Project LOTUS: Beautiful Monster

Chapter Thirteen (Part 3)

Chapter Thirteen (Part 3)

We started the class with the usual routine. Greetings and proceed to prayer. All seems normal until Mr. Mercado started to include Vanessa to our prayer.

"Lord, we asked you to guide the departed soul of one of our student, Vanessa Aragon. Please heal the hearts of the people who are mourning for her death. Her family, friends and classmates..."

That's when it strucked me. Vanessa is gone, she's dead. I don't know why but the truth about her death just slap me now. It's like that fact has been sitting with me all all these time but it is only now that I finally acknowledged it. I was primarily drowned by childish grudge mask with logic and curiosity that I failed to realized that I actually lost a friend... or someone that I used to call a friend at least.

The prayer ended and the classroom suddenly became heavy with silence filled with unsung tension and anxiety.

Mr. Mercado gently tapped his table once to call all of our attention.

"Alright. All of you probably know what happened yesterday..." he started while his fingers are quietly tapping the table like a piano.

"...Vanessa Aragon, a grade 12 student of Accountancy, Business Management strand section B was found dead inside the greenhouse at 12:30 pm together with her classmate Cathrina Garcia. Miss Aragon was already dead by that time but her classmate, Miss Garcia was just unconscious and our school nurse and teachers were able to apply first aid to her. Miss Garcia is currently resting since it seems like she had extreme trauma due to the unexpected death of her friend."

The classroom fell silent again, all of them trying to process the limited information about the unforeseen incident. One of my classmate raised her hand, silently asking for permission to speak.

"Yes?" Our adviser urged him to speak.

"Did the authorities already found the cause of her death? I mean isn't it weird? That she was suddenly found dead in the middle of the day? While her friend is still alive and in the same scene with her? Everything is just... kinda odd and a bit scary." He admitted and I almost see his body trembles in fear.

"Yeah, he's right. It's scary and shocking. The fact that I just talked to the girl prior to the incident is kinda creepy." I heard some of my classmates murmuring to each other.

"Right! I even walk beside her on the hallway earlier that day."

Mr. Mercado once again tapped his table with his palm to call our attentions and the class fell silent again.

"As of now, the authorities choose to not disclose any information about the incident. Let us respect the confidentiality of this case and please refrain from spreading false rumor about your schoolmate's death. Her family is already going through much and we don't want to add to their problems." Our adviser explained but the moment he finished he's statement, another classmate of mine raised her hand to ask another question. Mr. Mercado nodded at the girl.

"Sir, how about the other girl? Uh, Cathrina Garcia, right? She's with the same place with Vanessa so is she considered as a witnessed or a person of interest?"

I darted my eyes to my adviser; also interested to hear what he has to say about that. My classmate is right, that girl named Cath must know what happened and looking at how mysterious this death is... she is the only one who can explain what truly happened. The whole investigation will mostly depend on her.

Mr Mercado fixed his eyeglasses using his index finger before answering.

"Just like what I have said earlier, Miss Cathrina Garcia is still resting in their house. She was a bit traumatized about the incident so talking about it is a bit exhausting for her. The authorities respects well-being. Furthermore, about her role in the case, she will be more likely to be a witness than a suspect since based on the vague details from the investigators, there are no signs of struggles in the part of Miss Vanessa Aragon. However, that's the only thing we can know for now since the actual cause of death as I have said earlier, is confidential."

Confidential, huh? I gazed at the window beside me. The sky is a bit gloomy and sunny at the same time; it's hard to know wether it'll rain or not. Like this case, the police must be having a hard time concluding the real cause of her death because I really have a hunch that Vanessa's death is beyond the normal. It is odd, the more I try to decline my hunch, the more it tries to prove its accuracy...

The Lotus Mutants... are they behind this incident?

All of the events seems to fit, it is not just a mere coincidence--the evidences of brought by these bizarre circumstances made it more palpable. But if they are really behind it... isn't it kinda weird too? That they have to kill someone? A person? I wonder what Vanessa has to do with them... that they have to kill her.

THE CLASS became unusually quiet after that. Actually, the whole school seems to be a bit gloomy too. The news about what happened yesterday became the new talk of the campus. Students were whispering in hushed voices as scared that someone would hear what they are talking about but it is obvious that they are all on the same topic: Vanessa's death. Vanessa is a bit influential and famous in this school, alright. She is an archery varsity who won 1st place in the Nationals, her extreme ability in that sport gave her the recognition all over the campus so hearing about the death of one of the best athletes in this school is really shocking.

I put my hands inside my pocket as quietly fell in line to buy something in the canteen and while I was thinking what food to buy, an interesting conversation caught my ears. It was from the two girls who briefly walk passed by me. I heard some of their conversations...

"Is that true?"

"Yes I think! My cousin is one of the police who went first to check the scene and they did not find anything that will indicate her--"

It was just a brief conversation but you can obviously tell what they are talking about again... Vanessa'a death. See? Even the police cannot figure it out. Later on, they might go with the 'heart attack' card but it I will not buy it. Because as far as I know, Vanessa does not have any heart issues.

"ARYLLE!" My eyes darted at the person who just called my name.

It was Jeniry, the grade 11 Representative. He's part of the Student Council.

I faced him while still falling in line.

"What?" I boredly asked.

He scratched his nape.

"Miss Quen wants to us to have an emergency meeting."

I arched my eyebrow at that.

"Alright then."

I left the line of students without a word, forgetting that I am hungry and that I should eat. I just quietly walk my way to the SSG Office. I even passed by the greenhouse that is currently restricted with yellow tapes right now.

I sighed before as I proceed to my destination. I wonder what our adviser has to say.

-C. N. Haven-