Inside a lavishly decorated room, the haunting whimper of a woman reverberates, each agonizing breath punctuated by her excruciating pain. The sound echoes off the lampshade, LED alarm clock, the elegant swivel desk chair, a delicate hanging vase, and the expansive glass window.Through the tremor in her voice, it's evident that she's desperately trying to crawl away from her assailant, despite the injuries that already ravage her body. Her voice, once strong, now falters, as if her throat has suffered significant damage."Who are you? Why are you doing this to me?" she implores, her words trembling with fear. The haunting sounds of blood dripping from her wounds add an eerie undertone. The severity of her injuries is evident—countless lacerations that mar her flesh.The room she's trapped in seems to be soundproof, devoid of any external noises. Even if she were to scream, no one would come to her aid, amplifying her helplessness."She confided in me, you know. She told me how she ye
"What are you doing here?" I ask Detective Ace, who stands silently in front of our house. He has his hands in his pockets."About the case..."Without saying a word, I pull him inside the house. He's really ruining our plans with Lesia. It's making it harder for me to do what needs to be done because of his interference."What is it?" he complains, pulling his arm back. I lock the door and look around for my mother with my eyes, but I can't spot her. I can hear noises coming from the kitchen, so she's probably preparing lunch."We already have an agreement...""It's your agreement with Lesia, not mine. Besides, I'm a detective, so don't just drag me around.""Aish!" I mutter, restraining myself from kicking him."Oh! Ainslynn, you have a visitor," my mother says as she comes out of the kitchen."Good afternoon. We just have something important to discuss with your child, if it's alright with you."Wow, suddenly being polite."It's fine, I'll leave you alone for now."My mother goes b
It is already past 7:00 p.m., but we're still at school. The teachers' evaluation is starting tomorrow, and four of us are scheduled for it. I am surrounded by gossipers."Where's Ma'am Niña?" Flyn asks."In the restroom? I don't know," Ma'am Pau replies."Ma'am Niña won't survive without washing, you know, every hour," Ma'am Irene jokingly says, making all of us laugh."Let's message her," Flyn suggests."Is our Review Room still closed?" Ma'am Pau comments."The Science team and Journalists are still reviewing. The contest is on Monday," Flyn answers."Your students are so diligent, huh?" Ma'am Irene comments."Well, when Ainslynn and Flyn are their coaches, and their names sound similar," I jokingly say. I am about to stand up to go to the Review Room when I hear a scream."Did you hear that?" I ask."What?" they all ask simultaneously."The scream.""Huh? No, but maybe it's just your students fooling around. Maybe you should send them home?""We're already sending them home. They'
"I went to the restroom because I received a text. It said that it knows who the woman is that my ex-boyfriend replaced me with," Ma'am Niña continues her story.Detective Veins, who is interrogating the teacher, sarcastically laughs, his eyes darting around as if anticipating an attack at any moment."I'm telling the truth! I have no knowledge of the child's death. She wasn't even my student... I mean, she used to be my student, but not this year."In the trembling and emphasis of her words, I sense a hint of truth, but there's also a part of me that says she's lying. Like Doctor Jhasmine, she forcefully conceals the truth.What is it? I can't help you, Ma'am Niña, if you don't tell the truth."And who sent you the text?""I don't know, it was from an unknown sender.""If it's unknown, why did you believe it?""Have you ever been deceived before?"Detective Veins visibly pauses at that probing question from Ma'am Niña. The woman's face suddenly turns serious as she gazes intently at
"What's going on here?" asks the man they call Detective Veins. I can't gather the strength to walk out because of his presence."It's none of your business," Detective Ace rudely replies. The other one sarcastically chuckles."Why are you still here, Miss Ainslynn Quezon?" he turns to me and asks. I can't find my voice to respond. "And who are you?" he adds, questioning Doc. Jhasmine."I'm Doctor Jhasmine of Xell Hospital.""What's a doctor and a teacher doing here? This is a detective station, not a hospital or school.""You're accusing my cousin in the Dammon Academy murder case. I'm here to help prove her innocence. I know Niña, she wouldn't be capable of killing anyone.""I'm in charge of the case, you should be talking to me and not the people in this department.""So, you're Detective Veins, right?""That's right.""Well, you're the one I should be talking to, but this stupid group of detectives is minding my business also.""Hey, you came here voluntarily, maybe I should revea
I am just waiting for Sir Race to enter his house before I go up to mine. My shoulders are drooping from the exhaustion I feel, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.Is life this bitter, huh?I am taken aback when I see Detective Ace right in front of our gate."Where have you been? You suddenly disappeared from the station. Don't tell me you can teleport too?" he says.Aish, why does this detective talk so much? He sure talks a lot."I was at school," I replied honestly and succinctly. He raises an eyebrow and scans me with his eyes. I can't help but feel uneasy."DA? What are you doing there?" he asks with a hint of doubt. Instead of answering, I just let out a sigh. "Who's that guy?" he adds, pointing towards Sir Race's house.Aish, so he sees us.I have no intention of answering his questions because it isn't my obligation. I dedicate my time to explaining and shedding light on murder cases, not answering intrusive questions about other people's lives."Is he
Kristel is washing her hands. It is evident in her movements that she is anxious. Her consecutive gulps are also noticeable.The restroom door opens, causing the child to step back. I think they sense the impending danger. The man in the hood enters. Suddenly, my heart starts racing.It's him. The killer in the black hood."Who are you?" Kristel asks, trembling."You'll die without knowing my name."His voice... I'm sure he's the one who killed Zeen and Kira. I can't be mistaken."What did I do to you?" The child steps back again, leaning against the wall this time."To me, nothing."Then, who? Is he a paid psycho killer? Or a professional one?"But to my friend, you did something," he adds.Friend? So, that woman and this killer surely have a deep connection."I don't know the friend you're talking about. Please have mercy on me, don't... Don't kill me.""It's too late. Your death is already planned, kid."He quickly approaches Kristel and mercilessly stabs the child in the stomach.
"Ma'am Lynn!"I immediately turned to the owner of that voice. Ma'am Niña is running towards us, with Flyn by my side."Hey, Ma'am Niña!" Flyn says, her voice is filled with tears, while I can't help but smile."Thank you for your help, huh?" she says, embracing us. She has been out of the detention room since last night. We also visited her yesterday morning and made sure she would be released before the sun rose again."You must have been really scared," Flyn says, stroking her hair."It's not just fear, 'day. I felt like I was in hell. If I learned anything, it's to forget about my damn ex-boyfriend."We all burst into laughter together. That's the reason she ended up in the restroom. The sender used a burner phone, so it couldn't be traced. What matters is that Ma'am Niña's hands were proven clean in the crime that took place."What happened to Sir Race?" Ma'am Niña asks. I quickly follow her gaze and see Sir Race struggling to walk."He slipped in the restroom. The restroom is so