JINX

EPISODE 32 [pt.2]

As the time passes by too slowly, the rest of them, excluding Kitty, Ion, and Benji, are still fully awake, even if they feel their bodies weakening.

"I only wish he didn't die, you know?" Blake exhales as he plays with his own fingers while his eyes are staring into the plain cream walls. Kyle, who is seated next to him, manages to turn to his side, seeing him at a vulnerable place.

"I mean, yeah. . . You can say that we only met online, but sharing the days with Chris inside this f*cking situation made me know a bit of him that I felt so comfortable with. . ." He continues as Kyle noticed a string of tears rolling out of his eyes again. "And I still f*cking remember the first time we talked. . ." he sniffs before continuing. Kyle didn't bother talking, for he knows that it is his time to listen.

"The first time we got here, I thought he'll be worse than he sounds like on our chatbox online. But then, he proved me wrong after he came approaching me, asking me if what's going on. And I told him, ‘Why the f*ck are you asking me that? Do I look like I have the answer to that?’ I asked him, pissed off, since why would someone like him ask me now that we're in the same situation? And then he said, ‘Well, you seem trusted compared to the others. . . But, that's only for now if you're going to, like, disagree with me on that part.’ . . . And from that moment on, he's not just a stranger to me anymore because— because of all the people I've known my entire life, yes, they've told me SO MANY TIMES that they trust me. Still, I've never felt their sincerity while saying it. . . I mean, I've known them, and only a stranger could make me see how transparent he is with his words as if he's been living as an honest son, an honest friend, and boyfriend, whatsoever that I can almost see, deep in his eyes that he's secretly falling part but doesn't want to like, let the others know?" Blake stops for a second as he sniffs and clears his throat, not wanting his voice to tremble when he decides to continue letting out his feelings.

"And I thought that that weakness could be used as a point of advantage for me because I still have this mentality before of not caring if they die. . . But after seeing Chris's dedication to living, as well as you guys and the others, It became a switch for me to see clearly on what I wanted, and that is for us to be alive in the end. . . But that's too impossible now, now that everyone is dying. . ." he stops again as he once more sniffs and hopes his nose with the back of his hand, as tears start to leave a stain and dry out. Blake then blows an exhale before painting a small yet forced smile on his face.

"You know what? Melissa is right. . . Chris wouldn't want me to do reckless actions. . . I mean, he maybe would, but I know that deep inside, he doesn't want that because of all of us, he's got the softest heart, but he doesn't like to show it. Because as what he told me before, ‘my vulnerability will make me weak; that's why I've always got to put on a fierce face and fight until my body either gives up, or God decided to take my life. . . But if God is there, you know? If he's like. In heaven and watching over us, I hope he comes and saves us before it's too late. And maybe when that time comes, I might not be breathing anymore. . . And it saddens me to think that I'll get to die here if that ever happens. There's always a possibility. And we never know when things decide to lay on the right path, or fate will lead us to the opposite.’ And he's not wrong on that theory, bro. It just hurts me more to how correct he is that I would have wished to like, prevent it if I have the power to deter it."

Kyle turns to the opposite side as he secretly wipes the tears off his cheeks, not wanting to cry again. It's not that he hated crying, but he doesn't want to hurt the cut into his heart now that the wound is still fresh. That made him sigh and look up, trying to stop his tears.

"I always find it hard to say goodbyes, you know?" Kyle started as Blake turns to him with a bit of confusion painted on his face, not precisely knowing what he means. But then, Kyle didn't turn to him as he continues to stare into the ceiling.

"Like, my grandparents dying, I had to say goodbye even if it hurts me, my two dogs died on different dates, and I force myself to say my goodbyes to them; my best friend way back in grade school died of cancer. Then again, I have to say I'm sorry and wave her goodbye. . . And I'm so f*cking tired of just, like, always being the one who says goodbye, you know? I'm just tired, and I don't want to do it anymore. . . That's why I want to do anything to save the rest of us too. I never wanted anyone of us to die, now that I'm starting to revive the hope that's been dead inside of me. . . And I just don't want anyone of us going now."

•••

It was already four o'clock in the morning when they find themselves hugging sleep. And even if Blake, Kyle, Miguel, and still don't want to after the trauma of Chris's death brought them, it didn't stop their body from shutting down, allowing them to sleep for the next few hours.

SIX O'CLOCK. It's already six in the morning when they all hear the same footsteps, the same noise of a baton hitting metal bars, but none of them are thrilled anymore. Why? Because their hearts are enveloped with grief and, at the same time, a small portion of numbness.

The door opens, and all stood up from the bed like zombies— half asleep and half dead. They walk towards the vast unoccupied space and lining up without revolt. And soon, they find themselves walking their way into the same door leading to the dining area. They'll be having breakfast again.

The annoying voice of pastor Roman echoes into their ears, making them twitch secretly. They walked towards the long table filled with food and seated almost absentmindedly into the same chairs. This time, the persons wearing waitress outfits serve them food quickly, having no intention of even wasting time. After that, they could feel their hands tied behind them, forcing them to eat with their mouths, then again.

"What is this!? Why did they tie our hands behind us!? Khuṇ ca mị̀ pl̀xy h̄ı̂ reā kin doy mị̀ chı̂ mụ̄x mị̀chı̀ h̄e rx?" [You're not going to let us eat with no hands, no?]

None of them replied as they didn't even understand Thai. But then, Ruther replies.

"Khuṇ rū̂ h̄ịm khuṇ c̄hein khuṇ dū c̄hlād kẁā thī̀ c̄hạn khād wị̂ . . Tæ̀ kār chı̂ xạcc̄hriya k̄hxng khuṇ thī̀ nī̀ ca mị̀ dị̂ p̄hl wêntæ̀ khuṇ ca rū̂ wiṭhī pt̩ibạti tām kḍ." [You know, Mister Chen. You seem more intelligent than I expected. . . But, applying your genius here will never work unless you know how to follow the rules.]

Ruther says before taking a bite on his apple. Ion's eyes widen as he realized that someone could undoubtedly understand him speaking his first language. But before he could even continue talking, Blake buries his face into the bowl as Ion, Kitty, and Benji stares at him. The rest follows to eating in that position, surprising the three newbies. As Ion is about to talk again, Benji steps on his feet lightly. When he turns to look at him, Benji is already doing the same, slower than the others, as if he didn't just do something to cause his attention on him.

"That's it, my little lambs. . . Now you're starting to devote yourself with it. . . How's your food by the way— oh, let's ask Briar! He seems more excited to eat than anyone else." Pastor Roman asks as they turn to Briar, who hasn't touched his food.

"I like it." He replies with a sarcastic touch, feeling the total opposite as he watches the stillness of the food in front of him. Pastor Doman chuckles as he takes his glass of water and takes a sip.

"I'm glad you're enjoying it." He says after drinking and placing the glass back into the table. Hearing it only made Briar chuckle and sigh at the same time.

"Yeah, for someone psycho and has a damaged brain would only agree to me." He says as he raises his gaze, now meeting the pastor's gaze. "You still want to agree?" He asks as he wears a pride grin on his lips.

"And you still think you're stronger than any one of us?" Pastor Roman asks as he slices a small portion of the sunny up on his plate.

"No, I'm not. . . But maybe I'm not the stupidest around the room."

"So, are you telling me that I'm stupid?" The pastor asks as he keeps his calm, but he could already feel his blood starts boiling. His expression only made Briar keep the smirk, knowing he's getting on his nerves.

"Oh, I didn't mention anyone's name, pastor. We're you already giving us the answer to that genuine question I had in mind?" Briar asks as he feels the others trying their best to contain their laughs. He then leans his back into the chair as he breathes in. ‘I got you, pastor. Straight to your f*cking ego.’ he thought to himself. After exhaling, Briar's facial expression then switches into a serious one.

"All of this that you're doing will not last forever. . . This f*cked up system your praying, this toxic devotion? This won't last, and that I can assure you, pastor. Want to know why?"

"Enlighten me, mister Kapono. Enlighten me." He says as pastor Roman places down his utensils while Ruther is paying close attention to what might happen next. The rest are as well ready to hear what Briar is about to say as if it's the only thing that will hold them to keep believing that there's still a chance to make things right.

"Because sooner or later, everything your doing will backfire at you, and you Ruther kid, and the rest of your team that's behind this sh*tty project you decided to implement. And guess what? It will come back harder and more painful than you expected because you don't know us. . . You think you know your victims, but you don't. It's just the tip of the iceberg that we, and your future victims, if there will be future quests, are showing you. So better enjoy your moment now because when the right time comes for revenge, karma will make sure that you'll never see daylight for the rest of your f*cking life. . . How's that?"

Pastor Roman chuckles as his hands, now hiding below the table that's rested on his lap, are now curled into a ball. His grip is tightening as the imagining that scenario haunts him too bad that he couldn't take it. . . And then again, his fear comes back to life.

"You sounded so convinced and confident that your little imagination right there will happen, mister Kapono. . . I suggest you stop making yourself hope for anything that's too impossible." He finally says it to defend himself. Ruther notices the pastor's sudden change of expression, as he can therefore tell he's trying so hard to hide his true feelings. And it feared him too, but at the same time, he feels a bit relieved that he found out about it too.

"Oh really? Just my imagination? You want to bet about that theory of yours that this is just an image that I wouldn't be able to reach?"

"You won't make it out here alive, mister Kapono. You will die in here. THIS will be the last place you'll ever travel; this place will witness your last breathing as it has witnessed the previous death of sinners, the scent of this place will be the last scent your nose will ever smell, and most importantly, THIS face right here, smirking down at you, will be the last person you'll ever be as you struggle to keep yourself alive—"

"Then believing on that lie that you've made inside your head will haunt you down forever if you've realized you've failed your expectation. . . You see, you f*cking pastor, I don't care if I die here. I didn't even tell you that it is I who will bring you down. . . Because if no one in this batch will have the f*cking guts to snap, then I promise you, the next batch will most definitely be your downfall. . . So ready yourself, pastor. Because hell is coming— let the f*ck go, you piece of sh*ts!" While he is talking earlier, pastor Roman gestures to his men to pick them up as a sign that breakfast has ended. And when he's done, thats the exact moment they picked him up from comfortably seated.

"WHAT, YOU P*SSY? FINALLY IMAGINING HELL BURNING YOU ALIVE, HUH!? BECAUSE IF NOT, I WILL MAKE YOU FEEL THAT PRETTY, PRETTY SOON, SO YOU BETTER WATCH OUT! HA HA HAHAHA!" 

Briar laughs it out, acting as if he's lost his mind. The rest follows with such silence but a small smile of victory that they've got him reacting. And thats a sign of weakness.

As the door closes behind them, pastor Roman sighs as Ruther just stares at him, waiting for his moment to talk. And when he finds the right moment, he didn't hesitate to speak.

"What do you want me to do, pastor?" He asks immediately. Pastor Roman takes his time to breathe, calming his nerves out, but couldn't shake the feeling that he feels threatened. And when he feels a bit okay to think critically, he stares into the empty chair in front of him, hands balled in a tight fist.

"Prepare the playground. We are playing tonight."