30 Doors

8th Door

Your greatest awakening comes, when you are aware about your infinite nature.

-Amit Ray

***

Simond was an easy kill. He's an excess. A failure to this test. He never excelled nor showed any promising talent --just his violence.  

Hindi rin niya nadiskubreng ang mga sikreto sa bawat pangyayari. Which means he was not observant enough, a thing a spy should have.

People like us spend eighty percent of their time observing people and instances. We silently investigate without being noticed. We keep vital information and protect them with our life.

Those who were showing Sherlock Holmes genes from the 30th down here and were able to keep them before the discovery of the suspect was on the final list. Vlad almost failed the test, luckily, Satana saved him from getting killed by revealing her identity. Our identity.

Tahimik akong nagmasid sa kisame. I crawled carefully on the plenum where ventilation, air filters, and water sprinkler tubes were installed. I smelt the dust circulating around even with a mask. I had limited breathing habang nakatanaw sa maliliit na espasyo mula sa air filter.

Tahimik namang kumakain sa pinagdugtu-dugtong na lamesa sina Vlad, Andreas, Natas, Mina, Zyril, Bella, Rielle at Ryanne.

Ang 8th floor ay ang food and beverage area ng MOS Tower. Iba't ibang concesionares ang nakahilera paikot sa buong 8th floor habang maayos namang nakapwesto ang mga lamesa at upuan sa gitna kung saan madalas kumakain ang mga empleyado ng MOS Tower.

Dito kami madalas magkita-kita nina Satana, Maddie at Mildred. Kumakain kami sa magkakaiba ngunit magkakatabing lamesa habang kunwari'y naglilinis si Mildred. Dito namin plinano ang lahat.

Ngayon, ako na lang ang natira. Ako na lang ang mag-isang nagsasagawa ng lahat ng mga pinagplanuhan ng Infinite.

"Vlad, i-if I don't make it to the ground, please make sure Rissel and Monique are fine. F-for me please?" Dinig kong sumamo ng tila walang gana sa pagkain na si Ryanne. Malungkot ang kulay abo nitong mata na halos tabingan na ng magulo niyang buhok.

Ngumiti ng tipid si Vlad. Ngiting hindi rin umabot hanggang sa mga mata nito. "You will live Ryanne."

"Yes, you will." Bella seconded habang hinahalo-halo nito ang lemonade sa baso. She looked like she's ready to be one of us.

"But if something happens, you have my promise to keep you at ease," Vlad uttered. Lumagok ito ng isang baso ng juice saka ikinalat ang tingin sa paligid. Marahil ay tahimik na naman nitong inaalisa ang bawat kilos ng mga empleyadong naroon.

"If Vlad can't keep his promise, Ryanne, you have me to look over your daughters." Seryosong tugon ni Minalyn. Tumitig ito sa pizza at sandwich na nasa plato.

"I-if Mina survives this, she will look after our families." May laman naman ang mungkahi ni Rielle. There was a tone of sadness as well as uncertainty. Nagkunwari itong takam na takam sa kinakaing sandwich.

"What about you Andreas? Wala kang balak mabuhay or wala kang balak sa mga maiiwan mo just in case?" Biglang singit naman ni Natas na tapos na sa pagkain. Walang bakas ng takot o pangamba sa mukha nito.

I wonder why the Infinite wanted him spared and alive. Bukod sa alam nito ang mga sikretong lagusan, wala na itong ipinakitang kakayahan para maging kasapi ng mafia. He wasn't even one of those who contributed to Karen's death.

Bakit siya kasali sa listahan ng Infinite? He should be an excess --in my honest and intelligent opinion.

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko nang sumagot si Andreas. Pagak ang tawa nito bago nagsalita. "I got nothing or no one to live for." Sumilay ang malungkot na ngiti sa labi nito saka napatingin ay Minalyn. He meant something with such gaze. "I should be dead before any of you."