The adventures of the QED Club continue as the Moriarty mystery thickens.
Looking for VOLUME 1? Read it here: https://www.wattpad.com/story/55259614-project-loki-volume-1
Looking for VOLUME 3? Read it here: https://www.wattpad.com/story/101604752-pr...
CONTENT AND TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter may contain content that might be troubling to some readers, including, but not limited to, depictions of and references to death, self-harm and suicide, graphic violence, sexual assault, strong language and more.
Please be mindful of these sensitive themes and other possible triggers. Remember to practice self-care before, during and after reading.
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LORELEI
Napapunas ako ng pawis sabay lunok ng laway habang tinititigan ang countdown timer. Less than ten minutes left before the bomb would go off. Tinext ko na agad sina Loki at Alistair para sabihing natagpuan na namin ang bomba.
"What should we do now?" tanong ni Jamie. Kung kanina'y pangiti-ngiti pa siya, ngayo'y nagkaroon na ng bahid ng pagkabahala sa mukha niya.
Pinaupo muna namin ang lalaki sa librarian's desk at sinigurong nakatalikod siya sa mga kapwa niya estudyante. Creating unnecessary panic was the last thing that we wanted to happen here.
"You have the chessboard puzzle?" tanong ko sa aking kasama.
"Here." Inilabas niya ang papel kung saan iginuhit niya ang arrangement ng mga chess piece sa board. I was not too familiar with how that game worked, making it hard for me to contribute anything to the group.
"Let's call them," I said as I dialed Loki's number first. Once he was connected, I dialed Alistair's number next and put it in a conference call.
Biglang dumikit sa akin si Jamie at inilapit ang bibig niya sa phone. "Hello, Loki! Na-miss mo na ba ako?"
My goodness, Jamie! Marami pang mas importanteng tanong kaysa riyan.
"How's everything on your end?" Loki ignored his question. I could picture his bored face by listening to his monotonous voice. Kahit na kulang-kulang sa ten minutes ang natitira sa amin, sigurado akong napanatili niyang maging kalmado sa ganitong sitwasyon.
"The bomb is strapped to a student's body," sagot ko. "And we have no idea how to crack the chessboard code."
"Creative." Narinig kong parang humikab siya. "Mine was placed inside the piano in the auditorium. How boring. How about you, Alistair?"
"Under the bleachers here in the gymnasium," my childhood friend answered. Walang kahit anong hint sa boses niya na kinakabahan siya. "May mga nagre-rehearse na taga-Theater Club dito, but I managed to convince them to let me search the area."
"Any ideas on the code?" tanong ko habang nakatitig sa nakasulat na queen sa isang square.
"It must have something to do with the chesspieces on the board, right?" Alistair asked. "Do you think the ranks matter?"
"I think they were randomly picked by the bomber," Loki replied. "It doesn't matter whether it's a king, a queen, or a pawn on a particular square."
