"CAN we talk?" tanong ko kay Maxwell nang sa wakas ay makita ko ito sa isang gym. He's lifting weights and I can feel that he's been here for a long time already. "We need to talk about Nikkadorpha."

I heard him putting back the barbell with force and felt his intense glares towards my position. "We don't need to talk about anything about her. Hindi ako naniniwala sa sinabi mo."

Bumuga ako ng malalim na hininga then I decided to walk nearer. Chizo is with me today and my dog seems oblivious from what's happening.

"It was just a pure assumption, Maxwell. I still don't have any evidence to prove that she's one of the killers." Pag-amin ko sa binata. Kinakailangan kong sabihin sa kanya na it was Nikka para tumigil ito kahapon sa pag-atake sa akin.

"Ano'ng sinabi mo?!" hindi na ako nagulat sa naging reaksyon nito. "You gave me her name and now you will tell me na hindi ka pa sigurado na siya ang isa sa mga killers?! Ginagago mo ba ako?!"

Naramdaman kong aatake ito sa akin but Chizo immediately barked immensely. Doon natigilan si Maxwell nang mapansin ang kasama ko.

"Kinailangan kong sabihin kagabi na kilala ko na ang isa sa mga pumatay sa mga estudyante nang sa gayo'y masiguro kong papayag silang sumali ako sa imbestigasyon, Maxwell. I'm still in the middle of my investigation but I just can't figure out the riddles. I know you will volunteer. And I took that opportunity." Pagpapaliwanag ko sa kanya.

Base sa tibok ng puso ng binata, I felt his subtle relaxation from what I have told him. Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba nabigyan ko siya ng linaw sa ginawa ko? O dahil sa pagkakaantala ang pagkamuhi niya kay Nikka.

"I need to make sure first that Nikka—" he interrupted.

"She's not one of the killers, Bulag." He confidently stated.

"We need to make sure—" he interrupted again.

"There's no need to prove. She's not." Pagpipilit nito sabay tapon ng hawak nito sa kung saan.

"Uhh, hello, Max! Can I come in?" Nagulat si Maxwell sa biglang pagsulpot ni Nikkadorpha sa entrada ng Gym kung nasaan kami ngayon. "Uhh, I think I'll just come back." Anito nang mapansin nag-uusap kami ng binata.

"Nikka! Come back. You're not disturbing us." Malamig na tugon ng binata kay Nikkadorpha.

"Uhh, sureness ba?" may pag-aalinlangan sa tono nito.

Maxwell walked back on his weights while he answers the woman. "Just come in, Nikka."

"Oh-kay. Hi Asia! You're here because you're going to help Maxwell on his investigation, right?" she asked me. "Oh, can you hold this for a while?"

Nagulat ako nang gusto niyang ipahawak sa akin ang paborito nitong teddy bear tapos ay nilapitan ang aso kong si Chizo. "You have a very cute dog, Asia. She's cute!"

Chizo barked and I think I know why. "She's a he, Nikka." I calmly clarified.

"Oh, I see. Sorry! Can I touch him?" She asked innocently. I only nodded to her.

Chizo growled when Nikka was about to touch her and seems like Nikka didn't expect it. "I think he doesn't like me." She concluded.

"Why are you here?" Maxwell asked Nikka coldly. Sumingit na ito sa usapan namin.

"Uhh, I'm here to help as well, Max. May iba pa akong rason kung bakit kita binisita?" Nikka answered him but I can sense her curiosity towards Maxwell's attitude.

"Wala." Tanging naisagot ni Maxwell kay Nikka.

My eyes are wanted to roll because of Maxwell's actions. Mukhang napasama ang pagsabi ko ng hinala ko kay Nikkadorpha. I need to do something.

It's true that I'm doubting Nikkadorpha but its purely a woman's instinct.

"Nikka? I think we would really need your help on this investigation. Would that be fine with you?" I asked her innocently.

"Bulag!" rinig kong pagtawag ni Maxwell sa akin. I sensed his eagerness not to approve Nikka to join our investigation.

"Ayaw mo ba, Max?" Nikka asked with her worry tone. Hindi bobo ang babaeng ito. Kapag magpapatuloy sa ganitong pag-uugali si Maxwell, baka mamaya dito pa sila magkasiraan.

"Maxwell," tawag ko na mismo sa binata. I put a warning tone on the way I called him. "We need her expertise as a Chemist as we might encounter few instances of analyzing chemical samples."

"I didn't say no, Bulag." Masungit na tugon ng binata na nagpa-angat ng aking labi.

Narinig ko naman ang malalim na buntung-hininga ni Nikka. "I thought may problema tayo, Maxwell. Nag-iinarte ka lang pala."

Kahit ako'y napanatag. Akala ko magiging gago ng tuluyan ang Maxwell na ito dahil sa assumption ko lang.

"So how do we start? Oh, Asia, you mentioned during our dinner with Supremo that you are already in progress, right? Maybe we can start right there."

Parehas na silang napatingin sa akin ngayon dahil tila may punto ang suhestyon ni Nikka.

"All I know and all that I have was the fact that I am their target." Iyon lamang ang tanging nasabi ko sa kanila.

"Iyon lang? Bakit iyon lang?" nagtatakang tanong ni Maxwell ngunit hinawakan ni Nikka ang braso ng binata at pinigilan itong sumabog na naman sa galit.

"I can actually remember na sa bawat patayan ngang nagaganap ay naroroon ka Asia. Kung nasaan ang patayan ay paniguradong naroon ka. Ngunit..."

"Ngunit ano, Nikka?" desperadong tanong ni Maxwell.

"I know for sure na naisip mo rin ito since nahinuha mo 'to, Asia. Kasi kung nasaan ka rin ay naroon ang tagapagmana ng Aldeguer Mafia Clan na si Alastair."

Seryoso kong pinapakinggan si Nikkadorpha and how fast she was able to analyze everything kahit iyon pa lamang ang nasasabi ko.

"Paano mo nasabing na naalala mong naroon si Bulag sa bawat insidenteng iyon, Nikka?" mapanghusgang tanong ni Maxwell sa dalaga.

I heard how Nikka hissed from the question of Maxwell. "Ano bang klaseng tanong iyan, Maxwell? I'm also a doctor and technically, I am in-charge to do the autopsy to verify if the victims were killed through chemical or any drug related." Hindi makapaniwalang sagot ni Nikka kay Maxwell na tila parang hindi alam ni Maxwell na iyon ang ginagawa nito.

"And did you find out?" singit kong tanong sa dalaga.

"Well, I was in-charge for the first two victims. Iyong namatay sa classroom mo at iyong mga tatlong babaeng natagpuang patay sa may Coffee Tea Shop. Sa apat na biktima, I didn't see any signs of food poison or any injectables that may cause of their deaths." Paliwanag nito sa kanyang tanong ngunit may napansin siya sa sinabi nito.

"You were in-charge for those students? You mean..." I asked.

Nikka nodded. "Yes, I was dismissed to do the next autopsy in which for those kids who were butchered. The Investigativo Club didn't request for my presence that time. Though, I can't really be there since I'm still on my Lab but when I asked them why they didn't call me, they just said, someone is doing it on my behalf. And so, I guess, there's no need for my service back then."

"Then who did the Autopsy for chemical inspection?" I asked with confusion.

Nikka just shrugged. "I don't know. I was not able to ask it anymore since they just left me there outside of their Club Room."

Well, that's a big question there. There's something wrong. Noon ko lang naaalala na when I was about to hack the database of the crime lab, no chemical inspection has been found on the initial reports for those twenty-three students who were killed.

"Kailangan natin silang makausap." Suhestyon ni Maxwell sa kanila. "We need to ask for their initial reports for those students they investigated and we need to know who did the chemical inspection."

"But it will never be that easy to talk with them." Nikka stated.

"And why?" masungit na tanong ni Maxwell.

"Those kids are weird. Well, weirder than me." Nikka answered.

"Paano mo nasabi?" nagtataka kong tanong sa dalaga.

"Well, it was really hard for them to talk especially their minds are logically inclined and has a capacity to outsmart even us the Professors."

"Huwag mong sabihing natatakot ka sa kanila?" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Maxwell rito.

"Hindi sa takot ako sa kanila, Max. I just have this hunch that they're monsters—future monsters of this generation." Nikka gave her opinion.

"I just need to smack them then they will talk." Maangas na wika ni Maxwell na nagpangisi sa akin.

"Baka nakakalimutan mong bawal sa ating mga propesor ang manakit ng estudyante hangga't hindi pa tapos ang semester nila." Pagpapaalala ko sa binata dahil baka hindi nito iyon naalala.

"Yeah, and if you will be deemed to do that, you will taste the fucking hell of the Dungeon." Gatong ni Nikka sa winika ko.

"Tsk, as if I'm scared." Dugtong pa rin ni Maxwell na hindi nagpapatinag sa mga pagpapaalala namin.

"Then you need my help." Nagulantang kami nang marinig si Alastair sa aming likuran. Ako naman ay halos makalimutan ko nang kasama ko nga pala ang binata kanina dahil balak naming kausapin si Archilliah. Iniwanan niya lang ako kanina saglit dahil may iuutos siya kina Dasha at Anabelle na nakasalubong nila kanina. And since may ginagawa ito, I just found myself looking for Maxwell in the Gym area of Tortura Mall.

"A-Alastair..." rinig kong bulong ni Nikka sa aking tabi. Halatang gulantang sa presensya ng taong hindi naman nila inaasahan na makita.

"You're going to help us? Why?" tanong ni Maxwell na ngayo'y nakahuma na sa pagkagulat. Base sa mga salitang binitiwan nito. Tila nag-iingat sa mga sasabihin ang aroganteng mama na ito. Tsk. Akala ko pa naman pati ang tagapagmana ng Aldeguer Clan ay aangas niya rin. Weak!

"Is there something wrong about that?" Alastair asked coldly. Ramdam ko ang tingin ng binata sa akin dahil halos sanay na sanay na ako sa matutulis nitong tingin noon pa man.

"Why?" tanong ni Maxwell.

Rinig ko ang paghinga ng malalim ni Alastair. Alam kong at this point, ubos na ang pasensya nito dahil ayaw na ayaw ng binata sa mga taong makukulit at tanong ng tanong.

"I heard your conversation." It was my turn to widen my eyes. Himala yatang hindi ito nag-alburuto sa galit. "If the reason why Bella Cieco has been targeted by those killers was because she's too close with me then it's my obligation and responsibility. I don't want to get anyone acquainted just because someone is just near me."

"Bella Cieco?" Maxwell and Nikka asked in unison.

I bit my lower lip and I cringed because of their question. Gusto ko nang lamunin ng lupa jusko! Now na! I hissed upon realizing that Alastair just couldn't stop himself from keeping that name just between the two of us!

Nakakahiya! Baka akalain pa ng dalawa na may relasyon kami.

I re-opened my Lenses and I immediately pierced my glares at him. I saw his confusion and mouthed "what?" at me but I just showed how angry I am from what he addressed.

"Hmm, that's what I call her. Anyways, that's not the issue." Mabuti naman at nakukuha ka sa isang tingin. You'll be the death of me.

"How would you help us with the Investigativo Club?" Maxwell asked.

Alastair sat on one of the mini-sofa at the corner of the gym and he called Chizo. Chizo ran over him and Alastair gladly took him on his lap and scratches Chizo's body. "I can still ask them..." I glared at him when I concluded his idea. He will use his compulsion to those kids and I won't let him. "... to release all the information that they got since I'm still their Boss."

"And even though, I'm not yet fully the Boss..." he sarcastically said then he glared at me. I just rolled my eyes. "... I'm the person-in-charge for the Crime Investigation Unit of Aldeguer Clan. So, every information needed could be released with my permission."

"Wow, that's cool." Komento ni Nikka.

"Wala naman palang problema if tutulong ka. I can accept anyone in my team as long as may silbi." Ayan na, lumalabas na ang kaangasan ng hunghang na Maxwell na ito.

- -

"BAKIT kulang ang mga ito?"

"No, it was not kulang like hello! Just take a look at it first before you speak."

"Hey DJ-kuno! Will you please lower down the music! I can't focus here!"

"Mygad, Marc huwag kang humarang sa board. Hindi ko makita ang mga variables from here."

"Tsk, all of you are noisy."

Nakataas ang magkabila kong kilay habang pakurap kurap ang ang aking mata dahil sa ingay na aming naririnig sa pasilyo palang malapit sa Club Room ng Investigativo Club. Their Club Room is located almost on the darkest corner of the Villa Agonia. Well, this is a perfect spot if they want some peace of mind to analyze things but... I don't think they're getting a peaceful environment because of mixed noises we are all hearing from here.

"Club ba ito for Investigators or literal na club? Parang nagpaparty party lang sila." Komento ni Nikka na mariin ngayon ang hawak sa teddy bear nito.

"Sarap parusahan ng mga ganitong estudyante puta." Komento naman ni Maxwell.

The music has stopped and everyone inside of the club room went silent when Alastair knocked loudly and most of the people inside of the room gasped from the person who knocked and visited them.

"Sir Alastair," wika ng isang babae.

I analyzed how many are they by feeling the vibrations on the ground and they're five.

"Whoah, Alastair is in the house yow mamehn!" anang naman ng isang lalaki.

"Sir Alastair, welcome to our Club. What brought you here?" it was the first woman who had spoken a while ago. "May maitutulong ho ba kami?"

"Tsk, sipsip pa more bitch." Rinig kong mahinang bulong ng isa pang babae sa loob. She's currently seating on a certain area of the room facing a vanity mirror. I can sense that she's a Bratinella. Oh, well. Hindi na talaga nawala ang mga ganitong klase ng estudyante.

"You're all here?" Alastair asked.

"Yes, Sir Alastair." Wika muli ng babaeng iyon. Mukhang ito ang tumatayong spokesperson ng grupo dahil ang iba ay tila wala namang pakialam sa eksistensya ni Alastair sa room na ito.

"Jake is sleeping just over there." The woman answered him. "Have a seat, Sir. Come in."

Akala ko hindi na nila kami papapasukin.

"It seems you have company here future Bossing." Anang ng isang lalaki na tila may ngiti sa labi. His tone is very perky but I can sense deep story behind his joyful façade.

"Yes, I brought some of the professors that was assigned to solve the issue of the killers in our campus. They're here to get most of your reports." Alastair straightforwardly said.

Itong lalaking ito oo, kailangan rin siguro nitong matutong magpalabok muna bago ang main course. Walang preno ang koya niyo, straight to the point kaagad.

"Assigned to investigate?" wika naman ng isang lalaking may nakasabit na headphones sa leeg.

"Yeah, got a problem with that, kiddo?" maangas na tugon ni Maxwell. Nikka immediately stopped the man. He should not talk just like that. Professor pa rin ito.

"Sir Alastair, I think we have a misunderstanding here." Wika ng tila leader nilang babae. Then she faced us. "Sorry for not introducing ourselves, but my name is Inah Assistio. I just want to clarify what does Sir Alastair meant by saying assigned to investigate?"

"Yeah, we are not working our ass off here just to give the reports that we have." Anas nung lalaking may perky na pananalita.

I think this is going to be hard.

"Supremo assigned us to solve the mystery of the killers inside of our Campus, dork. Sa tingin ko naman, matalino kayong lahat para intindihin ang ibig sabihin no'n." Tugon ni Maxwell sa paraan nito ng pakikipag-usap. I almost groaned from their situation.

"Maxwell! Just be soft, asshole." Saway ni Nikka sa aroganteng lalaki bago nito hinarap ang mga bata. "It has been discussed to us last night that we should solve this issue and set you aside on this matter, kids. Supremo doesn't want to lose any of you. That's why."

I simply opened my Lenses nang makilala na ang bawat isa sa mga miyembro ng Investigativo Club. I need to information to use if in case kinakailangan ko silang takutin o i-provoke kapag sila'y tumanggi na ibigay ang hinihingi namin.

"It's a pleasure for us to see the mukha of our future leader, however, I don't think fair iyon sa amin." Wika ng maarteng magsalita na ang pangalan ay Yanna Beltran.

YANNA BELTRAN – The rebellious daughter of one of the major stock investor of Aldeguer Group of Companies. A 17 years old teenage girl who loves purple and black. She's a product of broken family and her rebellious act has started when her Dad used her only Nanny to make her say yes to study inside of Vexigo. She treasured her Nanny so much as her Nanny is the only one who stayed beside her since Yanna's Mom left her on the custody of the arrogant father.

"Mawalang galang na Alastair ma-mehn. Sabihin na nating utos na iyon ng nakakataas, tingin niyo ba ay ibibigay namin iyon ng libre? Lalo pa't ang arogante ng isang prof na kasama niyo? Tsk." Wika ni Marc Dela Vega.

MARC DELA VEGA – An adopted son of one of the members of Privus Trata who took him away from his abusive drug-addict father. Marc is a son of the Most Wanted drug dealers in the Philippines and he was being mistreated by his biological family. His biological mother and father is accusing him of ruining their lives.

Napansin ko ang pasimpleng pagsiko ni Nikka kay Maxwell na siyang kinatingin ng masama ng binata sa dalaga.

"Ang talas ng pananalita mo bata! Pasalamat ka hindi ka pa pupwede sa klase ko kung hindi napa—"

Nikka, Max and I cringed when we heard a static tone from the huge speaker that they have in this room. Sa taas ng decibel ay pakiramdam namin ay magdudugo na ang aming mga tainga.

"Stop that!" dagundong na utos ni Alastair sa taong nagsimula noon. The static tone has stopped but it made myself deaf for a while.

Naramdaman ko ang pagdalo ni Alastair sa kinaroroonan ko at halos manginig ang kamao nito nang may tumulo na dugo sa kamay nito na nagmula sa aking tainga.

Ramdam ko ang masidhing pagnanais ni Alastair na parusahan ang batang may gawa nito ngunit ay pinigilan ko siya.

I felt him relaxed and he just assisted me to sit on the club room's sofa.

"Are you okay?" he asked but I barely understood what he's been talking about.

Alam ng binata na hindi ko siya naintindihan dahil alam nitong sensitibo ang aking panrinig. Dahil sa nangyari'y bahagya akong hindi makarinig pero alam kong magbabalik ito maya-maya lamang.

"Get me a pen, assholes!" utos nito sa mga bata na agad namang tumalima. He did something on the paper. Then he put my fingers on top of it and I just smiled because of his way of communicating me.

He used Braille, a tactile writing system used by people who are visually impaired just like me.

"I'm a bit fine, Alastair. I just need to take some rest as the sound made a huge impact on my sense of hearing." I answered him when he asked if I'm alright.

Ramdam ko na biglang kinuwelyuhan ni Maxwell ang batang may headphones sa leeg. I felt a huge impact on the wall, proving that Maxwell is being brutal to the kid.

"Alastair, stop Maxwell from hitting the kid. He doesn't know my condition." Anas ko kay Alastair na nanatili sa aking tabi at tila ayaw umalis.

Shige lang, huwag kang umalish diyan nang maamoy kitah. Sharap sharapp wooh!

"Maxwell, stop it." Utos nito na medyo naririnig ko na nang marahan.

"I'm sorry, Miss Graham. I forgot the after-effect of the loud feedback on a blind person since you're depending your life now with your sense of hearing." Kahit mahina'y narinig ko ang paghingi ng paumanhin ng binata sa akin. Since he's the one who plays the music a while ago, I bet he's Geoff Gregorio.

GEOFF GREGORIO – an aspiring DJ who really loves music. That explains the loud music we heard a while ago. Before he ended up being inside of Vexigo and become part of Investigativo Club, he worked as a part time DJ in a local bar in the Metro. One night, he accidentally killed a woman who tried to kill him as the woman thought that he was the boyfriend who broke the lady's heart. Upon knowing the identity of the woman, he killed, someone took him and disclosed that the woman he killed was the daughter of a Yakuza Boss in Japan. The only way for him to be safe is the Vexigo Campus. With no hesitation to save his life, he said yes without knowing that his parents were killed. Now, he agreed to stay here to prepare himself to avenge his family from the people who killed them.

I was stunned from his apology when I finally comprehend his words. I was about to ask when Maxwell interfered.

"I think we are wasting our time here. Kailangan na namin ng mga impormasyong nakalap ninyo." Atat na wika nito sa mga bata.

Nang ako'y tuluyang nakahuma, I held Maxwell's arm and pinched his skin. "Fuck! What was that for?!"

"Patience should always be your virtue, Maxwell. Iyan ba ang klase ng pagtuturo ang pinapakita mo sa mga estudyante mo?" sermon ko rito. "Being a professor means you're someone that they're going to look up to. Kahit pa ganitong klase ng set-up mayroon ang Campus na ito, the fact remains that you are needed to make them brave enough to face the life inside of the Mafia world." Dugtong ko pa.

"Kung hindi ka makapaghintay, katabi mo lang ang pintuan at maaari ka munang lumabas upang magpalamig. Masyado kang mainit." Gatong ko pang muli.

I heard him hissed, a signal that his rage was now transferred to me.

"Don't make me use my compulsion to you, David." Alastair warned as well.

"Sige na, Maxwell. Kami nang bahala dito." Dugtong pa ni Nikkadorpha na kasalukuyang nakahawak sa kabilang braso ng binata.

Marahas na tinanggal ni Maxwell ang pagkakakapit ni Nikka sa braso nito at saka ako dinuro.

"Make it fast, Bulag." Tangi lamang nitong nasabi sa akin na siyang kinatango ko.

Nang makalabas si Maxwell, I turned my gaze to the members of this club.

"Apologies accepted..." una kong wika ngunit may tono roon na nais kong idugtong. Isang signal na gusto kong malaman ang pangalan ng taong sumadya ng malakas na feedback na iyon.

"Geoff, Ma'am." I need to pretend that I don't know them. Dahil 'pag basta basta ko na lamang banggitin ang mga pangalan nila'y paniguradong magtataka ang mga ito kung papaano ko ito nalaman.

"... Geoff," I smiled at him to give my sincere acceptance. "Guys, I know it's unfair. But I actually want to propose something. Alam kong kahit kunin namin ang imbestigasyon sa inyo ay hindi iyon magpapapigil sa inyo upang hindi ituloy ang pagsisiyasat." Dugtong ko na may halong ngisi sa kanila.

"Professor Graham, I think that's the essence of our Club. We are not here just to sit if this kind of crimes are enshrouding our humble home." Ani Inah sa kanya.

Inah Assistio – an orphan since birth. Her parents' details are nowhere to be found already. She was first adopted by a Church Pastor but was kidnapped when she was five years old. Since then, the people who kidnapped Inah made her to be a thief in the street. She's asking for money in every public vehicle and give all the money that she will get to the kidnapping syndicate who are using kids to do illegal activities. She was able to escape from that hell when Supremo found and discovered her logical thinking skills even at her young age.

I smirked at her. "That's why we are not going to remove the case on your team."

All of them gasped from my words. This club were expected to drop the case and give us all the information gathered by their team. However, if I really want to catch those victims on my own hands, I need resources to use.

"Asia, you know that the Supremo wants them to be out of the case." Pagpapaalala ni Nikkadorpha sa akin.

"Alam ko." Tugon ko sa kanya habang ako'y muling umuupo sa sofa ng Club room nila.

"Then what's this fuss, Bella?" nagtataka ring tanong ni Alastair sa akin.

I ignored the both of them and I asked the club members instead. "What are your thoughts, Investigativo Club?"

"U-Uh, I d-don't really alam what to answer, Prof Asia." Maarteng tugon ni Yanna.

"Yeah, h-hindi ko alam na g-ganito ang gusto mo." Segunda naman ni Geoff.

"It's true na itutuloy pa rin namin ang kaso kahit kunin ninyo pa iyon sa amin... pero h-hindi ko lang i-inasahan na." Wika naman ni Inah.

"Hindi lang namin inaasahan na ganito ang gusto mong mangyari and I think that's really the purpose why you are here." Anang naman ni Marc.

My grin grew wider from their answers. I never thought that they're not going to expect it. First and foremost, they're good in terms of thinking beyond the box.

But I think, their last member expected this already. Remember, they're five. Pero apat lang sila na nagsasalita.

"Kung hindi ninyo iyon inaasahan, I bet that the last member that you have here in this club already thought about this. Is that right?" Wika ko, then I turned my gaze at my back.

We heard someone yawned. Someone was currently sleeping at the back of the sofa. Kanina ko pa siya hinihintay na magsalita dahil alam kong hindi siya lubos na natutulog.

"I think you're special." Anang ng lalaki na nasa aking likuran at kasalukuyang nag-uunat.

Someone from his team member hissed from his presence. "Ay nako, tulog ka na naman, Jake. Lagi nalang."

Hindi iyon pinansin ng lalaking nagngangalang Jake. Bagkus, inilahad nito ang kamay nito sa aking tapat.

"I'm Jake Dela Cruz but I think you already know it as well."

JAKE DELA CRUZ - A wealthy heir of a company but ended up being a young Assassin when his parents were killed in a car accident. The accident was not an accident at all. It was all plotted and he wants to know who are the killers. He ended up being here because he was qualified to make the suspects or criminals to speak truthfully and admit their crimes.

"Asia Graham." Pagpapakilala ko sabay abot sa kamay nito.

Wala pa nga lang ilang segundo na nagdidikit ang aming kamay nang biglang bawiin ni Alastair ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakakapit sa kamay ni Jake.

"Don't touch her." Banta ni Alastair na kinawingi ko.

Nangiwi ako kasi jusko! Kailangang pigilan ang kilig. Hindi pwedeng ma-dishtract, Asia!

"You're indeed, special." Jake said once again pero ramdam ko ang pang-uuyam sa tono nito ngayon. "Anyways, well I'm expecting your proposal already. And of course, we are going to say yes."

"Asia, we need to talk about this with Maxwell." Anang ni Nikkadorpha sa akin.

"No need, Nikka. Alam mong he will go against about this." Tugon ko sa kanya na bahagyang nagpatahimik rito.

"Bella, what are you planning?" Alastair tried to whisper his question but since I can feel his frustration, his tone said otherwise.

I didn't answer him and I only touched his arm. A comforting touch. Saka na ang mahalay na hawak. Hihihi!

"So, how are we going to do about this? Since ikaw ang nag-suggest nito at labag ito sa utos ng Supremo, labas na kami diyan kapag nagkahulihan." Pambungad ni Jake sa akin na siyang sinang-ayunan ng iba.

I want to roll my eyes. Mga bata pa marunong nang tumakas sa responsibilidad.

"Fine. I'll take all the blame and punishment. Pero sa ngayon, we need your verbal report. We need to know kung hanggang saan na kayo sa imbestigasyon. Now, para hindi tayo mahuli. You are going to move in the dark while we are the ones to take action from the outside." I started laying the plans.

"You want us to work under you?" tanong ni Inah sa akin.

"Yes. You got a problem with that?" I asked her and I can feel her resistance to accept the plan that I have. Sino nga naman ang gustong magtrabaho sa ilalim ng isang tao kung pupwedeng ikaw ang mamuno.

Inah has this leadership attitude but at the same time she has an unfair looking with the word competition. It seems like she wants to strive twice faster than anyone from her team. That's her opportunity that she needs to work on if she wants to succeed.

"Well, as the computer savvy in the team, I don't have any problems with that." Wika ni Marc.

"Me as well." Tugon ni Yanna na kasalukuyang naririnig kong naglilinis ito ng kuko.

"I'm pretty much okay with it. Mas safe." Anas naman ni Geoff.

"Hindi ba okay sa'yo, Inah?" Jake asked the in-doubt woman.

"Well... honestly, no." I bit my lower lip upon hearing her honesty.

"And why?" Jake asked once again.

"Not because I don't want to work with our Sir Alastair, its just that, how do we trust these people with the things we are now working on? We've spent a lot of sleepless night and then we are just going to team up with the people that we don't know?" Inah reasoned out.

"Well, technically speaking bitch, they're professors, duh!" Pabalang na sagot ni Yanna rito.

"You don't get my point, do you?" Inah asked Yanna with a glint of irritation filling her tone.

"Hey guys, stop. We're a team, remember?" Marc reminded them.

Alastair was about to enter but I interfered immediately. "So, you mean to say, you're okay to give us the reports that you have right now without taking the opportunity to be still part of this investigation? You're hurting my mercilessness, my dear."

"We can still continue the investigation just like what you've thought, Professor Graham." Inah answered with her gritted teeth.

"You might have forgotten one thing, Miss Assistio. I'm fully aware that you still know the capability that your Sir Alastair has, right?" Ayokong umabot sa paggamit ko sa compulsion ni Alastair pero kung magiging sarado ang isipan ng babaeng ito. I might as well use the last straw of my card.

Katahimikan ang bumalot sa kanila matapos kong sabihin iyon.

"I'm against with her plan," paunang bungad ni Alastair na nagsalita na. "... but if this is the only way to stop the killing then I would agree on her. If not, I will fully erase on your head the knowledge of this investigation."

I'm listening to their heartbeats and I don't know how to interpret what they feel. Pagkagulat sa banta ni Alastair o iyong pagkakarinig nila sa mahabang pananalita ng binata. Remember? Tahimik ang lolo niyo at hindi palasalita.

Nagiging madaldal na nga ngayon.

- - -

"HINDI ako makapaniwalang pumayag ka rito, Alastair." Rinig kong bulyaw ni Maxwell sa aking katabi. Ngunit dahil ayaw nitong ma-istorbo ang nagsasalitang estudyante sa harapan ay pabulong nito iyon sinabi.

"Professor Max, I hope you don't mind but if can't listen to us then please leave." Napanguso ako sa sinabi ni Inah kay Maxwell. Ayan kasi, Max. Huwag sinasabayan ang isang babaeng ayaw talaga sa ginagawa.

"I can't believe that we are listening to these kids." Hindi maitagong komento ng binata sa aking tabi.

"Hayaan mo, Max. Isipin mo nalang, mga estudyante silang nag-re-report sa harapan natin." Pangpalubag loob ni Nikka.

"Tsk." Tanging reaksyon lamang ni Maxwell.

"So, as I was saying, masyadong matalino ang mga taong ito. Napag-aralan nila ng mabuti ang kabuuan ng Vexigo Island. Nalulusutan nila kahit ang mga CCTVs." Anang ni Inah nang matapos nitong ibalita ang parteng hindi matukoy kung saan lumalabas o pumapasok ang mga suspek. No fingerprints nor a trace of their belongings.

In short malinis gumawa at gumalaw.

Pero hindi na ako actually nagulat pa. Those suspects, hindi sila makakapasok ng Vexigo if they're not good.

"Ang sabi mo, Prof. Asia, ikaw ang target nila hindi ba? Dahil kung nasaan ka, nandoon ang krimen." Tanong sa kanya ni Marc.

"Yes." Tanging usal ko.

"Your assumption is quite correct." Wika naman ni Jake na kasalukuyang ngumunguya ng pagkain. "However, upon checking the time that you went to the crime scene and the time that you went out are contradicting."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nito.

"Paano mo nasabi?" takang tanong ko sa binate.

"The crimes happened thirty minutes before you went to those specific places." Tugon naman ni Geoff.

I was shocked upon hearing that. Pero may magulo.

"You said that the crime happened every thirty minutes before I went to those places, right? Pero paano ang unang namatay? Iyong namatay sa classroom? I still met that student before—" then may napagtanto ako.

"The pagpatay happened before the class, Prof." Its Yanna who spoke. "The first victim name is Loreto De Lima. A typical student which is a member of a gang but since their gang is enlisted under Privus, they've been required to study here. Parents are both mahirap, and this student was typically making money sa mga gang fights nila."

It was Jake who had spoken next. "Si Loreto dapat ang pangalawang tao na papasok sa room kung saan nandoon ka na. Pero, upon checking the CCTV in front of your room, umatras ang binata na hawak hawak ang tiyan. Seems like he ate something that made his stomach boiled. After twenty minutes, doon lang namin uli nakita ang biktima na pabalik na sa room. At iyon ang mga oras na naabutan niya ang kaibigan kung kaya't nakisabay na siya sa pagpasok."

Hindi ko natiis na tingnan ang CCTV footage na mayroon sila. Secretly, I connected my VPN sa network line ng system ni Marc. He's a computer savvy so I needed to be careful dahil baka mahuli niya ang linya ko. When I successfully connected myself, I watched the footage and I zoomed in the video to Loreto's face.

"Can you describe to me the total look of Loreto from the time that he didn't continue to come in the room and the time that he saw his friends." I asked them to describe kahit na nakikita ko na ang pinapagawa ko sa kanila.

"Loreto has rouge type of fashion. Typical white shirt in the inside then a polo which are unbuttoned." Inah started to describe. "Then from the time he saw his friends before they all entered..."

Pare-parehas silang natigilan when they realized something. Isang bagay na mabilis kong napuna kanina lang.

"What?" I asked them since Inah didn't continue what she was about to say. On the other hand, I'm clenching my fist.

"Nakabutones na ang polo shirt niya hanggang leeg." Si Maxwell na mismo ang tumapos.

When I'm reviewing all the videos while they're too stunned upon realizing something about Loreto, I must say that their assumption was right. Sa tatlong babae na ginawa kong target sa shooting range na natagpuang patay sa Coffee Tea Shop, all three girls went there thirty minutes before I arrived. Sa video, sa banyo kaagad sila dumiretso at hindi sila naghanap man lang ng table para upuan. Then sa twenty-three na estudyante na namatay, lahat sila nakatambay sa harapan mismo ng Villa Tradimento trenta minutos bago nakita sa CCTV si Alastair, bitbit bitbit ako dahil nawalan ako ng malay nang dahil sa Fifth Wave.

"Ano pa ang napansin niyo sa mga biktima?" tanong ko sa kanila nang makahuma sila sa nakita sa video.

"Ah," napagawi ang ulo ko sa nag-react na si Yanna. "I actually saw something weird on their sugats. They all have a sliced wound on their nape when we got the Autopsy report. It seems like they needed a blood. Loreto died due to Brain Hemorrhage, the three girls died due to Neck Rupture then the kids were butchered."

Muling napakunot ang aking noo.

"Who did the Autopsy Report?" napatingin ang lahat kay Alastair nang magtanong ito.

Iyon pa nga pala. Nikka mentioned something about it.

"Forensic experts from the Privus Consular, Sir." Tugon ni Inah.

"Then who did the chemical inspection report? It says here na wala namang nakuhang findings on their blood." Tanong ni Nikka sa mga ito.

"About that," napatingin sila kay Geoff. "He's a member of the consular as well. Pero ito iyong taong na-late ng dating. Remember the time that we spoke to you, Prof. Taluyot, that you're not going to be in-charge anymore? That was the time you personally approached us here. Pero, we got a call na nandon na siya sa crime scene and so we just told you that you're not in-charge on the next case anymore."

Something is not right. If walang nakuhang any chemical compound sa dugo ng una at pangalawang mga biktima, then... someone already did sa mga estudyanteng sunod na namatay.

I have a hunch na tama ang una kong hinala that the first two crimes are suicide incident. Someone controlled them to do it. Kaya iyon ang rason kung bakit iba na ang postura ng damit ni Loreto at biglaang pagpunta ng tatlong babaeng iyon sa banyo.

Pero sa mga biktima ng Apollo. Tanging si Alastair lang ang may kayang utusan sila na walang magagawa ang mga nautusan kung'di ang sundin sila.

I doubt.

Kung hindi si Alastair and if you're going to open all possibilities. There might be someone who was not a victim of Apollo that can execute mental manipulation.

Maaaring iyon na nga. Dahil kung pangkaraniwang mental manipulation lang ang gagawin ng taong hindi biktima ng Apollo, mahihirapan na siyang komontrol ng marami pa gaya ng bente tres na kabataan. Kung kaya't kinailangan na nitong gumamit ng Mind-Control Drug na Scopolamine.

Scopolamine is odorless and tasteless, and in high amount, it can be lethal. Since the drug can potentially strip someone of all rational thinking, it was surrounded by conspiracies like it can be used to control someone to do what the person wants them to do and etc.

And since it's something that can be determined in the autopsy, they might have sent someone to do it and cover the crime by stating they're all negative.

"He's suspicious, have you asked the information of the man who conducted the testing?" Maxwell asked.

"We've tried." It was Jake who answered. "Kahina-hinala na siya from the very start but when we are about to ask his detailed information, the Consulate of Privus denied our request about the information. They reasoned out they're getting people from the outside at iniingatan nila ang identity ng mga taong kinukuha nila sa labas."

"It's actually their protocol." Si Alastair naman ang sunod na nagsalita. "If the incident happened inside of these premises exceed the number of victims from zero to two then the Consular has the right to get people from the outside to do it discreetly."

"Pero bakit kailangan sa labas pa manggagaling?" I asked.

"It's for the safety of the students. That's they're only reason why they need to do that. Whenever like this comes up, it is better for the Consular to get a hold of the initial report to verify if it is something being done by other illegal group or the enemy of Privus."

I gritted my teeth from the authentication of the possible alibi.

"It is something that we can't hold into." Komento ni Nikka.

"We need to continue this tomorrow." It was Alastair who wants to stop the conversation with them. "Bella, don't stress yourself out on this matter. We still have more time for this. You need to rest. They also need to rest."

Napabuntung-hininga ako sa sinambit ni Alastair at parang doon ko palang naramdaman ang exhaustion. I'm mentally drained.

If the markings on their nape were not come from the possibility of injecting the drug, then... hindi kaya...

Doon ko naalala ang List na nakuha ni Archilliah. Bakit ko ba nakalimutan ang bagay na iyon?