Decrypting Ciphers Volume I (COMPLETED)

Chapter 4: Lynch's Riddles

Chapter 4: Lynch's Riddles

Arya's POV

When I woke up, my head was aching like a sledgehammer was pounding on it. Pagbukas ng mga mata ko, ang una kong nakita ay wires at ECG na nakaconnect sa IV fluid na nakaconnect sa aking mga braso.

Sinubukan kong bumangon pero, "Fuck!" Wrong move. Ang sakit ng balikat ko. Halos hindi na ako makagalaw sa sakit. I had to close my eyes because of the searing pain that I felt.

I heard a small snicker from the corner which caused my gaze to meet his piercing ones. "Kung pwede lang sana ay talagang matagal ko nang kinuskusan ng detergent at bleach yang bibig mo noong una pa tayong magkita. You speak profanities like it's your mother tongue. That's so unlady like, Arya." There it goes again. His authoritative voice, his poker face, his mocking tone. Nakakainis!

I rolled my eyes from the scolding I just got. "Eh ano naman ngayon kung very unlady like ko. At least I don't try to be anyone other than myself. At tsaka, ganyan ba ang sasabihin mo sa taong lumigtas ng buhay mo." I countered and rested my body steadily on the bed with my gaze up on the ceiling just to avoid his gaze.

"Malayo naman sa baga eh..." Walang hiya pala itong lalake eh, siya na nga ang nalayo sa kapahamakan, siya pa ang may karapatang magsabi niyan.

"Ewan ko sayo. Umalis ka nga dito, iniistorbo mo pahinga ko."

Noong sinabi ko yon, hindi siya umimik. Nanatili siyang nakaupo sa sulok na tinititigan ako. "I'm sorry. Thank you for saving my life." Eh kaya naman pala niya ang magthank you. It was my turn to remain speechless.

Well, until I opened up the discussion. "So, what happened after nahimatay ako?"

This suddenly got his attention, "I made him confess his crimes. Apparently, noong namatay si Melissa, Christian already blamed Lucas but his accusation had no basis so he went looking for facts, that was the same night that I saw you on the street. However, dinamput nila si Christian and killed him, that's why he was nowhere to be found. But Lucas was already deep on drugs at the time kaya kalahati lang ng mga kagagawan niya ang alam niyang ginagawa niya. He is currently in prison, my mom made sure of that."

His mom? "Wait, your mom?" Hindi ko naiwasang magtanong. Kumunot naman ang kanyang noo bago ako sinagot, "Yeah, Senior Detective ang mga parents ko. Didn't I tell you this already?" I just shook my head and remained silent. His parents are detectives , that's where he got his talents from.

"So, how are you?"

"Me? You're asking me?" Hindi, yung multo sa katabi mo.

"You're not funny." He suddenly said sarcastically.

"I never said anything funny." Pilit ko naman sa kanya. "Ewan ko sayo, baliw ka na." Inis naman niyang sabi sa akin.

Biglaan namang nagring ang hawak niyang cellphone, "I'm just going to take this call." Paalam niya sakin at lumabas sa kuarto. Hindi ko na namalayan na nakatulog na ako.

Lynch's POV

Iniwan ko muna si Arya sa kanyang kuarto at lumabas. Sinagot ko naman ang tawag mula sa unknown number, "Hello?"

"You have until midnight to save your friend, Arya." A cold deep voice answered. Bigla akong nagalala sa sinabi niya, "Who are you?"

The guy has got to be kidding. Kapapahamak lamang niya dahil sa akin. "I said, who are you!?" I raised my voice, suddenly feeling angry and frustrated.

"Goodluck, Mr. Hidalgo. Just pray that your skills are enough for this. I'll be watching you." Biglaan na lamang niya ibinaba ang tawag. Fear started to creep to my heart, I don't like what's happening.

I looked at the time. Shit! It's already 10:49. Biglaang nagvibrate ang phone ko dahil sa isang text message. CCCX.

That's the first clue? It seems too easy, even for the average mind. Tiningnan ko ang room number ni Arya, 101. The heck! Baka naman malayo pa ang palapag kung nasaan ito.

There's no time to lose, nakasalalay dito ang buhay ni Arya. I ran up the stairs because the elevator was too busy, I passed by floors before I finally reached floor 300. Pumunta ako sa tapat ng pintuan ng room 310 nang biglaang nagring ulit ang cellphone ko.

"Hello? What kind of game do you think you're playing at?" But he just laughed maniacally and ended the call. I released a frustrated groan and almost threw my phone when he sent another message.

Vlro Obcibzqflk. -Roman.

I entered the room first before decoding his cipher. It was a simple room, vacant and smells like medicine infused with aircon. There was a small mirror on the wall near the bathroom which looked really weird there, like it didn't quite belong, a small sofa backed on the wall, and there was a cabinet near the bed.

Another code. There is are thousands of codes associated with this one. Mga rot ciphers ito, but which one? So, I started with Rot 1. Kailangang ipalikod ang alphabet nang isang posisyon, kumbaga ang A ay magiging Z. U-k-q-n I stopped. That didn't make sense at all.

Tiningnan ko ulit ang message and realized what I missed. Roman. Mayroong specific na Rot na ginagamit ni Julius Caesar during his reign, they called it the Caesar Cipher o kilala rin sa Rot 3. Kaya I moved the alphabet 3 letters back, Y-o-u-r R-e-f-l-e-c-t-i-o-n. My reflection? Bigla akong napatitig sa salamin at tumango sa harapan nito.

I studied my reflection. It was the same emotionless face that I wore everyday. There must be something here. Kinuha ko ito at kinulog, wala. Tiningnan ko sa likod, wala. Did I get the wrong answer? That seldomly happens. I seldomly get wrong deductions and never at a time like this. This hasn't been that hard, to be honest.

I threw the mirror in frustration. Dalawang resulta ang nakuha ko sa kagagawan ko. One, the mirror shattered. Two, there were papers inside the mirror. What the hell?

Kinuha ko yung mga papel at tiningnan ang nakasulat. Sa isa,
This is something you plant
But doesn't grow
It is a work of science
But never for people
Try to find me
In the center before the Earth
Or all of you
Will fade off the world

The second paper contained,
What poison do people eat but not die?
What poison is present in a fruit that when consumed is not fatal but when individually extracted becomes deadly?

Ang ikatlo naman ay hindi clue o ano mang riddle, it was a message.
Which is more important? Her life or the lives of many?
Anong klaseng tanong yan? Of course, importante lahat nang buhay. I gritted my teeth in anger. Sino ba talaga ito?

I checked the time. Shit! 11:15. Can I still do all of these?

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A/N: Kaya ko na dba? Mwuahahahahaha😂😂😂

QOTD: BANANAS ARE EVIIIIIILLLL!!!

~Candy🍭🍭🍭