Glory and Gore (Completed)

Chapter 47

ACT 47: Third Round (Part 2)

BLAIR

91 STUDENTS REMAINING...

Apparently, every single thing that we touch will open the next exhaust fan until the library becomes freezing. Coldness licked at my face every time I moved and it crept under my clothes, spreading across my skin like frigid waves.

20m 06s—iyon ang nakalagay sa timer sa itaas ng elevator. That's the remaining time we have, to solve the riddle— You'll go down in history. Lumipas ang madaming minuto at hindi namin nagawang makahanap ng kahit isang clue kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng mga salitang 'yan. I was slowly losing hope. Pero patuloy pa rin kami sa pagtingin sa mga title ng mga libro.

Somehow, the only thing we found was that all the books were related to ice, north, cold and winds. Ayon kay Cynthia, ano ang similaridad ng mga title ng libro? Christmas. They all seemed to be about Christmas. Pero hindi pa rin namin magawang i-connect ang Christmas sa litanyang You'll go down in history.

Frustrated na kaming lahat, ramdam ko sa atmospera ng paligid. Cynthia was still walking on each isle of shelves, checking the book titles for the nth time. Astrid told us not to move a single thing anymore. Mabilis na lumamig ang temperatura dito sa loob ng library. Every time we utter a word, a white smoke comes out of our mouth, indication that the library is gradually turning into a huge freezer. Ganoon na kalamig dito sa loob.

I tried lighting up the candles when I found a single match on top of the reception desk. But it was useless. Mabilis ang pagbaba ng temperatura dahil sa malamig na hanging binubuga ng dalawang malaking exhaust fan sa kisame.

Salit-salitan ang mga salitang pinagko-combine namin sa lock. We've already tried, mrclaus, santacl, staclau and other literary names we know of that consists of seven letters. Pero wala pa rin. The small door remained locked.

I heard Astrid screamed in frustration from the second floor. Ilang minuto na siya naroon.

Pinagkuskos ko ang palad ko sa taas ng kandila. I tried looking under the tables, chairs to see if there were any hidden clues. I already checked the vases, each of flowers but not touching anything. I've also tried checking each of the candles. Pero wala pa rin.

I was staring at the small fire from the candle when my eyes found a paper, just under the vase, almost concealed from view. Hindi ko siguro 'yon napansin kanina. Linapitan ko iyon at maingat na tinanggal ang maliit na piraso ng papel sa ilalim ng vase. Sa palagay ko ay Quill Ink ang ginamit na pangsulat doon. The paper looked old, there were brown stains on the corners of it. Nakasulat ang salitang "rain" sa piraso ng papel. Napakunot ang noo ko.

"Rain," I mumbled, reading the word again.

Narinig ko ang papalapit na yabag. Pag lingon ko, si Cynthia 'yon. She's holding a piece of paper, too. Ganoon din ang texture niyon nang iabot niya sa 'kin ang piraso ng papel.

"Dear," she said, pertaining to the piece of paper. "'Yan ang nakasulat d'yan sa papel. I can't understand what the hell it means. Nakita ko lang 'yan na nakaipit sa isa sa mga libro. Clue 'yan, right?"

Dahan-dahan akong tumango sa kanya. "Yeah, this might be a clue. May nakita rin ako sa ilalim ng vase, same piece of paper but different word."

I handed her the piece of paper I found. "Rain," she whispered, looking at the paper. Kinuha niya rin ang papel na ibinigay niya sa 'kin. "Rain dear."