Chapter One: Funday Gone Wrong (Part Two)

A piercing sound echoed in the field. Our attention diverts to the front. In the middle of the stage, a middle-aged woman stands while holding a mic. Based on her corporate attire, she looks like an office worker or a secretary of a company. It’s not that I am interested in her outfit, though, but there's blood soiled all over her freaking clothes!

"Nandiyan sila . . . nandiyan na sila!" Blood spurts out of her mouth when she utters a loud cry. Her whole disheveled self is wobbling in fear.

Nagtilian ang mga babaeng natalsikan ng dugo malapit sa harapan ng stage. Nagsimula nang lumakas ang mga bulungan ng tao. "Nandiyan na sila!" pag-uulit niya pa sa sinabi niyang may pagbabantang tono.

Sinong sila?

Hinanap ng paningin ko ang mga pulis. Dahan-dahan silang pumunta sa stage habang nakahanda ang kanilang mga baril.

This is bad ... we need to get out of here pronto! But the other girls are missing except for Trixie. I don’t know what else to do, so I pulled her.

A loud groan echoed in the field again, impeding our plan. It sounded like she’s in deep pain before the mic dropped on the platform.

I couldn’t see the woman now that the surrounding people were blocking the view. Clearly, they just stand here taking a video rather than helping her.

A rotor noise crossed the sky unexpectedly. Three choppers hovered above us through a single route, leaving us no idea what's going on.

A rushing pickup truck suddenly comes to the scene. There’s a police officer with a megaphone standing at the truck’s cargo bed.

May hawak siyang bimpo na puno ng dugo habang nakatakip ito sa kaniyang leeg. He yelled to run for our lives, causing panic for many people.

In a blink of an eye, several loud explosions doomed the entire perya. It was like a trigger that activated people to riot. A massive hysteria spreads like a wildfire. The smell of burning flesh proves it took a toll on many lives.

If not for Trixie slapping my face, I would remain petrified like a fucking idiot in the middle of haywire.

Snow-like ashes fall from the sky. The night is becoming more suffocating and foggy than before. Unfortunately, the only exit point was the entrance itself, so we ran as fast as we could. We’re holding each other so tight. Our pulse resonated to each other along with our rapid breathing. We couldn’t see well, but we could dodge the falling debris from ruined establishments. All of my focus interrupted when she fell, twisting her ankle.

I tried pulling her, determined that I could help her walk, yet we kept falling down on the ground, making her cry more. I took a quick look at her ankle and saw a deep laceration due to glass shards on her skin; around it is a dark bruise.

Nanginginig kong binitawan ang kamay ni Trixie. Lumapit ako sa paahan niya para masuri ko nang mas maayos 'yung sugat niya and shit mukhang malala ata ito.

Pilit ko siyang hinila sa loob ng isang abandonadong booth. Tiningnan ko siya nang masinsinan.

"Stay here. I'll find help."

"No! You can't leave me here!" she cried. She pulled my hand before I could walk away. I gasped in shock when Trixie pinned me on the ground, begging not to leave.

I push her away to escape from her grip. She keeps calling my name as her blood gushes out of her mouth. Her tears and her saliva excessively drool all over her face. It’s so strange for her to react that way just because of her sprained ankles.

I took a slow step backwards and then ran.

Of course, when I said an epic surprise was waiting for her, this is not what I meant. What else could I do? Stepping away from her is the only choice I have.

I abandoned her so that I could find help along the way. But how stupid am I to assume that there’s someone will assist us? Even a police officer wouldn’t help!

And now that I could see the exit, all I could think about was saving myself from this mess.

Wala ako sa sarili nang magpaanod ako sa isang damakmak na taong gustong lumabas ng amusement park na ito. Nagkatinginan kami ng batang babae na karga-karga ng kan'yang ama. Malayo na sila sa akin, pero ramdam ko ang kan'yang takot. Sobrang ingay ng paligid pero ang iyak niya ang nangingibabaw sa lahat.

I stopped myself from taking another step when Trixie's face kept flashing in my mind.

Napakamot ako ng tenga. Tumalikod ako at pinagtutulak lahat ng taong nakaharang sa daanan ko.

I know I’m such a shithead, but contemplating whether I should escape is tiring! So I ended up emptying the decorated kariton full of merchandise beside the booth and ran with it towards Trixie.

It was too late, though, because she was nowhere to be found. A bit of hope loosened up my feelings. Maybe someone helped her!

I dialed her number to call for her. I didn't expect I would hear her familiar ringtone near me. The faint sound led me in front of the haunted house, just a one-minute walk behind the booth.

I picked up her phone at the porch to end my call. Dark stains parched all over her screen. It must be the blood coming from her mouth.

Binalutan ko na lang muna ng panyo 'yung phone niya. At saka ko iyon pinasok sa loob ng bag ko.

The front door creaked when I opened it — wait a second.

If someone helped her, why would they go inside this haunted house? And why is her phone not with her? Did she leave it here?

Everything is so dark inside, so I used my phone to lighten up the way.

I was hoping to see her with random survivors, waiting for this madness to calm. Little did I know, at the end of the cold hallway, a horrendous crime was waiting for me.

Trixie's body was already pale and ripped apart, exposing her guts as it scattered on the wooden floor. My mouth gaped apart, wanting to scream, but there's no voice coming out. I wish I was dreaming so I could wake up from this nightmare, but nothing ever happens every time I pinch myself. Thick foggy smokes are everywhere and Trixie's body is still laying on the ground.

This ... this is crazy!

I stumbled on my way to her. The warm blood soaked my hands when I tried to close the huge opening on her abdomen. Her guts keep slipping; it won't go inside her anymore.

Tinapat ko ang ilaw sa mukha niya. Nakabukas ang kan'yang mga mata kaya agad ko siyang pinulsuhan. Mahina na ang kan'yang pintig.

Napatingin siya sa akin nang tawagin ko ang pangalan niya. Unti-unting tumulo ang kan'yang luha.

"Bu … bumalik ka," halos pabulong at nauutal niyang sambit. Nanghihina niyang inabot ang aking braso. Hindi na siya tulad ng kanina na agresibo.

Ang dami kong gusto itanong sa kanya kaso iisa lang ang lumabas sa bibig ko.

"Paano?"

May gusto siyang ibulong kaya mas lumapit pa ako sa kanya.

"Sa li … kod mo."