JINX

EPISODE 19 (pt.3)

It felt like Miguel only slept an hour after thinking about what's going to happen after. Will he embrace death after the game because he's a hundred percent sure incapable of fighting his life? Or will he manage to escape death once again? Although everything is evident for him to be dead, he didn't enjoy the sleep he should be appreciating.

He sighs as he switches his position, now facing the ceiling. He stares at it for a minute, envisioning any possibilities again. He couldn't seem to take the memory of last night off of his mind, nor he does want to forget about it altogether. Indisposed to just laying his back dom on the bed, he sighs as he tries to help himself get up without anyone's help. He wanted so bad to be independent, and his pride is eating him up to push everyone more, far away from him, then he knew he badly needed them the most, especially with Kyle, who shows a hint of concern and worry. His pride is eating him up, wanting to push him away to prevent the feeling that keeps growing inside him.

He groans in frustration as he stands up from the bed, putting pressure on the side of his stomach as his other hand finds it's way to cover his mouth. He drastically closes his eyes and bites his inner cheek to prevent any noise, still wishing not to wake either Blake or Kyle. He opens his eyes almost in an instant to check on them. A sigh of relief escapes into his mouth as he succeeded in not to bother them. He takes his time to collect his strength, feeling a bit better than the first hour of enduring fresh wounds. He convinces himself that he could do it and that he can survive the pain more than anyone.

Standing up may be the easiest for everyone, but not for him at the moment. His legs still tremble, his knees always felt like jello, but his heart shouts the opposite. His heart is determined; his heart wears armor and is bleeding inside that armor. But the determination still overflows, the hope is starting to grow back again.

'You can do this, Miguel. You can do this!' He motivates himself, finally counting on three, as he pushes himself up on his feet. A small crosses into his face, congratulating himself for a small yet meaningful job well done. But the challenge doesn't stop there. He sees his backpack on the other side, beside the main door. He groans in disbelief.

"Is this how you punish me!?" He curses under his breath, closing his eyes again and taking a deep breath before opening them also, releasing a sigh once more before he starts to make his way into his backpack.

On the other hand was Kyle, who never got to have a seep for the last three hours. Food is not yet ready for lunch, yet he could already tell that he's hungry. But his thoughts about food suddenly disappears right after hearing a faint sound coming from the other side. He turns to the side to try and check on Miguel. His eyes linger around the room, quickly stops when he sees him trying his best to stand up. He furrows his brows as he was just about to stand up from the bed and help him when Miguel quickly covers his mouth, not to make a single noise. Kyle, at that moment, found out what's happening.

'He wanted to do it on his own,' he thought to himself as a smile forms on his lips. No matter how hard it is for him, he still tries his best to stand up on his feet until he made it by himself. The next thing he did is to walk. In a languid and careful pace, Kyle acted like he's asleep, but his eyes open from time to time to check on him. His smile grew bigger when Miguel already made to the other side, sitting back on the ground as he opens his backpack. Kyle continues to watch him, admiring his determination. As he is seated there, Miguel's crying out of pain expression changes into something he wanted to see in a very long time— relaxed and happy.

•••

It wasn't that long for them to enjoy the silence when they start to hear banging doors and shouting guys at the same time. Blake is already awake by the time, and Miguel is already done with his notebook. The two guys helped him stand back up as they waited for their door to be opened widely.

"Do you think the game will start now?" Blake asks them.

"But, isn't it too early yet for the game to be played? That would be odd if you ask me." Kyle responds.

"Is he running out of time or something?" Miguel asks out of the blue, only to receive a questioning look from Blake and Kyle. "What?"

"What do you mean he's running out of time?" Blake raises the question first, the same question Kyle is thinking about.

"I mean, I know we just played the Jinx once but, I just had this feeling that he's rushing things. And based on the past two games that we had witnessed, he's basically taking his tome to it but right now, why all of a sudden?"

The three of them then their heads in unison to meet their eyes with an intimidating three guys, each of them holding a metal pipe. Miguel gulps his saliva but hiding it in a very sneaky manner.

•••

They were all lined up horizontally as they were all facing Mister Clock, still using the mask he's been using ever since. The gloss wears an evil grin that still affects Miguel, but he presided to hide the tension he's ever felt into the depths of his consciousness. Same as what happened last time, the persons wearing all white are present, as they are now holding a thick yet fabric white, elongated cloth on their hands. It is a 23-inches long cloth and has a width of four inches.  Unprepared like last time, the white cloth persons start to force the blindfold on, but others decide fate rather than face the consequences. The others who fought received a massive and painful swing of the metal pipe. They scream in pain as they intentionally bent their knees, falling straight to the cold floor. Miguel decided not to do anything; instead, he tries to decipher what game they're about to play for the day. After that, the rest of them who didn't fight back was pushed down on their knees while their hands were linked together by an individual wire they couldn't identify the type in front of them.

"Excuse me." He mumbles as he could feel the person stop wrapping the wire in both of his hands. "Do you enjoy doing this?" He continues to ask, still not feeling the person from continuing what the person started. "Don't you feel ashamed for doing this to teenagers like us? Does abduct us make you happy? How much does he pay you for you to betray humanity over your greed for money—"

"You don't know anything about me, kid. And I'm sure If you're as unfortunate as the rest of us here." Base on the way the person talks, he can assure that the person is a woman.

"Did something happened—"

"We are not allowed to talk to anyone of you, so please don't make this any more worse for the rest of us. We are just doing our job, so please..."

With that, he could feel the tight wrapping on his wrist, making him wince in pain a couple of seconds after their conversation. He could already feel the presence in front of him disappear, leaving him to stare at full darkness.

'Will the game begin right now? Will I be able to survive?' He asks himself, feeling a bit frustrated for waiting any longer. The deadly silence, instead, envelops the surroundings, making him gulp out of nervousness.

"I had some news to tell you before the game starts." He pauses as they could hear him walking closer to them. "Today is the day that we are celebrating hearts, but that doesn't mean that I'll be good to you." He takes another step closer, leaving just enough gap for them to breathe calmly still, but not as calm as they thought they could be.

"Today, I'll be pulling up another game that will surely be loved by anyone else. Don't worry, this game won't be as bad as it sounds, but it won't be as easy as it seems.

"You see here, and you can already tell that a blindfold has been placed in your eyes and a wire to keep your hands intact. Now, all I want to do is that you show me how long you can endure the pain while looking in the dark. But don't worry, I prepared something to provide you with light. But how are you desperate to see the light?"

The persons in white start to spill something that wets the floor. A spill of the liquid already makes them recognize the smell, already frightened to what will happen next.

"Get them soaked up."

With no much time to waste, the white people start pouring out a bunch of liquid from their head, as the liquid drips almost an instant, soaking them thoroughly. The foul smell of plastic combined with a chemical material they cannot seem to identify starts to linger in their nostrils. It is as if both materials were burnt simultaneously, causing their heads to spin the smell. It as well causes nausea and the urge to vomit since they dislike the smell of gasoline. It was weird for Ash to like the scent, the rest of them disapproves of it.

All of them complain as their guts try to argue whether to fight back or not. But neither of the choices are in need of a more extended argument. They all ended up on one side; to surrender instead.

"Tonight, we are going to play with fire!" He announces, followed by an evil laugh that sends chills down their spine. Everybody knows that if there's gasoline—

"What if Fire Meets Gasoline?"

"No!"

"Set us free!"

"Kill us instead!"

All of them shouts in unison, not wanting to prolong the agony. They don't even want to play the game anymore. One is enough, and that's for sure. Panicking inside a circle-shaped ground formed by the gasoline, they start attempting to free themselves from the grip of the wire, but every time they move, they'll always have the feeling that the wire seems to tighten its grip.

"Around you is a big circle shaped by the gasoline, and you'll only be having just a couple of minutes to figure out the boxes shaped like a heart, scattered out of the circle. All you have to do is open those boxes, and you'll feel a  random tool inside. There will be a blade, a scissor, a signing pen, a ruler, a safety pin, a shattered piece of glass, a pencil, and most especially the easiest way to freedom... a knife."

'What the heck!?'

"And since I'll still be receiving the same answer that you'll never give up your freedom, I might as well not consider asking it anymore—"

"I QUIT!" The tension between them all got interrupted after someone decided to break the pressure.

"Excuse me? Did I hear that, right? Did someone just shouted he or she quits?"

It should be dead silence after. They should just continue fighting the urge to abandon their identity. They should not be sloppy and let go of their individuality and put back the makeup of lies. But everything Miguel wanted to fight for, everyone who also shares the common goal for battling for their freedom, in just a swoop of a storm,  the wall they have built for their individuality felt like it has been put into a downfall too quickly.

"I said it. I quit!" Miguel starts to feel sweat dripping from his forehead when he couldn't seem to say who the person said it. Miguel could already envision the smile forming on his lips, and it infuriates him even more.

"Please stand up, young man." He gestures as they all waited impatiently to find out who the person is. Blake, on the other hand, is surprised to feel the person beside him stands. "What is your name?"

"J-Joseff... My name is Joseff."

'What!?'

"So tell me, Mister Joseff... What have you sinned for?"

"I... I..." There's a hint of hesitation mixed with desperation to live as well. Joseff clears his throat as he tries once again to speak for himself.

"I'm tired of accepting the truth. I'm tired of loving someone I can never call my own. I'm tired of hiding my true self, where the four walls of my own home shout disgrace and revolt towards insecurities to other women.  I'm tired of being gay!" It broke Miguel's heart to hear someone who's on the same page as him outcry confidently about being gay when he feels the opposite. His heart shatters into pieces hearing someone be manipulated by the lies just to save his figure over his character. The worst is that he is anguished that a person like him would rather throw the teal soul and live in fiction for eternity.

"Can you tell us what happened?"

This felt like a punishment, especially to him. How can he be so heartless? How can he be so selfish? How can he be so cruel?

"Because when my parents separated, I try dating some other guys, and I met someone handsome, someone caring, someone who would hang out with me after work... I know that he's already a man already making a name for himself and a living, and he's probably fifteen years older than me but, I was happy and contented, and that's when I have to realize that I am really not a man." He pauses as he tries to fight the urge of crying but failed after revealing his secret.

"Then, my mom also told me she got a man she knew she deserves after a heartache. As a son, I would support her gladly, but I was too surprised to find out that the man she is dating was the man I fell in love with! What made it worse is that my mom doesn't know me being gay or dating the same guy she's hitting on! Of course, I had no choice but to avoid them, and by ignoring them, I had no other choice but to stay inside my room, like I never existed. And I hope that by locking myself and averting my attention away from them, I would get rid of my feelings towards him!

I thought the feelings would wear off! I even thought of acting like I don't like him as her boyfriend so that I don't have to deal with him anymore, but the longer the days have come, the more I realize that I am falling deeply for him.

One day, when we ran out of food supplies, mom decided to hit the supermarket alone since I was too lazy to join her. I never expected for him to come over, leaving thee both of us in one roof. He took that chance to talk to me, saying that he's still in love with me and wanted us to continue. Should I betray my mom behind her back? Should I be selfish, then?

I thought I was smart, but my emotions fooled me. We ended up dating together behind my mom's back and would always pretend that I am giving him a chance because my mom would be happy for it... Did she ever found out? No. I was too damn good at hiding things, but I can never hold for too long." Joseff sobs as he tries to compose himself, wanting to continue. Maybe this is his moment to take the heavy guilt out of his tired heart.

"As the days went on, celebrating their first month to the first anniversary, followed by second and third, I start to feel mad of myself that I thought, he'll be able to choose me over my mom. But I guess he just made me fall for easy access over my mom. I start to feel that the spark I have for him is fading, and I have to dump him already, just to set myself free from him, and that I will tell my mom afterward. But I wasn't able to tell him all of this because the next thing I know? I was already waking up in an abandoned prison building."