Unsolved Mystery (Nilacabb Series #1)

06

The tension in the air was palpable. My thoughts raced as I tried to make sense of the situation. Brey's missing? Hindi ito pwedeng mangyari, hindi ulit. Pero ang mas nakakakaba pa ay yung urgency sa mga mensahe ni Hazel. Something was wrong, and I couldn't just ignore it.

Pagpasok ko sa school, ramdam ko agad na may hindi tama. Nasa harapan namin si Hazel, mukha siyang seryoso at puno ng alala. Hindi ko na kayang magpigil ng takot, kaya hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Shane. Nandiyan na naman ang takot—yung feeling na para bang ang isang mahal mo ay nawawala, at walang kasiguraduhan.

"Brey's missing," Chris said, his voice low but heavy with concern. "Wala kaming balita tungkol sa kaniya."

"Tell me it's not happening," Jarenn muttered. "Wala na bang katapusan 'tong mga nangyayaring ito?"

"Hindi ko kayang mag-isip ng masama, pero anong nangyari kay Brey? Bakit hindi siya nag-reply sa mga messages ko?" I was already imagining the worst. How could she just disappear like that?

I felt like we were stuck in a nightmare. All the things that happened to Aya, the trauma, the fear—it felt like it was happening again. I just wanted to find Brey.

"Hindi pwedeng magpatuloy to," I said, my voice trembling.

Caleb tried to keep everyone focused on school, telling us to get to class and not be late. But it was hard to concentrate. I was restless, my mind consumed with worry.

When Renzo sat beside me, he handed me my ID, and for a moment, everything seemed normal. But I couldn't shake the feeling of dread.

"Thank you," I murmured, but my thoughts were still with Brey.

"How could she get lost?" he asked, his brows furrowed in concern.

Mukhang na-kuwento na nina Jeric sa kaniya ang tungkol doon. May group chat kasi sila, kahit 'di naman nila close si Renzo. Sabi future husband ko raw kaya nila sinali.

"I don't know," I replied softly. "Her mom said she hasn't been home since last night. I sent her messages, but... no reply."

Hindi ko kayang ipaliwanag kung anong nararamdaman ko—para akong may kutob na hindi maganda ang nangyayari.

"She can't be the next victim," Renzo sighed, and my heart sank even more. "I really hope there’s no victim this time."

"Sana nga," I whispered. "Sobrang cruel ng mga nangyari. Hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin tayong lead, tapos ito na naman." The weight of the situation was unbearable.

We were interrupted by the arrival of our professor, and I tried to focus on the lesson, but my phone vibrated. It was a message from Hazel on Messenger.

jannhazel: bes tapos na ba class niyo? pwede ba kayo pumunta rito sa dating library?

My breath caught in my throat. "Brey..." I whispered to myself. The moment felt like a dream, but the urgency in Hazel’s words was undeniable.

lueesesantos: is it something we don't wanna see?

jannhazel: hindi ko alam

mikaylaaa: Anong nangyari? Bakit napaka-urgent?

shanelle: masama kutob ko

jannhazel: pumunta kayo rito mamaya please

I felt the panic rise in my chest. Si Brey na iyon? What happened to her? I had to get to her. The fear of what we might find, what could’ve happened to our friend, was almost too much to bear.

FLASHBACK. 3RD PERSON.

Brey woke up in an unfamiliar place. The darkness surrounding her made it hard to see anything clearly. Her hands were bound, her body tied to a chair.