26th Doors

She was spared the slow, steady droplets of blood that began to spatter the beds, drip, drip, drip, painting the white sheets in shocked flowers of red" -Chris Wooding

***

The blood spatters. The picture of the bloodstains flashes randomly as we started running towards the fire exit. I was at the head of the stairs when I pictured the position of every individual on that floor. Bloodstains range in both amount of blood and type of pattern, from pools of blood around a body to obvious spatter patterns on the walls. There was no suspect, to begin with, but the people around us can help me determine the killer.

I need to pool all the information from those who remained alive after the 27th floor.

On my trigonometric view, the shape of the bloodstain pattern will depend greatly on the force used to propel the blood as well as the surface it lands on. Base sa pagkakahiwa sa lalamunan nina Emerald at Kyziel, I know for sure that the suspect used long double-sided blades. The spatter was obvious that the attack came from the left side.

The way I analyze it, a gunshot wound, a forward shot, per se, will typically form smaller droplets spread over a wide area. Larger drops and more concentrated drops in the areas directly adjacent to the action can be formed from an impact spatter.

Parehas ang paraan ng pagkakagilit sa leeg ng dalawa which means, there is only one person who did it.

One of you is the killer. Alala kong sabi ng mailer kaninang nasa taas pa kami.

The blood can be the evidence now. Blood demonstrates surface tension, or cohesive forces that act like an outer skin, a rough surface for example, disrupts the surface tension and causes the drops to break apart. Mas mahirap basahin ang blood spatter sa mga carpeted area. Pero sigurado akong galing sa kanan ang pumatay kay Emerald Reyes. As far as I can remember, nasa kanang side nina Claina at Emerald sina Satana at Kid. Nicolla and Athena, Maxine, Bella and Angelyn were on the left side.

Either Satana or Kid did it or someone who's not from the group. Kung sina Kid at Satana man ang salarin, sana'y narinig ko ang paggalaw nila. It was even impossible for them to move that fast dahil wala akong naramdaman at narinig sa mga oras na 'yon kundi mga kalabog.

Maddie and Thrina were beside Kyziel when the crime happened. Maddielyn has blood stain on her shirt while Thrina seemed to have not gained any spatter. Either Thrina might have done it so fast and killed Emerald after or Maddielyn pretends to be innocent so she used the bloodstain to cover herself.

Pero hindi ba't sina Zyril at Kyziel ang magkasama? Bakit biglang sina Maddie at Thrina ang kasama ni Kyziel noong namatay ito?

"Vlad," Zyril's broken voice cut me. Tumabi ito saakin habang nakatutok ako sa laptop. Nasa isang conference room kami ng 26th floor kung saan tanaw namin ang buong ka-Maynilaan.

"What's up?" bati ko sabay tiklop sa laptop. Ayokong makita nito ang pag-iimbestiga ko sa kanila. I pretended normal like the way we used to before the killings happened.

"Sorry!" She started crying. Nanginginig ito. "Kyziel was one of your best agents. Kung hindi ko siya iniwan noong nakarinig ako ng kalabog, siguro buhay pa siya ngayon."

My eyebrows met. I flung my head instantly towards her direction. This was my chance to know more her whereabouts the hour Kyziel and Emerald died. "You followed that sound? Sinubukan mong huliin ang kriminal?"

Tumango-tango ito. She leaned against the glass wall that separates the room from the production floor. She was sighing the whole time like she was so guilty of Kyziel's death. Kahit papaano'y may pinagsamahan sila ng yumaong empleyado. "I did." Tipid nitong sagot.

Tuluyan na akong humarap sa kanya. I looked aggressive but I did not care. She might have seen something. "Tell me what you saw Zy!"

"I saw a silhouette of a tall lean figure. Hindi ako sigurado kung babae siya o lalaki pero the hair is in a bob cut."

"You saw it where?"

"Fire exit. She was holding a samurai. Nakita ko siya Vlad. I saw him ran around the production floor. Tapos tumigil siya sa gitna." Zyril started shaking as she recalls what she saw. Nayakap nito ang sarili habang nakayupi na ang nanginginig niyang tuhod.

Seeing her so vulnerable left me no choice but to embrace her. She needed it. Not for anything else but as a friend, she needed me. "Hush now Zy. I know how traumatizing this is for you. Stay strong. You will be needing it. Magtulungan tayo para mahanap ang killer."

"I think, I'm not sure, but Vlad, I think I know who the killer is. Base sa figure na nakita ko, I know who the killer is."

I looked around to make sure no one's listening. Saka ko pabulong na tinanong. "Sino sa tingin mo ang killer?"

"Vlad, the killer i-"

Natigil si Zyril na halos maluha na nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng conference room. The opened door revealed Andreas' presence. His gaze targetted Zyril and then to me and back to the girl again.

"Are you two busy doing something?" Nakangising tanong nito saamin saka kami muling tinapunan ng malisyosong tingin. When none of us answered, he suddenly threw a surrendered stare and expression. "Oh come on! We're all adults here!"

"Andreas!" Napatayo si Zyril na akmang susugod sa lalaki. Nakailang hakbang ito bago niya nalapitan ang nakabungisngis na si Andreas na nakasandal sa may door frame. "Gwapo ka sir Andreas noh? Kaso ang dumi ng utak mo!"

"Thank you!" Bungisngis ng lalaki.

Itinulak ni Zyril ang nakatawang si Andreas sabay labas sa conference room. Pinasadahan pa nito ang likuran ng babae na naglalakad palayo. "Bye sexy!" hirit nito bago bumaling saakin. Wala itong sinayang na segundo. Mabilis itong pumasok sa conference saka ni-lock ang pintuan.

Naupo ito sa conference table habang nakatanaw saakin. His gaze became seriously dangerous. Matagal na itong ilag saakin. He has been my greatest competition since day one. Lagi kaming pinagkukumpara ng mga nasa 31st, mula sa itsura, sa ugali at performance sa trabaho. I always end up beating him in any aspects.

The rivalry started to be one of the many reasons kung bakit hindi kami naging magkasundo. We both love basketball, we love Tekken, we both like Maths and numbers but we never clicked. Hindi talaga lahat ng taong kapareho mo ng hilig ay makakasundo mo.

He clicked his tongue then shook his head slowly after analyzing me like a microscopic specimen. "You always are the center of everything Molina." He started his litany. "Pati sa end of the world, ikaw ang kinakausap ng kamatayan. Like our lives depend on you now, huh?" Mangas nitong sambit. His hands gripping the edge of the table. I saw the tension on his tendons. He's angry.

"Andreas, no one wants to be mailed with death notes."

"I know. That's why I am here." Napatingala ito sa kisame. He released heavy breathing. "I don't want to die yet." He confessed.

Natigagal ako sa binanggit nito. Anong rason nito at bigla na lang siyang lumapit saakin? Bakit biglaan gayong may sarili na siyang mga plano ni Simond? "What's the catch dude? Tell me."

"I need us to help each other." He blurted out.

"You are my suspect!" I confessed.

"You are my suspect too!" Bawi nito.

"So how can two people doubting each other be great teammates now huh?" I uttered sarcastically.

Bumaba ito mula sa pagkakaupo sa lamesa. Napatayo ako. He cornered me. Naisandal nito ng kamay sa sinasandalan kong pader. His gaze was intense. Nanlilisik. "Keep a close eye on me and I'll keep a close eye on you too. For as long as we're not 100% sure of our suspicion, unless otherwise proven , Mr. Molina, we can help each other monitor the other people."

"That's not possible Choi. You can't work to someone you can't trust." I insisted.

"Then trust me!" Bulyaw nito. Halos matalsikan ako ng laway niya.

"Trust is earned. It is not something you asked. It is voluntarily given."

Tumalikod ito saka napamura sa hangin. Nahawakan nito ang litid saka nagpigil. Mainitin pa rin talaga ang ulo nito. Suko na agad ito.

"Give me time to weigh things Andreas. I will need time to reconsider. But I appreciate your time coming to me."

Bago pa man makapagsalita si Andreas ay nakarinig kami ng katok mula sa pintuan. Hindi iyon tumigil hangga't di napagbuksan.

"Vlad, Andreas, may nakasulat na naman sa monitor ng computers." Si Haliya na nangangamba ang itsura.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Andreas bago ito nagdesisyong lumabas para tignan ang nakasulat. Sumunod ako. Naabutan kong abala ang bawat isa sa pagbabasa sa nakasulat na riddle.

My first is third, like the sound of the sea. My second is the center of you, not me. My third is the end of him, not you. My fourth start a picture, not a view. My fifth is in the bean, though not in been, My sixth and seventh start seldom seen. Sunrise and sunset, warmth and cold, Put these together and a sign will unfold.

At sa baba nito'y may nakalagay na instruction.

Type-in your answer to the computer of your choice. One computer for every person. Dare to share the same computer and share the same death. Cheating is prohibited.

Kanya-kanyang okupa ng computer ang mga naroon. Bawat cubicle, isang empleyado. Lahat kinakabahan.

Inulit kong basahin ang riddle. Napakamot ako sa ulo. Hindi talaga ako mahilig sa riddles pero sa ngalan ng kagustuhan kong mabuhay pa, paghihirapan kong sagutan ito.

Parang isang word ang tinutukoy nito gaya ng mga nauna. Natagalan akong ianalisa ang bawat pangugusap. Napansin kong nauna nang nakalabas si Minalyn papuntang elevator. Marahil ay bababa na ito sa 25th floor. Sinundan 'yon nina Haliya at Deedrae na halos kasabay lang ng dalawang receptionist. Nakaalis na rin ang nurse na si Athena at si Zyril. Dinig ko ang pagbukas sara ng pintuan palabas ng lobby.

Hindi kutsilyo o lason ang papatay saakin kundi riddles! Naisaloob ko.

Muli kong binasa ang riddle. Adrenaline rush should kick in or else I'm dead!

My first is third, like the sound of the sea. =C

My second is the center of you, not me. I have no idea. I will figure this out later.

My third is the end of him, not you.=M is the end of the word 'him'.

My fourth starts a picture, not a view. =P is the start or the word 'picture'.

My fifth is in bean, though not in been. =A is not present in the word 'been'.

My sixth and seventh start seldom seen. Sunrise and sunset, warmth and cold. =S, obviously all the words start with 'S'.

Put these together and a sign will unfold. C_MPASS.

Inulit ko ang second phrase. Doon ko lang napagtantong letter 'O' ang tinutukoy nito. COMPASS!

Mabilis kong ti-nype ang salita sa kaharap kong computer. Isang malaking check mark ang lumabas sa monitor kasabay ng instrustion na:

Please get your access disk to the 25th floor!

Napasuntok pa ako sa hangin. Nakasagot ako ng isang riddle. At mukhang ang bilis ko. Paglabas ng disk mula sa CPU ay mabilis kong hinablot 'yon at nagdesisyong tunguhin ang elevator. As I forage movements around me, wala akong namataang naiwan pang tao loob kundi ako lang. Ako pala ang pinakahuling nakasagot!

Wtf?

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