✔ Killer in the Attic

[8] OCTO

Sa pinakadulong bahagi ng bayan kung saan napupuno ng pinagtagpi-tagping kahoy ang karamihan ng mga bahay at halos umalingasaw sa paligid ang nakakasukang amoy ng basura, naglalaro ang batang si Anthony kasama ang kanyang mga kaibigan.

They grew up in this place, know it like the back of their dirty hands. At the age of seven, he's already friends with everyone in the area.

"Toni! 'Wag kang lalayo!"

Pero hindi niya pinansin ang bilin ng ina.

The little boy ran to search for his playmates. Kung saan-saan siya napadpad hanggang sa hindi na niya namalayang malapit na pala siya sa abandonadong warehouse. Malaki ito pero basag na ang karamihan ng mga bintana at mukhang bibigay na ang pundasyon. Inaamag na ang ilang mga bahagi ng pader dahil na rin sa tagal ng panahon.

The old warehouse burnt down five years ago. Ang sabi ng mga awtoridad, problema sa electrical wiring ang naging sanhi ng sunog pero may mga tsismis na sinadya raw ito.

But just like the other things mankind made and destroyed, it had been forgotten ever since. A remnant of the past. Nag-aalangang naglakad si Anthony papunta sa nasabing warehouse. Baka nandito ang mga kalaro niya.

"Totoy? Aaron?"

The thin little boy called out for his friends but heard nothing in response. Agad siyang napahakbang papalayo pero nang akmang aalis na sana siya, bigla siyang may nakitang anino sa loob ng warehouse.

He smiled.

"Hoy! Nandiyan pala kayo. Tara na!"

Pero hindi sumagot ang anino.

The child then walked inside. The sun was overhead but it never seemed to reach the interior of the buinding. Nababalot ng katahimikan ang buong paligid. Nang tinulak niya ang sira-sirang pinto, agad niyang hinanap ang mga kalaro niya.

But what he didn't know is that his playmates weren't there.

Something---or someone---else was in the dark, waiting for him.

Nanindig ang balahibo ng bata nang maramdaman ang paghinga ng isang estranghero sa likuran niya. Malamig na humaplos ang isang kamay sa batok niya. He can even hear the stranger's uneven breathing. Naiiyak na sa takot si Anthony pero wala na siyang magawa. At nang lumingon siya sa kanyang likuran...

"Hello."

"AAAAAAAAAH!"

That day, Anthony never came back.

*

"Hanggang kailan mo ba ako planong titigan?"

Naiiritang sabi ng dalaga habang nanonood ng balita sa television. Katabi niya sa sopa si Sebastian na hindi man lang inaalis ang tingin sa kanya. Finally, he inquired, "Aren't you gonna ask me to play with you?"

Kumunot ang noo ni Oriana sa kanya. "What are you talking about?"

Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Sebastian.

"Dati lagi mo akong inaayang makipaglaro sa'yo dahil madalas kang tinutukso ng mga kalaro mo dahil sa malapad mong noo."

And it was the truth! He vividly remembers those days when they would play together inside her bedroom. They were inseperable. Sebastian was---is---Oriana's bestfriend.

But he guess things really do change when humans grow up.

Oriana never responded to what he said. She didn't know what to say. Her eyes then diverted back to the television screen.

"Kaninang hapon lamang ay natagpuang patay ang isang bata sa loob ng isang abandonadong warehouse sa Willow subdivision sa Eastwood. Ang pitong taong gulang na batang kinilalang si Anthony Mejia ay halos hindi na makilala dahil sa---"

"SEBASTIAN!"

Napabaling naman ang tingin ng dalaga sa katabi. Hindi pa rin siya mapalagay tuwing naiisip niyang pumatay ng tao ang "imaginary friend" niya at ngayon, meron na namang namatay sa lugar nila. What else would she expect?

Sebastian smiled at her. "Yes?"

"May pinatay ka na naman! Wala ka na ba talagang awa o konsensiya man lang?!" Naiiyak na si Oriana. All this stress was slowly eating her up. And it doesn't help that she practically blames herself because of all the killings Sebastian did. Deep inside, she knows she's responsible for him.

But Sebastian just deadpanned and calmly stated, "Correction. The last time I checked, I haven't killed anyone in the past twenty hours. Hindi ako ang may gawa niyan."

Napanganga si Oriana. She stared at the television screen again and saw the gruesome death of the kid. It was brutal, the work of a monster.

Pero kung hindi si Sebastian, sino?

Sebastian averted his eyes on the screen now. He admired the way the killer finished off his victim. It was a masterpiece, indeed. Sebastian was quite envious of his craftsmanship.

Oriana sighed, fear rising in her chest. She met Sebastian's eyes shortly and vocalized the thought that both appeared in their minds...

"Another killer is in town."

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