Chapter Eleven

THERE was blood everywhere she looked.

On the floor, on the curtains, on the desks…on her hands… on her legs and feet. Ng bumaling siya sa salamin ay nabigla din siya na maski ang mukha niya ay nababalot ng dugo; soaking the tips of her hair up to the roots… trickling down to her forehead… to her nose… to her cheeks pababa sa labi niya.

It looked as though she bathed in blood. 

The woman on the floor lay lifeless. It was too obvious sa kahit na sinong papasok na wala ng buhay ito. Nakahiga lang ito sa sahig at nababalot ng sarili nitong dugo. She died and she’s beyond recognition. She was almost decapitated with the way her throat was sliced from ear to ear. There were stab wounds all over her body and she even saw one finger na tila gumulong palayo sa kamay ng dalaga—as though it was cut off with the amount of the violent struggle na mahahalata sa silid. 

She stared down at her hand. There was a knife. 

Wala sa loob na nabitawan niya iyon bago siya nagpalinga-linga. Madilim ang kapaligiran niya but not dark enough to not see the violence… the carnage… the bloodshed… the fatality na nasa harapan niya ngayon. Agad ang ginawa niyang pag atras sa katawan na nasa harapan niya at sinikap na palisin ang dugong nasa kamay niya… nasa ilalim ng kuko niya at nasa buong mukha niya.

Ngunit tila ba lalo lang kumakalat iyon. And like a disease, she couldn’t find a cure—or anything to make the vision stopped. And her fear was escalating every coming minute na nagtatagal siya sa loob na pangitain na iyon—na tila ba totoong nangyari iyon… and that she was the one who killed her. 

Oh, God… oh, God…!

“Tennyson…”

Gulat na bumaling si Tennyson sa pinanggalingan ng tinig at agad na nakilala ang bulto na lumabas mula sa kadiliman. It was her sister Diana. Ng iikot niya ang mga mata, she realized na pamilyar ang lugar. She knew it was an attic—the attic. Ng kumurap siya, two more figures appeared before her na pawang mga nakaupo sa dalawang makeshift na dining chair.

Gulat na napaatras si Tennyson; agad na tinakpan ang bibig upang hindi kumawala ang sigaw na nakaabang sa lalamunan niya. 

Alam niya ang sitwasyon na ito. It was the sort of memory na kahit na anong gawin niya ay hindi niya maialis sa utak niya. It was the kind of nightmare na hindi siya pinapatulog kahit pa anong gawin niya.

And then… his face appeared. 

Tennyson… where are you? Let me in! Come back!

And then, there was another voice—the same, familiar voice na matagal na rin niyang sinusubukang takasan—only to always end up failing. 

Growing up, you’ve been the center of everyone’s attention. Everybody thought you were special. At mas lalo kang nabigyan ng attention ng magsimula kang tumulong kay Papa sa mga kasong hawak niya—the one who understands killers well. You’ve been wondering kung bakit magkaiba tayong dalawa, Tennyson? We’re not. We’re every inch the same—but I’m smarter than you.”

Then, the sound of a gun—and Tennyson found herself falling deep down into the darkness.

—

MARAHAS ang ginawa niyang pagbalikwas sa kama.

In her dreams, she was falling from a high building. At bago siya tuluyang bumagsak sa sahig ay doon na siya tuluyang nagising. Isang buntong hininga ang pinakawalan niya bago isinuklay ang mga daliri sa magulong buhok. She turned to the lamp desk next to her bed at hinila ang switch upang buksan iyon; dim light illuminating her relatively small bedroom.

Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang silid at ng makadama siya na hindi na siya makakatulog ay tahimik siyang tumayo at nagtungo sa banyo. She would flip every switch na madadaanan niya upang lumiwanag ang buong apartment niya at ng makarating sa banyo ay dumiretso siya sa sink upang maghugas ng kamay.

When she realized that she had been washing her hands for a straight ten minutes ay agad niyang pinihit ang gripo. She stared at her reflection in the mirror; noting the dark shadows under her eyes… the bone-straight cheekbones and sharp eyes. But instead of seeing her reflection… she’d seen something else—someone else. 

Someone darker. 

Turning away from her reflection, she pushed aside the mirror of the medicine cabinet at kinuha ang dalawang bote ng pills. Sa nanginginig na mga kamay ay itinaktak niya iyon sa kamay niya—two pills from each bottle—bago sabay-sabay na ininom iyon; dry-swallowing all four pills bago muling tinitigan ang reflection.

This time, she’s finally seeing someone… more humane.

“I’m different… I’m different. I’m… me.”

Ng mag-ring ang telepono sa sala ay ikinagulat pa niya. She cursed momentarily; dowsing her face with cold water bago tinuyo ang mukha. Ng kalmado na siya ay nagmamadali siyang nagtungo sa sala, heaved out a heavy sigh bago sinagot ang tawag. “Good morning, who’s this?”

“Tennyson! Thank God gising ka pa! We need you to report on duty right now.”

Kunot noo niyang nilinga ang receiver ng telepono. She was so certain na hindi panaginip iyon—at na hindi rin prank call. Regardless, whether this was a dream or not, she was so certain that the call is about to change her life for a second time.

—

TENNYSON was still silent ng i-park niya ang sasakyan sa bakanteng parking space.

There were police cars everywhere at isang ambulansya. There was even a yellow police line blocking off the light traffic at isang officer na siyang nagmamando ng mga dumadaang sasakyan. It’s only five in the morning ngunit napapansin niyang madami ng nakiki-usi. As soon as her car was parked, she got out of her second-hand vehicle at nagtungo sa crime scene.

Inspector Bryan de Leon was quick to approach her ng makita siya nitong bumaba ng sasakyan. The man looked as though he was pulled out of very much-needed sleep. His hair was a sloppy mess and his casual shirt was crumpled. It looked as though hindi ito binigyan ng pagkakataon na ayusin ang sarili ng tawagin ito ng mga subordinate sa crime scene.  

Zipping her jacket upang hindi siya gaanong lamigin, Tennyson nodded at the officer in acknowledgment. “Tell me what happened, Inspector.”

“You tell me.” anito sa iritadong tinig. His voice was strained… clearly distraught. Whatever is happening ay hindi nito nagugustuhan. Tennyson even noted the dark bags under his eyes; isang senyales na walang matinong tulog ang binata. “Three deaths in a span of two weeks? This is absurd, Ten!”

“Calm down.” Aniya habang naglalakad sila patungo sa crime scene. More officers acknowledge her presence na bahagya lang niyang tinanguan. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, Bryan.”

“That’s what you told me last week, Ten. And now, I have a new body to add sa lab. The Mayor and the Superintendent won’t be happy with this.”

“They won’t kung papairalin mo ang mood mo.” Si Tennyson na nilagpasan ang binata at tuluyan ng lumusot palampas ng yellow police line.

Inspector Bryan de Leon wanted to wring the woman’s neck. He would have fired her as a police consultant kung hindi lang magaling ang dalaga sa ginagawa nitong trabaho. In fact, they were lucky to have her—lucky to have her stay in Baler kahit pa hindi gayong kalaki ang sweldo nito. Bryan knew Tennyson would make it big in the city. She’s a very intelligent woman who knows exactly what to do and when to do it. She had a knack for things… a critical eye for possible evidence na maaring hindi nakita ng mga forensic experts nila at may mga nakikita ito na hindi nakikita ng ibang tao.

No, not in that sense. Tennyson sees things in a different way; explains things in a very unique way. Sometimes, hindi niya maiwasang isipin that the woman lives and moves in a very different world bago pa ito manirahan sa Baler may dalawang taon na ang nakakalipas. 

When she was first transferred to Baler, it was included in her exclusive profile na galing ang dalaga sa isang pribadong organisasyon; also working as a private investigator. But then, she decided that investigating isn’t her thing kaya naman naging police consultant ang dalaga. She’s been into different provinces in the Philippines hanggang sa tuluyang ma-transfer ito sa lugar nila. There hadn’t been many crime scenes in Baler maliban sa occasional na gulo ng mga taong nag-iinuman. Drug trafficking isn’t a normal occurrence as well lalo pa at madaming sundalong nakakalat sa barangay nila. 

Since it is one of the most famous tourist spots in the Philippines ay naka-maximum security ang lugar to prevent any casualties such as kidnappings for ransom. 

Disaster hit their department when the first body was found sa Sabang beach. It was a woman, twenty-five years old, and an elementary teacher. Liliana Samonte’s body was found by the beach early in the morning ng isa sa mga may-ari ng souvenir shop sa Sabang. Her body was skinned, and her throat was slashed—siguro ay upang hindi ito makasigaw. They managed to identify the woman since her face was virtually left untouched. 

The second victim was found in Balete; isa sa mga tourist spot sa Baler. Jenny Lemuel’s body was found in the wishing well bearing the same horrible injuries. And like Liliana, she was skinned as well and her face untouched. Ayon sa magulang nito ay lumabas lang ang dalaga upang mamalengke. She never made it home. 

The third—and latest—victim is Marianna Agoncillo. She was reported missing two days ago. Ayon sa mga magulang nito ay makikipagkita ito sa mga kaklase nito at a-attend ng high school reunion. She never made it to the venue. Ng contact-in ng mga magulang ang mga kaklase, they informed the horrified parents na hindi umattend ang dalaga; that they’d been trying to contact her ngunit patay ang cell phone nito. Thinking she doesn’t want to attend ay hindi na nila sinubukan pang contact-in. 

And now, here she is, in front of them. Practically hidden behind virgin shrubbery and dead. Skinned. Face untouched and had most likely suffered a brutal and painful death.

When they started consulting Tennyson with the case ay hindi nakaligtas sa paningin niya ang matinding pamumutla ng dalaga. Bryan deduced it as something na hindi kinaya ng sikmura nito—especially since he showed her pictures. But every time na may matatagpuang katawan, he couldn’t help but note that she was distracted… distraught even. Minsan ay nahuhuli niya ang dalaga na palinga-linga na tila ba may hinahanap ito; as if she thinks na may nakatitig sa kanila. When he’d asked her once kung bakit tila aligaga ito, she merely said the suspect is targeting women around her age kaya napaparanoid siya.

But Tennyson Valenciana’s reaction doesn’t fall down the paranoid category. This woman looked as though may tinatakasan ito—na anytime ay lilitaw ang tinatakasan nito and she would have fled right away; if she would even be given that chance. 

“Has she been identified?”

Isang tango ang isinagot niya sa dalaga habang sinusuot nito ang latex gloves. The other experts aided her at tinutukan ng flashlight ang bangkay—or whatever’s left of it. “We’re positive she’s Marianna Agoncillo. Nariyan pa ang purse niya with all her IDs. But just in case, we’ll have the parents… identify her.”

“I don’t think that’s going to be a good idea.” Si Tennyson bago nilapitan ang bangkay; checking the soil and the area around the body.

It still bothers Bryan na tila hindi apektado ang dalaga kada makakakita ito ng bangkay. In fact, the woman would stare at the dead body… go silent for no more than three minutes, and return to them na tila ba nawala ang presensya nito ng ilang minuto. Bryan watched as Tennyson stared at the body, slammed her eyes shut bago bumuntong hininga.

“What is it?”

“She wasn’t killed here. She was killed someplace else.” Agad na tumayo ang dalaga, hinubad ang latex gloves at tinalikuran ang bangkay. For a moment, she looked drained. “Same murder weapon.”

“Chef’s knife and approximately twelve inches?” ng tumango ito ay muli siyang napabuntong hininga. “I think… we need help, Ten.”

Kunot noo siyang nilinga ng dalaga; the first time she saw confusion stain her dark eyes. “Ano’ng ibig mong sabihin?”

“I know someone… who knows someone within NBI—a unit. They deal with the weird and… unusual.”

“We have a serial killer with the same MO, Bryan.” Si Tennyson sa tensionadong tinig. “Kung sino man ang gumagawa nito, he does the exact, same thing—targets women within the same age bracket. Anong unusual and weird sa kasong ito?”

“Everything.” Si Bryan sa nahahapong tinig. “We have to face it. It’s not just a serial killer, Ten. It’s a butcher—and we have no idea kung sino ang taong ito. Heck, we don’t even have a profile. And if we call in NBI, I’m sure mas makakatulong sila. I’m not saying na hindi ka nakakatulong. You did more and what you think is the best. I’m talking about the technology, Ten. We don’t have that here in Baler. Maski ang laboratory natin kung saan isinasagawa ang autopsies ay kulang-kulang ang mga equipment. If we call in NBI, I’m sure the unit na ipapadala nila would give us more leg up—“

“I don’t think they would accept this, Bryan.”

“Why? Alam mo ba ang unit na ito, Ten?”

Tennyson was caught off guard. She mentally cursed herself dahil sa hindi sinasadyang pagkakadulas niya. Instead, she decided to change the topic. “That’s not the point, Bryan. I’m sure we can solve this case on our own. We’ve been rendering overtimes para lang mapunta sa pinag-ugatan nito.”

“Tennyson, don’t think hindi ko napapansin ang pag-iiba ng approach mo sa kasong ito. You used to be so… aggressive when it comes to profiling criminals. But this time?” umiling ang binata. “I could charge you for withholding possibly important information to close a case.”

Once again, Tennyson mentally cursed. But then again, may tama naman si Bryan. She had been withholding information—information from her past dahil hindi iyon ang unang beses na na-encounter niya ang gayong klaseng modus. But the person who did the killings has long been dead. At bagaman naisara ang kaso, she didn’t want to think that the MO is, once again, the same as the MO now. She didn’t want to think that this is a game—that this is a challenge. Hindi na niya gusto pang balikan ang parteng iyon ng nakaraan niya. 

In the end, Tennyson sighed. “What unit?”

“SCID. I heard… things about them—bagaman hindi ko alam kung anong special sa unit nila. I heard they’re called the Special Crimes Investigation Division—that they deal with the weird and the unusual.” Nagkibit balikat ito bago siya muling nilinga. “Ten, just because I’m calling them doesn’t mean na hindi mo nagawa ang trabaho mo—kung iyan ang iniisip mo.”

Hindi niya pinansin ang huling sinabi nito. If the damned Inspector wants answers, wala siyang ibang pagpipilian kung hindi bigyan ito ng sagot. “This is a hunt.”

“Ano?”

“He’s… hunting—assuming that the killer is a he.” She didn’t want to think that the killer is a woman bagaman ilang points ng mga pagkamatay ang nagsasabi sa kanya na maaring babae ang suspect nila. “Whatever he’s hunting, hindi ko alam. But these women… they’re nothing compared to the one na hinahanap niya.”

Inspector de Leon stared at her in plain disbelief. “At ngayon mo lang sinasabi sakin ito?”

“I wasn’t sure back then.” Tennyson watched blankly ng dalawang EMTs ang lumagpas sa kanila ni Bryan bitbit ang isang body bag kung saan nakasilid ang katawan ng biktima. “And now, I’m certain. If you want to call SCID, it’s your call. But they will say the same thing na sinabi ko sa iyo. Whoever is doing this… is hunting someone.” 

Iyon lang at tuluyan ng tumalikod si Tennyson at nagtungo sa sasakyan. Whether Bryan calls SCID or not ay wala na siyang magagawa. She will do her best to maintain a possible low profile.

Pero kung hindi gagana iyon, then she would simply start packing… before that person catches her again.