Project LOKI ③

Chapter 50: The Final Equation V

"I want us to have a fair game. I have the upper hand right now, but it's gonna get boring if I'd win easily," Stein said, extending his hand closer to Loki's chest. "You know me. I want a challenge. Thus I will give you the chance to stop the killings and save more lives. That girl who fell off the stairs won't be the last victim. So take this."

Nagkapalitan muna silang dalawa ng tingin ni Loki. The tension was rising at the entrance. Dinaraanan kami ng ibang estudyante na walang pakialam sa pinag-uusapan namin. Malamang ay mas curious sila kung bakit nakalupong ang mga tao sa Atrium.

Loki drew a handkerchief and took the piece of paper off the mastermind's hand. He held it delicately as if it had been sprayed with a virus.

"Why so skeptical? I didn't sprinkle any poison powder all over that paper," Stein said.

"Better be safe than sorry." Loki smoothened the paper, revealing a long list of names. Alistair and I got closer to him and peered over his shoulders to get a clearer view. They were numbered from one to one hundred. "What is this? A partial attendance sheet?"

"A list of one hundred potential targets." Stein slid his hands back into his pockets. "Are you familiar with the Werewolf game? You aren't? A werewolf goes to a village and pretends to be one of the villagers. When the night falls, he kills. This is my version of that social deduction game, without the lynching option. So one of my friends has infiltrated this cruise party and will kill one attendee at every opportunity that they can get. You have to capture them to stop the game. Otherwise, the killings will go on."

"This is not a game. This is madness," Alistair said. Kadalasa'y nakikinig lang siya tuwing nag-uusap ang dalawa, pero hindi na yata niya matiis na manahimik. "You're playing with people's lives. Hindi ka ba nakokonsensya sa ginagawa mo?"

"Game or madness, they sound the same to me." Stein shrugged. He talked as if lives could be simply thrown away like captured chesspieces. "Also you don't have to worry about my conscience. If I get rid some of the bullies and the predators in Clark High tonight, won't it make things better tomorrow?"

"Following your predecessor's footsteps, huh?" Loki retorted. Napasulyap sa kanya si Jamie, hindi pa rin binibitawan ang kanyang braso.

That hit the bullseye. Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Stein. Nag-iba ang timpla ng kanyang mukha. Seryoso. Determinado. Nawalan ng kislap ang mga mata niya.

"What if I ask Alistair to restrain you and bring you to our cabin for the rest of the trip?" Loki asked, nodding at my childhood friend's direction. "We can show you there what kind of game we like to play."

Inilahad ni Stein ang kanyang mga kamay sa harapan, tila inaalok ang mga ito sa amin. "Please, be my guest! You can lock me away in a room or throw me into the sea, but that's not gonna stop the game. The trigger has been pulled and the bullets are on their way to the targets."

This reminded me of Luthor's plan to bring down the organization. Kahit mahuli namin si Stein, basta't libreng nakagagalaw ang mga galamay niya, hindi matatapos ang bangungot na 'to. His confidence was a testament that even if we take him out of the equation, it won't affect the answer at all.

"Hey, why are you not so happy about this game?" Stein raised his hands at the level of his shoulders. "This is what you want, right? Fun! Mysteries! Entertainment! I'm serving them to you on a silver platter."

"Maybe I'm not in the mood for your kind of fun and game." Loki's disinterest was apparent on the look of his face. Kung talagang interesado siya, kanina pa nagningning ang mga mata niya sa excitement.

"Well, you should be. Otherwise, more attendees will die at the party. Their blood will be on your hands. You know it's gonna happen, but you chose to do nothing. Huwag kang mag-alala. Sakaling mahirapan kayo, meron akong nakahandang lifeline para sa inyo."