Sin of Lust

CHAPTER 38

“The child is now fine,” Mary Jane replied with the usual gentle smile as usual, however this one is fake to the bone. “You don’t have to worry about him, he’s resting now.”

“Resting?” Ester mumbled, clearly having the expression of bafflement.

“Oh, thank god!” Dean exclaimed as he finally let out the breath, he doesn’t know he’s holding all this time. “I thought I was going to pass out from all the blood I saw.”

“Dean, stop mentioning the blood please…” Pand begged as he hugs himself with a disgusted look on his face.

“But he’s right,” Kim mumbled, clasping her heart through her shirt. “I thought something is really going to happen to Stephen.”

Blanche can’t help but feel warmth oozing from her heart as she saw children getting worried about their sibling’s wellbeing, “This bond is thicker than blood.”

“It’s alright now kids.” She smiled at them, “Stephen is just resting, and I don’t know if he will able to join our games though.”

“That’s fine, as long as he’s fine.” Dean gave her a big thumbs up and a grin. “We will just wait for him until he’s all healed.”

Blanche only gives him a smile and a nod as a response.

“How…” Ester whispered.

“What how?” Mary Jane’s attention is now on the mayor whose mouth is agape. “Mayor? What’s wrong?”

Ester blinks a few times and clear his throat, regaining her composure, “I mean, how does his wound heal, how did you stop the bleeding? What did you do? That wound is still pretty deep bleeding will not stop in just a couple of hours.”

“Ah, that? I just soaked his foot on the water came from the nearby well.” Mary Jane spoke.

“A water?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Even though Ester’s face is calm, her mind is not, “A water?! Just a water healed that brat’s foot?! What kind of water is that?!” But she refused to give in from her emotion and instead she just replied, “That’s good to hear then.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Mary Jane replied, “We are about to make dinner, I would like you to invite you with our humble supper.” He invited.

“Thank you, but I have to decline,” Ester replied, “I still have things to do, I just visited these items— children if they are in good condition.”

The moment her word sleep, Blanche, Mary Jane, Mildred, and Lino froze on their spot. The two children remained not moving at all, and keep their heads down. Ester beads her goodbye and the children are waving their hands to her retreating figure.

“Everyone, go and tidied yourselves, we are about to have dinner and you shouldn’t be dirty while we eat.” Mary Jane spoke and the children went to obey their Nunna’s instruction.

Blanche was about to go as well since she’ll be in task of cleaning the younger ones however, he was stopped with a hand who held hers. She looked the person who held her hand and she saw Lino with serious expression.

“Sister, can I talk to you for a minute?” he asked in a low tone.

Blanche looked around to see if anyone is near who could hear them, and when she found none, she leaned down and asked in a whisper, “What is it?”

“I think, Ester was the one who hurt Stephen,” he stated without hint of fear and hesitation.

“What do you mean?” Blanche is not shock from the information anymore.

Lino let go of her hand and put it in his pant’s pocket, “At the end of the game, only Stephen and I are the only ones who haven’t caught yet. We split up so we could corner the mayor. When we went on different direction, she followed Stephen probably because he’s weaker and slower than me, but she still hasn’t caught any of us.” He told her.

“And then?”

“I saw Stephen standing on the rock where we decided to separate, that’s when all of a sudden, a thorn pierce his foot,” he spoke with gravity.

“Don’t you think that he just didn’t see the thorn?” Blanche asked in order to confirm any side details in the story. “Like, the thorn was there already and he just stepped on it.”

“That’s not it!” Lino lashed out; his sudden outburst made Blanche stepped back. “Sorry sister, but I know what I saw. Stephen is standing on top of the rock for a good few seconds before his foot was struck by a thorn, and the thorn has the same resemblance with the thorn on the walls. I don’t want to believe it but I saw what I saw.”

Blanche nodded to the information she has acquired, “Got it, we’ll talk about it later with Stephen and Mildred, I’m sure Stephen knew what happened to him.”

Meanwhile, inside the clinic, there’s Stephen eating his food with Mildred beside him, “Mildred, you don’t have to worry about me, okay? I’m fine now, I don’t even feel pain, I just need to get rest Nunna said.” He reassured her.

The girl only clenched her skirt and grit her teeth, “But… that could have been avoided.”

“That’s an accident, accidents are inevitable that’s why it’s called accidents for a reason. So, you don’t have to worry about me, okay?” he patted her hair, “I’m glad that you care and concerned about me, though.”

“Of course, I am!”

Their short conversation was interrupted when all of a sudden Blanche and Lino went to inside without knocking, “Sorry to bother you guys without knocking, but we have to ask you a few questions Stephen.” Lino said in a haste.

Stephen held a serious face while Mildred grew more concern from the fact that the gravity in the room only intensifies. “What’s going on, guys?”

“Stephen, what happened to your foot?” Lino asked him however, his tone makes it a little different as if he’s demanding an immediate answer.

“Huh?” Mildred was at lost of words now since she knew Lino was there when that happened and yet there, he is asking what happened.

“I think, Ester did this to me.” Stephen said with weight in his tone, “No, she did it to me I am sure of that.”

“Stephen? What are you talking about?” Mildred asked in a low tone.

“Tell us what happened base on your memory.” Lino demanded.

“Everything happens too quick, I was just standing there and in just a blink of an eye I felt a sudden pain and when I looked at the source of it that’s it, I am more than able to handle my emotions. I practically lose my mind that moment.” He replied to them as he reminisced what happened back then, and as he did so, he can’t help but almost feel the same pain he just felt making him furrowed his brows.

“Is the thorn pierce you, or was there really a thorn there? And you’re just dumb enough not to notice it.” Blanche asked the same question he asked Lino.

“I am more than sure,” Stephen spoke, “there’s not a single thorn there. We were always playing there almost every day of our lives and we were never encounter a thorn that has the same look as the walls of thorn at the boarder.”

Blanche finally confirmed everything, from the moment Mary Jane told her that she felt a magic in the wound, from Lino’s point of view, and now from Stephen’s view. “Everything makes sense, Ester was the one who hurt Stephen. And by the looks of it, Ester was the one who’s behind all of this, that is why this is not that surprising if she’s the one who put up the walls of thorns.” Blanche stated.

“What are we going to do now, sister?” Mildred asked as she finally gets what they were talking about.

“We shall prepare.” She simply stated.

“Prepare what? Prepare for what?” asked the girl.

“Yeah, we should prepare, from the foods to the things that we may need when we escape.” Lino said.

“Don’t worry about the goods, if Nunna is in our side, then sneaking some goodies shouldn’t be a problem.” Stephen looked to Blanche and gave her grin, to which the lady mirrored.

“Yes, that’s right.” Blanche agreed.

“Then what are we going to prepare?” Stephen asked.

“Your bodies.”

“Our bodies? What about it?” Mildred asked as she scan her limbs.

“We have to make sure that your bodies will able to keep from all the stress, especially on the run.” Blanche gave them the hint.

“Ah!” the three of them finally get what she meant.

“That’s right. The little ones will not be able to handle running, so we have to train their endurance and most of them doesn’t know how to make plans on the run, so we should take that also into our consideration.” She spoke, “Now, Mildred, as far as I can see you are the top of them when it comes to physical aspect. I want you to train their bodies, make sure that their endurance, stamina, and agility will sky rocket the moment you escape.”

Mildred nodded as confirmation, “I will try my best.”

“Lino, I heard you are the better tactician.” Blanche faced him, “I want you to stimulate their minds while you’re on the run. Make them sure that they’re not going to decide on the whim, make sure they have solid plan before they go on ahead.”

Lino nodded as well.

“And you Stephen, just because you have just injured yourself doesn’t mean that I will go easy on you.” Blanche poked his forehead.

“Yes, ma’am.” He mumbled sheepishly.

“You will go and act as their guidance.” She said.

“Guidance? I don’t think I’m getting it.” He replied.

“You will go and observe each and every one of them, if they are improving or not. You will act as the mediator.” She explained.

“In other terms I will be the one who will make up from the absence of two?” he asked in which the lady nodded her head.

“This is a good idea; they will be using their minds and bodies all at once.” Stephen hummed.

“Yes,” Blanche said. “Stephen when do you think you can join?”

“Anytime.”

“Alright, tomorrow we will start in action.”

Just like what they have planned now they are going to start their training, “Everyone! Please, listen.” She called out their attention, “Sister Blanche has an idea!” she chimed, making most of them smile widely.

“What is it sister?”

“I have a slight renewal when it comes to the mechanic of our favorite game.” She beamed, “before, we were hiding individually and one is finding each one. Now, we should go in to groups!”

“Huh? why group? It’s harder for an entire group to hide.” Dean spoke.

“Yes, you are right. Hiding an entire group is harder than hiding individually but… if you are in group, you will be able to fight off the catcher before it even takes one of you.” She explained.

“I see, children will not be able to escape alone that’s why they need a companion.” Stephen thought, “Nice idea, Sister.”

“I see!” Dean finally gets.

“Now, I will team you up in three groups, who do you want to be the three leaders?”

“I would like to say the three top scorers, but I doubt Lino will join.” Kim said.

“What a shame that Lino will not be able to join us,” Dean spoke however the way he speaks everyone knew there’s a hidden agenda. “Don’t worry about it, if you insist I will the third leader—”

He barely even finished what he was saying when all of a sudden Lino came in front of him, “That’s seems like a fun idea, I will join on this one.” He replied, making Dean slump his arms over his neck and pull him closer to him so he can kneed his cheek.

“You sly, Lino!”

“Okay! That’s good then, now I will go and group you all!” she yelled, “First leader is Mildred, your members are Kanna, Kim, Kyo, Miku, Luka, Max, and Rani.”

“Bring it on!” Kanna shouted making a fist bump with Luka.

“Let’s win this game, Mildred.” Kim cheered.

“Second leader is Stephen, and his members are Dean, Pand, Zig, Mor, Alli, Hanabi, and Val.”

“Hey, hey, hey, beware of the deadliest team!” Dean chimed proudly as he took Stephen’s hand and lift it up as they have just won the game.

“Cut it out, Dean.” Stephen mumbled with a sigh.

“Oh, you never know~” Luka retort.

“Third group is under Lino, you already know who you are, Mina, Tantan, Tramp, Carl, Zei, Choi, and Ladi.” She smiled.

“Alright!” Choi and Ladi both yelled in joy. “Your command, Captain!” they both saluted to Lino.

“Ohh! I like the sound of that.” Luka chirped, “Captain, Mildred, tell us your orders!” she saluted as well to which the said captain laugh and proudly stated her command, “I command you all to win!”

“Mildred, that doesn’t work like that.” Lino sighed once again, “Are you sure you’re eleven?”

“Of course, I am~” she playfully pouted but her pout turns into curiosity, “Wait, sister… if we are all in the group, then who will be the chaser?” she inquired.

“Yeah, we can’t play tag if there’s no one to catch us.”

“Who told you that no one will catch you?” she spoke menacingly and pulled out a creepy masked from her apron’s pocket. “I am your worst nightmare! You should get away from me, I will eat you all alive,” she laughed ominously trying to be as scary as possible but children only laugh at her futile attempts.

The children began to scatter away and start to play. Blanche can tell that they are going pretty well. Each leader is heading to different directions with their teammates following closely behind, they have been going deeper to the forest as they proceed to escape from monster Blanche.

Mildred, who’s one of the leaders is getting to the rocky route. They don’t usually go there because as the name proclaimed, that route to filled with rocks and boulders. For sure their team is under the most rigorous training right now and this earns her a few whines from her groupmates.

“Mildred, why are we in this route again?” Luka asked in a heave as she slumps her hands on her knees from exhaustion. “I’ve never wanted to go through this way again, you know.”

“I agree, this way is too rocky and with this we will never get away far from Sister Blanche but we are just exhausting ourselves.” Kim agreed with Luka. “Look at the younger ones, they can’t go any farther.”

Mildred watches her teammates especially to the younger ones who are all heaving and heavily sweating. “We should take a break.” Mildred spoke with a smile full of determination even though she’s sweating profusely, “I’ll explain.”

They gathered in the middle of rocky stones and sat there as they rest, “Go on ahead,” Luka exhaled loudly as she fans herself using her hand.

“This route is the most difficult one,” Mildred started.

“We already know that.”

“Then for sure Sister Blanche too will have the difficulty on catching us,” Mildred said with a determined look on her face. This made the rest of them grew curios on what she has said.

“What do you mean?” Max asked, “I don’t think that Sister Blanche will be having any difficulty because you see, she’s a lot stronger and her body is already built. She’s a lot stronger than any of us.” Max’s statement made Mildred’s mouth agape, his words really did have a point, she just can’t help but be proud of him now that he can use his brains not just academically.

She lunges at him and hugged him tight while chanting his name, “Max! Max! you are a very smart boy!” she squeezed her cheeks to his before letting him go, “You see this game is not always about who’s running the fastest, this is the game is to go to a place where you should never get caught.”

“We will get easily caught if we can’t go any faster,” Luka said.

“That is true, if the plain we are walking is as flat as the house’s floor, but if we go through this, some of the stones will not handle her weight and that would be a trap for her.” Mildred grin ominously.

“I see! Now I understand.” Luka chimed.

“Ah, wait. Are you sure you don’t want to hurt Sister? As if you’re talking to a monster when you said about the traps.” Kim mumbled to herself with an exasperated smile.

“And besides, you will thank me after couple of more weeks.” Mildred said and stood up to dust her skirt before deciding to go on ahead so they would get deeper to the rocky route to which her members didn’t hesitate to follow, however, as the other members followed her, Kim couldn’t help but look at her fleeting figure with concerned look, “Mildred, what in the world is happening?”

“Kim, aren’t you going to come? You’re getting left behind.” Luka said.

“Yes, I’m going.”

On the other hand, Choi and Ladi are both singing on top of their lungs, “We are going on an adventure! A.D.V.E.N.T.U.R.E. Adventure—”

Lino yanks Choi and Ladi earning them a yank as he puts his hand on their mouths, shushing them both since they were the ones who are the nosiest, “Be quiet!” he whispers yelled to the both of them.

“What? why?” Ladi asked in haste and is in silent tone.

He let go of them and let out a sigh, “Here, listen to me. Sister will find you if you are not quiet and that is the truth, this is a game where you can’t be caught, think of this as that if you were get caught you will be killed.” Ladi and Choi gulped at the sudden heavy atmosphere, “This is not the game where you can only hide and all will be settled. Prevention is still better than cure.” He spoke and everyone listen.

“We have to prevent sister from finding all of us, because if she managed, we don’t know what will be the cure for that. We don’t know what’s her capabilities, she might be weak, but she might be strong as well that she will be easily apprehend us. Let’s use our heads, where do you think we should go and what should we do?”

Zei raised his hands up, “There’s a cave here we should hide there until then!”

“That’s not possible,” Lino interjected.

“Eh why is that?” Zei pouted cutely.

“Sister already knows your habits and she will use that against you, against all of us. And with your idea we will not survive at all.”

“How is that possible?”

“Sister knew that Ladi, Choi, and you Zei are good with dark and places and she will be there to find you. And not only that, what about the others, look at Mina she’s afraid of the dark and Tramp is afraid of cramp places. Their fear could be the cause of their death. And I’ve found you there before, now that you think about it, sister will never find you the way I found you?”

“You’re right, well then, we should always be in the move and get to the place where we can hide.”

“Yes, that’s right, we should use our heads at all times. We should move in stealth mode, away from the chaser until we arrive at the place where we can call safe.”

“Wow, I never know the game of tag will be this exciting, it feels like we’re really running away from a dangerous beast!” Tantan silently cheered.

On the meantime, Stephen is with his group, and they are near the small stream where fresh and crystal-like water is running, “Wow, this water is cold! So relaxing!” Pand chimed to which made him smile, but his smile turns in to a slight frown when he remembered that if their calculations were right, the next shipment will be him. “We have to give it all before everything will be taken away.”

“Hey Stephen, don’t you think that this place is too open for us? Sister Blanche will surely find us if we stay here.” Dean spoke.

“You’re right, for the meantime let’s just take a rest here.” Stephen replied as calm as possible.

“Why here though? We can still be resting to a place where bushes and trees can cover us up.”

“Yes, but if we are in grave trouble you have to get on the place where a necessity is abundant for you to be able to continue your journey.” Stephen explained to him. “And besides, we have very energetic ones, the sound of the streams will give them background and hide their voices.” He added.

“What do you mean if we are in trouble? There’s no trouble.” He laughed.

“We don’t know, but we might run into one.”

“What do you mean?”

“And look at this, we can replenish some of the goods with fresh fruits from the trees.”

“Stephen what are you talking about?”

“I am just talking about what we could do if an inevitable happens.”

“An inevitable?” Dean scoffs, “Nunna will never let that happen, she’s always prepared.”

“I told you, we might run in to one.”

Blanche tried her best sensing all of them, she tried tracking the smell of their perfume or the detergent on their clothes but nothing. Just even a little sound will be a good foundation of finding them all, but she can’t hear anything, just a bunch of bushes rustling against the winds,

“Wow, their good at it. I never thought that they were caught by Ester in just half an hour.” She mumbled. “Where should I go now? For sure they are all in different ways, although a group is easier to find, but with their combined knowledge, that could still be dangerous.”

“Want me to give you a hint?” Voice asked out of nowhere.

“Luxuria…” she growled.

“Finally! You call me by my name!” the necklace starts to drift on the air and emits a blinding light before sucking Blanche to some place that she has never seen before. A place filled with swirling red and black hue of smoke, “Where am I? what is this place?” as panic starts to arise in her.

“Calm down, woman~” the same voice cooed behind her ear, making her immediately turns around only to see a man, a virile man with dark skin, his hair is as white as the silk produce by spiders, and his eyes are like pure gold, burning under the fire of a skilled blacksmith, and not to mention his six hands. “Yo, Blanche…” he gave her a wink and a grin before going back to his necklace form and everything went back to the original surrounding.

“What the?! That was it?! hey get out! I want to talk to you!” she proclaimed.

“We shouldn’t be doing this; you are in the middle of finding little brats.”

“Shouldn’t be doing this?! How dare you! You were the one who interrupted me and now you’re telling me that?!”

“Stop talking to me like that!”

“You’re not a help, are you?”

“Of course, I am a big help!” Luxuria whined. “Just look at your upper left.”

Blanche looks at her upper left and found none, “Are you messing with me?” her forehead grew an irk mark when she found nothing.

“I am not! you’re just not looking very careful!”

She then went to look again and found a cob web, with a spider in the middle and when a small fly went to the cob it’s not going away “The spider will know where his prey is as long as it’s under his web.”