The Lady in Shining Armor: Monte Carlo High

XLIV. Espada

Paumanhin sa late at maikling update na ito! I'm suffering from a dreadful writer's block at kahapon pa ako naka-nganga sa harap ng PC para mag-update, pero wala! huhuhu! So pag-pasensyahan niyo na ang nakayanan ko ngayong week na ito. Sana magustuhan niyo ang Halloween Special chapter na ito! Ano na ang inyong mga #Theory?

Dedicated pala ito kay VanVoyager! He'll do a book review on our beloved TLISA! Kung gusto niyo din magpa-review, just click on the external link on the side para makapag-request!

This chapter's soundtrack is Nobody's Home by Avril Lavigne. Enjoy reading! :)

***Dawn's POV***

"Pareho lang po ba ito, Inspector?" Nagbuntong-hininga siya at sumandal sa pintuan ng kotse niya.

"Ninety percent. Lahat pareho ng paraan ng pagkamatay, pero wala pa ring malinaw na dahilan ng pag-patay, kaya ayaw naming mag-conclude."

"'Yung nangyari nung Games, may nakita ba kayo? Sa CCTVs? Sa recordings dun sa Principal's Office?"

"The CCTVs were not working."

"What?! Bagong install lang ang mga iyon nung nag-open ang school year, paano mangyayari na lahat sila hindi gumagana?"

"Okay. They were working perfectly fine, Dawn. As you've said, bago lahat ng naka-install na CCTVs sa buong Monte Carlo High School. They were all working until the final six students' names were called. Hanggang doon lang ang nakuhang footages ng lahat ng cameras sa buong campus."

"Are you saying they were all jammed after the lights went out?"

"Exactly."

"Sino sila? Paano sila naka-pasok sa campus?" I felt my body shook nang ma-realize kong kaya nilang maglabas-pasok dito sa Monte Carlo. And I always thought I was safe here.

"I think you know the answer to your first question. Or at least an idea about it." She looked straight into my eyes as if she's waiting for me to tell her everything. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at yumuko. Dapat yata sabihin ko na lahat sa kanya lahat ng nalalaman ko.

"Uhm. Pwede po ba tayong maupo?"

"Of course." She opened her car's door and I got in.

Pagka-upo ko sa passenger's seat ng kotse niya, inilabas ko ang case notebook ko at iniabot sa kanya ang mga red notes.

"What are these?"

"Those red notes were sent to all of the victims before they died. Both in Sisters of Mary and here in Monte Carlo." Nakita kong binaliktad niya isa-isa ang mga red notes at nakita ang mga isinulat kong pangalan sa mga ito.

"You got one, too?" She looked at me with confusion on her face.

"I got that before I left for the States."

"At paano mo naman nakuha ang sa iba?" Tumaas ang kilay niya at nag-alangan pa akong sumagot sa tanong niya.

"I sneaked out and went to Sisters of Mary. I got them from their lockers. And for the one here in Monte Carlo, nakita ko lang 'yan sa basurahan sa kwarto nila."

"You said they got these red notes before they died. Theory mo lang ba 'yun?"

"Theory lang. Lahat sila meron nito, lahat sila patay na. Ito lang ang nakikita kong link sa kanilang lahat. And the message said it-- Be ready to face Death."

"Except that you're still alive." Napalingon ako sa kanya bigla at nagbago ang itsura niya. She's on detective mode again.

"Are you...thinking that...I did it? Are you suspecting me, Inspector?"