"THE barangay captain of San Victoria, he said, the bridge that connects the road to here, and to the other side of town was cut." Gregorio lied to them.
"What do you mean Sir?" Carlos immediately asked the artist who was obviously nervous because he remembered his friend Noel and even the caretaker, Mang Nestor.The students exchanged glances."How are Noel and Mang Nestor?" Alyssa asked the artist and held her friend Maggie's hand tightly."Don't worry guys, they're fine." Gregorio smiled in response to them, as he still had many lies already formed in his mind."Thank God!" said the students. They even signed the cross which secretly annoyed the artist."People who are stranded and unable to cross are in the municipality. Among them are Mang Nestor and Noel," in addition to what he said and sat on the sofa in front of the students. "When the rain stops I'll try to go to the other town to catch up.""Sir, how can you get there, you said the bridge was cut." SaHER fellow students were silent, their eyes also focused on Carlos and the woman who was walking with him. She seems to be the one the artist tells them to temporarily replace Mang Nestor as a cook."Good afternoon," the old woman greeted them."Good afternoon, too," they replied."Please sit down," Alyssa said and helped the old woman sit next to her."Are you the one to temporarily replace Mang Nestor?" Maggie asked the old woman.The old woman nodded."My name is Iseng, just call me Aling Iseng." Introducing the woman to herself."We're glad to meet Aling Iseng!" Maureen and Charlotte said, almost at the same time.They also introduced themselves one by one to Aling Iseng.The old woman looks kind but Alyssa notices that she always seems to avoid looking. Maybe she's ashamed of them. That's the reason she thinks."Where is Sir?" Aling Iseng asked, referring to the artist."He's in his room, but he told us that you're coming," Alyssa said. "J
"All right, go upstairs, I'll follow you later. We'll play tongits first, Maureen saw some cards in the room where they were staying,""Can you play tongits?" she asked Maggie. During the time they were together, she had never seen her hold a card."What's the use of Carlos, if he doesn't teach me, hehe,"Carlos scratched his neck, he was ashamed of Alyssa, she might think he was gambling."My Dad and I enjoy playing cards or chess sometimes when I visit him," Carlos confessed. "But I don't gamble," he defended himself."Don't be defensive," Maureen whispered to him."Of course, in order not to break his handsome points to Alyssa." Charlotte also jokes with him."Noel isn't here, so you're bullying me," Carlos said but his eyes were on Alyssa.Alyssa completely avoided Carlos' gaze."All right, I'm going up, enjoy playing cards." Alyssa turned away."I'll just follow you girl!" Maggie said that her eyes were already focused on the cards she was holding.
ALYSSA covered both of her ears with her hands as the artist started laughing."Sofia....!" Alyssa shouted when she saw the painting swallow her. She cried on one side of that room because of the pity she felt for Sofia.Alyssa let go of the painting she was holding, she suddenly returned to the present. She moved so quickly, that she put the paintings back in place for fear that the artist might return to the mansion.Alyssa was about to close the cabinet when she noticed the boxes at the foot of the statue. The girl looked at the small but medium-length boxes.The year 2016The year 2017The year 2018The year 2019 is the current year, these are the ones indicated on the top of the boxes. She took the year 2019 and carefully removed the cover.Paintbrushes! She whispered to herself.She took a paintbrush and looked at it carefully, she read something written. "Miguel," when she read what was written, she suddenly saw in her vision Miguel's face crying an
"You know?" Charlotte asked in surprise. "You're in the room, aren't you?"Alyssa stopped chewing and quickly thought of an excuse."Yeah," she said. "I was at the window of the room when I saw Sir's car arrive." Alyssa lied.Again Alyssa continued to eat the bread but she was still thinking about what she had discovered in the room and the artist’s secret. She wondered how to begin to say, that she would not look ridiculous to them.She noticed Aling Iseng glancing at them as she sliced the pumpkin, she felt that she might be listening to their conversations. Maybe even the old woman is an accomplice of the artist. She'd better keep the artist's secret to herself first, she'll find the right time to warn her fellow students to beware of him.Gregorio looked carefully inside his room, nothing suspicious happened but he seemed to feel nervous. He thought, that someone might have entered his room when he was not in the mansion because he forgot to lock
MAGGIE sipped the soup with a sound."Yeah, Aling Iseng, super B!" Charlotte said that she used her hands to eat.The old woman just smiled modestly at the compliment she heard."Hey, why you are so quiet," Maggie commented to Alyssa that noticed her friend seemed to be having a hard time raising the spoon. "Need help?""Just eat there," Alyssa replied without looking at her friend."I'm going to feed you, it's like you can't lift the spoon you're holding." Maggie was still joking with Alyssa.Alyssa's eyes narrowed at her friend."I think I have a headache," Alyssa admitted. As much as she was thinking, she felt the pain in her head, she was thinking about what she was going to do, how she could warn her colleagues to be careful with the artist."Sip some hot broth, Alyssa," Gregorio said that he had been watching her.Alyssa raised her head and looked slightly at the artist."Yes sir!" She answered sparingly.
"A-aahhh because," Alyssa's mouth twitched, her fingers restless."Because?'' Carlos smile.Alyssa was about to speak when the power went out, it was dark inside the Mansion. She was scared so she hugged Carlos."Don't leave me, I don't see anything," Alyssa begged him, even though she couldn't see him. Fortunately, she had finished brushing her teeth so her breath smelling fresh. Her arms were still tightly wrapped around his neck."Ssssshhh, I won't leave you," Carlos whispered to her, he couldn't move. He was afraid to touch even a strand of Alyssa's hair and she might slap him. But his heart secretly celebrated when the girl hugged him even though it wasn't intentional.The three girls came out of the kitchen holding hands."Alyssa!" Maggie called to her friend, she widened her eyes so she could see Alyssa."Carlos, Alyssa, where are you guys?!" Maureen shouted as one arm was slightly raised like a zombie.Alyssa heard fellow students calling to them.
CARLOS noticed Alyssa's strange behavior, she was watching them play cards but she seemed to be thinking of something. She was stunned and did not blink her eyes.Maggie noticed Carlos staring at her friend, so she also looked at Alyssa."Hey, Alyssa!'' Maggie called her attention and waved the card she was holding in front of her face. "Is there a problem?""I'm just thinking," she answered gently.Alyssa's butt suddenly lifted when she remembered the earrings she had seen inside the artist's room."It's Noel's earring, isn't it?" Alyssa showed the earring she was holding.Carlos took the earring in her hand and stared at it carefully."Yes, Noel owns it, why do you have this earring?" Carlos asked her.Alyssa didn't answer, she thought carefully about how she would start telling them the artist's secret she had discovered."Alyssa?" It's Carlos again."I saw that in Sir's bedroom," she confessed. It would be goo
Charlotte and Maureen had left but she could hear their laughter, and she knew they were talking about her."Don't pay any attention to them," Maggie whispered to her. She nodded in response.Carlos also stood up and stretched his body. "Come on, let's go up too."Alyssa and Maggie also stood up.The three went up the stairs."Alyssa, please don't be upset with us. Please understand us, it's not really easy to believe what you said but it doesn't mean we won't believe you anymore," said Carlos as he stepped up the stairs.Carlos glanced at her slightly, he saw that she was just silent as if she didn't want to speak.When they reached the top of the stairs, they also separated to go to their rooms.When they entered the room, Alyssa ran to the bed lay down.Maggie locked the door and then stepped closer to her friend."Friend," Maggie called to Alyssa, she heard her faint sob. She worriedly rubbed her back."Don't cry,
Alyssa struggled. She couldn't breathe.Blagh!The fire was blazing in the hole. Gregorio released the woman.Gregorio felt his whole body heat up. He backed away from the woman while touching different parts of his body.Carlos immediately helped Alyssa, raising her head."Alyssa!" Maggie called to her friend. She knelt next to her. "Carlos, Alyssa isn't moving anymore!" Crying, Maggie said and shook her unconscious friend's shoulder."Alyssa, open your eyes!'' Carlos cried. He touched her wrist. He felt her heart beating weakly. "Her heart is still beating!" He quickly laid her on the ground. He opened her mouth and gave her mouth to mouth, resuscitation to allow air to enter his heart.Alyssa sighed as if she was chasing her breath.Carlos quickly lifted Alyss's head. Maggie prayed thanks to the lord when she saw that Carlos had revived her friend."Maggie..." Alyssa called softly to her friend. She is crying.
"HE was outside the mansion. Your friends were also there to stop Sir Gregorio from burning the painting that imprisoned you.Alyssa was happy with what she found out. She was thankful to god that the two were safe."Aling Iseng, I need the key to Sir Gregorio's bedroom."The old woman, quickly reached into her pocket and handed a bunch of keys to her.Alyssa quickly reached for the keys. She forgot to ask the old woman which of those keys was for the artist’s bedroom.Alyssa almost ran up the stairs to reach the artist's bedroom.Aling Iseng's gaze just followed Alyssa with her back turned. She quickly walked away from the stairs to hide."Which of these keys is for his bedroom?" she whispered in disgust. She had already tried five keys, but the bedroom door, had not yet been opened. She tried again.Click! Alyssa heard the sound of the doorknob. She push the door.Alyssa hurried into the bedroom. She picked up th
Alyssa held her head, trying to remember why she was in that place again. She didn't remember anything. Maybe she was dreaming again.Alyssa was about to take a step when her body was out of balance. She fell on the grass."Ouch, it hurts!" Alyssa said softly. She got up quickly. She looked down and saw a rope tied to her feet.What could have happened to me? Why are my feet tied?She sat down on the grass. She quickly removed the rope tied to her feet. She stood up again, took a deep breath before starting to step.Alyssa took a walk, looking around. The surroundings were beautiful. If she wasn't mistaken, she was in a paradise!Alyssa noticed a colorful butterfly flying back and forth at her. She chased the butterfly to catch it.Alyssa stopped running when she noticed a long white bench not far from her. She remembered this. Now she was positive that she was in her dream again.She stopped chasing the butterfly and walked in t
"Don't!" Alyssa stopped the artist. She covered her mouth with her hand while crying. "Have mercy, Sir, leave my friend alone. I'll do what you want!" she quickly wrote her full name and signed it.Alyssa slipped the paintbrush into the pocket of her denim shorts in the back."You make a drama scene before you do what I ask you to do!" The artist said happily and left Maggie lying down. He hid the gun.Alyssa felt dizzy, held her hands to her forehead."Aaaaahhh!" Alyssa growled. She didn't notice the transformation of the painting because her eyes were tightly closed.Even though her stomach hurt, Maggie still insisted on sitting down. Her eyes widened as she looked at the painting.What is that? Maggie asked herself terribly."Alyssa!"Alyssa heard Carlos calling her name, but she couldn't look at him because she felt the whole area was spinning."Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!" Gregorio laughed when he saw that the hole in the mid
"What are you waiting for?!" Gregorio yelled at the woman.Charlotte moved quickly, her hand shaking as she began to paint the woman's hair in the painting."Heck, the outcome of your painting must be beautiful!" In anger, he pulled Charlotte's hair."Ouch! It hurts!" Charlotte moaned in tears. She quickly grabbed the artist's hand that was tightly gripping her hair."Hurry up, don't slow down!" He said and violently let go of her hair.Her face almost gnawed at the painting.Charlotte quickly wiped the tears from her eyes, using her fingers. Charlotte painted again, she forced herself to calm down, and maybe if she made a mistake, the artist might hurt her again."Write your name and sign it!" Gregorio commanded the woman when he saw she was done painting.Charlotte quickly followed. She didn't even think of a reason why she had to do it."WHAT IS HAPPENING?" Maggie asked when she heard Charlotte's scream.
"Don't worry Alyssa, they're with you!" Gregorio replied, violently letting go of Alyssa's hair."What are you going to do with us?" Alyssa asked even though she already had a feeling that the artist was planning something bad for them."As you guessed, Alyssa!" Gregorio shouted. "I'm smarter than you! If you all think you can escape what's destined to happen to you, you're wrong!" He added and sat down on the sofa again.Gregorio looked at the three students, they were moaning."I don't see anything. Alyssa, where are you?!" Maggie moved her hands, she felt something tightly tied around her hands. "What's going on, what does it mean?""Maggie, I'm here," Alyssa replied, but she couldn't move because her legs were also tied."Charlotte, Carlos?" she called two other fellow students."I'm here Alyssa!" Carlos replied when he heard her voice."What's happening?" Charlotte couldn't help but cry when she realized her hands and
"Hmmm... I'm sorry Sir, we're just worried about Maureen. We haven't seen her yet," that was what Alyssa thought was a good reason to see what the artist’s reaction would be."Let's eat first. Later, we'll work together to find Maureen. I'm sure she's just here at the mansion." Said the artist.Alyssa was disappointed in what she expected to be the artist’s reaction, she couldn’t see in his face that he was just lying.The four students kept their mouths shut, afraid to speak."Aling Iseng, please put their bowls of the pork stew you cooked," Gregorio gently ordered the old woman.Aling Iseng quickly complied. She took the casserole with pork stewed, placed it on the table. She took the students' bowls and put soups and some pieces of meat and vegetables."Thank you Aling Iseng, ' the students said politely as they handed over their bowls.Aling Iseng also sat in the chair next to the artist, but she also stood up qu
"Tell me, why those cellphones are in Sir Gregorio's trash bag?" Alyssa asked. They were speechless. "I feel like something bad happened to them," Charlotte admitted. "Earlier, I opened Daisy's cellphone, I read her older brother's message, and it looks like Daisy didn't come home to them." "How can you say that?" Carlos asked. He still couldn't believe that the artist could do bad things. From what he showed them, you could tell he was really kind and he took care of them with food. "I read in Daisy's older brother's message that he was asking when she would return to Manila, which means Daisy didn't leave the mansion. She didn't go home to them, her family was very worried about her." Charlotte replied. Carlos sighed and looked at Alyssa. If it was true that she saw herself as the next victim of the artist, he would not agree. He had to protect the woman he loved, he would do everything he could, just don't let her get hurt. "I find
"Yes Sir, just a finishing touch!" Carlos answered."Very good!"A few more hours passed and the four finished painting almost at the same time.Gregorio stood up to look at their painting. He looked at Carlos first.“Beautiful,” said the artist. Carlos’s masterpiece is buildings, it's beautifully colored.The next thing he looked at was Maggie's painting."Even if you don't like drawing and painting, but you've still made a beautiful masterpiece." Gregorio praises Maggie. The ocean is the one she painted, there is a boat in the middle of the sea."Thank you, Sir," Maggie was pleased with that compliment to her by the artist.Next, he looked at Alyssa's painting. It was a stream and there were three women doing laundry, their faces looked happy."Wow, I can say that you are already a great artist Alyssa." He smiled proudly at Alyssa. He held out his right hand to shake hands with her.Alyssa hesi