Machiavellian

Chapter Five

Phase One

CYRA

We were divided the moment we entered the building. There are signs that we have to follow inside. The old goes up while the young stays at the first to the third floor.

Ang ilan sa mga ka-edad ko ay piniling dumiretso pa sa mas mataas na palapag habang ang ilan ay nanatiling manatili sa ibaba. I chose to stay at the first floor along with eight other people of my age. Kasama na roon ang dalawang taong nakausap ko kanina.

"Dito tayo," turo ng isa sa mga lalaking kasama ko. He pointed to a room where another sign was hanging. "Ito na 'ata iyon."

"Only eight entrants are allowed to enter..." He read the sign. Tumingin siya sa amin bago isa-isa kaming binilang. "We're eight."

"Ano pa ang hinihintay natin? Pumasok ka na." sambit ng babaeng malapit sa kanya.

"Wait... I think we should think this through first." Another girl said, looking frightened and hesitant just like most of us here.

"What else is there to think of? We have no choice now but to join the trial..." The guy in front the door said. "Maliban nalang kung gusto mong lumipat ng palapag? You're free to go."

"Ang sinasabi ko lang naman ay pag-isipan muna natin kung anong mayroon sa loob... People die in the trials..." The frightened girl said.

The guy let out a laugh. "Unti-unti rin naman tayong namamatay sa Xinthra. It's better to die here. At least we tried to be in a better place." Nagkabit-balikat siya bago binuksan na ang pintuan.

Nagkatinginan kami ng babaeng nasa unahan ko kanina ng pila. Surprisingly, she still chose to enter despite what she said earlier. May takot at paghihinayang pa rin sa mukha niya. Mas lalo pang namutawi iyon sa kanya dahil sa sinabi ng lalaki.

Napalunok siya bago lumapit sa akin. "Uhm... Hi. Hindi ko naitanong ang pangalan mo kanina..."

"We're not supposed to know our names. Codename policy, remember?" I answered.

Nanlaki ang mga mata. "R-Right! Of course..." She looked away. "My codename's Clare. Y-You can call me that if you want... and while we're still here." Pinilit niyang ngumiti.

I nodded. "Revenge."

Agad na kumunot ang noo niya. "Huh?"

"My codename."

"Oh..." She tried to nod. Nanatili siya sa tabi ko habang nagsipasukan na ang lahat sa loob.

Hinayaan ko munang makapasok ang lahat bago sumunod. My eyes drift to the guy who's still not leaving his spot behind us. He remains leaning on a glass wall in front of the door, hands on his white coat's pockets while looking at us as everyone went inside. Siya ang lalaking nasa unahan ko rin sa pila kanina.

Lumipat ang mga mata niya sa akin na para bang napansin niya ang mga titig ko. Umalis siya sa pagkakahilig sa pader at nagsimulang maglakad. I looked away and head to the door behind Clare. It was only a second when I felt him beside me.

"Walk slowly..." he suddenly murmurs beside me. Napaigtad ako nang bigla niyang hinawakan ang braso ko para magdahan-dahan sa paglalakad.

"I hope you have a plan. You have no idea what I've been through just to get a slot here. Kung sinabi mo lang sana sakin ng mas maaga na papasok ka, napag-usapan sana natin ito ng mas maayos," bulong niya.

I stiffened. "What?"

"I entered last minute," he said. "And now, you better have a plan on how to stay alive in this."