The Reaper's Fall

Chapter 2 • Shades of Crimson and Black

Chapter 2 - Shades of Crimson and Black

"Study today's lesson, class. You wouldn't know, I may give you a pop quiz next meeting. Class dismissed," Miss Sedna said.

I rolled my eyes.

Miss Sedna really loves irony, I see.

Sabi niya, baka hindi raw namin aasahan na magbibigay siya ng 'pop' quiz. Duh? POP Quiz nga 'diba? Syempre, meaning nun, unexpected. Ugh. What's happening to the Earth nowadays?

"Goodbye, Miss Sedna." - Classmates

Miss Sedna nods. "Keep safe, children."

Ugh.

Children? Seriously?

I shrugged off that thought and snatched my things from my desk. Sinukbit ko ang knapsack sa balikat ko at tumayo na.

Habang naglalakad palabas ng classroom, iniisip ko ang tungkol sa black envelope na natagpuan ko kanina sa ilalim ng desk ko. Nang nasa labas na ako, dali-dali akong bumaba ng hagdan.

Nang makalabas na ako ng building namin, ay lumiko ako sa corridor na walang masyadong tao. I want to reread the message that I have received. Hell, I really can't believe it the first time I scanned it, so I have to read it again for the second time to be sure.

I got the envelope from my pocket. I didn't bother putting it inside my bag, because I have this habit that if something is really of importance to me, I put it in a place where I could grab it immediately anytime and anywhere I need it. In this case, the pocket of my skirt is the most convenient place to put the envelope in.

At first, I thought that maybe nagkamali lang ang kung sino man ang nag-iwan ng envelope sa ilalim ng desk ko. But when I think of it deeper, ilagay na natin na nagkamali nga siya, is it that much of a coincidence na sa ilalim ng desk ko niya nailagay? Pareho lahat ang position ng upuan ko in every classroom kada subject kaya imposible namang...

Umupo ako sa kalapit na bench at inilagay ang bag ko sa tabi ko. Then I stared at the envelope again.

Nang buksan ko ito kanina, medyo nagulat ako because the message is encoded using Old English font in deep, deep crimson hue.

Sa unang tingin, mukha talaga siyang death message, elegante nga lang.

Wanna know the message?

Here it is:

******************************

For you who's unafraid, dauntless, bold, valiant;

†Chthonian Park
MN of the 13th†

- 9 of 10.

******************************
See? It looks like an invitation to me.

For you who's unafraid, dauntless, bold, valiant;

Well, that's me, yeah.

I am fearless.

I am lion-hearted.

There's the place.

Chthonian Park.

But what the f*ck is the MN of the 13th?

The date maybe?

Pero ano naman ang gagawin ko dito? Ni hindi ko nga alam kung saan tong Chthonian Park eh. I am not familiar with the place. Saka, the details included here seems so vague to me. Place and date lang? Wala ngang nakalagay kung ano bang meron sa lugar na yun.

But what got my attention the most is the sender of the letter.

9 of 10.

9 of 10?