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TOBLERONE CHAVEZ peeked through the blinds, silently watching the people who have gathered outside.

There is a protest, demanding justice for the victims of the escapees. Everyone was restless, fearful of the escaped criminals still roaming free in the streets of La Salve. The recent events made the public question the authorities competence in finding the criminals. Aside from the recent murder in a doll shop, there's been several missing persons case that fueled the public's anger. For the past six days, the missing individuals still hasn't been found. Since there are still serial killers at large, it only made people more anxious.

The protestors are demanding answers, to which they still couldn't give at the moment.

"Fuck!" Gavin Marco cursed, throwing the papers across the room. "How the hell did they keep evading us?"

"Gavin, calm down. We can figure it out."

"It's one thing and another, they keep getting away."

A knock on the door rendered them in silence.

"Calm down, it's not over yet," Taylor said, walking into the room with ease.

"How can I calm down? There are four missing women, and they've been missing since Monday. This is Rage Uy's pattern, and we only have a few hours left before Rage Uy decides to kill them, take their heads and leave their bodies in the open for the public to see."

"We don't know that yet," Toblerone Chavez commented.

"It's already obvious, Tobi." Tiningnan niya ang dalawang kasama. "Si Riley Hyde ang unang gumalaw, may pinatay siyang shop owner pagkatapos niya paglaruan. Posibleng si Rage Uy naman ngayon. We need to find them."

Taylor Escobar interrupted. "How do you plan on doing that?"

"By following the pattern."

Pagkatapos marinig ang sinabi ng kaibigan, lumayo si Toblerone Chavez sa bintana at sumunod sa detective nang makitang palabas na ito ng silid..

"Uh, Taylor, do us a favor and make sure the media doesn't get wind of this." Pahabol niya bago makalabas.

Tumango lang si Taylor Escobar.

"I'll keep them quiet as long as I can," sabi niya, "Thanks, Taylor. I know I can always count on you."

Sumunod si Toblerone Chavez sa detective, mabilis ang kanilang paglakad.

"Kamusta si Revalaun? Paano kung may gawin siya?" tanong ni Toblerone Chavez.

Tumigil ang detective sa paglalakad at seryoso siyang binalingan ng tingin.

"Revalaun won't do anything. He's not that kind of person."

Napabuntong hininga si Toblerone Chavez. "Kilala ko rin si Revalaun, isa siyang mabuting tao pero indi natin hawak kung ano ang mangyayari sa kanya."

"Don't worry, I had someone to keep an eye on him." Natawa siya ng mahina habang umiiling. "Tutol siya noong una pero pinaalala ko sa kanya na siya ang dahilan kung bakit nalaman ni Revalaun."

"Ibig mong sabihin napapayag mo si Blythe Davis na bantayan si Revalaun?" Natawa siya, hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.

"Mabuti na rin 'yon para makalayo-layo si Davis, tutal ayaw kong pag-initan pa siya ng mga bossings," dagdag ng detective.

"Ayos lang sa'yo na ikaw na lang pag-initan nila?"

"Mas mabuti na 'yon, Davis and Revalaun had already gone through so much."

"Nahihirapan ka na rin, Gavin," tutol ni Toblerone Chavez, pinanlakihan ng mata ang kaibigan kahit na tawa ang isinukli nito.

"Ayos lang na ako ang mahirapan," sagot ng detective. "Umalis na tayo bago pa tayo mapagalitan ng mga bossings." 

Napalunok ng kanyang laway si Toblerone Chavez, alam niyang tama ang kaibigan kaya binilisan na nila ang paglakad. Pumasok si Gavin Marco sa meeting room, at naiwan sa labas si Toblerone Chavez.

Nawalan na ng pasensiya ang mga nakatataas dahil sa tagal ng pag-usad ng imbestigasyon. Chief Prosecutor Benedict Schneider III pointed out the detective's incompetence, using the incident involving his acquaintance, Detective Blythe Davis, where they accused a person – the Chief Prosecutor's son, Kid Schneider.

Chief Marco, Gavin's father, expressed his disappointment, demanding that Detective Gavin Marco and Detective Blythe Davis write an apology to the Chief Prosecutor immediately. The female detective refused, earning more criticisms. The Chief of Police told his son he might as well give up being a detective since he doesn't want an embarassment under his wing. There's nothing much he could do anyway, he said, since their superiors are already planning to dismiss the detective from the case, and appoint it to someone more 'competent'.

Detective Gavin Marco took all of these harsh criticisms from his superiors, subordinates, the public and his father. Alone.

Mabigat man sa pakiramdam ni Toblerone Chavez na hayaan ang kaibigan na harapin mag-isa ang mga pagsubok, wala na siyang magagawa kundi hayaan ang kaibigan na gawin ang gusto nito. Kung kaya pa nilang baguhin ang desisyon ng mga nakatataas, 'yon ay kung nay maibigay silang magpapabago sa direksyon ng kaso. Kilala niya ang detective, may baraha pa itong tinatago bago itapon sa lamesa. Napangisi siya sa naisip, alam niyang hindi basta-basta sumusuko ang kaibigan niya. Lalaban pa pabalik si Detective Gavin Marco, sigurado siya doon.

"So, what's the plan?" tanong niya pagkatapos makalabas ng detective. May hawak siyang lata ng kape at inalok ang kaibigan na mabilis na tumanggi.

"The same as usual. Let's play it cool for a while."

Natigilan silang dalawa nang matanaw ang papalapit na piguro ni Taylor Escobar. Kalmado ang itsura ng kaibigan nila, walang bahid ng emosyon pero base sa malalaki ang kanyang hakbang.

"Why did you tell Revalaun the truth?" Mapait na tanong nito, kalmado pa rin ang ekspresyon.

"Don't worry. I have everything under control," sagot ng detective.

"Huwag mong sabihin pinagsama mo ang dalawa?"

"Wala naman problema, di ba? May magbabantay na nga kay Revalaun," komento ni Toblerone Chavez. Pinagtaasan sila ng kilay ni Taylor Escobar, hindi siya makapaniwala na hindi nila nakukuha ang pinupunto niya.

"What if they decide to look for Riley Hyde behind our backs? You know what they feel about the case. They might do something stupid."

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa sa sinabi ni Taylor Escobar. Ang detective ang unang nagsalita, "I don't think they would. They hate each other, there's no way they'll end up working together."

Tumawa ang coroner at tumango-tango para segundahan ang sinabi ng kaibigan. Nawala ang ngiti sa labi niya nang mapansin ang pagseryoso ni Taylor Escobar.

"Really? Explain to me how they came together and spoke with Dr. Corazon?"

Napaawang ang bibig ng detective. "What?"

Nagulat ang tatlong lalaki nang marinig ang pagtunog ng telepono ng coroner. Hinugot niya ang telepono para silipin kung sino ang tumatawag. Pinanlakihan niya ng mata ang dalawang kasama bago sinagot ang tawag. 

"Hello?" Panimula niya. Nginusuhan niya ang dalawang kasama para lumapit bago pinindot ang speaker. Nanatiling tahimik ang dalawa.

"Tobi, I need your help." Nagulat sila sa naging pambungad ni Revalaun Gio, nagtataka kung anong tulong ang hinihingi nito sa coroner.

"Naalala mo ba ang sinabi ko, that the characters from the book are also referring to real people besides the murder and that Ainsley is one of them?" Nagkatinginan silang tatlo sa sinabi ng kaibigan. Naalala nila ang araw na pinuntahan nito si Toblerone Chavez, at bumigay ng kakaibang 'theory' na napulot niya sa Dying Moon, ang libro ni Jacqueline Paige.

Hindi pa pala sumusuko si Revalaun sa pagpapatunay sa sinabi niya.

"Pwedeng pakitingnan kung may Talia Evergreen na na-involve kay Jacqueline Paige?" Nagpatuloy si Revalaun Gio sa pagsasalita nang hindi sumagot ang coroner. 

"What for?" 

"I think I know how to find the Killer Doll." 

"Really?" he asked, "How did you know?"

Revalaun laughed on the other line. "Not really. But I know how to lure her out."

Lure her out? His eyes furrowed, thinking of the possibilities that Revalaun Gio is considering, out of all means, the only way Revalaun could lure her out is if he ever present himself in harm's way, to put it simply, making himself as a bait – a potential victim to fall prey into the Killer Doll's hands. When Toblerone Chavez realized this, his eyes that were usually in slits of drowsiness and boredom, widened in horror and looked back at Taylor who immediately returned the same expression.

"Revalaun, don't do anything stupid. Do you think putting your life on the line is a good idea? You stupid little shit, if you wanted to die so bad come over here. I'll be more than glad to do it," he angrily spat, and accidentally spilled the contents of his coffee. He glared at it, not sure how to feel over his spilled coffee and the thought of Revalaun putting his life in danger.

But Revalaun did not heed his warning.

"I have to go, I need to find Riley Hyde. Hopefully I'd be able to find out who Simon really is. But for the meantime, I need you to do me this favor, Tobi. Please find anything you can about Talia Evergreen."

"Sino ba 'yan? Mga nakikita mo?"

Revalaun laughed. "I assure you, Tobi, they're very real."

He almost threw his phone after Revalaun dropped the call, marking the end of their conversation.

The coroner started massaging his forehead, sighing out of exhaustion, and still a little bewildered from Revalaun's crazy claims of an alternate world and living characters. Could this Talia or Simon be one of Revalaun's imagination?

They talked about it before but he just couldn't believe it no matter how hard he tried to understand him. As a man of science, everything that Revalaun talked about is far too impossible to prove his out of this world ideas. He thinks Revalaun's crazy or that he's already showing symptoms of schizophrenia – something that Dr. Jay had disclosed with them in the past. Revalaun has a condition, with signs of abnormal psychological gratification, like his father's.

Ito ang kinakatakutan nila na mangyari kay Revalaun Gio. Base sa naging karanasan nito sa kamay ng ama nila noong bata pa siya, nagkadevelop si Revalaun ng mental disorder dahil sa pagkaka-trauma at sa exposure sa violence. When Revalaun was rescued from the 'incident' – that led to his mother's coma and father's capture – Revalaun started showing signs of the same condition his father had, fortunately he was able to get treated by Dr. Jay through conventional treatments and antipsychotic medications.

Hindi pa tuluyan na magaling si Revalaun, ayon kay Dr. Jay. If Revalaun ends up experiencing another stressful or emotional life event it might trigger a psychotic episode and a possibility that he'll turn back to being the anxious, violent and anger-driven Revalaun Gio.

Their worst fear? Revalaun turning into another Valentine Gio.

'The recent events must've stressed him out, both mentally and emotionally,' Dr. Jay explained to them in the past. 'It doesn't mean he's going to be a killer, remember that. He needs help... he's not a bad person'.

"Mind telling me what you and Revalaun had talked about this... Ainsley?" Taylor Escobar asked.

""I think she's one of his illusions. I don't know him that long since I've only met him last year and Gavin only told me a few things, but Revalaun's a really good guy and thinking about him going to the dark side is troubling."

Gavin Marco rolled his eyes. "You made it sound like we're in Star Wars or something."

"No shit. So, what do you think?"

"We need to find Hyde before he does," Taylor Escobar interrupted. "Bilisan niyo ang paggalaw bago pa may mangyaring masama."

"Let's try to talk it out with them," the detective suggested.

Taylor Escobar snorted. "Parang hindi niyo kilala ang dalawa. Sa tingin niyo madadaan pa sila sa pakikipag-usap?"

"Whatever you say, Taylor."

Nahalata ng coroner na nainis na ang detective sa paraan ng pagsasalita ni Taylor Escobar. Ang pinakaayaw pa naman nito ay ang pinapangunahan, ang gusto'y palaging nasusunod ang gusto. Nagtataka nga siya kung paano nagkakasundo ang dalawa.

Taylor Escobar is a stiff and admirable equestrian with an exquisite talent in investigation and journalism. Toblerone Chavez often wonder how he managed to stay in the field with an attitude like that, a snob and a harsh man of that calibre. While Gavin Marco is laid back, often serious and smarter than he seems. He's an eccentric man with a good eye and is always one step ahead.

"May briefing pa kami, mauna na ako," paalam ng detective. "Subukan niyo pa rin makipag-usap kay Davis. She's... reasonable."

Hours later, the briefing ended, DETECTIVE GAVIN MARCO left with a triumphant smile on his face, especially after earning back the trust of his superiors after presenting what he and his team had been busy with: Finding Kid Schneider. Alam niya nagawa niyang suwayin ang utos ng Chief Prosecutor na itigil ang imbestigasyon pero may natagpuan siyang loop hole na hindi niya magawang ibalewala.

The thought of proving the Chief Prosecutor wrong made him more determined to present it in front of his superiors, the board and the ruthless man himself, Chief Prosecutor Benedict Schneider III. The man's face reddened with rage after his report, leading up to the point where the board had decided to withdraw his dismissal from the case and gave him permission to proceed.

Huminga siya ng malalim, may ngiting tagumpay sa kanyang labi nang bumalik siya sa make-shift office na ginawa nila ni Toblerone Chavez. Ayon sa kanya  mapapadali ang trabaho nila bilang isang grupo kung malapit sila sa isa't isa. Toblerone's work area was in another wing of the police department, so they decided to take one area together for the meantime, including their public consultant that also earned a table in the make-shift office.

When he returned, he noticed the perturbed looks on his companions' faces.

At first he thought they were worried that he got dismissed.

"They want me to proceed." Nakangiting salubong ni Gavin. Napatayo ang dalawa nang makita ang paglapit niya. "Mabuti na lang at namiss-out ng matandang 'yon na may posibilidad na nahagip si Kid Schneider ng dash cams sa mga kotseng malapit sa rinentahan niyang bahay."

Smiling, Detective Gavin Marco felt relieved that he was able to get a hold of an evidence. After he realized that the Chief Prosecutor had ordered his men to tamper with the neighborhood's CCTV footage, the neighborhood where Kid Schneider had stayed secretly that Toblerone inconspicuously found. Upon learning that the Chief Prosecutor was taking all means to protect his son, the two decided to look around the neighborhood thinking that the old man had missed one, but instead they found a rather solid one that they know their superiors couldn't ignore. They also found a way to pinpoint Schneider's location that may lead them to the escapees, considering the fact that they're together.

The Chief Prosecutor can't do anything about it either, that's what makes the detective thrilled with the idea of outsmarting him.

Nawala ang ngiti sa labi niya nang maramdaman na hindi na ito tungkol sa pagkakadismiss niya kaya ganoon ang itsura ng dalawa. He immediately knew that something was wrong.

Taylor was the first to speak. "It's about Revalaun."

"What about him? Did something happen?"

"Apparently, your dear friend is serious about luring Riley Hyde, for all we know he could already be putting his plan into action."

"Bakit nandito pa kayo at hindi gumawa ng paraan para pigilan siya?" he barked.

"We don't know where he is, Gavin." Kumunot ang noo ni Taylor Escobar, hindi nagustuhan ang pagtaas nito ng boses. "He turned off his phone knowing that Tobi can track him. We also called his house but it was Katrina who picked up, telling us to fuck off."

Napabuntong hininga si Toblerone Chavez. "Hindi man lang siya nabahala nang sabihin namin na hinahanap ng kuya niya si Riley Hyde."

"She wants him to find Hyde," Taylor Escobar claimed.

The detective was confused. It didn't occur to him that Katrina would want that, even if it means her brother will be put in immediate danger.

"No one knows what's going on in Katrina Gio's head," he considered.

"For all we know, Katrina wanted revenge for what happened," Taylor Escobar continued to argue. "And her brother can do that for her."

They didn't want to believe it but they considered the idea.

"Revalaun's not home?"

Umiling ang dalawa.

"This is bad, we have to go over to their house." 

Mabilis na gumalaw ang detective at kinuha ang jacket nito. Sumunod sa kanya ang dalawa.

Nakalabas na sila nang matigilan sa nakitang tatlong babae na nakasalubong. Hinintay nila na tuluyan na makaakyat ang tatlong babae. Nagawa pang bumaba ni Detective Gavin Marco, at tinulungan si Katrina Gio sa pag-akyat sa hanay ng mga hagdan. The other two, was Penelope Gio, and a nurse who is also Penelope's friend named Daphne.

"Why are you here?" tanong niya ngunit inirapan lang siya ni Katrina.

"Where's your brother?" This time he turned to Penelope for an answer.

Penelope blinked twice. "I thought he was with you?"

Unfortunately, he wasn't.

The three of them were also looking for Revalaun Gio who came running out of his room in haste, announcing that he has somewhere to be. Penelope confessed that they only came because Revalaun told them to.

"Sinabi niya 'yon?" The detective asked in disbelief. "Bakit?"

"Yeah, that's why we're here."

"He didn't tell you anything else?" Toblerone Chavez asked.

Umiling si Penelope at napatingin sa kapatid na naiinis sa pag-aayos sa crutches nito. Sinubukan siyang tulungan ni Daphne pero nagmatigas si Katrina at marahas na hinawi ang kamay nito.

"We don't know where he is, okay? I already told you he left," Katrina barked angrily, her glare cold. "But he's been busy the whole day in his room. Kung gusto niyong malaman kung saan siya pumunta, edi tingnan niyo kung ano ang pinagkaabalahan niya doon."

"Nakita mo kung ano ang ginagawa niya?" tanong si Penelope. "He locked himself up in his room for hours. Paano mo nalaman?"

"I saw it after he left." The smirk on Katrina Gio's face never disappearing, "It's quite... interesting."

"What did you see?"

The detective was growing impatient, for every passing second, he kept thinking about what's going to happen if they don't find Revalaun soon.

"Let's just go and find out ourselves, the brat's not going to say anything so stop wasting time on her. Isn't that what we do, Detective Gavin Marco?"

A voice said from the stairs, Katrina's glare turned to the owner of the voice. With a smile on her face, a calm composure and the familiar glint of determination in her eyes, Detective Blythe Davis stood at the last step of the staircase.

"And where have you been, Davis?" The detective couldn't help but smirk at her entrance.

"Closer than you think." She then winked at their group, "Let's go find Revalaun. He should really stop playing with fire."

They couldn't agree more.

***

Schizophrenic episode - a sudden change in personality or behavior when a person who has schizophrenia lose sight of reality.