Death Trap Pandemonium (COMPLETED)

Chapter Twenty-One

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

A Not So Hypothetical Suspect List

October 31, 2015; Saturday
Blue Bay Retreat House, Azulan City
10:45 pm

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens and I will give you rest.

"But those who trust in the Lord for help will find their strength renewed. They will rise on wings like eagles; they will run and not get weary; they will walk and not get weak." Clyde found himself mumbling to himself as he tried to keep his arms over his head.

Hindi niya na halos maramdaman ang kanyang mga braso ngunit kumukuha na lamang siya ng lakas mula sa mga Bible verse dahil alam niyang buhay ang nakataya kapag nabigo siya at ibinaba niya ang kanyang mga braso. Trying not to move so much, he sneaked a glance at Anthony. Pareho lang sila ng sitwasyon ngunit halatang mas nahihirapan si Anthony, dahil na rin siguro nabugbog siya ni Hades.

"Handa na ba kayong maglaro?"

Clyde didn't have time to process the question before Anthony leapt to his feet and tried to attack Hades. Chair and all. He would have been impressed at his friend's daring. Ngunit alam ni Clyde na hindi sanay sa pakikipag-away si Anthony, 'di gaya nina Gregg, Kevin, Shem, at JC na puro batak sa pisikalan. Anthony was a gentle soul who loved studying plants and doting on his girlfriend.

Hades simply sidestepped Anthony who had to carry the chair he was tied to and pushed him towards the floor. Clyde watched helplessly as Anthony fell with a crash. Wala siyang ibang nagawa kundi sumigaw nang patuloy na pagsisipain ng salarin ang kanyang kaibigan habang tumatawa lamang si Grim.

"When will you stop doing foolish things, Anthony?" Grim asked. "Ano bang nakita sa 'yo nitong si Chloe at ikaw pa ang napili niya? Nagayuma ba siya?"

Tumatawang hinila patayo ni Hades ang upuang inuukupa ni Anthony. "Correction, hindi napili. Kung tama ang chismis sa university, nagkapustahan kung sinong pwedeng tumuloy ng panliligaw kay Chloe. Unfortunately, out of the members of B.I.P., this is the one that won. You'd almost feel bad for Chloe."

"Of all the options. Kevin, Clyde, Shem...hell, even Sanchez. 'Tong si Anthony ang nanalo?" sabi ng salarin. "What a letdown."

Clyde winced at the reminder of how Chloe and Anthony's relationship started. Their friend group were shitty teens but there was no denying how much his friend loved his girlfriend. It was unfair that these assholes were bringing it up after all these years.

Habang abala ang mga salarin sa pang-uudyo kay Anthony, sinubukan ni Clyde na hilahin ang kanyang kamay mula sa pagkakatali. Ngunit masyadong mahigpit ang pagkakagapos sa kanya at sugat lang ang naidulot nito sa kanya.

Lumapit sa kanya si Hades habang nilapitan naman ni Grim si Natalia at tinutukan ng patalim ang leeg ng walang malay na babae. It was a silent but effective warning as Hades released Clyde's arms from the grip of the ropes. Move and she dies.

And Clyde was not taking any chances. He couldn't have cared less if it was only his life on the line, but he couldn't let anything happen to Natalia, Anthony, and Chloe. Kaya naman hinayaan lang ni Clyde na panandaliang pakawalan ni Hades ang kanyang mga kamay bago ito ilagay sa isang mala-posas na metal sa ibabaw ng kanyang ulo.