Chapter 25

Aaminin kong wala pa talaga akong maayos na plano noong kinausap ko si Damon but I need someone like him, someone I can cooperate with. I mean, he's the ASBO Governor and through his position, we can use that as an advantage to us.

Ang balak ko, pagkatapos kong sabihin sa mga kaibigan ko ang tungkol sa katauhan ni Ate Fritzy, I want him to cooperate with us. I know my friends will agree to it dahil iisa lang naman ang gusto namin dito-ang makaalis sa lugar na ito.

Isa pa, dahil ipinatigil naman pansamantala ang klase, that's a good way for us to create an effective plan. Iyon bang pwede naming kausapin ang ibang mga estudyanteng katulad namin na gustong umalis sa lugar na ito. After that, we can work together as one. Kahit mahirap, magagawa naming posible ang imposible kung magtutulungan kaming lahat.

But I really don't know if Damon would agree to it or not. Sana lang talaga ay magbago ang isip niya dahil kami-kami lang ang makakatulong sa sarili namin at wala ng iba.

"I know who the killer is." I stated out of the blue and all my friends looked at me. Lumapit pa ang mga ito sa akin, halatang interesado sa sinabi ko.

"Are you sure?" Veyda asked.

"She's someone we knew." I added. Even though I'm not looking directly at them, I can see how shock they are.

Wala ang dorm mates namin dito. Tanging kami lang. Huwebes na rin ngayon, ibig sabihin ay tatlong araw na simula no'ng wala na kaming pasok. And I decided to tell them today about what I know because if not today, when? Mas mainam na rin sigurong malaman nila kaagad para maprotektahan nila ang sarili nila.

"Who?" They all asked at me.

"It's Ate Fritzy." Diretsahan kong saad.

"Oh... my God." Hindi nila makapaniwalang saad. Napaupo pa ang mga ito dahil sa sinabi ko.

Sinabi ko sa mga ito ang nangyari noong araw ng anniversary, noong nakaharap ko mismo si Ate Fritzy. Mas lalong hindi makapaniwala ang mga ito when I told them that she was the old lady.

"Hindi niya naman siguro kasabwat sila Caitlyn 'di ba?" It was the twin who asked that and I shrugged my shoulders as an answer.

"I don't know. Iyon pa ang aalamin ko, natin." Sagot ko.

Sinabi ko rin ang plano ko kung paano sanang makakaalis kami rito. Like we can ask help from students like us. My purpose of having Damon beside us is to have some connection through him that we can use whenever uncertain things happen.

Alam naman naming lahat na may mata at tainga ang underground society sa amin but we can work secretly for it. And once na makabuo kami ng grupo, we can share some ideas for us to get away from this place. Kapag maraming ideya, mas makakabuo kami ng paraan kung paanong makaalis kami kaagad dito.

Alam kong aware ang lahat na kapag nagkataong mahanap nila ang lahat ng killers ay ibabalik ulit nila iyong Murderous Night pero hahayan na lang ba nilang ganoon lamang ang sistema? At hihintayin pa ba naming mahanap nila ang killers bago kami gumawa ng paraan?

We have to move now. We need to make a move now. But I think we can only start that once Damon agreed to me because for a newbie like me, just like what he thought, mahihirapan akong kausapin ang ibang mga estudyante.

For the following days, we did nothing but to lock ourselves in the dorm and kill our time by doing whatever kind of stuffs. It's like a normal day for us but it will never be a normal knowing what kind of place we are in right now.

Ate Fritzy. Caitlyn and friends. Black Mistress. Principal Arizona. Bettina. Men in black. Red cloak guys and that shadow... Above all, the 11:11.

These people... Kung minsan ay nakakapagtaka ang mga galaw nila at madalas ko rin silang pagdudahan but it's hard to pinpoint who among them are the real killers. Sa ngayon, ang alam ko ay magkasabwat sila Ate Fritzy at Caitlyn. The rest, I don't know yet.

Inis kong ginulo ang buhok ko kasama ang ballpen at papel na hawak ko dahil sobrang naguguluhan ako ngayon.

"If Damon would agree to cooperate with us, ano ba sa tingin mo ang maitutulong niya sa atin?"

My friends are with me. Obviously, sila ang mga kasama ko ngayon habang nagpaplano kami ng mga posible naming gagawin.

I tilted my head, thinking about what should I answer from Eyra's question. Maliban kasi sa posibilidad na ma-persuade ni Damon ang ibang mga estudyante na makipagtulungan sa amin, we can ask him to contact someone outside this place.

Hindi ko pa sigurado kung alam nito kung saan nila inilagay iyong naconfiscate na phones namin at alam ko ring hindi gano'n kadaling makacontact ng iba dahil alam kong kontrolado nila ang lahat dito maging ang computer system pero magagawan namin iyon ng paraan basta magtutulungan kaming lahat.

"I think that's too risky Millizen. If we got caught, it's the end for all of us especially for Damon." They commented as I spilled out my answer.

"I know." Pagsang-ayon ko dahil totoo naman iyong sinabi nila. Alam kong delikado but what can I do? "Can you suggest another plan?" I'm hoping that they might have another plan and is better than mine but they shook their heads at me. Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako.

Paano ba kami makakaalis sa lugar na ito?

All of us turned our eyes on the door when we heard knocks outside. If it's our dorm mates, they won't be knocking anymore and that was the reason why we looked at each other curiously. Who could it be to think that it's already 10 in the evening?

"Zen," tawag sa akin ng mga kaibigan ko, nag-aalala.

After taking a dagger with me, I put my pointing finger on my lips to shut them up. Agad namang tumahimik ang mga ito. Pinilit ko ring huwag gumawa ng ingay sa paghakbang ko habang naglalakad na ako ngayon papunta sa may pintuan. Sumunod naman sa akin iyong apat.

Kung sana lang ay may peephole dito sa pintuan, hindi sana kami kakabahan ng ganito.

I breathe hard. Having enough courage, I immediately opened the door. To our surprise, no one is standing there. The cold wind that blows up inside is the only thing we felt the moment I opened it. Lumabas kami, sumilip sa may kaliwa at kanan pero wala namang tao roon.

Dahil wala naman kaming nakita, napagpasyahan na naming pumasok pero natigil si Veyda sa paglalakad at bahagya itong yumuko. Nagtataka kami kung bakit ganoon ang ginawa niya hanggang sa makita namin iyong kahon sa may paanan nito. She picked it up and I don't know why she gave it to me.

I shrugged both of my shoulders as I took it from her. It was an old brown box and I don't know who left that with us. Clouded with curiosity, I opened it. Isang telang kulay itim ang laman noon at mayroong maliit na nakatuping pulang papel sa ibabaw nito.

Are you familiar with the saying, "Curiosity killed the cat"? If you are, then don't be a cat.

My forehead crumpled because that was what written on the paper. My friends took the paper from me and they also read it. Realizing what it meant, we looked at each other because we knew it has something to do with us looking for the killer.

Still curious as I already am, iyong tela naman ang inalis ko at wala sa oras na nabitawan ko iyon dahil sa nilalaman nito.

"Shit!" I cursed loudly because of shock.

Dinampot naman iyon ng mga kaibigan ko. But before I could stop them, they already turned up the box and they screamed in fright because of what that box contains. Katulad ko ay napaupo rin ang mga ito sa sobrang takot at napapaatras sa gilid.

It was a blooded knife and there was a pair of eyes in it. Beside that eyes, there was also a small paper in it attached with the letter saying, "I'm watching you."

Napatingin lamang kami roon sa kahon at hindi na namin pinansin iyong mga yabag ng mga tumatakbo papunta sa amin.

"What's happening?" Even without looking, I know it was Damon.

Muli ay may nagsitakbuhan papunta sa direksyon namin and when she asked us about what's happening, doon lamang ako tumingin sa kanya... kay Ate Fritzy.

Tell me it's not her doing, right?

Kinuha ni Damon pati ng iba niyang kasamahang officers iyong box at noong tignan nila ang laman noon, nabalot ng hiyaw, ng mga natatakot na sigaw at bulungan ang paligid. Noon ko lang napansing nagsilabasan din pala ang ibang mga estudyante sa dorm nila at ngayon nga ay nakatingin sila sa amin.

Kinuha nila Damon iyong box pagkatapos ay tinawag nila kaming magkakaibigan sa office. Balisa kaming sumunod sa kanila at iniisip kung paanong nalaman ng kung sinuman ang nagpadala ng kahon na iyon ang mga ginagawa namin.

"This means that you know something about the killers." Pahayag ni Black Mistress na para bang hindi nito alam ang tungkol doon gayong sinabi ko mismo sa kanyang kilala ko nga ang killer. Pero sa halip na sumagot ay nanahimik lamang kami kahit ramdam kong nakatingin silang lahat sa amin.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit nila kami dinala rito kasama ang lahat ng ASBO officers pati si Principal Arizona. Maiintindihan ko pa kung bakit nandito sila. Ang hindi ko maintindihan ay kung bakit pati sila Ate Fritzy ay nandito. Katunayan ay magkatabi sila ni Caitlyn.

These two are playing with us without others knowing it. How could they?

"Go back to your dorm." Black Mistress commanded them habang pinaiwan naman niya kaming magkakaibigan dito.

My eyes met Damon's gaze as well as Ate Fritzy's and Caitlyn's. All these people knew that I know something about the killer because I already told them myself but they don't know na lahat sila ay pinagsabihan ko ng tungkol doon.

"If you know something about the killers, keep it yourself. Don't be afraid because I will protect you." Saad ni Black Mistress sa amin nang kami na lang ang maiwan kasama niya.

I looked intently at her when she said that. She's going to protect us? Why?

Hindi na nasundan pa ang pag-uusap naming iyon dahil pinauwi na rin kami ni Black Mistress. Ngayon nga ay pinag-uusapan namin iyong sinabi niyang poprotektahan niya kami. Paanong biglang nag-iba ang ihip ng hangin?

Morning came, hindi na kami nagulat nang marinig namin na tungkol sa kahon iyong pinag-uusapan ng mga estudyante. Ang ikinainis ko ay noong marinig naming kagagawan daw ba talaga iyon ng mga killers o kung kami mismo ang killers.

In no time, they seem afraid to us lalo na sa akin dahil idinawit na naman ng mga ito ang tungkol sa issue na ako 'yong pumatay sa estudyante noon, iyong pinagbintangan nila akong lahat. Pati sa mga sumunod na araw, gano'n pa rin ang nangyayari. Hays.

One night, the twins went to the plaza to buy something. Naiwan naman ako pati iyong magpinsan sa dorm. Starving, I stood up and Eyra asked me where am I going. Nang sabihin kong pupunta akong plaza to buy some snacks ay sinabi nitong sasama siya. Si Cheska ay nagpaiwan dahil daw tinatamad siya.

Reaching the plaza, nagtingin-tingin kami ni Eyra ng pwede naming bibilhin. Naghiwalay rin kami saglit para tumingin pa ng ibang pwedeng bilhin. Siguro ay ilang minuto ang lumipas bago ulit kami nagkita at napagpasyahang bumalik na sa dorm. Naroon na rin iyong kambal at kasalukuyan na silang nagluluto para sa hapunan.

It's been a week since they dismissed the classes for the time being. I don't know what kind of monitoring the higher ups is doing to find the killer but I'm really hoping they could catch them as soon as possible. Dahil habang tumatagal, mas lalo lang nadadagdagan ang pangamba namin.

"That letter has something to do about the killers, right?" Nahinto ako sa paglalakad at tinignan si Damon dahil iyon ang ibinungad niya pagkakita sa akin.

"Kung sasabihin kong oo, matutulungan mo ba kami?"

"Millizen, I told you I can't do what you want-"

"Then I guess there's no reason for us to talk." Agad ko siyang nilampasan matapos kong sabihin iyon.

Done taking few steps, I heard Damon followed me. Pumunta pa ito sa harapan ko dahilan para mapahinto ako.

"Fine. I'll do what I can take." His voice seemed against it but I can see in his eyes that he also wanted it.

"Thank you." I answered. "Let's talk again once I'm done with my plan." Nakangiti kong saad sa kanya.

"I know. Get back to the dorm now. It's getting dark already." Nang talikuran niya ako'y hindi ko alam kung bakit napangiti ako. Maybe because we got someone who will work with us now?

Naglakad na ako pabalik noon sa dorm. Natigilan lamang ako nang may maaninag akong anino sa isang gilid. Puno ng kuryosidad, paabante akong bumalik upang tignan kung sino iyon. Kahit kalahati pa lang ng katawan nito ang nakikita ko, alam kong si Ate Fritzy iyon.

Mabilis akong nagtago sa isang gilid habang pinapakinggan iyong pinag-uusapan nila. Ang marinig ang boses niya lalo na iyong boses ng kausap niya'y nagdulot ng kung anong pakiramdam sa akin. Without seeing them wholly, I can tell that it was the twins.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito ang nararamdaman ko but knowing that it was the twins whom Ate Fritzy is talking with made me think lot of things.

I already told them that Ate Fritzy is the killer, why they are still talking to her?

"Someone's eavesdropping us. Maybe we can talk some other time, doon sa maliwanag para hindi nila tayo pagdudahan." I heard Ate Fritzy said at hindi ko alam kung paano niyang nalamang nakikinig ako sa kanila. Soon I realized that they were already standing beside me.

"Millizen? What are you doing here?" Gulat na tanong ng kambal.

"Kapag bumalik na sila Caitlyn sa dorm niyo, sabihan niyo ako. They should be staying in the dorm now that the higher ups are still busy monitoring. Salamat." Usal ni Ate Fritzy sa kanila saka niya isinara iyong folder na hawak niya. That was the same folder she held noong nag-student's monitoring sila sa amin.

"Nagmomonitor pa rin sila. Eksaktong nakita niya kami kaya kami na lang iyong tinanong niya." Sambit ng kambal kahit wala pa naman akong tinatanong sa kanila.

I understand if she's monitoring us because it's her responsibility at all. Ang hindi ko maintindihan ay kung bakit sa ganoong lugar.

"Tara na." Nagpatiuna sila sa paglalakad pero nanatili ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Noong mapansin nilang hindi pa rin ako nakasunod sa kanila ay nilingon nila ako.

"Millizen?" Humakbang ako papalapit sa kanila and I can't hide them how mad I am right now.

"Why are you talking to her? I already told you she's-

"She doesn't seem so! If she's really the killer, she should have killed us already but look, wala namang nangyari sa amin." Pagpuputol ni Veyda sa sasabihin ko.

"Just don't trust her!" I shouted angrily. Wala nga siyang ginawa sa kanila pero hihintayin pa ba nilang may mangyari sa kanila?

"Sino bang gusto mong paniwalaan namin? Is it Black Mistress who told us that she's going to protect us? Are you sure that she's really protecting us?" Doon ako natigilan. I questioned that myself too. But compared to Ate Fritzy, it's better to trust Black Mistress than her.

I don't know if Ate Fritzy told them something for them to act like this or if she brainwashed them. Pero si Ate Fritzy na ang mismong nakaharap ko noon. Maging ang mga galaw nito'y sapat ng dahilan para masabi kong siya iyong killer.

Sinabi ko na sa kanila ang tungkol doon pero hindi ko alam na hindi pa rin pala sila naniniwala sa akin.

Sa totoo lang, hindi lang ito ang unang beses na nakita kong kausap nila si Ate Fritzy. Noong lumabas kami ni Eyra upang bumili ng pagkain, noong time na naghiwalay kami saglit, nakita ko rin ang mga itong kausap nila si Ate Fritzy sa may madilim ding lugar. And that's what make me curious.

I fixated my eyes on the twins. I shouldn't be feeling this way but somehow, it made me doubt them as well.

"Are you hiding something from me?"