Chapter Five

“WHAT do you mean there’s another murder?”

“You heard me.” Ang walang emosyong sambit ni Alvin kay Tennyson habang naglalakad sila patungo sa pool area ng University. It hasn’t been three days since the murder of Rosalyn San Juan at ngayon naman ay isa na namang katawan ang natagpuan sa loob pa rin ng unibersidad. “The victim’s a student of this University; same with the first vic at ang nakakita sa katawan niya ay ang maintenance staff.”

“A-Anong nangyari sa kanya?”

“Same MO. She was… skinned. And again, the face was basically untouched.” Ilang police officers ang agad na bumati sa binata ng makarating sila sa crime scene kung saan muli ay nakita niya ang ilang forensics experts; there was one taking photos and two other officers probably looking for fingerprints and other DNAs na maaring mag-point out sa suspect nila. 

Wala sa loob na nilinga ni Tennyson ang crime scene kung saan nakalutang sa gitna ng pool ang walang buhay na katawan ni Amanda dela Cruz. The woman was wearing nothing bagaman hindi na kailangan pa iyon. She was skinned from her throat down to her feet liban sa mukha nito. Her eyes had the expression of shock and pain and her long black hair floated on the reddish water like motionless snakes. 

Agad ang ginawang pagtalikod ni Tennyson; clenching her teeth and steeling her stomach upang hindi niya ilabas ang lahat ng kinain niya ng umagang iyon. She gently reminded herself to never eat anything lalo na kapag makikipagkita siya kay Alvin. Because for sure, she’s bound to humiliate herself kung hindi niya mapipigilan ang sarili niyang magsuka. Ng kalmado na siya ay muli siyang bumaling sa katawan ng dalaga; looking for anything amiss. The putrid scent of blood and chlorine ay naghahalo sa hangin kaya naman sinikap niyang huminga gamit ang bibig kaysa ilong. 

“Where’s the skin?” aniya bago nilinga si Alvin na matiim na nakatitig sa kanya; his eyes equally wary and elusive. “Her skin’s missing.”

“Any idea why?”

“Trophy.” Inabot niya ang panyo mula sa bulsa upang takpan ang ilong dahil hindi na niya kaya ang matindi at malansang amoy na nanunuot at pilit na nagsusumiksik sa ilong niya. “And look at the cuts on her side. Baka may nawawala din siyang mga organs. I want to check.”

“Okay. We’ll have her body pulled—”

Agad ang ginawa niyang pag-iling. “No. I want to see it fresh—untouched. I’ll know more kung titingnan ko ang katawan niya in its… natural state. Can you ask your people to get out of the room?”

Alvin stared at her critically na tila ba may hinahanap ito sa mga mata niya. And as if he found whatever it may be na hinahanap nito ay agad itong tumalikod sa kanya upang utusan ang mga tauhan nitong lumabas ng crime scene. The emergency response team quickly abide by his orders at dali-daling lumabas ng pool area. 

Tennyson stared back at Alvin ng mapansin niyang tumitig ito sa kanya. And instantly, she realized with cold dread ang emosyon sa mga mata nito. Aside from the very usual plain curiosity… there was the unusual guardedness na tila ba may nalaman ito sa kanya enough to arouse suspicion. She sighed. “Do you want to stay?”

Kumunot ang noo nito. “Why?”

“I hate it when you’re suspicious of me, Alvin. Is it because of what I said kay Rosalyn?”

“Not really.” Anito at muling lumapit sa kanya. “It’s more about your abilities; your shield. Why is it impenetrable?”

“My what?”

“Your shield.”

Kunot noo siyang bumaling dito. “Hindi ko alam kung anong sinasabi mo.”

“You didn’t know that you have an impenetrable shield wrapped around your mind?” and she must have looked so convincing na hindi niya alam ang sinasabi nito dahil isang buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ng binata. 

“You can stay here if you want.”

“I’m… fascinated in you, Tennyson.” Ang sagot nito sa kanya habang naglalakad papalapit sa kanya. “I’m fascinated with how your mind works… your ability… you.”

Wala sa loob siyang napaatras. Hindi niya alam kung anong magiging reaction niya kapag tuluyang nakalapit sa kanya ang binata. And while she was equally fascinated with the enigma that was Alvin Montemayor as well, it doesn’t mean that she would easily tear down the walls na itinayo niya sa pagitan nila ng binata. More than the fascination, she was more interested in the idea of choking the life out of the man.

 “Y-You shouldn’t feel that way towards me, Chief.” Ang nauutal na sambit niya sa binata at pinaglipat-lipat ang mga mata dito at sa katawang nasa swimming pool. “And my goodness, nasa crime scene tayo! How could you speak about fascination samantalang kailangan nating unahin ito?”

Alvin sighed and ushers her to the crime scene. “What do you see?”

“I told you. I need to look closer.” Dali-dali siyang lumayo sa binata at ng makakita ng pwede niyang gamitin upang makalapit sa bangkay ng hindi nababasa ay agad niyang kinuha iyon. Tennyson placed the small lifeboat on the red pool water at tinanggap ang tulong ni Alvin upang makasampa doon. “Stay here and stay quiet. I need to concentrate.”

Isang tango ang isinagot sa kanya ng binata bago siya tuluyang bumaling sa bangkay ng estudyante na nasa harapan niya. She waddled on the reddish pool water and towards the victim, sinikap na kontrolin ang matinding panginginig ng katawan niya at ng nakalapit siya ay tahimik na sinipat ito. 

“She’s missing organs.” Aniya matapos sipatin ang tagiliran nito. “Autopsy will tell us what. The murder weapon is the same… and wala siyang ibang injury na tinamo.”

“You mean aside from being skinned and the missing organ?”

“Yes.” Nilinga niya si Alvin. “I told you the killer is evolving. The first kill was sloppy. This one is almost perfect.”

“Kailangan ko pa ring malaman kung sino ang hinahamon niya, Tennyson. I can’t seem to get that question out of my head.”

“Must be law-enforcement.”

“I thought this is not about breaking the rules?”

Umiling siya doon. “That’s right. This is about… a person—someone na may gusto siyang patunayan.” Ibinalik niya ang mga mata sa bangkay ni Amanda bago hinaplos ang mukha nito. And almost instantly, she was hypnotized by the hypnotic appearance of deathly pallid skin and unmoving figure. “She’s beautiful—she still wants them beautiful… kaya hindi niya ginagalaw ang mukha ng mga ito.”

“Why?”

“A statement. I don’t know, Alvin.” She started to paddle her way back to him at muling tinanggap ang kamay ni Alvin ng alalayan siya nito paalis ng pool. She removed the rubber gloves she wore and dumped them on the trash bin and stared back at Alvin. “These women… these victims… were not murdered out of hate. Hindi iyan ang nadarama ko ng pumasok ako dito maski ng pumasok ako sa silid ni Rosalyn. They were chosen… to be part of this game.”

“Game?”

“They were killed to make a statement: I will strip you of everything except your identity.” Muli niyang nilinga ang lumulutang na katawan ni Amanda. “At kung sino man ang pinapatungkulan niya ay hindi ko alam. It could be the law enforcement, it could be the person na hahawak ng kasong ito… it could be an enemy; a student in this University. I don’t know. But I’m sure that these murders serve as a… message for someone.”

“Do you think that someone is going to be a victim soon?”

Tennyson furiously shakes her head. “This is a game for the…suspect. At kung sino ang pinapadalhan niya ng mensaheng ito, she will not hurt that person. Instead, she’s expecting a response.”

“Response as in… to kill someone too?”

Pinagmasdan ni Tennyson ang bangkay ni Amanda sa pool; her body horribly skinned and her eyes wearing nothing but pure shock, fear, and pain even beyond her death. She was so young… and she died a brutal death—stuck in a game na hindi naman ito dapat nadamay. Bumaba ang mga mata niya sa malaking hiwa sa gilid ng katawan nito; where an organ should be supposedly placed but is currently missing—kung ano man ang organ na kinuha dito. 

She turned back to Alvin na naghihintay ng kasagutan niya. “She already received a response.”

“Am I expecting another body, Tennyson?” si Alvin sa madilim at seryosong tinig. He didn’t like the idea of students being killed; especially women with promising futures. 

Umiling siya doon. “No. Not a body. Hindi iyon ang sagot na hinahanap niya.” Wala sa loob siyang napaatras; cold dread seeping through her veins and spine habang nakatitig siya sa bangkay ng dalaga, back to Alvin and back to Amanda. Her mouth was quick to cover her mouth upang pigilan ang malakas na singhap na kumawala sa lalamunan niya. 

Alvin was instantly on the alert at agad na nahawakan ang braso niya despite the electricity stunning both. Whatever Tennyson may have realized was enough to scare the wits out of her. “What is it? Tell me.”

“T-Tayo…”

“What? Tennyson, hindi kita maintindihan.”

“T-This is for us, Alvin. Para sa atin ang mensaheng ito. She—the suspect—killed again because we responded by investigating the case.” She looks around her, tasting the sensation left in the pool area… trying to get whatever clue she may get upang mabigyan ng paliwanag ang dahilan niya. And she could almost see the killer—faceless but with the body of a woman—skinning Amanda San Juan alive; the latter unresponsive but clearly in pain. Muli niyang ibinalik ang mga mata kay Alvin. “This is for us, Alvin—the message is for one of us.”

—

“HEY…”

Tennyson smiled at her twin sister, Diana, at pinanood ang kapatid ng umupo ito sa tabi niya. She returned her eyes to the stretching dark garden ng bahay nila; trying to take her mind off the brutal crime scene na pinuntahan niya kaninang umaga. 

“It’s clearly taking a toll on you, Ten.” Si Diana sa nag aalalang tinig bago hinaplos ang likuran niya. 

“I’m fine, Di. Huwag ka ng mag-alala sa akin.”

“Look at your eyes.” Pwersahan siyang pinaharap ni Diana dito bago hinawakan ang ilalim ng mata niya. “Ang laki na ng eyebags mo. Natutulog ka pa ba?”

She didn’t want to lie to her sister kaya naman mas pinili na lang niyang sabihin ang katotohanan. “They are haunting me in my dreams kaya naman hindi ako makatulog ng maayos. Kada imumulat ko ang mga mata ko, I’d find myself back in the crime scene.”

 “And? Ano’ng ginagawa mo sa crime scene?”

“Staring at the body. Sometimes, re-enacting how the victims died.” Isang buntong hininga ang pinakawalan niya bago muling nilinga ang kapatid. “Someone is… challenging Alvin, I don’t know. I’m confused. Something’s off sa kasong ito.”

“Off with the case or off with you?”

Tennyson stared at Diana critically at bago pa kung saang madilim na bahagi ng utan niya mapunta ang pag iisip niya ay agad siyang nagbawi ng tingin. “Hindi ko alam. I guess, hindi lang ako komportable sa kasong ito. It feels personal to me.”

“Dahil ang biktima ay galing lahat sa unibersidad na pinapasukan mo?”

Saglit siyang natigilan sa sinabi ng kapatid bago gulat na humarap dito. “Tama ka. Lahat nga sila ay galing lahat sa iisang unibersidad—mine. Diana, I told Alvin that these murders are a challenge—that the dead victims are a message… for someone.”

Umangat ang isang kilay nito; but fear was present in her sister’s eyes. “And?”

“What if the message was for me?”

Isang singhap ang kumawala sa bibig ng kapatid bago mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay niya; worry and anxiety in her eyes. “Ten, I think you should call Alvin—or back out of this case. Paano kung masaktan ka?”

“No. Now, I’m sure the message is for me. Dahil imposibleng para kay Alvin ang mga bangkay na iyon. This person… has a grudge on me.” Hindi siya makapaniwala na kalmado ang tinig niya sa kabila ng matinding panginginig ng katawan. Regardless, tinanggap niya ang mahigpit na hawak ng kapatid sa kamay niya. “She’s challenging me.”

Muli ay napasinghap si Diana. “The suspect is a woman?”

“Alvin’s profile.” Aniya sa kapatid. “I have to find out kung sino ang taong ito—and what I did against her upang gawin niya ang mga bagay na ito. Those women… those poor women. They don’t deserve to die like that, Diana.”

“Nobody does, Ten.” Ang kapatid niya sa malungkot na tinig bago muling mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay niya. “Pero ipangako mo sa akin na mag-iingat ka. It would kill Papa kapag may nangyari sa iyo.”

Tennyson smiled at Diana at mahipit ding hinawakan ang kamay ng kapatid bago inihilig ang ulo sa balikat nito. Thankful na hindi napansin ng kapatid na hindi siya nangako dito. In her field of work, alam niyang madami siyang pangako na hindi matutupad; especially if a promise involves safety and survival.

—

SHE was laughing at her in the darkness.

Tunay ngang matalino si Tennyson dahil sa mga sinabi nito sa kapatid nito. All of her investigations are accurate at lahat ng iyon ang nagiging daan upang mapalapit siya sa dalaga. But then again, it was none other than Tennyson Montessa kaya naman she expects nothing less of her. 

Tahimik siyang naglakad sa malawak na living room ng pamilya Montessa and towards the bureau lined with picture frames ng pamilya bagaman majority ng mga larawan doon ay ang larawan ng kambal. She got one photo bearing Dianara Montessa’s face—Tennyson’s eldest twin sister—at siniyasat iyon; scratching with her sharp nails the woman’s face over the glass frame at muling ibinalik iyon sa bureau.

She turned next to the photo ng mag-asawang Montessa at pinagmasdan iyon… studying the happy expression on their aged faces na alam niyang hindi rin magtatagal. How she hated the old couple for reasons na ayaw na niyang alalahanin pa. But she was certain na kasama rin ang dalawang matanda sa larong iyon.

She walked towards the stairs ng makasalubong niya ang isa sa mga katulong. Agad na ngumiti ito sa kanya bagaman kakakitaan ng confusion ang mukha. “Bakit hindi ka pa natutulog? Kapag nakita ka na nagpapagala-gala pa dito sa sala ay makakagalitan ka. Alam mong hindi nila gustong gising pa kayo ng ganitong oras.”

“Matutulog na rin ho ako, manang. Kumuha lang ng tubig.”

“O sige. Bumalik ka na sa silid mo.”

She smiled pleasantly at the maid at ng wala na ito sa paningin niya ay napalis ang ngiti sa labi niya. Ng tiyak niyang siya na lang muling mag-isa ay pumanhik na siya at dahan-dahang nagtungo sa silid ni Tennyson; the dumb woman sleeping in careless abandon on her bed ng hindi man lang nagla-lock ng pintuan.. 

 She knew this stupidity—despite her very obvious intelligence—would get her killed one day.

And she would be there to watch it; the fall of Tennyson.

With relish.

She stared at the sleeping woman on the bed; resisting the urge to scratch her face and pushes aside her evil thoughts dahil alam niyang nadarama iyon ng dalaga. After all, kahit pa gaano siya mag-ingat, fact will always remain that Tennyson’s ability to feel the emotions scattered sa paligid nito will lead the said woman directly to her.

“Not yet, Tennyson.” Aniya sa mahinang tinig habang hinahaplos ang mukha nito. “I’m far from done, my dear. And you will thoroughly enjoy the next body na ipapadala ko sa iyo that not even your precious pills can save you.”