Midnight of Terrors: Haunted Manor

13

We stood still in front of the room where Elaine is still talking to all of them. I mean, Amalia. Ugh, when will I get this right?

We were halfway, I guess, in thinking of how can I save my friends from this loop. What is the trick to make this loop and to stop this? I mean, can we even stop this?

"Sigurado ka bang may solusyon para ma-interfere 'yung loop? Pa'no kung hindi mo matigil? I mean let's just say na matitigil mo nga 'yung loop, pero what if makapangyarihan 'to si Victoria?" tanong bigla ni Chelsea sa tabi ko habang parehas kaming nakahalukipkip sa labas ng kwarto. Kanina, siya 'yung pinaka may alam tapos ngayon naman, siya 'yung puro tanong.

"Siyempre, gagawa ba si Imelda ng loop kung wala iyong solusyon para ma-interfere? At saka magpapatuloy pa rin ba 'yang loop kung makapangyarihan naman pala si Victoria? Edi sana pinakawalan na lang niya sarili niya kung may kapangyarihan siya, 'di ba," sagot ko.

"Sa bagay." She pouted. I mean, I am a hundred percent sure na si Imelda ang gumawa ng loop na 'to, without any questions. Well, sino pa ba ang evil monster na lumikha ng sumpa sa mansyong 'to para parusahan at pahirapan ang lahat na susunod na tumira dito, or even ang mga pumasok lang naman dito? Edi si Imelda, wala nang iba.

I thought this is where we're going to discover a solution na, by just looking at the five of my friends, inside the spirits of Amalia, Nigel, Darwin, Diane and Darla. But I remembered that this is a 'Five Days in Hell' nga pala, kung tatawagin ni Chelsea. So something horrible will happen again.

And as expected, we heard the loud click if footsteps from Victoria's black shoes. I looked at my left and me and Chelsea saw Victoria, with both of her hands in front of her, walking straight. We both got out of the way by stepping back, as if we're going to bump Victoria if she walks towards us.

Sa pag-atras namin, saktong lumiko si Victoria sa kwarto at kusang pumasok at huminto sa harapan ng mga natigil na pagkukwentuhan ng mga bata. Ginilid ko ang ulo ko and I looked over her shoulder, everybody stood as they looked at Victoria while fidgeting.

Marahang tinitigan ni Victoria isa-isa ang mga batang nakatayo sa harapan niya. Saka siya bahagyang tumingin gilid at nag-inhale. Agad akong tumitig sa dingding na kinaroroonan ng salamin. Sa taas no'n ay may bilugang orasan pal.

"May makakapagsabi ba sa inyo kung anong oras na?" sabay tingin sa mga bata. I realized that this time, she didn't walk in front of anyone. She just stood there, waiting anyone to answer. For them, maybe it's a common sense now that if Victoria didn't walk, that means all of them are obligated to answer.

Nagtinginan muna ang lima bago sila lumingon sa bilugang orasan.

"Five-thirty po, Madam Victoria," narinig kong bulong ni Chelsea sa tabi ko. Nagsalubong ang kilay ko nang tinignan ko siya. Bahagya lang siyang nakatingin at pinapanood sila.

"Five-thirty po, Madam Victoria," Kaycee answered. I immediately looked back at Chelsea as my jaw drops. She just clenched hers and shrugged.

"Kung ganon, anong ibig sabihin no'n?" Madame Victoria took a breath.

Napayuko ang lahat na parang guilty sila sa nangyari. They probably forgot something again.

"Bath time po," pare-parehas nilang sagot ngunit hindi sabay-sabay at pare-parehas ng tono.

"Kung ganon, anong ibig sabihin ng bath time?"

"M-Maliligo na po," narinig kong boses ni Agnes. I just noticed that even though they're inside the spirit of a kid, playing them along in the loop, they still have their voices. And that's what matters because I can still hear their voices.

"Magaling, Diane, kung ganon ano pang ginagawa niyo rito!?" Madame Victoria shouted, her voice blaring. "Sino ang nakaiskedyul na maunang maligo!? Bakit pare-parehas kayong naririto?"