Chapter Ten

“SSH, Tennyson! It’s me!”

Tennyson resisted struggling at ng pakawalan siya ng nakahuli sa kanya ay agad niyang nakilala si Alvin—with Maverick on his side. Hindi niya mapigilan ang sigh of relief na kumawala sa lalamunan niya bago tuluyang ibinaba ang baril at hinarap ang dalawa. “What are you guys doing here?!”

“To assign personal guards to your family.” Si Alvin sa pabulong ring tinig. “There was another murder in your University. And this time, the killer had left a message.”

Kumunot ang noo niya doon. “Message?”

“For you.” si Maverick na nagpapalinga-linga sa kadiliman; clearly uncomfortable with the place. “Whoever killed them is out to get you next.” 

Hindi mapigilan ni Tennyson ang panginigan ng katawan. What if… what if sinaktan nito ang mga magulang niya? What if the killer is planning to hurt Diana? Bago pa siya makatakbo patungo sa kwarto ng kapatid ay maaga siyang nahuli ni Alvin; encasing her inside his steel arms. 

“Calm down!” he hissed at her; mahigpit siyang hinawakan upang hindi siya makawala. “Calm down, Tennyson! Iyon ang gustong gawin ng kung sino man ito na tumatarget sa iyo. She wants you to separate from us upang madali ka niyang makuha.”

“S-Sila Mama—oh God! Kasalanan ko ito, Alvin…!”

“Ssh!” he had shushed her violently; muling tinakpan ang bibig niya upang hindi siya makalikha ng kahit na anong ingay. “This is a game for this killer, Ten. At matatalo ka kung hahayaan mo siyang mapasok ang utak mo. Calm the hell down.” Sa kabila ng matinding pag-aalala niya ay wala siyang ibang pagpipilian kung hindi ang sundin si Alvin. She tried her best to calm down at ng kalmado na siya ay pinakawalan siya ng binata. “We’ll go in… pairs. You’ll go with Maverick.”

“W-What about you?”

“I can handle myself, Tennyson. But you have to go with Maverick lalo pa at parehas tayong… bulag—if you know what I mean.” Bumuntong hininga ito. “There are other guards checking the area. Let’s reconvene outside. At kung pakiramdam ninyo ay may mali, get out of the house right away.”

Parehas silang tumango sa sinabi ni Alvin bago sila naghiwa-hiwalay. Tennyson gave Alvin one last glanced bago sinundan si Mavvy na umakyat na sa second floor while Alvin took the other stairs leading to the basement—siguro ay upang paganahin ang generator.

—

THE stairs leading to the basement were dark and narrow. 

Iyon siguro ang dahilan kung bakit walang masyadong bumababa doon maliban sa maintenance staff at ilang katulong. Alvin tried flipping the switches na nakikita niya ngunit lahat ng ilaw doon ay hindi gumagana. He cursed mentally. Without his extra senses, he’s—literally—blind as a bat.

Kaya naman hindi niya nakita agad ang anino na nasa harapan niya—until his eyes caught the shiny silver tip of what seemed to be a knife pointed on his face.

Ngunit huli na ang lahat upang makaiwas.

—

TENNYSON gasped; agad na sinapo ang dibdib.

Si Maverick na nasa unahan niya ay agad na itinutok ang baril sa direction niya; checking if someone managed to sneak up on them at ng makatiyak na walang tao ay agad na nilapitan si Tennyson; still hypersensitive of his surroundings. This is the first time he felt real, dark fear. 

“Ten, are you alright?”

Wala sa loob siyang umiling. The pain in her chest was solid—almost real. Agad na lumipad ang utak niya kay Alvin. “I felt something—Alvin.”

“Alvin can handle himself, Ten.”

Muli ay umiling siya. “No, he’s in danger. Nararamdaman ko. H-He’s hurt.” And the moment she said that ay siyang litaw ni Alvin sa hagdan. Maverick smelled blood on him kaya naman agad siyang naging alerto; pointing his gun on Alvin’s back to cover the man. Si Tennyson ay agad na tinakbo ang binata. “Alvin! W-What happened?!”

“She got me. It’s a woman.” Si Alvin habang sapo ang mukha while Tennyson was quick to undo her jacket upang lagyan ng pressure ang may kalalimang sugat sa mukha ng binata. “Dammit, naisahan ako ng babaeng iyon.”

“Any ID on our suspect?” si Maverick na alerto pa rin sa paligid.

Alvin shakes his head. “Too dark. Hindi ko siya nakita. She managed to slam me to the ground—a karate move. But definitely a woman.” 

Tennyson…

Tennyson froze, marahas na bumaling sa pinanggalingan ng tinig na tumawag ng atensyon niya. She knew she didn’t imagine any of that. Gun on her hand ay itinutok niya iyon sa kadiliman and towards the stairs leading to the third floor; sa likod niya ay nakasunod si Alvin at Maverick na pawang mga nakaamba ang baril; ready to fight if necessary.

Tennyson, here…

“Someone’s upstairs. Tinatawag niya ako—a woman.” Someone familiar.

She readied her own gun; readying herself as well dahil may pakiramdam siyang hindi niya magugustuhan ang makikita niya. And something tells her na kilala niya ang tinig na rumerehistro sa isipan niya. 

“Could it be the killer?” si Maverick sa likuran niya; she could feel his tension permeating the air… and the strong taste and smell of metal in the air—blood.

“H-Hindi ko alam.” Utal na sambit niya at maingat na umakyat sa hagdan; wincing slightly every time the old wood would creak painfully loud. “But I’m certain na may tao sa itaas.”

“What’s upstairs?”

“Attic.”

Ng makarating sila sa attic ay akmang bubuksan niya ang pintuan ng maagap siyang pigilan ni Maverick. She allowed the man to open the door, flipping the light switch first bago marahas na napamura. Hindi na niya hinintay pa ang signal nito dahil agad niyang nilagpasan ang binata and stepped into the room; gasping loudly ng makita ang mga magulang. They were seated on a makeshift dining table; their eyes had a horrified expression on their faces habang nakatitig sa kanya.

Though it was very clear they were dead.

They had been stripped—skinned. Their faces basically untouched kaya naman kitang kita niya ang reaction ng mga ito; something Tennyson knew na dadalhin niya buong buhay niya… the main subject of her future nightmares. At sa likuran ng mga magulang ay isa pang upuan. Someone was seated there at nakatalikod sa kanya; staring at the darkness of the night ng nakabukas na veranda. 

It was Diana.

—

“I'VE been waiting for you, Tennyson.” 

“Diana…?” Agad niyang binawi ang baril na nakatutok sa kapatid… but something told her she shouldn’t kaya naman muli niyang itinaas iyon; still aware of her surroundings—and very much aware of the evil in front of her. 

Her twin sister. 

“Hindi mo talaga alam na ako ang nasa likod ng mga pagpatay na iyon?” staring at her dumbstricken face, Diana laughed. It was the kind of laughter na hindi niya inaasahan sa kakambal. She’d always been soft-spoken… gentle… virtuous. Sa kanilang dalawa, Tennyson had long accepted the fact that she’s the evil twin. Now, she’s starting to doubt that. “Well, I thought kaya mo ako sinaksak dahil alam mo na kung anong sikreto ko.”

“Y-You killed those… girls?”

“I wanted to play a game with you.” anito bago tumayo mula sa kinauupuan at hinarap sila. “I wanted to see who the winner is. I wanted to see kung sino ang mas matalino… mas magaling. And I was honestly surprised dahil nakuha mo ang mensahe ko—that this is a game and you’re very much a participant; sa ayaw mo man o sa gusto mo.”

“Bakit mo ginagawa ito…?” Tennyson felt numb. She felt like she’s going to throw up lalo pa at nasa harapan niya ang bangkay ng mga magulang. 

Diana shrugged. “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.”

“A-Anong sinasabi mo…?”

“Isn’t it obvious, Ten?” muli ay sardonikong nagtawa ito; lumapit sa nakaupong bangkay ni Allison at inakbayan ang ina, not minding the fact that their dead mother is bleeding all over. “I’m psychic as well. At iyon ang dahilan kung bakit nagawa kong pagalingin ang sugat ko matapos mo akong saksakin. I’m also a telepath, Tennyson… and a healer… and someone with a very powerful shield…”

—

TENNYSON could barely speak.

Hindi siya makapaniwala na may abilidad din ang kapatid. All throughout their lives ay kinaiinggitan niya ito dahil normal ito—unlike her. But now, heto ang katotohanang magkaparehas sila ng kambal. And while she did her best upang maging mabuti… upang hindi bumigay sa kadiliman ng isip niya… here goes Diana—completely taken over by her darkness. A darkness na hindi napansin ng mga magulang dahil naka-focus ang mga ito sa kanya. And now, Ferdinand and Allison are dead. At kasalanan niyang lahat iyon.

“No… no!” marahas ang ginawa niyang pagtakip sa tainga niya; wishing that everything would just disappear. Agad ang ginawa niyang pag-atras at bago pa siya mahulog sa hagdan ay agad siyang nasalo ni Alvin. “God, no! It was my fault—kasalanan ko ang lahat…!”

“Tennyson, calm down!” ang asik ni Alvin sa kanya bago binalingan si Diana. He couldn’t see any figure. Instead, ang nakikita niya ay purong kadiliman. The woman had a human shell… and that shell is filled with nothing but oozing darkness. And this woman was engulfed by her own darkness na wala ng natira dito—not even a speck of humanity. “Sumuko ka na, Diana. You will pay for your crimes.”

“Crimes? This is a game, Chief Montemayor.” Muli ay nagtawa ito bago inilabas ang isang malaking baril na itinatago nito sa likuran nito. Alvin cursed while Maverick was quick to point out his gun towards the monster in front of them. “At alam mo ba kung paanong natatapos ang isang laro?”

“Yeah. Somebody wounds up in jail.”

“No. Somebody dies.” And before he could even move, Diana was quick to pull the trigger. But Maverick was quicker dahil agad nitong nabaril ang dalaga sa balikat. Diana let out a startled gasp at agad na itinutok ang baril kay Maverick. Tennyson gasped ng dalawang beses nitong barilin ang binata—one on the shoulder and the other one on his leg na siyang naging dahilan upang mawalan ng panimbang si Maverick. Muli ay napasinghap siya ng marahas siyang itulak ni Alvin sa gilid; his gun pointed towards Diana at walang pangingiming binaril ito sa dibdib.

“No!” ang malakas na sigaw niya at sinubukang takbuhin ang kapatid. 

But Diana wasn’t finished yet. She aimed the gun towards her and pulled the trigger. Darkness was quick to consume her.

—

“ANY word kung nasaan si Tennyson?”

Maverick sighed. After the shootout sa bahay ng mga Montessa—where Alvin was shot matapos nitong harangan si Tennyson mula sa nakaumang na baril ni Diana—all three of them were sent to the hospital. Diana, unfortunately, fell off the third floor of their mansion and died from the impact. Ngayon ay nakalibing na ang dalaga kasama ng mga magulang nito sa isang pribadong sementeryo. Ng magising si Tennyson ay hindi ito ma-control, hence, she had to be sedated. But it was hell ng magising ang dalaga. She had been blaming Alvin sa nangyari sa pamilya nito—and herself. And she was mad at Maverick as well dahil binaril nito ang kakambal. They had to sedate her again upang makalma ang dalaga.

She was furious and inconsolable. She was desperate and distraught.

You killed her, Alvin! Sinabi mong po-protektahan mo ang pamilya ko!

Those had been her last words. Dahil ng bumalik sila sa hospital kung saan naka-confine ang dalaga after she repeatedly tried to kill herself, her hospital room was empty. She was gone. The CCTVs all over the hospital were fried at misteryosong nasira ng araw na iyon kaya hindi nila malaman kung nasaan ang dalaga.

Tila ito nawala na parang bula.

Muling ibinalik ni Maverick ang atensyon kay Alvin ng tumikhim ang binata; clearly waiting for his answer. He sighed again. “Alvin… may mga taong mas gugustuhin na huwag silang hanapin. Tennyson is one of those people.”

Alvin was furious ng suntukin niya ang mesa; not accepting Maverick’s statement. “You don’t understand, Maverick! Tennyson doesn’t know kung anong gusto niya. She’s confused—if she gave me a chance to explain, magkakaayos kaming dalawa.”

“Well, iyon ang problema, Al. Tennyson didn’t give you—or any of us—a chance upang magpaliwanag. The moment na nawala ang sedative sa sistema niya, she escaped and disappeared.”

“She’s vulnerable.  I have to find her. Kasalanan ko itong lahat.” Alvin abandoned his seat at nagtungo sa divan—where more intimate memories with Tennyson invaded his mind. He snapped his eyes shut, focusing on the door connecting their minds, and forced it open upang malaman niya kung nasaan ang dalaga.

But the door won’t budge. 

It was locked from the other side. Three months later and Tennyson still won’t let him in. Doon siya humuhugot ng pag-asa na buhay pa ang dalaga—safe and sound… and still furious at him. 

He didn’t know that Tennyson’s anger could make him… miserable.

Sa gilid niya ay umupo si Maverick bago ipinatong ang isang kamay sa balikat niya. “Ayaw niyang magpahanap, Alvin. We did our best to locate her—even flashed her face on the national television and newspapers. Pero walang nangyari. She’s hiding.”

Alvin stared at Mavvy with wild, tired eyes. “From me?”

Maverick didn’t want to answer that ngunit dahil nakahawak siya kay Alvin ay alam niyang walang sense na hindi sagutin ang katanungan ng binata. Isang buntong hininga ang pinakawalan niya bago tumango. “Yes.”

“Hindi ko siya sasaktan, Maverick. Alam niya iyon.”

“That’s not it. Hindi lang sayo siya nagtatago—sa akin din. And worst, she’s running away from the memories. We have to respect her decision. Her family died—her twin betrayed her.”

“And I disappointed her.” Si Alvin sa pabulong na tinig bago hinimas ang divan—specifically the spot na laging okupado ng dalaga. Once again, her face filled his mind at muli ay sinubukan niyang buksan ang pintuan na nagkokonekta sa kanilang dalawa upang malaman niya kung saan nagtatago ito.

Nothing. But he tried again.

Stop searching for me, Alvin. I hate you! You did this to me! You betrayed me!

Alvin froze. 

The door wasn’t open ngunit tiyak niyang tinig iyon ng dalaga. She managed to send her hatred to him ng hindi nito binubuksan ang pintuan. Wala sa loob niyang sinapo ang mukha; the pain in his heart and mind was enough upang mahirapan siyang huminga.

Maverick took that as a cue upang umalis. He gave his miserable friend one last glance bago dahan-dahang isinara ang pintuan.

Tomorrow, he is certain that Alvin will be a changed man.