Death Trap Pandemonium (COMPLETED)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Chasing Puzzle Pieces

February 5, 2016; Friday
New Horizons Medical Center, Azulan City
4:15 pm

"Sigurado ka bang magiging effective ang distraction nila? Because, I swear to God, Kuya Shem . . . I didn't survive almost dying thrice, just to end up in jail."

Cess couldn't contain the laughter that escaped her lips upon hearing her friend's complaints. Ngunit maging siya na karaniwang handa para sa kahit anong kalokohan ay hindi maiwasang sumang-ayon kay Ailee. Her brush with death put things in perspective; Cess wanted to live her life to the fullest. And if they got caught with their current stint, there was no doubt in Cess' mind that Shem already calculated how long they would end up behind bars.

Kahit na halos isang linggo na matapos ang pag-uusap nila sa dating bahay ng pamilya ni Shem, hindi pa rin masyadong makapaniwala si Cess kung paano sila nakumbinsi nina Clyde at Shem na maging parte ng kabaliwang ito.

***

"Wait. Sorry, I'm confused. Pwede niyo bang i-explain nang maayos kung ano 'tong binabalak niyo?" Iritado at nalilitong tanong ni Nats matapos ipakita sa kanila ni Shem ang investigation board. "In layman's terms, please."

Cess wiped the sweat on her forehead and moved closer to the only electric fan in the living room as they waited for Shem to explain.

"Well, uhm, two weeks ago, napag-isipan namin ni Clyde na... What if magkaroon kami ng sariling imbestigasyon? It was nothing really serious at first, just something to keep our minds occupied," he said sheepishly, like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar. "Pero balak din naman naming sabihin sa inyo kapag may mas kumpleto na kaming impormasyon."

"At dahil nga itinigil na ng Azulan ang imbestigasyon nila, we thought that now might as well be the time to tell you guys," Clyde added. The two of them had clearly thought it through.

Napasulyap si Cess kay Ailee. Huh, mukhang magkapatid nga sila, parehong-pareho mag-isip. She had just suggested the same idea to 8teen a week ago.

Cess nodded at her other friends, silently agreeing to support Shem and Clyde's plans. Sigurado namang alam ng dalawang iyon ang ginagawa nila. Mas mapapadali ang lahat kung magtutulungan sila.

But of course, not everyone shared the sentiment. "And what makes you think na magiging mas successful ang imbestigasyon niyo kesa sa mga pulis na mas may karanasan at beterano na sa paghahanap ng mga mamamatay-tao, huh?" asik ni Ashanti mula sa kinatatayuan niya.

"We're not claiming that we'll be better in any way," Shem reasoned. "Pero tayo ang nakasama ang mga killer sa loob ng mahabang panahon. Surely that would give our plan some merit? Give us some insight that the police might have disregarded."

Once again, murmurs arose as the survivors began to discuss. Cess could see that some-the ones who were significantly subjected to the killers' games-like Kevin, JC, Chloe, and Erza were already won over by the plan. Samantalang sina Leo, Joy, Anthony, Raziel, at Nika ay mga pawang nag-iisip pa rin. Marelo, ever the voice of reason, simply asked questions logically, taking neither side.

"Kung sakaling itutuloy itong imbestigasyon na ito," aniya. "Paano niyo balak kunin ang mga impormasyon na kailangan natin? I mean, we're gonna need more than just our own experiences and opinions if we're gonna be unbiased."