Sonkan 2 (The Revolution)

Chapter 6

-Alexi-

I THOUGHT this segment was long dead or buried in a deep grave since I haven't heard anything about Mortal Combat for the past several months. Flashback starts playing as if my mind rewinding an old movie from a projector when we reached the Sonkan Grounds. Madaming ala-ala ang nagbalik. Naalala ko pa noon kung gaano ako nanginginig sa takot nang una akong makapunta dito. Everyone is scared yet feels excited at that time. Same with the people we are surrounding with. Masaya sila. Maingay. Tila mga nakawala sa hawla. Idagdag pa doon ang nakakabinging musika mula sa speaker. Most of the students here are transferees. Mukhang hindi pa nga talaga nila alam ang patakaran dito sa Sonkan.

They seemed to think this was just an ordinary show, spicing up the entertainment.

There was a boxing ring or stage in the middle. May DJ sa gilid at napalibot sa amin ang malalaking speaker. Same set-up. Some of the survivors of purging probably just staring at the stage with a plain face. It's not new to us. It was another game where people's lives were being played that we had to witness. Everything is just a replay.

"I wish I had the power to make everyone shut up. It's so noisy," I heard Felicity comment. She seems allergic to noise even though she makes people scream.

"Welcome Sonkanians!! Welcome to Mortal Combat!"

Pakiramdam ko'y natanggal ang eardrums ko sa lakas ng boses na umalingawngaw sa buong paligid. That high-toned, lively voice wouldn't fail to wake anyone up, no matter how deep their sleep is. Here is the emcee, which we haven't seen in a while. His guise is still the same. Joker. Hair dyed with green. Gold teeth. The face was baked in white powder. Lagpas na red lipstick hanggang pisngi at walang kilay. He must be a fan of Joker.

Sa pagbati niyang 'yon ay naghiyawan sila. Ang iba'y pumapalakpak pa. Tilian at sigawan ang humalo sa tugtog ng speaker. Isama pa mo pa doon ang malikot at makulay na ilaw na tumatama sa aming mukha.

"You just have 1 week left for your vacation before the classes resume, so let's make this show exciting," the Emcee went on, hyping up the crowd.

The next would be gangsters entry. The Joker emcee welcomed the first gang who's now walking in chorus wearing their dark red jacket. Their strides screams as if they are the most powerful group in Sonkan. Their boastful expressions displayed on their faces. Saglit na nagsitahimikan ang iba at nagbigay daan para sa kanilang entry. Sa pinaka unahan ay ang kanilang leader. Si Ardizonne. His hairstyle is still the same as before. Walang buhok ang ibabang bahagi ng kanyang ulo at nakatirintas ang maliit na portion ng kanyang buhok na nagsisilbing bangs niya sa gilid na bahagi ng mukha. His earrings dangles on his left ear as he walked. There's a toothpick tucked in his mouth. Even his face is cunning.

I heard Coleen let out an impatient sigh. "Why do I have to see my annoying brother here"

"Let's welcome The Ghettos!" The emcee screamed their name in a high pitch.

Ang iba'y nagsipalakpakan sa kanilang pagdating. Ang iba naman ay nagbubulungan at nagtataka kung sino sila. Sunod na dumating ang mga Mobster. Kumpara sa Ghettos ay kakaunti lamang sila. Marahil nasa mahigit dalawampu. They keep their heads up looking straight on the way proudly holding their dignity. All of our eyes were locked on them. May dala dala silang watawat na winawagayway ng isa nilang miyembro. Nakaguhit doon ang sagisag ng kanilang grupo. It's a skull with a hair made of fire. My line of sight followed them as they're making their way to their standpoint. Mapapansin na karamihan ng mga pares mata ay kay Al Capone nakapako.

Can't blame them if they were hooked by his presence. Sa dalawang lider ng magkalabang gang ay mas kinatatakutan si Al Capone noon pa man. I once experienced that myself. Blangko lamang ang mukha nito at tila walang buhay ang mga mata. They're like dangerous wolves led by their leader who's walking at the back to observe his pack.