DAVE
"With clothes of green
And bark of a dog,
Search me for the goods,
I sleep like a log."
"So this is what you're currently answering?" Arya asked as her eyes squinted at the paper where the riddle was printed.
Reign explained to them everything we were doing and what had happened to us a while ago.
"I guess we're too slow," Chris commented with a sigh. He leaned on the wall and his eyes glazed over us.
“That’s why we need to hurry, or else we won’t make it to the next level,” I told them, grabbing their attention. We couldn't risk getting left behind again. If Lopez and I were not able to pin down our opponent a while ago, there's a high chance that we would not be able to make it to the next level.
"The riddle is easy. What is one thing that can be connected to the descriptions on the paper?"
ARYA"Hand me some stones!"Quicker than the four o'clock, Chris handed the stones he had picked up to Zanaya after he heard her command. Dave was still in the maze fist fighting with our rival Academy's representatives. Zanaya was also trying her best to helped him escaped.She began throwing those stones to the participants from Reinwarts Academy. We could clearly see from where we stood how the Reinwarts people tortured Dave. He sustained wounds that I knew were really painful. We only have ten minutes left to get to the next level so Zanaya didn't hesitate to help Dave in the fight.He knocked one down immediately after he hit the man in the head. He couldn't kill him though, his opponent might just feel dizzy from the impact."Dave come on up!" I shouted at him when the countdown started. Panic was now rising into my veins as waited in bated breath for Dave to join us up
ARYA"Your dad is right. Arya should learn from her mistakes."I dropped the cutlery and stood up. I could no longer bring myself to listen at them. I was about to walk away when mom called my name."Arya, where do you think you're going?""Ventilate.""Don't turn your back at us when we're still talking to you!" my father said, his voice was booming in the room.I clenched my hands as I tried to calm my nerves before turning to them."Why can't you accept that I'm like this. My sister and I are different!""Don't raise your voice at your father.""I'm tired of you comparing me to my sister. I will succeed too in my own way," I added and all of a sudden, my outburst of emotion was making my chest feel lighter. It was as if I just let out a heavy object from my rib cage.I didn't realize that my tears were now flowing on my cheeks. Why am I in tears? This was not even true."Av
CHRISThe simulation test lasted for an hour and Zanaya even managed to take a nap. Luckily we were still part of the competition. Four groups have survived the second level and we were currently inside a room waiting for the third challenge.The wall of the room we were in was transparent so people could still watch us and we could see them. While waiting, I couldn’t help but look at the spectators."Chris, Ma'am Roque was there!" Arya pointed to the bleachers in the arena. I saw her immediately. Her bob cut hair wasn't that hard to spot. Arya was still waving at her, but our professor didn't seem to appreciate it as she just simply gave Arya a pointed look.I looked at some of our colleagues today. They all looked serious and determined to really win. But we would not allow ourselves to be defeated because this battle was for our academy."OMG! Old Dragona is here!" Arya exclaimed which even gathered some atte
CHRISThe four of us continued to listen to the audio recording."Have you talked to Billy?" we heard someone asked from the recording."Who?"“Billy Cortes. He’s this homeless drunk who’s been squatting in the old mansion for years. I kicked him out and locked up the place, but he always finds some way in. The girl must have surprised old Billy.”“When did you last see Mr. Cortes?” a voice asked.“I caught him in the house this afternoon. He was all strung out and desperate for a drink. He’s got a crazy, violent streak, especially when he needs booze.”Detective Dos returned the phone in his pocket after we heard the recordings."We discovered the middle-aged alcoholic passed out in the park. He said he couldn't do that because he never returned h
ZANAYASimulationAgent No. 499Results: Excellent...I was stranded in this vast park. There were lots of children here having fun playing and chasing under the trees. I could also see these happy families talking and teasing each other playfully. They all looked perfect, so lovely.My eyes went to a boy who was now approaching me. He smiled as he held out his little hand in front of me, as if he was inviting me to play with him.My lips pulled up into a small smile because of his contagious smile. I reached for his hand but I was surprised because like him, my hands were also small.Did I go back to my childhood?I glanced down at what I was wearing. It was then I noticed that I was wearing a red dress and my hair was also braided. I remembered this was my usual outfit when I was young.
ZANAYALeave behind might-have-been's, what if's, and if only's. Regrets are such a heavy burden to lug around. Move on and don't let any opportunity passes you anymore. There are lots of opportunities if you know where to look.These were the things that I've learned from this Tournament. No matter how hopeless the situation was, we could still find opportunities out there. We just have to learn to look for them.However, in my case, another opportunity was lost. My chances of talking with Dave have decrease to thirty percent since as of the moment, we were inside this bus that would take us to the mansion of the game planner for some sort of interview and meetings.My simulation for the second level of the tournament had been bugging me all this time. All I thought I already knew myself; however, my life had been a mystery after all those years.After that acci
ZANAYAWe were wearing formal outfit for the event tonight, which was the dinner with the game planner.I am wearing a simple violet cocktail dress that's above the knee. Underneath it, I am wearing shorts in case we'll encounter a battle today in our mission.Dave told us earlier about the plan. Arya and Dave would entertain Mr. Charles as Chris and I would do our job in finding the stone at the second floor.When I finished combing my hair, I immediately went to the kitchen where the various dishes for tonight's feast were being prepared.I started the first part of the mission. I pulled out of my purse a vial with blue liquid. I don’t know where Arya got it. It's just a hypnotic liquid and not deadly.I first made sure the CCTV camera couldn’t find me before I put the blue liquid in the guards' drink so that no one would distur
ZANAYAI pretended to go to CR while Chris went straight to the second floor. Dave and Arya were left at the party to observe the guests for any sign of JDC.This felt like we're in some sort of a secret mission just like what I've seen in the movies before. Who would have thought that the girl who was once lost was now one of those who were also looking for something that have been lost? I never thought that I would find myself in this situation. Until now, it still felt so surreal and I am afraid that the next morning, I would wake up at home and realizing this experience was all but just a dream.Beep.I looked at the watch I was wearing that I got in the tournament as a prize. We still have a lot of equipment that they gave us that we could use as future detectives. Chris' message hologram flashed from the watch."The area is clear."That
ZANAYAI repeatedly called Dave as he ran after the man wearing a hoodie.I could do nothing, but follow them too.We arrived at the airport near the victim's house and the chase took us all the way inside, to the comfort room of the airport. We saw the suspect went inside the CR, but he suddenly disappeared from our sight."Where is he now?" Dave asked. He was still gasping for breath.In the hallway of the CR, six people came out.First was a civilian-- a man, quite tall, carrying a suitcase and wearing a brown jacket, and eyeglasses, and he also looked sweaty.I immediately cornered him so that he wouldn't go away. I showed him my ID as a detective so that he would cooperate.Later, a woman also wearing a jacket, tall, somewhat stout, and somewhat dark, came out of the CR. There was another girl with her and she
ZANAYAI was running...Again.But this time, I was not running away from him. I am actually running towards him."Hey, Zyfford!" I called him.He immediately turned to me. One of his eyebrows was raised while holding the papers that had been scattered earlier on the floor."You got something there?" he questioned.I approached him and held my phone in front of him showing the evidence I captured from the crime scene.His eyebrows knitted in confusion. "And what should we do with a letter to a family?"I clicked my tongue. It looked like the great Dave Zyfford lost his touch on Detective works."Duh. It could be a great help for us to solve the case," I stated in a matter of fact tone."Babe, you've got to be kidding me," he said which mad
ZANAYAHe showed me his dazzling smile again. The typical silent-type guy who had his own way on making girls drool over him. That's Christopher Enriquez."Ah, here's my gift," he murmured shyly after a moment of just staring at each other.Arya let out a laughed as she nudged Monica on her side to which the latter just ignored and simply gave me an encouraging smile.I took it and stared at the box. "What's this?""Open it, quick!""Wow, ha! You're even more excited, Eroll," Arya commented. Eroll clearly ignored Arya's remark and just stared at the box as if anticipating it to explode or whatever. This better not explode or else I would throw it at Eroll's face."Open it," Chris urged with a smile.I shrugged my thoughts away and I began opening it. I was surprised when I saw a calculator inside. It
ZANAYAI stopped my car at the place where he currently stays. It's the place where I wouldn't even thought of visiting, but here I am inside the car, contemplating whether to get out or drive away and hide again.However, I kept on reminding myself for how many times that there was no room for cowardice. I needed to face my past so that I could move on towards my future.The things that happened to me a year ago were incomparable. It was an experience that was worth sharing as it had impacted my whole life to become the person I've become today. Life had made me tougher. It made me realized that truth always prevail no matter how much effort we exerted just to hide it. I've learned that trust was such a precious thing you could give to anyone. Trust was fragile too. It's delicate. If it was broke once, it would be hard to glue the broken pieces together.I let out a sigh. This is it.I pushed the door and got out of the car. Now,
CHRIS"Where are you after the defense?" Eroll fired the first question to a woman. Her wide eyes widened even more when she realized that the question was being addressed to her."I-I'm in the lobby, I'm about to go home that time..." she answered in a shaky voice."What about you?" Eroll inquired another student."My group and I are in the Cafeteria," the girl replied nonchalantly. She seemed to not care that she's one of the suspects and clearly unbothered by what's happening. Either she's not involved or she's just good at hiding emotions.Eroll continued to ask questions until he reached the frowning man who had been suspicious to me ever since I saw him."I'm in the lobby too," he replied sparingly. He and Eroll even held eye contact for a while before the latter averted his gaze to us.We sorted the students who we
CHRIS"Chris! Let's go. You're really slow," shouted Monica who was outside the headquarters with the others.I let out an irritated sigh when I failed to tie my shoe laces properly."Seriously?" someone blurted in front of me.I looked up and saw Monica's annoyed face.I got up and faced her. "I'm done!"After saying that, I pinched her nose and ran to the door while laughing so hard.She groaned audibly as she tried to catch up."Is everything complete?" Dave asked who was seemingly bored judging by his usual dull eyes."Aye! Aye! Captain," Eroll replied playfully.They started walking towards the car.Today, we were invited for a case. And guess what, everyone was excited since it's been a long time since we were able to solve real case
ARYAMonica sent a message first to Dave before we started walking towards the MRF. There were no traces of blood on our way anymore so we didn't know which part of the academy where Zanaya was taken. Our only hope was the MRF. I really she's safe there.When we saw the MRF, the two of us hid in an acacia tree to wait for Dave.Soon, we heard the approaching footsteps of the three men."We think Zanaya was right there!" Monica whispered to the them."Look, the MRF has a secret passageway out of the academy, and I think that's the reason why JDC decided to stay right there," Dave explained. "I asked my father's men to guard all the exits, including the exit in that MRF room, so Nico could not escape, unless he creates another chaos.""We also have back-up policemen, if we haven't gotten out of the MRF within ten minutes, they will come in and
ARYAWe hurried up the stairs to the second floor where the Control Room was located. Monica and I accompanied some rescuers to rescue Zanaya who was inside. Dave with Eroll and Chris were outside and were also looking for JDC aka Nico.Who would have thought that the venerable Student Council President was the mastermind of all the violence at Zyfford Academy? No one would expect him to be able to do that. His life was now tainted with black due to his past.As for Zanaya, I am happy that she still gave us her loyalty up to this point, though I am so worried about her current state as of the moment. I really hope nothing bad happened to her. She's my very first friend here in Zyfford and was also the reason why we became friends with Dave's group. If not for her, I am sure my blood would still boil for the E4.It was already smoky in this part of the building so the rescuers would n
DAVEIt seemed like the world had stopped from revolving that moment when we heard the explosive sound and found out that half of the Broadcast Room was now burning down."Zanaya is still inside!" Arya exclaimed with tears in her eyes.She had been hysterical when everything had sunk in her mind. A series of sobs from her could now be heard along with the shouts of commands from the authorities as they tried to put out the fire.I should have listened to them. I should have listened to her. This shouldn't have happened. I could have helped her. If only I didn't let my pride and ego get in the way. We could have made a better plan.I tugged at my hair while still staring at the burning part of the Broadcast Room.Why didn't I listen to her? She's trying to explain, but I refused to listen. I even started hating her. Damn, I think I hate myself