Sunshine

XXXIII

“WAS it you?"

The TV set was purposely turned on in its full volume. The breaking news that made her rush home rang again her ears for the nth time. Her escalating anger lead to Olivia to pull the TV off straight from its plug. “Alex what did you do?!”

“I was watching that.” Alex said eyes still on the TV’s direction. “Could you plug that on again?”

“You pretended to be sick to go out and kill?” Olivia stood in front of her lover. But that didn’t made Alex give her attention to her. “What the hell Alex?”

“You really think I did that?”

“Your recent actions are confusing the hell out of me! And that’s why I can’t trust you completely.”

A long silent from her. Though Olivia’s patience have been running out and anxiety taking over she kept her mouth zipped.

“You’re right. If you tell the police the words I’ve been saying lately I will literally climb up the suspect’s list.”

Olivia closed her eyes. Again, that’s her effort on trying to stay calm.

“But this an opportunity for us. We can now tick off the list freely.” Finally Alex looked at Olivia. Olivia opened her eyes and met hers. “The police won’t be watching us anymore. Because they now have Adrian Dela Vega.”

“You’re sick.”

Alex stood up from the sofa and plugged on the TV set back. It’s loud volume started filling the apartment again.

Olivia stared at the back of her lover standing in front of the TV. That’s when she saw.

She swallowed the forming lumped on her throat with the words

“And it’s my fault.”

“WAS it Adrian? No, no way. He is doing fine hiding! But what if he’s really the killer? Then this all makes sense. But wait do I really believe he’s a killer or what? Or do I…”

Marie managed to do all the talking. She’s a psychologist by profession and this is her image when faced with something too confusing to think about quietly and calmly―after all people’s coping mechanisms could look weird in most ways.

She asked another set of questions again, this time particularly directed to someone other than herself. “What are we supposed to believe? To what direction are we going to as a team?”

“What’s this? We won’t be arguing now?” That was Carlos. She looked at Marie and watched her lost her sanity little by little.

“Let’s argue then decide. But I can’t really do any debates right now. Because honestly I can’t just wrap anything on my head.”

Juan sighed at the their conversation. He then looked at Rivera he’s silently silently waiting for to say something.

“I trust you, Capt. That you can be the most sober among us here.”

“Now thank you, Valencia.” Rivera took his jacket from his chair and slipped himself on it then quickly fixed his holster. His hand stayed there. “But let’s stay on the argument stage for now. Let’s decide later. Now move!”

As if on reflex his teammates quickly stood up and grabbed whatever they need to go. They went out of the door side to side.

It’s true, that their leader could stay the most sober among them all.

“HOW are you feeling?”

The Queen’s Spear entered the room that was left open. Her heels traced the red stains on the white tiled floor. Adrian stayed still sitting on the bed, hands dripping with blood. She took out a white handkerchief and bent in front of him.

“You should wipe this off.” She said as she gently wiped Adrian’s both hands with the handkerchief. Her eyes focused on it, her hands delicate. “But don’t you just…” A miss this smell?”

“Blood…” Adrian worded-out. The Queen’s Spear hummed “Hmm?”

“It felt like…blood is never new in my hands.”

She pocketed back the now bloody handkerchief and slowly let go of Adrian’s hands. She looked up to meet his gaze at her. She spoke her words like a gospel.

“Blood is never new on anyone’s hands. We all get blood on our hands.”