CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter contains content that might be troubling to some readers, including, but not limited to, depictions of and references to death, self-harm and suicide, graphic violence, sexual assault, strong language and more.

Please be mindful of these sensitive themes and other possible triggers. Remember to practice self-care before, during and after reading.

LORELEI

"STEIN ALBERTS," Loki spat out his name like poison. "Someone said that there's a dead body here. It's either yours . . . or ours."

"Relax!" Lalo pang lumawak ang kurba sa mga labi niya. Lumapit siya sa amin. "Thou shall not be harmed, remember? I could have arranged your death any time I want, but I won't. Consider yourself under my protection."

"If this is your most creative way of saying hi—and you wasted our time and effort—let me now say goodbye." Humarap sa akin si Loki at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Muntik na akong matumba nang bigla niya akong hatakin patungo sa pintuan. "Lorelei, come. Let's not waste our time here."

"I have a case for you and your little club."

Akmang bubuksan na ni Loki ang pinto nang napahinto siya. Mabagal siyang lumingon sa lalaking nababalutan ng liwanag mula sa labas. Nagmistulang silhouette si Stein, tanging ang lente ng salamin niya ang malinaw naming nakikita.

"Case? What case?"

"I know that's the magic word to get your attention." Tumawa nang marahan ang lalaking nakasalamin. Kumuha siya ng isang monobloc chair at ipinosisyon 'yon sa gitna ng kuwarto. "Why don't we sit down first? Go ahead, take a seat. Make yourself comfortable as if you're in your own clubroom."

"I've changed my mind." Muling tumalikod si Loki sa kaniya. "We don't accept criminal masterminds as clients."

"This is for you, M."

For the second time, Loki came to a halt and turned around. Kanina pa niya hawak-hawak ang kamay ko kaya para akong aso na sumusunod kung saan man siya magpunta.

"Alam kong interested kayo sa case na 'yon." Sandaling tinanggal ni Stein ang salamin at pinunasan ang mga lente n'on. "Unfortunately, the new police chief isn't cooperating with your club. He even banned you in the crime scenes."

"Okay, let's cut the chase." Lumapit na ang kasama ko sa kaniya at seryosong tinitigan. "What do you want?"

"Are you aware that the recent killings have nothing to do with me directly? My infamous codename has been mentioned twice, but I haven't instructed anyone in my group to eliminate loose ends."

"Someone's trying to get your attention. Because you've ignored him for quite some time."

Perfect. Stein was saying things that only Moriarty knew. Kung mare-record ko ang mga pinagsasabi niya, we could produce evidence against him. Pasimple kong ipinasok ang aking kaliwang kamay sa bulsa ko—hawak pa rin ni Loki ang kabila—at pinindot ang homescreen button ng phone. The recorder app was only one tap away.

"Your effort will only be in vain, Lorelei." Nakangiting bumaling sa akin si Stein. Sinundan ng mga mata niya ang kaliwang braso ko hanggang sa bulsa ng aking palda. "There are phone jammers installed in this room—a project of the Math and Physics Society. That's one reason why I chose to meet in this place. I'm an honorary member of the club so they allowed me to rent this space for a couple of hours."

Inilabas ko ang aking phone at sinubukan itong i-turn on. Kahit anong pindot ko, nanatiling black ang display screen. Alam kong hindi pa lowbatt ito, kaya baka totoo nga ang sinabi niya.

"Now we can talk without the fear of our conversation being secretly recorded." Muli niyang isinuot ang kaniyang salamin. "Whoever's behind the recent killings must be one of my people. And that's what I want you to find out. Who among them is acting without any blessing from me?"

"If one of your minions is not following your rules, that's a flaw on your leadership," tugon ni Loki. "Because of your failure as a leader, these loose ends unfortunately ended up being victims themselves."

"This is not a failure, Loki. If you were in my shoes, you would be inclined to think that these unauthorized incidents were motivated by ambition."

"Ambition?"

"Yes. And this is on you. You created a huge hole that needs to be filled."

"What hole?"

Biglang tumayo si Stein at nakapamulsang naglakad paikot sa amin. "Weeks ago, you managed to apprehend Officer Bastien Montreal which led to his tragic suicide."

"How is his death related to the recent cases?" Pinaningkitan siya ng mata ni Loki. "Can you stop with the riddles and go direct to the point?"

"Bastien is one of my trusted subordinates." Stein stood face to face with Loki. Mas lamang ng ilang inch ang height ng kasama ko sa kaniya. "Now that he's gone, there's a vacancy in my inner sanctum. One of the aspirants badly wants that position, so he went on a killing spree to prove himself worthy."

"So this is an internal issue within your organization?"

"You can put it that way, but it has extended beyond our group. I want it to stop. The victims may be loose ends, but I could have used them for my future plans. But thanks to this certain someone, I'm losing my pawns across the chessboard unnecessarily."

"Why don't you investigate it yourself?" Umangat ang isang kilay ni Loki. "By making this request to me—your enemy—you've just revealed a sign of weakness in your leadership. How will your other minions react if they find out about this conversation? Also, learn how to keep your troops in line."

"This is not weakness." Bumalik si Stein sa upuan niya at sumandal doon. "May mga ibang bagay pa akong dapat bigyang pansin. This is not even in my top three priorities."

"If you're serious about employing our services, give us a list of suspects. Give us names. We'll narrow it down from there."

"Nuh-uh! If I produce a list and give it to you, that will only expose the identities of my other agents. You will interrogate them and force them to say stuff that may incriminate me. Nice try, but no."

"I was only messing with you." Ngumisi si Loki, pero agad din 'yong napawi at napalitan ng seryosong mukha. "I have no intention of helping you with your problem. This is your mess. Clean it by yourself."

"Once you find out who he is, you can ask him anything you want about my organization." Napakumpas ang kamay ni Stein. "Doesn't that interest you? If he loosens his tongue, you can have any information you need. Just pray that my other agents won't get to him first."

Ilang segundong nagkatitigan ang dalawa bago kumalas ang kasama ko. Muli siyang tumalikod at hinila ako sa paglabas niya ng kuwarto. Bago mawala si Stein sa paningin ko, hinatak ko pabalik si Loki para sabay kaming huminto.

"By the way, does the name 'Jaime Santiago' ring a bell?" lakas-loob kong tanong.

"Jamie?" Umangat ang mga kilay niya. "Your club member?"

"No, the late student council president."

There was a hint of recognition on his face. A faint smile formed across his lips. "That's a name I haven't heard in recent months."

"Are you in any way involved in his accident?" sunod kong tanong.

Nanatili ang ngiti sa mukha niya. "You have a case to solve. Don't put too much on your plate."

Muli akong hinila ni Loki at tuluyan na kaming nakalabas ng Math and Physics Society room. I failed to get a definitive answer, but it was worth a try.

"Why did you ask about someone who's dead?" tanong ni Loki nang paliko na kami sa hallway. "Is there anything of interest to that person?"

"I have a feeling that Jaime Santiago is a missing piece in the Moriarty mystery," sagot ko. My gut told me na baka hindi lang siya basta-basta biktima ng mastermind na 'yon. Nakadepende rin sa sagot ni Stein kung magbabago ang hinala ko sa kasama naming si Jamie.

"We have a bigger case to solve! Don't let yourself be distracted!" Damang-dama ko ang excitement sa boses niya. Parang nakatanggap siya ng regalo. Sa sobrang pagkasabik niyang imbestigahan ang kaso, mas bumilis ang kaniyang paglalakad at mas humigpit ang pagkakahawak ng kamay niya sa akin.

"Uhm . . . Loki?"

"Yes, Lorelei?"

"My hand."

"Oh?" Agad niyang binitiwan ang aking kamay. Hindi na siguro niya namalayan na kanina niya pa ito hawak-hawak dahil sa intense ng palitan kanina.

Habang naglalakad sa hallway pabalik sa clubroom, napansin namin ang mga CAT cadet na kumakatok sa pinto ng bawat classroom. Isa-isang lumabas ang mga estudyante, bakas ang pagkabahala sa kanilang mga mukha.

"Is there a school activity today?" Nagbato ng nagtatakang tingin ang kasama ko sa mga estudyanteng nakasalubong namin. "Why are they being asked to go outside? Classes are about to resume in a few."

"Wala namang naka-schedule na event ngayon." Sinubukan kong makinig sa usapan ng mga estudyante, pero masyadong maraming bulungan kaya hindi ko naintindihan.

Huminto muna si Loki at inobserbahan ang isang cadet na pumasok sa classroom. Nanliit ang mga mata niya habang tila binabasa ang paggalaw ng mga labi nito. "There's a bomb threat. That's why everyone is being asked to evacuate."

"Bomb threat? Again? This isn't a drill?"

Nagmadali kaming bumalik sa clubroom para i-check kung nandoon pa sina Alistair at Jamie. They were still inside, busy reading the documents. Mukhang hindi pa sila aware sa nangyayaring forced evacuation sa building.

"B-Bomba?" pagulat na tanong ng dalawa matapos naming ibalita ang sitwasyon.

"I used my lip-reading skills at one of those roaming officers." Dumeretso si Loki sa kaniyang usual spot. "Everyone is asked to remain calm as they leave the building."

"Then let's leave this room and go outside as well." Isinara ni Alistair ang folder na hawak niya at saka tumayo. "Hindi natin puwedeng balewalain ang gano'ng banta."

"That's just a hoax!" Kumumpas ang kamay ng club president namin habang nakasandal siya sa upuan. "Someone probably wants to play prank on the teachers and students. Bomb threats are rampant in schools nowadays."

"What if si Moriarty ang may gawa nito?" Napakapit si Jamie sa kaniyang braid. "He threatened to bomb the school last time. Baka susubukan niya ulit today?"

"I don't think he's involved." Umiling ako. Lumapit sa akin si Freya kaya hinaplos ko ang ulo niya. "Nakausap namin siya kanina sa Math and Physics Society room. He has a request to our club."

"Eh?" Sabay na tumaas ang mga kilay ng dalawa naming kasama.

"He wants us to find the rogue member of his gang who murdered Benjamin Tenorio and Adonis Abellana." Biglang tumayo si Loki at idinikit sa corkboard ang dalawang retrato na may familiar na mukha. "We're already on it, but we're not doing it for him or his organization."

Napahawak si Alistair sa kaniyang baba, nagawi ang tingin sa ilalim. "If we catch that person, magkakaroon na tayo ng lead kay Moriarty."

"But we need to protect him once he's under our custody or prevent him from committing suicide. We've already let one big fish off the hook before. We can't afford to lose another again."

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"I hope that's not a student who will claim to have found a dead body in their clubroom," sabi ni Loki. "Two will be too much—"

Wala pa kaming sinasabing "come in," pero binuksan na ang pinto. Sumilip ang isang matangkad na lalaking nakasuot ng sky blue uniform bago pumasok sa loob. Mukhang isa siya sa mga CAT cadet na umiikot sa high school building para sabihan ang mga estudyante na mag-evacuate.

"Pasensiya na sa istorbo," bati niya. "Pinabababa ang lahat ng mga estudyante sa campus field. Merong natanggap na bomb threat ang isa sa faculty members. We advise na huwag kayong mag-panic habang pababa at palabas ng school building."

"We're perfectly fine here," tugon ni Loki bago ibinalik ang atensiyon sa board. "You have nothing to worry about. This is just a bad joke made by a naughty student."

"Biro man o hindi, standard procedure ang pagpapababa sa mga estudyante. Kaya sana'y makipag-cooperate kayo sa amin."

"May problema ba rito?"

Sunod na pumasok ang isa pang CAT officer na mas matangkad at maskulado ang pangangatawan. I remembered his face! He's the corps commander who was talking to Luthor during the hostage-taking incident at the gymnasium.

"Sir! Ayaw nilang bumaba kahit sinabi ko nang may bomb threat sa school."

"Ah, ang QED Club?" Sumilip sa loob ang corps commander na may nakaburdang CASTILLEJOS, C. sa name tag niya. "Alam naming busy kayo sa requests, pero kailangan n'yong bumaba hangga't hindi pa cleared sa bomb threat ang building. Para 'to sa kaligtasan ng lahat."

"But we've got more important—"

"Bababa na kami." Nilakasan ko na ang aking boses para hindi na makahirit pa si Loki. Nagkatinginan kaming apat, tumango ang tatlo sa amin. Ibinaba ni Loki ang mga hawak niyang retrato at iniwan ang mga 'yon sa mesa. Nagmamaktol siyang bumaba ng hagdanan. Karga-karga ko sa aking mga bisig si Freya. Mahirap na, baka may sumabog talaga sa building at madamay pa ang kawawa naming club cat.

Nagtipon-tipon sa campus field ang iba pang mga estudyante. Pinanood naming pumasok sa school building ang tatlong campus police officer at dalawang bomb specialist na may kasamang K-9 unit. Nandoon din si Inspector Morales, hinihintay ang updates mula sa mga tauhan niya gamit ang radio.

"How can these idiots fall for this prank?" Umirap si Loki sa mga pulis na nagbabantay sa amin. "If I were the bomber, I would have bombed the school without sending any warning."

I shushed him habang hinahaplos ang chin ni Freya. Mas relaxed pa ang pusa namin kaysa karamihan ng mga estudyanteng nakapaligid sa amin. "Mas mabuti nang makasiguro kaysa magsisi tayo sa huli."

Dumikit na parang magnet si Jamie kay Loki at ini-lock ang braso nito. "Kahit merong sumabog o wala, ang importante'y magkasama tayo, Loki dear!"

Lumapit sa harapan ang club president namin, nahatak ang babaeng nakahawak sa braso niya. Balak yata niyang maki-tsismis kay Inspector na ilang hakbang ang layo mula sa kaniya. Nagtinginan muna kami ng kababata ko at napakibit-balikat bago sumunod.

"Negative? Did you double-check the surroundings?" Narinig naming tanong ni Inspector Morales. "Ano? May nakita kayong . . . Buhay pa ba?"

Lumayo nang kaunti ang inspector sa amin. Napansin yata niyang nabaling sa kaniya ang atensiyon ng mga estudyante sa kaniyang paligid. Something must have happened inside. His scarred face looked somewhat troubled.

"Buhay pa ba?" ulit ni Alistair sa bahagyang huminang boses niya. "Was someone hurt during the evacuation? But there wasn't any commotion or stampede. Either there's an accident or something else."

"Maybe they got it wrong. This isn't a bomb threat." Sinundan ng tingin ni Loki ang bagong police chief. "I can feel it. A murderous intent. A malicious motive. When you've gotten involved in too many murders, you can sense whether something bad's gonna happen or not."

"Sana nama'y 'di gano'n ka-serious." Pasimpleng ipinatong ni Jamie ang ulo niya sa balikat ng katabi. "Masyado nang maraming ganap nitong nakaraan. This school deserves a break from bloody cases!"

"While waiting for any developments," dahan-dahang inilayo ni Loki ang ulo ni Jamie mula sa kaniya, "why don't we try to find out who sent that bomb threat message? To pass the time."

"Posible pa bang ma-trace natin kung kanino galing ang prank message?" tanong ni Alistair. "Malamang itinapon na o sinira na ng sender ang SIM card matapos niyang i-send 'yon."

"Don't worry. I've got a brilliant idea."

Hinawi niya ang mga nakaharang na estudyante at sinadyang banggain ang ilan na ayaw tumabi. Sinundan namin siya at nakisiksik kami sa nagtsitsismisang crowd. Panay "excuse me" kami sa mga nadaraan namin.

Loki went to the area where faculty members gathered, whispering to one another about some school gossip. Ang ilan sa kanila'y mga instructor namin ni Alistair. Dahil ang club president namin ang nakaisip nito, nanatili kami sa likuran niya at hinayaan siyang simulan kung anuman ang kaniyang balak.

"Excuse me, ma'am and sir?" He sounded so polite, which was not normal. "We're members of the QED Club. We wanna investigate who disrupted our regular class schedule through the bomb threat message."

"Sila 'yong pumigil dati sa bomb threat, 'di ba?" bulong ng isang teacher. "'Yong mga detective?"

"'Di ba fake lang ang mga 'yan?" tugon ng katabi niya. "Gawa-gawa lang nila 'yong mga kaso para sumikat sila?"

"Naku, ma'am, tsismis lang ho 'yon para sirain ang kanilang club."

"Humingi na ng sorry ang Clarion para doon sa misleading article kaya cleared na sila."

Habang nagbubulungan ang mga faculty member, inilibot ko ang aking tingin sa kanila. Napansin kong wala ang General Mathematics instructor namin na si Sir Jim Morayta. Nakasalubong ko pa lang siya kanina bago ako pumunta sa clubroom, ah?

"Paano n'yo malalaman kung sino ang may pakana nito?" tanong ng lalaking teacher na nakakrus ang mga braso. "Sa dami ng mga estudyante rito, parang imposible na yata 'yon?"

"I have two ideas." Itinaas ni Loki ang dalawa niyang daliri. "The person who sent that message is either too lazy to attend their classes today or too unprepared to take an exam. Which one do you think is more probable?"

"Halos pareho yata?" tugon ni Jamie habang pinaglalaruan ang braid niya. "Anyone can send that message and get the same result."

"Baka kailangan nating i-consider ang timing?" sagot naman ni Alistair na napatingin sa oras. "Magre-resume na ang morning period nang ipinadala sa mga teacher ang bomb threat. Maybe the sender was trying to avoid something that's supposed to happen around this time."

Napaisip tuloy ako habang marahang idinuduyan si Freya. "Kung may exam sila ngayong ten o'clock at natanggap ang bomb threat sa bandang oras na 'yon, malamang ipapa-cancel muna 'yon dahil sa evacuation."

"The sender knows very well that the classes will be interrupted the moment the news of the bomb threat gets leaked." Naglakad paikot si Loki habang sinusundan siya ng tingin ng mga teacher. "Alistair is correct. Timing is the major factor in this case. The sender must be smirking in the shadows as they watch their plan succeed. Almost."

Iginala ng kababata ko ang tingin niya sa mga faculty member. "Sino po sa inyo ang may naka-schedule na test ngayong ten o'clock?"

"Ako."

Lumingon kami sa likuran at bumati sa amin si Sir Morayta na nakataas ang kamay.

"Meron kaming scheduled quiz ng Grade 10 students ko." Inayos niya ang pagkakasuot ng kaniyang salamin. "Dahil sa bomb threat na 'to, mukhang kailangan naming i-reschedule. By the way, it's nice to see the QED Club in action."

"Saan ka ba galing, Sir Morayta?" tanong ng nakatatandang babaeng guro. "Ang akala namin, na-trap ka na sa loob ng building."

"Pasensiya na, ma'am, may dinaanan muna ako sa faculty room."

"Teka! Ano 'yon?" Napaturo ang isa pang teacher sa entrance hall. "Estudyante ba 'yon?"

"Bakit nasa stretcher siya?" bulong ng katabi niya. "Hinimatay o nasaktan ba siya sa kasagsagan ng evacuation?"

Nagawi rin sa entrance hall ng school building ang tingin namin. Nagmadaling lumabas ang mga medic na may buhat-buhat na stretcher kung saan nakahiga ang isang babaeng duguan ang uniform. May nakatarak na icepick sa tagiliran niya.

Loki pushed his way through the crowd to get a closer look. Sumunod kaming tatlo sa kaniya. Pinark sa tapat ng gusali ang isang ambulansiya at ipinasok sa loob ang babaeng naka-stretcher. Bago siya tuluyang mawala sa paningin namin, nasulyapan ko ang mukha niya. I tried recalling her name, but my mind seemed to fail me at the moment.

"Stein Alberts' classmate. Remember her? The eternal rank number two," bulong ni Loki nang umalis na ang ambulansiya at tumunog ang sirena nito.

"M-Monica Segundo?!" bulalas ko. Halos napatalon si Freya mula sa mga bisig ko.

Sunod na lumabas ang mga pulis at bomb specialist. Ang isa sa kanila'y may hawak-hawak na plastic bag na may lamang kapirasong papel.

"Agad n'yong i-check ang papel na 'to, pati na ang ginamit na icepick. Baka may naiwang fingerprints," utos ni Inspector Morales sa mga tauhan niya. Maingat niyang inilabas ang papel at binasa ang nakasulat doon.

THIS IS FOR YOU, M.

q.e.d.