Eleventh - Taken

“Once wreck the edge of the bridge, the connections would follow. What does it mean?”

For the nth time, I sigh once again.

It's already evening, the usual time of our Math class and so, we are here in Crizeliah's office, having a meeting like what we have agreed yesterday. We're not complete cause Tax is not with us. They said Tax have a quiz at the moment that's why we just let him.

“Wreck is like destroy, tama ba?” Crizeliah asked me. I nodded.

“Once wreck the edge, connection would follows...” I muttered once again before letting out a heavy breath.

There's a lot running in my head now! Yesterday was so frightening, then today is so stressful. Pakiramdam ko ay ang dami ko nang problema.

“Use other hints or phrases in the document,”

We looked at Xheidan.

“Like domino.” He continued

Xheidan is firmly sitting in his seat. He's been like that since we have this meeting, he's just silently scanning his own documents in his hands.

“Bridge and domino, what are their connection?” I heared Marcus asked.

I sigh once again. Hindi ko na alam alam kung ilang buntong hininga ang nagawa ko sa araw na ito. Thinking about what happened yesterday, it still giving a creep into my spine and also, the message in the dead's body.

“We will find out who you are.”

I can't help but to think about it. Is that from the drug syndicate? Is that from the riding in tandem? The news have mentioned that those killed were believed as connected to the drug syndicate, so meaning, the message is from the syndicate. Who is they pertaining at?

Sandali akong napatulala ng dahil sa iniisip ko.

Was they pertaining to the website? Precisely! That website have exposed their two protector in the government and police, they might be trying to get back to the person exposed them. Kung nag kataon, hindi lamang kami ang gagawa nito.

My eyes met Xheidan's when I raised a look for them. I caught him staring at me. I raised my brows.

“Why are you staring, in love ka sa'kin?” I tried to smirked but a smile curved instead.

As expected, Xheidan gasped first before uttering a word. “Assumera,”

I chuckled.

“Hey, ayos ka lang?”

I looked at Marcus and then nodded.

“Kanina ka pa bumubuntong hininga,” He said.

“Kailangan nating huminga, Marcus. Kapag hindi, mamamatay tayo,” I tapped his arms and chuckled at him.

“Silly,”

But deep inside, I'm intensely.

Domino

             Was just like a domino, once wreck a single one, everything connected at it would wrecked as well. There were now dots, connecting each of them. Tell one to sing, you'll get everyone around it.

“Wreck? Hindi ba't ang domino ay kapag tinumba ay tutumba rin ang lahat?” Crizeliah asked.

“Yes. Sa bridge naman, the support is only in the both edges. Once the edge wreck, the connections would follows,” I said.

“What are their connection?” Crizeliah asked. We both looked at Xheidan.

“Just think about it. This riddle probably comes us to make some theories,”

“Alam mo ba? Sabihin mo nalang saamin,” I said to him.

“When we wrecked a single edge of the bridge, buong tulay ang masisira, right? Unless mayroon pang ibang sumusuporta sa tulay. But if it is like a typical bridges with two edges connecting a lands, kapag nasira ang isang dulo o natanggal sa pag kakakabit sa isang lupain, guguho ang buong tulay.” Marcus said while showing us the bridge he have drawn in the back of paper.

“Sa domino naman, if we'll push a one single piece in there, lahat ng naka konekta sakaniya ay babagsak rin,” Crizeliah nodded.

I took the document and scan it once again. I look at the next page where the destination of the made documents were in. I pursed my lips and wondered if the authorities have already taken it.

“They were both dangerous,”

They all looked at me. I raised the paper I was holding and show them the words written in it.

The Dangerous Theater

“We all know that this theater was abandoned a years ago because of the employee massacre happened, while the owner is...” I said.

“The owner of that Theater Company is arrested a years ago dahil sa embezzlement at pang-gigipit sa mga employees,” Marcus stated while massaging his chin.

“The time when the owner get arrested, the CEO of the company part of the elite groups got arrested too dahil napag alamang kasabwat ito sa nangyaring massacre ayon sa Theater Company owner's statement. That time, when the CEO of the second company arrested, nadagdagan ang kaso niya dahil sa taxation case, and because of that case added, mayroon na namang nadawit na Deputy Commissioner,” Crizeliah continued.

Nag katingin kaming lahat.

“And when Deputy Commissioner had his trial, he never exposed anything cause he was threatened by unknown someone. As of that sudden silence of the Commissioner, the NBI determined to deepen their investigation. That leads the exposure of all Deputy Commissioner's illegal connections.” Xheidan stated.

We all looked at each other, was already summing up anything and getting what the document is trying to say.

“Domino! It was acting like a domino dahil nang nahuli 'yung CEO ng Dangerous Theatre ay sunod sunod ring nahuli 'yung mga koneksyon niya. Meaning, the person behind that website used the word domino to describe it cause it acts the way same on it!”

GOSH! ANG TALINO KO NAMAN!

“How about the bridge?” Crizeliah asked.

I smiled widely because of my answered, akala ko ay wala akong maitutulong when it comes to answering some riddles and logics. In my moment of that, my glance sideways to Xheidan's direction who's looking at me with his brows knitted.

“Hays. Inlove ka talaga saakin, ano?” I babbled to him and then chuckled.

Xheidan gasped hardly as of disbelief. I laughed.

“We could differentiate bridge and domino to each other, we could also find the commons,” Marcus said and then draw a domino beside the bridge he have drew awhile ago.

“Sa domino, there were each of material standing alone, but once a one poke , lahat ay madadamay dahil mag kakalapit sila,” Crizeliah said.

I nodded. “In bridge's case naman, mag kakakonektado talaga sila,”

“Once wreck the edge of the bridge, the connections would follow. Hindi ba kapag nasira ang isang dulo ng tulay ay babagsak na?” Marcus looked at us with confusion.

“Yes, but there's still one edge that is supporting the entire bridge so it would left hanging on,” Xheidan said.

Ang galing naman ng supladong 'to

“In domino, they would all fell cause they were close. In bridge, it would not totally fell, instead it would just hang cause there is still something supporting it!” Crizeliah said while having a small smiled.

“Right! So I think, ito na 'yon?” I asked with a smile on my lips.

I'm glad na nakatulong ako kahit papaano.

“Where would we find the documents? We just find out the meaning of that logical phrases but we didn't look for something could point where it's location is,” Xheidan said and then crossed his arms.

“Isn't it in The Dangerous Theatre? It's just near here,” Crizeliah mumbled.

“But that was already abandoned,” I grasped.

“Iyan lang ang tanging lugar na nakasulat dito,” She said to me.

“But..” I looked at Marcus. He's still looking at the paper. Later on, he looked at me.

“Is there any place here that has a bridge?” He asked.

I think in sudden.

“Sa Water Garden malapit sa mall na pinuntahan natin. Bakit?” I answered and asked.

“Domino. Is there any domino field here?” He asked again.

I'm not familiar in any domino fields. I don't even know that there is a place called Domino Field. Is that the place were doing a dominos activities? When I'm doing domino, I'll just collect any thin materials and stand it before poking.

“I know one place, but it's way too far,” Crizeliah answered Marcus.

I sigh and then think of it. It couldnt be in The Dangerous Theatre, that's abandoned! Nakakatakot kaya!

“Baka nga sa The Dangerous Theatre. That's the only location here,” Crizeliah pressed her lips together.

Bakit ba kasi puro ganito na ang binibigay ng website na iyon? Before, it was just uploading it over the website, then it went out like this?!

“We can't just intrude inside that building, pwede tayong makasuhan kapag nahuli tayo!” I complain to Crizeliah with my brows hardly went align.

“Why? Sinong nag sabing mag-papahuli tayo?”

A smirk curved into her dark red lips.

***

“Ice cream?”

I irritatedly sideways my gaze to Marcus who is beside me while were all standing infront of the abandoned building of The Dangerous Theatre. We're almost three block away from it.

“Ang lamig na, mag i-ice cream ka pa?” I whispered and hugged myself.

I've been frowning since we arrived in this place. We stayed in a convenience store for a while to make sure that we'll do everything right when the time we'll go inside there. Nakatayo lang kaming tatlo nila Xheidan sa labas habang si Crizeliah ay bumili ng kung ano man sa loob.

“I thought we'll just look for some CCTV footages that might capture someone who brought the documents somewhere? Diba?” I asked Marcus while my face is all scowling.

This is unjustifiable! This is out of the plan!

Marcus pressed his lips together after having a bite on his ice cream and then lowered his head to get closer on me.

HUH? WHO THE HELL IS BITING AN ICE CREAM?

“Look around, may nakikita ka bang cameras?” He whispered.

I crossed my arms. I sideways my look into Xheidan who's now crossing his arms and frowning in the air. He's been quiet since we arrive here. Xheidan is just leaning in the wall near to us. When he caught me looking at him, he raised his one brow.

“Papasok talaga tayo?” I asked him.

Xheidan rolled his eyes.

Napasimangot nalamang ako at muling humarap kay Marcus. Wala talagang kwentang kausap si Xheidan.

“If you don't want to go in, pwedeng kaming dalawa nalang ni Xheixhei ang papasok? Right, Xheixhei?” Marcus grin at Xheidan.

“My name was pronounced as Zey-dan. If you couldn't comprehend that, consult a doctor,” Xheidan firmly said to Marcus.

I thought Marcus would offend in Xheidan's word but he just chuckled for it.

“Ang rude mo,” I said to Xheidan.

“Ang liit mo,” He put his hands inside his black coat and stand straightly.

“Tatangkad pa'ko!” I frown.

“Oh really? How old are you again?” He took a step towards me.

“Interesado ka? Inlove ka talaga sa'kin?” I smirked.

“Tsk,” Xheidan clicked his tongue followed by a loud gasped.

Grabe? Direng-dire?!

“Let's go?”

We faced Crizeliah who just went out from the convenience store with a paper bag in her arm.

“I bought flashlights,” She said and show off the bag.

“Tss. If there is someone file a case againts us for intruding that building, they could use this convenience store to testify that as an evidence that we did it cause you bought a flashlights,” Xheidan stand beside me and rolled his eyes.

“Sorry, pero matalino ako,” Crizeliah replied and point the word under the Convenience Store's name.

In Thanox

It's her surname.

“This store is under our families branch. No worries,” She cleared her throat “Shall we?”

“Kapag nahuli talaga tayo,” I scowl and protruded my lips.

“Hindi tayo mahuhuli, trust me,” Crizeliah assured me with a proud smile.

“Edi wow,” I whispered.

Tumigil kami sa pinaka harap ng building in the other side of the road. At this moment, bigla kong naalala ang nangyari kagabi, the shooting that happened. It gave chills to me.

“Ice cream?” Marcus offered me.

“Uh.. Marcus,” I rolled my eyes. He chuckled.

“You look tense,” He said.

I looked at the whole building. Just gazing at it you could already tell if it's abandoned or not. It's not that high or big, just a three storey building enough for a theater to produce.

“We'll use the back entrance. Mas madali doon,” Crizeliah faced us, giving each of us a flashlight.

“Do we have any idea where in that building is the documents? That building is way huge, we can't go around that,” Xheidan interrogated.

“He's right, baka maligaw lang tayo,” Marcus agreed.

“Hindi rin natin alam kung literal na dokyumento lang siya. Wether it's in attache case or whatsoever. 'Yung sa café ay nasa attache case,” I said to them.

Crizeliah sigh.

“I do believe that it's just a simple document. In the last case in the café, 'yung riddle sa website ay na-mention ang attache case, but in this case, there's nothing,” Xheidan answered my question.

“Thank you!” I smiled widely. He rolled his eyes. Pfft.

“I have no idea where is it,” Crizeliah uttered and glance over the building.

I sigh when I looked at Crizeliah. I already told her awhile ago na huwag muna ngayon dahil hindi pa kami sigurado, but look at this girl, now we're doomed.

I looked around. I hope we're safe right now, just remembering what happened last night was like a freaking nightmare. The whole day, I was preoccupied but I tried hard to cease it.

“What are the rooms or areas inside that building?” Marcus asked.

“I can g****e..” Crizeliah immediately pull out her phone.

I pressed my lips together while my eyes were fixed in Crizeliah. Can't she feel any chills or creep if ever? She look so determined to do this, all she want is to find out who's the person behind that website as soon as possible.

I sigh and then looked at Xheidan. Xheidan with his usual built, hands were inside his pockets and eyes were bored, parang labag na labag sa loob niya ang lahat ng ginagawa niya. Well, it's his fault for including himself to this, manigas siya.

I suddenly raised my brows when Xheidan immediately pulled out his phone over his pocket which I think have just vibrated. I watched how Xheidan's soft red lips curved into a smirk while his eyes is fixed in his phone.

“It's in the Admin,”

***

“Wala naman sigurong multo rito, 'no?” I whispered to Marcus who's beside me while we're heading the dark way going to the back gate na sinasabi ni Crizeliah kanina.

“Meron,”

I glared at him.

“You,” He smirked.

“Ha-ha. Funny,” I rolled my eyes on him. I slightly look at my back to looke what Xheidan is doing there. He's just walking cooly with his both hands inside his pocket. He raised his right brow to me when he caught me looking at which I mimic that makes him rolled his eyes.  I chuckled and focus in our way. Crizeliah is heading the way.

“Crush mo si Xheixhei, 'no?” Marcus asked me with a humor in his tone.

It's dark around the area, it's also silent in additional. I feel like I'm inside a horror movies. The chills is really around!

“Ha! Baka ikaw?” I smirked.

“Lol,”

“That's the entrance na dadaanan natin,” Crizeliah pointed the small gate infront of us. Her voice is way low this time as of our plan.

“Where is the Admin office?” Marcus asked.

“I actually have no idea where it is. Wala ring results sa g****e when I searched,” Crizeliah answered.

“As of my knowledge, malapit sa entrance ang admin offices?” I asked them.

“That's registrar,”

I looked at Xheidan with a confusion in my eyes.

“Ha?”

“What you're saying is the registrar,” He continued.

“Hatdog,” I immediately looked away to hide my smile.

Akala mo ha.

“So, I guess we'll searched inside?” Marcus asked and look at us. He looked at me lastly and then raised his brows at me humorously.

“It's dark!” I frown at them.

Even it's already too dark where we are, I saw how Crizeliah rolled her eyes.

“That's why I bought flashlight,” She said.

I just sigh and nodded, infact, wala rin naman akong magagawa afterall. Nandito na rin kami kaya wala na akong magagawa, I don't even want to be left here outside.

“That building is too huge, mahihirapan tayong mahanap ang admin office,” Marcus crossed his arms.

“Mataas siya, but not wide. I do believe that the admin office is just in the ground floor. For sure ay malalaki rin ang rooms dito,” I said to them. They all nodded.

“We have to divide ourselves into two groups para mas madali nating mahanap ang room. If we're all together, we'll waste too much time,” Marcus said to us before he looked at me while I sideways my glance at Xheidon who squinted his eyes to me.

Buang.

“So?” Marcus loot at each of us. “I'll go with Asthreittle,”

I looked at Marcus with my eyes bugged!

Desisyon ka???

I looked at Xheidan and Crizeliah. Do they look like good being together? Baka mamaya ay mag sapakan nalang bigla silang dalawa.

“Marcus, mortal enemy sila, right?” I said to Marcus, trying to sound jokingly. He just shrugged.

“Psh,” Crizeliah rolled his eyes while I didn't see Xheidan's reaction.

“Okay, swap. You and Xheidan together,”

My eyes suddenly bugged and slowly crossed my arms. Duh, I'm not expecting that okay?

“Let's all put it in one ear,”

We all looked at Xheidan when he pull out something looks like an airpods but I could be sure that it wasn't. He gave me one and also Marcus and Crizeliah.

“We have to keep in touch inside, when you notice something strange, don't hesitate to speak up through this device,” Xheidan said, we all nodded.

For that moment, I was just looking at the building. Just remembering the Employee massacre that happened here a years ago, it's already giving chills to me. Do we really have to do this?

“Ghost aren't real, it's just abstraction,” Xheidan uttered while walking along with me.

I sigh and put my one hand inside my pocket while the one is holding the flashlight. Crizeliah and Marcus already separated their ways from us once we entered the main entrance. They took the left side while we took the right.

“Sino kausap mo?” I asked him and slightly pursed my lips although I know he couldn't see it.

I simply went closer to him habang nag titingin ako sa paligid. Every door that we're passing by, we'll point our lights to check if it was the admin office but it wasn't. The first door that we passed by is a props room. Patuloy lang ang pag linga ko sa paligid dahil sa dilim, I was think if there's some other here.

“Xheidan?” I looked around kasabay ng pag tutok ng flashlights ko to look for him. Bahagya akong kinabahan nang hindi ko siya makita.

Bwiset.

I'm not afraid of dark, that's true, but the fact that there is a tragedy that happens here a years ago, that's seriously scaring me out!

I looked around to searched again but Xheidan wasn't really around but then, I just remembered the device he have given to the each of us. I press something on it first before speaking up.

“Guys? Nasaan kayo? I can't see Xheidan around,” again, I looked around.

“We've just passed the staff's room. You're alone?” Marcus answered.

I stop in the meantime when I suddenly realized that I'm already in the last part of the hallway. Hindi ko napigilan ang pagiging kabado lalo na't hindi ko alam kung nasaan ang kasama ko.

“Hello? Asth?”

I suddenly stopped infront of the last door, it's color black and there's no writings plastered over the door. I walk towards it to point my flashlight inside the tiny class window over the door to see what kind of room is it. Kahit takot ay pinilit kong humakbang.

“Astheittle, are you fine? Xheidan where are you?”

Saglit akong napatigil at napatalikod nang may marinig akong ingay sa likuran ko. I felt something rubbing inside me, nag sisimula na akong matakot.

“Marcus, go straight, I'll go to the near stairs,”

I bit my lower lip and try hard not to run because of fear at pinaulit ulit nalamang sa utak ko ang sinabi ni Xheidan kanina.

“Xheidan, Asthreittle, you two fine?”

“Ghost are just abstract..” I whispered to myself.

I was already decided to face the door and check what's inside it but I was shocked and frightened when someone covered my mouth and pulled me somewhere.

TANGINA NAMAN!!!!

I was already ready to scream when someone pull me at the corner, he also take the flashlight I was holding and turn it off! Kakagatin ko na sana ang kamay niya but when he showed his face, I knew it's Xheidan.

“Xheidan!” I glared at him even though it's dark.

“Shhh,” He said to me while frowning looking at somewhere, sinundan ko nalamang ang tingin niya.

My eyes suddenly widened when I saw a tall figure of a man holding a flashlight infront of the door I'm infront awhile ago. I just bite my lips and try hard not to make any sounds or noise. The figure looks massive and masculine that made me remember of someone. I was stunned in my horror na baka mahuli kami.

Before I could ever tell, the man immediately open the door, suddenly, he look around to check something. Bahagya pa akong sumiksik kay Xheidan dahil sa takot na baka makita ako. As of that man's assurance, he entered the room.

I let out a disappointed sigh. Seems like naunahan kami?

“Marcus, Crizeliah, it's already taken,”