17| t h e k e e p e r
CHILL creeped to her spine as soon as Astrid set her foot in front of the old mansion. There is no gate nor barrier that could protect the said mansion from intruders.
There were two wall lamps hanging on both sides of the door but it didn't gave much light, it didn't even reached the place where Astrid was standing.
Astrid started to question herself if this was really the address they've been looking for. Sure enough it is , as what her online map says.
"Wait!" Felicity stopped her before she could raise her left foot. "Who are we looking?" Felicity asked.
"Luxana," Astrid answered.
Both of them started to walk towards the door.
Astrid took a deep breath before knocking.
It took almost a minute before someone opened it up.
The door was half open. The chain lock is preventing the door from opening it fully.
A woman from the other side was showing the half of her face like she was afraid to face them.
"Hi . Good evening. We are looking for Luxana," sambit ni Astrid.
"Wala po dito si Luxana, hindi po siya nakatira dito at hindi ko rin po kayo kilala, paalam po," dali daling sinarado nito ang pinto ngunit agad itong napigilan ni Astrid.
"May sulat si Sophia and it was addressed to Luxana. The location was also written here," paliwanag ni Astrid
Ibinigay niya ang sulat sa babae at kinuha naman nito ito.
Bago ibalik ng babae ang sulat ay may narinig sila mula sa loob. Isang boses ng babae. "Anong nangyari kay Sophia?"
Napalingon ang babae sa pinanggagalingan ng boses.
"Papasukin mo sila,"
Wala nagawa ang babae kundi ang buksan ang pinto at patuluyin silang dalawa ni Felicity.
Bumungad sa kanila ang isang malaking sala na wala man lang gamit. Tanging sofa at isang malaking center table lang ang naka-display doon.
Nakita ni Astrid ang isang babae na nakaupo sa sofa ngunit nakatalikod ito sa kanila, marahil ay iyon ang babaeng nagpapasok sa kanila.
Hinintay muna nilang masarado ang pinto bago sila gumalaw ni Felicity.
Sinundan nilang dalawa ang babae na dahan-dahang nag lalakad papunta sa harapan ng babaeng narinig nila mula sa loob.
Laking gulat nila nang makita ang babae na walang mata.
She has no eyes like it was remove from its own place. The woman's eyesocket is a hollow space where the void lives, it was dark endless pit of sorrow and confusion.
Marahil ay ang babaeng kanilang nasa harapan ay si Luxana. Ito yata ang ang babaeng tinutukoy ni Sophia na disabled.
Gustong tumayo ni Astrid at lumabas sa mansyong iyon ngunit tinago niya ang takot at kabang bumabalot sa kaniyang dibdib.
"Anong nangyari kay Sophia?" Paunang tanong nito sa kanila nang makaupo sina Astrid at Felicity sa sofa.
Naghintay ng sagot ang bulag ng babae mula sa kanila.
Nag tinginan silang dalawa na animo'y nag tatanungan kung sino ang sasagot sa babae.
"Sophia is dead," biglang sagot ni Astrid nang makitang naghihintay ito ng kasagutan.
BINABASA MO ANG
Make Up, Murders, And Macchiato
Mystery / ThrillerAstrid is a retired modern day Sherlock Holmes / Nancy Drew who stumbled on the gruesome murder of an unknown killer roaming around their university. She was then forced to instigate an investigation together with the one whom she hated the most- Ka...
