30 Doors

13th Door

"We're our own dragons as well as our own heroes, and we have to rescue ourselves from ourselves."

-Tom Robbins

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Nagkalat ang dugo ni Nicolla sa paligid ng carousel. The lions did not leave too soon. They must have been craving food for days at hindi sapat sa kanila ang iisang tao lang. They might need one more or even all of us for lunch.

Walang imikan sa carousel. The air was filled with the smell of stinking rusty blood. Lahat pigil ang paghinga habang nakaabang sa paligid ang tatlong mababangis na leon na parehong duguan ang mga mukha. The blood made them looked even scarier.

Halos dumikit na kami sa pinakagitna ng rolling wheels sa carousel. Sa bandang iyon, may mga nakaharang na wooden horses kaya bago pa man kami malapa ng mga leon ay magagawa na naming umiwas.

"Mina. W-what is going to happen next? Mukhang hindi tayo lulubayan ng mga leon na 'yan. W-wala bang nagtext sa'yo?" Niyugyug na ni Rielle ang braso ko. Mukhang nababaliw na ito sa kinatatayuan.

Base sa obserbasyon ko, labing-isa ang wooden horses na nasa carousel. The mastermind mind is not giving us any phrase for hints, riddles, or puzzles but it can be clearly stated that the carousel did not stand here for anything.

Eleven wooden horses for eleven people only.

There were twelve of us.

One must go.

One must die.

Kung puwede lang na magpakakontrabida ako dito at itulak na lang ang isa saamin, sana ginawa ko na. I have some facts gathered, but they weren't enough to judge people. This time I can be curious, but I can't be judgmental.

"Rielle, take one wooden horse." Wala sa sarili kong sambit.

"What the h-"

"Just ride on it! Mamaya mo na ako pasalamatan!" I cut her words. Pinandilatan ko ito to stress that I was goddamn serious about the command.

Kaagad naman itong sumakay sa wooden horse na malapit sa kinatatayuan namin. Pagkaupong-pagkaupo ng kaibigan ko sa kabayo ay mabilis na tumaas ito ng ilang talampakan. A height cannot be reached by the lions.

"So, kung nababasa ko ang tinutungo ng ideya mo Mina, there can only be eleven people surviving this floor?" I heard Andreas from behind. Nang lingunin ko ito'y wala na sa mukha niya ang ngisi ng isang manyak na kinaiinisan ko noon. He can be as equally handsome as Vladimir and Natas kapag nagseseryoso siya.

"Save your ass, Andreas. Take one horse if you believe my instinct," I said calmly trying to impersonate my serious self.

"After you. Baka sabihin mong gago na naman ako at makasarili. So, I'll only take one horse after you."

Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko sa sinabi ng lalaki. Is he trying to impress me? Basta ang pagkakaalam ko ay isa siyang gago, kaya kahit magbait-baitan pa siya dito sa building na 'to, gago pa rin siya kahit na makalabas pa kaming buhay dito pareho.

Napansin marahil ni Ryanne ang biglang pagtaas ni Rielle nang sumakay ito sa wooden horse. She took one and levitated instantly. Nagkopyahan ang lahat. Vlad, Bella, Larryson, Natas, and Maddie took the wooden horses as well. Sunod-sunod na nagsi-akyatan ang mga kabayo sa carousel.