JINX

EPISODE 29 [pt.2]

Lerissa's been staying inside the house all alone for what felt like forever. She couldn't sleep; she barely eats now that her system's now filled with worry, sadness, and pain.

And for the last two days that Carlo didn't come home, she's more worried than anyone else.

Lerissa rushes down when she thought of a solution. . . She makes her way towards the telephone, but as soon as she gets it and dials 9-1-1, she immediately stops herself. She froze there for a few seconds as flashbacks come into her vision.

'Cops should never get involved.' She hears Valentine's voice echo into his mind, that she quickly places the telephone back. She's panting as if she just ran a mile or more. She's not the most convinced woman to call down considering her state, but she has to, only in case something good might happen.

Suddenly, she feels her phone vibrate from the pocket of the robe that she's wearing. She takes it out with trembling hands, now realizing that she's more nervous than she expects as she levels her phone screen into sight, a glimpse of hope flashes into her eyes. Without wasting a single second, she slides the green button to the right as she presses the phone lightly into her ears.

"Carlo! Thank goodness you call! Are you alright there? Have you eaten yet? Have you gotten to sleep yet?" She piled up all of her concerns to herself that seeing the man she loves gives her a call made it all out in one go. But then, she halts when she realizes that there's no reply is ever going to come for her to receive. She bites her fingernails as she finds herself seated on the carpeted floor. "Carlo?"

[Are you his girlfriend?] Lerissa's eyes are now wide open after hearing someone that she doesn't recognize talk. Panic starts to build inside her system as she abruptly stands up.

"Who- who are you!? H-how did you get this phone!? Where i-is the owner of this mobile!? What did you do to him—" but then, before she could even continue throwing more questions with a shaking voice, the person on the other line talks.

[Miss, you have got to calm down. . . Don't worry, mister Carlo is fine but, he doesn't know that I gave you a call.] The person on the other line assures as Lerissa pays attention to every suspicious sound she could hear. Immediately, she records their call conversation.

"Who are you? Where are you guys now!? Can I talk to him!?"

[I'm afraid I can't tell you where we are because clearly, I don't want you to get involved, and I think mister Carlo would agree with me on it. . . And no, you can't talk to him because he seems to be sad and that being alone is what will make him feel better at the moment.] Lerissa releases as long a sigh as she rests her free palm on her forehead.

"Then how am I supposed to trust you!? Look, I don't even know you!"

[I'm Ash. . .] Ash pauses on the other line as Lerissa continues to listen to her calm breathing. [Look, miss. . . I don't expect you to trust me or anything, okay? It's better that way, especially when I'm just dying.]

"What are you talking—"

[Miss Lerissa, I don't mean to meddle with your personal problems with mister Carlo, but I just want you to trust him. . . If you can't trust me, trust him, okay? HE WILL bring mister Miguel back. I've seen what mister Miguel—]

"Wait, wait wait. . . Hold on there, kiddo." Lerissa interrupts as she hears a word that triggers her senses to be vivacious. "You said Miguel. . . And that you've seen him!? H-how? Are you his best friend?" She asks, confounded if she heard it right. Suddenly, she feels rattling of things and heavy breathing, making her panic a bit.

[Sh*t. . .] She hears Ash curses under her breath, a bit shaky.

"What!? What's going on!?"

[I'm sorry, Miss Lerissa, but I have to go. Mister Carlo is already here, and he can't see me calling you.]

"But why—"

*beep. . . beep. . . beep. . .* Lerissa pulls the phone away from her ears and brings it in front of her to ascertain if she hears the beeping sound right.

"She calls ended it." Marissa sighs as she is about to slide her phone back into her robe pocket when it chimes. Almost instantly, she looks at her phone sting as the desire to know more about Ash starts to germinate.

From: Carlo's phone

To: Lerissa

Let's talk again soon. . . Maybe I'll even give more details about our whereabouts. . . That is if you'll notice my call.

Ps. Please don't reply anymore so Mister Carlo won't get suspicious.

-Ash

The idea of them talking again a start for her to come up. Quickly, Lerissa dials a number that only took her three consecutive rings before hearing the person from the other line talk.

[Lerissa!? It's been a long time!] The person greets as Lerissa could tell that the person just finished drinking.

"Look, Kaleb. . . I need your help." She says that makes the man chuckle from the other line. "I need you to track someone for me."

•••

"Réveillez-vous, merdes! Nous n'avons pas toute la journée pour les endormis comme vous le faites tous!"[Wake up, you shitheads! We don't have all day for sleepyheads like you all do!] Miguel flinches after hearing a man with a thick French accent shout. The clanging of his gun hitting into the metal bars making it more irritating as it creates a sound that triggers pain inside his ears. Miguel groans in frustration as he reluctantly squeezes his eyes with a balled fist, waking himself up even if he still wants to close his eyes for another five more minutes.

"J'ai dit réveille-toi! Ou veux-tu que je rentre et que je te frappe avec ce bâton que j'ai!" [I said wake up! Or do you want me to come inside and hit you with this baton that I have!?] He continues to shout, which makes Melissa stand up.

"Je traduirai vos mots, monsieur, car ils ne comprennent aucun mot que vous dites." [I'll translate your words, mister, because they don't understand any word you say.] Melissa suggest, making the man think for a second before nodding.

"Vous n'avez que deux minutes, gamin. . . DEUX MINUTES. J'ai compris?" [You only have two minutes, kid. . . TWO MINUTES. Got it?] He asks as he shows two fingers out. Melissa bites her inner cheeks before nodding and turning to her friends. She closes her eyes for a second to calm herself before making another move, a way to prevent herself from making poor decisions. . . And when she's ready, she opens her eyes and rushes her way to the Blake who is closest to her.

"Hurry up on there, Blake. This man is threatening us to hit with his thick wooden stick if we don't wake up yet!" She warns with a low voice that wakes every sleeping nerve into his body. Kyle, on the other hand, is already awake and ready for the day, but deep inside him, he knows he is not.

"Miguel, Chris! You guys get up now, or anyone of us will get hurt."

Soon, everyone is awake, including mister Valentine who slept in the same room as them. To where Briar is still a question to all of them. . . especially to what happened last night.

When all are awake and standing in a line, the man with the baton opens the door, demanding them to step out, their hands intertwining in front of them. The March in unison as they follow a particular path, leading to the same door to where they enter for dinner.

It didn't take long for them to their destination, even if it felt like forever, to walk on an aisle with all pair of eyes on them. It is as if every step is a call for danger.

Miguel turns to melissa as she also noticed the gazes around them. They function like CCTV now. But the difference? They are willing to shoot anyone. . . They have guns, and they were made to kill for their reasons- fetish, a reason to revenge, for sport, anything that they cause an alibi to satisfy themselves s they watch their victims scream out of pain, plead for mercy, and some are just. . . Accepting their fate.

"bouge toi!" [Move!] The man demands as he pushes them using his one free hand, as the other is gripping tightly on his gun, point finger positioned on the trigger of the gun.

"You don't have to push me, you pr*ck. . ." Blake hisses as he keeps his attention ahead, being wary of the surrounding. And when they're all settled inside, the man who pushed them gets out as the door closes behind them. They all flinch and turn their heads behind them to see where the sound came from.

"Ahh, perfect timing for breakfast." They all turn again only to see Ruther getting out from the darkness on the far right side of the room to where they are now standing. He is tucking his long sleeve plain black collared shirt as he still wears the nerdy glasses and the relaxed expression. "Please, come and join me." He endorses as he gestured them to sit on the empty chairs surrounding the long table. They all look at each other as if doubt and curiosity into their eyes. This made Ruther chuckle as he fixes his glasses.

"Don't worry. Pastor Roman won't be joining us today." Ruther announces as Miguel furrow his brows, starting to wonder and get scared at the same time.

"Well, where did he go?" He decided to step forward and ask to gather more information. Ruther simply gives him a small smile before answering.

"Pastor Roman is just out there somewhere to get more guests so that you guys won't be lonely! Isn't he too caring to even consider your comfort?" he replies with such evilness and steadiness at some point.

"Guests? Like, they're his associates going to watch us play?" Chris asks as he didn't get what Ruther meant with it.

"I'm afraid not. . ." He shortly replies before sitting down. "Now, come along and join me before he even arrives and learn that you guys haven't eaten yet. We all know how fond he is of following rules, right? And we all know that NOT FOLLOWING RULES could bring more painful punishments, right? So, I suggest you present yourself on the table already so we could get started." Ruther suggests as they all look at each other.

Kyle is the one who took the steps and walked towards the table. Miguel is a bit surprised by Kyle's sudden act of braveness that can also be called reckless. The rest didn't have a choice but to follow the lead started by Kyle. And so is Miguel, who has A LOT of doubt o going into that table and sitting with Ruther. Even mister Valentine followed like a walking zombie as if the only thing that concerns him is his stomach. Suddenly, Miguel hears his stomach rumbling, making him groan in frustration as the tempting aroma and plating of foods lined up on the table pulls him closer to giving up.

"Mister Miguel. . . I guess you want to get punished rather than eating? I must advise you that it won't be wise, especially when it comes to pastor Roman. . . he doesn't exempt anyone." Ruther has a hint of sarcasm, power and threat into his voice when those words escape into his mouth.

His gaze roams around to the others as they gave him a look; eyes were talking to him as if saying, 'Miguel, this WON'T be worth it! It would help if you chose the path that would make you last here. Don't choose a poor decision and end up like mister Briar!'

And he did.

Soul and body filled with distrust, he releases a long sigh and looks down on his shoes. He closes his eyes for a second as he forces himself to gulp his pride before taking a step forward. With his head bent down, Ruther grins in victory. As soon as he's seated on the same chair he settled on last night, Ruther signals the persons who brought their dinner in. These women wearing a waitress outfit places a big plate right in front of them, placing them down on the table with sync and class.

"Please indulge our guests with the food they like. . ." Ruther announces that makes the waitresses nod. Bending slightly forward, they took out the ladles that they're holding as each one of them asks the food they like.

"I can grab my own food," Miguel complains as he snatches the wooden spoon from the woman wearing a waitress outfit. The woman then nods and stands erect, leaving Miguel from choosing his food. The others have done the same thing, having the same mindset- THEY'RE NOT BABIES ANYMORE.

All of them start picking food silently yet tensed as if they're about to eat poison. Ruther just finished picking his food when the others also about to complete choosing their chosen set of breakfast. When they all are settled with the food they want for the day, Ruther extends his arms and requests them to link their hands to pray. Done praying, they are all about to dive in with their foods when Ruther stops them.

"Get their utensils, please. . . They won't be needing that any longer." He openly declares that makes the women approach and get their spoons, forks, and even the teaspoons away from their grasp.

"What is going on-" Mister valentine asks but wasn't able to finish it when Ruther interrupts.

"Lock their hands behind, please?" Without any preparation, their hands were quickly captured and wrapper behind them, like prisoners. . . But in a much worse-case scenario.

"WHAT'S THE F*CKING MEANING OF THIS, RUTHER!? Can't we just have a peaceful moment in our f8cking lives!?" Blake groans in frustration as Ruther smirks at them.

"Lambs are animals, miser Khristen. . . Have you forgotten who you all were in the eyes of our ruler?" He asks as he forks the sliced bacon from his plate and puts it in his mouth.

"You're ALL Lambs, have you forgotten?" he asks again as he continues chewing the bacon inside his mouth. "And what do lambs use to eat?"

Ruther's third question is like a bomb to them. They all curse under their breath as Miguel feels the disappointment of even sitting there.

"You son of a b*tch!" Melissa curses that makes Ruther chuckles again.

"oh, no, miss Laney. . . I am NOT a b*tch's so. . . I'm just a servant sent from Heaven." He confidently says, and for a second there, Miguel is starting to see what Ruther can.

But behind that confidence ad intimidating look, a broken, soft-hearted, and caring man lies.

"Now, eat wit your mouths only, my little lambs."