How To Make A Serial Killer

| o9 : Among us |

----- CHAPTER o9 -----

Nanlamig ang buong katawan ko habang pinagmamasdan ang litrato ni Levi na nakapaskil sa bulletin board. Nakasulat sa ibabaw nito ang salitang MISSING.

Tatlong araw na ang lumipas mula nang masunog ang barn pero wala pa ring nakakakita sa kanya, o kahit sa mga labi lamang niya. Hanggang ngayon, isang misteryo pa rin sa lahat kung nasaan siya.

"Do you think he's dead?"

I shifted my gaze to my right and looked up, only to see Herb. Gaya ng dati, suot niya pa rin ang makapal na salamin at sa pagkakataong ito'y isang kamay lamang ang gamit niya para yakapin ang nagkakapalang mga libro, palibhasa ay naka-cast ang kaliwa niyang braso.

"I certainly hope not," sabi ko at ibinalik ang tingin sa maaliwalas na ngiti ni Levi. I feel bad for him. Levi seemed to be such a chill and easy-going guy. I want to believe that nothing bad happened to him, but I'd only be fooling myself.

"How could they leave him behind like that . . ."

I sensed bitterness and regret in Herb's voice.

"They didn't have a choice." Napabuntonghininga na lamang ako.

I don't approve of their choices, but I understand why the group did what they did. Nang masunog ang barn, hindi na nila kinaya pang pasukin ito upang saklolohan si Levi kaya tumawag na sila ng bumbero. Most of the group went home in haste while Zambro and Kenzo stayed, using the ploy of being passing motorists as an excuse for being there and being able to report the incident.

They lied about being there, but still, they informed the emergency responders that someone was inside the barn. I guess that's enough considering the circumstances.

"Kung wala siya sa loob ng barn na iyon, bakit hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin siya nagpapakita?" tanong pa ni Herb.

I shrugged. "I have no idea."

I kept thinking of scenarios on what could've happened to Levi but none seemed to make sense. Best case scenario, Levi ran away and used the fire as an opportunity to disappear. Worst case scenario, either he perished in the fire or was abducted.

"Ano na nga palang balita sa project? Anong aksyon ang gagawin ni Andros?" tanong ko, walang kamalay-malay sa mga nangyayari mula nang ma-discharge ako sa ospital. As punishment for sneaking out at night that resulted in my injury, Tito grounded me — thereby, revoking my access to the Internet and TV. Wala rin akong paraan para ma-contact ang iba lalo't wala pa rin sa akin ang cellphone ko.

Herb heaved a great sigh. "Andros wants all of us to lay low. Wala siyang ibang sinabi bukod sa siya na ang bahala sa lahat."

"Siya na ang bahala sa lahat?" I chuckled bitterly. "Fuck that. I'm going to get to the bottom of this."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" tanong ni Herb pero hindi ako kumibo at nanatili lamang na nakatitig sa nakangiting mukha ni Levi.

"The hell you looking at here, nerds?"

I rolled my eyes and shifted my gaze to my left. Maangas ang ngisi at tindig ni Donovan at mag-isa lang siya sa pagkakataong ito. His slick back hair and leather jacket just scream asshole to me, or maybe that's just because I already know he is one.

Ngayon ko lang napansin ang kulay silver na piercing sa dulo ng kaliwa niyang kilay at labi, siguro ay dahil ito ang unang beses na nakita ko siya habang tirik pa ang araw.

"Nice piercing," puna ko kahit pa medyo gago siya.

Nakunot ang noo niya dahil sa sinabi ko. He probably wasn't expecting me to say that. Well, to be fair, I wasn't expecting him to have cool piercing too.