WENDY
ZEN IS in trouble. He must've chased after the phantom thief. He's a lunatic freak! I wanted to crush his skull into pieces! Have they gone to the police? How safe are they?
"We should call Skye right away. Nakaregister naman siguro ang number niya rito," Kentonni said while swiping at Zen's screen. Samantalang ako, sinusubukan kong tingnan ang buong cabin para makahanap ng clue kung nasaan sina Zen at Mr. George.
Nabasag ang katahimikan nang magring ang smartphone ni Zen. Lumapit ako sa kanya, "Is that Skye?"
"I don't know. Hindi ko pa nahahanap number niya."
Unregistered number ang tumatawag.Nagkatinginan muna kami ni Kentonni bago sagutin iyon. Sa bandang huli, sinagot naman ni Kentonni ang tawag at pinindot ang loud speaker button para marinig naming dalawa.
"Hello?"
"Hello, kids! Finally! Sinagot n'yo na rin ang tawag ko." Isang pamilyar na boses ang bumungad sa amin. Nagkatinginan ulit kami ni Ken na may parehong nagtatakang reaksyon.
"Pasensya na po, pero wala po si Zen at naiwan sa 'min ang phone niya," sagot ng kasama ko.
"Ah, ayon nga ang nangyari. May I know kung kumpleto kayo diyan?"
"Po?"
"Kumpleto ba kayong apat? Nandiyan ba si Skye, Sophie, Ken at—" Narinig naming inilayo muna ng tao sa kabilang linya ang bibig niya sa speaker. "Sino nga ulit 'yung isa?...."
Pagkatapos, narinig namin ang boses ni Zen. "Wendy!"
"Zen!" sabay naming sigaw ni Kentonni.
"Whatever. So kumpleto nga ba kayo?"
"Wala si Skye at Sophie. Kami lang ni Wendy. And this is Mr. George Dalida speaking, right?" tanong ni Kentonni at naniningkit ang mga mata.
George? Oh! Kaya pala pamilyar ang boses niya. Damn, why can't I distinguish a simple voice such as that?
"Hahaha! Zen caught me! So in-abduct ko siya."
"What?!"
"Gusto ko munang makipaglaro sa inyong mga little detectives. Nang pumunta kayo sa cabin kanina para kunin ang listahan ng member ng Crepe's team, naghinala agad ako. And then I saw Zen. Wanna know his little secret?~"
Halos lumuwa na ang mata ko sa sobrang gulat. Alam niya kaya ang identity ng phantom detective? Iyon ba ang dahilan kung kaya nanakaw niya ang phantom paper mula kay Zen kahapon and posed himself as the phantom detective?
"I'm not interested in anyone's secret. Please, bring Zen back here safely," sagot naman ni Ken at kinagat ang lower lip niya.
What do we do? What should we do? Right. Don't panic.
"If you manage to find our location within the supposal time, I'll bring your friend's whole body back."
Friend. Friend? Not really. We're only acquainted and decided to follow Zen to catch a thief. And we never expected that it would turn out like this. I feel remorseful for my past careless actions. I should've not dragged into this. However, my complaints will only fall into deaf ears now that it happened.
"Hindi lang ho si Zen. Pati na rin ang pendant ng tito ko," mariing wika ni Ken."Nakakapanghinayang lang. Ikaw pa naman ang tinuturing ilaw dito sa Ranshin, phantom detective. 'Tapos magnanakaw ka lang pala—"
"Correction, I'm not the phantom detective. Gusto n'yo bang malaman kung sino? Pwede ko rin kayong bigyan ng clue para ma—"
Mr. George's statements were cut off by Zen's voice in the other line. "Just give them the damned location! I'm starting to rot!"
Ini-mute ni Kenton ang linya namin at saka sinabi sa akin, "Wendy, call the police immediately."
"Uh-uh-uh! Not so fast, sleuths. I installed listening bugs inside my house and at the back of Zen's phone. Maaalis n'yo lang iyong bug diyan kung sisirain n'yo ang phone. Kahit pa i-mute n'yo ang sarili n'yo sa call, maririnig ko kayo! Hahaha! I'm not just a baseball player. Technician din ako! And don't even try calling for help to the police or to anyone. My threat is grievous."
Nanatili kaming tahimik at narinig ko ang sarili kong napalunok nalang ng laway. Wala kaming mahihingian ng tulong. Anong magagawa namin para mailigtas si Zen? Nararamdaman kong nanghihina na ang mga binti ko. Nakasalalay sa 'min ang kaligtasan ng isang tao.
"N-Nasaan po kayo?" nauutal kong tanong. Hindi siguro ako magaling sa pagtatago ng emosyon ko. Pero sinisikap ko pa rin namang itago ang takot na nararamdaman ko.
"Oh, tungkol sa location ko... kung titingin kayo sa ilalim ng lamesa, makikita n'yo. Pero sayang lang, wala si Sophie. Manghihingi sana ako ng ransom."
Agad kaming lumuhod para tingnan ang ilalim ng mesa at nakita ang isang puting bondpaper. It was filled with drawings-sorts of shapes, circles, squares, rectangle, triangle and some horizontal and vertical lines with red dots. What is this thing? A kindergarten module?
Ano hong gagawin namin dito?" naiinis na tanong ni Kentonni.
"Subukan niyo kainin. Baka sumagi sa isip n'yo na kailangan n'yong idecode 'yan."
He's one of the worst abductor ever. Muli kong tiningnan ang bond paper at piniga ang utak ko, umaasang may madedecode ako.
Ngunit wala akong ibang naintindihan kundi ang symbol ng isang eyeglasses na may lightning bolt sa taas—yes, it is Harry Potter's scar on his forehead after Voldemort's murder attempt. If so, how is this relevant to the location?
"Kahit kina Skye at Sophie, once na malaman ko na humingi kayo ng tulong sa kanila, 'wag n'yong asahan na may sampung daliri pa 'tong kaibigan n'yo—"
"Damn you. My fingers are one of the most precious parts of my body! How am I able to hold a spoon while eating? The idea itself is already making me suffer. Damn!"
Zen, I hope you're alright. You'll be saved. I had no idea of how malevolent Mr. George's soul is yet we have no guarantee if he would or would not lay hands on Zen. Kidnappers' are bound to burn in hell. His intention is only to play good with us; he is madly crazy.
"I'll be keeping an eye for both of you. Do not drop your friend's phone kasi diyan lang ako tatawag. You have your time until... 8 o'clock. Once the time's up, game over! Hahahaha!"
Mas lalo akong kinabahan sa sinasabi niya. I kept telling myself, he's a thief and not a murderer. Just a thief so Zen will be fine. But wait, isn't mom's death related to this man?
"Before you hang up, do you know a woman named Whitney Chavez?" After conserving enough courage, I'm finally relieved that I asked that.
"Hmm. Hahaha! Syempre! 'Yung babaeng tumalon sa building? Syempre, syempre. Bakit ko makakalimutan ang ganda ng ruby pendant n'ya? Nahirapan akong nakawin 'yon."
My eyes widens as my lips parted to say something but no voice came out. I want to ask more. More about my mother's case but he already hunged up.
"See you~"
Nakita kong napasabunot si Kenton sa buhok niya at paulit-ulit na nagmura. Tumingin ako sa status bar ng smartphone ko—4:28 PM. Three hours and a half nalang ang natitira naming oras.
Are we able to make it in time? Ano ang gagawin ni Mr. George kay Zen kapag hindi kami umabot?
"Do you think... we can do this?" nanghihina kong tanong habang nakatukod ang dalawa kong palad sa ibabaw ng lamesa. Nahihirapan aking tumayo ng maayos dahil sa manginginig ko tuhod.
Bakit humantong sa gan'to ang lahat? Dapat ba nakinig nalang ako kay kuya na layuan ang phantom detective?
Dapat pinigilan ko si Zen kanina... Kung sana napansin lang namin na si Mr. George ang magnanakaw, hindi na namin iniwan si Zen mag-isa dito. Kung sana lang.
"We'll taking Zen back," seryosong sagot ni Kentonni at lumabas ng cabin na dala ang bond paper. Sumunod ako sa kanya sa paglalakad palabas ng field. We all have just met 3 days ago. Why do I feel so fond of them?
"He seem harmless. Mr. George, I mean," pagpapatuloy ni Kentonni. Napahinto kami sa paglalakad at parehong tumingin sa hawak niyang bond paper. "Yet we can't be so sure. Gut feelings are sometimes not reliable."
May venn diagram sa unang bahagi. Anong ibig-sabihin no'n? Anong meaning ng shape na mukhang bahay? Anong meaning ng Harry Potter scar sa pagitan ng dalawang vertical lines?
Nanatili kaming tahimik na nakatulala lanh sa bond paper. Nakatayo kami sa gilid ng pinakamalapit na street sa baseball field—Poe street.
"Venn diagram... Venn diagram... Venn diacram.. Ben diacram..." naririnig kong paulit-ulit na sinasabi ni Kentonni. "Ben, Dine and Cram!"
Bigla akong natauhan sa sinabi niya. Ben Dine and Cram is a restaurant known for its exotic dishes such as crocodiles, snakes, grasshoppers, and others that would make you puke once you lay your eyes upon them.
"Sa tingin mo ba, 'yun ang tinutukoy dito?" agad kong tanong.
"Not really... Sa pagkakatanda ko kasi sa street kung nasaan 'yon, walang residential area," sabi ni Kentonni at itinuro ang parang bahay na shapes sa tabi ng venn diagram. "Puro establishments lang kaya 50-50 pa rin ang possibility."
"What if hindi 'yan bahay?" I suggested. Though, it obviously looked like a house, my instincts shout otherwise. "Magkahiwalay kasi ang triangle sa square. Wala namang bubong na lumulutang, 'di ba?"
"Do you think it is some kind of another establishment?"
"I don't know."
Idagdag pa ang dalawang semicircle sa baba. This doesn't plausibly just mean bushes or fences. Ibinaliktad ni Kentonni ang bond paper at nanlaki ang mga mata—indication of a new discovery.
"Please... don't think of me as a pervert guy but this looks like a swimsuit, a one-piece," nag-aalangan sambit ni Kentonni kaya nabaling ulit ang pansin ko sa papel. He may be right. The two semicircle must mean the breast, the square stands for the waist, (nice waist, walang curve), and the triangle for the underwear.
"You're probably on the right track. As far as my memory serves, there's a swimsuit store across the street from that restaurant—"
"As a rule, the more bizarre a thing is the less mysterious it proves to be..."
Muntik na akong mapatalon sa gulat nang marinig ang boses na 'yon. Magkasabay kaming napatingin ni Kentonni sa tabi ko at namataan ang isang lalaki na nakikitingin din sa code na hawak ni Ken.
Ang gloomy ang attire niya. All black-from head to toe, aside sa eyepatch niyang kulay na puti na nagtatakip sa kaliwa niyang mata.
"...said the great Sherlock Holmes in The Red-headed League."
"Who're you?" naiiritang tanong ni Ken. Pero imbes na sagutin siya ng lalaki ay inilapit niya ang bibig niya sa mic ng smartphone ni Zen, na hawak-hawak ko ngayon.
"Greetings, angel-demon. The Prince of Devils had come to solve your petty riddle. You must offer your gratitude by sending yourself in my home called Hell," sabi pa ng lalaki. Huminga muna siya ng malalim at saka humarap sa 'min para ngumiti. "Peasants, lend me the code and then—"
Natigilan siya sa pagsasalita nang mamataan niya ako. His lips parted as he was about to say something but it was interrupted by Ken.
"Mr. Gloomy, if you're looking for the mental hospital, it's this way." Kentonni pointed his index finger towards the next street. Afterwards, the guy frowned and grabbed Zen's phone from my hand. "Hey, don't—"
"Just this to me lend me!" sigaw niya sa 'kin at inilapit ulit ang bibig niya sa mic ng phone ni Zen. "Angel-demon of enigma, I am aware that my words are reaching your ears through this pathetic invention of technology. I am just simply letting you know that I'm not here to entertain your games but to gain my benefit, you understand?"
Syempre, walang sumagot sa kanya dahil patay na ang tawag. Alam niyang may listening bug sa phone? Alam niya bang nakidnapped si Zen? Kilala niya ba si Zen? I sort of doubt the idea. What was he spitting earlier? 'Prince of devils, angel-demon, hell?' That isn't what a normal person would say.
"Ms. Cursed doll, the perverted horrible guy you're with as of now is—"
"I'm not a pervert!"
"-is right about the venn diagram that is a word play of Ben Dine and Cram. And also about the one-piece swimsuit."
Ms. Cursed doll? Is he also a student in Percevale High? Sino ba siya? Bakit bigla na lang siyang sumusulpot at kinuha pa ang code namin?
Wait, hindi ba sabi ni George na huwag kami humingi ng tulong mula sa iba? Shi—although we badly need a helping hand but we couldn't just take the risk of Zen's safety.
"You look suspicious. Who're you?" tanong ni Ken.
"I'm the Prince of Devils—"
"Your name."
"That won't be necessary. You should be thanking me rather than throwing suspicions," sagot ng lalaki kaya nanahimik nalang ako at si Ken. Wala akong masabi dahil... ano bang sasabihin ko?
"Let's go," sabi ni Kentonni at naghanap ng taxi na dumadaan sa kalsada.
Sandali, ayos lang sa kanyang may tumutulong sa 'min? Hindi ba narinig niya kanina ang sinabi ng abductor na hindi kami pwedeng humingi ng tulong? Mas lalong sumasakit ang ulo ko, pati hindi ko na rin alam ang gagawin.
"Worry not, Wendy," Kentonni told me while turning his on me. He seemed to have noticed my frustration. "We didn't ask for help. Ang help na mismo ang lumapit sa 'tin."
"I am a friend of the angel-demon, whom you also call by the name Zen. He told me that if I can solve the remaining codes that he made to play with you, he'll give me a reward."
So he thought that this is only a game which Zen had started? I wanted to tell him our situation but—no. I shouldn't oppose the abductor.
And angel-demon? Oh, holy pasta! I've met another lunatic freak! Mula kay Zen, Skye, ay ito namang lalaking mukhang grim reaper. Halos magtinginan na ang mga taong dumaraan sa street na 'to dahil sa kakaiba naming kasama na may suot na eyepatch sa kaliwang mata.
Why do I have to be surrounded by freaks? I just hope I won't get infected.
The phone started ringing, indication that someone is calling. Nagkatinginan muna kami ni Kentonni bago ko ito sinagot. Nilagay ko iyon sa tainga ko.
"Lumayo ka muna sa mga kasama mo."
This is not the abductor. Parang robot ang boses niya-malamang para itago ang totoo niyang boses. Sino naman ito?
I did what they told me. Sa una nagtaka pa si Kentonni but I gave him a 'trust-me' look.
"Hindi ba't sabi sa inyo ni George ay 'wag hihingi ng tulong?"
Damn, he's with the abductorr's side. An accomplice.
"Hindi po kami humingi. Kusa po siyang lumapit."
"'Wag n'yong sasabihin sa kanya ang sitwasyon n'yo kundi... Nakikita mo ba ang noo ng lalaking 'yan?"
Agad akong tumingin sa dalawang lalaking kasama ko, at napatakip nalang ako ng bibig nang makakita ng red spot sa ulo ng grim reaper. Is he a... sniper? Wala naman 'yong red dot na 'yon kanina!
"Please... Don't do anything to them..." I heard my broken voice. And they hunged up.
Nakasakay kaming tatlo ng taxi at nagtungo sa Flynn street kung saan nakapwesto ang Ben Dine and Cram. Nang makarating kami, bumaba kami mula sa taxi at si Kentonni na ang nagbayad.
Nakatayo kami sa sidewalk sa tapat ng Ben Dine and Cram habang pinapanood ang nga sasakyang dumadaan sa roadway ng Flynn. Sa kabilang side ng roadway, namataan namin ang swimsuit store na tinutukoy nga sa code.
"This is a Harry Potter mark, right?" tanong ni Kentonni at may itinuro sa papel. Hindi ko naman talaga napansin kung ano ang itinuro ng daliri niya pero napasagot nalang ako ng oo dahil nakita ko naman kanina 'yon, kaya sigurado ako.
"A mark, huh," rinig kong bulong ng eyepatched guy na kasama namin. "Why does he has a mark?"
"It's a scar," pagtatama ko. "Voldemort's murder attempt was a failure, leaving that scar on his forehead."
"Voldemort?" kunot-noong tanong niya.
"Dark Lord."
"Whoa, I'd like to meet him someday and tell him that he'd just met the most handsome prince, which is me by the way," sabi niya at inayos ang eyepatch niya. Napangiti na lang ako sa joke niya, if ever na joke 'yon.
"The two vertical lines must mean an alley," I commented and jerked my index finger to the three visible alleys. "However, there are three over there."
"We can't split up. Baka may masasamang-loob tayong makasalubong d'yan," seryosong sabi ni Kentonni sabay pinagmasdan ang bawat alley. "Malamang na clue ang Harry Potter mark na 'to kung saan tayo dapat pumasok."
"Yeah, we're at the right track."
Mayroong bawat pangalan ang bawat alley: Acahia, Batual, at Morono. Hindi pa ako nakakapasok sa isa sa mga iyon kaya wala akong ideya kung anong maaaring sumalubong sa 'min do'n.
Tumingala ako para tanawin ang kulay orange na kalangitan. Iniisip kung aabot ba kami para maligtas si Zen.
Nang tumingin ako sa digital clock ng smartphone, 5:56 PM na. Kung makarating kami ng masyadong maaga sa location, mas okay 'yon kaysa naman sa late.
"October 31, 1981. The date wherein your so-called Dark Lord attempted to kill your Harry Potter—why didn't you tell me sooner that they are just fictitious?" ani ng eyepatched guy habang nakatingin sa smartphone niya.
"Everyone knows about Harry Potter. Around the world. Galing ka ba sa bundok kaya hindi mo sila kilala?" pang-aasar ni Kentonni.
"And so what's the deal if I came from mountains? That is the very first thing I should be proud of," sagot nito kaya natahimik nalang kami ni Ken at hinayaang siya pa rin ang magsalita. "Removing the month of October, the digits 311981 remain. And using the substitution of numbers into letters, we could get the letters that follows: C, A, A, I, H, A. An anagram of Acahia."
"Wow! I didn't realize that."
"And this is the part where I shall bid my farewell," sabi ni eyepatched guy. Sa tingin ko mga kasing-edad lang namin siya. Pero kung taga-Percevale nga siya, bakit hindi ko siya nakikita o bakit hindi siya sikat? Ako nga na mukhang manika ay sikat na sikat sa school, kaya walang duda kung sisikat siya.
Oh, isa lang ang naiisip kong possibility: hindi siya nag-aaral sa school na pinapasukan ko.
"Saan ka pupunta?"
"I have done decoding it. Zen will gave me his reward and I'm satisfied," the eyepatched guy said, turning his back on us and waving his hand. "You're old enough to get a baby angel-demon in a dark dragon's cage."
What the bloody hell is he saying? Is he some kind of delusional fantasy lover? He uses terms which are not applicable in reality.
Naglakad na siya papalayo at sinundan lang namin siya ng tingin. Marami pa sana akong gustong itanong pero hindi ako alam kung nahihiya ba ako, natatakot o ano. Pero napahinto siya nang sumigaw si Ken.
"Paano mo nalaman kung nasaan kami?"
"The Prince of Devils doesn't only have the looks..." sagot niya at humarap ulit siya sa amin. Hinawakan niya ang baba niya at pagkatapos ay itinuro ang sintido niya. "...but also the brain."
Just who on earth is that guy?
Tuluyan na siyang nawala sa paningin namin kaya tumawid na kami sa kabilang dako nang naging green ang pedestrian light. Nakatayo kami ngayon sa entrance ng alley.
Hindi namin alam kung ano'ng sasalubong sa amin sa dulo ng alley na 'to. Pero malaki ang possibility na nandito nga si Zen. Once we step inside, there's no turning back. We'll never know if this insane George would lay a finger on Zen.
"Can we really trust... that grim reaper?" tanong ko.
Kentonni sighed. Idinikit niya ang kanyang forefinger sa labi niya. Of course, muntik ko nang makalimutang naririnig pala kami.
Just how insane is that abductorr? Doing as far as these troubles just to play with us? I wonder what might happen if we retrieve Zen successfully. Will he turn himself in? I don't know much about laws but I know he might end up in jail in no time.
And he has an accomplice who called earlier and assured that the eyepatched guy knew nothing. Who on earth was that?
Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto na kaming naglalakad sa alley na 'to pero sa bawat paghakbang ko ay mas lalong bumibilis ang tibok ng dibdib ko dahil sa kaba.
Anong laban naming dalawa ni Kentonni sa abductor na siya ring magnanakaw, at posibleng mamamatay-tao pa? Kung sana sumama lang sa amin ang grim reaper na 'yon, may kaunting chance pa.
Napatingin ako kay Ken na diretso lang ang tingin sa daan. Binuksan namin ang smartphone kamin para i-turn on ang flashlight. Nagdidilim na kasi at nagsisimula nang maging katakot-takot 'tong alley.
Ken fronted his phone's light to the bond paper he was holding tight. "I think this two rectangles stands for two buildings. Kaya sa dulo ng alley na 'to malamang sasalubong sa atin 'yon pero may check 'tong kanan kaya dito tayo pupunta."
"How about these horizontal lines na may red dots?"
"We'll see about that once we took a glance at the buildings."
"Okay lang bang pumunta tayo doon na unarmed?"
Binato ako akong nagtatakang tingin ni Kentonni. "What do you mean?"
"We're dealing with an abductor here who is also a plausible murderer," I answered with a straight face. "We should at least get weapons for self-defense.
"Murderer?!"
"I'm not quite sure—"
"Bakit mo naman nasabi? I don't think so. He could've killed Zen," ika ni Ken at inilapit ang sarili niya sa smartphone ni Zen na hawak ko. "You're not a murderer, right? Zen's still breathing, right?"
No answer. Of course. We can be heard, but we couldn't be answered unless the receiver makes a call. Isn't this sound so unfair?
Afterwhile, we've arrived at the end of the alley and two three-story building has came to our view. Two abandoned buildings. I guess they were abandoned even before the construction has finished. The incomplete walls, the the left materials, and the creepy aura.
This is a typical perfect idea for rendezvous and well designed for lurking criminals. We gave our attention to the right building, and nodded at each other.
"Zen?!" sigaw namin para marinig nila kami at malaman agad ang lokasyon kung nasaan man sila banda sa building. But no answer has came to respond. Our voice only echoed throughout the place.
We made our way carefully to the entrance but we stopped midway when a staircase appeared before us.
"Should we split up?" tanong ko. "Do you know any martial arts?"
Tumingin muna siya sa smartphone ni Zen at pagkatapos ay sa 'kin. Shocks, muntik ko na makalimutan na naririnig pala kami ng kidnapper. If we ever talked about our plans on something, the execution will be a huge failure.
Kumuha ako ng patpat na kawayan at inilagay ang smartphone ni Zen sa bulsa ng skirt ko. Nanginginig ang mga kamay ko habang nagmamasid sa paligid. "Mr. George? N-Nandito na kami!"
Wala paring sumasagot. Masyadong yatang malaki ang building para hindi nila kami marinig. Tumingin ako kay Kentonni na paakyat na ng hagdan at sinenyasan pa akong dumiretso lang dito sa first floor.
So we're really going to split up? Isn't this a wrong move? What if kailangan namin ng tulong ng isa't-isa? We won't be there to help! Just what was Kentonni thinking?
Oh, right. Kapag lumayo siya sa 'kin, hindi siya maririnig ng listening bug. He might call for help! Trust him. What I need to do is to put trust in him and hope I won't regret it.
I continued pacing slowly. Wala akong ibang naririnig na ingay maliban nalang sa kabog ng dibdib ko. Ano ba 'tong ginagawa ko? Bakit nga ba ulit ako nandito? Paano ako napunta dito? Right. I'll have to save Zen.
And speak of the devil, I gasped, dropping the stick and rushed forward to kneel down beside Zen. Nakahiga siya sa sahig at naka-handcuffed ang kaliwang kamay sa isang railing.
"Zen! ZEN!" Niyugyog ko siya at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi para sampalin 'yon. "W-Wake up!"
Nanghihina na talaga ko at rinig ang hapak na boses ko. Patuloy ko lang na niyuyugyog si Zen, umaasang wala namang masamang nangyari sa kanya. Unti-unting bumukas ang mga mata ni Zen at tumingin sa akin.
"Cursed... doll..."
"Zen! Ayos ka lang ba?!" I started to panic. I even asked a stupid question—I looked over his body pero wala namang dugo—thank goodness. I'm not a doctor nor someone who knows anything about medical attentions.
"I'm dying..." he said and he gasped for air. "The antidote..."
"You got poisoned?!"
Sinubukan ko siyang hilain patayo pero mukhang nakalimutan kong naka-handcuffed para siya kaya hindi siya makakaalis kung wala ang susi.
Nasaan ang susi?! Nasaan? Inilibot ko ang mata ko at naghanap ng susi.
Tatayo na sana ako para libutin ang paligid nang hawakan ni Zen ang braso ko kaya napaluhod ulit ako. Umupo siya at napakaseryoso ng mukha habang nakatingin sa mata ko. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko, kailangan agad magamot si Zen!
"Zen! Nasaan si Mr. George?! Baka nasa kanya 'yung susi! You need to go to the hospital!"
Pagkatapos niya akong seryosong titigan ay tumawa siya ng malakas. "Hahaha! My knight-I mean doll-in shining armor has come to rescue me."
What?
"My abductor went somewhere. Baka sa kabilang building. You gotta chase after him!" sabi ni Zen.
"What about you? You collapsed on the floor because of the freaking poison! You need to—"
"I was kidding, okay? I'm not poisoned. I just took a dreamy nap. It bored me waiting for you guys. Where's Kenton?" tanong niya at tumingin sa likuran ko na para bang may hinahanap.
"He went upstairs," sagot ko.
"What the hell?! Didn't the devil tell you which floor not to climb?!"
May naririnig akong echo nang sinasabi namin, na parang nanggagaling sa isang device. Nang hanapin ko kung saan iyon, namataan ako ang isang parang remote control sa di-kalayuan. Agad ko itong kinuha at lumapit ulit kay Zen.
"Hey, cursed doll! Don't touch that!"
Halos mabitawan ko na ang hawak ko nang makakita ng timer sa remote na 'to. 10 minutes and 30 seconds left.
10 minutes 29 seconds.
10 minutes 28 seconds.
10 minutes 27 seconds.
"W-What is this?"
"Oh, that's a timer."
"I know but what for?!"
"Wait. It's ticking?! Shit! Kenton should've not gone upstairs! The freaking insane abductor said, once you step on something in the second floor, the timer of bomb will run down! How stupid of both of you! Moronic!"
Bumigay ang mga binti ko kaya napaupo ako sa sahig. What did he just say? Bombs? Did I misheard what he said? Is he imagining things? Is he pulling another prank?
"Please... don't pull another prank. I'm tired of all of these..." bulong ko habang nakatulala lang sa reaksyon ni Zen na nagpapanic.
Totoo bang nagpa-panic siya? Nagjo-joke lang siya kanina nang sabihin niyang may bomba, 'di ba? Kagaya ng joke niyang nalason daw siya? 'Di ba?
"DAMN IT! Didn't the devil tell you about the four horizontal lines that stands for the floor of the right building?! Kapag ini-rotate mo ng isang beses ang dalawang huling horizontal lines, and layered it with the first one, creating a fucking 3 by 3 squares, it will give you the warning about the danger of the center second and third floor! How moronic!"