It's been ten years since the tragedy that almost broke Raine's heart happened.
Her father, Lawrence Garcia, was a great detective. He had resolved many difficult cases during his service.
Her mother, Naida, was an investigator who retired after her elder sister was born. She and Lawrence met because of a case that they both resolved together.
The Garcias were perfect — Raine herself, her parents, and her older sister Nia. She also thought to herself that she had the best family ever.
However, all happiness still has an end. Little did they know that the case that brought their family together will also destroy it.
Everytime her birthday comes, the memories of the past never miss to haunt her.
It was Raine's seventh birthday. Her family planned to visit her Aunt who lives in America.
But even though they were just a few miles away from their house, Raine noticed a suspicious black car that seems to be following them.
At the moment she saw it, her body seems to freeze. Her mind full of strange feelings that made her feel uncomfortable.
"Mom, Dad, haven't you noticed that black car behind us?"
Her parents were speechless. Surprised of what they saw.
"Dad, what if we just cancel the trip? I'm not feeling good about this?"
The feeling seems to be mutual towards the others. But it was too late. They were just a few kilometers away from the airport and their plane will be departing ssoon.
Lawrence added speed to his driving, hoping that they can lose the car following them.
Raine, out of curiousity, looked back and saw the driver of the other car. Suddenly, memories flashed before her eyes.
That man... I remember him! She thought. He's the one who planned to assassinate my Grandpa before.
That case might be the hardest for the reason that there were many people who were involved in it.
"I know the face of that man behind us!" said Naida.
Her Dad didn't answer. She can see his fear through his eyes even though he tried to hide it.
It was a dark and stormy night. They came to the road where there were only few vehicles passing by.
Without warning, the mysterious man shot his gun towards them. Bullets began to hit on their car.
The outer parts of the car were hit, including one of the wheels.
Lawrence was startled, making him lose control to the steering. Naida quickly hugged her two daughter tight while Lawrence presses the brake, hoping to stop the car.
The car began to spin around until it finally stpped at the middle of a bridge which is under construction.
The suspicious man stop his car and slowly walked towards them.
One wrong move then they will surely fall towards the rocky waters below them. The man breathe out a chuckle as he aimed his gun towards them.
Both Lawrence and Naida lost their consciousness while Nia can't remove her seatbelt.
Raine was lucky for she only received scratches. She tried to help her sister but as they move, their car slowly slides down towards the bridge.
She saw her Mom's phone. Thinking fast, she took it and dialed the police.
The man slowly approach towards them, aiming his precious revolver towards the sliding car.
As a seven year old girl, Raine was completely terrified, not knowing what to do to help her family and herself to survive.
They were on the brink of death, both of her parents were unconcious and full of wounds, her sister couldn't remove herself from her seatbelt, and a very dangerous man approaches them.
Her voice shivers as she calls the police accompanied by the tears falling towards her cheeks.
"Mom, Dad!" Nia shouted, trying her best to wake her parents up.
Suddenly, the phone dropped from Raine's hand as the man pulls out her hair from the car's window.
"And what do you think you're doing?" he asked.
She's very scared but for her family, she knew that she needs to be strong. "Release Raine!" Nia shouted.
The man grinned. "That's just right for all of you! That's what those who dares to betray us deserves!" said the man, "Madame will be surely pleased with this!"
All of a sudden, a bullet hit the man's right arm, allowing Raine to escape from his grab to her hair.
At last her parents have their consciousness back. Lawrence shot the man whereas Naida removed Nia's seatbelt.
"Get out of here! Quick There's no time!" Lawrence shouted at them.
"Mom, Dad, I already called the police department!"
The man fired his gun again. This time the bullet hit another wheel of their car. Gradually, they were sliding down.
"There's no time. You need to leave. We love you so much, girls." Her father held her hands, she can feel the nervousness he was trying to hide.
From a distance they could already hear the approaching police. Due to the unexpected incident, the man quickly got back to his car and immediately drove away.
Lawrence opened the car whereas Naida helped them. Raine slowly lowered herself onto the road. After going out of the car, she held out her hand towards Nia.
"I got you, sister. Don't be afraid," Raine spoke.
Nia held Raine's hand tight with the hope that they can both survive.
Everything was fine until without warning, the car completely slide down towards the river. The sisters both tried to tighten their hold but it was too late.
Raine didn't know what happened next for she lose her consciousness.
Until this day, that painful event still lingers in her mind.
Because of the possibility that the man's companions would come after her, his grandfather sent her to her Aunt Vanessa in the States. Vanessa agreed to take care of her for the reason that she doesn't have a husband or a child.
It's so hard to move on in life when everything that makes you happy were gone. At one point, Raine once thought of giving up.
But everytime she remembers that man's face and what he did to her family, the fire deep inside of her starts to burn with her desire of giving justice to her family's death.
Little did she know that at the time she came to her Aunt, a new chapter in her life is just beginning to start that will surely change her life.
CHAPTER ONE: SUICIDE OR MURDERVanessa enrolled her in a school in America and it was there that she began to discover her hidden interest in solving crimes and different types of cases.It was the first day of school, just nine years after the accident, an anticipated thing happened.Raine was at the library when she heard someone screamed. It came from the lowest part of the building.She stood up from her chair. Leaving the book at the table.She struggled to huddle towards the other students hoping to find out what happened.Her eyes widened when she saw a senior highschool student lying around the floor of the teacher's comfort room. Dead.Ms. Cassandra Collins
CHAPTER TWO: THE FIRST CASE SOLVED"Hmm... Are you sure Johnny just slipped on the wet floor, Inspector? I mean, according to my observations, there must be some sort of a more complicated murder incident," Vanessa asked Inspector Smith."I know, Garcia. I just told them about that so that I can find another lead to this murder case," the Inspector replied. "Actually, I don't want to make the students panic. Especially now that there are many murder things happening here in our city!""Well, it's really a threat to students here," Vanessa sighed."Inspector!" one of the police officers called. "The analysts says that there were strange markings on the boy's neck," he added.Thinking about the same thing, Inspector Smith snapped his finger and said, "I knew it! The murderer might be one of the students or one of the school staffs!"
CHAPTER THREE: THE HIGHSCHOOL DETECTIVEAnd finally, after ten years of staying in America, Raine decided to go back to the Philippines.For the fact that she earned some coins from solving cases, she decided to continue her second semester in the Philippines.She was in the twelfth grade and was taking the course of Computer Engineering.At first, Vanessa didn't agreed for the reason that the sindicates might still be looking for her but at the end, she finally said her 'yes'."Hey, guys! Guess where I am!" she said to her best friends from the Philippines in their video chat."Hmm... Let me guess! Many people,"Shaira, her best friend since she's studying in the Philippines, spoke. Having no clue where Raine's really is, "... and then?"In their group, Shaira's the joker kind of girl who always tells funny jokes. At the same time, she's also into fashion.I can't believe sh
CHAPTER FOUR: CONFIDENTIAL CLUES"Can you believe it? Detective Lorraine Leanne Garcia, that's so cool!" Lani beamed as they walk towards their school."Lani, shh!" Raine shuddered. "What if someone hears you?""But how can you be a real detective if no one here knows you?" Lani asked.Raine's eyes widened. All she wanted to do is to bring justice to her parents death but as time passes she feels the longing to follow the footsteps of her father.However, Lani does have a point!"Hey, aren't you the famous highschool detective in America? At the time I first saw you on the television, I became your fan!" said a junior highschool student. Approaching Raine excitedly."Of course she is! She's my best friend which is very talented, brave, and also a genius!" Lani boasted.For Raine, there is only one thing to do. If the people knew that she's a mystery solver, she have
CHAPTER FIVE: THE DARK MYSTERIES WITHIN HOTEL DEL ESTRELLA (HAUNTED)Nightmares crept inside Raine's head again. The memories of the past. A tragedy.Sweat lined up to her eyebrows. Her heart beating faster by the minute."Nia! Mom, Dad!" Raine shouted. Waking herself up from her nightmares.Tears sprung on her eyes as she woke up. Hugging her pillow tight."Raine," she heard someone spoke."Sweetheart," the voice added, "are you alright?"She was startled when she saw her Aunt standing beside her. Waving her hand. "Au- Auntie?""Yep!""But you didn't say anything to me about your leaving! H- How about your work in States?""Well, they say that I'm not complete without my partner," Vanessa answered."They really said that? Did they... Did they fire you?""No. Actually I was sent here by you-know-who. We received a report that the
CHAPTER SIX: THE DARK MYSTERIES WITHIN HOTEL DEL ESTRELLA ( MICHIEVOUS YOUNG DETECTIVES )"Hotel del Estrella?" Raine whispered to herself. "I have a feeling I heard about that place before.""Why yes! It's a well-known hotel," replied Vanessa, "and we're staying there for three days."And finally, after the long wait, the day has finally come when the trip was scheduled. Raine packed up the things she'll need in order to be prepared of what might happen on their way. Traveling through car still gives her the creeps.While they were on their way, Raine opened her phone. Scrolling her social media account. Her eyes widened when she saw the picture of the hotel they will be staying. The same picture she saw on the billboard.At the moment she saw that image, the call of mystery pinched her.Every mile they travel nearer to the hotel, the more thrilled and excited she becomes that she didn't worry about being
CHAPTER SEVEN: THE DARK MYSTERIES WITHIN HOTEL DEL ESTRELLA (LET'S DO THIS!)Raine continued to walk towards the corridor, hoping to see some clues to solve the murder mystery.On her way she encountered the dead man's body being carried by the nurses towards their ambulance. His whole body was covered with blanket which became bloody because of his blood."You here that everyone. The hotel's in lockdown," said the owner's elder brother towards the crowd gathered around the corridor, "Now head back to your rooms and tell your love ones you'll be staying here for a while."Raine paused, waiting for her friends to come back. As the two passed by, their arguing began echoing throughout the corridor."I told you to hurry!" Lani exclaimed."You're the one who's behind me," replied Zane.Being interrupted by their arguing, the two didn't noticed Raine who was standing in front of them. Seeing her, they both let out a scream immediately cut
CHAPTER EIGHT: THE DARK MYSTERIES WITHIN HOTEL DEL ESTRELLA ( SOMETHING FISHY! )"Wait, what?!" asked Raine."I called him many times but he's still not picking. Also I went to Lani and Zane's house but no one's answering," added Shaira."Hmm... I just met Lani and Zane here," Raine spoke, "but I don't know where Simon is.""Why would Lani and Zane be there?" Shaira asked in a curious voice."I don't know," replied Raine, "but something tells me that they might be up for something."Meanwhile, at the other side of the room came the investigators. Searching for leads at the time when people around the building went to sleep.The well-known Inspector, Sean Alvarez, rushed towards the room. Never letting to bother anyone asleep.The room, as told by the police to the owner, was untouched. The scene around the room was still the same from the time the murder happened.The