Sunshine

XXIII

“ADRIAN…”

The room initially filled with murmurs quiet down when he arrived. Even breathing went quiet. The only thing that can now be heard are his rustling footsteps with the foot cover and camera shutters. Marie tapped the forensics man holding the camera to stop for a while and give way to Adrian. Adrian took a good look at the place he is most comfortable with next to his own place but is now their crime scene.

“How can this place become a crime scene in a blink?”

Adrian’s words in low voice silently broke his teammates hearts. Marie looked up to stop her tears, Carlos balled his fist and Juan walked out of the house to curse nonstop.

But none of that went noticed to Adrian. His eyes stayed nailed on the floor bathed in bloodstains.

“Adrian you can do this later.” Carlos said. Adrian just shook his head and swallowed all the emotions inside him mixing like a blender. Sure enough it wasn’t a refreshing smoothie.

“Initial findings? Same?”

Carlos sighed and answered. “Stab wounds, the scheme…” Another sigh and he continued. “It’s the serial killer. She’s our newest victim.”

MEDICAL personnel that are dressed in white ran back and forth in a sense of urgency, most times with calls and shouts that accompanies it. Sometimes the hurried steps stops, either followed by sounds of gratitude our cries of grief. The thick white walls wasn’t made to conceal the anything and everything from outside. Adrian frowned at all the noise.

Why are they still running around as if there’s still a life around here?

“She’s in coma. The doctor said she could wake up so don’t worry so much. Now eat.”

Marie squeezed Adrian’s hand grasping hard on Mathilda’s. She slowly released Adrian’s grip on it and put the plate of food on his now open palms. The silog she bought hot has now gotten cold.

“Please eat. Did you know that I bought this for breakfast? Lunch time’s almost over.”

“By now I should be hungry, right? Look at the time.”

Those were the first words that went out of Adrian’s mouth since arriving at the hospital. Marie breathed out. She never realized she’s holding her breath.

“That’s why eat, will you please?”

But Adrian only continued to stare at his plate. Marie repeated.

“Adrian, please.”

“But I’m not hungry.”

Marie nodded, saying she understand. “But you still need to eat. You haven’t eaten since---”

“I’m not angry. I’m not sad. I’m not sure.” Adrian raised his head to meet Marie’s eyes. “This f*****g heart and this f*****g mind is in f*****g chaos right now. Could you please sort this out? You are good at this.”

Both froze, Marie while standing on Adrian’s side and Adrian sitting on a chair next to Mathilda. Adrian’s eyes are on Marie but it never seemed like it. Is Marie the one that’s like a thin air here or Adrian?

"I at least want to feel only one emotion to act on it. If I’m angry then I could just hunt and kill everyone who did this to her. If I’m sad then I could just bawl here right here right now. If I’m hating myself then I could just slit my throat and die with her. But what now? Am I supposed to do all that at once? I can’t I’m stupid. I’m stupid for getting her into this mess and doing this to her.”

Marie blinked after hearing Adrian’s words. One. Two. She lost count.

Marie Aguinaldo started crying like a lost child.

“SHE'S been waiting, Madame.”

She took a quick check on the gentleman who opened the door for her. She guessed they’re around the same age and nodded. They found a replacement for Alejandro already?

The gentleman lead the way for her. For the first time today she took a look up at the high ceiling. She only realized how big and swallowing the place is. The ticking of her own heels made it obvious she’s purposely taking slow steps. Olivia Magbanua never got used to the poorly lighted place. And it seems like there won’t be a time anymore for her to do that.

“Are you here to bring the good news? Is the rat now dead?”

The rhythmic tapping on the queen’s spear’s heels made Olivia swallow hard. She has never dropped a bad news on her---- the queen’s spear has never received a news on a failed mission from them. But the thought this will be the first has given a little courage on Olivia to finally say it.

“She’s still alive. But she’s in coma and only has a slim chance to live.”

The emphasis on the word slim didn’t helped lessen the caused anger on the queen’s spear. Olivia almost wanted to crawl on the corner after hearing her scream.

“Do you want me to kill you instead?”

The way that was said on a very low voice unlike her shout made it more scary than the words said. If that will be enough to kill then Olivia would have died right on the spot.

“I’m sorry this won’t happen again. Please give me another chance.”

Olivia went down on her knees. She tried to stop its shaking by clutching her hands on it. She can hear the queen’s spear’s heavy breathing it suffocated her she wanted to die on the spot.

“Make sure of that. Unless you want to die.”