Eastwood Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDCP)
9:40 a.m.
---
Benet Paguinog wasn't exactly feeling the effects of the virus inside, but he knew that it affected everyone outside.
'Nahuli na kaya nila ang killer?'
Sa loob ng kanyang maliit na silid, hindi na niya namalayan kung ilang araw o oras na ang lumipas magmula noong na-quarantine siya. Sa mga sandaling ito, umiikot ang kanyang buhay sa laboratory tests at mga ECDCP personnel na nakasuot ng puting suit na paminsan-minsan siyang kinakamusta at dinadalhan ng pagkain.
Benet laid down and closed his eyes, trying to recall the events prior to the discovery of the crime scene at the Mockingbird Apartment.
Pinilit niyang isantabi ang bigat ng kanyang pakiramdam sa tuwing naaalala niya ang pagkamatay ng bata. Having that innocent child die in his arms was enough to scar him for life. Tuwing iniisip niyang wala rin naman siyang magagawa para iligtas ito, Benet feels even worse.
'Kung kaya ko lang sanang i-identify ang taong may pakana nito,' isip-isip niya at ipinikit ang mga mata.
In his mind, the scene replayed again. Wala namang nagbabago. Balot na balot pa rin ang lalaking nabunggo niya noon sa shop. Mas matangkad lang ito nang kaunti sa kanya, but then again he wasn't too sure. Not that he had a tall stature to begin with, of course. Huminga nang malalim si Benet at piniga ang kanyang memorya.
If only he can recall anything, anything at all, that can give the detectives another clue, then maybe he can die in peace if ever the virus catches him off guard.
"Yung taong 'yon..."
Benet concentrated, pushing aside all the fears and hesitations. Ilang sandali pa, nabulabog siya sa reyalisasyon. Mabilis siyang napaupo sa kanyang kama at pinagpipindot ang button sa pader ng kanyang silid. The buzzer went off, indicating that he needed assistance.
Just as expected, a personnel wearing a while body suit waltzed inside carrying a tray.
'Oras na ba para sa tanghalian?'
"Kailangan kong makausap 'yong mga detective!" Benet quickly said, alarmed with what he remembered.
Sa kabilang bahagi ng salamin, ni hindi man lang natinag ang tauhan ng ECDCP. Para bang wala itong naririnig. Maya-maya pa, walang imik itong pumasok ng kanyang silid, at nilagay sa lamesita ang dala nitong tray.
"May naalala ako sa kaso... Kailangan kong sabihin sa kanila! Pwede mo ba silang tawagan?" He was already pacing, panicking.
No response.
That's when Benet's eyes darted to the tray's contents.
Agad siyang napaatras nang makita ang syringe.
"P-Para saan 'yan---?!"
In one swift movement, the personnel snatched the syringe and plunged it into his neck. Napadaing sa sakit si Benet at napaupo sa gilid ng kanyang kama. Benet stumbled and fumbled to get the needle out of his skin.
Pero bago pa man niya ito magawa, naramdaman na niya ang unti-unting panghihina ng kanyang katawan.
'Anong nangyayari...?'
Benet's vision blurred. Nang lumingon siya sa direksyon ng tauhan, napansin niya ang hawak-hawak nitong bato. Dala ng kung anumang itinurok nito sa kanya, hindi na siya nakapanlaban nang maramdaman niya ang hampas nito sa gilid ng kanyang bungo. The impact made his body fall onto the tiled floor.
"S-Sino ka ba?"
Another hit.
And another.
And another.
In his final moments, Benet was aware of the warm blood oozing out of his wrecked skull. The image of the stone covered in blood---his blood---made his stomach churn. Hindi niya alam kung paano niya pa ito napansin, pero mukhang may marka rin ang batong ito.
Katulad ng mga batong nahahanap nila sa crime scenes.
'Sinundan niya ako rito...'
Benet was drifting out of consciousness, watching the Unknown Disease walk out of the room with the murder weapon.
At muli, hindi niya ulit nakita nang maayos ang mukha nito.
*
"Shit. Nagloloko na naman ba ang mga wirings natin?"
Dr. Clover Almeida asked her assistant who had been putting labels on several test tubes. Nag-angat ito ng tingin at kumunot ang noo. "Ha? Kakaayos lang niyan last week, doc. Anong..." Nang ibinaling nito ang kanyang atensyon sa screen, doon niya naunawaan ang sinasabi nito.
The monitors for the CCTV cameras in Benet Paguinog's room were blank.
Naningkit ang mga mata ni Dr. Ameida, naghihinala sa mga nangyayari. Mabilis niyang dinial ang numero ng kanilang technician, pero walang sumasagot. She tried calling Dr. Fabella's office, but it just went into voice mail.
"What the heck is going on here?"
She cursed under her breath and started walking out of the laboratory. Ni hindi na siya nag-abala pang ayusin ang kanyang coat o pansinin ang pagsunod sa kanya ng kanyang assistant. Nagmamadali siyang bumaba ng 3rd floor, kung saan ito naka-quarantine.
She scanned the hallway, looking for anyone suspicious.
Maya-maya pa, mabilis na binuksan ng virologist ang ilaw at sumilip sa loob. Pilit niyang inaninag ang glass window sa silid ni Benet.
"Bakit parang ang tahimik?"
Her eyes fell on the body on the floor.
What Dr. Almeida saw made her knees go weak. A scream tore out of her throat, her hand covering her mouth. Agad na nataranta ang kanyang assistant at tinulungan siyang tumayo. She felt like she was paralyzed in shock, staring at the bloody masterpiece someone left behind.
"H-He's dead!"
---
BINABASA MO ANG
✔ 03 | Point Of Exposure
Mistério / Suspense"Kailangan natin siyang pigilan bago pa ubusin ng virus ang populasyon ng Eastwood!" This time around, Detective Nico Yukishito and Detective Briannova Carlos are forced to face two enemies... One unseen. One vengeful. Both deadly. What happens when...
