Depression Plutus (Curse #4)

CHAPTER 2 Cruel

OTTILIE POV
 
 
When I woke up, a sharp pain throbbed in my neck. I groaned, blinking as my blurry vision slowly cleared. At first, I couldn’t make sense of anything, just the feeling of cool earth pressing against me. Grass, trees, and mud filled my view, but something was wrong. I tried to move, but my body wouldn't budge.
 
At doon ko lang napagtanto na nakalibing ang katawan ko sa ilalim ng lupa! 
 
My heart slammed against my chest, panic flooding through me. "No. No. Ayoko dito," I gasped, trying to move my arms, my legs, anything, but they were trapped under layers of dirt. I was horrified. I screamed, tears flooding my eyes. 
 
"Tulong! Maawa kayo sa'kin, tulungan niyo ako!" 
 
Ngunit nang napagtanto ko na wala nga pala akong kapitbahay, ngumawa ako ng mas malakas. Lokong, demonyo 'yon, bakit naman niya ako binaon sa lupa! Ang gwapo-gwapo pero ang sama ng ugali! 
 
"Are you done?"
 
The voice cut through the air, cold and sharp. I twisted my neck painfully to see Plutus standing over me.
 
"Siraulo ka ba?! Bakit mo ko binaon dito!" Singhal ko sa kan'ya. 
 
He had a shovel in one hand, a glare plastered on his face, his sapphire eyes glowing with irritation. He dragged a chair in front of me and sat down like a king surveying his prisoner, staring at me with pure contempt.
 
"Serves you right," he said flatly, his voice laced with anger. "Here’s the deal, you’re going to undo the spell. Right now." His fingers tightened on the shovel’s handle.

"Because I can’t get back home, and I’m stuck in this cursed little house of yours. And if you don’t fix this?" He tapped the shovel against the ground, a warning clear in his eyes. "I’ll bury you for good, and you can say hello to the afterlife."
 
Nangilabot ako sa sinabi ni Plutus. Seryoso, gagawin niya iyon? Bakit naman kasi sa dami ng matatawag ko ito pang demonyo na may saltik sa utak. Pero kailangan kong magpakabait, mahirap na baka totohanin niya ang banta niya. Kaya nagdrama-dramahan ako at sinimulan ko ulit umiyak ng malakas.

Baka sakaling maawa. 
 
"I-I’m sorry! I’ll undo it! Please don’t kill me!" My voice cracked, shaking with terror.
 
Plutus rolled his eyes, clearly annoyed by my crying. "Oh, for crying out loud, would you shut up already?" He rubbed his temples as if my sobs were giving him a headache. "Your voice is worse than the spell you messed up."
 
I sniffled. Mukhang hindi gumana sa kan'ya ang acting ko. And then Plutus stood up, looming over me with a scowl, his shadow long in the dim light.
 
"Listen," he growled, leaning closer, "you’re going to fix this, and if you screw it up again, there won’t be a second chance. Got it?"
 
I nodded frantically, "Promise! Aayusin ko 'to!" Mabilis na sagot ko. "As if naman gusto kitang kasama sa bahay ko," bubulong-bulong kong turan.
 
"What? Are you saying something?" Plutus brows furrowed in suspicion.
 
"Wala! Wala, sabi ko gagalingan ko," pagtanggi ko sa sinabi ko. 
 
Plutus just clicked his tongue then plunged the shovel into the ground, digging up the dirt around me with swift, forceful movements. As the soil loosened, I struggled to pull myself out as I stood, brushing the clumps of dirt from my clothes.
 
His death glare followed me, unyeilding, "Get inside," he ordered coldly, pointing to the haunted house looming behind us. "And fix this mess. Now."
 
I swallowed hard, nodded quickly, and stumbled toward the back door. Ang loko, sa backyard pa talaga nito naisipan akong ilibing. Siya kaya ilibing ko ng buhay para malaman niya ang feeling?

If I had half a chance, I’d smack that smug look off his face. I swear.
 
Nang makabalik kami sa sala, muli kong pinulot ang libro saka binuklat-buklat ito. Habang si Plutus naman ay mataman na nakabantay sa bawat galaw ko nang maisipan nitong maupo sa isa sa mga couch na nakatabi. Mabuti na lang at hindi pa namamatay ang mga kandila, ayokong masunog ang kaisa-isang bahay na pinamana sa'kin ni daddy.
 
Nag focus na lang muna ako sa pagbabasa, ang kaso nakakadistract talaga ang topless na katawan ni Plutus. Sa pagkakatanda ko, marami siyang tattoo sa likod, tss, sinayang niya lang ang mala porceline niyang balat. Mas makinis pa ito kumpara sa mga artista na napapanood ko sa TV. Tss, feeling pogi, binalik ko na lang muli ang atensyon ko sa pagbabasa. 
 
I scanned for any clue on reversing the magic, but the more I looked, the more dread pooled in my stomach. Page after page, nothing. No reversal spell, no instructions. My heart raced, the weight of doom pressing down on me.
 
Patay....
 
As I reached the last page, my breath caught in my throat. There was nothing. Nothing. My vision blurred with panic. I’m doomed. I’ve really screwed up this time. My mind screamed, but I forced myself to stay still, to not let Plutus see the full depth of my terror.
 
But he noticed. Of course he did.
 
He stood up slowly, his tall frame casting a shadow over me. "What’s taking so long?" His voice was low, dangerous.

"Have you found it or not?"
 
I swallowed hard, my mouth dry, as I stood from the floor, clutching the book to my chest like it would protect me. His sapphire eyes locked onto mine, and I felt like I was about to crumble under the weight of his stare. I gulped, forcing myself to speak.
 
"There's... no reversal spell," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can’t undo it. Waaaah, sorry!!" 
 
Plutus frozen for a moment, his eyes widening in disbelief. Then, slowly, he pinched the bridge of his nose, his head tilting back as he stared at the ceiling, clearly trying to keep his fury in check.
 
I took a step back, panic flooding me again. "B-but," I stammered, desperate to stop him from exploding. "I can at least free you from the mansion. You’ll be able to go outside. I promise I’ll find a way to undo the spell eventually. Just... just don’t kill me!" I closed my eyes tightly, bracing for his outburst.
 
There was a heavy silence, and then I heard him take a deep, slow breath. "I swear," he muttered, his voice thick with frustration. "I’m going to kill you, woman."

"Sorry na!" I begged.
 
"Fine," he growled. "Free me from the mansion, for now. But you better find a way to fix this. Because if you don't..." His eyes flashed dangerously. "You won’t need to worry about another mistake. I’ll make sure of it."
 
I nodded frantically, relief flooding through me, even though I knew this was only a temporary reprieve. "Oo, I promise!"
 
Plutus leaned against the doorframe, his arms crossed, while eyes locked onto me with that familiar, infuriating intensity. "I’m staying here," he declared, his voice firm. "In this house. To make sure you’re working hard on undoing the spell."
 
"Ano?!" I protested, my voice rising in panic. "You can’t just—"
 
His eyes flashed dangerously, he shot me a death glare so sharp it made me snap my mouth shut immediately. The words died in my throat, and I had to look away, biting back my frustration. There was no arguing with him when he looked at me like that. 
 
Inis akong napakamot sa magulo kong buhok. "Oo na! Nasa taas ang kwarto, but don’t expect luxury."
 
As we reached the second floor, I slapped my forehead in exasperation, realizing something that made me cringe. The guest room was right across from my bedroom.

Fantastic. This just keeps getting better.
 
I opened the door to the guest room, stepping aside to let Plutus in. He entered, his eyes roaming around the room, and I could practically hear the judgment in his silence.
 
He turned and gave me a full of contempt look. "This room is too small," he complained, his voice dripping with disdain. "It looks like a maid’s room."
 
Abah, siya na nga makikitira, lalaitin pa niya? Sa labas ko na lang kaya siya patulugin? Hindi ko na naitago ang pagkainis ko at inirapan ito, sumama naman agad ang tingin niya sa'kin.
 
"Got something to say?" he asked, his tone low and challenging.
 
"No," I muttered quickly, avoiding his gaze as I turned on my heel. "Diyan ka lang, kukuhanan na muna kita ng maisosoot."
 
I hurried down the hallway and into my father’s old room, searching through his closet for something, anything, that might fit Plutus’ massive frame. My hands landed on two oversized shirts I’d given my dad as a gift. They were far too big for him, so he’d never worn them. I sighed, knowing how much it pained me to hand these over to Plutus of all people, but what choice did I have?
 
With the shirts in hand, I returned to the guest room. When I opened the door, I found Plutus lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling with the lights off. Feeling model ng kama? 
 
Then, I placed the shirts at the edge of the bed. "Here," I said, keeping my voice neutral. "I’ll cast the spell tomorrow morning." I started to walk toward the door, eager to leave before he could complain again.
 
Just as my hand touched the doorknob, Plutus spoke, his tone dark and threatening. "If you don’t find a way to undo the spell, I’ll make your life a living hell. You got that?"
 
I turned back, giving him a deadpan look. "Yes, your highness," I said, bowing sarcastically before closing the door behind me.
 
As I walked back to my room, I couldn’t help but groan. This was going to be the longest, most miserable time of my life.
 

To be continued...

Author's note: How was the first two chapters? Omg, kinakabahan ako! HAHAHHA!