The Professor's DEATH

SOLAR SYSTEM?

DASH

After my sudden meet up with Kaorie, I decided to leave my office as quiet as possible. It's already evening and I still need one and a half hours of driving until I finally reached my condo unit. The door opened after I clicked my password.

'Ting'

And it closes as soon as I went inside. Crumpled papers are everywhere. A study table full of papers containing both solved and unsolve cases.

I thrown myself into my soft bed and began closing my eyes. Two hours have passed yet I still can't sleep. Something was bothering me but I can't figure out what that something is.

My eyes fixated above. At the ceiling, there was an illustration of a solar system. The Sun that was located at the middle has a big question mark pasted on it. Indicating that the suspect's identity is still a question that I still need to look for an answer. On the first orbit was the planet Mercury with a picture of Naomi Pertiz, the first victim. Second orbit was the planet Venus and I stood above my bed and pasted the picture of Wilbert Guevarra, the second victim. Both of them are Professors, one is dead and the other one is alive. I have one suspect for both of these crimes, who serves as the Sun.

"Who really are you?" While looking straight at the middle of the illustration, I accidentally spit out those words.

Digging up informations about that person was like digging for my own grave. It's like swimming into a deep ocean where chances of surviving is only five out of one hundred percent. That's how complicated this case is.

It's ironic how I ended up sleeping with just one thought that keeps running through my mind. Morning crept up with a crushing cold wind and sunlight that hits me right on my face. Roaming my eyes around, I realized that I have left the window on my room widely open, again.

Groaning, I rolled over the soft mattress and got up from my bed just to close the window. I fell back onto the sheets, yawning and stretching. It took me minutes before I finally pulled myself out of bed and went directly inside the bathroom to take a shower.

As the cold water poured out from the shower and fell over my body, I began thinking of the crimes happened lately. It's hard for me to process everything especially now that the culprit knows about me.

One thing that I must do is to protect those Professors inside the school. Seems like they are the targets of the killer. I cannot just sit back and relax. This is not just an ordinary crimes, it was maybe done for a purpose. The culprit may do it with fun or he just want to satisfy himself through killing whoever he wants to kill. On the other hand, he wanted to send me threats or relay a piece of information to instill fear deep within me. His game has just started and unknowingly, my hand balled into fist. Swear, I'm gonna punch him right on his face if ever I found out whoever that asshole is. The law will make him pay for what he did and I will make sure that he will taste his own medicine.

Minutes after, I found myself inside my car driving down the road.

"Good morning Professor Darker!" A group of ladies greeted me as soon as I went out from the car. Astounded with them for blocking my way, I still managed to reply "Morning." with a force smile plastered on my face. They then giggled like a kid. Sorry ladies, I am not in the mood to flirt with yah.

Quietly, I walk through the school's corridor. Students sitting on the bench and those who are inside the student's lounge also greeted me "Good morning Professor." They even stood up and bowed their head, showing respect to me as if I was someone who holds great power and authority from the Government. "Tsk! Don't need to bow your head down students. A good morning, Prof will do." They then raised their heads up and look at me. Leaving their mouths hanged open and lips parted, I made my way through my office.

I fixed my Professor's suit before heading towards the President's Office. I was about to knock on the door when someone from inside opened it for me.

It was Zero!

Shocked, I gave him a questioning look but she just ignored my presence and say "I'm leaving Sir." "Huh?" Is she talking to me? "Excuse me?" My brows furrowed and it took me minutes before I finally realized her. I was standing like a statue on the doorway enough to block her from going outside. I let her have the way and stare at her back as she leaves the room.

Inhaling deeply, I went inside the office and locked the door.

I put my hands on my slacks' pocket and sat on the couch, feeling at home. I crossed my legs and cleared my throat waiting for Froilan to lift his head up and face me. But then he did not.

What the heck is happening to people? Two persons have ignored my fuckin' presence just for today. What a great way to start my day.

"What brought you here?" Finally, he spoke. My gaze went on to him but to my dismay, he's not even looking at me.

"Nothing." I coldly replied. How dare he! And so I thought, 'I must have left earlier' or better yet 'I did not bother myself to go here.'

"You may go now." Really? Did he just told me to leave? Well, as expected! I did not waste a single time, I turned my back at him.

Taking only a few steps away, I sighed and speak out. "a*******n of Wilbert Guevarra." With my heavy breathing, I made myself out of his office.

"Another Professor?" Ignoring his words, I began walking towards my office. My words caught his attention. If that scumbag wants the full details, he'll surely go to my office.

While tapping my table by my pointing finger, I began counting on my head.

'One, two, three, four, fi—' Suddenly, someone stormed inside my office.

"Give me the details." He demanded but I just ignored him and acted as if I'm busy checking tons of papers. It's time for revenge.

"Talk or Die, you choose." As if I'm scared i***t. But uh, I still don't want to die. Women will surely cry a flood of tears if ever I stops breathing. I lift my head up with a bored look.

"Got yah! I was just kidding." I said revaling my signature smile.

"Now talk." He commanded

"Are you threatening me, Froilan?" I playfully asked but when he stare at me with a murderous look, I immediately felt cold sweat coating my skin. Phew! I let out a deep sigh before giving up.

"Yesterday, I was about to return to my office when a loud music filled my ears. Following that sound where it came from, my foot suddenly brought me to the abandoned building, the restricted part of this school." I started narrating what happened yesterday, careful not to include her on the scenario.

"No one's allowed to enter on that prohibited part of the school." Should I still continue or should I start the argument? But I'll surely not win over him.

"Yeah whatever. You can go now." I won't continue unless he stop bringing that f*****g rules on the conversation.

"Just continue." Uh, okay if you say so.

"Finally, the music stops when I stood up in front of a room. Inside of it was a man held captive, hands and feet are tied, mouth is covered with a piece of cloth and eyes have a blindfold. That man was no other than Wilbert Guevarra, the Professor. Luckily, I found him alive and not dead." I continued saying what's on my mind and the more I told him the story, the more his forehead creased.

"So that explains why he resigned from his work without informing me the reason why." He nodded his head as if he already understand something.

"Yeah."—

"But who the hell did that to him?" He asked and I just shrugged sheepishly as I reply "No one knows who."

"Do you have the same suspect on your mind?" He was really trying to figure out something to feed up his curious mind.

"Yes definitely. The symbol carved on the arrow was the same on the symbol printed on both pieces of cloth." Pertaining to the arrow used to murder Naomi Pertiz.

"Who really are you?" He mumbled in a low voice enough for me to hear and understand it.

"Same thought." I said and that makes him look at me. We all have the same hunger and that is to find whoever the mastermind who uses that certain symbol as a signature for the crime he committed. Just like an artwork, those bodies, dead or alive are also his mastercraft.

Without a word, he left the room without even closing the door. 'Wow thanks man' I sarcatically uttered while shaking my head in disbelief.

It's already time for my first class. "Good morning Prof." They greeted me and I nodded my head while saying "You may take your seats." And the obey what I have said.

'College and Advance Algebra' is my first subject and I'm teaching the freshmen students. They're quite intelligent and no doubt, everyone loves Mathematics.

It's easy for me to change a topic into a new one given the fact that they were all a fast-learners.

"Some of our lessons are just a recall of what you have learned during your high school days. But this is more advanced and somewhat complicated compared to your lessons on your secondary level." I explained and all of them agreed. They were all busy listening to me and so I was encourage to teach them more things about Math-related topics.

Imparting knowledge to deserving students was never a waste of time. Especially if you witness the eagerness, dedication and determination on the faces of every indivuals whom you called 'my students.' In fact, the best triumph of every teachers was to see their students successfully learned and used the knowledge and wisdom they have scattered on each of them. But no matter how noble this profession is, I will still and always choose my profession.

"That's all for today. Class dismissed!" After ending the lecture, I went out of the room carrying a book. While walking, I bumped into something...err...no, it's someone.

Zero, again.

She stumbled and fall into the ground. I don't know if she just acted weak or she did not expect this to happen.

I offer her my hand yet she just shove it away and stand up without needing anyone's help.

She just walk away and I was stunned looking at her back until she disappeared from my sight.

'That girl.' I gritted my teeth and just walk through the hallway to my office.

The telephone above my table rang for the second time. "Hel—" I was cut off by the caller.

"Mr. Wits wants to see you. He expected you to come at his office today." With that, she ended the call. "What a nice way of calling, damn it!" I yelled even though she can't hear me.

Grabbing my car's key and my leather jacket, I stormed outside my office and went to the parking area.

I don't have any idea how did I managed to drive all the way here for just 30 minutes.

"You're too fast." Said by Mr. Wits. "What do you want?" I asked but instead of replying he showed me three pictures of different murdered women.

Some parts of their bodies are already decomposed. I'm sure that they were long dead before their corpse was discovered.

He handed me papers and it surely contains the informations about this three cases.

I scanned the papers and I was right. It was the full informations about the three women, Evandrea Crest, Heracles Lauton and Tenzien Mensa respectively. The papers contain an autopsy reports about this three victims.

The first victim, Evandrea was died from poison. Heracles, the second victim was died due to unknown hard thing that was hit on her head. And last Tenzien was died because of countless stabs visible on her dead body.

"Wait, are they—"

"Yes, they're best of friends." He answered. So that explains why they have pictures together.

"They look foreign."

"Because they really are." Their faces scream their nationality. Blond hairs, pointed nose, model-like heights and the way they dress up.

"How about the suspect?" That question made Mr. Wits frowned.

"Scan the next page." I did what I was told to do and shocked at what I've found.

The picture that three women with a visible tattoo on their backs. It looks like the culprit was the one who made it.

Again, that familiar symbol.

Hexagon with a red dot inside.

What's with this symbol? Those three are the first cases of serial killing made by a psycho. His psychopathic behavior leads him to commit five different crimes. And those cases will remain unsolved because none of us have an idea about the person who have made such heinous crimes.

"I thought you have an idea about this symbol." That's what I have thought when we first asked him about it.

"Nothing at all." Scanning the very last page, I saw the last picture that ripped my heart apart. It has two pictures, at the top was the three of them with a big and genuine smile on their faces. At the bottom of it was the picture of their dead bodies together.

"The men found their dead bodies together and they were hugging each others." What a tragic ending for the three of them. I clenched my jaw at the sight of those pictures. No one deserves to be treated like this.

One thing that I asked to myself, 'How can I give the justice that they deserve?'

I spend my day thinking about different things. I look at the sky only to see the sunset. Indeed, a beautiful scenery that would remind us that there is still a beauty even in goodbyes.

After an hour of driving, I found myself inside my room, tired and exhausted from thinking of my work. I lie awake on my bed and my eyes were glued at the ceiling.

I got the three pictures of those women and paste all of it on planet Mercury, replacing Naomi Pertiz. On the planet Venus is where I put her picture to replace Wilbert Guevarra. And on planet Earth is where I pasted the picture of Mr. Guevarra.

How many people should I let to be the victims of his crimes? I am not letting them die, I just can't save them.

I just don't know how. I am so pathetic thinking that I could save them, that I could save the people but reality hits me, I am not Superman and never will be.

With that, I fell into a deep slumber.