Murder Island

Prologue

My gosh. I do not know how this story will turn out to be in the future. Don't judge, I'm still learning. I believe that through perseverance, I will improve. This is my first time to write a mystery/thriller genre... maybe. But anyway, I hope you'll like it.

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Summer is coming soon, Mrs. Devon of the history class divided her students for the last requirement her students will do. Two groups and it consists of ten members.

“Your last requirement is research. On first group, please stand up and say up when you hear your name.” Panimula ni Mrs. Devon at sinuot ang eyeglass niya.

“Shannon Lamonte?”

“Up, Mrs. Devon.” She confidently responds.

“Nevada Holland?”

She stands up and just raise her hand.

“Andrea Guenudin?”

“UP!” she responds happily at inayos ang kanyang salamin.

“Rebecca Balmonte?”

“U-up, Ma’am.” She responds in tension.

“Gaytra Khan?”

“Up.” She responds lazily.

“Annabeth Sanduela?”

“Here… I mean, up.” She replied shyly.

“Kaylee Johnson?”

“What up, boo!” she responds flippantly.

Some students snicker, napailing naman si Mrs. Devon at nagpatuloy nalang.

“Zal Ree Prion?”

“Up, Mrs. D.” she responds playfully.

“Tricia Delos Santos?”

“Up, Ma’am.” She responds formally.

“Madison Jeong?”

“Up.” She responds coldy.

“And lastly, Sydney Martin?”

No one respond at the call of Sydney’s name. Napaangat ng tingin tuloy si Mrs. Devon.

“Sydney? Is Sydney here?” tawag niya.

“Ma’am, she fell asleep.” Another student replied.

Mrs. Devon looked at her chair at tama nga ang kaklase niya dahil ito ay tulog.

“Remove her sunglasses and wake her up.” The teacher said critically.

Tinanggal ng seatmate ni Sydney ang kanyang sunglasses at nakitang tulog talaga si Sydney. Marahang niyugyog ng seatmate niya siya.

“A-ano?” Sydney asked sleepily.

“Si Ma’am.” Bulong ng seatmate niyang si Jasmine.

Naalimpungutan si Sydney sa narinig at nakitang lahat ng kaklase niya ay nakatingin sakanya na para bang entertainment siya sakanila pero nang tingnan ang guro sa harap ay halos masamid siya sa kanyang sariling laway.

“Who told you to sleep in the class, Miss Martin?” Mrs. Devon asked in annoyance and crossed her arms.

“I’m sorry, Ma’am, hindi ko po namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako. Sorry, I won’t do it again.” Aniya at yumuko dahil sa kahihiyang natamo.

“You should be. Anyway, stand up.”
Sydney obliged her and sat up, kuryoso pa siya sa nangyayari.

“Miss Martin, lahat nang nakikitang mong nakatayo ay mga kagrupo mo sa gagawin niyong research this coming weekend.” Paliwanag ng guro at may sinulat sakanyang dalang papel.

Nagkatinginan ang magkakagrupo.
Habang nakatayo ay ipinaliwanag na sa kanila ni Mrs. Devon ang kakailanganin nilang gawin.

“You will be sent to Mundovus Island. Now this is not some ordinary research, kayo na mismo ang pupunta doon,” she paused for a while at sinuri isa-isa ang mga estudyanteng nakatayo at nang nakitang magsasalita na sana si Andrea Guenudin kaya inunahan na niya ito. “Don’t worry, the permission letter has been sent to your parents individually last night, confirmation lang ang hinihintay. It’s Monday and we still have time to wait for their confirmation.” She added at tiningnan ulit ang mga estudyanteng nakatayo.

“Wow! Sana all may pupuntahan. Saan po naman kaming mga naiwan?” hirit ng isang estudyanteng sa kabilang grupo.

“Mamaya na kayo,” Mrs. Devon replied harshly atsaka tumingin ulit sa papel na hawak-hawak niya. “So what you’re going to do is know the history of the island, kailan ito nadiskubre, ano bang magandang gawain o aktibidad kapag nandoon, malinis ba ang tubig, artificial ba ang sand doon at kung  pasok ba ito sa tourist spots kung sakali. Make a nice and clear essay about it. Your stay in there is three days and two nights. Did you understand?”

Nagsitanguan ang mga estudyanteng kabilang sa pupuntang Mundovus Island.
“Any clarification?” she asks and tiningnan isa-isa ang mga estudyante at nakitang nagtaas ng kamay si Kaylee Johnson, tinanguan siya ni Mrs. Devon.

“Kung island lang naman, Ma’am, ba’t hindi nalang namin i-search sa internet instead of going in there, I mean, with all due respect, isn’t it too much?” ani Kaylee sa sarkastikong tono.

“I understand your concern, Miss Johnson. Although, Mundovus Island is a private property island owned by one of the tycoons in the country.  You can’t search it up on internet.” Sagot nito sa kanyang estudyanteng ngumiwi nang marinig ang sinabi nito.

“Isn’t it a bit risky? What if may mangyaring hindi mabuti?” Ani Tricia Delos Santos sa concerned na tono. Napabuntong hininga ang guro nila sa mga tanong ng kanyang estudyante.

“Hindi ko naman kayo ipapadala doon kung hindi safe. A friend of mine suggested it and he is related to the owner of the island kaya no worries. I also asked permission to the school, napag-debatehan iyon but they agreed eventually. Though I am not chaperoning you, there will be a tour guides, who happened to be the island’s caretaker. Apat sila.” she explained further.

There’s a few exchanging of opinions in class about going to Mundovus Island. Mrs. Devon is starting to get impatient and she can just fail her students but she knew that it’s not a better idea. Mayroon naman siyang ibang ideya para sa mga ito pero sa tingin niya, mas mainam ang gagawin niya dito sa mga estduyante niya dahil mas magiging malawak ang experience ng mga bata, and they will bring this experience to the grave.

Some of the members in group one is concerned about the trip, the rest is fine with it; excited even.

“I don’t trust this idea. Tama ka, Tricia, this is a bit risky.” Ani Rebecca nang nagtapos na ang klase sa araw na iyon. The eleven members of the group one is walking on the wide soccer field of Nueba de Colegio habang pinag-uusapan ang magaganap sa weekend.

“You can just drop it Rebecca. Don’t make it a big deal,” Zal said out of nowhere. Napabaling ang iilan sakanila sakanya.

The group of people is not really close with each other, in other words, they secretly disliking each other. Annabeth, Shannon and Tricia are an exception. The three of them are best friends.

Rebecca secretly glared at her.

“It might be true, Zal. Who knows? But this is our last requirement and this also serves as our fourth quarter examination in History, isama mo na rin ang Filipino subject. If we go and make a nice essay about our experience…then we can be freed from studying. You guys magtulong-tulong tayo for our grades.” Seryosong wika ni Andrea habang naglalakad ng patalikod at nakaharap sa mga kagrupo.
Gaytra just sigh and hindi na nagsalita pa, ganoon din ang iba at nagsitanguan na.
Little did they know… there’s a mystery waiting for them.