I reached the venue just in time to see Augusto Pier stepping inside. I secured my position behind the sliding door, guarding it just in case the target chooses to escape. From here, I could see him throwing frantic looks around the empty venue. The sun was already low, making shadowy figures all around.
“Is someone here? Rosita? What are you trying to pull off?” he called out, trying to fight off the shakiness in his voice.
To his surprise (I could tell he was), a voice replied, “This is Nicole… I’ve been watching you.”
It was cold and heavy, but it was the familiarity of it that gave me the chills.
I was amazed at how creepy it sounded in the actual. Calvin did a pretty good job copying a part of Nicole’s recording and mixing it with a new one, using a synthetic, but close to the original voice.
“I won’t leave you until you tell me the truth…” the melancholic voice continued to play in the background.
Augusto looked like he was about to cry, uttering gibberish to himself.
As if getting impatient, the voice erupted once again, completely startling Augusto. “WHY DID YOU KILL ME??” It wasn’t melancholic anymore, but shrilly. Vengeful.
Augusto covered his ears like a little child afraid of thunder. “I-I didn’t kill you. I-It was an accident,” he stammered. He was curled up on the floor, rocking in his feet. Even from a distance I could tell he was crying.
Calvin kept on playing the shrilly part until Augusto spoke again, louder this time. “I-I might have stolen the school’s money but I’m not a murderer!” He finally looked up, although still looking afraid. “You-you slipped, and fell. It-it was an accident! I-I didn’t mean to scare you, Nicole. I’m so sorry… I’m so sorry…” He bowed down his head to the floor as if begging for mercy.
The sun was now setting and Calvin had already stopped playing the recording. I messaged him to say not to leave backstage yet until I tell him so. We had to wait until Augusto left the venue first.
What we had to do after this was to give the video we have secretly recorded to the police. With Mr. Pier confessing like that, I think it was convincing enough for them to believe us.
Hearing Augusto walk toward the door, I quickly hid myself behind a stack of metal chairs at the side, facing the stairs.
He then emerged at my view, walking feebly, shoulders slumped as he moved toward the stairs. He was drenched and defeated; nowhere near the charismatic and proud-looking man he once was.
It wasn’t long when I heard footsteps ascending the stairs. I took a peek and the first face that came to view was Yana’s. Augusto, having heard the noise as well, pulled a nearby chair and hid himself from it like a cooped mouse afraid of getting caught.
I revealed myself from my hiding place and Yana came to me telling the guards were on their way. I was looking past her, expecting to see the guards, when I sensed a quick movement instead.
“YOU’RE ALREADY DEAD!” Augusto cried desperately as he aimed to hit Yana with the chair.
I jumped at him without thinking.
With all my might.
Determined to push the delusional man away.
Far away from the girl who had just screamed my name.
Mr. Pier got out of balance and we rolled down the stairs. He was the one who endured the fall as we hit the landing, while the force made me topple sideways, sweeping the floor.
At that moment I could say it was the greatest jump of my life. There was pain, but I only realized it the moment everything seemed to be closing in.