JMC 2

My chest heaved a little with nervousness. I didn't move, I just feeling the surroundings. I need to calm myself down.

 I must not be defeated by fear. In that way I could talk to her and find out what she really wants from me.

 "Namih, open the closet." I was even startled when she suddenly whispered to me. 

I let out a deep sigh and stood up. I swallowed before I followed what she wanted. I faced the closet. There was a mirror there. That closet is old. It can't be removed because it's built in. I didn't use that.

 I brought my own cabinet, and since the day I moved here I haven't opened it or even touched it. I slowly brought my hand closer to the closet handle. When I was about to touch the handle of the closet, I felt indecisive. I thought what can I open here?

 That's why I immediately withdrew my hand from there. I stared at it for a while until I felt a presence behind me. I didn't even bother to look back. What I did was I moved to the left side where the mirror was so I could see her without looking back. I was startled by what I saw in the reflection of the mirror,  it was not myself. 

It's a lady, a beautiful lady wearing a white dress. She smiled at me. I could freely observe her lovely face. The narrow eyes with roundness. Her smile that can only be seen on her lips but not on her eyes. Because what I see in her eyes is pure sadness. Full of sorrow, fear and pain. I feel my heart tighten. I can feel the heavy feeling she feels. I also feel her pain. 

"Who are you?" I asked with all my courage despite the fear not wanting to leave my system.

 I almost jumped in shock when suddenly the closet rattled and the door opened. I stepped back. That's how shocked I was when the head, arms and thighs were exposed to me dismembered. My stomach felt like it would turn upside down from what I saw. There is a head with crying eyes. It was the face of the woman I saw earlier in the reflection of the mirror.

 I even stepped back when I saw a lot of blood flowing from the closet, down to the floor at my feet. 

"No!" I was only more terrified. My muscles are shaking and I felt my body's coldness. My body was filled with fear. I can hear her wailing voice close to my ear. She sobs while she says my name. 

"Namih… Namih… Namih…" she repeatedly calling my name. I feel like I'm going crazy when she calls me. I feel like I'm going to explode with fear. 

"Stop!" 

           ***

 I woke up when I heard a growl. I glanced at the person next to me, Mg. She was in a deep sleep. I was about to go back to sleep, because I might have misheard when… 

 "Stop!" Namih suddenly shouted, which surprised me. I got up and so did Mg. 

"Who is shouting?" Mg asked, still wiping her sleepy eyes. 

"It's Namih, I think she's having nightmares." After I said that, I stood up and rushed to Namih. 

Mg went out, maybe to get water. I will try to wake up Namih. 

"Namih, Wake up," I woke her up. But she doesn't wake up, she says something I didn't understand. Her face is full of sweat and her breath is ragged and she is pale. I shake her until she gets up?

 "I saw her," she opened her eyes and exclaimed as if she had found what she had been looking for,  for a long time. But she doesn't look happy, instead she looks frightened.

 "You're just having a nightmare." 

Mg immediately handed out some water, Namih accepted it and gulped as she was thirsty. 

"I know, but I will find out." 

Mg And I looked at each other with confusion. What is she talking about? 

"What time is it?" she asked. 

"It's two o'clock," Mg quikly answered. 

"The same time, same place," she said, staring into nothingless.

"Who are you referring to?" I can't stop asking. 

So, Namih told us what she meant. She told the whole incident from the beginning when she lived here. We wonder. That is really hard to believe. At first, I didn't believe and I know Mg thinks the same way as I do. Who would believe in ghosts? Those super naturals are just old people's stories for me. But I was intrigued when Namih mentioned the method of killing the woman in her dream.  So I doubted that what she said might be true. I think that has a connection with the main case that the MPD (Manila Police Department) is dealing with. I thought that maybe she was just carried away by what was happening and that her dream had reached her peak.

 But the sincerity in Namih's eyes was different when she mentioned about reopening the case. I doubted, but Namih's mind is not. She has this skill that you can tell without doubt.

 All her instincts can always lead to success. She always thinks without any hesitation. She has this confidence that never fails.

 

                  ***

 "I dug through the files that recorded the murder of a woman last year. At that time I was not yet in the service. And neither we nor you were destined here. Actually five women died, the same case. But it turned out my attention is on Joana Lee, 24 years old and a half Korean-Pinay. According to the record, the crime happened right there in the house where I live. At exactly two am. Her body was found chopped up right there in the closet of the house, " I told them when we had a break time. We finished eating lunch and we are here in the office.

 "Which is the same from the recent case," said Kitt. 

While busy biting her nails. She likes biting her fingernails, especially when there is tension in the conversation. 

"Kitt, that will wear out your nails," Mg commented with a laugh. 

Kitt just rolled her eyes.

"Maybe," I answered what Kitt said. I saw Mg and Kitt swallow their saliva as I taught them. 

"T-that's why she exists through your dream for justice," said Mg. 

"What happened to the case?" asked Kitt. 

"The case was closed. Dismissed, because there was no evidence to point to the serial killer. No fingerprints and weapon recovered from the crime scene."  After speaking, I sat in my swivel chair.

 Mg stood up and walked back and forth. She seems to be tense too. 

"I think it's surprising how clean he works," commented Kitt. 

"Maybe that case has something to do with the recent case," added Mg. 

"Yes, Maybe." I walked back to my swivel chair and spun around. "So, what's the plan?" "I will reopen the case. And I will investigate," I said and looked at the folder. I was holding. It contains Joana's identity record. 

The two looked at me at the same time. 

"Where do you start?" Kitt. 

"I don't know yet. Maybe I will first talk to the Deputy Chief of Detectives to allow me in this case." 

"I hope he agree."

" It looks like your topic is serious, huh," said Kyle- the VCB secretary, he passed by.  We just smiled at him and he continued walking without us knowing where he went. 

 "Mg, Kitt. Can you help me?" 

"Sure, anything you want."

 "I need the soft copy of the recorded cases last year about the murder that followed Joana. I need the full info, even the crimes scenes photos and small pieces of evidence." 

"Okay, I will try, Namih. I don't have access to last year's cases, but I'll try." I just nodded. 

I hope Kitt can open the file. Kitt is good at hacking. So I have confidence in her. The day after tomorrow. I talked to DCD, about me opening Joana's case. At first he didn't agree to let me open the case. He said why should I dig up the past. The family has disappeared and didn't  care about the case.

 "Detective Chan, We have recent cases that need more full attention. Why are we going back to the past?" I still remember him saying. 

"But Deputy she needs justice and she deserves it," I answered calmly. 

 "Detective Chan, there was not enough evidence obtained before, how about now that the case is closed? How can you handle this without knowing who the suspect is? Many have been involved in this case, many have become heroes. But at the end of the day, they will just dismiss the case because of the lack of evidence," He said irritably. He seemed to be in high blood.

 "But I'm not them, sir. And maybe I can solve it. Think of it, that maybe there's a connection between the recent case and the case a year ago. Which Mikey is holding now. And maybe there's only one killer, because the method of killing is the same as before," I said quietly. I was shivering.

 "But that's a maybe, Miss Chan, and maybe a kind of coincidence."

 "I don't think so, sir." 

"Just leave the recent case to the assigned officer..." Many more bloody talks took place, an exchange of thoughts and in the end, he also agreed with me. But he said he would still find me a best partner before I proceed to the investigation, but I can't wait. I will investigate on my own. 

The next day. I wasted no more time. I got the address of Joana's parents, and I was hoping that they were still there. But before I confirmed if the Lee Family was still there, I asked around to the nearby places who knew them. And I found out that I'm in a right time, because they just arrived the other day. They are from Korea. I also found out that after a few months, since Joana died. They go to Korea, so that they forget for a moment because of the tragedy that happened to their only daughter.