Countdown to Death

01: First Death | The Actress

In the corner of her dressing room, Ms. Festine Escareal was browsing through the pages of her screenplay. She is a famous theatre actress since she finished her studies in theatre arts. A praised and remarkable young woman, for her age, she has already performed and made quite a few plays. Her name has already done a number of magazine covers and television interviews.

But this fame also had brought her dangers and life threats.Though this has not been new since her career has grown.

The door slammed open by a man whose catching his breath before entering. "Why didn't you mention this to me?." You can hear anger in his voice, even if he's still having a hard time breathing.

"Are you really going to make that a big deal?. As if ngayon lang ako nakatanggap ng mga ganyang banta." she still remains focused on the screenplay.

"We can't neglect this, do we?. This one is more serious. What if you were really killed?." the man threw the letter on her vanity table. Halos sabunutan na niya ang sarili. 

"Come on Tin, I'm just worried." he added. Festine put the screenplay on the table, kinuha niya ang sulat at binasa ito.

    You'll be hanged.

It what was all written there. The handwriting was practically illegible, but the words it contains stood out with unexpected clarity.

She just laugh at the idea. "Paul, if I really am gonna die dapat noon pa. You're overthinking". there's no sign of fear visible on her eyes. Napabuntong hininga nalang ang lalaki. 

"I'm just taking precautions. Anyways, enough with that matter. You need to go home and take a good rest before tomorrows play. I can't drive you home kasi may pinapa-lakad sakin si Direk. Are you okay going alone?." he asked while fixing the scattered things on the dressing room. 

"Yeah, I can manage." she nodded. The man gave her a worried look before going back on what he was doing. After tidying up Paul then leave the room, leaving the actress alone. It took her about another hour to finish reading the script. She took a glance at her wrist watch and thought that she need to leave and head home.

Festine was about to lock the door when she heard someone's voice—humming a somewhat familiar melody. It caught her attention so she follows the voice until it grows louder and nearer. Dinala siya ng kanyang mga paa patungong auditorium ng building. Inilibot niya ang kanyang tingin sa paligid. Patay na halos lahat ng ilaw sa auditorium, tanging ang ilaw sa pintuan ng entrance lamang ang mayroong liwanag. 

A thought came crossed her mind, saying: "I'm supposed to be the only one left here. So why in the world is someone singing inside?." She opened and closed her eyes in attempt to clear her thoughts. Iniiwasan ang namumuong takot sa kanyang dibdib. Festine is debating with her mind wether to open the doors of the auditorium or just turn around and leave. 

But the melody drowned her mind with curiosity. Festine walked closer and closer until she reaches the handle of the door.

London bridge is falling down~
falling down, falling down
London bridge is falling down
My Fair Lady~

An old children's song was what she heard. It didn't scare her, but what caught her attention—which have her goosebumps—is the voice singing it. Her hands start trembling, bigla rin siyang pinawisan. Festine's feet stood firmly frozen in the ground.

A flood of words filled her mind.
Shaking her head, she thought:
"No, the dead can't rise from the grave." she convinced herself. But this didn't calm her, her fears grow bigger as she recalls who the owner of the voice was.

Still trembling, Festine build up the tiny courage in her to open the doors. "Someone just might be pulling pranks on me." she convinced herself—the letter then crosses her mind which add up to the immeasurable fear she felt inside.