𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝟎𝟏: 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐭 (𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐃)

𝟗: 𝐏𝐢𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐫

     "April Morales."

     Mathias handed Mathara a piece of photograph of a girl. She's wearing a uniform in that picture, halatang student pa ito. Well, wala namang pakialam si Mathara, she can even mercilessly kill a child or a baby. As long as part ng mission ay mamamatay talaga.

     It took her a glance para ma memorya niya ang mukha nito.

     A piece of cake.

     "Naalala mo pa 'yong kulang sa headcount nung massacre sa bahay ng mga Morales? Tinago siya sa sekretong compartment ng sahig nung bahay nila. Nalaman ko nalang sa news. Andun pala ang survivor," Jaxon started explaining the situation. "She was sent to a government facility at mabilis na na-adopt. Nandun na siya nakatira sa mga Merkader. Found their address on one of the documentaries na ang title ay 'The Massacre of the Family Morales'."

     Minsan ay pahamak din itong social media. It reveals a lot about a certain person.

     He handed Mathara a peace of paper. Nakasulat doon ang address ng bahay nito. She won't attack at the school, syempre sa bahay para private ang operation.

     "Eliminate her, so she can never have her revenge," Mathias gave the order.

     Mabilis na pinaandar ni Mathara ang motor and as usual, she raced through the roads again.  Having the police chase her is her fun.

     Wala namang barilan na magaganap, just pure a race between the authorities and the criminal.

     Hindi parin nila ito naabutan. Masyadong alam ni Mathara ang daanan at pasikot sikot para iligaw sila. Mathara chuckled with amusement as she maxed her motorcycle's speed, turning the handle grip to its limit.

     Then there's silence. Ang tanging maingay lang ay ang mga tambay na nag-iinuman sa unahan ng bahay. May maliit na sari-sari store kasi doon. It was dark at nagcamouflage lang si Mathara sa dilim habang inaakyat ang pangalawang palapag ng bahay ng mga Merkader.

     Sinilip niya ang loob ng bintana. Nandoon pa ang dalagang si April, umiiyak habang iniisa isa 'yong mga naka-pile na papel sa study table nito.

     "Nakakainis! Bakit ba kailangan whole thesis 'yong dapat i-revise? I hate that professor!" reklamo nito sabay punit nung isa sa mga papel. She kept crying habang nagdadabog. 

     Hindi man lang niya namalayang nakatayo na si Mathara sa likuran niya, watching her tantrums. 

     'Schools huh,' Mathara thought as she attached the silencer to her gun. Hinihipan pa niya ito, pero parang busy pa sa pag-iyak itong si April.

     She seemed harmless. Hindi man lang maisip ni Mathara paano maghihigante itong si April gayong iniiyakan nito ang mga papel. If Mathara only knew, those papers can mean your future. 

     "You need help?" Mathara asked. Mabilis na napatingin si April sa maliit na salaming nasa harapan niya.

     She know who that person is. That masked woman, it's the Death Devil. She froze in shock na ang tanging maririnig nalang ay ang mahihina niyang hikbi at malakas na kabog ng puso.

     "I said, do you need help?" Mathara asked once more.

     "N-No?" Nanginginig na sagot ni April. 

     Mathara leaned closer to whisper something. "I can kill that professor, if you want," she offered. "It will save all of your batch from crying," she added with a mocking look on her face. She find it exciting to kill another human for the night.

     Napapikit si April sabay lunok ng sariling laway. She knew she's gonna die and the devil is offering her a stupid solution to her tantrums. There's no use.

     "Hindi ako tulad mo, Death Devil. Tapusin mo na ako. Hindi ako mangdadamay ng ibang tao." Tumulo ulit ang mga luha ni April. This time luha yun ng takot at lungkot.

     Mathara pulled the trigger. Nahulog sa sahig ang biktima at napaubo ng napakaraming dugo. She's still alive so she stabbed her using that pointy heel she's always wearing. Before leaving the room, she glanced at the printed paper and noticed the name of the professor.

     Matapos malaman ang address nito ay pinuntahan niya ito sa pamamahay nito.

     "Hey prof," bati niya dito pagkapasok sa kwarto nito. She's sitting comfortably at it's window.

     "Death Devil." Nanginig ang lalaking may edad na sa nakita. Nasa kama niya ito, nagbabasa ng libro. "Why are you here?" tanong nito, wearing that confused face. Iniisip nito kanino siya nagkasala.

     "Pinapahirapan mo daw mga students mo," she answered, jumping to the floor.

     "I-I--" The professor was guilty. "Who sent you?" tanong nalang nito sabay baba nung librong hawak.

     "April? But, lucky you she don't want you dead." Mathara spoke as she disappeared again in the dark.

     Mathara felt something is fulfilled inside of her but she doesn't know what it is. She walked towards her motorcycle when some familiar voice called her name.

     "Luci!" Nilingon niya ito. No one is there.

     "Luci!" Sino yun? Isa lang naman ang tumatawag sa kanya ng ganun.

     "Luci!" 

     Nagising ang dalaga sa pangatlong tawag nito. Panaginip lang pala yun pero parang totoong nangyari. It's just too detailed. It felt so real that you won't think it's a dream. It felt more like a vivid memory to her. 

     "Luci?" Ronin is still calling for her name. Lumabas na siya ng pinto.

     "Bakit ba?" bungad niya dito.

     "Just checking if you're still alive, you woke up late, lady," sagot nito sabay tingin dun sa relo niya.

      Gusto sanang sabihin ni Mathara ang tungkol sa panaginip niya but something inside her is telling her not to. Tinignan lang niya ang binata na lumabas ng pinto. He's going to work again.

     "It's just a dream," she whispered to herself as she fix the bed. 

     It's another day for her to learn something new gamit ang nakalkal na recipe book. 

***

     "Sir, may lugar dito sa atin na laging dinadalhan ng ilog ng mga patay na katawan." Mabilis ang pagkakasabi nito ni Logan kay Mathias. He gave him his phone with that news on screen. Ang news na iyon ay tungkol sa Santa Elizabeth. 

     "Just dead bodies?" Mathias is trying to confirm. Binaba nito ang afternoon coffee niya.

     "No. Some survived," Logan answered.

     "Good job, Logan. Ngayon naman." Bumaling ito kay Jaxon. "Bumawi ka sa akin, Jaxon. Find Death Devil for me. Ibalik mo siya sa akin."

     "Yes, sir." 

     Wala nang kung ano ano, umalis na agad si Jaxon. 

TakahashiKazumi2024