CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, Mr. Officer (On-going)

I

                                                                                 Isabella De Guzmano

"Isabella!"

An eleven-year-old girl looks at her back when someone called her.

"Bakit Ysa?" tanong niya sa kaedad na siyang tumawag sa kanya.

Ysa crosses her arms. "I heard you want to go outside? Come on, sasamahan kita."

Isabella looks everywhere, trying to find someone older that listens to them. When no one listening to their conversation, she inches the gap to Ysa.

"Alam mong bawal na lumabas tayong magkasama Ysa." Her voice was slow, afraid someone heard their conversation.

Ysa genuinely smile, she has an innocent face that no one can resist. "Please, Isabella. Gusto ko rin lumabas kasama ka."

Isabella sighs heavily. "You know, we can't. Mommy told me not to go outside. Lalo na ang kasama ka."

"You says no to me?" malungkot na sabi nito.

Isabella sigh again, "Okay, but we need to be careful. Change your clothes and meet me at the back."

Ysa smiled again. "Okay."

Sabay silang pumasok sa mansion ngunit nagkahiwalay rin nang landas. Nakasalubong niya pa ang isang kasambahay na halatang kinakabahan ng makita siya.

Yumuko ito sa harap niya at halata ang panginginig. "M-may ka-kailangan k-ka p-po?"

"Why are you stuttering?" She asks with a smirk. "Afraid eh?"

Nanatiling nakayuko ang kasambahay, takot na makita ang mukha niya.

"Get out of my way, you stupid shit" kalmadong sabi niya.

Mabilis na lumakad ang kasambahay palayo sa kanya. She calms herself, since she was eight she's capable of hurting herself and others. Munchausen syndrome to be called, but according to her family doctor, there is something like that. At a young age, she can hurt herself physically. And her scar on her right cheek is a sign of her syndrome.

Nang makarating sa loob ng kwarto ay nagbihis siya ng damit. She wore her gray hoodie and sweat pants. Napadaan siya sa vanity mirror kaya natigilan siya at napatitig dito.

A monster.

She sees a monster in her mirror. She's sick of it, watching herself with a large scar on her cheek.

"Why I can't be Ysa?" She asks the mirror as if its answers back.

She tilts her head a little and a small smile curves on her lips.

"Silly me, If I am a monster, she's a little devil. Who thinks her angelic and innocent face suits her."

She leaves her room and waits for Ysa at the back of the mansion. Dumating ito na katulad ang kulay ng damit niya as usual, she's smiling.

"Tara?" excited nitong tanong.

They used the secret exit at the back of the mansion. Only Isabella knows it, but when Ysa arrives from America she tells her about the secret exit.

They take a walk and enjoy life outside as if they worry nothing. As if there's no harm outside as if they both come back alive.

Two days have passed but still, they are not home. Nagimbal ang pamilya De Guzmano at nagbigay ng anunsyo na kung sino man ang makapag-uwi sa kanya ay magantipalaan. But it is not useful, no one knows where they are.

Until four days later.

Hingal na tumatakbo si Ysa papasok sa loob ng mansion, her clothes are full of dirt. Ang kanyang mga mata ay napuno na ng luha.

"Mama!" she shouted. "Mama!"

Dumating ang kanyang lola na siyang natuwa nang makita siya. "Ysa! where have you been?" Tumingin ito sa likod niya. "Si Isabella? nasaan ang batang iyon."

"Grandma" she's crying while hugging her grandmother. "Grandma si Isabella...."

"Nasaan siya? nasaan sa Isabella?" kinakabahan na sabi nito. Naroon na rin ang kanyang Ina at asawa ng kanyang lola.

Bumitiw siya sa yakap, she looks at everyone with tears on her face. Until her gaze stopped on her mother.

"Mama, si Isabella.... Si Isabella, nakita ko... Nakita kong pinatay nila si Isabella." She cried even more.

"Mama pinatay nila si Isabella."

An eleven-year-old, the youngest of the family, Isabella De Guzmano found dead at the De Guzmano property. No one can even recognize the child because her face is smashed by a stone. According to the investigation, she went missing for four days and was found right now. Because an anonymous person reported it.