-Alexi-

I THOUGHT this segment was long dead or buried in a deep grave since I haven't heard anything about Mortal Combat for the past several months. Flashback starts playing as if my mind rewinding an old movie from a projector when we reached the Sonkan Grounds. Madaming ala-ala ang nagbalik. Naalala ko pa noon kung gaano ako nanginginig sa takot nang una akong makapunta dito. Everyone is scared yet feels excited at that time. Same with the people we are surrounding with. Masaya sila. Maingay. Tila mga nakawala sa hawla. Idagdag pa doon ang nakakabinging musika mula sa speaker. Most of the students here are transferees. Mukhang hindi pa nga talaga nila alam ang patakaran dito sa Sonkan.

They seemed to think this was just an ordinary show, spicing up the entertainment.

There was a boxing ring or stage in the middle. May DJ sa gilid at napalibot sa amin ang malalaking speaker. Same set-up. Some of the survivors of purging probably just staring at the stage with a plain face. It's not new to us. It was another game where people's lives were being played that we had to witness. Everything is just a replay.

"I wish I had the power to make everyone shut up. It's so noisy," I heard Felicity comment. She seems allergic to noise even though she makes people scream.

"Welcome Sonkanians!! Welcome to Mortal Combat!"

Pakiramdam ko'y natanggal ang eardrums ko sa lakas ng boses na umalingawngaw sa buong paligid. That high-toned, lively voice wouldn't fail to wake anyone up, no matter how deep their sleep is. Here is the emcee, which we haven't seen in a while. His guise is still the same. Joker. Hair dyed with green. Gold teeth. The face was baked in white powder. Lagpas na red lipstick hanggang pisngi at walang kilay. He must be a fan of Joker.

Sa pagbati niyang 'yon ay naghiyawan sila. Ang iba'y pumapalakpak pa. Tilian at sigawan ang humalo sa tugtog ng speaker. Isama pa mo pa doon ang malikot at makulay na ilaw na tumatama sa aming mukha.

"You just have 1 week left for your vacation before the classes resume, so let's make this show exciting," the Emcee went on, hyping up the crowd.

The next would be gangsters entry. The Joker emcee welcomed the first gang who's now walking in chorus wearing their dark red jacket. Their strides screams as if they are the most powerful group in Sonkan. Their boastful expressions displayed on their faces. Saglit na nagsitahimikan ang iba at nagbigay daan para sa kanilang entry. Sa pinaka unahan ay ang kanilang leader. Si Ardizonne. His hairstyle is still the same as before. Walang buhok ang ibabang bahagi ng kanyang ulo at nakatirintas ang maliit na portion ng kanyang buhok na nagsisilbing bangs niya sa gilid na bahagi ng mukha. His earrings dangles on his left ear as he walked. There's a toothpick tucked in his mouth. Even his face is cunning.

I heard Coleen let out an impatient sigh. "Why do I have to see my annoying brother here"

"Let's welcome The Ghettos!" The emcee screamed their name in a high pitch.

Ang iba'y nagsipalakpakan sa kanilang pagdating. Ang iba naman ay nagbubulungan at nagtataka kung sino sila. Sunod na dumating ang mga Mobster. Kumpara sa Ghettos ay kakaunti lamang sila. Marahil nasa mahigit dalawampu. They keep their heads up looking straight on the way proudly holding their dignity. All of our eyes were locked on them. May dala dala silang watawat na winawagayway ng isa nilang miyembro. Nakaguhit doon ang sagisag ng kanilang grupo. It's a skull with a hair made of fire. My line of sight followed them as they're making their way to their standpoint. Mapapansin na karamihan ng mga pares mata ay kay Al Capone nakapako.

Can't blame them if they were hooked by his presence. Sa dalawang lider ng magkalabang gang ay mas kinatatakutan si Al Capone noon pa man. I once experienced that myself. Blangko lamang ang mukha nito at tila walang buhay ang mga mata. They're like dangerous wolves led by their leader who's walking at the back to observe his pack.

"And here they are, The Mobsters!!" Napatakip ako ng tenga sa lakas ng sigaw ng emcee sa mic.

"Why he had to shout that way?" Coleen hissed.

There was a short opening speech the emcee spoke, which I skipped to listen to before the game started. Gaya ng tradisyon noon ay hindi mawawala ang sunod sunod na pagtambol ng batingaw kasabay ng paglabas ng dalawang babae na nakacostume din. Harley Quinn and Black Widow. They pushed the roulette, which would be the contestant's fate later, and three men climbed up on the stage carrying three treasure boxes. And we all knew what's the inside of it. The next one would be them, giving badges with numbers written on them.

124. That's my number. I lifted my gaze on the stage. Am I scared to go there in case my name got called? No. Not anymore. Maybe that's what happens when you've gone through a lot. Danger and death don't scare you.

"Tonight is different," the emcee spoke, causing our heads to turn back to him. "For those people who don't know. This is one of our traditions here in Sonkan called Mortal Combat. Tonight is Friday night so we will fill the thrill you're looking for. Ngayon ay pantay pantay lahat ng contestant. Walang gang hierarchy. All will abide by our rules"

Nagkatinginan kami ni Coleen. I could tell that both of us were sensing something. Is it bad? As always yes. I just don't know what is it.

The emcee began to explain what will happen. "The rule is simple. Kailangan nyong ma knock down ang kalaban sa loob ng tatlumpung minuto. Iikot ang laro sa dalawang category. Weapon and Hand Combat. Depende sa dalawang binibining nasa tabi ko..." Saglit na bumaling ang emcee kina Harley Quinn at Black widow. "Kung anong magiging kapalaran nyo sa ikot ng roleta"

He stepped forward on the stage to stand in the center and eyed each of the people beneath the stage. "Kumpara noon, may ilang rules lang ang mababago. Magkaiba ang category ng dalawang magkalaban. Maaaring ang isa ay weapon combat at ang isa naman hand combat. The bloody the fight the better. You can kill your opponent before the time ticks, or if you show mercy, you can just knock them down. The important rule here is to make your opponent passed out within 30 minutes" mabagal itong naglakad lakad sa pakanan at pakaliwa.

"Kapag natapos ang 30 minutes at wala pang na knock out sa inyong dalawa..." He paused for a sec and jerked his finger at the two men standing outside the ring. Agad kong napansin ang baril na nakasuksok sa kanilang tagiliran. "They will shoot you both"

I heard most of them gasp. I did heavy breathing repeatedly to compose myself. Sabi na, may maiiiba sa larong ito.

"What kind of game is that? Forcing us to kill each other?!" May naglakas loob na sumigaw para magtanong. Agad na nabaling doon ang atensyon ng emcee.

"No" he shook his head exaggeratedly as if he's convincing a kid that's not how it is. "Kayo ang gagawa ng kapalaran nyo ngayong gabi. Nasa sainyo kung hahayaan nyo ang sarili nyong mamatay" at humalakhak ito ng napakalakas.

As he retreated himself from his laugh, his cunning smile remained on his face. "You can make it out alive if you choose it. We give you chances to live"

"I don't want to join. Babalik na kami sa dorm namin" isang babae ang tumalikod at nakipagsiksikan sa mga tao. Tumakbo ito sa dulo ngunit napaatras din siya dahil may mga armadong bantay ang nakatayo doon.

"Don't be stubborn folks. How is your life going here in Sonkan? But for now, enjoy the show because you're not allowed to go outside the boundaries" the emcee warned while chuckling.

"I'm gonna go home. I don't want to study here anymore!" Sigaw ng isang lalaki at tumakbo. Dire diretso ang pagtakbo nito na tila hindi natatakot sa mga guard na nagbabantay doon. Natanaw ko na binangga niya ang isa sa kanila para makalabas. Ngunit bago pa man siya makalagpas ng Sonkan Grounds ay binaril na ito. Umalingawngaw ang putok ng bala sa buong kalupaan na nagpatahimik sa mga tao.

"I told you..." The emcee said in a sing-song voice. "You didn't listen"

Everyone wants to step out of the boundary. I even heard their feeble sobs. They're filled with terror but they don't have a choice. They have to stay on the Sonkan Grounds and let the Mortal Combat finish. The same way I felt when I first witnessed this game. For now, they will endure the fear until they learn to pretend to live normally. Kaming mga dating nandito ay walang nagawa kundi pagmasdan ang mga bago na umiyak sa takot. We couldn't do anything but to empathize with them.

The game started.

Ang unang dalawang contenders na sumalang sa stage ay tila dati ng nandito sa Sonkan. They must be one of five hundred plus survivors from purging. Walang mababasang takot sa kanilang mukha at tila hinihintay nalang matapos ang oras. Both of them are average in fighting. They seemed knew how they execute the game. They fought in hand combat category until one of them passed out. They made the fight lasted until 30 minutes. Nagkatinginan kami ni Coleen dahil alam naming peke lang ang labang 'yon at sinadya lang ng isa na mahimatay kahit hindi siya gaanong nabugbog.

I thought it was a smart move but the Joker emcee is smarter. May pinaabot ito kay Harley Quinn. It was a rectangular metallic bar. I don't know what's with it not until dinikit ang bagay na 'yon sa nakahandusay na contestant. That thing lights up, and the contender quivers as if an electric shock flowed to his skin. He screamed in pain.

"He's still conscious" Harley Quinn announced to the emcee.

Sinenyasan ng emcee ang dalawang guard sa baba ng stage na umakyat para patayuin ang contestant na 'yon.

Ngumiti ang emcee ng nakakaloko. "We know what you're doing folks"

"That's unfair. I knocked him down!" the other contestant said defensively.

Ilang segundo ang lumipas at natulala nalang kami nang bigla silang barilin ng dalawang armadong guard na nasa labas ng stage. It just one bullet for each of them that made them passed out immediately with the blood oozing down from their forehead. And they were killed just like that. My heart is pounding fast. I couldn't handle the shock it sent to me that my knees almost fall down. Agad akong hinawakan ni Coleen sa magkabilang braso para hindi tuluyang matumba.

"Are you okay, Alexi?" Coleen worriedly asked.

"Y-yeah. Don't worry" I managed to smile a bit to assure her. I thought I'd be used to seeing people who get killed in front of me, but I still wasn't.

"I'm telling you. Don't fool us," the emcee warned with a menacing look. "Give us a thrill. We want a bloody fight. Either you kill your opponent or make them cling to their dear life. You choose. Run this game according to what we want to see"

"I would gladly slit the emcee's throat in 10 seconds if they'll give me a chance to do so" rinig kong sambit ni Felicity.

I shoot piercing stares at the green-haired emcee, hoping my gaze will kill him in an instant.

The game resumed. After that, none of the following contestants dare to fake the fight. Most of them are new. Transferees. They're still in shock from what happened but they have to get themselves together for them to survive the night. Sa una'y natatakot silang humawak ng patalim o saktan ang kanilang kalaban ngunit sa pagkakataong ito ay nanaig pagiging makasarili. They have to think themselves first because no one they can rely to but their selves. Kaya kahit labag sa kalooban ay nagawa nilang pumatay.

Napapikit na lamang ako nang tagpasin ng isang contestant ang ulo ng kalaban dahilan kaya tumalsik ito sa labas ng stage. They're in a weapon combat category and the cheapest ticket they have to assure they will survive the game is to kill their opponent. Sunod sunod ang sumalang sa stage para lumaban. Some must be their first time to hold a knife or sharp weapons. Their hands were trembling as they hit their opponent. Sa sunod sunod na laban ay pare parehas namamatay ang contenders. Marahil hindi kinakaya ang bugbog o sugat na natamo.

Sunod sunod ang pag-akyat ng mga guwardiya para iligpit ang bangkay at ilagay sa stretcher. Kabi kabila ang kanilang paglilinis ang mga taong nandito ay walang magawa kundi sikmurain ang nakikita. I even saw a girl puking then cried out loud.

How long do we have to witness many deaths?

Napatingin ako sa badge ko. For this hour, my name hasn't been called. I don't know if I should be glad about it.

"For our next contestant..." Bumalik ang tingin ko sa stage nang magsalita ang emcee at tumingin sa nabunot na number. "Number 468!!"

Pilit na nagpalakpakan ang madla at gumawa ng kaunting ingay para i-cheer ang contestant na 'yon. My mouth agaped as I saw who it was climbing up on the stage. Ardizonne. The leader of Ghettos.

"Whoa, my brother" Coleen exclaimed. She raised her hands and clapped in amusement. "I hope he wouldn't embarrass me"

Ang mga kamiyembro niya ay malakas na sinisigaw ang kanyang pangalan. It made him grin. The sound of the audience's voice tickles his ears. Pumunta ito sa gitna at hinubad ang jacket. He went topless and tossed the jacket somewhere. He moved his hands like a maestro leading a choir, encouraging the crowd to scream his name louder.

"He's so full of himself," Felicity commented with a touch of annoyance in her voice.

"Another reason why we never get along" labas sa ilong na tugon ni Coleen na may kasamang pag-iling.

"Number 468 opponent would be..." The emcee grabbed our attention by shouting another number. "Number 137!"

Sa pagtawag ng badge number niya ay nagkaroon ng saglit na katahimikan. It's like his presence alone can make the crowd retreat their tongue effortlessly. Ibang aura ang dala nito habang kalmado itong naglalakad papuntang stage. The same aura I had encountered when I first met him. Dark. Dangerous.

"This is so interesting" the emcee commended. "Two gang leaders on the stage"

Nakatitig lang ako kay Al Capone nang pagharapin sila ni Ardizonne. I don't know if it is a coincidence or if they planned to make the two gang leaders fight. Hinubad din nito ang jacket at hinagis sa baba. They're both tall so their height is almost the same. Ardizonne smiled mischievously towards Al Capone or Reigan. Sometimes, I don't know what name I should use to address him, but I'll go with Al Capone now. Reigan is when he's like being a normal person. I know how much they loathe each other so they could use this combat to release their rage.

"My brother would definitely kill him," Coleen muttered as if she was sure about it.

Ardizonne planned to kill Al Capone a lot of times and always ended up failing but this time, opportunity drew near to his way to make it happen. So with Al Capone. He's also dying to kill him.

"The two rival leaders are here to rock the stage, so better keep your eyes close to them, or you'll miss the biggest match recorded in Sonkan's History" malakas na anunsyo ng emcee. His voice is excited and lively as if he's just persuading the audience to watch an ordinary fight. "Let's give them a round of applause"

We clapped our hands forcedly to make it look like we were showing support to them. I don't think anyone who is in a sane mind and just recently watched the people die on the stage would feel excited at this point. Our eyes have witnessed enough.

The game begins. Umikot ang roleta at weapon category ang napunta sa kanilang dalawa. There's excitement fills Ardizonne's eyes as he gets a weapon on the treasure. It seems this is the battle he was dying to participate in. He chose a knife. I guess it's not just an ordinary knife. It looks like a blade that every assassin in the movies uses. Pinaikot ikot niya ito sa kanyang kamay na tila sanay na sanay siyang gamitin ito. Al Capone picked a Balisong. Both of their weapons are sharp objects. That means only one of them can make it out alive within 30 minutes.

Unang umatake si Ardizonne at inaasahan niyang madali lang 'yong maiilagan ni Al Capone. He simply moved sideward to dodge the attack. Gumanti ito at pinadaan ang patalim sa tagiliran ni Ardizonne. Akala namin ay hahalik ang talim nito sa kanyang balat ngunit nasangga ito ng kanyang isang kamay. Napasinghap kami nang masugatan ni Ardizonne si Al Capone sa bisig nito sa maikling segundo. Few drops of blood stained the floor. Al Capone looked at his bleeding arm like it was nothing but a bug landed on his skin. Mabilis ang sumunod na pangyayari na halos hindi na nasundan ng mata ko. Para silang nag-eespadahan dahil sa kalansing ng kutsilyo na hawak nila. They're hands was forming a crossing line to defend and make an attack. Both of them are aggressive to wound each other.

Mukhang sanay na sanay na sila sa labanang ganito. Al Capone was as fast as Ardizonne. If there's a retired skilled combat fighter that is going to judge them, they would have a hard time choosing which of them is better. Ardizonne tried to hit Al Capone's neck, but he instinctively squatted, his knees were bent, and within a millisecond, he stroked his blade on Ardizonne's belly.

"To whom will you guys bet on?" Tanong sa amin ni Felicity habang nakatutok ang mata sa stage. Her eyes filled with interest as her lips stretched into grin.

"I'll go with my brother" Coleen participated. "A loathing heart is deadlier"

I held my chest as a hint of worry lingered in my heart, causing it to pound fast. My glance cast at the two shooters outside the ring, hoping none of the contestants would be shot by them. I'm not evil enough to wish Ardizonne to die, even though my alter ego would be happy to see that after what he did in purging days, but I extremely hope it wouldn't be Al Capone. I know deep down in myself I don't want him to die.

The nervousness I was feeling grew bigger in my chest. My eyes were fixed on them but it seems there's some glimpse of seconds in their fight escaped my sight, nagulat nalang ako nang makita ang pagtilapon ng patalim sa plywood na tinatapakan nila.

Al Capone dropped his weapon.

**********

Thanks for reading!