The Phantom Detective ✓

Chapter 07: Dead End

WENDY

I WAS waiting for explosions as I pressed my eyes closed. I thought that was my end—end of the three of us. But I heard none of such noise. Inangat ko ang ulo ko para tingnan sina Kenton at Zen but the puzzlement in their faces were quite visible as well.

There was no smoke, fires or burnt smell. Nang tingnan ako ang hawak kong timer, halos maluha ako sa makita ko.

0.17 milliseconds.

It stopped. I laid my body down the floor in relief and then I heard myself sobbing. For a moment, I thought I'm gonna die. That was close. The timer stopped... but why?

"What happened? We're still alive!" Kentonni exclaimed. I let out a dry smile as I was catching for my breath.

"Looks like... he really did make it in time. We owe him our lives."

"Who?"

Zen looked at me with his sad eyes. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganoon ang mata niya. Hindi ba dapat magsaya siya dahil buhay pa kami? Umupo ulit ako at hinawakan ang nanginginig ko pang tuhod.

"You big brother, Wendy. We owe him our lives."

"Hello, lil sissy. I hope the shock had not lingered that long in your body."

Agad kong ipinihit ang ulo ko para tingnan ang likuran ko. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ko si kuya kaya sinubukan kong tumayo, pero muntik na akong matumba pero sinalo niya ako. "Don't force yourself. Your limbs are weak."

I hugged him as tight as I could while my tears are rolling down on my cheeks. For a moment, I thought I won't be able to see again. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

I did not hear anything from my brother. He just hugged me back. How did he get here? How did he know where was I?

"Beforehand, I texted the devil to help you crack the code and then go ask help from a student in RIOT, assuming he knows how to defuse bombs," paliwanag ni Zen, na kasalukuyan paring nakaposas.

Tumingin si Zen sa kuya ko at gayon din ang ginawa ng kapatid ko. There's something about their gazes that frightened me of what might happen in the future.

"How did you meet my brother?" mahina kong tanong pero sapat na para marinig nila.

"When we made our escape from school, the cruel guard said you had a brother that studies in RIOT," sagot ni Zen.

"I was not actually the one who defused the bomb. I just received instructions from my father."

Napatakip ako ng bibig nang marinig ang sinabi ni kuya. Sabi niya... si papa? Screw it! I'm doomed. Alam na ni papa ang nangyari, I'll be... no freaking way!

"I met the abductor on my way," sabi ng kuya ko ay kumalas sa pagkakayakap sa 'kin. Medyo gumaan ang loob ko dahil sa yakap niyang nakagiginhawa.

"Nasaan na siya?"

"Nasa impyerno."

"Huh?"

"I saw it. Namatay siya sa harap ko. Nag-uusap kami sa kabilang building nang biglang mayroong bumaril sa ulo niya. And so I saw a sniper who carries a rifle, meters away from me, and run away to the alley. I had no efficient time to catch the sniper because the bomb timer starts ticking," paliwanag ni kuya. "Pero mayroon mga nasabi ang abductor sa aking information."

"Anong sinabi niya tungkol kay mama?!" sigaw ko pero tinitigan lang ako ni kuya at hindi sinagot. Why won't he tell me?

"But it's a dead end, right?" seryosong sabi ni Zen habang nakayuko. "Let me guess what he told you, I am part of Quintuple Ruby. I snatch every pendant that my co-members own when they pass away.'"