In the mind of the Genius

Knight: the Suspects

I was woken up by a nightmare. I will never be accustomed with that manner of waking up. It is as though Michelle is reminding me the reality that is it not a detective game but a rather terrifying one - where life is at stake. Michelle lost hers, and I don't know if I'll be able to keep mine. Knowing that two members of this soulless syndicate is in this very campus, I'm afraid nightmares will be frequent for me. Will the syndicate be bold enough to kill me in my sleep? Poison my food? Abduct me? Threat me with letters? Frame me up? I don't know. And the thought itself is sending chills down to my spine. I don't know if I'll be able to keep up, but I've decided to be firm. If I'll die, I'll die struggling.

Considering how big this university is and how miniscule the number of students here, the syndicate can really isolate and kill me without anyone noticing, so to counter that, I need to always be at a place where there are people, the cafeteria or the dorms would be best for those places never run out with people, and I should always blend with my classmates. Yes! That would be my plan!

But I suddenly realized that our main suspect might be one of my classmates. Both Jason and Mark are left-handed guys that fit in with the description we concluded.

I can't ask for their alibis plainly, they're intelligent as they are, they will immediately notice that I'm suspecting them if I asked them directly. There are no stupid students in this university, to be fair. I should not make any careless move.

Mark Spencer is from Australia. Foreign students are very common in this university. He is a loner type maybe because he's from a different country that he can't blend with others, but it doesn't matter because all of us are loners at a certain extent and our priorities will always be studies. His eyes are dull but like a staggering dagger if your eyes crossed with him. It would really be hard to believe that a 19 year old student would be able to heartlessly kill someone. But I need to set aside my emotions to be able to correctly deduce if Mark was really the murderer.

Jason Arboleda, on the other hand, is a Filipino who's respected by almost all of my classmates. He acts as our representative for he knew so much - not because he's a super genius but because he's been a first year student for who-knows-how-many-times. He's 22 now, so I guess he's been a first year student for at least 3 years.

Here in EU, there are two kinds of exams - the one that the professors give, and the one that the university itself gives. You need to pass the exams of the professors to be able to stay in this university, or else, you will be expelled. But passing those exams doesn't mean anything if you can't pass the university's exam. The university's exam is like a gate for every year level. The university exam is available only twice a year. One must perfect the exam to be able to move up, or else, just like Jason, you will stay at your current level regardless of passing the professors' exams. Likewise, you can skip a year if you can pass appropriate university exams just like what Officer Vincent did when he was still studying.

That's why there have been rumors that Jason has been doing unethical things just to have more information about the next university exam. He's like a a teacher's pet, and some says that he's even seducing some professors for his selfish motives. There's just this grim aura that Jason gives off. I should be really be wary around him.

But all of my thoughts were not conclusive. Who's the murderer? Every time I look at them, there is a part of me telling that it is impossible for the both of them to commit such a hideous crime. But the fear of one day, this murderer might bite me from my back is far stronger----

"Attention class" the voice of Sir Maxwell caused my thoughts to blow off.

"It's really unfortunate to hear about the passing of your classmate Michelle, but you should not let this distract you from your studies, Ecclesiastes University is doing its best to ensure your safety. Plus since you're missing one student, there will be one to fill Michelle's spot." Sir Maxwell looked at his left and someone from the door just came in.