PREVIOUSLY ON PROJECT LOKI...

"You violated my golden rule, Cedric. I made it clear that Loki Mendez shall never be harmed."

-36-

LUTHOR: "I'm curious. What are these scarlet threads for?"

LOKI: "Moriarty's web. As you can see, Stein Alberts a.k.a. Moriarty is at the center of it. If you follow the red strands, they will lead you to people who are connected to him."

-37-

LORELEI: "Are you a hundred percent convinced that Stein Alberts is Moriarty?"

LOKI: "Hemight not be the spider at the center of the web after all."

-38-

NURSE: "Naalala ko na kung saan ko nakita 'yang kasama mo. 'Yung naka-braid ang buhok."

LORELEI: "Si Jamie? Hindi naman ito ang unang beses na pumunta kami sa ospital na 'to."

NURSE: "Alam kong nakita ko na siya noon. Sa akin kasi siya nagtanong noon kung saan ang room ng isang comatosed na pasyente rito."

LORELEI: "Ano ho ang pangalan ng binisita niyang pasyente noon?"

NURSE: "Parang pang-foreign pakinggan, hindi pam-Pinoy. Nasa dulo ng dila ko. Teka. Alberto? Albert Einstein? Aha! Stein Alberts!"

-39-

LORELEI: "Are you an ally of Moriarty or not?"

JAMIE: "I don't understand why you are asking me that question! My loyalty belongs to Loki! Always!"

LORELEI: "Yes or no?"

JAMIE: "NO!"

***

LOKI: "You don't have to worry about me, father. Moriarty said that I shall never be harmed. I'm untouchable."

ODINAIRE: "Yes, you are untouchable, but your friends are not. Will you wait until one of them is dead?"

-40-

LORELEI

IT HAS been years since I last went to a beach resort. Nagkaroon yata kami ng class outing noon kaya required ang lahat na sumama.

But a family outing? I couldn't recall any. Unlike those who spend their vacation enjoying the sea breeze, feeling the fine sand between their toes and soaking their bodies in the water, the Rios household would only remain locked up in our mansion and let the days pass by. My dad and I weren't that close and he didn't make any attempt to bond with me.

That must be why I was looking forward to this trip. I may not be with my family, but my friends were with me to enjoy this sudden trip to Subic. Medyo weird nga lang dahil nag-out of town kami kahit hindi naman summer o semestrial break.

There was one person in our party who's more enthusiastic about it — Jamie. Dalawang malalaking bag ang dala niya na parang nag-alsa-balutan siya at lilipat na ng bahay. She reasoned that she brought not only one but three pairs of swimsuit. Hindi raw niya kasi alam kung alin ang susuotin niya para ma-impress si Loki.

"You will help me decide, won't you?" she whispered to me. Nagkataon na magkatabi kaming dalawa sa loob ng UV van. I only nodded in reply. Hindi ako expert pagdating sa fashion, but regardless what Jamie would wear later, it would still look good on her. Sabi nga nila, nasa nagdadala 'yan, hindi sa dinadala.

Loki's father, Odinaire Mendez, provided this vehicle along with his two bodyguards as driver and escort. Gaya noong sinundo nila kami mula sa school (at pinatulog), Munroe Iniguez took the wheel while his brother Hugh sat on the passenger's seat.

Speaking of Loki, he was seated in the row before ours, looking bored as always. Parang siya ang classmate naming ayaw sumama sa field trip pero napilitan kasi required. Seated next to him was his dearly beloved brother Luthor. Kahit sa upuan, the younger Mendez kept distance from his elder brother. Ni hindi nga sila nagkukumustahan. Parang mga pasahero sa UV express na hindi magkakilala kaya hindi nagkikibuan.

"Hey, Lorie!" Jamie whispered to me again, glancing at the vice president. "Close kayo ni Luthor, 'di ba? Baka pwede mo siyang kausapin na magpalit kami ng upuan? Habang bumibiyahe tayo, gusto kong ipatong ang ulo ko sa balikat ni Loki dear tapos magkunwaring natutulog. Awesome plan, right?"

My eyebrows furrowed as I shot her with a confused look. Gusto niya pa akong gawing accomplice sa binabalak niya. What's worse was that she wanted me to talk to Luthor. I had nothing against that man... until I found out that he's the criminal mastermind who has always slipped from his brother's grasps.

I could swallow my pride and talk to him, but not for such an absurd reason. Sorry, Jamie, I had to say "no."

We also invited Alistair to join us in this trip, but unfortunately, he hasn't recovered to his full strength. Ilang araw pa lang kasi ang lumipas mula nang "magising" siya sa pagiging comatosed.

Magtatanghali na nang makarating kami sa Black Dahlia Beach Resort Hotel. Men and women wearing their swimsuits went in and out of the building, most of them were foreigners who must be enjoying their time here in the Philippines.

Hugh and Munroe helped us carry our luggage to our luxury hotel suite. Kahit na tinulungan nila kami, hindi ko pa rin nakakalimutan ang ginawa nilang pagpapatulog sa amin sa kotse. We later found out that they were acting under the orders of Sir Odinaire.

Our room looked like a condominium unit. The living room was well furnished. There were three bedrooms and two bathrooms. The kitchen had the materials we needed to cook our meals.

I slid the glass door leading to the veranda. The curtains started flowing along with the gust of wind. From here, I could see the vast sea that was bluer than the skies above. Some islands could also be observed from this distance. Beachgoers were enjoying the good weather, some were swimming while some were playing beach volleyball.

After all the cases that we have been through the past few months, I could say that we needed this kind of break. Time to unwind, ika nga nila.

"Pwede muna kayong magpahinga sa ngayon, baka napagod kayo sa biyahe," sabi ni Hugh matapos maipasok ang mga gamit namin sa sala. "Mamaya, pupuntahan natin ang isa sa mga islang nakikita n'yo riyan. A good friend of your father also owns that island. Sayang naman kung 'di n'yo makikita, 'di ba?"

"They own islands here?" Jamie looked surprised, peering over my shoulder at the view outside.

"When you are filthy rich, you can buy anything that you want," Loki commented, sitting on the sofa. He had no interest in enjoying the scenic view. "Has he already named the island after him?"

"That, we do not know," Hugh shrugged his shoulders. "Itse-check na namin kung okay na ang lahat para sa island trip natin mamaya. I suggest that you pack some clothes and items in a small bag. It's going to be a long day ahead."

The two Mendez bodyguards left our room. Loki sprang to his feet quickly. He went to the door and opened it slightly, peeking outside. Satisfied, he closed it and turned on the locks.

"So who's excited for the island trip later?" he asked, walking toward the center table and placing his hands on his waist.

Jamie waved her hand. "Me—"

"Don't be," Loki replied. "We are not here to enjoy this surprise out-of-town trip."

Luthor only stared at his brother while my eyes squinted at him. Anong ibig niyang sabihin?

"Teka, teka," nakakunot-noo kong sabi. "I thought we agreed to come here because we need to take a break from everything?"

"I thought you already know my brother that well," Luthor spoke, crossing his legs while he was seated. He must be feeling as if he were a king on his cozy throne. "Loki isn't the type of man to enjoy these kinds of leisure. He would rather investigate a murder than feel the sea breeze in his lungs."

"Yes, yes, thank you for pointing out the obvious," Loki said impatiently. "Paano tayo makakapag-relax dito kung may bantang nakaabang pagbalik natin sa Clark High? You heard my father, didn't you? He's planning to transfer me to another school. And you as well."

"Our father never gives an idle threat," Luthor added. These brothers knew their father very well, so they must be right. "He means what he says and he will stop at nothing to make it happen. But don't you think he has a point? That you have to put an end to that endless chase... the obsession you have with Moriarty."

He probably meant his brother's obsession with him. Oops.

"I will not stop until he's brought to justice," Loki uttered every word with emphasis. "I can't peacefully sleep at night knowing that that person is still walking free and breathing the same air as us. That's one of the few non-negotiable things about me."

After all this time, he was still seeking justice for Rhea's murder. However, his quest might have a tragic ending, especially once he found out the truth.

"We have to come up with a plan to overturn his decision." Loki went back to his seat and put his fingertips together. "Going against father's will, however, is synonymous to a famous Filipino phrase. Parang babanggain natin ang pader."

Natahimik kaming lahat. How could we change someone's mind? If Sir Odinaire was as decisive as the Mendez brothers claimed him to be, it would appear as if we were debating with a rock.

"I can't think of anything at the moment." Jamie shook her head. "Kagagaling lang natin sa biyahe kaya siguro wala pa tayong maisip. Baka pwede nating pag-usapan kapag nakapagpahinga na tayo?"

"For now, i-assign muna natin kung sino ang magkakasama sa room—"

"Loki and I can share the same room!" proud na anunsyo ni Jamie. Loki had no reaction. He was not concerned at all. Noong isang araw nga na bumisita sa amin si Jamie, magkasama silang natulog sa kama. But Loki said that a pillow was put between them.

"No," sagot ko.

"But Lorie, Loki and I can sha—"

"No." My lips moved slowly for emphasis. "You and I can share the same room. Loki and Luthor, as brothers, will share the other."

"No thanks!" Loki rose to his feet and dragged his bag going to one of the three rooms. "I'd rather have the room for myself than sleep with that man."

Here he goes again. Couldn't he set aside his apparent disdain for his brother sa trip na 'to? "Paano na sina Hugh at Munroe? Saan sila matutulog?"

"They can sleep on the sofa!" Loki shouted from the room of his choice. "Or they can book their own hotel room. My father gave them money, I presume."

Luthor also took his bag and went to the room next to Loki's. How old were they again? Almost legal age, yet they were acting as if they were seven-years-old.

I wonder how their mother handled them when they were still children. Come to think of it, I have never heard them spoke anything about their mom.

***

Hugh called us to the dock on the far-left part of the beach. Gaya ng instruction niya sa amin kanina, nagdala kami ng maliit na bag na naglalaman ng damit at mga essential. We were just going to an island, so why did we need to bring such items?

Jamie donned a tank top paired with crocheted shorts and cropped jacket. She retained her signature braided hair that hung over her right shoulder.

Loki never bothered to change his outfit. Nakasuot pa rin siya ng itim na V-neck shirt at cream-colored shorts. Obvious sa effort niyang manamit kung gaano siya ka-excited para sa island trip namin.

His brother Luthor wore a plain white polo shirt matched with royal blue shorts. He put on his sunglasses as he strode off the fine sands of the beach.

Me? I chose a simple sundress with floral prints and paired it with a straw hat.

We found the two bodyguards standing in front of a white yacht. The sea water was calm but the boat was swaying along the small waves.

"Pwede nating gamitin ang yate ng kaibigan ni Boss," Hugh said, tying a thick rope around the pole and pulled the yacht closer to the wooden dock. "We checked the island earlier. We can guarantee you that traveling there is safe."

"How long is this trip to that island?" Loki asked impatiently. "I'd rather spend my afternoon sleeping than going to an unfamiliar place."

"Don't worry, sir, we will be back before night fall." Pagkatapos maitali ni Hugh ang yate, kinuha niya ang mga gamit namin para ilagay sa cabin. "The island is twenty minutes away from here."

Bilang safety precaution, pinagsuot muna nila kami ng life vests. Pinauna kaming babae at inalalayan sa pag-akyat sa yate. Hughed smiled at me as he held my hand and reminded me to watch my step. Mukhang bumabawi sila sa ginawa nila sa amin noon.

Loki and Luthor came next, refused to be assisted by their bodyguards. Umupo kaming apat sa may bow ng yate. We would have a better view from here. Sayang naman kung hindi namin mae-enjoy ang sightseeing.

"Let's go!" Hugh shouted as he untied the yacht from the dock. His brother Munroe wasn't only a good car driver but also a good helmsman since he was in charge of the steering wheel.

The yacht left the dock, leaving behind waves that spread across the calm waters. Our boat was cruising on a straight line, toward an island that appeared on the horizon.

Noong una'y kinabahan ako. May takot kasi na baka tumaob ang bangka at malunod kami. We had our life vests on, but that wouldn't guarantee our safety.

My hair was flowing with the wind, getting in my magnificent view of the cerulean sea. I should have brought a hair tie. Mabuti pa si Jamie, naka-braid ang buhok kaya hindi niya masyadong pinoproblema.

Maingat kong inilabas ang aking phone para tingnan kung anong oras na. Five minutes before four o'clock. Halos wala na ring signal ang mobile network. If we got stranded in an island, we wouldn't be able to contact those at the hotel for rescue.

Around ten more minutes passed before we arrived at our destination. Unang bumaba si Hugh para itali ang yate sa isang pole. Una muna niyang dinala ang aming mga gamit bago kami tinulungan sa pagbaba.

"Rich men do have strange habits," Loki commented, his eyes roaming around the green line of trees and the blue horizon behind him. "Well, if I have that huge amount of money, I would also probably buy luxurious things."

"He owns three islands here, by the way," Hugh said, handing my small bag to me. "Pina-process na niya ang mga papeles para ipangalan sa mga anak niya."

"And what are we supposed to do here?" Luthor took off his sunglasses and put his hands behind him. "I assume that we did not go here just for some sight-seeing activities?"

"May pinupuntahang spot ang mga turistang nagagawi sa islang 'to," sagot ni Hugh, tinanaw kung gaano kalayo ang narating namin. "I don't wanna ruin the element of surprise. Makikita n'yo na lang kapag nakarating na kayo roon."

"Teka, hindi ba sasama si Munroe sa atin?" Jamie asked, pointing at the man who was still at the helmsman's seat. "Sayang naman kung hindi niya mae-enjoy ang trip natin sa island."

"Kailangan niyang bantayan ang yate." Hugh jerked his thumb at the boat. "Mahirap na, baka masalisihan tayo at nakawin ang sasakyan natin. Nakita n'yo naman kung gaano kalayo ang islang 'to, 'di ba?"

We nodded. On our way here, wala kaming ibang nakasalubong o nakasabay na ibang sasakyang pandagat. We seemed to be isolated.

"Walang bangka na madalas dumaan dito kaya kung mawalan tayo ng yate, mahihirapan tayong makipag-communicate sa mga taga-beach," sabi ni Hugh. "At dahil kayo lang ang naka-book na mag-tour para sa araw na 'to, we aren't expecting any tourists here."

Hindi naman kasi peak season kaya walang turistang magagawi rito.

Sinimulan na namin ang paglalakad palayo sa dock at patungo sa gubat. Hindi na gano'n katirik ang araw, pero ramdam pa rin ang sobrang init. Thanks to my hat, keeping up with the heat wasn't my problem.

"Teka!" Napakapa si Hugh sa bulsa ng kanyang pantalon. "May nakalimutan yata ako. Pwede n'yo bang hawakan muna 'yan? May kukunin lang ako sa yate."

He handed over a small box to Loki before running off to the yacht. What else would he be bringing in this island? A map, perhaps?

"I have a bad feeling about this trip." Loki's squinting eyes stared at the forest ahead of us. "Something may not go the way we expect it."

"Don't worry, Loki dear!" Parang lintang dumikit sa kanya si Jamie. "Kasama mo naman ako kaya wala kang dapat ikabahala. I memorized all emergency hotlines in the beach resort so if something goes wrong, we can simply dial them."

"But there's no way we can communicate with them anymore while we are here." My phone no longer had any signal when I showed them the screen. "Wala naman tayong dapat ikabahala dahil tsineck nina Hugh at Munroe ang isla kanina, 'di ba?"

"Maybe we shouldn't worry about the island. Maybe we should worry about those two," Luthor pointed at the dock. We heard the sound of the engine starting up.

BRRRRRRR!

What the—

"Hey, saan kayo pupunta?!" sigaw ni Jamie. "Hoy, kakaumpisa pa lang ng island trip natin 'to!"

Sabay-sabay kaming tumakbo pabalik sa dock maliban kay Luthor. I could see Hugh standing at the bow and smiling sheepishly at us. What on earth were they doing?

By the time we reached the end of the dock, the yacht was already meters away from us, but not yet too far. Kung lalanguyin namin mula rito, posibleng mahabol pa namin sila. But that's too risky lalo na't hindi ako marunong lumangoy. Hindi ko lang alam kina Jamie, Loki o Luthor.

"HOY, BAKIT N'YO KAMI INIWAN DITO?" Jamie shouted at the top of her lungs. Tinanggal niya ang kanyang sandals at handang ibato sa lalaking nang-iwan sa amin. She had a good aim, tested when we chased a potential suspect back at the mall suicide case.

"SORRY, BOSS ODIN'S ORDERS!" Hugh shouted back. He then threw back his head, laughing.

"HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO RETURN TO THE ISLAND?" Nagdalawang isip si Jamie kung dapat niyang ibato ang kanyang sandals. Whether she hit or missed, she wouldn't be able to retrieve them immediately.

"BOSS ODIN LEFT YOU A SIMPLE PUZZLE! CHECK THE BOX! GOOD LUCK SOLVING IT!" Hugh's shout grew fainter as the distance between us grew wider. "IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER, ASK WEDNESDAY!"

And the yacht drove off into the blue waters, leaving the four of us behind. Jamie and I couldn't help but stare at the boat until it vanished on the horizon.

This was the second time those two tricked us! Ang akala ko nagbago na sila.

But come to think of it, hindi naman sila ang nakaisip nito. They were mere foot soldiers following the orders of their king.

"Why wasn't I surprised?" Loki said, examining the little box that Hugh left him moments ago. "My father wouldn't let us enjoy this trip without any challenge. He has a taste for theatrics."

Manang-mana ka nga sa kanya.

"Paano na tayo makakabalik sa hotel natin?" tanong ni Jamie, nagpalakad-lakad sa harapan namin. "I should have brought my swimsuit with me kung alam kong ma-stranded tayo rito!"

Bakit ba swimsuit ang priority ng babaeng 'to? Our safety should come first! We were in an unfamiliar territory. No matter how safe this island was, there's still danger that lies ahead.

Loki sat on the wooden dock and carefully opened the package. Luthor stood behind him, his shadow casting over him.

His sinister pose with his brother was quite symbolic, if one would put thought into it. The person that Loki has been looking for was behind him all along. And yet he failed to see the truth because his brother's shadow was blinding him.

The younger Mendez turned to the elder, his hand made some dismissive gestures. "Can you please move away?"

"Why? I'm just standing right here," Luthor said.

"Yeah, but your shadow's getting in the way. Hindi ko makita nang maayos kung anong laman ng kahon."

Without arguing, Luthor stepped aside, his shadow no longer casted on Loki.

"Ano 'yan?" Jamie asked the moment the package's content was revealed.

"Cryptex..." Loki muttered, cautiously holding the cylindrical object with both hands. He sprang from his Indian seat and showed the item to us.

"Cryp-what?"

"Have you read Dan Brown's controversial Da Vinci Code novel? Or have you watched the movie adaptation?" he asked. "Cryptex is a portable vault containing a hidden message. This is similar to a bicycle's combination lock where you have to arrange the disks to form the correct password. Once you get it right, the secret message written in a piece of paper shall be revealed."

"So your father recreated a cryptex?" I asked.

"Yeah, but something's strange." Loki pointed at the letters carved on the four rotating disks. "The entire alphabet must be engraved on every disk, but only six letters can be read here. What's stranger is that each disk has a different set of letters."

Ipinaikot niya ang bawat disk para mabasa namin ang lahat ng letters. The disks could be rotated independently from one another in a vertical direction. Walang specific na arrangement.

"That's right up your street," Luthor commented, showing no interest in the puzzle. "Whatever's inside that cryptex must be our key to salvation."

Pinilit silipin ni Loki ang napakaliit na siwang sa cylinder. "I can't see anything inside. I can force this thing open. But I believe father has considered that I might take that course of action. Just like in Da Vinci Code, he probably put a vial of vinegar or something inside that can ruin the writings on the paper if we try to open it in another way."

"Teka, baka pwede tayong sumilong sa may puno?" tanong ko sabay turo sa kagubatang ilang metro ang layo sa amin. "Masyado pang mainit dito sa labas. We can't think clearly with such heat."

"Wait a minute!" Jamie exclaimed, shooting us with a wide-eye stare. She just finished searching through her bag. "The snacks and bottled water I brought are missing!"

Maging ako'y napatingin sa laman ng maliit kong bag. I had the same reaction as hers when I noticed that the biscuits I had here were gone.

Loki chuckled at the misfortune that befell on us. "So they want us to experience the island life, huh?"

"They must have taken our items while we are enjoying the view of the sea," Luthor also checked his things. "They put our bags in the helmsman's cabin. Since Munroe was busy with the wheel, only Hugh could have done it."

"Makakatikim na talaga sa akin ang dalawang 'yan!" Jamie clenched her fist. "Kapag nakaalis tayo nang buhay rito, humanda sila!"

"Can you quickly deduce what the password is?" tanong ko kay Loki. "We still have less than two hours before night fall. Delikado kung dito tayo matutulog."

"I'm still studying the structure of the cryptex." Loki continued rotating the disks, trying to form a word using all available letters. "The only clue they left is ask Wednesday. I have an idea on what that means, but interpreting it as a password is the problem."

Luthor cleared his throat first. "While you are trying to guess the password—"

"Not guess. Deduce," Loki corrected him. "We have a clue on hand. What I need to do is interpret that clue into something that would fit the requirement of this cryptex."

"While you are trying to deduce the password," Luthor repeated, "may I suggest that we find a place where we can rest and spend the afternoon. Or if worse comes to worst, the rest of the evening."

"What?! Are you serious?" tanong ni Jamie. "Dito tayo matutulog? Siguradong lalamukin tayo rito! Baka meron ding ahas na nakasabit sa mga sanga! Do you wanna take that risk?"

"I'm not saying that as a certainty," Luthor explained, his dull eyes looking at her. "But that is a possibility that we must entertain. If my brother fails to get the correct answer by night fall, we have to find a place where we can stay temporarily."

"I will try to crack the password as fast as I can," Loki assured. "But my brother is right. We need to look for a spot where we can stay."

"For starters, we must find a clean source of water," Luthor suggested, looking to his right where the seawater abound. "Salt water is dangerous for our kidneys. It might also cause diarrhea. There must be a river or a stream somewhere in the woods."

"Sigurado ba kayong merong ilog diyan?" Jamie was skeptic.

"They won't leave us here if they know we wouldn't survive for a day or two," Luthor answered. "That's the reason why they removed the bottled water. They believe we can find another source of clean water in this island."

His ability to consider every possibility and to see through other people's intentions was remarkable. I once worked with him, back during the incident in the gymnasium. He could always think of a way on how to solve the problem.

Unfortunately, he could also use the same ability while playing his evil alter ego. That must be how he managed to avoid his little brother's suspicion.

For now, mas mabuti kung magtitiwala muna ako sa kanya. But I wouldn't let my guard down. He was, after all, the mastermind we have been chasing.

Sinimulan na naming maglakad patungo sa kagubatan. Thanks to the shade provided by the tall trees, hindi kami masyadong nainitan habang tinatahak ang masukal na gubat. The birds were chirping as we passed by their territory.

Luthor led our small party, on the lookout for any river or stream. I heard that he disliked doing things by himself so he always relied on other people. He preferred to be in someone else's shadow, but in this trip, he was acting as our leader.

Loki was preoccupied by the cryptex. His father challenged him to a battle of wits through that cylindrical object. He wouldn't give up until he cracked the password. Mabuti nga, hindi siya nadarapa sa mga malalaking bato at ugat ng puno na nadaraanan niya. His mind must be focused on the puzzle, but he was still aware with his surroundings.

Si Jamie? Heto, sa akin nakadikit. Dahil busy si Loki sa cryptex, hindi muna niya inistorbo. She seemed to be afraid of anything that might fall out of the sky. Lagi siyang nakatingala sa mga sanga, nakakatakot siguro na baka may sawang mahulog sa kanya at lamunin siya nang buo.

"This is a convenient spot," Luthor declared, his one foot stepped on a boulder.

Finally, after half an hour of walking, we reached a river flowing with fresh water. Nakikita namin ang kailaliman ng ilog dahil sa sobrang linaw ng tubig.

Jamie, who has been complaining that she was thirsty, ran to the river and scooped some water with her hands. Basta-basta na lang siya uminom.

"Ang sarap!" she groaned as she took another gulp of fresh water. "I have never appreciated water until now!"

Dahil mukhang malinis naman ang tubig, nakiinom na rin ako. Ibang-iba ang lasa kumpara sa nakasanayang naming mineral water.

"The sun will set in less than an hour," Luthor remarked, standing behind me. I became alert in case he pushes me into the river and hold my head under the water until I drown. "Any luck on the cryptex?"

Sighing, Loki put down the object he's been holding since we started our journey here. "I need to take a break. The Wednesday clue is frustrating me!"

"What's with Wednesday, anyway?" tanong ko. "Today's Saturday, right? Why would the clue be the day in the middle of a week?"

"The day today is irrelevant," he explained as he walked toward the river and washed his face. "We have to take into consideration the origin of Wednesday. Any idea?"

"I have read that Wednesday is named after the god and planet Mercury," sagot ni Jamie na pinapanood ang paghuhugas ng mukha ni Loki. Baka gusto niyang siya mismo ang gumawa no'n? "Dies Mercurii or day of Mercury."

"That's in most languages with Latin origin," Loki replied. "However, in Old English, the name is derived from Wōdnesdæg or Woden's Day. Woden is a Germanic god who's also known as Odin, the chief of the Æsir in Norse mythology."

"Just like how Thursday is named after Thor, the god of thunder," Luthor added.

"So the answer is ODIN?" I picked up the cryptex on the ground and started rotating the disks. Ngunit kahit anong ikot ko, hindi ko mabuo ang pangalan. Na-gets ko na kung bakit na-frustrate ang kasama namin.

"I doubt that my father would use a dead giveaway password." Kinuha mula sa akin ni Loki ang cryptex at muling pinag-iikot ang mga disk. "But the answer must be something related to Odin. He is associated with wisdom. He has two ravens, Hugin and Munin. He wields a spear named Gungnir. He sacrificed his one of his eyes. If the password only has four letters as I have assumed, I can't find a match. However, if the password has more than four..."

Nilapitan siya ni Jamie at minasahe ang ulo niya. "Don't push yourself too hard, Loki dear. Baka kailangan mo munang i-clear 'yang isip mo."

"Walking around this forest might give me an idea." He did not seem to be enjoying Jamie's massage, but he did not also appear annoyed by it. Or maybe he just did not care.

"Since it might take a while before you can think of the password, I suggest that we start gathering materials for our makeshift shelter and food for our dinner before the sun sets," Luthor looked up at the orange skies above. "Kapag dumilim na, mahihirapan na tayong maghanap sa gubat. The forest is dangerous especially during night time."

We had to accept the fact that we might spend the night on this forest. What a shame that we couldn't enjoy the comforts of our hotel room.

"Let's split our team into two pairs," Luthor went on. "One pair would look for materials to build our camp while the other pair would gather edible fruit and catch fish in the river."

Jamie's hand shot in the air. "Kaming dalawa ni Loki ang bahala sa food! Natatandaan ko kung saan pwedeng kumuha ng mga prutas doon sa dinaanan natin kanina."

Wait! If we agreed on those terms, that would mean...

"Jamie and I can gather food while Luthor and Loki can build our camp here," I suggested.

"Sorry, Lorelei, but the preferable set-up would be one boy and one girl per pair," Luthor countered. "This place may be friendly, but deep within the woods, dangers lie ahead."

"Tama si Luthor!" Jamie showed a thumbs up. "Kailangang may knight na magbabantay sa bawat prinsesa. Mine would be Loki. Yours would be Luthor!"

That's the worse arrangement that could happen!

"O baka naman ayaw mo lang kaming magsama ni Loki dear?" hirit ni Jamie. "Kaya ba inilalayo mo ako sa kanya?"

Luthor glanced at me while Loki's eyes were looking elsewhere. Ano ba namang pinagsasabi ng babaeng 'to? She could stay with Loki for as long as she wanted, basta hindi ko makaka-pair si Luthor.

"I was just..." My words were cut off when someone spoke.

"Do you have any problem pairing up with me, Lorelei?" Luthor spoke coldly, every hair in my body raised. Napatingin tuloy si Loki sa akin tapos sa kanyang kuya.

I took a deep breath and shook my head slowly. "N-Nothing. I just thought na mas mabuti kung magkakasama kaming babae at kayo namang lalaki."

"Palubog na ang araw! Wala na tayong oras na dapat sayangin pa," Jamie smiled triumphantly. She got what she wanted anyway.

I had no choice but to come with Luthor. The two pairs parted ways, them going to the right while us going to the left.

Nawala na ang paninindig ng mga balahibo ko kanina. Luthor's intimidating aura would only work when we were in an enclosed space. In an open area like this one, I couldn't feel anything.

Nauna siyang naglakad sa akin, namumulot ng mga malalaki at mahahabang sanga ng puno. Pati mga malalaking dahon ng saging, pinagkukuha niya. Kailangan naming bumuo ng tent gamit ang mga bagay na 'to. Sana nga lang ay hindi umulan. That would make the situation much worse.

The silence between us was deafening. Habang papalayo kami sa aming spot, mas tumitindi ang panganib. Kaming dalawa lang ang nandito. If he suspected that I already know his secret, he could hurt me anytime he wanted. Pwede niya akong itulak sa isang butas at palabasing aksidente ang nangyari.

But something inside of me trusts that he wouldn't do such a thing. Even if the opportunity presented itself, he wouldn't lay a finger on me.

Pumulot ako ng isang stick na matulis ang dulo. If he tries something funny, I could stab him with this stick. Nasa advantageous position ako. I could take him by surprise from behind. But I would only hurt him as a form of self defense.

Mas mabuti nang maging handa kaysa mamaya'y mabulaga.

Naisip ko tuloy, baka ito na ang oras para tanungin ko siya? I have been keeping from Loki the fact that I saw and heard Luthor in the warehouse where we were brought by Cedrick and his hooligans. Hindi ako nananaginip noong mga panahong 'yon. I had been carrying this suspicion with me.

Was this the perfect timing? Kaming apat lang ang nasa isla. If my suspicions were correct, we outnumbered him, three versus one. Wala rin siyang paraan upang tumawag ng back-up. He was isolated, his minions were kilometers away from him.

What I needed was a confirmation straight from his mouth.

"You have been acting strangely since the day I visited my brother in your apartment," he said without looking at me. I was startled when he threw that question out of the blue. Kumuha siya ng malaking bato sa tabi ng puno at sinuri ito.

"Marami nang nangyari sa paligid ko sa nakalipas na buwan." My hand gripped tightly on the stick. One wrong move, I would poke a hole in his stomach. "Baka nagiging paranoid na ako."

"Paranoid?" He looked at me over his right shoulder. Hindi pa rin niya binibitawan ang bato. "About what?"

"We don't know who to trust anymore," I answered. Crap, my hand was trembling in fear. Bumilis din ang tibok ng puso ko. Hinahanda ko na ang boses ko para sumigaw sakaling may gawin siya.

He halted, staring at the orange sky that was slowly being consumed by the darkness.

Dahan-dahan siyang humarap siya sa akin at tinitigan ako sa mata. His eyes were devoid of any emotions. Katulad sa mga estatwang inukit. His gaze sent shivers down my spine.

"Do you trust me, Lorelei?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat as my eyes refused to look away from him. A cold breeze blew from his direction to mine. He was waiting for my answer.

"No," I answered with conviction.

"Shame," Luthor said, raising his hand holding that rock.

Before he could bludgeon with that object, I hit his hand using the stick and tackled him on the ground. I have never seen him so surprised with my sudden action.

I was wrong, entirely wrong. I thought he wouldn't try to hurt me! Balak niya ba akong saktan gamit ang batong hawak niya? Puwes, nagkakamali siya!

Pumatong ako sa katawan niya at sinigurong hindi siya makakatayo kaagad. Nakatutok ang matulis na dulo ng stick sa kanyang leeg. He was on his back, lying still while staring at my weapon.

Sorry, I did not want to do this, but he provoked me.

"I see..." His lips moved to smile, but what I saw was a devilish smirk. "You have been misinterpreting the situation, Lorelei. You thought that I was going to strike you with that rock. But did you really think I would do that?"

"Yes! I have misinterpreted you since the day you introduced yourself as an ally!" My voice was shaking as I spat every word. "You had to gall to say that you are not the villain. And you are still surprised that I don't trust you?"

Wala na akong magagawa kundi ilabas ang mga baraha ko. Oras na para malaman ang katotohanan.

Naiinis ako. Naiinis ako dahil wala mang pagbabago sa itsura niya. I thought he would finally remove his mask and reveal his true face to me. But I was disappointed.

"You have been deceiving your brother since the beginning!" I roared. "DROP THE ACT NOW! I KNOW THE TRUTH!"

"What truth?" he spoke calmly which irritated me more. Lalo ko pang idinikit sa leeg niya ang matulis na stick. I had no intention of killing him. Ayaw kong ilagay ang batas sa sarili kong kamay. But intimidation might make him talk.

How long would he pretend to be innocent?

"YOU'RE MORIARTY, AREN'T YOU?"

His eyes blinked, but his lips didn't move. How could he maintain that composure?

"ANSWER ME!"

Why wouldn't you say a word? Why couldn't you deny it? Gaano ba kahirap sabihin ang "no"?

Yes, I have suspected him for weeks, but deep inside, I wanted to believe that he is truly an ally, that he is truly on our side. Just like when I thought that Jamie was Moriarty's accomplice.

So please, answer!

"You are right, Lorelei. I am Moriarty."

q.e.d.

MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!

I apologize for the lack of updates in the past four months. Let me make it up to you by posting this update (that almost has the word count of two updates).

And here's a fan art of our favorite teddy bear, Theodore, courtesy of @FenrirGrenelle. I wonder what this cuddly thing is up to.

Happy holidays!