JINX

EPISODE 21

|Friday, 15th of February

Why won't you just put a bullet into my head? Why can't stares be daggers and kill me instead? Can't I be the apple on top of a woman as the magician targets it entirely? Can anyone make me give up so I can free my soul?

My body is weak; they haven't given us food yet, not even what Mister Clock promised us about the persons who would take care of where it got us burnt. No, nothing.

We were burning alive earlier. The fire meets gasoline, and for the first time, I felt those two elements were madly in love with each other, and they even get us involved in their forbidden love.

But despite the pain, why can't I just give?

Was I too afraid to disappoint my father after promising him that I'll be tougher? Was I too scared to admit to my mom and dad that I wasn't the tough kid they're expecting me to be? Or was I too afraid to leave myself in the lurch? Maybe because there's only one reason or all of them. But no matter what, they still share the same thought.

I'm afraid of being a disappointment... To my dad, to my mom, and into myself.

I wonder if I'm being real right now. Or have I've been telling myself the whole truth? Am I also lying to myself now? This is too much.

I want to close my eyes and dream about my least favorites of all time and the things and thoughts that I haven't done or tried yet. I would feel bad if I die with too much to regret. And I would always wonder for the rest of my life.

Yet before I could die, I want to do something... You might think I would not restrict myself from people, and you might think I would eat pickles even if I hate it so much, you might think I would travel even If I'm broke... You might think about those things... No, I am not pertaining to those things.

I'm talking about asking for forgiveness.

For expecting too much,

For wishing too much,

For thinking that I am worthless.

Because I was afraid to see myself.

I'm stuck here forever if I don't get the chance to apologize before dying.

So, don't die yet, okay? Not until the time is right.

Sincerely,

Miguel.

•••

When morning came, all of them were awaken by the sound of each door opening. The tall guy who came inside their cells unannounced told them to move their asses already up because the new boss wants to meet them. Surprisingly, Valentine didn't show up, making them wonder what happened to him.

"Do you think something terrible happened yesterday?" Blake questions both of them in a very silent manner that only the three of them could hear. They are currently sauntering now after they were all lined up.

"I don't know, but I don't feel so good about this." Kyle agreed.

"Me too. I mean, why would they bother us doest thing in the morning? Oh wait, I'm not even sure if it's still too early." Miguel admits.

"Tais-toi! Je peux t'entendre d'ici, et si tu ne veux pas goûter un punch, tu ferais mieux de fermer la bouche!" ("Shut up! I can hear you from here. And if you don't want to taste a punch, better shut your mouth!")

They continue walking in silence after that, afraid to might even encounter another mess. Not that they're intimidated; as a matter of fact, they're not scared of facing them anymore.

They're just scared of how they would die.

They continue walking as they were all surprised to be headed to another room. It wasn't the darkroom that they took, but a place with three big windows. Their eyes glimmer in happiness like it is their first time to see natural light. All of them immediately rush into the window as they enjoy the feeling of the heat produced by the sun hitting their skins. Miguel closes his eyes for a brief moment as he realizes how much he has missed the sun that he almost forgot the feeling of the temperature.

"Don't get too excited, my dear players." Miguel instantly opens his eyes as he turns to the door where they entered, realizing who the person was. All of their attention quickly glues on Pastor Roman, who hasn't changed, or maybe he is wearing a new pair with the same style he was wearing yesterday. A small smile still lingers on his lips, making them more irritated. He still holds a small black squared item in his hand, as his free hand rests peacefully on the lower part of his back. They stop enjoying the sun from the moment the pastor makes an entrance as if he is marking everything as his territory.

"Gamin?" ("Kiddo?") he turns his gaze on his shoulder as he calls the man behind him, still clenching the bag strap on both of his hands.

"Oui monsieur?" ("Yes sir?") He asks as he takes a step forward.

"présentez-moi à eux" ("introduce me to them")

"Oui, désolé." ("Yes, sorry.") The man clears his throat as if he's afraid to do something that could irritate his boss. He is shaking a bit, showing how much he is nervous. Miguel observes him carefully and silently.

"Euh, nous ne l'avons pas encore présenté de manière précise… l'homme qui se tient devant vous est—" ("Uhm, we haven't properly introduced yet... the man standing in front of you is—") Pastor Roman hits him directly at the back of his neck, making the innocuous lad stop.

"i***t! est-ce que tu rimes qu'ils comprennent le français!?" ("i***t! do you think they understand French!?") The Pastor seems mad as his eyes are still locked up on his players.

"Sorry, boss." He then mumbles and looks down for a second to recollect himself from embarrassment. Five seconds later, he turns his head up with the familiar face he had earlier. With a straight face, he starts talking.

"My sincere apology for not introducing properly. I am Ruther, and I am his loyal servant. And the man standing in front of you is not just a man; he is not just a pastor who wears black clothes; he is not just a pastor who pays his visits unannounced. He is the guardian of peace in the living world. God chose him to lead and protect His commandments from the sinners; he is the one who brings justice to these Laws that would balance the globe. He is Pastor Roman, who has the power to fo anything for our rightful Law."

Silence. There's a total stillness that they're not expecting it to be. Miguel and the others stare at them, not even blinking a split second. Ruther and Pastor Roman was expecting something else; something is exaggerating like gasping, eyes widening, jaws dropping, but no. They didn't seem to flinch into his sentence.

"Wait... I'm sorry, but I got a bit confused. What Law exactly are we talking about here? Because clearly, we didn't even do anything to break laws." Chris asks in the cockiest attitude. "Maybee, you two crazy b*tches here has something to do with breaking the law because you abduct us!" This time, anger is already showing on his face. Instead of getting intimidated, it made Pastor Roman feels more superior. He licks his upper lip before a cheeky smile forms into it.

"What's so smiley there, you crazy Pastor? You even call yourself that after what you did to GOD'S sons and daughters?" He asks as he emphasizes the G-word, as he pertains to him and the other victims about the 'sons and daughters.'

"What's your name, sinful creature?"

"What the f*ck—"

"I DON'T CARE ABOUT WHO YOU ARE! All I care about is what you did to my Lord, and now, you're going to pay for your sins."

"You should be the one to be punished!"

"Is that so, Mister 'What the f*ck'?" He mimics as his allies laugh at it. It wasn't funny, it was kind of irritating to them, especially to Chris.

"You think this is funny, huh? You think making us play your stupid game— oh, what does it call? Jinx? Huh! What kind of a stupid motherf*cking name is that? Was that your idea? Because clearly, you lack on creativity—"

"And you lack realization, Mister." He responds as his smiley face turned dark. Chris didn't respond right after, as they waited for what Pastor Roman is about to say.

"You're all too dumb to realize why you're here? Tell me, didn't Mister Clock told you all the purpose why you're here?" He asks. This time, he takes two steps forward, his hands intertwined together behind him. He continues to walk again.

"Usually, I'm not the one telling stories, but somehow, I have this feeling that this group, so far, is the most thrilling group we have. But don't get too happy yet because the game will get comfortable for you... No. Because the game becomes more and more intriguing as we develop more challenging games that will contest even the wittiness of the smartest person living." He ends his tracks right in front of Chris, who has his fist already clutched, and he's gritting his teeth in anger.

"I don't know why My Lord even created sinful creatures like you. And between you and I, Mister 'What the F*ck,' you're the sinner, and you deserve punishment. You're the one who broke My Lord's Law cause I'm not talking about politics." He pauses as they both look at each other with so much intensity.

"Then are you bullish*tting us!?" Chris sounded so pissed right now.

"I ain't b*llsh*tting anyone, Mister. I'm just living by what I believe in."

"Even if you're so damn wrong already!?" Miguel didn't know he will take a step forward. He didn't think he still has something left of the bravery he had. Ash tries to tug him back in, but he decided to take a step forward.

"MY LORD HAS NEVER WRONGED ME AND EVERYTHING I DO FOR HIM IS RIGHT!" Pastor Roman takes a deep breath to calm himself before looking straight at Miguel. Miguel gulps his saliva as he eat his tear inside.

"Oh, look who we have here. Aren't you, mister Miguel?" Pastor asks as he extended his hand. "I am a dan of yours."

"And I hate you too." He spat back.

"You know, I've heard so much about you, and all of it is good. But, triggering if you ask me." He admitted. "But don't worry, I don't have many reasons to be unfair, not after what I have found out about you and Mister Clock."

"What are you—"

"Oh... Did I spoil something?" Pastor Roman asks as he scratches his chin gently. "I guess he hasn't told you yet?" He asks that made Miguel more curious.

"What the hell are you talking about!?" Miguel now is pissed. He wanted to approach him and pick him by the collar, he wanted to scream at his face, he tried to punch him to death, he wanted him to bleed so bad!

But then, he couldn't do it just yet because he is not Mister Clock.

Pastor Roman is much more different.

"How curious can you get just to have the answers that you wanted? How evil can you be just to justify the answers you will have to collect? Can you kill someone to bet free? Or are you just too blind that you've always been free, but your mind is just manipulating your thoughts, telling you that you're not?"

Those question caught him off guard.

'How curious can I get for his answers?'

'How evil can I get for answers?'

'Can I genuinely kill someone?'

'Am I wholly free that It was just my thoughts saying that I am not? Or is he about something else?'

Pastor Roman takes a step backward until he's beside the man with the shoulder bag.

"Enjoy the moment here, my sinful creatures, because tomorrow, we are going to do something great. Then, you can just head back to your cell when you feel likee it. Enjoy this moment while it lasts." He then calls one of his allies as Miguel and the others stood still.

"Pay attention to these players. They are more capable than what we expected." He warns before stepping out of the room, leaving them standing there.