Anathema (The Academy of the Cursed)

Chapter Twenty-Two: Underground Murders

-chapter twenty-two-

'This whole academy is just a ticking time bomb.'

"What do you want?"

I gave Dale an unimpressed stare. Huminto siya kanina sa harap ko at pinigilan ako sa paglalakad. I tried to step away and pass him, pero ang nangyari ay nakipagpatintero na lang kami sa isa't isa.

"Kiyara asks for your presence."

Itinaas ko ang kilay. "I believe I can refuse."

Dale sighed. "You can, but she hopes you wouldn't. May pag-uusapan daw kayo."

Tinalikuran ko siya. "I have no interests in their matter. May kailangan pa akong puntahan so I'm sorry, I will be destroying your president's hope for now-"

"If you won't come, your true identity will be revealed." napatigil ako dahil doon. "Alam namin na hindi ka kaano-ano ng Raskell. The clan has long perished and the heir is a boy."

Dahan-dahan akong lumingon sa kaniya. Blanko ang kaniyang tingin ngunit may halong pagkapanalo ito. He knows he hits the right spot. Oh, scratch that, he thinks he hit the righr spot.

It's a pity he didn't.

Ngumiti ako. "Really? Well, then, I give you my best wishes."

Binilisan ko ang lakad paalis. I expected it. Of course, they would be the first one to know how I lied about my identity. They are sitting atop the student chain because they have power, money and influence outside the school.

Hindi na ako magtataka kung nasa kanila ang totoong batang Raskell. The Prestons are one of the largest clan in the country. They absorb any dying family names. They are partnered with the government. Kaya sigurado akong nasa kanila ang bata.

That boy is none of my concern, though. I already got what I want.

My primary need for now is stopping this school from killing me.

They can go and scream my identity for the whole academy to know. Pero ano naman ang magagawa nila pagkatapos nito? If they want to kill me, they have to beat me. If they want to capture me, for what? Wala naman akong ginawa.

Ah. Identity theft ba? It's not my fault they were so easily tricked into believing it's my real name. Just how they immediately believed that I have that specific ability.

Sila ang nagbigay ng daanan para sa'kin, nilakaran ko lang ito.

Pinihit ko pabukas ang pinto papunta sa basement floor ng Academy Central. Aside from having the mall, cafeteria and lounge areas, the bottom floor of the building is also a stockroom of different dusty books and rusty equipments.

It's also where Meredith's storage room is located.

Dahan-dahan akong bumaba sa hagdan at pinakiramdaman ko ang paligid. I placed my palm on the nearest wall and closed my eyes. Napangiti ako nang muli ko itong binuksan. That's great, there are no people around. The last one has left the floor 47 minutes ago.

Pumasok ako sa loob ng storage room. I need to do this quickly, dahil kapag natapos na ang kampanya ni Meredith sa taas, she can easily detect me with her x-ray eyes.

Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang mga papel sa mesa. The announcement paper is among them, gano'n din ang- Naningkit ang mata ko. Are those profiles of the members of the council? How did Meredith have a hand in these informations? Kasama pa dito ang background nila at financial capabilities.

Hindi ko ginalaw ang mesa dahil baka may sharp memory pa sila at malaman nilang pumasok ako. Kaya inilibot ko ang paningin sa mesa at binasa ang ibang papel. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ang pangalan nina Kahel, Ana at Akiru. I frowned. Why are they part of the pile? Ano ba ang kailangan ni Meredith sa kanila?