JINX

EPISODE 27 [pt.3]

"What the f*ck is this, Pastor? What the hell are you doing!?" Briar couldn't keep the question hidden for himself any longer.

"What do you mean, Mister Kapono?" The pastor asks as he raises the glass of wine into his lips as he calmly takes a sip. Briar folds his fists as he scoffs. "aren't you enjoying your food? Should we get you another-" But before Pastor Roman could even continue his sentence, Briar slams his utensils and stands up with frustration.

"THIS! ALL OF THIS!' He says as he pertains to everything around them. "Thi IS the f*can LAST SUPPER, pastor! what does this suppose to mean!?" He asks as Miguel and Melissa throws glances at each other, realizing that they're not the only ones hungry for the truth. It made Pasto Roman chuckle after placing down his glass of wine. But instead of giving him an answer, he takes a slice of the substantial meat on his plate.

"are you going to ignore my question just like how you ignore the screams of your victims!? TELL ME!" He demanded with such rage. Pastor Roman sighs as he places down his utensils gently before grabbing the white napkin and wiping the edge of his lips.

"As far as we are a concern, mister Kapono, YOU BETRAYED ME. And you don't deserve my attention the moment you decide to turn your back on me." He says and about to grab his knife and fork on his hands when Briar continues.

"Maybe I wouldn't have  betrayed you if yoou decide NOT to BETRAY mee first!" He says that makes the pastor alarmed.

"Are you accusing me of something I didn't commit?"

"No, pastor. I A accusing you of SOMETHING YOU DID." Bria admits that maks the pastor sink it in for a couple of seconds before releasing a laugh.

"What are you laughing at, you a psycho priest?" He asks with a furrowed brows, the same expression that others have but not for Ruther, who has his face amused yet quietly blank.

"Oh, nothing. In fact, I'm more amused by your answer rather than finding it funny." Pastor Roman pauses as he takes a bite at steak again. He chews it with such composure that everyone had nothing else to choose from but to wait. And as he gulps the small portion of meat he pares, he talks again.

"Because how can you say I betrayed you when you were simply the one who betrayed yourself?"

"Are you stupid? How can I even betray myself? Are you trying to come clean on me?"

"Then prove to me that I stabbed you in the back." He questioned his confidence that which made Briar groan in frustration.

"You told me that this is just a test—"

"It is still a test, Mister Kapono."

"BUT YOU NEVER TOLD ME THAT KILLING THEM IS F*CKING NECESSARY! You told me that they'd just become test subjects and be under our facility for ten days! You told me that they'd soon attain peace after the session, but—" He immediately halts to his words when he has come to the full realization of what he just said. His eyes widen, same as the others, before he growls in anger.

"You. . . YOU TRICKED ME!" He shouts as he grabs the steak knife as his vision darkens with a desire to kill.  The others' shouts became a blurry background into his ears as the only clear in him is to stab the knife across the pastor's neck and bleed to death. Nobody cared anymore for him but only to snatch his life away. . . And he is more determined than anyone else.

In a swift move, he runs through him as he got beside the pastor without anyone pulling him away. "Aahhhhh!" He screams, and without any doubt, he stabs the steak knife multiple times into the pastor's neck. He expected everyone to shriek as the blood spurts out of his wounded neck with numerous stab wounds.

"I killed him. . .  I killed the pastor!" He mumbles to himself as the blood continues to flow out of the cut. But as soon as his eyes find it's way to Ruther, his eyes widen to see him smirking.

"What—" and before he could even continue, he snaps back to reality. His eyes widen as he lifts his gaze to the pastor sitting calmly and alive!

It was all just in his ingenuity.

"Now you realize, Mister Kapono? I didn't betray you. . . Your mind simply betrayed yourself, and I didn't partake in any of that." He clears it out, making him look stupid.

"YOU SON OF A—" He screams as he grabs the steak knife and runs through the pastor, but before Briar could even take his fourth step, Pastor Roman nods in Ruther's direction and nods as if he gave him a signal to something. Kyle noticed that, but before he could warn Briar, Ruther already pressed a specific button, electrocuting him.

*Bzzztttt. . .*

"Ahhhhh! Sh*t!" He screams in pain after feeling the electricity in his body and falls flat on the ground. Hex still conscious, but his body seems to be numb at the moment that makes him panic.

Everyone did.

"What did you— WHAT THE F*CK DID YOU DO TO ME!?" He screams as he tries his best to move his fingers, but it was harder than he expected. All eyes are widely open, bodies tensed, feet froze, open-mouthed, sweat dripping, gasping, and heavy breathing. The smirk didn't seem to leave Pastor Roman's lips, and Ruther who's eyes are now starting at Blake. Blake noticed that, but he didn't show any signs of getting deterred.

Pastor Roman then stands up as he fixes his suit before walking towards Briar, floundered on the ground. Several men in their black case come to life as they all point guns at everyone.

"Nobody moves or attempts anything because they won't have second thoughts of shooting you," Ruther announces as he stands with the shoulder bag at hand. They are all panicking but decided to raise their hands on a shoulder level as a sigh of defeat. Joseff stands after Ruther pulls him by his elbows. They all watch as Pastor Roman finally approaches him and effortlessly kicks the steak knife away from him. He then slides his hands on his slack pocket and looks down at him. He then steps on his cheeks and applies pressure into them, causing him to whine.

"You know, Briar. I thought you're right. . .But I'm better because I know you'd be like the others who were in that position before you. . . You became soft-hearted that it almost flopped this mission I tasked you to do. And I told you, anyone shouldn't mix personal matters to business for it will weaken everything. What did you do? YOU didn't listen. Now, what did it led you?. .  DEATH."

Pastor Roman tilts his head on his right for a split second before a man in his clean suit and a big gun nods and signals the man beside him as they pick Briar into the floor. Briar moans in pain as he feels his weight being too heavy and light at the same time.

"Bring this man to the lightless cell. He'll stay there until he learns his manners. . ." he says that the men in suit nod immediately. "But before you go, please make sure he's ready for tomorrow. He'll be the first to experience hell."

"What do you— No! NO! You cannot do this to me, Roman! You cannot—"

"Fortunately, Mister Kapono, I CAN do anything to you. . . Especially when you're here, under my power."

All they can do is watch. They simply couldn't defend the man, now that they wouldn't want to end up like Briar. . . At least, not on the first night.

As his scream comes into silence the moment they close the door behind, Pastor Roman comes back to his place. He sits back as he sighs.

"Take them away. . . Make sure they have enough sleep before tomorrow comes."

"Yes, boss." The man replies before signaling the others to pick the victims up. Miguel and the rest decided not to fight back any longer, to get away at that area as soon as possible. When they're out, Pastor Roman didn't look at Ruther but continues to speak.

"Bring Joseff to his room. He'll leave tomorrow after the show."

"Yes, Pastor." He says as he tightens his grip on Joseff's shoulder.

"What does that— I thought I'm going home tonight!"

"I'm afraid you won't be leaving anytime soon until tomorrow. I suggest you keep your mouth shut, and let's go." Ruther says and pulls him away, leaving Pastor Roman.

Without any appetite at all, he decided to continue eating just to stuff his stomach and the desire to see blood anytime soon.

|Sunday, 17th of February

I'm starting to lose control over what is real and what is just a bluff when it comes to faith. . . I don't know if judging one's devotion is illegal, but trust me, I don't know where our loyalty lies any longer.

Everything is f*cked up; everyone knows that for sure. As if the world has different plans for us.

I know I've had my virtue lying on a specific religion, but when I see that pastor being religious and a g*dd*mn wicked at the same time, I ask myself. . . does it precisely make sense when someone is so devoted to God when he's doing such evil?  I mean, of course, it does. We commit mistakes everyday, and we could still have our patriotism.

But is this right?

Will killing us be a real solution to the purification of one's identity and balance towards the law of God? Tell me, dear diary. . . Will killing us be worth it?

I don't know. . . I haven't felt such attaining WORTH of my own, but all I know is that everyone wanted change. . . And maybe killing us would send a message to everyone.

I remember when I was ten, I used to play with my girl friends who are very fond of dolls, and I would borrow one. When my dad saw me, I thought he would get mad and threw me away like I am not his kid, but. . . HE DIDN'T.

And it's the total opposite to mom when she saw me playing with barbie dolls. She got mad that my dad even tried to find any excuse just to defend me. . . I ended up getting bruises anyway.

Ever since that day, I have hated dolls. Even if my friends bought the newest model, or they would let me borrow without me asking, I started rejecting them. . . Until eventually, they decided to stay away from me because they couldn't play with me anymore. . . What's worse is that, three days after, I saw them playing with a new kid from the different section. . . She's a girl, by the way, which is a point of advantage.

So you see, my mom wanted to change. . . and she got that after beating me. But I don't know, and I guess I just haven't learned my lesson yet because as I grew up, I started to muster the LYING TECHNIQUE. Why? Because I know that I have to defend what I like already. And I guess I want to be who I am anymore.

But is it worth it? Am I happy? Look what it got me, and I don't know if my mom is trying to find me. . 

I love my mom, that's all. Even if before she became too hard on me, I saw her change and start to accept me. But I don't really know if she's happy I turned out this way.

Should I just surrender my true identity and get home? Or should you rather die with it?

I guess I should have made a letter for mom too. . . But what's the use? Ash is dead. . . And I hope she's in peace know. . . At the same time, I hope they see my message.

I hope someone comes to rescue me. . . To save the rest of us.

Sincerely,

Miguel.