III - Murder in the Woods

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Primrose's POV

Isang kagimbal-gimbal na balita ang gumising sa mga taga-Wonderland. I wouldn't be surprise when I heard the news, because at the time of the crime, I was happened to be a witness - a blind witness.

A man was gruesomely murdered by a vampire.

Natagpuan ang bangkay nito malapit sa lugar kung saan ako nakita ni Barbara kagabi. May kagat ito ng pangil sa leeg at isang saksak ng patalim sa puso na agad nitong ikinamatay. Nabalot ng takot ang ilan sa mga residente. Who wouldn't? One of these days, maybe one of us will be their next victim.

I'm standing outside of the circus along with Moiselle and others. Nakikibalita lang din kami tungkol sa krimen.

"Usually, hindi basta-bastang pumapatay ang mga bampira sa Wonderland, lalo na kung dugo lang ang pakay nila sa biktima," rinig kong wika ni Moiselle. "It's been a long time since the last murder. Hindi na 'yon nasundan pa until today."

"You know a lot about them, don't you?"

Pagak itong tumawa. "Siyempre. Dito ako lumaki at saksi ako sa lahat ng kababalaghang bumabalot sa lugar na 'to."

Of course. She knows everything.

"Speaking of vampires, based sa librong nabasa ko last time, nabubuhay lang sila sa pagsipsip ng dugo. If that's the case, then possible na dumami ang populasyon nila. They can turn humans into vampires by sucking blood out of them. 'Di ka ba natatakot?"

Naitanong ko lang, dahil sa nakikita ko kay Moiselle na parang wala itong kinatatakutan. Her bubbliness turns into bravery na tila nanghahamon.

"Oh, no. I don't care about those creatures. They're only here for blood, after all. Ang katakataka lang, bakit pinatay ng salarin ang biktima? Just because they want to drink his blood? I don't understand vampires as long as I live."

"Kung 'di niya papatayin ang lalaki, edi isa na rin 'yong bampira. Tanga mo naman," ani Peter na nasa likod namin.

Dumistansya ako ng kaunti nang mapansin ang ilang caterpillars na nakadikit sa kamay niya. Juskong tao 'to. 'Di niya ba mabitaw-bitawan 'yan?

"You're the one who's stupid," depensa ni Moiselle. "Sinong bampira ang ayaw magparami ng lahi? Umalis ka nga rito, sumasakit ang ulo ko sa 'yo!"

"Tsk," palatak ni Peter at saka ito naglakad palayo. So these two aren't in good terms. Mas masahol pa sila sa magkapatid na araw-araw nagbababag.

This is not good. I need to find Alois as soon as possible so that I can leave this place immediately! I don't want to die in this creepy strange place!

But how? Where do I begin?

"Moiselle, we need to talk," sabi ko sabay hila sa kanya pabalik sa tent na tinulugan ko. Doon kami nag-usap.

"Anong pag-uusapan natin?" clueless na tanong ni Moiselle.

I put my both hands on her shoulders as I looked at her straightly. "Listen. I have to go. May kailangan akong hanapin and it's very important to me. I want you to cover my absence to your fellow members. Think of any reason basta mapaniwala mo sila. Now, would you? Please, Moiselle."

It took a while before she replied. "Hindi kita maintindihan. Bakit biglaan naman yata? Tsaka, sinong hinahanap mo? Anong pangalan? Baka kilala ko."

"I don't think you know a white rabbit named Alois," I muttered.

"Huh?"

"I was looking for a white rabbit. Do you know where it is? Huli ko siyang nakita bago tayo nagkakilala sa ilalim ng puno."

She laughed hard like she's gonna die. What's with this girl?

"Why are you chasing a white rabbit of all things? Marami n'on dito at iisa lang ang hitsura nila. Mahihirapan tayong alamin kung sino sa daan-daang rabbit ang hinahanap mo."

"I've been taking care of Alois since my mother gave it to me. I'm sure if he sees me, makikilala niya 'ko," I said.

"Para pala siyang si Will," anito.

"Who's Will?" I asked. Is he also a rabbit or what?

"Siya 'yong bagong alaga ng isang trapeze artist namin. Sayang, 'di ka pa napapakilala ni Happy sa kanya, 'no?" I bet she's talking about the performer na biglang nawala sa practice kagabi during the introduction scene.

Sabay kaming tumingin sa harap ng tent nang may humawi nito. Niluwa nito ang isang matangkad na lalaking nakasalamin. On his right hand, he was holding a rabbit--wait a second, is that?!

"Alois?" Hindi ako puwedeng magkamali. Si Alois ang rabbit na hawak ng lalaki! Dali-dali ko itong nilapitan at akmang hahablutin ang rabbit sa kamay ng lalaki ngunit agad itong nakaiwas.

"Don't put your dirty hands on my Will," masungit niyang sabi. "He's not yours."

"Yes, he is!" Pinagdiinan ko talaga. Sigurado ako, I have strong instincts sa mga tao o hayop na matagal ko nang kasama. Siya si Alois!

"I hope you don't mind getting hit by my pruner." Nilabas niya ang isang gardening tool na nakasandal 'ata sa labas ng tent ko. Mahaba iyon compare sa ordinary hand pruner. Para siyang baston.

I stepped back, I hid behind Moiselle who doesn't care about what he's holding. "Anong kailangan mo, Four-eyes? Tsaka pa'no mo nalamang nandito ako?" Moiselle asked.

"I saw you entering here so I followed you. Pinapatawag ka ni Happy, tumulong ka raw maghanda ng almusal. Bring this girl as well." He fixed his glasses as he went closer to me. "I didn't catch your name but perhaps I should call you a rabbit burglar. Good day."

He left us without letting me bash his face. Sa susunod na makita kita, isusungalngal ko sa bibig mo 'yang pruner mong linik ka!

"Oh, ngayon, may balak ka pa bang umalis?"

Inis kong binalingan si Mouse. "Now that he had Alois? You see, I'll have my revenge, you four-eyed colossal idiot!"



I won't leave this cruel world unless I have my Alois!

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People from circus provided one tent for kitchen, katabi niya ang infirmary na ginagamit in case of accident during the show. Tanging si Happy at Dorofey lang ang naispot-an namin sa kusina. Si Happy ang nakatokang maghiwa ng karne samantalang si Dorofey ay busy sa paghuhugas ng ingredients.

"Trabaho ng second string members ang pagluluto but he's insisting on doing this. Happy is not just our ring leader but he's good at cooking as well. Escort niya si Dorofey so expect mong lagi silang magkasama sa kitchen," bulong sa 'kin ni Moiselle.

"Yo, good morning!" Masiglang bati sa 'min ni Happy. His smile, may paraan pa ba para mabura ang ngiting iyan?

"Good morning," I greeted back with my horrid expression. Badtrip pa rin ako!

"What's up, Primrose? You look scary," usisa ni Happy. Moiselle was laughing behind my back. Wala sa sariing siniko ko siya.

"Don't mind the details. So what you guys up for breakfast?" I'm terribly hungry. Maybe if I could eat right now, baka mabawasan ang inis ko sa hinayupak na lalaking 'yon!

"Enough asking, lady. Lahat tayo gagalaw. Kaya nga tayo pinapunta ni Happy rito, e. Right, Orange boy?"

"Yes. But if I recall, ikaw lang ang pinatawag ko, Moiselle."

"That's okay! The more the merrier! Mas mapapabilis ang trabaho!"

Speak for yourself. This is torture! I have no knowledge in terms of cooking! Only Jude can give me the best dishes na hindi mo mahahanap sa mamahaling restaurants. I wish he was here.

"Yeah, right." Bumagsak ang balikat ko. Uh.

"Hey, you, sleepyhead! Huwag tutulog-tulog! Kay aga-aga, e. Magbanat ka ng buto!" sabi ni Moiselle sa kapatid niyang si Dorofey. Hindi siya nalalayo sa Dormouse ng Alice in Wonderland.

"Now, let the show begins!"

Cooking show. I've had enough of this. Manonood nalang ako. Well, that was my plan at first not until Moiselle handled me a knife and two potatoes.

"Ikaw ang bahala sa pagbabalat." I just stare at it. "Come on. Don't give me that look. 'Wag mong sabihing sa edad mong 'yan e, hindi ka marunong magbalat ng patatas?"

Bulls-eye!

"I just have trust issues with myself, that's all. Nag-iingat lang ako na magkamali sa pagbabalat," palusot ko. Worth trying naman, 'di ba?

"Maniwala ka sa kakayahan mo. Walang imposible basta magtiwala ka." Wow, friendly advice ba 'yan?

Magtiwala sa kakayahan ko. Let's see. Paano ba 'to? Kung alam ko lang na mangyayari 'to sa buhay ko, nagpaturo sana ako kay Jude ng mga basic cooking skills! Gigisahin yata ako ng matindi sa mundong ito!

Marahan kong pinaraan ang kutsilyo sa balat ng patatas. Argh, ang hirap! Ang tigas naman nito! Sinikap kong diinan ang pagbabalat gamit ang buong lakas ko subalit nang makatapos ako ng isang potato ay halos hindi ito makilala. It's so small at tadtad ng tigidig-tigidig.

Pinakita ko sa tatlo ang katarantaduhang ginawa ko. Their faces were deformed. "I told you, I can't trust myself."

"May solusyon pa ba para magamit natin 'to sa pagluluto, Orange?" sabi ni Moiselle habang nakaturo ang daliri sa patatas.

He took it and cut into small pieces, like French fries. He handed over those to Dorofey para mapirito.

I ended up as an audience in their cooking show. To avoid boredom between us, I discussed some topic about the murder. May isa pang bumabagabag sa isip ko kagabi pa. I need a concrete answer.

"Siya nga pala, bago maganap ang krimen kagabi, lumabas ako saglit para magpahangin." Wala akong choice kundi magsinungaling. "I saw Barbara in the woods. Do you have any idea what she's doing there?"

Nabigla silang tatlo. Most especially si Happy na naging seryoso ang mukha. Pansamantalang nawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Happy nang mga oras na 'yon. Why? Did I say something wrong?

"Who knows, she might be the culprit," bulong ni Moiselle na ikinagulat ko.

"Shut it, Moiselle. Barbara wouldn't do anything ghastly!" Happy cried. Things are now complicated between them. I thought they were like brothers and sisters. May mga bagay na hindi sila magkasundo.

"I'm just stating the possibility that Barbara was involved. Remember what Primrose said. She saw her in the same place last night. Besides, I know your secret. You can't blame me for suspecting her so badly."

"You brat!" Happy lost his control. He grabbed Moiselle and threw her a death glare na first time kong nasaksihan. "Bawiin mo ang sinabi mo! Matapos ka naming ituring na pamilya, 'yan ang igaganti mo sa amin, ha?"

"Hey, stop it!" Pigil ko sa dalawa. Lalong humigpit ang pagkakahawak ni Happy sa damit ni Moiselle. I was scared at that time, though. Happy used to be so 'happy'. But because of anger, the joy in his face became devilish.

Moiselle smirked. "I know nothing about family." Tinulak niya si Happy kaya kusa siyang nakawala. Nag-walk out ito pagkatapos.

So what just happened?

"I'm sorry for being aggressive. Responsibilidad ko bilang leader na disiplinahin ang mga miyembro ng circus kapag sila'y nagkakamali," paghingi ng tawad ni Happy na tinanggap ko naman.

"It's alright. But... Do you think Moiselle will be okay after all she said to you? She's really mad as much as you do."

"We're always fighting like this so you don't have to worry. I'm sure she'll be fine."

Gusto ko mang alamin kay Happy ang punut-dulo ng pag-aaway nila ay napagdesisyonan kong hayaan muna sila. Baguhan palang ako sa circus at wala ako sa posisyon para makialam sa issues nila as circus performers. Maybe I'll do this some other time. If things get better.

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