Chapter 4

Napatayo ako nang matuwid. I nodded, signaling him to continue.

“The chaser and runner thing that you’ve heard from us was founded by Maximo, the current leader of the chasers. It all started when he started comparing the animal and human behavior. He claimed that humans are just specialized animals. The only thing that brought us to the top of the hierarchy is our cognitive mind. Maliban doon, hayop pa rin ang tingin ni Maximo sa mga tao. “

“Man, I’m taking back what I said earlier. Mukhang si Maximo ang siraulo rito.”

He ignored my comment. “Hindi siya nakontento sa ginawang experiment. He elevated his study by using the people of Accredon as one of his variables. He planned to divide the people into two. One will play as the predator while the other group will act like prey. He told his father, Mateo, who used to be the leader of Accredon about his plan. Mateo refused his son’s offer because it’s too inhumane.”

“Where’s Mateo now? How did this chaser-runner thing happened then kung sa una pa lang nama’y tinutulan na ito ng lider niyo?” Naguguluhan kong tanong.

“Mateo’s dead. His death was a mystery. Maximo, being the only child, had to take the throne and that’s when he introduced hell to the people of Accredon.”

Man, this Maximo guy is evil.

“In his reign, he formed a group membered by scientists and elites. Their mission is to make his plan possible, and it did. This place is now doomed,” dagdag niya.

“Paano nila pinipili kung sino ang magiging chaser at runner?”

He nodded, as if already expecting my query. “They study your brain, putting your emotions to test. Gaya ng mga hayop, they measure your level of selfishness. The higher your get, the higher the chance for you to join the chaser group.”

“Bakit kailangan niya pang idamay ang mga tao sa kabobohan niya?” singhal ko.

“That’s what we thought too.”

“Sandali nga, eh parang mas bobo kayo.” Tumaas ang kilay ko habang sinasabi iyon.

Icarus looked at my direction. He didn’t say a word, but he looked offended with my remark.

“See, sana hindi kayo pumayag sa naging desisyon niya. Just because he’s the leader of the Capitol doesn’t mean that he already owns your life. Bakit niyo siya hinayaang gawin ang lahat ng ito?” himutok ko.

He looked surprise but he immediately covered it by looking away. Humakbang siya paatras.

“You don’t get it. We were against it, marami kaming may ayaw na mangyari ito but before we could do anything about it, Maximo was already a step ahead of us.”

Nangunot ang noo ko. Umatras din ako para maharap siya.

“What the fuck does that mean?”

“He bribed the people of Capitol. He gave them gold, just to make them take his side. Naghihirap ang mga tao kaya hindi sila nagdalawang-isip na tanggapin iyon.”

“He’s evil!”

“Won’t argue with that. We later found out na pinatay niya rin ang mga sinuhulan niya. He just wanted their votes,” Icarus said. Hindi nakalagpas sa ’kin ang galit sa boses niya.

“Still, dapat may ginawa kayo!”

He sighed. “We can’t, I can’t risk the people’s lives just because we’re against Maximo. Pumayag kami sa kasunduan dahil mas mataas ang chansang maraming mabubuhay sa paraang ‘yon.”

Bullshit. Anong klaseng utak ba ang meron ‘yang Maximong ‘yan?

Nanginginig na ang mga kamay ko sa galit.

“Going back to their way of groupings, children ranging from 10-18 years old are being kept and trained inside the Capitol. Reaching the age of 19, the Capitol will divide you into different batch. Each batch will contain 7 teens. They will keep you in a maze kasama ang mga ka-batch mo for 1 week.”

“That’s cruel! Every child needs their parents. Masyado pa silang bata para mawalay sa poder ng mga magulang nila.”

Icarus nodded. “I know, but Maximo doesn’t really care about that.”

Kinuyom ko ang mga kamay ko. That Maximo guy is really evil!

“What will happen inside the maze?”

 There, you have the right to kill your batch mates. Paunahan kayong makalabas ng maze. The one who reaches the finish line first, becomes a chaser while those who survived yet failed will join the runner herd,” he explained.

Halos hindi ako makahinga sa narinig.

That’s brutal. If there’s a place that perfectly describes hell, this place would be perfect.

“W-what will happen next?” Hindi ko na mapigilang manginig sa nalaman.

“That’s when the real game starts. Every year, you have to fight for your life.”

Kumunot ang noo ko. “What do you mean?”

“We call it the ‘Month of Pursuit’, ginaganap sa ikapitong araw ng ikapitong buwan. Chasers will leave the Capitol premises to hunt the runners. The hunting will last for a month,” paliwanag niya.

“Paano naman ang mga ibang buwan, anong ginagawa niyo?” I asked.

“We train. Malaya rin kaming pumasok sa Capitol, pero dahil na rin siguro sa tension ng dalawang panig, we chose not to. They provide us some food supplies and for our trainings too. Runner’s camp is still part of the Accredon afterall,” he answered.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang mararamdaman ko mula sa narinig. Nanumbalik sa ‘kin ang imahe ng lalaking sinagip ko sa tulay. Fuck it. Kung sana hindi ko tinulungan ang bobong ‘yon, hindi ako mapapadpad sa impyernong ‘to.

Tangina, tumulong lang naman ako. This is the reason why I hate involving myself from other’s business. Nakakainis!

“B-but what about me? Wala kayong markang nakita sa ‘kin,” saad ko.

Icarus nodded. “Since we found you in our territory, isa lang ang ibig sabihin n’on. You’re one of the runners now, hija.”

Tumigil ang paghinga ko mula sa narinig.

“What? But I’m not from here! Dayo lang ako rito!” sigaw ko. I can’t help but panic from what’s happening.

Icarus looked at me blankly. Tila walang pakealam sa paghihisterya ko. “Look, if you want to survive, you’re welcome to join us and train. If you don’t want to, then it’s your lost.” I remained silent. I was trying to weigh the situation down when he suddenly added something on his offer.

“Wala akong panahon sa mga gaya mong matigas ang ulo. Kung ayaw mo, it’s fine,” he said and started turning his back on me. 

Nalintikan na!

“Sasama ako,” I said in a small voice but he didn’t hear it. I closed my eyes, then the moment I opened it, I saw Icarus walking away.

 “Wait! I’m your member now! Don’t leave me here!” sigaw ko habang patakbong hinahabol siya.

He didn’t bother looking back. He continued walking as if he heard nothing at all. Mas binilisan ko ang pagtakbo hanggang sa maabutan siya. He stopped and looked at me. “Sasama ako,” sambit ko habang nakatingin sa lupa.

Tumaas ang kilay niya. “You don’t have to say that if you don’t mean it,” he copied what I said to him in the tent earlier, letting me taste my own medicine. I mentally slapped my face. Damn it!

“I’m sorry okay?” sabi ko.

“What for?” he asked in a tone full of mockery. I looked away and sighed. I hate to swallow my pride but Icarus is my only way to survive this damned place.

“I don’t know, for being mean I guess?”

He smirked. “What’s your name?”

“Call me Nyx.”

Icarus nodded. “Alright Nyx, welcome to the camp.”

Tinanguan ko lamang siya saka sumunod sa kanya. Parehong daan ang tinahak namin pabalik ng Camp. Both of us were silent on our trip. Mabuti na siguro iyon dahil magpahanggang ngayo’y hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nalaman. My mind just can’t wrap up what happened.

Few minutes later, we’re already in the camp. Halos lahat ng nadadaanan naming ay nakatingin sa direksyon namin. I really hate being stared at but I’m too drained to react.

Kenta and some familiar faces showed up in front of us. Hindi na ako nag abalang tingnan sila. I’m too tired. I just want to lie down and recharge myself.

“This is Nyx, she’s one of us now” Icarus said saka ako iginaya sa isang tent. Sumunod naman ang iba sa ‘min. I saw three cot beds inside. Icarus pointed the left cot bed.

“That’s your bed, kasama mo rito sina Mica at Sandy.” Rinig kong sabi niya.

I ignored him and let myself fall on the bed in my right. I closed my eyes, but before I lose my consciousness, I heard Icarus talking to someone.

“Looks like someone’s taming a lioness.”