listen to the exact words I've been meaning to hear. Would you as well beg for your life? Would you fall on your knees and entreat them to show mercy? Will you risk your skin, your hand, your dignity for your freedom? Or will you retain your ego and feel superior?

But then again, I have so many things to learn yet. I still have to think about escaping instead thank knowing what Mister Clock and Pastor Roman's relationship is. They shouldn't be my priority, but I also have to keep my eyes and ears completely open 24/7. I should act like an owl. Or at least, pretend that I don't need rest for the next couple of hours. I wanted to toughen myself, but thinking about everything and trying to sink it all in in one go won't take me overnight. My brain might be slow for storing updates, but I know I can cope up.

So please, help me with this once, diary. I need you to guard every detail at hand. I want you to please stay with me because when the time comes for me not to exist anymore, you'll be the evidence that I have lived.

I don't know when will I die, but let's just keep it this way... NOT TODAY.

Sincerely,

Miguel.

As Miguel finishes writing the last few words for today's letter to himself, he closes it and seals the notebook before carefully putting it inside his backpack. He zipped his bag close and place It under his bed before turning to face Kyle and Blake, who is already eyeing him. He felt their stares a while ago, but he decided to shrug it off for not wanting to get distracted. He gave them a faint chuckle as he stands up, approaching them seated comfortably on the cold floor.

"Why are you looking at me like that? Am I both creeping you out?" He raises a question to avoid awkwardness. The two men look at each other before Blake decided to make a reply.

"I'm sure if it ever made you feel uncomfortable, but it just out of our curiosity."

"Just go ahead and ask if it bothers you completely." He agrees.

"Okay, so... How can you still write something on that notebook when you should be like, saving energy and sh*ts like clearing your head? Considering your condition, shouldn't you be more concerned about your strength now that we met a new villain?" Blake asks in one breath, not wanting to stutter nor make things more complicated. He believes that beating around the bush at these times is not reasonable. Miguel sits on the opposite side to where they're facing, now making him meet their gaze fully. He sighs as he doubted to tell a story, but had the feeling of telling them.

'Maybe sharing a bit of me won't kill me. At least there will be witnesses that I did occur if ever I die so soon.' He thought to himself. Relaxing his tensed muscle, he starts to talk.

"That notebook is not just a notebook for me; I already consider it as my sister." He starts up. The two men in front of him stayed silent, waiting for him to continue. He sighs, not wanting to get deeper into the discussion, but he doesn't want to stop yet.

"Back when I just turned sixteen, my dad came home from work at my actual birthday. His presence means so much to me that I didn't bother asking for gifts. His company is too much of a facility that no material things can ever replace. He always spoils me. From chocolates to clothes and even the latest gadget, I'll always tell him, dad, all I need is you to be here. But I never realize that it would be my last birthday to see him."

"What—" Kyle nudge Blake's side, indicating that they shouldn't ask questions yet. He mouthed the words 'sorry' before Miguel continues.

"I don't know what happened to him up until now. But before he left for my birthday, he gave me that notebook as a gift. He told me that when I get lonely or sad, I would just write something here, and then when he comes back, he'll read it all and be only here for me... But sadly, I've been writing for so long and waiting for him to read when he's not coming back. My mom would just tell me that dad died, but I have this feeling that he didn't just die. Something terrible must be had happened to me that mom thi7ght I won't take it calmly, so she decided to hide it from me.

And then, I stop writing from that moment. I never got to see my dad's face at the funeral. I miss his hug, his voice, every part of him, and only that notebook will make me feel that he'll be here for me no matter what."

"How can you tell that your mom is lying?" Blake couldn't take it any longer, wanting to ask him the question that bothers him. Miguel shrugs, showing signs of being pained and heartless at the same time.

"When dad mysteriously disappears or died or whatever happened to him, mom already got herself a new boyfriend. And it kills me inside to see him happy when we should be mourning."

"Don't you think the new boyfriend just has an impact on her? Maybe, your mom's crying at night and happy in the morning?"

"I trust my gut feeling so much. Every time I open a topic about dad, she would just act like I'm invisible and get along with her boyfriend. But now, I feel terrible for acting such a pr*ck."

"So you never been on good terms with your mom's boyfriend?" Kyle asks this time. Miguel nodded.

"I thought of showing signs of hating him, even more, would make him give up on my mom, but it made him more confident. He even proposed to my mom. Just then, I gut abducted at that exact moment."

"That's... That's so sure, bro." Blake exclaims.

"So yeah, I don't know if he planned this so that he could marry my mom when I'm gone, but I also had the feeling of trusting him to find me."

"That's a lot to take in, Miguel. And you're so brave." Kyle compliments.

"Thank you... So, what about you, guys? How did you end up here?"

Kyle and Blake stare at each other for a second before Blake grins. "I guess it's my turn to tell my story."