Chapter 1
•Snakes and Ladders•
“Roll the dice and pray for a better number.”
...
“Win the simple games and survive? What the hell does that mean?” Tanong ni Casper, halatang iritado at gulong-gulo.
“Just play the six simple games to leave this place. If you win, you’ll proceed to the next game. If you lose, you’ll be stuck here forever! Huha!” Tawa ng clown-like voice, tunog palyado at puno ng mockery.
“What do you mean ‘stuck here forever’?!” Sigaw ni Jake.
“Please go to the first door to play the game." Sabi naman ng robotic voice habang tumapat ang spotlight papunta sa isang pinto sa gilid namin.
“I don’t wanna go...” Naiiyak na sabi ni Nikki habang hawak ang braso ni Lorraine.
“Nikki, don’t be scared. We're here. Hindi ka namin iiwan.” Bulong ni Casper habang pinipigilan ang nerbyos.
“Papasok ba talaga tayo?” Tanong ni Jake, nanlalaki ang mata.
“We can’t open the other door. Narinig niyo naman yung sinabi ng clown." Sagot ni Jaime, bagsak ang tono ng boses.
“Please go to the first door to play the game.” Ulit ng robot voice, this time mas matinis at paulit-ulit.
Nagkatinginan kami. Wala nang ibang choice. Sabay-sabay kaming pumasok sa door.
Pagpasok namin, halos masuka kami. Mas mabaho pa kaysa sa clown room. Amoy bulok, amoy patay.
We were inside a massive structure—parang life-sized Snakes and Ladders. Ten floors pataas, bawat floor may ten tiles. The walls were covered in giant snakes and dice designs.
“Is this the game?” Tanong ni Lorraine.
“I guess.” Sagot ni Tim, kita sa mukha niya ang kaba.
“Welcome, new players!” Boses ng clown ulit. “The first game is Snakes and Ladders! We all know the rules, right? Just roll the dice and pray for a better number!”
“Pray for a better number?" Bulong ko, confused.
“The youngest is the first player!” Sigaw ulit ng clown.
“So... Diana, then Irish, then Nikki, Lorraine, Jake, Love, Casper, Tim, and I’m the last.” Sabi ni Jaime habang chinecheck ang order namin.
“I... I don’t wanna play,” nanginginig na sabi ni Diana. "Natatakot ako..."
“We have to, Diana.” Sagot ni Lorraine. “It’s just Snakes and Ladders. Walang dapat ikatakot.”
“But I feel something. We shouldn’t have entered. I’ve had a bad feeling since the start.” Bulong ni Diana.
“Ang kulit niyo kasi e! Sana nakinig nalang kayo sa’kin kanina!” Sigaw ni Nikki.
“This is not the time para magsisihan. We all agreed to this.” Sagot ni Jaime. “Walang may kasalanan dito.”
“Tik tok... Tik tok... The time is running~” Kantang pabulong ng clown voice.
“There’s a time?!” Gulat na sigaw ni Jake.
Ting! Ting!
Napatigil kami. Sa isang sulok, may lumitaw na countdown.
“60 minutes...” Bulong ko habang tumatakbo sa isip ko kung totoo ba ‘to.
“Where’s the dice?” Tanong ni Diana. “I’m ready.”
“Come to the center and get your remotes to rooooll the dice!” Tili ng clown sabay tutok ng lights sa stage kung nasaan ang mga remote.
“Guys, remember, this is just a game. Let’s get through it para makalabas tayo.” Sabi ni Jaime sabay lakad paakyat ng stage.
“Why is he always so calm?” Tanong ni Irish pero sumunod rin siya. Lahat kami, isa-isang lumapit.
“Go to the starting line and press the red button." Utos ng robot.
“Diana.” Tawag ni Jaime.
Huminga ng malalim si Diana at pinindot ang red button. A giant dice fell and spun.
“Three.” Bulong ko.
“Am I supposed to go there?” Tanong ni Diana.
“Oh yes! Huha! Then the second player is next!” Sigaw ng clown.
Naglakad si Diana papuntang tile number 3. Sunod si Irish. Five. Then Nikki—six.
“Guys... look at number seven. May nakasulat,” sabi ni Nikki. “'Cuts on left arm'. What does that mean?”
“Don’t mind that. Let’s just play.” Sabi ni Lorraine.
One by one, we rolled. I got one and landed on a ladder—straight to tile 38. But the higher I went, the stronger the stench. Amoy bulok na hayop. Nasuka ako.
Bluk!
“Love, okay ka lang?!” Sigaw na tanong ni Jaime.
“Yeah! It's just... ang baho dito!”
“Tiis lang, Love. Konti na lang.” Sabi niya.
The game went on. Casper got tile 17. Then...
“Cuts on left arm…” he whispered.
The ground shook. A massive snake head lunged out from the wall near him.
“AHHH!” sigaw niya.
In front of our eyes, kinain siya ng snake. Naglaho siya.
Seconds later—POP!—bumalik siya sa tile 7. Duguan ang left arm, may mahahabang hiwa.
“W-what the hell?!” Sigaw niya.
“Tim, roll the damn dice! This isn’t funny anymore!” Galit na sigaw ni Casper habang hawak ang braso niya.
Later on, as we continued climbing the game board, I noticed something terrifying.
On tile 64: DEATH.
"Please... not four... please..." I whispered as my dice spun. Tumigil ito sa five. Relief. Parang nabunutan ako ng tinik sa katawan.
But then it was Casper’s turn again.
He rolled a four.
“Tile 64… ‘Death’,” basa niya.
“Casper, run!” iyak ni Lorraine.
“B-behind you, Cas…” bulong ko, nanginginig.
He turned around—too late. The snake was already there.
“Guys... tell my family I love them.” He said, shaking.
"Casper, RUN!" sigaw ni Nikki.
“Thanks for everything, Guys…” Sabi niya. Nakatingin sa snake sa harap niya.
“Casper…” Bulong ko habang tumutulo ang mga luha.
He smiled, closed his eyes. “Guys… survive—”
He didn’t finish. The snake ate him.
Blood sprayed. The air smalled metallic. We screamed.
Our friend was gone.
Our hashtag king. Our Casper.
His last word: “Guys… survive.”
BINABASA MO ANG
Survival #1: Win with Me (Complete)
Horor#1: "Let's survive this together. No matter what happens, let's just focus on winning. Louvelle, Win with Me." ___________________________________ WARNING: Please feel free to leave if you find the story's depictions of death and murder to be upsett...
