(FHS #4) Tired of running away from her nightmares, Kirsten returns to Filimon Heights to make peace and start anew. Little does she know, returning has its own consequences. Deadly ones.
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"Kirsten, Vicky's dead! I was there on her funeral! You were there too!" giit ni Magno, nakatiim ang bagang at nanlalaki ang mga mata sa gulat nang dahil sa sinabi ko.
"Yeah, and I can still remember how her casket was closed the entire time! I mean, think about it! We never even got to see her face!" I tried to argue.
"That's because her body was mangled beyond recognition!" he argued as well.
Our voices broke the peaceful silence of the cemetery. The cold wind hovering, blowing the dead leaves on our feet. It was like any other day, only, it felt heavier.
I wanted to argue with words but all I could do was shake my head as I clenched my lips.
"Kirsten, patay na si Vicky," umiiling-iling niyang paalala at nang mga sandaling iyon ay wala akong ibang nakita sa mga mata ni Magno kundi matinding panlulumo.
Huminga na lamang ako nang malalim at marahas na napabuntong-hininga. Tumalikod ako mula sa kanya at naglakad pero bago pa man ako makalayo ay narinig ko siyang humabol.
"Saan ka pupunta?" tanong niya.
"Maghahanap ng sagot," giit ko.
"Hahanapin mo na naman 'yung nakita mong babae kahapon?"
Huminto ako sa paglalakad at ganoon din siya. Humarap ako sa kanya nang taas-noo. "I will look for Vicky. I will figure out what really happened to her and I will make sure that whoever took her away will--"
"Alecksander Roy has been dead for years," he cut me off.
I stilled for a moment, remembering that name.
For years I hoped nothing but death for that man who took Vicky away.
"Is he really dead?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Oo naman. Pinatay siya ng kapwa niya preso," giit naman ni Magno.
Saglit akong nagbaba ng tingin sa lupa, napatingala lamang ulit ako sa mukha ni Magno nang may sumagi sa isip ko.
"Ano?" Magno asked as his lips pouted a little. Still the same old whiny boy back when we were kids.
"Why would another inmate kill him? Could it be na pinapatahimik siya? What if Alecksander Roy didn't really kill Vicky? What if someone else did and that person still has Vicky until now--"
"S-stop it. Kirsten, you're overthinking," he tried to cut me off but I shook my head.
"No, I'm not! Just think about it--"
"No, I can't think about it!" Magno raised his voice, silencing me once again. "My Grandpa put Alecksander Roy behind bars! He can't be innocent!"
I could only stare at Magno's conflicted face. His jaw was clenched while his eyes sported nothing but conflict and sadness.
And that's when I realized his standpoint about the possibility of Alecksander Roy's innocence.
If Alecksander Roy is indeed innocent, then it could only mean that his Grandfather put an innocent man in jail. I understand why Addamson can't accept that idea.
"How about an accomplice?" tanong ko na lamang.
Magno stilled for a moment as if my thoughts finally got to him.
"Sumama ka sa akin, may ipapakita ako sa'yo," aniya kaya kinilabutan ako bigla.
****
"What are we doing here?" tanong ko nang hininto ni Magno ang sasakyan niya sa tapat ng isang Apartment building. Sa pagbaba namin, napatingala ako at bahagyang nasilaw dahil sa sikat ng araw na tumatama sa mga bintana.
Hindi sumagot si Magno, dire-diretso siyang pumasok kaya sumunod na lamang ako.
"You better not tell Reika about this." He heaved a deep sigh while we were inside the elevator.
"You're starting to creep me out," komento ko naman.
Sa paglabas namin ng elevator, nadire-diretso siya sa isang unit kaya sumunod na lang ako. Pagpasok pa lang namin sa sala, naiwang nakaawang ang bibig ko dahil sa matinding gulat at kalituhan dahil sa nadatnan.
"A-ano 'to?" Kunot-noo kong bulalas nang makita ang isang napakalaking white board sa sala kung saan nadikit ang maraming mga newspaper clippings at litrato. Marami ring mga nakaguhit sa board na para bang kino-konekta ni Magno ang mga litrato sa isa't-isa.
"What the hell?" Bulalas ko sa sobrang kalituhan nang makakita ng mga lumang missing poster ng mga batang babae. They were from different cities but they disappeared one month apart, and according to the information listed below their photos, they all went missing on a Friday night.
"Th-they all went missing after Vicky died," mahina kong sambit nang mabasa ko ang mga dates sa poster. "Why are they here?" tanong ko pa.
"When I was in college, I broke my leg and had to stay in my room for weeks. One day, out of boredom, I found out about their disappearance on a missing person database. They were the same age as Vicky. They all fit the same profile."
Kinilabutan ako dahil sa mga narinig.
"Do you think it's Alecksander Roy?" tanong ko pero umiling siya.
"Alecksander Roy was already behind bars when they went missing and until now, their families are still searching for them. Iniisip ko... baka may kasabwat si Alecksander Roy at ito ang kumuha sa mga batang 'to," aniya.
Lalo akong kinilabutan.
"Then that would explain Alecksander Roy's death! I mean, think about, what if his accomplice got scared that he would be thrown under the bus? Siguradong ayaw niyang mahuli kaya bago pa man siya mailaglag ni Alecksander Roy, pinapatay na niya ito!"
Kapwa kami nagkatinginan ni Magno, seryoso at tensyonado ang mga mata.
"Ngayon ang tanong, sino ang kasabwat?" tanong niya.
