The Missing Hands

Chapter 20

Chapter 20

"Pwede na ba siya naming makausap, detective?" tanong ko kay Detective Andrade.

"Yes, you may go in now. We kept on asking her questions by the time we got here, but all she did was smirk or grin. She hasn't responded to any of our questions. The both of you might as well give it a try."

I nodded, then Kith and I went inside the interrogation room together.

Seated in front of the table was, of course, none other than Aubree. She calmly sat on the chair, while her handcuffed hands rested on top of the table in front of her. She stared blankly at us.

Kith pulled out a chair for me before pulling out his own. I mouthed 'thank you' before actually sitting.

I, too, rested my hands on top of the table. I held my fingers tightly.

As I looked at her, she lowered her gaze to her handcuffed hands.

I tried to open my mouth and say something, but it's like I couldn't find the words I wanted to say. I have a lot of questions that I want to ask her, but I don't know where or how to start.

I looked at Kith, and he gave me a nod and a small smile. I somehow felt calmer, thanks to him.

I then looked back at Aubree. I licked my lips before finally saying something. "Aubree, why... why did you result in this? What happened to you?"

I know that my question might be too straightforward, but I just want to ask her because I badly want to know what led her to kill those people, including her own mother.

Hindi lang ako, kundi lahat kami ang nagulantang sa sinabi niya kanina.

"I killed the bitch,"

"I meant Mama. Hindi siya lumayas, four years ago. Pinatay ko siya. I stabbed her to death... That makes five people in total."

She raised her head and looked at me. The first thing she did was scoff. "You didn't expect it, did you?"

Napaawang ang labi ko sa sinabi niya. I literally froze. Sa lahat ng pwede niyang sabihin, ito pa talaga? She doesn't even look devastated that she got caught!

"Freaking psycho," I heard Kith whisper beside me.

I held on to the table tightly. "Yes, I didn't expect it. No one did... So now, tell me why you did all of this? You killed four students, Aubree, and you even killed your own mother!"

Naalala ko bigla... Tinawag niyang "bitch" ang mama niya... Why did she call her that? Did they have a misunderstanding that made her angry and resulted in killing her?

"My mother deserved to die... Pero bakit, bakit kahit patay na siya, naririnig at nakikita ko pa rin siya? Was killing her not enough?" sabi niya, nakatingin sa kawalan. She looked frustrated as she clasped her hands tightly.

I can see both fear and anger in her eyes just by looking at them. What did Tita exactly do to Aubree that made her fear and resent her?

"A-Anong... Anong ginawa niya sayo, Aubree, at bakit ka nagkakaganito?"

She stared right at me. She blinked her eyes a few times and lowered her head. She stared back at the table.

Right this moment, after I asked her the question, she doesn't look arrogant, fierce, or angry anymore. She looks more... fragile. It's as if she can be shattered at any moment. Actually, it's like she's about to break. And this makes her more human... It's not a facade anymore, but she's genuinely looking so sad and fragile.

"When I was still so young, she would beat me up every time I made a mistake or did something that she didn't like. She often hurt me, physically, mentally, and emotionally. She never made me feel loved. She hated her life because we're not well-off like other people. We're a poor family, and she blames us for it. Kami ang sinisisi niya sa mga paghihirap na pinagdadaanan niya."