章 2: 02| g e n e s i s
02
g e n e s i s
"Enough!! The brotherhood should also execute you for barging in on our sacred tradition, the cleansing!" The man said in a low husky voice.
Astrid squinted her eyes to even out the details of the man's face but all she can see is nothing but a person behind a huge black cloak.
She wanted to yell and asked for help but only a small exasperated air came out, it feels like there is a big lump obstructed in her throat.
Suddenly the man brought out its big knife ready to stab her. The killer raised its knife suspended in mid air , pointing on her chest.
"DIE!!!!!"
Nagising si Astrid nang marinig ang pag sigaw ng kaniyang matalik na kaibigan, si Genesis. Inuuga ng binata ang katawan niya upang magising siya ng tuluyan. Bumangon si Astrid na animo'y isang bampirang umahon mula sa libingan.
Kinolekta ni Astrid ang kaniyang hininga gamit ang natitirang pwersa niya. She felt like she performed an exhausting exercise at ganon na lang ang pagkawala ng pwersa niya pakiramdam niya'y dahil iyon sa nangyari kagabi.
Nang imuklat niya ang mata ay tumambad sa kaniyang harapan si Genesis na nakasuot ng white t-shirt at denim jacket.
He was wearing a full geared denim apparels from top to bottom.
"What happened?" Tanong ni Genesis tumayo ito at binuksan ang vennetian blinds niya.
A beam of light raced, passing through the panels of her blue tinted window.
Umiling iling si Astrid "Nnn-nothing it was just a bad dream" sagot niya. Kahit naka bukas ang aircon ay malamig na pinagpapawisan si Astrid.
A bead of sweats continue to fall down on her cheeks and on the temple of her face.
She was somehow wet.
"No. What i mean is anong nangyari kagabi?" Pag correct ni Genesis at naupo ito sa tabi ng kama ni Astrid.
A beam of light struck Genesis' face revealing the features of his charismatic and manly appearance.
Hindi nakasagot si Astrid, she was trying to put all the pieces together of her fragmented memories that had happened last night.
The murder that happened last night to be exact. It was like a nightmare but in real life.
Gusto niyang kalimutan ang nangyaring karumaldumal kagabi ngunit hindi niya magawa, the vivid evocation of a fresh murder still lingers at the back of her mind.
Genesis opened her T.V.
At dahil ganon nga kasikat at ka-influential na tao si Emilia agad na kumalat sa balita ang nangyari sa kaniya, ilang oras lang ang nakalipas at pinag-pyestahan na ng media ang kaniyang pagkamatay. Kahit saan channel na ilipat ni Genesis ay puro tungkol sa pagkamatay ni Emilia ang binabalita.
"This is what i am talking about," wika ni Genesis.
Ayaw mang ungkatin muli ni Astrid ang nangyari wala siyang nagawa dahil matalik na kaibigan niya si Genesis.
Kinuwento ni Astrid ang nangyari. The story on how Emilia was killed is shorter than in real life scenario. Kung ang kwento niya'y inabot ng 10 minutes lang ang totoong pangyayari ay inabot ng mahigit tatlong oras.
She felt quiet dizzy dahil alas kwatro ng madaling araw na siya nakauwi kasama ang kaniyang Dad matapos siyang i-interrogate sa police station.
Luckily her Dad is a lawyer, she was then released from the interrogation phase.
Her Dad instructed her with a bunch of tips para di na siya paulit ulit na tanungin ng mga pulis.
Astrid felt that the investigator is pinning her down as a prime suspect but fortunately Astrid knows how to psychoanalyze.
"So you mean it was an inside job?" Genesis asked.
"No. I haven't think of any theories yet. Hindi ko pa masasabing inside job yun hangga't di ko nakikita ang mga CCTV footage." Sagot ni Astrid.
Aside from being an Anthropology student , she is also an embodiment of Nancy Drew and Sherlock Holmes magaling siya sa investigation and she's also adept in the art of deduction.
Astrid is a modern day Sherlock Holmes.
"This isn't the first time na may pinatay na miyembro ng Alpha Kappa Tau," ani ni Genesis.
Naalala ni Astrid ang mga namatay na miyembro ng elite circle na Alpha Kappa Tau.
January 2000 Minerva Korel died because of carbon monoxide poisoning namatay si Minerva sa kaniyang sariling sasakyan, the public thought that it was an accident since Minerva is a reckless driver nagkaroon na rin ito ng ibat ibang criminal record patungkol sa kaniyang driving behavior.
February 2002 two years after Minerva died another Alpha Kappa Tau member was also killed, Julia Whitewood she was found dead inside her apartment, she died because of anaphylactic shock according to her personal doctor Julia's health condition is so sensitive she has an allergy to peanuts, over-the-counter pain relievers,intravenous drugs and insect sting.
Hindi ito nilalabas ni Julia in public because it might be used against her kung mayroong mag tatangka sa kaniya ngunit hindi niya rin ito napigilan.
According to autopsy she was stung by a fire ant, investigators also found a nest of fire ants under her kitchen sink and under her bed. Naging suspect din ang doctor nito dahil ito lang ang nakakaalam ng health condition ni Julia ngunit napawalang sala din siya kalaunan dahil sa kakulangan ng ebidensya.
There were several members of Alpha Kappa Tau who were killed but no culprit found.
The elusive killer still managed to do a killing spree perfectly. Astrid handled so many cases and solved it in no time but this killer is different.
T'was a real predator studying its next prey.
"Either the culprit personally knows them or the culprit is studying them so well na kahit pati ang mga kaunting details alam nito," ani ni Astrid
"What if the person who killed Emilia is the same person who killed the other members of Alpha Kappa Tau?" tanong ni Genesis.
"That's impossible. Let's say a 40 years old man is responsible for that killing spree and 2020 na probably isa na iyong uugod ugod na matanda. A lot can happen in 20 years Genesis." Sagot ni Astrid habang tinatanggal ang kumot niya na naka cover sa kaniyang katawan.
Lumabas si Astrid sa kaniyang kwarto bagamat nakararamdam siya ng panaka-nakang sakit ng ulo nilabanan niya iyon at binaybay ang daan patungo sa kanilang kitchen.
If there's a favorite place where Astrid wanted to go everyday that will be their dining room and their kitchen. Puno ito ng mga ibat ibang klase ng snacks, vegetables and other perishable items from different parts of the world.
Yes! Her Mom is a sucker for this type of "food and delicacy collection" hobby. Her Mom even went to Paris to buy Bordier a famous artisanal butter.
Her Mom isn't a chef but she has a strong passion for tasting different types of cuisines.
"Mom, i was wondering if there's still a coffee? There's no more coffee here in the jar!" Astrid shouted, her voice reverberated through the four corners of their kitchen.
Her eyes scanned the row of glass jars where some of them contained powdered milk, chocolate, and tea.
"I think its in the cupboard," sagot ni Genesis mula sa kaniyang likuran.
Sinunod ni Astrid ang sinabi ni Genesis and there she found Kopi Luwak an expensive coffee from a Palm Civet.
"You really know the things inside this house," Astrid said while putting the coffee in her mug.
It made her heart a little light. For almost 15 years si Genesis ang nakasama niya , naging tagapagtanggol niya ito at si Genesis din ang naging kuya niya marahil ay only child lang siya at nakita niya ang older brother figure kay Genesis.
"Of course. It is 'my' house too," sagot nito habang binibigyan ng diin ang salitang 'my'.
Dahil nga araw araw ang pag bisita ni Genesis sa kanilang bahay hindi rin maiwasan na ma-issue-han silang dalawa.
Nariya't na issue-han siyang jowa niya si Genesis at may anak na at kung minsa'y may asawa raw si Genesis at siya ang kabet.
Napapangiti at napapahagalpak na lang siya sa tawa sa tuwing maaalala niya ang mga chismis na iyon.
Astrid and Genesis are just close friends , sa katunayan ay may girlfriend si Genesis at apat na taon na silang magkasama but di rin kalaunan ay nag hiwalay si Genesis at ang girlfriend nito.
"This cookie is delicious by the way," Genesis inaudibly mumbled while chewing the cookie he took from the jar which was placed on center of the marble table.
"I know ! Aunty Celine made it, gusto mo? Sabihan ko si Aunty Celine para maipagluto ka niya," sagot niya kay Genesis
Si Aunty Celine ang katulong ni Astrid ito ang pinakamatagal na katulong na namalagi sa kanilang mansyon. Ayon sa kwento nito ay bago pa siya ipanganak ay nag ta-trabaho na siya sa Mom niya.
"Nah. Its okay. Wag mo nang abalahin pa si Aunty Celine," pagpigil ni Genesis sa kaniya.
"Well . If that's what you want." Ang tanging nasagot lang ni Astrid.
She took a sip of coffee.
The aroma of the coffee helped her alleviate the stress and her headache. Astrid can't start her day without drinking any caffeinated beverages.
Astrid went to their sala and sat on the couch covered with red faux fur at di kalaunan ay tumabi rin si Genesis sa kaniya.
Astrid gaze shifted from her mug full of coffee to Genesis who was busy eating the cookies. "I thought you are on diet at nag ji-gym ka?" May pinaghahandaang international photoshoot si Genesis para sa isang lifestyle magazine kaya ganon na lang ang pag wo-work out nito.
"A two pieces of cookies won't kill me neither my diet," he answered while savoring the thickness and flavorful texture of the cookie and the chocolate chips sprinkled on top of it.
Nag kibit balikat si Astrid.
Genesis is a type of man who usually breaks all the rules.
"Mom and Dad are going to throw a small dinner party later, pupunta ka ba?" tanong ni Astrid kay Genesis.
She was also then bombarded with question "Dinner party? For?" tanong ni Genesis.
"I really dont have an idea kung para saan," sagot ni Astrid. Last night her Mom instructed her to buy a new clothes dahil magkakaroon sila ng dinner party with their relatives from the States.
"I guess its not a dinner party at all, parang small reunion lang with the bagong uwing relatives." Dugtong pa niya
"I dont think i can make it, i have pre-arranged meeting sa Autumn Magazine and ihahatid ko pa si Alexandra sa Sorority House nila," dismayadong sagot ni Genesis.
"Wait, yung sister mo is part ng isang sorority?" tanong ni Astrid
"Yep. Alpha Kappa Tau that's why i am a little bit nervous sa mga nangyayaring patayan" sagot pa nito
"Pero kailan lang siya naging member? Bakit ngayon ko lang nalaman na member siya ng AKT?" Astrid drained the remaining coffee in her mug.
"Last month I guess. I wasn't able to share it to you since I am out of town tsaka busy na ako," Genesis inserted his hands in his pocket and grabbed his phone out.
Pinakita ni Genesis ang picture ng kaniyang ate na si Alexandra kasama ang AKT Head na si Emilia. It was taken on their summer vacation sa isang private island na malapit sa Batanes both of them are wearing a bikini.
"And also that's another reason why I went here, I wanted to ask if you could investigate I am afraid baka madamay si Alexandra." He locked his phone and returned inside his pocket.
Astrid looked at Genesis's eyes. It was full of desperation and anxiousness.
Matagal ng huminto sa pag i-investigate si Astrid, iniwan niya na rin ang Sherlock Holmes type of life niya, she wanted to be at peace lalo pa't ilang beses ng nalagay sa alanganin ang kaniyang buhay.
She solved more than 20 cases sa kanilang town and she actually created a school club for people who wanted to learn the tips and techniques of becoming a better detectives ngunit nang dumating ang araw na ang buhay niya'y nalagay sa alanganin ay hindi na siya muling nagpatuloy pa.
"I dont know man, I am not sure kung matutulungan kita. I mean, I can help you in many ways but not this. Let the proper authorities handle that case provided that our technology is upgraded for sure they will find the culprit in no time," paliwanag ni Astrid. She hate that feeling lalo na kung nadi-disappoint niya ang kaniyang mga kaibigan.
She wanted to help but she also wanted to live , gusto niya ring ilayo sa kapahamakan ang kaniyang mga magulang.
"I am sorry Gen," paghingi ng tawad niya
"No. No. Its okay." Genesis released a little chuckle. "Its just that I was hoping if you could go back but I dont want to force you. I think you are right the higher authorities will help."
"I know you are very much concern sa kapatid mo but tell her na maging observant and maging alert always, because if you are observant and alert you are one step ahead sa killer," payo ni Astrid.
Tumango lang si Genesis.
Maya maya pa'y iniluwa ng glass door ang Aunty Celine niya na may dala dalang papel.
"Hija, sulat para sayo," ani ng matandang katulong habang naglalakad ito patungo sa kaniya.
Inabot nito ang isang sobre.
"Is this my bill? Kakatapos ko lang magbayad ng phone bill ko ah," nagtatakang tanong ni Astrid
Kinuha niya ang inabot na sobre.
"For Detective Astrid" basa niya, she could almost hear the sarcasm sa mga salitang iyon
Binuksan niya ang sulat at inumpisahang basahin.
"I know you wanted to help and i know you wanted to save them. Hindi ka na dapat nagpakita nong gabing 'yon, you have the chance to save yourself from possible execution yet you left me no choice but to kill you and your loved ones. You are not in my list but you've made me wrote your name here. Killing you soon . - From: Carnifex"
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