JINX

EPISODE 31 [pt.3]

[Yesterday]

After the call ended, Kaleb snaps his finger with a broad smile on his face. Lerissa then turns her attention to him with also the urging smile of success creeping into her lips.

"Did we get them?" He asks, making Kaleb bite his lower lip and moves a bit on the side, and point into his screen. Without receiving any response, Lerissa walks into him, readying herself to what she is about to see.

"No way. . ." these were the only words that came out of her mouth, making her cover her mouth with both palms.

"We got them, Lerissa. . . Good job on keeping the conversation going," Kaleb says as she smiles at him and rests her hand on his shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.

"It's all because you did great. Without you, I couldn't even track Carlo on my own. . . So, thank you." She thanks him before feeling Kaleb's hand on top of her for almost two seconds before Kaleb decides to pull away. Just then, Melissa turns to her side as she walks towards her leather jacket. Kaleb's gaze follows her eyes move.

"So, what's your next move now, Lerissa? Kaleb asks as she watches Lerissa puts on her jacket. She sighs as she replies while tucking her coat on.

"I— I don't know. . ." she doubted as Ash's voice keeps on echoing into her mind.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Kaleb asks as this time, he stands up and follows Lerissa, who is already walking towards the door. "Lerissa—"

"I'm not. . . I'm not sure what to do next. . .", She breathes out as she stops in just a few inches away from the door. She then gulps her saliva and turns to face Kaleb, who is giving him a questioning look.

"Kaleb, look. Helping me trace their whereabouts is a big help. . . You've been a great help but, I'm not sure if I can let you get involved with this—"

"Why? Why can't you? You came here for a reason, and there is NO WAY in hell that you don't intend on asking me to come and join you—"

"It's because I now realize the story you told to tell me just three months ago. . ." she admits as her hands are now balled into a fist. Kaleb, on the other hand, halts just by hearing her say that.

"I'm sorry, but Kaleb, I know bringing it up back is so selfish and insensitive of me because I only got to come into full view that everything you said before made sense now! And I was so f*cking dumb to think you're just acting that way because you couldn't accept his death yet. And now, I only realize all of it when I came here already. . . I don't know why it slipped into my head—"

"Don't feel sorry about it, Lerissa. We both know it's not your fault." Kaleb assures as he steps closer and wipes the tears coming out of Lerissa's eyes, in which she didn't even realize she's crying.

"I want to help you, Lerissa. And you've got to help me too. . . I want to avenge him. . ." As those words escape into his mouth, Lerissa could feel the pain all over again.

"But Kaleb—"

"Sister, I want to avenge my husband."

•••

"Gghhhhhhhh. . . Ghhhhhhh...." Miguel struggles to breathe as he tries to loosen the rip bag thats covering his face, but every time he moves and tries removing it, it only gets tighter and tighter as if there's a tube sucking the remaining air slowly.

Aside from him, the others as also battling with the same issue. Hand scratching their faces barely to tear the bag, rapid breathing, sweat dripping, and screams that sounded like a masterpiece into Pastor Roman's ears.

The timer starts ticking as the unknown target for today sprints into action. Still, the person also got a challenge on its own, as this mysterious target had no bag around the head, but lights were closed for that person even to identify where the others are.

Miguel wanted to scream and ask who the person might be that holds their fate for this challenge. But then, he also knows that by doing that, he'll most likely be disobeying the rule called JINX. That's why the least he could do is can his nerves even save himself, just in case today is his day to die.

Clock rocking, running steps, panting sound, soothing of materials, whimpers, uncontrolled breathing, plastic rustling. . . These were the only words Miguel could hear as he's relieved to realize that the rest of them decided to do the same thing— to calm themselves even if it's almost impossible. No words dared to escape their mouths, only tears falling and heavy breaths releasing.

All Miguel could do at the moment is simply open his eyes as wide as possible, even if it's even possible for him to see what's even happening. And even if his head is free from the same black bag cloth covering it, darkness will still prevail as the lights were off.

"F*ck. . ." He whispers to himself as he tries his best, almost feeling his eyeballs about to pop up. Even if the thought creeps him out, he would still think that it'll be better to feel that way than being held captive unwillingly.

On the other hand, Kyle, Blake, and the rest of the group couldn't seem to figure out when will they get the bags out of their heads or will they ever feel it since they will die anyway. Suddenly, Kyle decided to run his hand secretly behind his head, trying to figure out what the man holding him captive earlier did for him to start suffocating. But with his patience, he realizes that an elongated material is already attached to a tube, as the line is connected to the back portion of the bag. Realizing that this tube is sucking the air slowly, Kyle runs his hands almost immediately to the unidentified conduit and starts to detach it in hopes that Kyle could somehow do it. But the more he views hard, the more he struggles to keep his breathing in control.

It wasn't silent at all, but the little sounds created by everyone combined are enough to send them shivers.  But just suddenly, Kyle felt a tap on his torso. His eyes widen in surprise as he didn't see it coming, and he wasn't too sure if he should trust the feeling he just felt because his brain could just be sending false signals since he's frantic enough to get saved. . . Everyone is desperate if he asks himself, and if not, others might be thinking of a great way to die than just seeing darkness before they exhale their last breath. Why? Because the twilight is what their eyes see the moment they close their eyes forever.

"You're ruining out of time, my little lamb." Pastor Roman's voice echoes around them that makes them start to panic. No one knew how many seconds are there left, and no one couldn't ascertain who have been touched and who isn't. They start to feel their hearts thumping as if it's the last day that their hearts would ever beat. Because one thing is for sure. . .

Either of them could be so dead.

The time continues ticking as panting, and turtles continue to break the silence. For them, this is by far the longest two minutes of their lives, and no one still had no idea how this say would even end for them. But either way, they know they will have to mourn, primarily when someone's destiny for tonight is to die.

*bzzzzttttt!*

They all close their eyes and purses their lips to prevent themselves from releasing any noise. It was too shocking that one didn't see it coming, but all did an excellent job keeping themselves silent, only bodies flinching.

The silence continues after the loud sound of the bussing digital clock breaks it and only lasted for more than five seconds. Miguel's panting was relieved that he felt the tube behind his head stopped sucking air, leaving him just enough space to breathe in and out and scared as well because he starts to feel the line moving as if something from above is pulling it in that direction.

The sound of a giant light switch echoes around them as they already see the surrounding brighten. Luckily, translucent bags covered their heads; an instrument used to help them adjust their sight immediately. Silence fills the air again for almost seven seconds before small yet numerous claps erupt the whole area. Miguel quickly searches for the person, only to see Pastor Roman, Ruther, and the others standing from a small stage, yet enough for them to be in there all at the same time.

"Well, I am MORE impressed to see your output, mister Rode. . . I must say, you are honestly that dedicated to saving everyone!" Pastor Roman acknowledges as Miguel thinks who Mister Rode is.

"I've already accomplished what I had to do! Now let them go, NOW!" The target for this challenge manages to voice out as they hear him painting. Suddenly, Pastor Roman hums before signaling his men to free the others.

A few seconds later, Miguel already felt someone detaching the tube from his head's back and loosening the bag. And only when he feels freedom, Miguel immediately removes the bag to catch a view over his friends.

‘Kyle. Blake. Kitty. Mister Valentine. That new kid also. . . Melissa. . . Ch—’ but before he could even continue talking with his thoughts, he hears Pastor Roman talks.

"But, there's a TINY problem here, mister Rode." He says as all eyes were on him already, making them all realize who mister Rode is.

"Benji?" Kitty asks herself in a shallow voice, but enough for the others beside him to hear. Just then, they all turn their gaze to the only person who still has his bag covering his head. Pastor Roman's men volunteers to remove the bag from his head, but not the tube behind him. As soon as Chris has the bag removed from his head, all eyes are on him. Chris noticed that as his smile quickly fades, eyes roaming around him.

"G-guys? What is. . . Why are you looking at me like that?" He asks, dumbfounded by Melissa as she starts to sob but tries her best not to bite her lower lip.

"Do you know what's missing?" Pastor Roman asks as they all gasp, realizing what he is talking about. Chris realized it, too, as he looks around his body. When he didn't see what he wanted to know, he lifts his gaze to Melissa. Their eyes locked.

"Melissa—"

"Rules are rules, mister Rode. . . Too bad, you've failed—"

"No!" They all scream in unison as Pastor Roman signals the man who removed the bag from Chris's head. The man then nods as he clicks some buttons, now the tube starts crawling into his neck.

And before anything more can happen, Chris and Melissa keep eye contact.

"I love you." He mumbles as tears start to roll down from his eyes, as well as Melissa, who couldn't hold it any longer.

"Chris—"

It wasn't what they were expecting. And neither wished to be their deaths to be bloody. . . as Chris closes his eyes, all he could see is his parents, his friends, Melissa and most of all, his little sister.

'I'm sorry I couldn't come home anymore alive, my unicorn.’ he thought to himself as he sheds another tear.

Melissa closes her eyes, as well as her ears numbed from anything. As the numbness envelopes her, so is stillness, as she imagines herself in the middle of tranquility.

Her, walking into the stairs of their house, phone in hand and a heavy backpack filled with thick books and notes from classes. The smell of dinner from the kitchen as her mother makes dinner, and her father is watching his favorite drama for the night. . . She misses it so much.

And now, she has someone added to them. . .

And if only she could turn back time, she wished that she was able to see the signs between him and her feelings for him.