Death Trap Pandemonium (COMPLETED)

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Theme: Wolf In Sheep's Clothing - Set It Off

Also, how do we feel about the new cover?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
The Brotherhood

October 31, 2015; Saturday
Blue Bay Retreat House, Azulan City
5:30 pm

Champ gulped nervously, guilt evident in his eyes as he looked at Markus' unconscious form, slumped on the hallway. Mabilis niyang inilibot ang kanyang paningin sa paligid ng office na naging headquarters nila ni Isabela bago muling tignan si Markus. Dumudugo ang noo nito at nabitawan niya ang baseball bat at susi. Kaagad naman pinulot ng salarin ang susi at ibinigay sa kanya.

He was not so overcome with fear as he was when he encountered the two killers in the kitchen that he managed to glance at the symbol on the killer's robe this time around—a stag. He briefly wondered what its significance was, as well as Apollo's phoenix, even as his hands continued to shake. Tila napansin ng salarin na nanginginig at nanlalamig ang kamay ni Champ. Marahan nitong hinampas ang kanyang braso.

"Mukhang magaling talaga pumili si Apollo ng mga tao," mahiwagang sambit nito. "May pakinabang ka rin naman pala. The name's Rogue." Itinuro nito ang usa sa kanyang roba. "I guess you can say, I'm a fan of Rogue kills."

Pasimpleng inobserbahan ni Champ ang kaharap na salarin. Tulad ng iba, nakasuot si Rogue ng itim na roba at gwantes. Napakalalim ng boses nito na mas lalong nakakapanindig-balahibo nang tumawa ito. Naiilang na nagpalinga-linga si Champ at nang mapansin ng killer na hindi siya tumatawa, bumuntong-hininga ito.

"Ah, tough crowd?" tanong nito at muling hinampas ang kanyang braso. "Ito naman, p're! Mas may kabuhay-buhay pang audience yung mga bangkay sa basement kesa sa 'yo, eh!"

Bahagya siya itinulak ni Rogue at muntik nang matumba ang binata kahit na halos magkasingtangkad lang sila ng salarin. Pilit na lamang ngumiti si Champ sa kabila ng pagka-intimidate niya rito. It was probably for the best because he couldn't let his guard down around them. As far as he knew, this Rogue could be the one that locked his room.

Hindi makabubuti sa akin kung malalaman niyang sinubukan kong tumakas. I should probably try to stay on their good side, Champ concluded as his mind raced on what he should do.

"A-Anong. . .anong maitutulong ko?"

Isa na namang pagtataksil sa mga kasamahan niya. Isa na namang dahilan para sunugin ang kanyang kaluluwa sa ikalaliman ng impyerno. The keys in his hands felt as if they were burning through his palm. Champ knew it was too late to backtrack.

Mukhang nagulat ang salarin sa kanyang tinuran at bahagyang tumawa. "Huh, madali ka rin palang kausap." There was a dark gleam in Rogue's eyes that made Champ nervous. "May ipapagawa ako sa 'yo."

Champ was tempted to decline but he knew that it wasn't a good idea. At kung may pagkakatulad ang mga salaring ito bukod sa pananamit at kagustuhang patayin sila, iyon ay ang hindi nila pagtanggap ng 'hindi' bilang sagot. Not trusting himself to speak, Champ nodded to let Rogue know that he's listening.

"Nakakulong si Kevin sa attic," pagpapatuloy ng salarin. "Pumunta ka do'n, pakawalan mo siya, at kumbinsihing pumunta sa pool area."

Nakunot ang noo ni Champ. "B-Bakit?" he asked before he could stop himself.

Rogue fixed him with a stare. "Sa pagkakaalam ko, wala ka sa kasunduan niyo ni Apollo ang pag-kwestyon mo sa mga inuutos sa 'yo."

The sharpness of Rogue's reply made Champ avert his eyes. "S-sorry."