PRISONER'S BASE: RAVEN CONSPIRACY

Chapter IV: Setup

            ZEENA SANDERS

“This once-sleepy city is under the spell of evil. In the space of two short months thirteen people have been brutally murdered, their bodies bathed with blood and dumped in various public places. All are high-profiled individuals. The siege started when Sofia Palma, a reporter, discovered the Raven Conspiracy. Senator Pascal, the first known member of Raven, died before the pre-trial of his case. And the killings didn’t stop since then. The last victim is the Director of National Forces,  Mr. Nepomuceno. What if many more have vanished into the shadows of the night and their lifeless bodies decomposing in the lonely dark? Who is the head of everything? Are we still safe?. . .”

Pinatay ko ang TV bago ko pa marinig ang ibang karumal-dumal na nangyayari. Tumayo ako at inayos ang aking higaan. I looked at the clock, it’s still five in the morning.

Mabilis kong kinuha ang jacket na nakasabit sa pinto at isinuot. Kahit naka-pajama ako, ramdam ko pa rin ang lamig paglabas ko. Sobrang tahimik ng paligid, ibang-iba sa lugar na lagi kong nakikita.

I wanted to work and continue what I had started upon waking up from a deep sleep, but my father didn’t allow me. Limang araw akong tulog dahil sa poison na nainom ko. Pagkagising ko, si Dad agad ang bumungad sa akin. He’s mad. Nang maaari na akong lumabas, hindi niya ako pinayagan na bumalik sa trabaho. He wanted me to rest and recover. He even wanted me to find another job. I almost laughed at him.

“Zee, if you wanted to stay, hindi kita pipigilan. But you have to stop investigating that damn case. Because seeking justice for those who are involve in Raven is a dead end. Believe me, you can’t win this.”

“Do you know something about it?”

“Princess, just rest. I’ll give you a week.”

“Running away doesn't make me feel proud, Dad. And it'll ruin my principle.”

“For me, your life comes first. The police can do no more now, Princess. We've just got to wait for this to blow over, like it did before in St. Vitus University. When it does, you'll return. In the mean time, I think anyone who stays is crazy. You’re not crazy, Zee.”

“I’ll rest, but I am not stopping just what you ask me to do ten years ago. Ilang beses na akong tumakbo. Ginawa ko lahat ng gusto ninyo, ang lumayo sa mga kaibigan ko noon sa St. Vitus. I accepted and endured the pain of letting my friends battle on their own. I left them. And now, I wouldn’t do that again.”

And now, I’m here in Carabba City. Dinala niya ako rito para mag-isip. Tatlong araw na puro tulog at paglalaro ng mind games ang ginagawa ko. Dahil kahit ano pa siguro ang sabihin ng aking ama, I will always go back to the work I love. This is me, I won’t back down. I will rest, fine. But I will always go back to where I belong.

I deeply sighed. I allow the cold winds to embrace my skin. I love the peacefulness of this place. After I graduated from college, my father brought me to this place. He owned it. He built the cabin two years ago. This is the only building in this place. The next establishment maybe more or less one kilometer from where I am.

Maglalakad na sana akong muli papunta sa mga pine trees nang tumunog ang phone ko. I immediately answered it.

“Sanders speaking.”

“Hey.” It’s Limuel. Why is he using a different number?

“Chief Inspector Limuel Sarmiento, what can I do for you?”

He laughed. “That was too much formality there, Detective Sanders.”

“What happened?” I asked immediately. Sigurado akong kinausap na siya ni Dad na huwag akong istorbohin. Hindi niya ito sinunod kaya alam kong may nangyaring iba.