Surging Of Affliction (WWS)

Corpses

There’s a higher possibility that it might be Celeste's body. Bukod pa sa postura ng katawan nito, ang id at iba pang cards na nahanap ng polisiya ay nakapangalan sa babae. Sang-ayon sa awtoridad at sa mga nagdaang kasong murder, sapat na iyon upang makumpirma nilang si Celeste nga ang bangkay. Kulang na lang ng pruweba na magpapatunay na ito nga ang taong kinababaliwan ng detective. Pero sa kabila no’n ay naduduwag pa rin ang doktor na ihayag sa detective and katotohanang nalalaman. Bern knew that Detective Raj is on edge and he’s afraid that the truth will only trigger him.

“Ilang oras pa ba akong maghihintay?” tanong ni Detective Raj. Halata sa kanya ang pagkabagot sa katagalan ng prosidyur sa pag-eksamin sa bangkay.

Bern cleared his throat. “The doctors might have faced some problems. If you’re tired, you can go home, Raj. I’ll just send you the result through your email.”

“I can’t do that.”

Bern groaned in frustration. “You need to fucking rest!”

“Forget that damn rest! Kailangan ako ni Celeste! I should confirm if it is her! I should find her!” he shouted exasperatedly. “Alive!”

“We will find out what to do after the DNA fucking test. You think you can do anything with how unstable you are right now? Can’t you see yourself? Parang kang baliw na ewan!” Bern declared irritatedly. “Ayusin mo nga ang sarili mo!”

Detective Raj just sat still stubbornly while Bern sighed in exasperation. He couldn’t stand how stubborn the detective was.

Huminga nang malalim si George at tiningnan ang pintuan ng examination room. “I think both of you need some rest. Why not go to an empty ward and take some nap? I’ll wake you up when they're done.”

Tumango si Bern. “Ikaw?”

“Magbabantay.”

Bern chuckled. “You look as worn out as the detective. Are you sure you won’t come with us to rest? I think you need it more than I do.”

“I don’t think the detective will be at peace if nobody is guarding the area,” anito. “Kilala mo siya dok, at alam kong batid mo kung gaano siya nagtatanga-tangahan kay Celeste,” sambit nito bago tinignan si Raj na parang pinapatay na siya sa isipan nito. “I’ll rest when you’re done resting.”

Tumango si Bern at mabilis na hinatak papalayo si Raj. After the two left, George took a deep breath before entering the examination room. The doctors were all settled in one corner discussing something.

“Sir…” paunang tawag ng isa sa mga taong naroon sa loob.

“Tell me the result. Wala na ang dalawa,” tugon ni George sa isa sa mga forensic doctors na nag-eksamin sa katawan.

“The body isn't Celeste's but the tongue…” the doctor trailed off.

“Go on. Continue.”

“It is Celeste’s tongue, Sir.”

Natuptop ni George ang sariling labi. He found himself having a hard time sorting out his feelings. Dapat ba siya maging masaya dahil sa posibilidad na maaaring buhay pa si Celeste, o nararapat bang galit at takot ang mamuno dahil sa kinahinatnan at maaaring kahihinatnan ng babae? “How about the body?”

The forensic doctor looked at the body before handing over the results to George. “When we opened and examined the insides of her stomach, we found different parts of bodies from different unidentified persons. May mga daliri, taenga, at mata. We even found private parts, penises to be precise.” He sighed in exhaustion. This was the reason why they took too much time in examining the body, bukod pa sa pakiusap ni George na huwag muna ipaalam sa detective ang resulta. “She died from choking. It seems like she was forced to take those and died from the process. Based on the results, it seems like this person is Bernard's fianceé. The dead one who set himself on fire.”

Flabbergasted because of the results, George dumbfoundedly scratched his head. He wasn’t expecting that. No one would expect such a horrible case to exist.

“I think the criminal was trying to feed the detective's partner's tongue to the victim before dying,” the forensic doctor added. “Though that's only my speculation, it isn’t entirely impossible.”

“I think so too,” the other doctor agreed.

Goerge left the room still unable to function. In his years in this field, he never once encountered such crime. It's just too cruel and vicious.

Paano si Raj?

Kung ang katotohanan na kahit hindi man katawan ni Celeste ang bangkay na nahanap ngunit ang dila naman nito ay natagpuan hindi kalayuan sa bangkay ay sapat na para mawala siya sa katinuan, maaaring mas malala pa ang magiging reaksyon ng detektib — ito ang kinatatakutan ni George.

Hindi niya alam kung paano sasabihin sa detektib ang katotohanang nalalaman. Maaaring magandang balita para sa iba na buhay pa si Celeste pero iba ang dating nito kay Raj. Tiyak ay mawawala ito sa katinuan gayong nasa peligro ang babaeng minamahal.

At habang tumatagal ay unti-unting nasasagot ang mga tanong ngunit ang kapalit naman nito ay pag-usbong ng bagong katanungan. Kung paanong ang nakikita nilang daan sa paghahanap ng katotohanan ay siya mismo ang nanliligaw sa kanila papalayo sa sikretong gusto nilang malaman.

Napaupo si George sa hindi kalayuang waiting area ng hospital. Everything was just confusing him. Hindi niya alam kung konektado ba ang katulad na kaso sa kay Bernard sa mga pagpatay na naganap sa QC. Kung iyon nga ang totoo ay sadyang napakatalino ng kriminal na ito. Bukod sa napakalinis ng mga krimen na ginawa ay walang makapag-iisip na ang dalawang kaso na halos langit at lupa ang pagkakaiba ay iisa lamang ang salarin.

There wasn't any evidence so all he could do was just assume that the two cases are connected.

Pipikit na sana si George upang makaidlip ng ilang sandali nang istorbohin ng malaking pagsabog ang buong lugar. Agad namang kumaripas siya palabas ng hospital. Sa paglabas niya ay si Raj at ang walang malay na si Bern ang unang sumalubong sa kanya sa labas kasama ang nagkukumpulang mga tao.

“Kanina pa ba kayo dito?” tanong ni George sa dalawa.

Umiling si Raj. “We just got out not too long before you.” Nang makitang kuryosong nakatingin si George kay Bern ay agad itong sumagot. “I didn’t know that he drank sleeping pills. I have to drag his ass out of the fucking building.”

“Why would he—”

“He can’t sleep. He's old but he’s still afraid of nightmares.”