The Stray Kids of Edogawa Rampo

Case 2.3: Logo

CASE 2.3 LOGO
H I R O Asahina
December 16, 6:49 pm.
MOA grounds. ONE LOVE MANILA concert.

“LEAD CIVILIANS OUT OF THE GROUNDS,” June immediately
ordered via the earpiece. “Hurry!”

‘Di ko alam kung anong nangyayari pero bigla nalang kumabog ang
dibdib ko. Pakiramdam ko naging instant jelly ace ang tuhod ko.

“AH, fuck it!” I screamed through gritted teeth. Mabilis akong
tumakbo papunta sa direksyon nila Zen at mabilis na naghila ng
mga tao palabas ng grounds. Oo, nanghila. Masyado nang
natataranta ang mga tao para makaintindi pa kung saan dapat
pumunta.

Smoke is engulfing the whole venue. Damn it. He’s really steps
ahead of us. He probably saw Twelve realising his plan that’s way
this happened. Maraming tear gas ang sabay sabay na sumabog sa
kung saan-saang direksyon, as if it were scattered before the
concert even started. And of course, as expected, the crowd
panicked.

Pinagpatuloy namin ang pagpapalabas sa mga tao bago pa may
mangyaring disgrasya. It’s dangerous since even us can’t see
through the smoke, it stings the eye and who knows what he could
do with this ruckus as his advantage.

“Move the barricades!” Sigaw ni Zen at mabilis akong tumakbo
papunta sa mga harang. I pushed it providing wider exit for the
civilians. Ganoon rin ang ginawa ng iba at nagbukas ng malaking
daanan.

Fuck. It makes me feel like all our preparations are for nothing.
Nakalusot pa din siya sa amin. Tear gas? We’re not expecting that,
of course! We’ve been arguing whether this bomb threat is a hoax or
not but damn, it’s both.

“Putangina!” Lance pulled his hair in frustration. “Habang busy
tayo sa pagpapalabas ng mga tao, malamang tumatakas na ‘yung
may pakana nito!”

I bit my lip in annoyance and glanced at Twelve. He’s focused on
rescuing the crowd but at the same time, I know he has the same
thought as Lance’s. Lahat kami gigil sa paghuli sa kung sino mang
Edgar Allan Poe na ‘to.

I shook my head and diverted my attention. I can’t let these feelings
drive me out of my concentration. Kailangan namin iligtas ang mga
sibilyan. I was at that kind of thought when my headset rang and
produced a static. I pressed it, I saw Lance and the others do the
same.

“GET YOUR GODDAMN ASSES OUT OF THERE AND CHASE THE
CULPRIT! The SWAT and PNP will be at your posts. There’s an
unusual footage of a man in all black near the stage, sa may smoke
screen kung saan sumabog ang tear gas. UMALIS NA KAYO D’YAN
BAGO PA SIYA MAKATAKAS.”

I felt my muscles firing up. Finally, we have a lead. ‘Di na nagaksaya ng panahon si Twelve at umalis na sa pwesto. We followed
him as we struggled our way to the stage. Counterflowing is tough
since everyone is panicking and I can feel my body getting bruised
every time I get bumped, but I ignored that. Kailangan naming
mahuli ang kung sino man ‘yon.

And just when we’re about to reach the stage, Zen ankle-braked
and turned on his side. Napahinto rin si Twelve kaya ang ending
nagkauntugan kaming lahat. “Peste, kung naiinggit kayo sa ilong
ko sabihin niyo!” I screeched as I reached out for my nose.

Zen glanced at Twelve who’s currently stoned, “Twelve, did you see
that?!”

Twelve gritted his teeth and ran south once again, “Crystal clear.”

“See what?!” tanong ni Lance at nagsimula kaming sumunod kay
Twelve.

“I saw a black figure in my peripheral vision. He’s running away.
Sinundan ko siya ng tingin and confirmed that he’s the culprit,”
Zen said between his panting. “He was running outside the
barricades, which means he wasn’t one of the audiences. A staff or
one of the vendors maybe.”