Sunshine

XXXI

“SHE didn't die, right?”

“Did you come here to confirm if she’s alive? Or if she’s dead?”

In quick steps Marie went in front of Adrian, blocking his sight of Mathilda still on her hospital bed. She met his eyes and found it’s out of focus. “This isn’t the look of a lover who’s worried over her comatose girlfriend.”

“Marie,” Carlos called from the hospital room door. In her side eye Marie saw Carlos giving him the stop-that-and-hurry look. But Marie is still not done.

“We did not go through all the trouble just to be here only to see you like that, so get a grip. You know how I want to see you here right now?” Marie pulled Adrian’s face to look in the eye. “Cry, get angry, then cry. Don’t make yourself look like you’re the one who actually killed everyone.”

Carlos who was serving as their lookout quietly intervened and pulled both out of the hospital building through the same fire exit they used to get in. Then dragged them to the car, and drove quietly back to the abandoned warehouse. It is as quiet when they arrived, including Rivera and Valencia who chose to stay behind while the hospital visit.

“We already gave you what you want. Now talk.”

“Marie, please.”

It was Carlos who begged a break from Marie’s sermons. Rivera and Valencia exchanged looks and quietly assumed the trip did not go well.

“Carlos, what happened?”

Rivera asked in authority. But it was Marie who answered.

“We need to know what happened so he can be his self.” Marie’s eyes stayed nailed on Adrian. “Now tell us. Was it you? Did you really kill everyone? Your girlfriend?”

“Marie.”

But Rivera’s warnings didn’t went through. Marie went on. “I just want you to stop acting like guilty if you’re not.”

“This is a mistake. I shouldn’t have contacted you.” Adrian worded-out still looking down. His voice is deep and trembling. “Please pretend you never saw me.”

Adrian left after that. And no one tried to follow him out.

“HOW’S your trip?"

That made Adrian tilt his head towards his left where the door is. Again, the first thing he saw is a sparkling heels, in magenta pink this time. He stayed his head frozen in that place.

“You said you wanted to check, right? I told you they aren’t good friends.”

Though Adrian doubted if he actually heard that, he didn’t say anything. The Queen’s Spear walked closer to him removing the heels from his sight that’s keeping it busy.

“Now forget everything. They can’t accept you but I can, Adrian Dela Vega.”

click clack

“You are forgiven.”

“You are forgiving me for a sin I haven’t confessed to, eh?”

“Are you doubting your own memory? Yeah sure you must be since you’re lying all the way.”

She sat on the bed next to him, keeping safe distance. Still Adrian didn’t give her a glance.

“A policeman, and a serial killer. You were two-faced. What face would be the true face of you? Which is the face you made to cover the real you?”

“Were you good, or bad? I’m now leaving you to think.”

The Queen’s Spear left him alone. He stayed sitting on the bed, thinking at the same time not. Those were words to ponder but he couldn’t wrap anything in his head.

But unlike earlier,he can finally hear the TV set mumbling today’s headline news for the midnight news program slot. He’s been seeing himself a lot since the day he woke up from this same bed a couple of weeks ago.

Only a few days left and it will be a month since Adrian Dela Vega was proclaimed death. But the Kahilom Serial Killer’s death was only presumed as the police has still made no progress with their hunt and search operation. Is Dela Vega really dead? Or he is alive somewhere, perhaps watching this news and probably preparing for his next…”

A month, almost a month. As the female news anchor said, it’s been that long since Adrian has been seeing himself being called the monster who has shook Kahilom by its killings. How many died agai―ah, that’s it 10. Did all those lives really went by his hands?

The woman who’s been claiming his “savior” has been asking if he is doubting his own memory. But the truth is he can’t remember anything well.

“But I know how cunning humans could get. And I am as cunning as anyone.”

He thought as he stared at the news anchor currently angry on the screen blaming the police force and the government thanks to him.

And now that he could think, he tried to recall everything he could. Everything he could until it felt like his brain shattered. It made him scream.

“Was it a lie I was made to believe or the actual truth?”