Jet is quietly pinching his arms, trying to convince himself that everything is only a dream. Well, he doesn't even consider it one, it's a nightmare. On the back of his mind, he's wishing that someone will help them get away from this place, from this people.
"Welcome to the Reds' residence," Chairman Sun introduced as they go down the old-fashioned vehicle.
Surprisingly, it still works pretty stable. After a long discussion with the said chairman and the five mysterious siblings, Raze and Jet waited for another hour outside the office.
"Welcome home?" Saint whispered, receiving death glares from his siblings. "What?" he mouthed at them. Jet took a step back. They will never stay here for long. Their home lies in the city, not in the wild.
"It's freaking 5 in the morning!" Raze yelled while having a tug-of-war with his blanket against Claude. The sun is not yet up but the Reds are already dressed up, waiting for Jet and Raze downstairs."I know! We need to shop early for your clothes and accessories. Now get up and take a bath. Saint will bring your clothes here," Claude fought back, who is now shaking up the sleepyhead Jet.The older environmentalist sat up straight and threw hateful stares at the busy Claude. "I hate you," he said before stomping his feet to the bathroom."Same goes with you," the vampire replied with a tune.It only took them 20 minutes to prepare since they refused to use bathroom from other rooms. You know, keeping their pride. Just what Claude said, their clothes were brought by Saint in no time. They rode the van and quickly arrived at the mall. Unexpectedly, the stores are all open but there was no single customer aside from them.Conf
"We don't belong here! Do you know where we live, huh? It's far-" Jet protested."At the capital of this country. Manila to be exact. Environmentalists at ENVO, son of-" Raze's grip on the table tightened. People in Red Woods are really mysterious. Funny how they know nothing about them but the other group knows almost everything, including their personal lives."Are you a stalker or what?! Let us go! We're not here to play your shitty game! Know that we're here to work. Wake up from your sleep!" Jet fueled his shouting engine again."Tie them. They won't listen to me," Amanda instructed her guards. She then walked to the the elder Reds' direction. "Hail, Claude, I told you about this right? How come they're still rebel like this?" she hissed. Claude
"Come in," Silas answered to the knock on the door. A sweaty Magnus entered the room and was about to throw himself at the couch when his eyes met Jet's."I thought your class is done?" Magnus asked, pointing the environmentalists while catching his breath."We just started, Magnus," Saint answered. He lifted the books they're studying to show that they're busy at the moment."Go back to the palace to get some rest." Silas said."It's tiring. I'll just sleep here. I won't interrupt you, continue what you're doing," Magnus insisted. He's about to lay down the couch when Raze stopped him."But you're snore so loud," the younger annoyingly said."I don't!""You do! Our room is just next to yours! We can't sleep properly!" Jet added. Watching the three have a yelling contest might be Saint and Silas' new favorite show. What makes it more exciting is they get to see it everyday!"Stop it! Ma
Every person has a side that is a secret to most people. Many can keep that side by themselves until they reach the grave. Some hide it for they think it might affect their projected image or perception as a person. Some hide it for safety. But not everyone can possess the art of hiding."Rise the stick gently, make an eight figure, and strike it forward." For the first time, Jet and Raze heard a calm Magnus. They are used to him shouting, whining, and nagging. But this moment right in front of their face is a major turntable.Watching Magnus teach children in an open area while hiding behind the tall bushes is a thing Jet won't expect to do. A loud cry caught their attention and moved forward to see who it was. It's a little girl in braids, sitting on the ground while kicking the air and
The wooden door made a noise as Jet and Raze entered. The house is quiet, there are no screams or giggles around. The ample area feels very empty without the Reds, they thought. "You're early." Raze almost ran when he heard a deep voice coming from the kitchen. The two entered, only to see Saint, who's busy placing the chocolate chip cookie dough onto the parchment paper on the tray. After placing the tray inside the oven, he faced Raze and Jet. He greeted them with his usual warm smile and removed the mittens to get water from the fridge. "What do you mean? Do you expect us to go home late?" Raze asked Saint. The latter shook his head before drinking his cold water. "I thought the five of you will come home together," he replied. He gave Jet and Raze glasses, motioning them to also drink some water. "Oh. They are busy at the moment. Hail dropped us here with your family car," Raze said. He immediately pat Saint's back who choked on his drink. "From the theater," Jet added. Th
Ever since Jet and Raze entered the surprising world of the vampires, silence became as frequent as the blue moon. It's like there is no night and day for their never-ending verbal wars. A typical scene Silas is getting used to. "Do you want us dead?!" Jet pushed a glass of animal blood. Magnus, Jet, and Saint are on the counter while Claude and Hail, together with Raze, are playing video games. As days go by, Raze is slowly getting closer to the oldest Reds. "You'll get used to it!" Saint tried to convince the human with his cheerful voice. He even chugged a glass of blood in front of him. "I don't want to!" Jet resisted, flashing his disgusted reaction from what Saint just did. He couldn't even eat cooked pork blood in Dinuguan, how the hell can he drink fresh blood? There's no way he will do that. "Then starve and die!" Magnus shouted angrily. "Can the two of you please shut the hell up?!" Hail exclaimed from the living room. He is the first one to finish the race that's
"Jet." A trembling voice echoed through the dark chamber. Even if Jet widens his eyes, he can see nothing but darkness as if he was blind. "Mom?" No one answered his call. Left with no other choice, he started walking, feeling his surroundings with the use of his hands and feet. "Come home. Jet, come back to us," Jet's mother cried. Tears rushed down Jet's face, frustrated for he hadn't reached her Mom. "Mom, why are you here? How did you come here?" he asked. Seconds later, Jet finally saw a glimpse of light coming from the outside. A silhouette of a lady sitting on the floor is the first thing he noticed. It breaks his heart hearing his mom’s sob. He called his mom once more and ran immediately when she tilted her head towards her direction. "I’ll answer everything when we get home, Jet. I'm begging you, please come home. Your dad needs you-" Before Jet could even touch her mother, everything spun into a hypnotizing circle. He keeps on screaming while crying his heart out.
"Your fangs are so cool, Magnus! Can I touch them?" the young Vlad asked.They are playing on the border between the vampires and werewolves' territories. Magnus and Vlad just finished making a sand castle, with their dreamy hands thinking that someday, they'll share a joint territory. A joint kingdom to protect and preserve their home, the forests."Not with your soiled hands, Vlad," Magnus strictly restricted his playmate. Both of their hands are covered in soil from the work they did.Wearing their own school uniforms, the young werewolves and vampires always meet at the border of Red Woods and Meteor Woods secretly. They don’t have any idea why the elders told them to stay away from each other. Both of them are unaware of the bloody past their clans had."Wait for me here." Vlad rushed to the washing area and washed his little hands as thoroughly as he could. "They're now clean, so can I?" He asked, panting from the run he did. Before giving him permission, Magnus also cleaned his
In a secret room located at the Chairman’s office, Sun was deliberately scanning the contents of the opened barrier the royal vampires handed. It is indeed, the lost Red Woods Royal Album dated before the worst war they encountered — The Human-Vampire War.The Royal Album consisted of pictures of the previous Kings and Queens from different regions of Red Woods. Images of the greatest warriors and hunters and life in the whole community are also included in the compilation. “The truth is slowly unveiling itself,” Sun whispered as he browsed through the pictures where Jet’s Mom and Raze’s Dad are completely shown up. Eliana Riziel. Chief Commander for Archery, Cerise, Red WoodsHarvard Deviosa. Master Hunter, Red WoodsThese are the parents of the new royals who happened to be prominent people of Red Woods. Before Sun could indulge himself with theories that lead up to where they are now, he flipped to the next page where he is welcomed by photographs with notes scribbled below them.
“Your parents?” Silas asked for clarification. “Yes! I have a picture of my mom when she was younger. I kept it in my wallet,” Jet hurriedly said and took out a polaroid photo with her mom on it and handed it to Silas. They immediately placed it side by side with the picture in the album. Jet might be right. Those two pictures are really identical despite the difference in posture and clothes. Saint nudged his elbow on Raze’s, silently asking for a reference picture just like what Jet did. “I only saw my dad in pictures Mom has shown me,” Raze quietly responded, lowering his head down. The six of them exchanged glares, asking with their eyes what is the most appropriate word to reply. “Don’t worry about me, I’m used to it. Let’s solve this mystery right away. We still have to eat. Faster than a lightning, Raze’s weary voice shifted to an energetic, curious one. He also sneaked in between Hail and Silas. “Why are they with the vampires? Don’t tell me they are…”“Vampires? I don’t t
“I won’t be staying here for long. ENVO needs me, especially since these guys left the Boracay mission,” Light said after eating the last slice of his steak. “I missed it already,” Saint whispered. He wished they had more time to fully enjoy the beach. His eyes were sparkling at the jetski! “You can come back when everything’s fine here at Red Woods,” Light assured them. Saint’s fading hope was recharged. They don’t know that exact date but he looks forward to seeing a beach again. “I guess we will also go home, Sun. Thank you for the dinner.” Light carefully stood up and had fist bump with his twin. If it is not with their different clothes, they are like a living mirror. “See you tomorrow, kiddos!” The seven of them waved goodbyes on their chairs as Sun walked Light out of the ministry. After the door closes, the Reds are surrounded with quietness. No one dared to start a conversation. Or no one knows how to do it. “I think I heard you talking earlier, Hail,” Jet spoke. “Your
In no time, the Reds are on the helicopter sent by ENVO. Panic consumes the empty space between them. It’s been five minutes since they got on the vehicle yet for them, it feels like an hour has already passed. “We’ll travel faster in our form,” Magnus muttered. He badly wants to go to Red Woods. Unfortunately, he can’t right now. “Go on, transform and freak everyone out.”“Our home is in danger, Jet,” Silas whispered, his breath almost burning Jet’s ear. He can feel the collision of concern, impatience, and madness from that. “I know, I heard it myself. But please calm down, Silas. You cannot jump off from this helicopter. We’ll get there within this day,” Jet assured and pushed Silas’ head gently away from him. He looked for Hail and Claude who were suspiciously quiet since they got in the vehicle. Both of them have their eyes closed, but not sleeping. Maybe it’s their way of dealing with stress, Jet thought. Magnus and Saint are both looking at the clouds, counting how many sec
“Raze!” Saint shouted when he spotted Raze’s back. He ran faster than he knew to reach his brother as quickly as possible. Saint gasped for air when he saw Raze holding up a person in the air, choking him with his tensed hands. “Put me down, you monster!” The old man screamed. He keeps on fighting Raze’s tight grip on his neck. The man is in his 60’s, wearing a dark green long sleeve and a parachute pants. His slippers are on the leaves as his bare feet are hung up in the air. Saint saw how Raze’s eyes glowed brighter. “You must pay the consequences of your action. And no, I won’t let you go until you are captured and put to jail,” Raze emphasized. Is he the one who put the trees on fire? The man’s angry yet desperate cry brought back Saint in reality. He grabbed Raze’s wrist, “You’re choking him to death, Raze. Let him go!” he shouted. “No! He’s the one who burned the trees. He should be accountable for his crime!” Raze insisted. Saint has no other choice but to use his stren
The Reds can't really say, "expect the unexpected". This is their main reason for coming here at Boracay: to check up on the abuses this place gets and find the culprit. But they didn't expect that they would do it as early as now on this unsuspected night."There it is. I'm pretty sure there is a fire going on," Hail pointed out the glowing mountain top. The fire seems to be a bit bigger than the first time they saw it.All of them ran quickly inside after realizing what's happening. "Bring your flashlights and any weapons you can use. This is our first mission together. The culprit must be held accountable tonight," Jet instructed them. The seven of them shoved their items in their backpacks. In addition, they brought a few liters of water, in hopes that they could cease the fire before it spreads."Let's go," Magnus said.--They all walked as briskly as they could under the bright moonlight. With flashlights on their hands, the Reds stopped after reaching the foot of the mountain.
Beach and summer are one of the best pairs in the world. There is nothing more exciting than to surround yourself in the saltwater while searching for authentic sea shells or riding on the waves. That will be the perfect time to let the waves take away your stress, fears, and worries. After managing all their things, the Reds, led by Jet and Raze, walked along Boracay’s seashore. There are a lot of people with different nationalities having fun in the crystal clear water. They finished setting up during the sunset when people are already coming out of the water and tidying up in the cottages, preparing to leave. Although given the chance, the Reds refused to submerge themselves in the water, putting the ENVO mission as their priority. A wave in the toes was just fine and enough.“Can’t sleep, too?” Jet asked, his hands buried in the pocket of his pants. He is wearing a jacket and thick pants to protect himself in the cold. Magnus looked up to him and then back to the fine sand. Mag
“So that’s your condition? To not use any of our vampire skills while in your house? That should be fine,” Hail shrugged and focused on the crème brûlée he is eating. He already ate two of them but he can’t just get enough of them. These custards are out of the world, so he thought of learning how to cook them. “That’s great then. As much as possible, do not attract people with your weird actions that only vampires can understand,” Jet said. Humans in the vampire world are weird but vampires in the human world are even weirder and more dangerous. Jet and Raze could not have full control over their brothers’ brain; that's why warning them is the best way they can do for now. Little did they know, a lot of vampires have already been living in the human world for a couple of years, adapted to the environment, and are now living like normal people. “We’ll try our best,” Claude assured them. That night, Magnus, Saint, and Claude slept in the Eleazar’s guest room while Hail and Silas sl
“Get out of my room will you?!” Jet’s face is as red as a tomato. The four of them are in the living room while Jet’s mother went to the grocery store. Jet’s 72-inch television was on but instead of watching a movie, Magnus and Claude are playing Jet’s Xbox while Saint is quietly scanning the magazines on the small, round table. “Hey! I never yelled at you like that when you at Red Woods!” Magnus screamed back. Claude is having a good time because he is three punches away to defeat Magnus. “I don’t care! You know I hate it when someone touches my belongings without my permission!”“We’re already brothers so it’s normal. Don’t act like a kid, Jet. We’re having fun with this…Xbox?” Claude read the big letters printed on the box. When they said they were brothers, that means them being comfortable in using each other’s belongings as long as they don’t ruin it. A thing that Jet hates so much.“Don’t touch that!” No response. Jet turned his back from the playing brothers and grabbed some