A Bunch of Fools [II]

"It looks like the person who's written it has a lot pent up resentment," he said to no one in particular.

"Larry, look at what I found." It was Melinda. She was scanning through the crumpled sheets of paper. "I think we might find a clue here," she said excitedly.

"Let's see."

They opened the window to read the writings in it with the help of the moonlight. It's still a full moon and they're grateful for it.

"Should we collect all of 'em?" Larry asked her, referring to the other papers.

"I'll do it!" Melinda volunteered. "Here!"

There were a total of four pages.

"Look! It's numbered!" she pointed out.

"Oh! How convenient. Should I read it for us?"

"Sure!"

"I knew this was gonna happen sooner or later. To whoever reads this, I am Vivian Celeste, the only daughter of Nicolai Celeste. My grandfather was Lucien. And the village people locked me here in this room for speaking the truth. And I am writing this so you'll know what really happened."

"I doubt it has a happy ending." It was Melinda.

"I don't think so either. I'll continue. It all started that one day when a disease assaulted the whole village causing the deaths of tens of people. No one knows how to cure it. We were slowly losing hope. Until an eccentric man happened to pass by."

"He wore the most colorful clothes and an eccentric hat in polka dots pattern. He speaks and acts weirdly. He claimed he knows how to cure us and that he studied medicine since a very young age. He said his name was Figaro."

"Most of us wanted to believe in him. But the elders refused to do so. The man said he will cure us but they will have to give him the thirds of their wealth. They agreed. But only in the condition that he will be able to find the cure. So the man cured us and we were surprised we were actually healed after weeks of treatment. We were grateful. And now it's time for the elders to honor their words. Blinded by their greed, they refused."

"My father and my grandpa said Figaro was no ordinary man. And that something bad will happen to us if we refused any further. And indeed. Something bad happened. On the day of the man's departure, he invited everyone in the village to attend his humble banquet. He was a rich man. Everybody went."

"He was generous. That Figaro, I mean." Melinda commented.

"I wouldn't say that," Larry said as he put the fourth page on top. "Everyone ate except me, my father, and grandpa. And as soon as the man left, everyone who ate at his banquet began feeling weird in their stomachs and they vomited live rats and cockroaches. Seeing that we weren't affected, they blamed us. I told the elders it's their fault and that it happened because of their greediness and they locked me in this room since then."

"That's cruel! And gross!"

"I agree. This is the last part. I haven't seen my father and grandpa in days. I haven't eaten anything they've given me. I'm starving. If you find them, please tell them I'm still alive. I wish they're safe. A lot of weird things happened starting that day. The place became more silent each passing day. I don't know what exactly is happening outside. But they just stopped coming one day. It all happened because of them. It's because of their greed! What a bunch of fools!"

"I feel bad for her," Melinda said.

"People are stupid."

"You're part of the people too, you know?

"Yeah. But you see, this story is interesting and all but that doesn't help up with our task."

Being totally lost in the writings on the paper, they had forgotten about the time and the bell rang.

"Oh no!"

"Shhh! Don't speak, Linda.The basilisk might find us."

There was a screeching sound coming from the distance, slowly going in their direction. It was accompanied by hissing and the sound of something being dragged.

Larry closed the window as carefully as possible, trying not to make a single sound. He then dragged Melinda going to the entrance.

"I think we should just hide here." she whispered.

"I know but it would be better if we're near the exit if ever it finds us. Now shhh."

They waited as they crouched by the door. Hoping that it wouldn't find them. Hoping that the second bell would ring sooner. But despite knowing full well that it was only a dream, Larry's chest was booming rather loudly. The fact that everything in this dream was so realistic was messing with his subconscious. And surely, fear crept slowly into his system. Like a phyton that slowly suffocates its victim.