✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure

CAPITULUM 39

He was sweating.

Ragged breaths passed his lips.

The heat on his bare skin made him even more bothered.

‘What would Sherlock do if he were in my situation?’ Gustuhin man niyang alalahanin ang lahat ng pages ng libro na nakalimbag sa kanyang memorya, napagtanto ni Nico na mukhang pati ang kanyang mental storage cabinet ay nahihirapang sumaklolo sa kanya.

He lost count of the hours long before his phone lost its battery.

Huminga nang malalim si Nico at nanghihinang sumandal sa gilid ng container. He was half-drank from all the wine, but what else can you do when you’re stuck inside a metal compartment with no proper drinking water?

Hindi na rin niya alam kung umiikot na ba talaga ang kanyang paningin o sadyang nahihirapan na ang kanyang mga mata sa dilim.

“What a dramatic way to die.”

He laughed at the idea of Eastwood’s greatest detective left helpless, starving, and alone inside a shipping container. Gaano katagal kaya bago nila mahanap ang kanyang katawan?

His consciousness was slipping away, and maybe that’s the reason why he was hearing the faint sound of Goldilocks’ barking.

Pero nang unti-unting lumakas ang mga tahol, doon na bumalik sa wisyo si Nico No, not even his mind can conjure up a sound as realistic as that. ‘Iisa lang ang ibig sabihin nito,’ isip-isip ng detective at sinimulang kalampagin ang pader.

The noise travelled throughout the air and reached his dog’s ear, the barking got louder.

“Arf! Arf!”

Napangiti si Nico.

Gamit ang kanyang natitirang lakas, sinubukan niyang tawagin ang alaga habang kinakalampag ang container. Sa kasamaang-palad, mukhang nahihirapan siyang matunton ni Goldilocks dahil sa dami ng mga container sa lugar. He couldn’t blame her though, as keen as her sense of smell is, Goldilocks wasn’t very good with tracing sounds.

Nico made a mental note to take her out more often, especially since she’s the only family he has right now.

“How on earth can she locate where I am?”

Huminga nang malalim si Nico, already feeling like he was about to be suffocated with the lack of oxygen. Noong mga sandaling ‘yon, dumako ang kanyang mga mata sa relong pinabigay sa kanya ni Uncle X. Hanggang ngayon, hindi niya pa rin maintindihan kung anong silbi nito. Of course, it was normal for his uncle to give him presents on Christmas eve, but what’s the point of giving this one several weeks early?

Nico suddenly became suspicious.

Tinanggal niya ang relo at inikot ito, doing the best as he can to study its features in the dark. Maya-maya pa, napansin niyang mas mabigat nga ito kaysa sa normal na relo. The side even had an extra button. Nang kapain niya ang metal plate nito sa likod, doon na ngumisi si Nico.

‘Film’s engraved signature.’

Kung nandito ang engraved signature ng tech geek ng kanilang kompanya, ang imbentor ng kanilang spy gadgets, hindi na nga magtataka si Nico kung bakit maagang Pamasko na ito sa kanya ni Uncle X.

When Nico pressed the button, a ray of red light blasted from the watch’s opposite end. The intense heat radiated off the beam as he tested it.

Agad na nagkaroon ng butas ang boteng natamaan nito.

“A laser wristwatch? How fancy.”

Walang inaksayang panahon si Nico at itinapat ito sa container. Habang tumatagal, lalong bumibigat ang kanyang pakiramdam sa ilang oras na pagkakakulong niya rito. He struggled to stay conscious as the laser penetrated through the dense metal. Mukhang nakita na rin ito ni Goldilocks nang lumakas ulit ang kanyang mga tahol.

Oddly enough, there was also a female voice. Her words were muffled, but Nico made no effort to understand what she was saying.

‘Back to work. We’ve got a serial killer to catch.’

Napadaing ang detective. His limbs already felt like they were conspiring against him. The heat of the laser slowing warming his skin. At nang akala niya tuluyan na siyang mawawalan ng malay bago pa man siya mailigtas, the noise of the container’s heavy metal doors pounded against his temples.

Light and cold air came rushing into the space, overwhelming him.

“Arf! Arf!”

Agad siyang dinambahan Goldilocks. The golden retriever started licking his face and wagging its tail. Napangiti si Nico, relieved that nothing bad happened to his companion.

“Thank you for saving me, buddy.”

“Arf! Arf!”

Hilo pa rin ang detective nang muling dumako ang kanyang mga mata sa bukana ng pinto, the light casted a silhouette of a female rushing towards him. The figure started reaching out to him like an angel sent down from heaven to bless his mortal soul.

‘Nova?’

Nang makapag-adjust na ang kanyang mga mata sa liwanag, noon niya namukhaan si Minnesota Gervacio.

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