30 Doors

17th Door

Sacrifice is a part of life. It's supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to."

-Mitch Albom, Five People You Meet in Heaven

***

SYKYOE

We're on the 17th floor. The elevator brought us here. Had any of us realized that the answer to the mystery case was supposed 'wife' because there is no mail on a Sunday? I knew we chose the wrong door. Mina and Vlad's team was right.

Of course.

They're always right. They're the best.

But why did I choose to be here? It wasn't for something. I had to be here for Maddie... and for Thrina. Hindi kakayanin ng dalawa kapag nagkataong habulin sila ng killer. People were missing and were even dead.

Madilim sa loob ng production area. Halos masagi namin ang mga nagkalat na swivel chairs at lamesa. Ang 17th floor ay para sa repairs and design department ng MOS. Dito inaayos ang mga items na may defect at dito na din dinidisenyo ang mga online items for sale.

Hindi ko masyadong memoryado ang floor na ito. I was an external officer doing business outside this building. Lagi akong nasa labas ng tower. I have been here twice or three times if my memory was accurate. I know that the entire floor is full of heavy equipment for the repair team and a part of it is allotted for executive meetings.

"M-maddie, Syk, what are we even supposed to do here?" Hinahabol ni Thrina ang kanyang paghinga habang naglalakad kami papasok sa buong production floor. Halos hilain nito ang manggas ng polo shirt ko sa sobrang kaba.

Nanatili naman si Maddie sa tabi ko. Hindi man ito umiimik ay ramdam ko din ang takot nito sa posibleng mangyari.

I knew I was not supposed to be afraid but who wouldn't? Who wouldn't bear fear when everyone's dying and missing in just a thread of time?

"Wait for a puzzle or a riddle or maths or death to blurt out I guess?" Maddie uttered. Mabilis ang paghinga niyo at hindi pa rin nababawasan ang takot sa boses.

"Whatever happens, we stick together," tipid kong usal. Patuloy akong humakbang papasok sa kabilang dako ng design department. May nakabukas na ilaw sa may conference room.

Our instinct harmonized as Maddie and Thrina stepped towards the conference room. Mabilis kaming lumapit doon sa pag-aakalang may mapapala kami. Pagkapasok sa conference room ay ginalugad namin ang buong lugar. Walang clue. Walang puzzle. Walang problem-solving.

Mas mabuti pa noong gumagana pa ang laptop ni Vladimir. Atleast doon may mahihintay kaming hint mula sa mastermind. Kung hindi lang talaga gago si Andreas, sana'y nasaamin pa ang Macbook at hindi kami nahhirapan ng ganito.

"A-anong gagawin natin dito? Hindi pwedeng maghintay tayo sa wala! Ayokong magpalipas ng oras dito. N-nasa 16th floor ang recreational area. May mga pagkain din doon. K-kailangan natin makababa!" Natatarantang usal ni Thrina. Hindi na mapakali ang babae na halos nakalimutan nang ayusin ang mga nahuig na buhok sa mukha.

Maddie gasped out of nowhere. May nahagilap ito sa ilalim ng malaking conference table kung saan kami nakapalibot. Isang piraso ng nilukot na bond paper.

In italics, a series of the sentence was written:

Inside the vase behind found in this room, you will find three colored golf balls: red, yellow, and blue. Pick one color of your choice.

In the production area, a roulette is set up for this game. A ball will be dropped onto a revolving wheel with colored compartments. The color in which the mother ball comes to rest will be eliminated. Let's play!