✔The Joker's Insanity

PROLOGUS

One crow for malice
Two for mirth
Three for a funeral
Four for birth,
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a story
that should never be told,
Eight for heaven
Nine for a hell
Ten to the devil
wherever he may dwell.

---Pen Parker

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Eastwood.

Nakakalungkot lang isipin na ang dating mapayapang bayan ay unti-unti nang madudungisan ng kababalaghan. 'Frabjous! What a pity, indeed!' I thought as I flew over the dead trees. Nang matanaw ko na ang pamilyar na puntod sa sementeryo, dali-dali akong bumaba at nagmasid sa paligid.

Mahirap na at baka may makakita pa sa akin. The Knight and the King will kill me for sure!

On the other hand, death might be exciting! Hmm. I wonder what it feels like---

"The coast is clear, Joker. Pwede ka nang bumaba diyan sa estatwa," isang malalim na boses ang bumasag sa katahimikan ng sementeryo.

Mula sa kadiliman, lumitaw si Everick sa likod ng isang puno. Isang mapang-asar na ngiti muna bago na naman siya bumanat, "Unless you want to be stuck there for another century, brother. That would be hilarious. Naaalala mo ba noong aksidente kang nasemento sa isang poste noong 18th century sa London? Oh, that was terribly amusing! Hahaha!"

Umirap ako sa hudas kong kapatid at mabilis na nagbagong-anyo bilang isang tao. Black feathers scattered the muddy ground as I grinned at him, "I'm glad I can make you laugh, brother. Want me to permanently stitch that smile on your face?"

Agad na tumigil sa pagtawa si Everick. Sumimangot siya't marahang napailing. He tucked his hands inside his black coat and scowled at me.

"You won't."

"I will, and besides..." Isang malawak na ngiti ang pumunit sa bibig ko, "it's the Joker's obligation to turn that fucking frown upside-down! HAHAHAHAHA!" Sabay kuha ko ng karayom at sinulid sa bulsa ko.

Hindi na siya umimik.

Alam niyang hindi ako nagbibiro 'pag dating sa mga ganitong usapin. The last human I stitched up a smile was way back in the 1900's in China. It was fun.

"Stop fooling around, Joker. Alam mo namang wala tayong oras para sa mga kalokohan."

Napalingon kaming dalawa ni Everick sa binatang nakasandal sa tabi ng isang estatwang hugis krus. Black and lifeless eyes glared at me as I raised my hands up in surrender. "Aw! But we have all the time in the world! Knock! Knock!"

"Fuck you."

"Wrong! Dapat ang isasagot mo ay 'who's there'? Hindi ka ba naka-graduate ng kinder? Oh, come on, Mr. Killjoy, stop being such an emo!"

"Tsk! Do me a favor and stop being an idiot, Evarius. Baka nakakalimutan mong may misyon tayo sa lugar na 'to!" Pagsaway niya sa akin. Maging si Everick ay wala nang nasabi sa kasupladuhan ng bunso namin.

Napapailing na lang ako.

'I hate killjoys. They're the kind of people who makes me want to rip their throats out and feed them to the wolves. Hindi ba nila alam ang kahalagahan ng pagtawa?'

So, I bet you're already asking me: "Eh bakit hindi mo na lang patayin ang kapatid mong killjoy at walang sense of humor?"

Ito lang ang masasagot ko, mga kaibigan:

He's immune to death...

We all are.

You see, Neverwoods never die. We're immortals for as long as we can remember. At hangga't nakabigkis pa rin sa amin ang imortalidad, killing each other for fun would be useless. Boring, I know.

Makalipas ang ilang sandali, binasag ni Everick ang katahimikan habang inaayos ang kumikinang niyang pocket knife. He has this weird habit of playing with knives, and it's quite amusing. "So, until when are we going to 'blend in' and stay in Eastwood?"

Napabuntong-hininga si Evillois at tumalikod na sa amin, "Indefinitely. Hangga't wala pa akong sinasabi, mananatili tayo dito sa Eastwood. We'll live the lives of ordinary people and observe these humans. I command you both to behave. Do NOT act without my permission, understood?"

Bago pa man kami makasagot, bigla na lamang nagbagong-anyo si Evillois at lumipad papalayo. Pinanood namin ang itim na uwak na lumilipad sa gitna ng kalangitan. It was almost dusk. The hues of the sky gave an eerie feel to the Eastwood Cemetery.

Huminga ako nang malalim at mahinang natawa, "We're being bossed around by own baby brother. Isn't that entertaining? HAHAHAHA!"

Napapailing na lang sa'kin si Everick, "You're crazy."

"I know! HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Pero hindi pa rin mawala ang malawak na ngiti sa mga labi ko. I kept grinning like a Chesire Cat as the sun peeked from the horizon. A new day. A new life.

A new story to start.

I hope it's entertaining enough for my taste.

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