A/N: The game continues! Enjoy reading the third volume of the Project LOKI series!

LORELEI

HOW FAR have we gone since we started this game? How many times have we been hurt since we started risking our lives? How many times have we fallen?

My fingers could count them. Whenever the truth is within our grasps, it slips away. Thus we are trapped in a cursed scenario where the chase seems endless.

It has been days since the incident at the abandoned building. Loki was hurt but recovering. Jamie was traumatized and nowhere to be found. Alistair's condition has stabilized but still in comatose. We've stumbled over a big rock—like what happened before—but here we are, standing and never giving up.

Kagagaling ko lang mula sa ospital kung saan naka-admit ang kababata ko. His father, Alastor Ravena, visited him in his private room. Nang magkita kami roon, nakita ko sa mga mata niya na marami siyang gustong itanong tungkol sa nangyari. But he held his tongue and instead went on asking how I was.

Bumalik ako sa apartment bandang alas-kuwatro ng hapon. Pagbukas ko ng pinto sa unit, sumalubong sa akin si Freya na paika-ika ang lakad. Her body was wrapped in bandages but she's getting better every day.

Maingat ko siyang binuhat at kinarga sa mga bisig ko. Nakiusap ako kay Tita Martha kung pwedeng iuwi muna namin ang aming club cat sa unit habang nagpapagaling ito. She was hesitant at first, saying that the other tenants also asked for the same request. Ngunit nang makita niya ang kalunos-lunos na kalagayan ng pusa, her eyes werewet with tears and gave her approval. Basta huwag daw naming ilalabas si Freya para hindi makita ng iba.

"She's been waiting for you at behind that door."

I raised my head slightly to see Loki who's seated comfortably on the couch, reading one of his favorite mystery books. You could see the visible scars on his face and arms. Ilang beses kasi siyang pinaglalatigo ni Cedric sa abandoned building.

Umupo ako sa kabilang couch at ibinaba sa aking tabi si Freya. I scratched her chin gently which she seemed to like.

"How are your injuries?" tanong ko. Sinadya niyang itinaas ang hawak niyang libro upang hindi ko makita ang kaniyang mukha na may peklat. Is he embarrassed to show me his face?

"Tell me: Do I look like someone who grappled with a giant bear?" he asked, lowering his book a little. I could see a red thick line on the left side of his face. "The landlady was making fun of me earlier. 'Did you go to Russia and wrestle with a bear?' she asked."

I tried to suppressed my laughter. I shouldn't be laughing at the misfortune that befell on him.

"At least you survived—" My mouth stopped halfway. "Or rather, we survived."

Tama. Kahit ilang bato ang magpadapa sa amin, paulit-ulit kaming tatayo at maglalakad paabante.

"Any news from Jamie?" Loki closed the book and placed it on a wooden table. "Is she okay?"

Umiling ako. "Ni hindi niya sinasagot ang text o tawag ko. Na-trauma yata siya sa ginawa sa kaniya."

It would be indeed traumatic to be violated. While at the hospital, when I tried caressing her back, Jamie gave me the most threatening of glares and gritted her teeth as if I was an enemy she wanted to kill. She became so sensitive that a simple touch would trigger a hostile reaction.

"Why don't we visit her at home?" I suggested. "We have her address in the membership form, right?"

"Does tomorrow sound good? A weekend," he answered as soon as I was done talking.

To be honest, medyo nasorpresa ako na gano'n ang sagot niya. I expected him to say, "Too much legwork! Ikumusta mo na lang ako sa kaniya." But this time, he didn't protest. And he sounded like he had already entertained the idea and he was only waiting for me to bring it up.

"Wala naman akong gagawin bukas kaya free ako. Should we bring her something to cheer—"

TOK! TOK! TOK!

Pareho kaming napalingon sa pintuan. Freya, who was quietly resting on the couch, stood and sat closer to me.

At dahil walang intensyon si Loki na pagbuksan kung sino man ang kumakatok, ako na mismo ang nag-volunteer. I told Freya to stay exactly where she is.

The moment I touched the doorknob, naramdaman ko ang malamig na bakal. Bigla kong naalala ang napanigipan ko ilang araw na ang nakararaan. In that dream, I met with Loki's brother on the school rooftop and he tried to kill me by lacing the doorknob with a nerve agent.

Calm down, Lorelei. That was only a dream.

Mabagal kong binuksan ang pintuan. Habang lumalaki ang siwang, tila pumapasok ang malamig na hangin mula sa labas.

I stood literally frozen when my eyes met the eyes of the person knocking on the door.

"Lu-Lu-Luthor..." I shot a wide-eyed stare at him, my mouth slightly opened.

My instinct told me to slam the door, press the lock on the doorknob and the bolt. I even thought of running into my room, breaking the glass window and jumping out of the apartment building just so I can escape from this man's grasp.

"Good afternoon, Miss Lorelei," he greeted with his familiar chilling voice.

Napalunok ako ng laway habang nakatitig sa kaniya. What the hell is he doing here? Has he come here to finish the job?

His left hand gently touched my right shoulder which made me flinch. I wanted to yell at him and tell his frozen face to get his filthy hand off me.

"What's the matter, Lorelei?" tanong ni Loki. "Has my brother's freezing aura left you speechless?"

Change "freezing" to "evil" aura. That's how I would describe your beloved brother.

"May I come in?"

Wala na akong nagawa kundi papasukin siya sa loob. I heard Freya's hiss the moment she saw Luthor walking across the room, his cold eyes roaming around.

Ngayon naiintindihan ko na kung bakit gano'n mag-react ang pusa namin sa kaniya. Freya had the same reaction back in the gymnasium hostage-taking case. Cats can sense danger. Kung binigyang pansin ko lang ang reaksyon ni Freya noon, I could have known that Luthor is dangerous.

Bumalik ako sa aking puwesto at pilit na pinakalma ang pusa namin. I gently caressed her head and chin para mawala ang pagiging mabangis niya. Kung hindi ko siya pakakalmahin, baka lusubin niya si Luthor, kagatin at pagkakalmutin.

"I'm deeply touched by your concern, big brother." Loki spat the last two words like poison. "You went out of your way to visit me here and check on me. Touching. Or is there anything that you want from me?"

"Can't an older brother simply show his compassion for his younger brother?" Luthor asked, halting in front of the web of red threads. My God! Nakita niya ang web of conspiracy ni Loki! "I was worried about what happened to you."

"Oh? Worried?" Napasandal si Loki sa kinauupuang couch at napakrus ang mga binti. "Is that a new word in your dictionary? Saan mo napulot ang salitang 'yan? You do not seem the type of person to worry about others."

Sandaling lumingon sa kaniya si Luthor bago nito ibinalik ang tingin sa web. "Perhaps you have misread me."

Yes, your younger brother misread you. He thought that you are on our side.

"Para naman magkaroon ng silbi ang pagpunta mo rito, why don't you tell us about what happened to that CAT officer?" tanong ni Loki. He was closely watching his brother's movements.

"The corps commander committed suicide," sagot ni Luthor. "He left a suicide note, admitting his crimes."

Liar! I wanted to shout at him. Cedric did not commit suicide nor did he leave a suicide note. You had someone kill him and made it look like a suicide.

"And you believe that?" Good thing that Loki can see through his brother's little lie. "You really think that someone who almost got me killed would commit suicide? Ano, bigla siyang nakonsensya sa paglalatigo niya sa akin kaya nagbago ang isip niya?"

"The police said so. There's no point in arguing about it. The case is now closed. Focus on your recovery."

Loki didn't look satisfied. Alam niyang meron pang nagkukubling katotohanan sa nangyari kay Cedric.

"I'm curious." Muling ibinalik ni Luthor ang kaniyang atensyon sa web of conspiracy. Nakatalikod siya sa akin kaya hindi ko makita ang reaksyon niya. "What are these scarlet threads for?"

"Moriarty's web," Loki answered. "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."

"The late Bastien Montreal... and Augustus Moran," Luthor spoke slowly as his fingers traced some threads. "The editor-in-chief of Clark Gazetta is one of them?"

"You don't seem surprised," hirit ko kaya napalingon siya sa akin. I couldn't read from his face kung nagulat ba siya sa sinabi ko o hindi.

"I had my suspicions," sagot niya bago muling humarap sa web. "When the Clark Gazetta went on full offensive against the QED Club, I had a hunch that someone connected to Moriarty might have a hand in it. Only Augustus was in the position to approve the publication of that article against you."

Liar. You did not have a hunch. You knew it all along because you are Augustus Moran's boss!

"We will soon unravel the others connected to Moriarty's web," sabi ni Loki. "I hope the council or the execom will lend us a hand."

If only you knew, Loki... if only you knew that the person you've been hunting is standing before you.

Napatingin si Luthor sa kaniyang phone, malamang tinitingnan ang oras bago humarap sa amin. "I'd like to stay a bit longer and have some tea with you two. But I have to go to the airport now."

"Oh? Is this going to be the beginning of your world domination campaign? What country will you conquer first? China? The United States?"

"I won't fly to another country," Luthor explained. "I'm gonna fetch someone from the airport."

"Oh, let me guess: your girlfriend?" Loki chuckled. "As if you had one."

"Someone dear to us."

The smile on Loki's face faded.

"Are you saying that he—"

"Yes."

"Is that person really—"

"Yes."

Nag-iba ang timpla ng mukha ni Loki. He no longer looked comfortable. Something was bothering him.

"By the way, those scars look good on you," Luthor told his brother before turning the doorknob and stepping out of the room. Hindi na niya narinig ang malutong na sagot ni Loki.

"Uhm... excuse me." Tumayo ako at sumunod kay Luthor. My roommate was shocked to see me follow behind his brother.

I need to ask him something.

Pababa na si Luthor sa hagdan nang maabutan ko siya. My footsteps were too loud that they caught his attention.

"Do you have something to tell me?" Luthor stopped halfway on the flight of stairs.

Muli na namang nag-flashback ang panaginip kung saan nilason niya ako. But I have nothing to fear right now. He wouldn't dare kill me in his younger brother's territory. At isa pa, maliban sa paghawak niya sa balikat ko kanina, wala na kaming ibang contact kung saan pwede niyang iintroduce ang lason.

Huminga muna ako nang malalim, nag-ipon ng lakas bago bitawan ang mga susunod na salita. "May gusto akong itanong sa 'yo."

"Why didn't you ask it earlier?"

"Ayaw kong marinig ni Loki."

No, I'm not going to ask him directly if he is Moriarty.

"You mentioned back in the hostage-taking case that Rhea's death might have had something to do with your relationship with Loki. How?"

He only stared at me with his dull eyes. Kaparehong-kapareho nga ng kay Loki. Walang dudang magkapatid ang dalawang 'to. The only difference? One sheds light while the other brings darkness.

"When I was the executive committee chairman, I recommended to the school admin to stop the in-house investigation on Rhea's death and leave the case to the city police." Luthor looked away, pero hindi pinakawalan ng aking titig ang kaniyang mga mata. I wanna see in his pupils if he's gonna lie. "The crime happened outside the campus premises so they have the jurisdiction, not the campus police."

"Bakit mo ginawa 'yon? You know that Loki wanted to bring Rhea's killer to justice!"

"My brother became so obsessed with the case. But he hasn't taken a step closer to the truth since the investigation started. He became frustrated... depressed. So when the case was transfered to the city police, he no longer had access to the case files. It temporarily gave him peace of mind."

Knowing Loki, the circumstances didn't give him any peace at all. He became hungry for justice. A thirst that cannot be quenched.

But I shouldn't take this man's words seriously. If I know, baka pinapaikot lang ako ng lalaking 'to. If he is Moriarty, he was at an advantageous position before to stop the investigation. Wala ni isa sa Clark High ang makakaalam sa katotohanan, kahit na si Loki, dahil wala na silang access sa case files.

The real question is: Why did he have Rhea killed in the first place? What did she find out that forced Moriarty to sign her death warrant?

Hinatid ko na sa gate si Luthor at hinintay siyang makasakay sa kotseng nakaabang sa labas. As the car drove away, my mind was still preoccupied by a continuous rhythm of thoughts.

I shall never trust that man's words. Never again.

Bumalik ako sa unit namin. Patuloy na nagbabasa ng libro si Loki. He didn't bother asking me why I followed Luthor outside. That's better. I wouldn't have to come up with a lie.

"Do you like my brother?" tanong niya nang paupo na ako.

Dahan-dahang kumunot ang aking noo at halos magdikit ang mga kilay ko.

"What?"

"I've been observing you earlier." He flipped over the page of the book. "You were staring at him for more than five seconds, three times in a minute. Your shoulderblades are now relaxed, but when my brother was here, they were not. You didn't feel comfortable when he was around. Was it because you like him? Probably."

At doon namayani ang katahimikan sa sala. Tanging ang pag-meow lamang ni Freya ang bumasag dito.

I was left speechless by his amazing but totally flawed deductions. Napakurap na lamang ang mga mata kong nakatitig sa kaniya.

Ibinaba niya ang hawak na libro, sakto upang magtagpo ang mga mata namin. "Did I hit the bullseye? Just a heads up though: My brother has no interest in girls... or boys if you think he's gay."

Umiling-iling akong tumayo habang ibinubuhat si Freya. I didn't bother giving a comment. Dumiretso na lang ako sa aking kuwarto at doon nagkulong.

~*~

Ever since Freya arrived in our unit, lagi ko na siyang katabing matulog. That night, we slept together in my room, but something was odd.

Nagising ako sa kakaibang amoy na tila nanggagaling sa labas. Parang amoy sunog. It's two o'clock in the morning and I doubt Loki would cook anything at this hour. He doesn't even know how to cook.

Kung gano'n, saan galing ang amoy na 'yon?

Patayo na sana ako nang biglang may kumatok sa pintuan.

"Lorelei? Are you in there? Lorelei?" I heard Loki's voice outside. Don't tell me na nagluluto talaga siya tapos nasunog?

"Ano bang ginagawa mo ng ganitong oras?" tanong ko sabay hikab.

"Grab Freya and get out of that room. Now."

Biglang nawala ang antok ko. What's with the serious voice?

Kinarga ko si Freya sa aking mga bisig at binuksan ang pinto ng kuwarto ko. Loki was waiting outside in his plain shirt and pajamas.

Outside, I could see a splash of orange color. And strangely, it feels warm.

"The west wing of the apartment building is on fire. We need to get out."

"WHAT?!"

"Wala nang what-what. Tara na!" Biglang hinila ni Loki ang kamay ko.

"Teka, dahan-dahan lang! Mahuhulog si Freya!"

Nagmadali kaming lumabas ng unit. Tatakbo na sana kami papuntang hagdanan ngunit bumungad sa amin ang naglalagablab na apoy. It was only two rooms away from ours. Sana kaagad maapula ang apoy para hindi na umabot sa kuwarto namin.

On the ground, naglupong-lupong na ang ilang tenant at ilang residenteng nakikitsismis sa nangyari. I can see Tita Martha in great distress as she watched half of her property burning.

"Wait. I forgot something!" Loki quickly went back to our room. After a minute or two, he ran to us while carrying the life-sized teddy bear he named Theodore.

"Let's go!"

We ran as fast as we could down the stairs. Thank God that the stairway wasn't in flames yet kaya ligtas kaming nakababa mula third floor papuntang ground floor.

Nilapitan ko kaagad si Tita Martha at niyakap siya nang mahigpit. Bigla siyang napahagulgol sa aking balikat. I caressed her back and whispered to her that everything's going to be fine.

"Don't worry, my landlady. If this fire wasn't by accident, we will find who dared to burn down your apartment building," Loki said, still carrying Theodore in his arms.

q.e.d.

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