A/N: This is the epilogue part of Chapter 46, not of the story. May mga nag-aakala kasi na ito na ang epilogue ng PL. Medyo malayo pa po tayo roon. :D

Anyway, enjoy reading!

LORELEI

THE RAIN started to pour outside the hospital. Along with the raindrops were Loki's tears. He sat there shocked, still in disbelief that Maggie lay unconscious on the ground.

The hospital staff quickly brought out a gurney and carefully lifted Maggie's unmoving body to it. They rushed it inside, going to the direction of the emergency room. The last thing that I saw before they went out of my sight was Maggie's limp arm dangling at the side of the gurney.

The people nearby who witnessed the accident surrounded the car that hit her. Nagmamadali raw ang taong nagda-drive dahil may isusugod din siya sa ospital. Hindi niya raw agad napansin si Maggie na tumatakbo sa pedestrian lane. He went to his knees and begged the people around to let him bring his daughter inside the hospital so she'd be attended.

"Loki..." My voice cracked as I called him. I wiped the tears off my face as I sniffled. Umupo rin ako sa kanyang tabi at hinawakan siya sa magkabilang balikat. The raindrops kept on falling. Hindi ko na malaman kung luha ba ang nasa mukha niya. "Let's go inside? Baka magkasakit ka niyan."

But Loki did not budge. He sat there silently like a rock. I couldn't see his eyes as his fringes covered them from my view. Tanging ang bibig niya na bahagyang nakabuka ang nakita ko. His mouth was also frozen.

"Loki..." I called him again, trying to pull his right arm. But he still didn't budge. He didn't care kung mabasa na ang kanyang buhok at damit. Palakas na nang palakas ang buhos ng ulan.

Tinulungan ako ng ibang tao sa paligid namin para hilahin siya sa papasok sa ospital. We sat at the lobby, his messy hair and school uniform dripping wet. Tahimik siyang nakaupo at nakatulala sa kawalan.

My trembling fingers typed a message to Tita Frigette. Wala na akong pakialam kung may typo. She reached the hospital lobby in less than five minutes, looking worried again. I explained to her the accident, and she was surprised to hear what happened to Maggie.

"My dear, are you okay?" tanong ni tita. But she received no response from her son. She frowned as she looked at Loki with so much concern. "Kailangan mo munang magpalit ng damit. Basa na 'yang uniform mo."

A doctor then came out of the emergency room, looking for any relative of the girl they brought in. Itinaas ko ang aking kamay at lumapit sa kanya kahit nanginginig ang mga tuhod ko. Hinawakan ako sa balikat ni Tita Frigette at sinamahang puntahan ang doktor.

"I'm sorry, ma'am." The doctor slowly shook his head.

I felt pain in my chest as if something clutched my heart so tight, it's gonna explode. Halos bumigay na ang mga binti ko at mapaluhod sa sahig. If it weren't for Tita Frigette holding me still, I would have collapsed on the floor.

Lumingon ako kay Loki na nakaupo pa rin na parang estatwa roon. Hindi pa rin siya gumagalaw kung saan namin siya iniwan sa lobby. He'd be surely heartbroken once he hears the news. Kung ganyan na ang reaksyon niya sa pagka-aksidente ni Maggie, paano pa kaya kapag nalaman niyang...

He lost a friend before. He lost another today.

Nag-aalala rin ako para kay Luthor. He did not know that Maggie's visit to him this afternoon would be her last. He even told her to "be careful" before she left the room. How would he react to this news?

Maggie was his most trusted person in Clark High. They had each other's backs since their execom days together. I'm a hundred percent sure that he deeply cared for her. He didn't want Maggie to be hurt kaya itinago niya ang katotohanan tungkol sa kanyang affiliation kay M. She confronted him about it yesterday, but he denied. He knew that Maggie would be devastated once she finds out that the person she trusted the most was one of them. But not without a good reason.

"Luthor... Luthor isn't... isn't one of them... right?"

"I... I'm glad to... hear that. I thought... he is... I'm glad..."

Kinagat ko ang aking labi at pinigilan ang muling pagtulo ng mga luha. In her last moments, Maggie was denied of the truth. Loki could have told her the truth, but he chose to cover up for his brother. He knew the truth might break her. Maybe he didn't want it to be the last thing on Maggie's mind in case she takes her last breath.

Alas, there's no need to hide the secret anymore. Maggie wouldn't be here to hear the truth. She died smiling and knowing that Luthor wasn't one of the people behind her best friend's murder.

And that hurts so much. But I understand why Loki said what he had to say.

When everything finally sunk in, I can't help but blame myself for what happened. I may not be the one driving the car that hit Maggie, but I felt like I was equally guilty. There's also blood on my hands.

Kung sanang hindi namin siya hinabol, baka buhay pa si Maggie.

Kung sanang hinayaan na lang namin siya at naghintay ng ibang pagkakataon para linawin ang lahat, baka buhay pa si Maggie.

Gusto kong sabunutan ang sarili ko at magsisigaw sa sobrang galit. Things wouldn't have turned out this way if we acted differently.

Maggie would still be alive.

Tita Frigette herself gave us a ride home to our apartment. Sinamahan niya kami papasok sa aming unit. Freya greeted us at the doorway, but she probably felt that something was off because she also looked sad. Loki ignored her as he went straight to his room. Papasok din sana si tita sa kanyang kwarto, pero biglang ini-lock ang pinto niya. His mom knocked repeatedly on the door, but Loki didn't give any response.

"Looks like he wants to be left alone for a while," Tita Frigette said, sighing. "Can you look after him for me, Lorelei? I need to check on Lulu... and break the news to him."

I absently gave her a nod. She gave me a tight embrace before leaving the apartment. I sat motionless in the couch for a few minutes, staring blankly at the other unoccupied couch. Lumapit sa akin si Freya na tila may pag-aalala sa mukha at umupo sa aking lap. She tried to cheer me up.

Niyakap ko si Freya at hindi ko na napigilan ang pagtulo ng mga luha ko. My God! So many happened the past few days, I don't know what to feel anymore! At this rate, I'd run out of tears to shed.

Yesterday, Luthor almost died. Today, Maggie died.

Ano pa bang masamang balita ang dapat kong asahan?

Saktong pumasok si Tita Martha sa unit namin. Iniangat ko ang aking tingin sa kanya. My eyes were red and my face was already covered in tears. Nagmadali siyang puntahan ako at sinamahan sa couch. She hugged me and whispered to my ear that everything would be all right.

Sana nga, maging maayos ang lahat. Hindi man ngayon, pero sana, sa mga susunod na araw.

***

The next morning still had the residue of the gloomy atmosphere last night. Sumabay pa ang makulimlim na kalangitan at pabugso-bugsong pag-ulan.

Mukhang 'di pa rin lumalabas ng kanyang kuwarto si Loki. Ilang beses akong kumatok sa kanyang pinto para sabihing kumain na muna siya ng breakfast, pero hindi siya sumagot.

I recalled him screaming in the middle of the night. Naalimpungatan ako noon at mabilis na kinatok ang kanyang kuwarto. I only heard him sobbing inside. Hinayaan ko na muna siyang ibuhos ang kanyang nararamdaman.

Kahit na wala ako sa mood pumasok, pinilit kong bumangon, kumain at magsuot ng school uniform. I knocked on Loki's door to tell him that I'm leaving the apartment, to which I received no reply. Given what happened yesterday, it's probably best if he stayed here for a while.

Hindi ko alam kung paano, pero kumalat ang balita tungkol sa aksidente ni Maggie. Some students felt so sorry about it. They recognized her as the one who liked to roam around and tell them to go back to their classrooms.

"Pinagsabihan pa lang niya ako kahapon na huwag magpakalat-kalat sa corridor, tapos ngayon..."

"'Di mo talaga alam kung kailan ang oras mo, 'no?"

"Hindi mo mamamalayan kapag kukunin ka na."

"Kapag oras mo na, oras mo na talaga. Kaya dapat i-enjoy na natin ang life to the fullest."

"Ang bata-bata pa niya. Ang sipag-sipag pa niyang execom chair. Sayang."

This was the second time that Alistair looked beyond surprised. Nang makita niya akong pumasok sa classroom at umupo sa aking puwesto, tatangkain na sana niya akong tanungin. But he held back upon seeing my face. Baka namumugto pa rin ang mga mata ko o halatang wala akong ganang makipag-usap. Hinayaan na muna niya ako.

My mind was on auto-pilot the whole day. Wala akong naintindihan sa mga binasa ko. Wala akong naintindihan sa mga narinig ko. I was only nodding when someone called my name and giving brief answers when someone asked me a question. I waited for the bell to ring so I could stare blankly at the wall and let the time pass.

The execom office felt so empty and forsaken kahit may mga tao. Without Maggie, it would never feel the same again. Alistair, Jamie and I met at our usual spot. We all got a long face today. Even the bubbly Jamie didn't say anything witty or funny. Tahimik kaming tatlo.

By lunch time, ipinatawag kaming lahat ni Sir Jim Morayta, ang adviser ng execom. He also looked downhearted. He asked us to offer a minute of silence and delivered a speech celebrating Maggie's accomplishments as the chairwoman of the execom. May times na napahihinto siya, napatitingin sa sahig at nawawala sa kanyang train of thought. The news of loss must have impacted him so much too.

"She'd be sorely missed," he said.

Pagkatapos ng speech ni Sir Jim, nilapitan ako ni Rye Rubio. Wala na siyang kagat-kagat na lollipop stick ngayon. Halos natatakpan ng bangs ang mga mata niya. I couldn't see if he had bloodshot eyes from mourning Maggie's death.

Iniabot niya sa akin ang isang flash drive. Dahil bumagal ang pag-process ng utak ko, I only stared at it.

"Mas magugustuhan siguro ni Maggie kung mabibigyan kayo ng kopya nito," sabi ni Rye, inilapit pa ang flash drive sa akin. "This contains the files of her recent investigation into the M case."

My attention slowly snapped back to reality. Iniangat ko ang aking tingin sa kanya habang pakurap-kurap ang aking mga mata. "What?"

"Recently, Maggie revisited some of the old cases that we believe were M's doing," Rye answered. "She became curious after she recalled Rhea's last words to her. M might be a Samaritan, I think? Doon na ulit siya nagsimulang magtanong-tanong. Hiningan niya ako ng tulong para hanapin ang ilan sa mga taong pwedeng pagtanungan tungkol sa mga pinagduduhan nating kaso."

Muling nagawi ang tingin ko sa flash drive at kinuha ito mula sa kanya.

"Balak niya sanang i-present sa execom kung ano ang mga nalaman niya kapag nakumpleto na niya ang kanyang imbestigasyon," Rye went on, looking down. "I think she would like you to have a copy."

"Thank you, Rye."

Medyo nabuhayan ako ng loob sa sinabi niya.

If I want to honor Maggie's passing, the best way was to continue where she left off.

Paghatid sa akin ni Alistair sa apartment, napansin ko ang naka-park na pulang SUV sa gilid. That's Tita Frigette's car. Nagmadali akong umakyat sa aming unit para kumustahin si Loki. Binilinan ko si Tita Martha na i-check siya from time to time. I can't say if he was capable of hurting himself, but I wanna be sure he's safe.

Pagpasok ko sa unit, nadatnan kong nakabukas nang bahagya ang kuwarto niya. The doorknob looked like it was forced open. Sumilip ako sa loob at nakitang yakap-yakap ni Tita Frigette si Loki na balot na balot ng kumot. Hinayaan ko muna ang mag-ina sa kuwarto.

I changed my clothes and took my laptop out of my room. Pumwesto ako sa couch at doon ko isinet up ang aking device. Inilabas ko ang flash drive na ibinigay sa akin ni Rye. I looked at it for a second as I inhaled deeply.

Inside this flash drive were Maggie's last efforts to investigate the M case—the case that took the life of her friend. Sinaksak ko 'yon agad sa aking laptop at binrowse ang mga laman nito. I saw a notepad file and a folder containing audio clips.

Una ko munang binasa ang laman ng notepad. There was nothing new in it. Nakalagay roon ang "M might be a Samaritan" statement at ang request ni Rhea sa mga kaso na posibleng konektado kay M halos dalawang tao na ang nakararaan. Nandoon din ang mga news article ng Clarion tungkol sa mga kahina-hinalang pagkamatay ng ilang estudyante.

I then clicked on the folder of audio clips. Bawat file ay nakapangalan sa isang tao. That must be the name of the interviewee. I plugged in my earphones, played the file, and listened to it.

"For the record, I'm Margarette Fernandez from the student executive committee. This conversation is being recorded. Is that okay with you?"

Napapikit ang mga mata ko nang marinig ang kanyang boses. What hurt me this time was the fact that I wouldn't hear her voice again.

"Sure, walang problema sa akin."

"I'm here to ask about a case that you may or may no longer recall. Remember that classmate of yours who hanged himself in his dorm? Around two years ago?"

"Ah, oo naman! Sino ba'ng makakalimot sa bully na 'yon? Nabalita pa nga 'yan sa Clarion, 'di ba?"

"If we assume na may foul play na nangyari at hindi talaga nagbigti nang sarili ang classmate mo, do you have any person in mind who could have wanted him dead?"

"Person? Try people. Sa dami ba naman ng binully niya, marami na sigurong nag-wish na may mangyaring masama sa kanya. Isa nga rin ako sa mga binully niya, pero I didn't wish him to die, ha? Para sa iba, wish come true siguro ang pagpapakamatay niya. Kung foul play naman ang nangyari, sure akong padadalhan pa nila ng bulaklak ang taong nasa likod ng pagkamatay niya."

"Padadalhan talaga ng bulaklak?"

"May kakilala nga ako—hindi ko na sasabihin ang pangalan—na napa-thank God nang mabalitaan niyang nagpakamatay 'yong bully. Gabi-gabi raw niyang pinapanalangin na sana may mangyaring masama sa gagong 'yon. Tapos the next day, wish granted! Parang may genie na tumupad sa hiling niya. Halos mag-Hallelujah ang mga estudyanteng na-bully. Good riddance, kumbaga."

Nakakunot ang aking noo habang pinakikinggan ang sagot ng kausap na lalaki ni Maggie. I couldn't imagine how could he be so thankful about the loss of a human life.

I clicked the next clip in the folder. Muli akong nakaramdam ng kirot sa puso nang marinig ang boses ni Maggie. I bit my lower lip and tried to remain composed.

"Gusto sana kitang tanungin tungkol sa isang case. Halos two years ago na siguro 'to. You were part of the Chemistry Society, 'di ba? Naaalala mo pa ba 'yong mercury poisoning na aksidenteng pumatay sa vice president n'yo?"

"Of course. Sino ba sa amin ang makakalimot no'n? Ilang linggo rin 'yang pinag-usapan sa campus."

"Let's say na hindi aksidente ang pagkalason sa kanya gamit ang mercury, may tao bang pumapasok sa isip mo na gusto siyang masaktan o mamatay?"

"I really have no idea who. But he got what he deserved. I remember some of my clubmates thanking the mercury in the clubroom for killing him."

"He deserved to die? What do you mean?"

"He's a creep, you know. Medyo touchy siya lalo na sa mga member naming babae. There's one time na sinubukan niyang pagsamantalahan ang isa naming member habang nasa clubroom. She tried to report it to our adviser kaso 'di naman inaksyunan. That trash had it coming. He deserved it. Kung may tao mang intensyonal na nanlason sa kanya, we would have probably hailed him or her a hero back then."

Itinigil ko ang pagpe-play sa clip at napasandal sa couch. Huminga muna ako nang malalim bago muling ipagpatuloy ang pakinig sa recording.

Almost every clip had the same message. The interviewees were thankful for the tragedy that befell M's suspected first victims whose deaths were disguised as either accident or suicide. They did not feel sorry for them.

My eyes blinked as I stared at the spider's web of conspiracy. Tumayo ako't kumuha ng sticky notes na nasa gilid.

I had an epiphany, but I had to organize my thoughts. Writing them down might help me.

Here's what I know: Two nights ago, Luthor revealed to us that the founder of M's organization was Jaime Santiago, the late student council president and the beloved brother of our own Jamie. That revelation didn't make sense to me because of the good things I heard about him.

Luthor described him as the best student council president that Clark High ever had. He also commented how unfortunate that the president's reign was short-lived. In one instance, even Loki alluded to him as the white king.

Jamie talked about her brother as a man with a strong sense of justice, an idealistic person who wanted to change the system, and her protector and personal savior. That sounded like a brother that anyone would be lucky to have.

Sir Jim Morayta mentioned that Jaime wanted to have the suspicious accidents and suicide incidents investigated for foul play. But when the president died, no one dared to continue the investigations.

Parang ang hirap isipin na ang kuya ni Jamie na inilarawan sa gano'ng paraan ay magagawang maging lider ng isang grupo na gumagawa ng mga krimen. It doesn't make any sense.

Maybe Jaime founded M's organization to help people? Maybe it was originally a group of good people who do good deeds? Baka ipinaglalaban nila ang karapatan ng mga estudyante at tumutulong sa mga nangangailangan sa Clark High?

However, when Stein Alberts took over upon Jaime's death, the organization got corrupted and changed its ways? Would that explain the shift in their methods?

So where does Rhea's Samaritan comment fit in this equation?

Speaking of Rhea, she requested the files of cases that were possibly M's doing around two years ago. Before her death, she also told Maggie that M might be trying to be Samaritan.

"Samaritan... Samaritan..." I muttered as I kept on looking at the spider's web of conspiracy.

A Samaritan is someone who gives help to people who need it.

Lumingon ako sa aking laptop na nanatiling nakabukas. Kita sa screen nito ang folder ng mga audio clip.

Maggie went to interview some students who knew the victims around two years ago. Most of them were happy that the victims got what they deserved. Good riddance, sabi ng isa sa mga nakausap niya. Papatayuan pa nga raw ng rebulto 'yong nasa likod ng pagpatay, sabi pa ng isang interviewee.

"Strong sense of justice. Desire to change the system. Founder of M's organization. Good riddance. Samaritan," I muttered. These words rang in my ears repeatedly.

I wrote the phrases separately on each sticky note. Idikit ko ang mga 'to sa palibot ng blangkong sticky note na inilagay roon ni Loki ilang araw na ang nakalilipas.

"Strong sense of justice. Desire to change the system. Founder of M's organization. Good riddance. Samaritan," I repeated them as if they were part of a chant.

My eyes slowly widened as a realization dawned on me. Muling kong tinanggal ang takip ng marker at sinulatan ang blangkong sticky note sa gitna.

"Jaime Santiago," I wrote.

I took a few steps backwards as I looked at the web in its entirety.

Rhea, I got what you meant in your last words to Maggie.

Maggie, your efforts wouldn't be in vain.

"Loki is right about his chesspiece thingy," I said to myself. "Most of us are grey. Neither of us is completely white nor black. Jaime Santiago was also grey, but his shade was much darker than anyone else that we know of."

As the original Moriarty, Jaime Santiago made himself a "Samaritan" when he founded an organization that helps good people... by getting rid of the bad ones.

q.e.d.

A/N: This update is both a confirmation and a clarification on the origin and purpose of M's organization. Some of you may have already deduced or guessed it, so congratulations!

So we're down to the last four chapters! As you know, every chapter has around ten parts each. Look at Chapter 46, meron siyang 14 parts at kasing haba na siya ng isang novella. 49K words!

Para sa mga nagtatanong at magtatanong, Project LOKI will only have 50 chapters. I intend to finish the story before 2020 ends. Earliest is late November, hopefully on the 25th.

I might take a few days break to organize my thoughts for the next update and take care of other matters.

See you in CHAPTER 47: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES!

If you've enjoyed reading this update, share your thoughts or theories on Twitter using the hashtag #ProjectLOKI! STRICTLY NO SPOILERS!