/10/
Watch Out!

---

COLD SWEAT started trickling down Ann's back as her unknown captor held her even tighter.

The night's sharp breeze did not help in calming her down.

"Ibaba mo 'yang ilaw mo totoy." Matigas na sabi nito, and Jarrell glanced down at the phone in his hand before looking back up, uneasiness sketched all over his face.

Ann looked at the others with a determined, but terrified glint in her eyes. Her mind was racing as she felt the unnerving, heavy breaths of the man holding her from behind.

With pursed lips, Jarrell glanced at both Rein and Sera who had their faces creased — either in calculation, or in worry.

"Sabing ibaba mo 'yan!" Sigaw muli nito at mas idiniin ang baril sa ulo ni Ann, who let out a pained groan.

Dahil dito ay napilitan ang binata na ibaba ang kaniyang phone, shining the flashlight on the floor instead.

"Let go of her." Matigas na sabi ni Rein but the attacker merely gave out a low laugh that tickled Ann's neck. To her irritation, he only pressed the edge of the gun harder. 

"Sino kayo para pagsabihan ako?" The attacker asked menacingly. "You're just a bunch of filthy rich students brought up ny your equally filthy parents." He sneered.

"At least we're not criminals like you." Jarrell spat out in disgust.

"Dahan-dahan lang sa pananalita." He said in a low, wicked tone, before momentarily pointing his gun at Ria who was still unconscious inside the small vent. "Baka matulad kayo sa kaniya."

"Now," the man said as if he was smirking, now pointing the gun at three of them. "Susundin niyo ang sasabihin 'ko," Sambit nito bago itinutok muli ang baril kay Ann na pilit na umaaklas. "Or your little friend here, dies."

Sa mga salitang iyon ay kinamao ng dalawang lalaki ang kanilang mga kamay, waiting for an opportunity to tackle the man. Sera on the other hand, slightly widened her eyes at Ann — as if she was signaling her about something. 

"What did you do to Ria Vendeya?" Sera suddenly said in a cold tone, at panandaliang tinignan ang dalagang humihinga, ngunit walang-malay.

At this moment, Ann then understood Sera's message.

Hindi agad sumagot agad yung lalaki, at mula kay Ann ay tinutok nito ang kaniyang baril kay Sera, who tried to maintain her composure under the gunpoint.

"Bakit, gusto mo bang gawin ko rin sa'yo?" He asked in a creepy tone na para bang may binabalak ito na karumal-dumal, letting out a low whistle as he surveyed Sera from top to bottom.

It took all of their energy — especially Jarrell — to not strangle the creepy man right then and there.

Sera on the other hand, did not seem to be intimidated by the man's perverted comments, and instead, glanced at Ann who took it as her final signal. 

Using the opportunity of the man's attention on Sera, Ann forcefully kicked her leg backwards, hitting the captor's thigh. "YOU PERVERT!" Ann screamed in disgust whilst the man yelped out in pain. As he staggered backwards, agad na sinunggaban ni Rein at Jarrell ang lalaki. 

Because of this, all three of them painfully hit the hard, cold floor. It was two young boys against a man.

"The gun! Jarrell!" Rein yelled hastily, struggling to pin the strong man on the ground.

"I'm trying!" Sigaw pabalik ng kaniyang kaibigan na pilit na inaagaw ang baril mula sa kamay nito. But the man was twice as strong and flexible than both of them combined, and it didn't help that it was too dark for any of them to see.

"CALL THE POLICE!" Sigaw ni Ann kay Sera who swifty picked up Jarrell's phone from the floor and frantically dialed the number of the O.C.P.

Ann on the other hand, rushed back to the vent, trying to open the metal grills and free the young ninth grader inside.

"SERA! YUNG O.C.P.!" Jarrell cried out. He had now grabbed ahold of the gun and was trying to pull it away from the man's strong grip.

"THEY'RE NOT ANSWERING!" Frustrated na sigaw pabalik ng dalaga.

Using only one hand, the mysterious man managed to punch Jarrell in the face before pulling the gun's trigger.

"JARRELL!" Sigaw ni Rein nang tumama ang bala sa kaliwang balikat ng kaniyang kaibigan. The young boy fell on the floor in pain.

Because of this, Sera and Ann rushed back towards them, with Sera tending a bleeding Jarrell in her arms, and Ann helping Rein control their attacker.

"You piece of shit!" Rein howled in ager at gamit ang lahat ng kaniyang lakas, ay sinuntok nito ang lalaki sa mukha. 

Pakiramdam ni Rein ay wala siyang pinagkaiba sa kaniyang mapanakit na ama. But he had to do this. For Jarrell, and for their safety.

Ann, who was unaware of Rein's internal struggle, forcefully kicked the man on the groin. This caused the attacker to cry out in pain habang mabilis na kinuwha ng dalaga ang baril mula sa kamay nito.

Rein then punched him one more time, knocking him out.

Before the four could comprehend what had happened to them, a bright blinding light shone upon them.

"ANONG NANGYAYARI DI—?!"

The booming voice stopped mid-way as the newcomer stopped in his tracks.

Trying to shield their eyes from the blinding light, the four students let out a sigh of relief when they saw who had arrived.

It was sergeant Keano Valdez.

"Why aren't you at the center grounds?!" The sergeant reprimanded the four students.

But as soon as he shone his light at Rein who was still pinning their attacker on the floor, the four let out a little gasp.

The man that had attacked them was Gab Magallano — the same guard who had "gave" Ria Vendeya to her "parents".

He was nothing but a lying fraud.

---

"The O.C.P. was duped by a single man, chief." Principal Lilia, who was currently outside the school clinic of Castillo High alongside captain Arturio Biña and the students, said grimly to the chief of the Official Castillian Police.

"Who, in turn, was duped by four students, Captain Arturio. FOUR STUDENTS." The principal said in a livid tone, causing the four students inside the clinic, to look away. "Paanong nangyari na tinalo kayo ng apat na estudyante?!"

Sa school clinic unang dinala ni sergeant Valdez si Rein, Ann, Sera at Jarrell pagkatapos niya silang makita sa second floor hallway ng junior high school building.

Turns out, the sergeant too felt that there was something fishy with the case and returned to Castillo High to talk to Gab Magallano once more.

Ngunit nang hindi mahagilap ng sergeant ang guwardiya, ay naisipan niyang magkaroon ng sarili niyang search party sa loob ng akademya — where he had found the four students with his suspect a few moments earlier.

As soon as he had brought them to nurse Florence Tuazon, the sweet, school nurse of Castillo High who had been in the academe for as long as they could remember; he had urgently called the chief as well as the other officers of the O.C.P. to return to the academe.

Though Jarrell was the one with the most severe wound, nurse Florence, who was in her white uniform and had her graying black hair neatly tucked in a bun, made sure to check that they were all okay.

"Diyos ko Panginoon," Sambit ng matanda kani-kanina lang nang inilatag ni sergeant Valdez at Rein si Jarrell sa isa sa mga clinic beds. "Ano bang pinaggagawa niyong mga bata ngayon?!"

"'Di pa naman ako mamamatay, diba nurse Florence?" Jarrell said weakly as he settled down on the bed, making Sera roll her eyes.

"Nagawa mo pa talagang mag-joke sa lagay na 'yan?" Iritadong sabi ng dalaga.

"Not on my watch, Jarrell." Nurse Florence replied strictly, and proceeded to clean his bullet wound.

"Bakit? Concerned ka ba?" Ngisi ni Jarrell. Sera didn't respond, and the young man had closed his eyes to rest.

"Typical Jarrell." Rein chuckled as the nurse instructed them sit each on a clinic bed and stay put.

Currently now, after most of the O.C.P. had arrived and the four was tended to by the old nurse, they couldn't help but listen in to the principal and chief's conversation just outside the clinic doors.

"There was a traitor amidst your group of officers, Arturio!" The principal said angrily once more. "Hindi matutuwa ang mayor pag nalaman niyang nasaktan ang isa sa kaniyang mga anak!"

At those words, the three glanced towards Jarrell who suddenly opened his eyes, turning pale.

"We will not make the same mistake again, principal." Matigas na sabi ng kapitan. "Sisiguraduhin naming mabubulok si Magallano sa kulungan." He promised, and the four students watched from the glass doors of the clinic as an officer led the traitor guard in handcuffs.

"It's Ria." Ann suddenly said. Sakto naman ay bumukas ang dalawang pintuan ng clinic, kung saan karga-karga ni sergeant Valdez ang isang walang-malay na Ria Vendeya.

They had finally pulled her out of the small vent.

"Aysus ginoo!" The old nurse cried out as the sergeant laid the young ninth grader onto the clinic bed next to Jarrell. "May isa pa!"

"It's been a rough night, nurse Florence." Sergeant Keano Valdez responded with a huff, straightening his back as the nurse tended Ria.

He then turned around to face the four who was quietly watching him.

"Hindi maganda 'yung ginawa niyo." He frowned, stepping forward. "You disobeyed your professors who strictly told each and every student to stay put."

Ann bit her lip before speaking up. "Are we going to be in trouble?"

Sa hindi inaasahan ng apat, ay napangiti ang sarhento sa kaniyang tanong. "What you did was risky, but no. The four of you are not in trouble."

"Hindi kami made-detention?" Jarrell asked weakly, to which the sergeant shook his head.

"Of course not." Another voice said, and everyone turned their heads to see who has spoken.

It was principal Lilia. She and the captain had now entered the clinic, looking fondly upon the four.

"What you did was stupid," sambit ng principal. "But brave, nevertheless."

Sera couldn't help but smile victoriously at the principal's words. It was after all, her plan.

"Sa tingin ko nga ay magiging magaling na pulis kayo pag nagkataon." The captain pointed out, much to the principal's scowl, and to the amusement of the four students.

"Principal Lilia," Jarrell suddenly spoke up, at agad na napatingin ang lahat rito.

"Huwag niyo po sanang sabihin kay mayor—I mean kay papa, yung nangyari." Mahinang sambit ng binata, to which the others nodded.

"We have the same request too, principal Lilia." Ann interjected. "We know me and Rein are on a strike, but please, bigyan niyo po kami ng isa pang pagkakataon." She said meekly, her lips quivering at the thought of her father. "Huwag niyo po sanang sabihin sa mga magulang namin."

The principal then looked at every one of them carefully, thinking about their request.

"Very well," she finally said, clearing her throat. "This will be the first and last that I would hear from any of you. Understood?"

Tumango agad ang apat and the principal, captain and sergeant then exited the clinic, leaving them alone.

Ann let out a sigh of relief before turning to Sera who watched Jarrell close his eyes once more.

Nang mapansin ng dalaga na tinitignan siya ni Ann ay napatingin rin ito sa kaniya at saka tinaasan ng kilay. "What?" Sera asked haughtily.

"You know, I don't like you." Ann said bluntly. "To hell, I don't even trust you."

Sera scoffed. Sasagot na sana ito pabalik ngunit pinangunahan agad siya ng dalaga.

"But I will be forever grateful for what you did earlier." Ann said stiffly before turning away, much to Sera's surprise.

Slowly, she then nodded, this time with a genuine smile. "Same." Sambit ni Sera nang naalala niyang ang hinagpis ni Ann sa kabastusan ng guwardiya.

The two girls still weren't friends, but it was a first step for the both of them to be civil with one another.

"I'll just be at the C.R." Sera said softly before leaving Rein and Ann alone.

Nang siguradong nakapasok na sa comfort room si Sera, Ann felt Rein nudge her gently.

"Hmm?" Ann hummed, snapping out of her thoughts.

"Pwede nating pag-basehan ang experience natin for our story." Sambit ng binata. "It's the reason why I agreed to go with Sera in the first place anyway."

Ann thought about it for a second bago dahan-dahang tumango. "Not bad." She shrugged. "We could write about a group of students turned detectives tasked to solve the crimes surrounding their school." She said in a thoughtful voice.

"Exactly." Rein said before pulling out something from the pocket of his pants.

He then threw the item to a thoughtful Ann na agad namang sinalo ito.

"What's this?" She frowned, opening her hands to see that it was a black flashdrive with the letter R embedded in its design.

"To make up for your corrupt flashdrive." He shrugged. "Use it as a backup for our novel."

"Wow," Ann smirked, looking up from the drive in her hands to Rein. "Aren't you chivalrous?" She asked teasingly, which earned her a low chuckle from Rein.

But the smirk on Ann's face soon faded when she noticed a shadowy physique from outside the clinic.

Narrowing her eyes, she makes figure of one of the officers of the O.C.P. who stared right back at her like a hawk. He was eyeing them carefully before walking away.

The uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach soon returned.

"Listen, Maccio." Ann muttered with a severe seriousness in her voice that troubled Rein.

"Bakit?" Kunot-noong tanong ng binata. It was quiet in the clinic now, and the loud sirens of the police vehicles were fading away.

"We have to keep a close guard always." She said sternly. "Someone has been watching us."

At the sound of this, a grim look ghosted over Rein's face. "Who?"

"My guess? Our parents."

---

NOTE: Hi sleuths! If you like this chapter, follow me on my social media accounts for more updates. You can freely message and post on my FB page, tweet your thoughts to me on Twitter, or show me your fan arts and favorite quotes on Instagram.

FB PAGE:
IsadoraQuagmire13 or @isadoraquagmire13
https://www.facebook.com/isadoraquagmire13/

INSTAGRAM:
@isadoraquagmire13
https://www.instagram.com/isadoraquagmire13/?hl=en

TWITTER:
@isa_quagmire
https://twitter.com/isa_quagmire?s=09

Remember to use the hashtags #TheSleuthProject and #TSP aside from tagging me so that we can compile all TSP-related posts!