SPELL AND KILL (ENGLISH)
"Our heart beats only with their permission."
For as long as she can remember, the bookworm Synecdoche Rochet, 23, has lived a simple life in Maharlika Nation—hiding in the grasses and grains of District G to avoid the terrifying power of the Embassy and its ruthless Ambassador.
In a dystopian world that is controlled with surveillance, Synecdoche Rochet embarks on a mission to get back their rights on their district's valuable resources—the grains. When she discovered her intellectual ability, she found herself drawn to the charismatic Giovanni, the long-lost Ambassador's privileged son together with other intelligent students, Ulap, Token, and Keithwarth. They found themselves being the tributes on the 2nd Maharlika Spelling TwistBee—trapped in the Word Arena. An annually commemorated game where each district will represent one letter in the Alphabet, spell the given English words not verbally, but by beating other competitors who have letter tattoos on their arms. The rules are to Spell and beat them.
Within the competitor's reach, the team-up of Synecdoche, Giovanni, Ulap, Token, and Keithwarth isn't a coincidence, it's a conspiracy. What if Synecdoche's age will be reversed? Will they use their intelligence for vengeance? Will they compel love and trust to survive the competition? Is their life the price or the prize?
"Even the shortest word has the longest meaning."
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Chapter: CHAPTER 6Ulap is here!I don’t know what went through her mind and She came here. How did She find our house? I didn't tell her our house and actually, her entrance was quite horiffic. Her hair was a kind of rain slickened and bedraggled. I thought she was a ghost or a thief or a murderer. I do not know? She just enters without notice."What are you doing here?" I asked but she suddenly grabbed me by the shoulder. She was carrying a hat and handkerchief. She gripped it quite tightly and the water in his hand was dripping on my skin."Synecdoche, help me. These are Mama's handkerchief and Papa's hat. Help me, pleas! My parents are missing!" She suddenly cried and hugged me tightly. I can feel her sadness. It's too late before I could insist, my clothes are already dampened.Someone feels sad more than I feel tonight. It is despairing; devoid of hope. I am not the only one who's battling with my own life, as if an exclamation mark of my life has become a dot t
Last Updated: 2022-04-07
Chapter: CHAPTER 5"Synecdoche, wake up. Wake up, hey." I heard a voice."What happened to you? Wake up," he added. He patted my back and my eyes opened. I saw him, his very pleasant face."What happened, Vani?" I asked, checking around to see where I was."What? I don't know? I just saw you here being stunned as if you're thrown for a loop. Where did you go? You look so skanky with your grimy clothes, and shabby hair. I've been looking for you for a while." I looked at his hands that are resting on my shoulders and I looked at my clothes. He's telling the truth. As if I was chased by a hippopotamus or a bull or any other wild animal here in the forest.I suddenly thought about what had happened to me. I look to the side and there's a well.The well.I immediately stood up and I looked inside the well. It is so dark below and I can see nothing but a fading brick. I think I fell here earlier and then the Manjies chased me. I can still hear their eer
Last Updated: 2022-04-07
Chapter: CHAPTER 4"Are you okay, Expert?" A girl asked as we all walked towards the quadrangle because the Embassy was already here. What was the problem with this woman? Why does she call me an expert? I know it's weird that someone is having a conversation with me. I'm not prepared. I might be in a hot seat because of this age transition.I mean, my body was rejuvenated because of that synth-and-metal machine, but my memories were still here. Constant. I can still remember Padre, and the books and the dictionary, and how the Embassy takes a domineering control."My name is not expert. My name is Synecdoche Rochet," I muttered. Suddenly, some birds started to sit on both sides of her shoulders like she was the owner. The hums of the birds sound like they are not afraid of the branch when it breaks.She talked to the birds before she faced and complimented me, "Oh, what a nice name, Exp—I mean Synecdoche. Well, just look up, that's my name. Nice to meet you. Jus
Last Updated: 2022-04-07
Chapter: CHAPTER 3Aside from the day I chased the piglet, I just got out of the house again. I think that the blue sky above appreciates my happiness today. I'm under this roof of blue sky, in a field of mid-day sunshine, surrounded by the scent of wet grass and the music of song birds and buzzing insects. I can see the ferocious monkey-eating eagle; bluish eyes, a large, sharp, curved beak, and a warlike headdress of spiky feathers, giving a striking appearance.Appearance.I looked 18, again and I will be studying in school.For the first time.I am excited. The farmers were excited.It is a new day. It is a new life.And maybe a new trouble.The wind blew our seal above the bamboo pole. I have always thought of the wind as so free, chaotic even, yet it has its path, even if there are infinite possible destinations. Its air has its passion, a drive that powers onwards, every direction an option.I went to any direction. But do I have an
Last Updated: 2022-04-07
Chapter: CHAPTER 2Synecdoche's POV.Our hearts beat only with their permission. But at least, we have never known a world without them.I did not know that our nation was divided separately and alphabetically from A to Z—not until I read a dictionary, stopped on its page 143, saw an English word, and went outside to see if we have it."A single rice grain is equivalent to death because we are forbidden to eat even half of it, even if we are the ones who cultivate and harvest it. That's why, I don't want you to go out, Synecdoche. Soldiers—the Manjies, will attack you," Padre Oriel said, lighting up the candle near the altar.He's the one who fostered me since before. I want to thank him a million times for saving my life—several times as how often I recite, recall and reflect on those letters and definitions of the words in the dictionary; how often I look outside those windows."Can I be in a state of fear without being afraid of them?" I asked hi
Last Updated: 2022-03-03
Chapter: CHAPTER 1Synecdoche's POV."The dictionary is simply our universe arranged in Alphabetical order. Let the letters let you, Synecdoche Rochet. Remember why you are here," Coach Medrano reminded me for the last time as he inserted the golden wheat leaves in my hair that symbolized our identity."Go. Grow. Glow," I said, clenching my fist, scrunching fingers like cannonballs. I know that there are hidden cameras inside here in Mahar's Launch Room."What do you mean?" Coach Medrano asked hat is off."The prize," I whispered. I wonder why he's with me right now. I wonder why the Embassy gave each tribute a chamber. I hope Ulap, Token, Keithwarth, and Vani will stick to our plan for the final stage of the competition. We haven't seen each other today but we're prepared to spell words. We're trained enough.I boldly faced my Coach and said, "I want that ruthless Ambassador Hugo Cassidy to go. I want our grainfield to grow back from being burned, I want
Last Updated: 2022-03-03
Spell And Kill (Taglish)
"Our heart beats only with their permission."
For as long as she can remember, the bookworm Synecdoche Rochet, 23, has lived a simple life in Maharlika Nation—hiding in the grasses and grains of District G to avoid the terrifying power of the Embassy and its ruthless Ambassador.
In a dytopian world that is controlled and opressed, Synecdoche Rochet embarks on a mission to get back their rights on their district's valuable resources—the grains. When she discovered her intellectual ability, she found herself drawn to the charismatic Giovanni, the long-lost Ambassador's previleged son together with other intelligent students, Ulap, Token and Keithwarth. They found themselves being the tributes on the 2nd Maharlika Spelling TwistBee—trapped in the Word Arena. An annually commemorated survival game where each district will represent 1 letter in the Alphabet, spell the given English words not verbally, but by brutal killings of other competitors who have letter tattoos on their arms. The rules are to Spell and Kill.
Within the killer's reach, the team-up of Synecdoche, Giovanni, Ulap, Token and Keithwarth isn't a coincidence, it's a conspiracy. What if Synecdoche's age will be reversed? Will they use their intelligence for vengeance? Will they compel love and trust to survive the battle royale? Is their life the price or the prize?
"Even the shortest word has the longest meaning. Spell the words and kill with swords!"
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Chapter: EPILOGUEWe eradicated the chaos. Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization. Ang bulalakaw na pumukaw sa natutulog na paraiso ang dahilan ng pagkabuklod-buklod. Bawat letra ay katumbas ng bawat tao, sa bawat distrito, na may kani-kaniyang pamumuhay. Our world is arranged in Alphabetical order—as well our life. Natutunan kong 'di lahat ng sinasabing maayos ay nakaayos. I am not a word but I have my origin, my definition, my purpose, my own example. Regardless of how short and long—how easy and difficult, how complicated. Young people have this almost romantic attachment to civil rights, liberties, emancipating people from oppression, from being controlled. The idea that such oppression exists in this nation offends me, but it's able to be pushed and sold because education in this nation is so woefully incompetent and inept—but it's not too late. This is who we are and
Last Updated: 2022-03-28
Chapter: CHAPTER 38: HOPEScientist Mr. David Abalos has been assigned the position of Acting Ambassador, La Maharlika Projects—for telling the truth. Military Presence will be increased until the Rebellion can be put down and the game is complete. We will not be stopped short of our unification Goal. The bidders still want to bid. Billions of words to pick, no matter how long and short they are. Mahar is still a paradise for all. Scientist Mr. Connor Everdeen has been found guilty of treason and sentenced to death by order of the house of the lords, origin office—for a no permit experimentiation of a tribute named Synecdoche Rochet, from District G. Disqualification is amended. Current Ambassador Hugo Cassidy will execute the sentence at his discretion. May silence bring him peace. Naririnig ko pa rin si Mikey sa speaker. As soon as the day engulfs by darkness, I saw the flying ship again, silver and gold. So closed to the ground. Not even before. The ship cover
Last Updated: 2022-03-28
Chapter: CHAPTER 37: EIGHTH WORDOnly energy in its purest form. Heat and power and connection. In a world where letters are the indicators—of our death. Sa buong buhay ko, I've been afraid it would overwhelm me. That the feelings are too big, the people too many, the pain too great. I spent every minute of every hour of every day understanding the definitions of everything from having to feel all the life there that is around me. I always taught myself that I am not alone. Because even the words have synonyms. Even the words have creators. May ibat-ibang lengguwahe. The words can be deceiving. May kani-kaniyang pinagmulan. Kagaya nila, namin, nating lahat. It's the freedom. We lost our vocabulary, our knowledge. What we have lost, we have lost together. To say that the government deliberately adopted the Machiavellian policy of mastering the revolution by setting race against race, shatters those who shattered, reaped on the 2nd Maharlika Spelling Twistbee—would be to pay too high a compliment to i
Last Updated: 2022-03-28
Chapter: CHAPTER 36: SEVENTH WORDTirik na ang araw nang gumising ako. Akala ko papatayin nila ako kasi pagkabangon ko ay bigla na lang nila akong hinampas sa ulo ng itlog. Nabiyak ang itlog at namantsahan ako sa laman nito at ang hinihigaan kong grass. "Happy Birthday, Synecdoche!" Sabay na sabi nila. I did not expect this. I was so shocked. I looked Vani, nagtutukan lang kami at bigla na lang siyang tumawa. "I don't need to explain. I just told them. It's your special day." "Why throw me eggs?" Tiningnan nila si Yong. "It's a tradition in the Youth Industry. We, youths throw eggs. Buti nga walang flour dito sa Arena. Bagay siya pagkatapos batuhin ng itlog para dumikit. And here's a blood," Lumapit siya sa akin. He marked something on my forehead, "We mark cross on the celebrant's forehead using the chicken's blood." I smiled. Ganoon pala 'yun? "Earlier this morning, ginising kami ni Vani and he told us that it's your birthday. Went to a farm to catch th
Last Updated: 2022-03-27
Chapter: CHAPTER 35: SYNECDOCHE"So you were twins," Tanong ni Pen kay Yong at Vani. Nakapalibot kami lahat sa isang apoy na lumalagablab. Gabi na at panahon na para magpahinga ngunit napagdesisyunan naming mag-usap muna. At kung mayroong killers dito sa grupo namin ay hindi kami magpapatayan. "What do you think?" Yong asked back. Nagluluto siya ng isang hippo. Tumango na lamang si Pen kasi halata naman sa mukha nila. Mariin naman siyang humiga at tumingin sa kalangitan. Pinaghalo ng hanging malamig at init ng apoy ang aming paligid. We can hear the crickets, pati ang uwang ng mga lobo, we can hear the cascading waterfall nearby. Napalilibutan kami ng kadiliman ngunit kapag tumingin sa taas ay makikita ang mga bituing nagniningning ngunit mapula ang buong kalangitan na para bang nagbabadya. I smiled when I heard people singing blocks away. I am glad they're alive. Those jinglers who love music. Always joyful. Nang biglang umiyak ang dalawang sanggol ay bigla na lang
Last Updated: 2022-03-26
Chapter: CHAPTER 34: SIXTH WORD Wala si Yana. The next days we burried Yana. Malapit sa iba't-ibang mga bulaklak na pinagtulungan naming i-arrange bilang mga palamuti. Yong was in somber. He's crying in front of Yana who is wearing a white dress that I made it. I got a thread and a needle. I knitted it, just like Aling Khaty did. Got them from the boxes. I heard Sam again—transferring from one boxes to another. I know all Mahar is watching us. Because they know I need clothes for her. But they gave thread and needle instead. They still need me to be challenged. Afterall, it's a goddamn game for them—picking their bets. Madaling araw pa lang kanina ay maaga na akong nagising at nag-ikot. Kumuha ako ng mga boxes sa pag-aakalang mayroon kaming makukuha. At hindi ako nabigo. I got 10 boxes. I have spelled the words. Those one of the most difficult words. I almost missed it but as I closed my eyes, jumbled letters began to flow like pixie dusts forming a word. It's like a magic but It's not
Last Updated: 2022-03-25
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