The Devil's Trap

Chapter 22: Wrong Decision

What does River mean? This game is getting more and more tangled up.

--

"Alam mo ba kung bakit wala si Miss Van ngayong araw?" tanong ko kay Maureen nang patapos na ang aming shift.

Nasa locker room kami noong mga oras na yon at nagbibihis. Lumingon siya sa akin.

"Lagi siyang wala tuwing araw na ito. It's about her friend."

"Friend?" tanong ko.

"Hindi ko pa nakikita but I think her name is Helena."

Natigilan ako sa pag aalis ng tali ng aking itim na apron. Helena. The name Miss Van mentioned a week ago.

"Ano'ng meron sa araw na ito?" tanong ko, nagbabakasakali na masagot niya.

Maureen shrugged. "No one knows."

--

Umuwi ako sa apartment na isang bagay lang ang nasa isip. Miss Van and Landon is somehow connected. And between the connection is Miss Van's friend, Helena.

Naalala ko ang sinabi ni River bago umalis.

"It will be a hard day for Landon. He might need you today."

Kumain ako at nagbihis. I was exhausted and badly needed a long sleep to make up from the lack from the previous night. But in the back of mind I was waiting for Landon. A call, a text.

I know what River meant. I'm Landon's blood source. He can need me anytime he wants to. Pero noong gabing yon wala akong narinig mula kay Landon. I counted the days since he last did it. It's been weeks. Wala ba itong magiging epekto sa kanya o sa kontrata?

--

I still haven't heard from Landon the next day. Nakabalik na si Miss Van pero si Landon hindi parin nagpaparamdam.

Hindi ko mapigilang bumaling kay Miss Van habang nagta-trabaho. I wanted to ask her about Helena. But I'm risking for something improbable. It maybe too personal of a question.

Maagang natapos ang aking shift noong hapong yon. As I'm walking out of the coffee shop I received a call from Yllona.

"Is Landon with you?" She asked. Her voice is shrill than usual.

"No," sagot ko.

"Did he lost his phone or something? Did he die? I think it's better because Uncle Nicholai will surely do it anyway if he didn't answer his phone anytime soon."

Yllona is anxiously blabbering.

"He's not here."

"Okay, thanks Denise. I have to go."

The call ended. I never heard someone hung up so quick especially Yllona. She loves prolonging your misery from a topic of your sore point.

Noong mga oras na yon alam kong may mali. I'm starting to doubt if this is still part of Yllona's game. No one from the three Monaghan cousins mention their elders or parents in day to day conversation. They never mention them at all. Tila iniiwasan nilang mabanggit sa usapan ang mga ito. But the fact that Yllona mentioned Landon's Dad erlier means something serious is going on. Madalas magbangayan at mag-alitan ang magpipinsan. Pero sila parin ang magkakampi pagdating sa kanilang magulong pamilya.

Sinubukan kong tawagan si Landon habang naglalakad pauwi ng apartment. Ngunit walang sumasagot. What are you thinking, Landon? If you'll get another punishment this time, you'd die.

Pumara ako ng taxi. Sinabi ko ang address ng mansion ni Landon. The driver stared at me from the rearview mirror. Saka ito nagmaneho. Lumipas ang halos kalahating oras bago ako nakarating sa property ni Landon. Tulad ng dati binaba ako sa bukana palang ng property.