HIBARA IT HAD BEEN a week after Dr. Celina’s murder, my belladonna incident, and—not to mention—almost passing. I could still recall unmistakably the hallucinations brought by the poison to me as one of its effects, and my Mom’s narration of what happened while I was standing on the edge of death. I OPENED MY eyes and the blinding light on the ceiling greeted me. I raised my hand over my face as I tried to look around the hospital room. I could hear the stable beeping of my vitals monitor from the side. Mom approached me with such bliss in her brown orbs, “Oh, thank goodness, you’re awake!” And then she hugged me. It felt awkward, but I returned the hug and tapped her back. “I feel okay, Mom.” The door opened which made us look at the forty-five-year-old man who appeared. His hair was swept back, his face with newly grown stubbles from the sideburns to the chin, and his emerald eyes gazed directly into mine. Mom stepped out of the room and as the old man walked nearer to my bed.
HIBARA I MADE A call as soon as I took the final steps of the stairs. I told him that I decrypted his message and he then sent me the next clue through text. I tried to ask for his identity, but he dropped the call while I was speaking. 13-11-21-15-44-15-42-11 This one now is unquestionably Polybius Square. A Polybius Square is encrypted and decrypted by using a five-by-five square with the English alphabet arranged vertically, having I and J share the same cell. The code uses double-digit numbers, where the first is the y-axis and the second is the x-axis. 1 2 3 4 5 1 A B C D E 2 F G H I/J K 3 L M N O P 4 Q R S T U 5 V W X Y Z 13-11-21-15-44-15-42-11 C-A-F-E-T-E-R-I-A I sent him the answer and he replied with: “No more clues. Find it within fifteen minutes or everyone in the location burns to ashes.” I placed my phone back in my pocket and ran towards the cafeteria. I act
LUKE MATTHEW WE BEGAN OUR Friday peacefully like the previous days. No conflicts, no cases… and to make that simple: BORING. Maybe we should have joined as members of The Forensic Club? Scrolling through their social media page, TFC Case Files, I found a new post about a case they just solved this morning. They always seem to be busy, while the Detective and I are sitting here in class, listening to the fourth subject of the day, and waiting for our dinner time at four-forty-five. “I have given the details of your upcoming class project to your president. I will be leaving you five minutes before the bell so she could announce it. Goodbye, class!” Mr. Robin Enriquez, our English teacher, spoke his closing statement and then left the room. Our class president, Amethyst Hidalgo or Amy, stood in front and announced the said project. It was about turning the Indian epic, Ram
LUKE MATTHEW THE GALLERY SHOWED two images: a nicely lit, brown painted room with a blindfolded child tied up on a chair, and a half-eaten vanilla cake is laid on the coffee table in front of him— which somehow sent chills through my body. I don’t understand why, but I had a bad feeling when I looked at the cake. “I know where this is,” the Detective spoke. Clearly, she’s back to her normal self. “This is in Baskerville. The brown walls gave it away.” “But your flat has cream walls?” I replied. “I had it repainted, of course. It’ll be too gloomy if my unit is in a dark color and I have this kind of personality, duh,” she said and rolled her eyes. I chuckled, “Well, not to mention those snake pets you have! But anyway, I think we should be going now?” She nodded, “Yep, we should. Let’s get our bags and have an early dismissal. Before we leave, we’ll pass by Mr. Moon’s office so I can dissem
LUKE MATTHEW MY HAND AND voice were trembling as I called our family chauffeur. “S-Sir Anton? P-Please send the heli t-to AMU. J-Just ask for p-permission from the principal to u-use the College Building r-rooftop.” “What’s the matter, Young Master Luke?” “We n-need to get to t-the Port as soon as possible… Please, Sir Anton!” “I’ll be there in three minutes.” “Thank you so much!” I exclaimed, relieved. What I did not see coming was the Detective stomping towards me and pushing me to a large tree. I groaned in pain when my back hit the tree trunk. She spoke in a frightening aura, “You have a solution, and yet, you chose to waste our time by panicking instead of focusing, hmm?” Oh, dear Lord… I’ve read about this. ‘Aggression or violence toward people and animals’, ‘lack of remorse about harming themselves or others’— this is a serious situation! “
HIBARAI HAVE NEVER imagined how this much horror feels. I thought this feeling was just something basic like happiness and sadness, but no, this remained in my body for God knows how long.I called Mr. Mercer earlier using Matthew’s phone and informed him of the distressing situation. He brought the helicopter without delay and we landed on the nearest hospital’s helipad. Matthew was brought to the Operation Room immediately and I was stuck in the Emergency for my sprained wrist.After a wrist stabilizer was applied, my sprain doesn’t hurt that much like when we were on Kristina. I made my way to the OR and sat with Lilian, Shiloah, and Amethyst. “Are there any updates?” I asked.Amethyst lowered her head, Lilian shook her head no, and Shiloah gave me a sad look. I sighed deeply and leaned back on the seat, my head rested on the white wall behind. I could still recall how the Blac
LUKE I OPENED MY eyes to the blinding light of a white room. My right arm was elevated at the side. I can faintly hear some person’s voice but I can’t understand what they’re saying. What I can hear clearly was the beeping sound of the vitals monitor. I heard the door open and my lips curled to a smile when I heard the joyful voice of my father, Noah Abraham Vargas. “My son’s awake! He’s opened his eyes!” He exclaimed. The doctor and the nurse rushed in. “Can you hear us?” The doctor asked. I nodded and the nurse took down notes. I tried to move but was immediately stopped. “I suggest you stay put, Mr. Luke. Your wound is still fresh. I have told your father that you’ll be wearing a shoulder spica cast for ten days.” Ah, yes, I remember. Black’s gun was pointed directly at the Detective’s heart so I jumped on top of her, using my own body as her shield. I was hit somewhere in the shoulder
LUKE MATTHEWAS SOON AS the clock’s hands pointed at twelve o’clock, I rang the nurse’s bell and requested for my discharge. I talked to Pops about it this morning and he agreed to let me leave, with the condition of staying away from any kind of situation that would open the stitches of my wound. He went out an hour ago to prepare lunch at home. I told him that I would invite the Detective for the meal and he agreed to make his best dish: Spicy Cheese Chicken and Pork Caldereta.The doctor told me what to and what not to do to my wound, and how to properly care for it. I was out of the room after minutes of discussion and I took a cab home. I got off in front of a normal house in an average environment. I smiled upon seeing Pops and Nomy standing by the mailbox beside the small gate.“Aww, you really waited for me!” I held out my good arm for a hug.“Err, nope. We were waiti
HIBARA THE NEWS REGARDING the Ammunition EIC’s death shook up the entire Albertus Magnus University. Although it was reported as a mysterious murder by an unknown gunman at first, it was later reported that the occurrence was an accident caused by a stray bullet. When I heard of that on the television, I couldn’t help but laugh. Violet’s death was a necessary action for the organization; to ensure that the information regarding their criminal business remains out of our reach. As soon as I stepped foot into the classroom of Grade 10 Section I, Cara approached me with a huge smile on her face. “Welcome back, Miss Detective!” My gaze shifted from her face down to her body, and then to the surroundings. I smirked and gave her a welcoming deduction show. “Since I wasn’t present last Monday and yesterday, I assume you might have missed hearing the brilliance of my deductive prowess.” “Oh, right! You were on the news yesterday!” Toto pointed out. “You helped a police detective to solve
HIBARA AFTER MY MOTHER insisted I stay in our residence, I spent my three days of recovery in the library. Since Cara turned my apartment into a ‘Detective Agency’ of some sort, it was actually good staying back here. The only thing I didn’t like was, of course, interacting with my dearest father. I finished quite a lot of mystery books and now, I’m skimming through Dad’s old case files. His recent case files are in his study while the old ones are stacked here in the library which I, sometimes, take a look at for studies. An incident from the year before I was born piqued my interest. I smirked as I read the words written in red ink above the title of the case: Unsolved. “So, you have an unsolved case fifteen years ago, huh?” I grabbed the white folder and sat on the well-lit, giant egg chair in the middle of the round room of books. 【Pre-School Teacher Murder Case】 Several photographs were within the folder. I checked mostly those that are focused on how the victim was found.
JACOB I WENT BACK to the university to get my motorbike and drive around the city. I need to know where Violet would be executed. I glanced at my side mirror, feeling as if someone was following me, and indeed, there was. A yellow taxi cab was about 200 meters behind me and I couldn’t recognize the passengers using only my side mirror. Damn it. I turned left at the intersection and the yellow taxi appeared behind not long after. I turned another left at the next corner and a right. Even in tight spaces, the yellow taxi continued to follow me. Don’t tell me…?! I picked up my speed and turned another right and then left until I found an open parking basement. I quickly paid for a ticket and drove down. What I didn’t expect was what I would see once the basement lights met my eyes. On both left and right sides were a total of six black 2021 Mercedes-Benz Metris Passenger Van parked side-by-side. My grip on the handlebars of my motorbike tensed as beads of sweat formed around my neck
JACOB THE GIRLS ENTERED the Ammunition Journalists Clubroom while I stayed outside on the lookout. A few minutes later, they came out with Catherine McKnight and Emmanuel Cagasa—the first two writers whose articles were drastically edited from truth to illegitimacy. And although today is Club Day, the third writer who was supposed to be present was nowhere in sight. “We haven’t seen Evelyn Gannaban since yesterday. It was actually surprising that she has an article for today’s distribution,” said Catherine. I looked at Emmanuel who was spinning a stylus pen with his fingers. “Yesterday was when your edited article was on Ammunition.” “Hold on.” Zia raised a hand and stared at the two. Her eyes were scanning every inch of their bodies. I smirked. “You,” she pointed at Catherine; “are from the Circulation Staff. And you,” she turned to Emmanuel; “are an Editorial Cartoonist.” “On-point deduction!” I praised her and she smiled. “Why did they write news articles, then?” Tere’s voi
JACOB CLUB DAY SATURDAY brought the three of us here in Room 502 of the Senior High Building—The Forensic Club’s Clubroom. After reading something on her phone, Tere announced, “The brat’s surgeries were successful.” “Violet, Indigo, Ocean, Green, and Dandelion— we must be the first to unmask who these people are! We can’t let the meddlesome youngster’s team open the curtains before us.” I declared with a wide grin, replacing the cap of the whiteboard marker after writing. “Didn’t you see today’s Ammunition headline?” Zia asked with a straight face, throwing the school paper on the table lazily and sighing. “We’re on the bad side again.” “I bet the sniper’s codename is Indigo. It’s the only one that sounds manly. Oh, it could be Ocean too!” “JACOB VALLE!” Zia slammed her hand on the table. “Are you listening to me?” Tere pulled the hem of my brown coat. I looked at her and she gestured her head toward the other girl. I met with Zia’s eyes and a shiver ran down my spine. Why is s
LUKE MATTHEW THERE WAS NOTHING. Not a single trace of the sniper was left on the rooftop of the Metropolitan Institute of Architecture and Engineering. Not even a footprint or a drop of blood could be seen. It was like he wasn’t even present. After learning of the Detective’s bloody message on Jacob’s sleeve, we decided to perform a joint investigation—“Just this once”, he said—about the sniper. I really don’t understand these two’s rivalry when we can do more if we’re all in one team. “Do you have any ideas about the fraudulent headlines on our school paper?” Cara asked the Club President, diverting the topic. “Well, aside from the Ghost Hand case, we know you wouldn’t stage a crime for fame so we dug deeper,” replied Tere. “I am suspicious of the EIC,” Toto stated. “There’s no way Catherine and Emmanuel’s articles would be edited drastically if it wasn’t for the last person who handles or approves them before printing.” I agreed. Jacob smirked as he declared, “Her criminal co
LUKE MATTHEW “I will still believe.” IT WASN’T A bluff. I don’t know exactly what occurred to me. At that moment, I just decided to believe in the Detective’s deduction about the sniper not targeting a Salcedo family member and dared to use my own body as a shield once again. As a detective, she has to protect the world from criminals. But who will protect her from them? She may think she’s strong and clever enough to keep them off of her, but there will be times when she’s not. Suddenly, a flash of red light pulled me from my thoughts. “SON, GET DOWN!” Mamá shouted as she ran across the street, her hand reaching out to me. It was chaos. The next thing I knew was that the Club President of The Forensic Club had my head in his hand, locking me in a bent-forward position. Because I was in that form, I couldn’t see what was really going on above, but I could hear the sound of the Detective’s pocket pistol. Then, I saw a tomato-looking ball thrown to the ground from the Nerd’s hand.
HIBARA I STOPPED AND discontentedly accepted the offer. I can’t believe the sniper got away from me! “Where’s the detective wannabe?” I asked the Major. “He took a motorcycle from one of the flower shop’s customers and trailed the shooter,” he answered. “It seems he lost sight of him as well.” “What information did he get? The last location sighted?” He shook his head. “All he knew was that the shooter was wearing all-black.” A smirk flashed on my lips knowing I am one step ahead of that Club President. Matthew’s eyes met mine through the rearview mirror and he remarked, “I know that face. You’ve got more information than him, haven’t you?” “Since when have you started doing this, Matt?” Mrs. Vargas asked her son. He simply answered, “Monday. Third week of classes.” “AND YOU NEVER TOLD ME?! It’s been, what, two months?!” “The Salcedos will stop me, Mamá. You know that. And these sixty-one days of my life were the most un-boring.” Mistress Lilith fell silent upon hearing Matt
HIBARA “So, you heard it too?” I CROSSED MY arms right when the three members of The Forensic Club came into our view. Their arrogant Club President Jacob Valle is a real-deal detective wannabe. Although I dropped those words earlier, I never meant to say he’s better than me. Of course, I am and always will be the greater detective. He ignored my sarcasm and pointed a finger at Matthew. “You! Call your chauffeur and have him drive us to the crime scene!” The Major awkwardly replied, “But my Genesis G80 only has a capacity of five passengers; six if those who will ride the backseat are four slim persons.” “Can’t you borrow bigger cars?” Jacob huffed. “Well,” he smirked; “I don’t think Eligor would let you ride his seven-seater Genesis GV80 after that case involving Chedipe, Rangda, and Drace.” I clapped and gave him a sinister smile. “I didn’t know you have the skills to shut this detective wannabe up, Major.” “That’s it!” Aliszia Tuazon glared at their President. “I suggest we