Erudition of Doyle: Volume One

CHAPTER 50: CASE VIII - THE MYSTERIOUS FRIENDS OF LITTLE SLYVIA

Content Warning: This story contains intense scenes depicting violence, psychological distress, self-harm, and  manipulation. Readers who may be sensitive to these themes are advised to proceed with caution.

Case 8: The Mysterious Friends
of Little Sylvia (The End of Chaos,
For Now, Chapter, Last Part)

ROSALINDA

Sylvia wept, her voice trembling whisper, "I... I have to kill him..." Her words hung in the air like a chilling fog that wrapped around the room. "I don't want to die, Ate!" Her tears finally broke free, streaming down her cheeks as the weight of her confession crushed her. "But... I don't want to do it. I don't want to!"

Her words painted a haunting picture of the torment she was enduring, a puppet dancing on the strings of Herald Mortiferum's cruel manipulation. A sinister orchestration that had twisted her into this state of despair and fear.

Herald Mortiferum.

Every time I hear that organization, it slowly makes my blood boil, as my sleeping demons awaken inside of me. I’ve had enough of their bullshit; they have to stop. But whatever I do, investigating, I feel like there's no progress at all. They’re the ones who are making progress.

"Sylvia," dahan-dahan ko siyang nilapitan. "I beg you to put the gun down," I said, trying to calm her by using the softest tone in my voice. "I need you to listen to me. Don’t listen to whatever they say. I'll help you, okay?"

Buong akala ko'y kumalma na siya dahil sa paglambot ng ekspresyon sa kaniyang mukha, nang bigla na lamang siyang huminga ng malalim at wala sa huwisyong pinaputok ang baril kung saan-saan.

"Sylvia!"

Mabilis akong tumakbo kay Doyle, at mabuti na lang, bago pa niya maputukan ang baril, ay wala sa sariling itinutok niya ito sa ibang lugar kaya hindi natamaan si Doyle.

I held her hand, inagaw ko sa kaniya ang baril at inilagay iyon sa aking likuran kung saan nakahiga si Doyle.

Sylvia screamed loudly, her eyes darting around as if searching for an escape. She covered her ears, desperate and scared. "Leave me alone! Get out of my head!"

Her screams continued, growing louder. Her body was shaking uncontrollably, like she was losing control over her fear.

I don’t know what to do. Anong gagawin ko para pakalmahin siya?!

"Why can't you get out of my head!" Sylvia punched herself and slammed her head on the wall, but before she could hurt herself further, I automatically stopped her. I tried to call her, but she wouldn’t listen— as if she couldn’t hear me.

"SYLVIA!" I shouted, and she stopped. She slowly looked at me with tears in her eyes. "Listen to me so I can help you. I won’t do anything if you keep—"

My heartbeat stopped for a second when I heard a gunshot from behind me. Slowly turning around, I held my chest. As I turned, I saw my father holding a pistol, pointing it at me. Without a second thought, I felt blood dripping from my chest, an unexplainable pain within me as my body slowly weakened.

"Ate..." Sylvia called to me as she held my chest where the blood was coming from, trying to stop the bleeding. "Ate! Why did you shoot her?" she cried. "I promised I wouldn’t leave here, so why did you shoot her?"

Without hesitation, I took the gun beside Doyle and then pulled the trigger three times, once at my father's chest and then at both his knees. Due to my sudden actions, before he could react, he was now dripping blood from his chest and vomiting.