The Stray Kids of Edogawa Rampo

Monsters

Monsters

Z E N Wysteria-Gomez
December 18, 11:48 PM.
Spencer's Place.

"Bitch, what?" I said, struggling. My mind can't simply register what he said and even if it can, it denies to accept it. Spencer sighed through his nose, as if he's lengthening his patience for us.

"You idiots, what the hell are you doing? Are you really working with the police?" he lifted his brows at us.

Lance sighed, "Nagdududa na rin kami."

"Demolished? Five years ago?" June asked him with a creased forehead. It must've been stressing for him. "Bakit?"

"Bakit giniba o bakit 'di niyo alam?" Spencer asked teasingly.

"Both," Twelve answered.

"PCH had a really old building in the past. It was used to treat Japanese war soldiers last World War II. An order of demolishment was passed due to its unsteady physique and the building itself was beyond repair. The hospital was soon transferred in Pasig as The Children's Hospital last 2016," he explained to us. "At kung bakit 'di niyo alam ang tungkol d'yan, I don't know."

"We must've been really absorbed with the agency that we don't have time to stick our nose to anything not our business," Hiro murmured. Wala siyang nagawa kundi maupo nalang sa sahig dahil sa sobrang lumo. Even I felt drained. "Paano na? How can we investigate that place?"

"Your problem, not mine. I'm just an information broker not some kind of messiah straight out of the Bible." He said with a shrug. He pulled out his Nintendo Switch from his drawer and started to play with it. "Though as far as I know, the place wasn't completely demolished yet."

Napakunot kaming lahat ng noo. "What? You said it was five years ago."

"Let me correct myself, a demolishment request was filed five years ago. Nasimulan 'yon pero hindi natapos. Basically, the building is in ruins right now, but who knows? Maybe you can find something," he said informing us. "You know? May ginto sa basura kind of thing."

We've been silent after what he said. Spencer stayed focus on his game after that as the five of us began to be immersed in our thoughts. I don't know what exactly are they thinking, I'm very confused as well. Pakiramdam ko merong bagay na gustong ipakita sa amin ni Edgar Allan Poe, kung sino man siyang hayop siya, kaya niya kami pinapapunta doon. Or maybe it's a trap? Is he trying to lure us in?

"Whoever this Edgar Allan Poe is, I swear," Twelve said out of nowhere, nakatingin lang siya sa malayo at para bang malalim ang iniisip. "Babayagan ko siya 'pag nagkita kami."

I grimaced automatically, "Harsh."

June sighed and stood up, "Whatever it is, we'll do an investigation based on what we have right now. We can't afford to slack when everything is pointing us to that one place."

"So, pupuntahan natin 'yung lumang PCH?" tanong ni Hiro, "Makakapasok ba tayo? Hindi ba natin kakailanganin ng warrant para makapasok?"

Twelve rolled his eyes, "Mukha bang may magbibigay sa atin ng warrant eh ginawa nating chief 'yung bunso natin."

"Hoy, I've done so much for a 16 year-old compared to you."

Spencer snickered, eyes still focused on his game, "Look how fucked up our national security system here in the Philippines. Making a club for kids as police entities?"

"Siguro kung normal kaming mga bata, it really would be a joke. Apparently we're not though." Lance said sarcastically, then he grinned at Spencer. "You should know better for a teenage information broker."