Tantei High (Erityian Tribes, #1) | Published under Pop Fiction

Chapter 17 - Second Case: His Sixth Sense

Bigla na lang akong napatigil sa paghinga at nagulat ako nang hatakin ako ni Akane papasok. Agad niyang sinarado ang pinto kaya lalo akong kinilabutan. Being in the same room with a dead body made my skin crawl.

"S-stay alert," mahinang sabi ni Akane habang nanginginig ang boses niya. "I...I...think the killer is...is... still around."

Lumapit ako sa kanya at natigilan ako nang makita ko ang mukha niya. She looked pale and she was shivering but still tried to stay calm for my sake.

Muli naman akong napasigaw nang bigla na lang bumukas ang pinto at bumungad sa amin ang mukha ni Ken.

"Why are you—what the...hell."

He stared at the dead body hanging on the ceiling but it just surprised him for a few seconds.

"Akane?" tawag ko pero nakatulala na lang siya sa kawalan.

"Oh, shit," Ken cursed as he ran toward Akane. "Akemi! Get away from her!"

"Bakit—!"

Akala ko ay katapusan ko na dahil bigla na lang akong sinugod ni Akane habang may hawak siyang kutsilyo. Buti na lang ay nakaiwas ako agad at napigilan siya ni Ken. He restricted her movements and pinned her to the ground.

"Calm down, Akane! She's not your mother!" he yelled but Akane continued thrashing and my heart sank when I saw the pained expression on her face.

Narinig ko naman ang papalapit na footsteps ng mga tao at paglingon ko ay nakita kong pumasok sa kwarto sina Reiji, Riye at Hiro. They were also greeted by the dead body in the middle of the room but they immediately helped Ken in restricting Akane. May hinawakan si Riye sa bandang leeg ni Akane at bigla na lang siyang nawalan ng malay. Pagkatapos no'n ay napaupo na lang si Ken sa tabi ni Akane habang hinahabol ang hininga niya.

"It's been a long time since I last saw her like this," bulong ni Ken at binuhat niya si Akane sa likod niya. "Buti na lang at sinundan ko kayo. Kundi ay baka kung ano na ang nagawa niya sa'yo. Sorry."

Nag-collapse na lang din ako at tiningnan ang natutulog na Akane sa likod ni Ken.

"P-paano mo kami . . ."

"Because of her perfume," he said while tilting his head toward her face. "The scent was getting fainter so I decided to follow it."

"W-what happened to her?" I asked and their expressions became grim.

"It's a trauma," Hiro answered and he looked at the victim's body. "Her mom was also hanged like this."

Napatakip naman ako ng bibig nang marinig ko 'yon. I didn't know that her mom was already dead.

"I'm sorry nee-chan. Hindi ko nasabi sa'yo," Riye apologetically said. "Hindi ko naman alam na may mangyayaring ganito."

"It's okay," bulong ko naman at saka ko tinap ang balikat niya.

'Did she attack you?'

'Mmm. Pero hindi naman niya 'yon sinasadya,' sagot ko naman.

'Yeah. Her mom's murderer is not yet caught and identified, so she's trying her best to find him or her.' I see. Then that was why . .

'Kaya ba inatake niya ako? Kasi akala niya ako pumatay sa mom niya?'

'Exactly.'

Pagkatapos niyang sabihin 'yon ay magkahalong awa at takot ang naramdaman ko para kay Akane. To think na hindi pa nahuhuli ang pumatay sa mom niya at makita ko siyang nagkakaganyan, kahit na ilang araw pa lang kaming nagkakilala, it still hurt me.