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Chapter Thirteen
Bound for Death
Part Two
Friday POV
Kanina pa ako palakad lakad pabalik-balik sa sala ng dorm namin. It's already seven thirty at wala pa rin si Effie! Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa phone ko habang naglalakad pabalik-balik.
Kanina ko pa tinatawagan ang phone niya. Nakakaten miscalls na ako sa kaniya pero hindi niya sinasagot ang tawag ko. Nagaalala na ako.
Idinayal ko ulit ang number niya. "Please, Effie. Sumagot ka.." I pleaded habang nagriring ang phone
The number you have dialled is unavailable..
"Argh!" I exclaimed at kinuha ang jacket ko. Hahanapin ko si Effie. Lumabas ako ng dorm ko at nang makarating sa lobby, kumuha ako ng magandang timing bago ko lampasan ang receptionist at mga bantay sa dormitory.
When the receptionist looked away, I quickly ran the distance to the exit. Mabuti nalang ay abala ang guard sa pagkakausap sa isang estudyante na walang ID. Bawal kasing lumabas ng dorm kapag pasado seven na.
Kinuha ko ang phone ko hindi para tawagin si Effie kung hindi para tawagin si Chaos.
"I'm asleep." Kaagad na sabi ni Chaos nang masagot niya ang tawag.
"Effie is missing. Is Matix with you? I need him to track her." Ani ko.
"Effie is missing?"
"Yes. Nandiyan ba si Matix? I really need his help." Wala kasi akong number ni Matix kaya si Chaos ang tinawagan ko.
"Yes, he's with me."
"You're on loudspeaker, Friday." Ani Chaos saka nagsalita si Matix.
"I had a hold in her phone. Nakabukas ang gps niya kaya madali ko siya matatrack.." sambit ni Matix at narinig ko sa kabilang linya ang mabilis na pagtype ng keyboard.
"Where are you?" Pagkuwan ay tanong ni Chaos.
"I'm outside the dormitory. Hahanapin ko si Effie." I explained
"No. It's too dangerous to stay there outside. Meet us at Liberty High. Sa meeting room natin."
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Hindi ba sarado na ang Liberty High?"
"Nope. May basketball and volleyball training ngayon until eight and Matix have spare keys so walang problema." Saad ni Chaos. I ran to Liberty High at pumuntta sa basement kung saan naroon ang tambayan namin. It is locked kaya napagdesisyunan kong hintayin sa labas sina Chaos at Matix.
Makalipas ang ilang minuto, naabutan ko si Chaos na tumatakbo kasama si Matix na tumatakbo rin habang hawak ang laptop at duffel bag na dala.
"Ang tagal niyo." Reklamo ko.
"Why didn't you just go inside?" Chaos asked.
"Kasi nakalock ang pinto?"
"What? We left the door unlocked earlier."
"But it's locked." Lalong lumalim ang pagkakunot ko sa noo.
Matix took the keys on his bag and opened the door. When we opened the door, we were welcomed by an unexpected sight.
Ang mga gamit namin, magulo. "May nawawala ba?" Agad kong tanong habang inaayos ko ang mga papel na nagkalat.
Umiling si Chaos. "None." Nakakunot na sagot niya.
Matix sat on the chair at binuksan ang laptop na dala. "I installed a small camera in the storage room just in case something like this happens." Aniya.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at luminga-linga. May camera pala rito?
"You won't find the camera, Friday. It's too small that no one can see it." Ani Matix.
"So, who barged in our meeting room?" Chaos asked.
Matix played a video. A man entered the storage room. Nakatago ang camera sa may likod ng lalake kaya nakatalikod siya sa camera.
His body built is so familiar like I have seen it before. Hindi ko lang alam kung saan.
Nagsimula siyang ikalat ang mga gamit namin na nakatago sa isang sulok. It's like, he's looking for something. Then took pieces of paper, started scribbling something.
I looked around. Baka nandito lang ang mga papel na sinulatan niya. I glanced below the table at may mga papel roon. Kinuha ko iyon at tinignan.
I warned her and she didn't listen. Only I can find her. -The Beast
Iyon ang nakasulat sa note na agad kong pinakita kina Chaos at Matix. "Look." Pinabasa ko sakanila ang note.
"The beast abducted Effie?" Matix asked.
Tumango si Chaos at tumingin sa akin. "The beast himself is the only one who can find her, but how?" Chaos asked.
"I don't know either. Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi ng beast na yan." Sambit ko.
Tinuon namin ang atensyon namin sa camera footage. When the man stopped writing, tumingin ito sa direksyon ng camera and then we saw his face.
"Arius Villanueva?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Chaos.
"He's the student council secretary, right?" Tanong ni Matix.
"Anong ginagawa niya? Is he the beast?" I asked.
"Impossible.. we have no concrete clues that Arius is the beast!" Chaos exclaimed.
Napaisip ako. That's right. If Arius is the one who wrote the note and is proclaimed as the beast, baka alam niya kung nasaan si Effie!
"If he is the beast, then he knows where Effie is." Saad ko.
"Then we need to ask him." Ani Chaos at tumingin kay Matix. "Can you track down Arius Villanueva?"
"Sure." Agad na sagot ni Matix. Makalipas ng ilang segundo, Matix spoke. "Arius is at Liberty High student council office." Sagot niya.
"Thanks." Sagot ni Chaos them grimaced after. "I don't mean it, by the way." Pahabol nitong salita.
"Whatever." Matix rolled his eyes.
"Mauna na kayo. Dito lang ako at ihahack ko ang cctv sa student council. I will also try to track down Effie again." Ani Matix habang nakatingin sa laptop.
Tumango kaming dalawa ni Chaos at lumabas ng tambayan. When we reached the student council office, hindi na kami nag abalang kumatok pa. Agad kaming dumeretso sa loob.
We both stopped on our tracks when we saw Arius Villanueva with Daeril Ocampo...and Mr. Albert.
Abala sila sa pagbabasa ng isang report siguro pero napatigil din sila dahil pumasok kami nang walang pagkatok.
"Mr. Salazar and Ms. Cortez, I believe my rules were clear that students are not allowed to go back in Liberty High after class hours. It's already eight in the evening. Bumalik kayo sa dorms niyo." He strictly said.
I glanced at Daeril na tahimik na nakatingin sa amin then I looked at Arius na mukhang naguguluhan.
"We want to talk to Arius Villanueva, sir. Albert." Sabi ko.
Nakakunot ang mga noo nila. "Why?" Mr. Albert asked.
"May itatanong lang po kaming importante." I asked. Si Chaos naman ay tahimik na nakapamulsa lang.
Tumingin si Mr. Albert kay Arius saka tumingin sa amin. "Go ahead. Just make it fast. May tinatapos kaming report." Ani Mr. Albert.
Tumayo si Arius at giniya kami sa labas ng office.
"We have something to ask you." Chaos said.
"Ano yun? Mukhang importante dahil pinuntahan niyo talaga ako rito." Sagot ni Arius.
"Where is Effie Cruz?" Tanong ni Chaos.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Arius. "Effie is missing? We should tell the principal—"
"Cut the act. We know it's you who barged in our meeting room and wrote on a paper."
Arius stilled. "I'm sorry kung nagkalat ako sa storage room niyo. I'm sorry kung bigla ko iyon pinasok but I am not the beast. Inutos niya sa akin na pumunta sa storage room at magsulat ng note. He told me to look for Matix's laptop."
"Matix's laptop? Why? Anong meron sa laptop ni Matix?" Tanong ko.
"The beast said that Matix is keeping a secret. A secret about the beast's identity."
I gaped. Si Matix? May sikreto patungkol sa beast?
"Who is this beast? Nakita mo ba siya?" I asked.
Umiling si Arius. "Hindi siya nagpakita sa akin. He just sent me a note and told me to burn it after reading it."
"Where is Effie Cruz?" Tanong ulit ni Chaos.
Arius breathed heavily. "The place where Friday was abducted." Sagot nito.
"Sinabi ko sainyo itong sagot dahil hindi ko gusto ang ginagawa ko. Ang makipagsabwatan sa beast na ito." Arius said.
Tumango kami at umalis. We need to go to that cabin again. That cabin holds traumatic memories to me. Kung nakakatakot ang naging experience ko doon sa cabin, paano pa kaya ang kay Effie? I need to save her.
"Call your driver." Utos ni Chaos.
Tumango ako at tinawagan si Mang Danny. I'm sure he won't mind.
After a couple of minutes, dumating si Mang Danny. Tinawagan ko si Matix at sinabi na papunta kami sa cabin to save Effie.
"Arius is not the beast nor affiliated with him. Mukhang binlackmail ng beast si Arius. He looked scared." Sambit ni Chaos.
"He doesn't like what he is doing...ibig sabihin, napilitan lang siya na makipagsabwatan sa beast?" I said.
"Probably."
After an hour, we reached the cabin. "Hihintayin pa ba kita rito, Friday?" Tanong ni Mang Danny.
Tumango ako. Kailangan namin ng kotse pabalik sa Liberty High.
We entered the cabin and everything came back to me. Ang memoryang iyon na pilit kong binabaon, bumabalik. Naalala ko ang nakakatakot na pangyayaring iyon.
"Effie!" I shouted.
"Do you remember what room you were before?" Malumanay na tanong ni Chaos.
I nodded and lead the way. Baka nandoon si Effie ngayon. The house is empty. Walang beast ang nandito. Sana nga nandito rin si Effie.
When we reached the first room near the stairs, wala roon si Effie. The room is full of furnitures coverec with white sheets and dusts.
The second room is locked. Sinubukan namin iyon buksan gamit ang hairpin sa buhok ko. Then we heard muffles. Not from the second room but from the room next door. The third room.
Agad namin iyon tinungo baka si Effie na iyon.
And we are right. Effie..she is tied on both her hands and feet at may takip ang bibig nito.
Agad kong binaklas ang mga tali. When Effie is freed from the ropes, agad niya akong niyakap. "Thank you! Thank you for saving me." Naiiyak na sambit nito.
I hugged her back as tight as I could. "You're safe now, Effie. Ligtas ka na."
As I hug her, hindi nakatakas sa paningin ko ang isang papel. A clean paper with writings. Nakakunot ang noong kinuha ko iyon. Binaklas ko ang pagyayakapan namin ni Effie.
"Is this yours?" Tanong ko habang pinapakita ang papel.
Agad niya iyon kinuha sa akin. "Yes, it's mine." She looked uneasy.
"Are you okay, Effie? May ginawa ba ang beast sayo?" Chaos asked.
Umiling si Effie. "I'm a strong and positive girl, guys. Okay ako. Ang importante, niligtas niyo ako and I am forever thankful for that."
I smiled when Effie smiled but I noticed that something is bothering her and I have to know what it is.