DECODE

CHAPTER 4; Spider

ASHER

A week have past since the last incident of murder happened inside our campus. The case was an exceptional one as the crime was disguised first as a suicide. Japeth Barameda, a grade ten student was killed and the culprit was later on caught by our club. That is the third case closed by our club and also the time when we found our third member.

Silvester Vernon, the Editor in Chief of our campus newspaper was our club's third member. Upon my seeing his post about DECODE, I immediately track the owner of the post and soon found out that he's the one who posted it. He then help us in Japeth Barameda's case and now our third member. He serves as our chronicler. And right now, I'm reading his article written on our campus newspaper.

Crime, Case, Club

In the midst of Thursday afternoon of the previous week, a grievous crime happened inside the vicinity of our own campus.

Japeth Barameda, a grade ten student was found dead in front of the grade ten building. He fell from the third floor of the said building and died instantly as he hit the floor, cold and bleeding.

Witnesses said that they saw how he was fell on his own from the third floor of their building, in front of their own classroom. He was speculated to slip on his own from the windowsill in front of their room.

But, as the speculations spread all over the school, a group of students with the brightest minds, clear all the doubts and speculations by presenting definite facts destroying the first theories and giving a more sensible, fact-based conclusion about the said crime.

Asher Dray Monteverde and Zay Winter Shin, the two members of the known DECODE club, club that consists of students with detective mindsets, arrived at the crime scene and operated align with the aide of the district police. Through their define conclusions, the crime was soon discovered as a murder, disguised as an accident.

Pointing definite facts that destroyed the speculations of accident, the said club started investigating the crime to help uncovering the truth about the case. Conducting several interviews and questionings about the victim, they slowly unravel the truth behind the death of Japeth.

With the aide of Asher, the culprit was identified. He's the said friend of the victim, Luis Monaco. The culprit was now in the hands of justice and will have his first trial this coming Friday.

"It's not the resolution which gave us freedom, but the fact that the culprit was now in jail." Asher said on one of our interviews with him.

With the wits and bright mindset of two students, the case was closed. More power to these young lads who helped to secure the peace and order of our beloved school.

- Silvester Vernon,

-Editor in Chief, Hermes' Prophecy.

I finished reading the article. I folded it again and put it on top of my desk. I lean on to my chair and look at my phone. It's already end of our first break. I arranged my things, put the newspaper inside my drawer and stand up from my seat. I immediately left the room with a smile upon my face.

I walked towards my class. Class 11-A is not that far from our clubroom. It's only five-minute walk.

I arrived at our classroom and find that some of my classmates were already there, sitting and waiting for our professor for the next subject to come.

I sat in my proper seat, and saw, from my peripheral vision, Silver approaching me on my seat.

"So, how's my first article as your chronicler?" he asked, leaning on the empty chair in front of me. I look up to him as I lean onto my chair.

"Fine. Well said. Although the crime, investigation and resolution were not detailed, at least you made a very good way of promoting our club. I'm sure everyone already know about our latest acts and they will surely acknowledge our club if they have some problems that need our assistance." I answered. He nodded with a smile plastered upon his face.

"It's good that you liked it. I don't want to flop on my first work as a part of your club." he said. I chuckled.

"You will not be the editor in chief if you don't know how to make a beautiful article. But there's one thing that I want to clarify. Don't use my name in the resolution part. Always credit everything to our club. That's all my concern."

"I will take note of that." he said. Our talk was stopped by the appearance of our professor in Mathematics. Professor Wil Liam entered the room as the students went back to their proper seats. Silver also went to his proper seat and the whole class fell silent.

Professor Liam is one of those professors who is cheerful-looking. A kind of professor that get along with the students well and approachable to everyone. He's a lean man, with a fair skin and a blue-framed reading glasses. His eyes were brown and hair is decently trimmed. He has this smile that always captivate the attention of everyone, especially ladies. He's also a young professor.

"Good morning class." he said and smiled to us. The class greeted him, but most of the students that greeted back were all ladies. Hayst, your appearance really affect the behaviours of others around you.

"Today, we'll discuss about algebra. We'll review the basics, and then tackle the difficult ones as we go on with the topic. But first, we'll have our attendance check. As usual, say 'Present' if you're here." the professor said and he started calling names of students inside our class. I wait until I was called by him.

"Asher Dray Monteverde." I heard he said. I raised my hand and say present. I put down my hand. I saw Professor Liam looked at me, from under his lenses. He stared at me for a few seconds and then continued his roll-call. I ignored him and started drawing some cartoon characters on the last page of my Mathematics notebook.

"Zay Winter Shin." I heard the professor call. I waited for a response, but heard none that made my brows knit.

"Is Ms. Shin here?" Professor Liam asked again. But again, no response.

"Okay, I'll consider her absent." he said. I turn to my back and saw the seat of Zay. It's empty. I wonder where she is right now. It's so unusual for her to cut classes.

The class discussion started. The whole class were hyped by the jokes of the Mathematics professor. Everyone laughed at his puns as he discussed the lesson. Well, he always did that in our class. He said that if he add some jokes and light up the mood a little bit, we will listen to him. And it seems effective, tho.

The class goes on and on, without Zay entering or arriving late in the class. I wonder where did she go? What happened to her? Is she in the clinic?

"Okay, that's all for today. Don't forget to do your assignments. Five jokes about algebra. We'll have the sharing of our jokes tomorrow. See you again tomorrow, class. Goodbye." I heard the professor said. The whole class stood up and bid goodbye to our Mathematics professor. The class already ended, without me, having any presence of mind about the discussion. My mind is wandering somewhere.

"Hey, you know where is Zay?" I heard someone asked. I turned to see Silver, standing beside me, looking at the door where the students are swarming to get out of the room. I shrugged.

"I don't know. She's not with me last break. She didn't go to our clubroom either. I thought she's with her friends, eating their foods." I answered. I stood up from my seat and walk outside. Silver followed me.

"That's strange. I wonder if she's in the clinic. Come, let's see." he said. I nodded and we both took the path toward the clinic.

It's already lunch break and students were swarming from their classrooms toward the cafeteria. I can hear noises and chitchats. Their voices were buzzing around the campus area.

We reached the clinic and we immediately entered it. We went directly to Nurse Janet who's sitting on her usual spot inside the clinic. She raised her gaze to us and gave us a very sweet smile that is popular to all the students.

"How can I help you?" she asked in her sweet, modest voice.

"Is someone named Zay Winter Shin here?" I asked her. She asked for a couple of minutes as she searched her logbook. I felt a nudge on my side. Silver whispered to me.

"Is she the grade seven teacher in Science?" he asked. I nodded.

Nurse Janet is not just the typical full-time school nurse. She's also a teacher. She's teaching freshmen students in Science.

Nurse Janet smiled to us after a few minutes. We waited for her answer.

"Thank you for waiting, but her name wasn't here." she said. My brows knitted as I my gaze found Silver's. He's frowning too.

"Thank you, nurse." I said and we immediately left. We're in daze as to where might Zay be.

"She's not in the clinic. So, where is she?" Silver muttered beside me. We decided to take our lunch inside our clubroom. I already made reservations for food in our cafeteria that they delivered to me in our clubroom. Silver did the same. That's why we don't need to come to the cafeteria anymore.

We arrived on our destination. My mind still wanders where Zay could be. Is she here?

We entered the room, hoping to find Zay there, sitting and just asleep. But we found none.

"I wonder where she is." Silver said as we sit to our respective seats. I didn't answer. Even I, don't know where is that lady.

"Didn't she inform you about her whereabouts?" Silver asked. I shook my head.

"We still haven't talk since earlier. She's always with her friends." I said as I try to think of possible places where she might be.

"Let's just eat for now. Who knows, after lunch, she will appear." Silver said. I nodded but my mind is botheres to where Zay is. I have this uncomfortable feeling, strange feeling that she is in...trouble.

We immediately ate our lunch. We talked to each other and our conversation went to diverse topics such as why do people always see the faults in someone while they don't see the goods in someone and why do people always believe in supernatural theories and conspiracies.

"Well, I think they believe in those supernatural theories because their minds were fed by evidences that if look with naked eye will be classified as a believable one but if examined carefully will reveal the scientific explanation hidden from a simple perspective view." I said. Silver nodded as he finished his meal.

"Yeah I think so. I don't know why people are so easy to fool. Hayst, if all people were just–" Silver's statement was cut by the sudden opening of the clubroom door. A lady from our class appeared on the door. I recognized her. She's a friend of Zay. She's Zandra Jean Reyes. She is pale and sweating. I wonder what happened.

"Ash! Z-Zay...s-she's kidnapped!" she exclaimed. Silver and I were shocked by her sudden news. I immediately stood up and frantically asked her questions that is essential to answer.

"How did you know?!" I asked as I rush towards her. She gasped for air as she answer my question. Silver stood beside me, also eager to know more about the details of the event.

"S-Someone just told me. He also said to give you this." she said and handed me a phone. A keypad phone. I frown upon seeing the thing.

"What is this? Who told you?" I asked.

"He was a man. As tall as you. Wearing eyeglasses and has a messy hair. Based on his patch, he is a batchmate of ours. But I failed to see his nametag. He just told me to tell you that Zay was kidnapped and that phone will help you find her." she said. I frowned. Who is that person?

But before I dwell to who that person is, I must deal first on how to find Zay. I need to save her from whoever kidnapped her. Silver and I look at each other as I open the phone. The famous opening video with a funny little ringtone echoed. My heart is beating fast as we're waiting for the phone to open.

Welcome...

The first word that appeared on the screen. We all waited there for a moment. Everyone is silent. No noise can be heard aside from the noise produced by the electric fan. Then, we're all surprised when the phone vibrated and a nursery rhyme, London Bridge, played. Shocked, we all look at each other as a certain name appeared on the screen.

Spider calling...

"Answer it, Asher." Silver whispered to me. I nodded. Maybe the person who gave this phone to Zandra want to play with us. I must play with them, too.

With just a clear mind and composed self, I clicked the accept button. The call immediately followed. I put the call in loudspeaker for everyone of us to hear whatever the person on the other line wants to tell us.

"Hello Decode Club. Nice to finally talk to you. Well, I really want to talk to you in person. But, the thrill of this game will not be preserved if I will do that. I think, our meeting in person will have to wait." the man on the phone said. I frowned upon hearing his voice. I can also hear statics. Maybe, he's using a voice changer.

"Who are you? Where's Zay?!" I asked. I heard the man on the other line laugh.

"Chill. You're so impatient. We're just starting the game." he said. My jaws tightened upon hearing his words. Who is this person?!

"Ok, since you're so impatient, we'll start the game now. If you want to see Zay alive, just follow everything that I will tell you, through riddles. Follow it, and you'll see where we put Zay. In fact, I want to talk to you a bit more, but it seems you're in a hurry, so we'll skip to the game proper. Now, I'll first give you the first riddle. Good luck." the man on the other line said and he hung up. Silver, Zandra and I were looking at each other, confusion and fear is evident on us.

Who is this guy? What does he want from us?

We're all startled when the phone rung again. We immediately look upon it's screen.

1 new unread message...

I looked at both Silver and Zandra before I open the said message.

Are you fond of books? No? Then you lose.

Find the next clue after you found the book that was placed on the eighth shelf from the back and the second shelf after the first shelf. See the note there, and go on somewhere else.

Spider...

The three of us looked at each other as we finished reading the message. Silver and I exchanged meaningful looks.

"Library." we both muttered. We immediately arranged our things in the clubroom and left them on my desk.

"Let's find the note he's saying in the library. Zandra, thank you for giving this to us. I will assure you, we will do our best to find Zay and keep her safe. It's better if you will go back to our class. Don't tell anyone about this." I told her. She nodded and left running. I can say she's worried about her friend. Well, who isn't? Even I, am worried about Zay.

"Why don't we call for help?" Silver asked. I shook my head.

"Zay is in the hands of someone that is mad. And he wants us to play with him. By the word 'play', he means us and him only. No external affairs. I'm sure that's what he wants. Us playing him. And I'm sure he will hurt Zay if we call for help." I said as my mind wonders as to who is the person that holding Zay. There's only one thing that is sure as of now. He is a madman.

"Let's not waste any more time. We should act and save Zay." I said. Silver nodded and we both went out of the clubroom.

We run towards the library of the campus. I felt the phone in my hand buzzed. I look to see the new message sent.

I will only give you twenty minutes. Good luck. :)

Spider...

My jaw tightened upon reading the new message. This man is mad! He's getting in to my nerves already!

"Silver! We only have 20 minutes to see and solve whatever he put in the library. So we must act fast but careful!" I said. Silver nodded. We sprinted faster until we reached the library. We rushed inside the library. We were greeted by a cold glare from the librarian.

"The message said, eighth shelf from the back and second from the first shelf. So, the eighth shelf from the back is..." I said. I counted the total number of the shelf in the library.

There were ten shelves in all in the library. Those ten shelves were big enough to hold more or less a thousand books.

"So, the eighth from the back is this one." I said as I count one to eight from the tenth shelf. I ended in front of a familiar shelf. The third shelf where the first case I solved took place.

"Is this it?" Silver asked as he eyed the big shelf in front of us.

"I think so. It also corresponds the second clue. 'Second from the first'. The first is that one, and from there, the second shelf will be the first and the third shelf will be the second." I said. He nodded.

"We need to find the note he's saying. But these books...were so many. We can't search them all in just a matter of twenty minutes." Silver said. I already know that fact. And I'm now thinking ways on how we can search all these books faster and easier.

Third shelf...why here in this shelf? Why? Is there something he wants us to know from this shelf?

I roam my gaze upon the books on the shelf. How...how...how can we find that note faster and quicker?

Then, I felt something vibrated in my hands. Ngayon ko lang napansin ulit ang phone na hawak ko.

"Another text message." I muttered. I opened the message, Silver peeking beside me.

Ten minutes left! Find the note...in a magic book! You already saw that book. You saw that book when you first solved...something.

Spider...

I closed the message. Silver and I look to each other.

"I know where we can find the note!" I exclaimed. I immediately find the thick book I once saw. Kill Me Or I'll Kill You is the title of the book I discovered that was used to knock someone and killed through strangulation. I found it on the second layer of the shelf.

"Are you sure it contains the note?" Silver asked beside me. I nodded.

"I'm sure about this. The message reveal the place where we can find the note." I said. Heart beating faster as ideas of saving Zay surged my mind, I immediately ruffled the pages of the book, hoping to find the note. Silver is anticipating for the note to surface in front of us too. But, the pages of the book came off without a note showing to us. I stood there, frozen and shocked without finding any note.

"What?!" I exclaimed. I heard the shushing voice of the librarian. Silver put a finger upon his lips.

"What happened? Why no note appeared?!" I muttered angrily. I ruffled again the pages on the book, but like the first attempt, no note appeared. Why is that?!

"Why?! It sucks!" I muttered. I felt a vibration again in my pocket. I took out the keypad phone and opened the latest message sent to us.

Three minutes left! Find the note...in a magic book...

Spider...

Only three minutes left! Where is that note? Magic book? Magical book...?

Goodness! How fool I was!

"I knew it! I knew how to find the note!" I exclaimed. For the second time, I heard the shushing voice of the librarian. I ignored her and started to ruffle the book, but this time, in different way. I ruffle the pages of the book from the top edge of the book. Then, a few seconds later, a note appeared. I smirk.

"Woah there! How is that happened?" Silver exclaimed as he saw the magic of the book. I smirked at him.

"See these? These two pages that sandwiched the note has a part taken from it. Normally, if something was put between the pages of the book, there will be a break on it that makes the hidden item seen easily. They cut a portion of it so that when you ruffle it in this part, it will not be touched by your fingers thus the pages were skipped in ruffling. That's why when we ruffled the book earlier from the bottom part, that page will be skipped since our finger can't hold to their pages. But if we ruffle it on the upper part, we find the note." I said. Silver nodded as he understood my explanation of the trick.

I immediately took the note from the book and started to read it. The phone on my hand vibrated. I read the new message from the madman we communicated earlier.

Good and you found it. Now, I will give you until two o'clock to solve my riddles and find Zay. If you failed, she will no longer live. See you at the end of the race.

Spider...

My jaw tightened upon seeing the new message. He is really a madman.

"What is it?" Silver asked. I gave him the phone for him to read the message. I saw his expression hardened upon reading the said message.

"Darn! That guy!" he exclaimed that was heard by the librarian. Now, it's strike out for us.

"You two! Get out of the library! Now!" the librarian yelled. Silver and I immediately left the library without giving any glance to the furious librarian. Silver and I went out with the note in my hands.

"So, what time is it?" Silver asked. I looked at my phone to see the time. It's exactly one o'clock.

"It's one o'clock. We only have one hour to solve his riddle and find Zay. Better start this now." I said. Silver nodded and we sat to a bench near the library. I unfolded the note in my hands. There's a writing there. A short riddle.

Welcome to my web! Let's call it Darkest Web! I'm your playmate, Spider. Can you solve my riddle? You must. Because a life is on the line!

Chaos! War! No ruler!

See the second riddle!

You might find it there!

You don't need to enter the loop of a needle!

Good luck!

- Spider

Our eyes met upon finishing reading the riddle. I can see confusion in his eyes.

"Goodness, I don't get his riddle!" Silver said. I just fell silent. I think hard about the riddle he had given us.

He's the spider. And he's calling this game as 'Darkest Web'. I'm sure Zay's life is on the line. Now, I must solve the riddle he gave to us.

I reread again the riddle as my mind wanders to any answer that is sensible. I'm sure, the first line tells it all. Also, the last line says that the difficulty of the riddle is easy. And I think, I already know the answer.

"You know the answer?" Silver asked. I nodded.

"Chaos, means destruction, war, means fights and no ruler means no government to rule. If you think of other terms that can wrap everyone of those words and statements, you will only come up in one answer. And that is 'Out of Order'." I said. Silver nodded.

"You are right. That seems the case. If that's so, then we must find a place here that is 'out of order'." he said. I stood up from the bench.

"No need. I already knew a place which is out of order." I said and asked him to follow me. Silver and I ran toward the gymnasium. This is the place where I solved the fake murder case done by a student who only wants revenge.

I went directly toward the cr which isn't usable since it was broken. The sign 'Out of Order' can be seen from the outside of the boy's cr.

"Wow! Very brilliant." Silver said but I ignored him.

I immediately entered the toilet as he followed me. We were greeted by the foul odor of the toilet room that wasn't used for almost a year. We ignored the foul odor and started to search for the note. I scanned the whole toilet to find the next note he put for us.

"Found it. Sticked behind the faucet." Silver said. I turned to him and found him holding a piece of paper in his hands. We immediately went out of that stinking toilet. We went to a bleacher and started reading the note we just got.

Hello my dear playmate! Find the third note in this place...

I'm so high at the moment,

Then someone killed when bent,

Then there's a broken pot,

And I saw how you hit the jackpot,

- Spider

I smirked upon reading the riddle.

"Come on. Let's see the next note." I said. We left the gymnasium. I have a feeling about the places we all find the riddles. And those feelings were nasty.

"Hey, Ash. You noticing something?" I heard Silver asked beside me as we walk toward the grade ten building.

"Yes. And I have a bad feeling about that thing." I said sternly. We arrived at the grade ten building. We only have forty more minutes to find the note.

"We need to hurry. Forty more minutes." I said and started to jog upward towards the rooftop of the said building. Silver, running behind me, and I reached the rooftop. The whole place is scorching hot since there is no covering in this place. I heard his exclamation of surprise because of the place.

"Goodness! Is what we did what you call 'stairway to hell'?" he remarked. I did not mind his mumble and let my gaze scan the whole area. Where could that note be?

"Do you think, it's there?" Silver asked and pointed the place where the culprit in Japeth Barameda's case was positioned when he's waiting to kill Japeth. I nodded at him and we both run towards that place.

Arms up, covering our faces and eyes from the sun, we searched the whole place. And a few minutes later, I found the note, tucked between two rocks. I immediately took it and run back to the shaded part of the rooftop. I can feel my body being burned under the sun.

"Goodness! Whatever that Spider thinking, he's insane!" Silver exclaimed. We sat down the stair and read the note we just found.

You reached this far, we'll go further. Find the lady. She's in this place...

In the end of the day,

Ladies went here,

They spent the whole night until the next day,

No boys allowed, BEWARE!

- Spider

"Easy, let's head to the girl's dormitory." Silver said. I nodded.

So that were the places he likes us to go. I'm sure we can see Zay in the girl's dormitory, fifth room.

"Hey, Ash, how can we enter the girls' dormitory?" Silver asked. I smirked.

"I have a plan." I told him.

The dorms were locked in school hours to prevent students going in and out of it. They always close it to prevent cutting classes.

"What are you doing?" Silver asked as I picklock the gate of the dorm.

"Opening the gate." I casually said. I heard him chuckle.

"Whatever. Just do it fast. We only have twenty-five minutes to save Zay." he said. I nodded and picklocked the gate faster.

I picklocked the gate, trying to unlock it by force, and after a few moments, I heard a click from the lock. A smirk formed upon my lips as I took the lock from the gate.

"Let's go." I said. I looked at my phone and see the time. We only have a quarter of hour left.

We went directly toward the fifth room on the first floor. I frowned upon seeing the door of the room unlock. Silver is frowning too. But I disregarded my bad feeling about this and we charged inside.

Silver and I froze upon seeing the room, clean and quiet. No one is there. Not Zay. Not a single soul. The whole room is quiet. Then fear and panic started to creep inside our system.

Where is Zay?! Where is Zay?!

Then, I felt something vibrated in my pocket. I took out the keypad phone.

Spider calling...

Silver and I looked at each other. We both nodded at each other as I pressed the answer button. I turned the call into loudspeaker mode.

"How's the running game? Did you enjoy it?" the man on the other line said. My jaw clenched upon hearing his mocking voice.

"Where is Zay?!" I asked with stress. I heard the man laugh.

"Oh, she? She's fine. She's now in your clubroom." he said. Silver and I look at each other. The fear of death faded from our face as it was replaced by anger.

"Why are you doing this?!" I asked. I heard his laugh stopped and his voice became serious.

"Well, I did this to tell you something..." he said. We listened as he speak to us.

"I want you to know that everything happened in the campus, were all my doings. I'm proud of it. And, more of that will come. Prepare yourself. You already experienced the maze of my web, now you know I have the full control of everything. This game, is my game. Remember my name. I'm the Spider. And you're already on my web." then he hung up.