PRISONER'S BASE: RAVEN CONSPIRACY

Chapter I: The Clock Strikes Again

Six years has passed after Zeena and her friends ended the killings and villainy in St. Vitus University. Six years has passed after they break-off the pernicious game called Prisoner's Base. They turned into different people. But the scars Professor Audra has left behind is still taunting them...still in them.

                  ZEENA SANDERS

Six years has passed since I saw them.  Everything has changed after we have separated ways. The day when Professor Audra a.k.a Prisoner's Base Head died, it's the day our communication was cut off. We separated ways and studied in different schools. I wanted to know where are they but I refused.

After graduation, I entered in Philippine National Police. After passing the written test and completed my requirements of being a police officer, I took the examination of becoming a homicide detective. And fortunately, I passed.

"I didn't know that you'll be that harsh. You almost choke to death because you triggered the suspect. Nagsinungaling ka pa para makuha ang gusto mo," Limuel commented as we walk outside the interrogation room.

Napangisi ako. Umupo ako agad nang makarating ako sa sarili kong mesa. "Remember this, detectives may lie, mislead, and psychologically pressure a suspect into an admission or confession as long as they do this within procedural boundaries and without threat of violence or promises outside their control. Kung paiiralin mo ang awa, hinding-hindi ka tatagal sa trabahong 'to."

He didn't reply back. "Anyway, can I have the background information of our next case about the victim and even the finger print record of the suspect?"

Tumango si Limuel, isa sa dati kong kasama sa pulisya. Ibinigay niya sa akin ang folder na naglalaman ng mga kailangan kong dokumento. I scanned it briefly. Sandali akong naitriga nang makita ko ang mukha ng suspek.

I smiled. This is what I'm waiting for.

"You shouldn't accepted the case in the first place. Bago pa lang tayo rito pero 'yan na agad ang ibinigay sayo." I gaze at Limuel, he's looking at me intently. "That is beyond your capabilities. Mahirap hawakan ang isang kaso kung ang kalaban mo ay mismong invisible horn ng gobyerno."

I bit my lower lip. Kung tutuusin, hindi ko nga dapat ito tinanggap dahil ilang taon na rin naming iniimbestigahan ang invisible horn na sinasabi nila. Namatay na rin ang iba pang mga kasamahan namin na nangunguna sa pagtuklas ng katotohanan sa RC. Tinatawag itong Raven Conspiracy(RC) dahil halos lahat ng nakukuha naming suspek ay may simbolo sa dibdib. Raven– their tattoo symbol, is a bird that has shiny black feathers and looks like a crow but is larger.

"Hindi ako titigil hangga't hindi ko napuputol ang ugat ng RC na 'yan. Ang tagal na simula nang gusto kong mahawakan ang kasong 'to." Tumayo ako sa kinauupuan ko at itiniklop ang folder. "Nagkalat na sila sa lipunan at sigurado ako, dadami pa ang mga miyembro nila. As much as possible, we need to dig deeper even if it's dangerous."

Limuel sighed in defeat. "Well, I can help you."

I chuckled. "You'll just ruin everything."

Napasimangot siya kaya lalo akong natawa. "You're still rude."

"I'm not rude," I said. "I just wasn't taught to politely pretend to be nice to people I can't stand."

Naglakad ako papunta sa mga drawer kung saan nakalagay ang latest file na may kaugnay sa drug sindicate na kinasasangkutan ng isa sa miyembro ng RC.

"Why can't you stand being with me? Dahil ba sa sinabi kong gusto kita?" Hindi pa rin ito tumigil sa pakikipag-usap, at talagang hinalungkat pa ang pag-amin niya.