The Stray Kids of Edogawa Rampo

Zonrox

ZONROX

"Poisons..?"

L A N C E Useda

December 8, 7:18 pm.

Oedipus Private SUV

After the crime was settled, Chief Walrus gave us a thumbs up and fed our ego with complements. Carlos Bernardo was given first aid before being reported to the nearest precinct because of the wound he got from Twelve. Ang gago, walang awa. Talagang 'yung kanto ng picture frame ang sinapul sa noo ni Bernardo. I just rolled my eyes at the thought. Still, that sums up the events for this day. Case closed.

But there's one thing I don't understand here.

"That was boring!" Mia groaned on the passenger's seat. For the record, ako na ang nagda-drive at lubos 'yong kinanalulugod ng mga kaluluwa namin ni Zen at Twelve.

"Boring?" I heard Zen asked from the back. Oh, of course he doesn't have any idea.

"Yes, boring. Nakakabagot. Pwede akong mangulangot habang nagka-crumping and it'll make no difference," Twelve grumbled on his seat. He have the same frown plastered on Mia's face.

Zen just raised a brow. I sighed and fixated my eyes on the road, "You're new to do this so I can't blame you. Katulad ng alam mo, hindi basta basta naglalapag ng kaso si Cheif para sa third eye not unless it requires--" I struggled to find the perfect words to say. "--you know, superhuman powers?"

He jerked his head forward, "I noticed that things escalated too quickly. You're right, ngayon ko lang naalala," he said and glanced outside the window. Bumalik ako sa pagmamaneho, "Special cases for the special people,"

"Para namang sinasabi mong abnormal kami,"

"Sigurado ba kayong hindi?"

Mia's lips twitched, "That's a good question," she commented and shifted on her seat. She cleared her throat, "Going back to the topic, siguro dumiretso muna tayo sa HQ. Let's have Chief explain this himself."

"Tama, para makilala niya na rin si Zen." sumulyap ako sa kanya mula sa rear mirror, he's still glancing outside the window... eyes wide and face filled with horror.

"Zen--"

"LANCE. Step on the gas," his voice screams urgency. Di na ako nagtanong at ginawa ko nalang ang sinabi niya.

"What's happening?" Mia glanced at me.

"I saw them," Twelve maintained his cool on the back seat. "Zen's admirers. All in casual suit and armed. Mukhang hinahanap nila si Zen mula sa direksyon ng bahay ni Mr Perez,"

I gritted my teeth, "I knew it," May nakakita sakanya.

"Wait, what the fuck is happening?" Mia screeched. "You know, first time kong ma-experience ang pagiging walang alam sa mga nangyayari and I'm not liking it."

"Those people are sent by Zen's relatives," I answered as I drove as fast as I could, turning on every street I see just in case that someone is tailing us. "Gusto nilang kunin si Zen"

"Eek," she grimaced. "Kasi nga patay na siya 'di ba?"

Tumango nalang ako at di na siya sinagot. There's more to that, Mia. Di ko lang pwedeng sabihin sayo. I think Twelve wants to keep that information exclusive for our circle only. Dahil kung hindi, malamang siya na mismo ang nagsabi 'nun sa mga kasamahan namin.

"Lance, go straight to the HQ," Utos ni Twelve. Seryoso siya. Pagdating sa kaligtasan ni Zen, talagang di niya makuhang magbiro.

"What if they're tailing us?" Zen asked, sort of alarmed. Twelve shook his head.