GRIEVOUS VENGEANCE

CHAPTER 20

"Thanks, Marvin," Janine said. "At least, things are getting clearer now. I know now what's happening to me."

"You're welcome," Marvin replied. "Anything for my cousin." He laughed, then he glanced at Mark.

Janine blushed. "What did she mean about you being a Claircognizance?" She changed the topic to hide her embarrassment.

"It's like an intuition, a variation of ESP. It's an ability of knowing something without a physical explanation of why I know it," Mark said. "I didn't tell you all at first because it's difficult to explain without the foundation or basic knowledge."

Janine nodded. "I think I understand it a bit now."

"But wait," Marvin said. "We're not done yet."

"There's more?" Jackie asked.

"We haven't resolved that demonic feeling in Sandy's house." Marvin reached for his phone and called another person. He placed the phone on the stand again and waited for the other person to pick up the call.

"Who are we calling this time?" Mark asked. "You have so many friends in the US."

"I roamed around the country to meet different kinds of people and encountered different abilities." Marvin showed an okay sign. "It was superb." The call ended. "Let's try someone else." He picked his phone again and called a different person. He placed the phone back to the stand.

"Hello, Marvin," the guy on the screen waved at them. He has green pair of eyes and a blonde hair. He has pointed nose and thin lips. He's in mid-twenties.

"Hi, Steve," Marvin greeted him back.

"What's up?" Steve asked. "You're out of the country?"

"I'm in the Philippines now," he replied. "I'm with my cousin and I met his girlfriend and her best friend. They're here." He pointed to the three behind him. Janine blushed again because of what Marvin said, but she didn't object.

"Cool! I went there last year and performed some exorcism," he said. "What's happening? Is there a situation you need to resolve?" Steve asked straight to the point.

"You really are a mix of all the Clairs in the world." Marvin laughed.

"I can sense it," he simply said. "Tell me what is it?"

"We encountered suicide and murders here. The girl died. She fell from the rooftop, and the bullies who caused her death are dying one by one now. They died brutally." Marvin tried to summarize it. "In short, it seems the soul of the girl haunts these bullies. But the lady behind me spoke to that soul and said she wasn't the one who killed them."

"Hmm..." Steve paused and seemed thinking about what Marvin said.

"We felt a demonic presence in the girl's house where her body lies now for funeral and viewing," Marvin continued explaining.

"It's possible that an evil spirit was around while she was falling from the rooftop, and heard her cry of vengeance and pain, but..." He paused for a bit and took a sip of tea. "It's possible that one of her relatives or friends' soul cries in pain and seeking for vengeance for her. A demon heard it, took advantage of the situation to kill and take the souls of those bullies."

Jackie and Janine stared at each other. There's only one person who crossed their minds.

"H-how can we defeat it?" Janine asked. She's anxious. How can they fight a demon?

"It's difficult if you face it without anything with you. Faith do sometimes comes in handy, but sometimes you need to convince the person who subconsciously called that demon. It's better if you seek help from a spiritualist or anyone who performs exorcism." Steve sighed. "If only I could immediately fly there."

"Can you?" Mark asked. "I will shoulder all the expenses. Just come here immediately. Let's book a flight today."

"What?!" Everyone was shocked with what Mark just said.

"We do not know anyone who performs exorcism, nor any spiritualist around. Can you fly here asap? I'll shoulder everything." Mark took out his wallet and pulled out his credit card. He handed it to Marvin. "Book a flight for him and send him allowance for the entire flight. He can stay in our house or book a hotel for him."

"Hold on," Steve said. "I didn't say yes yet."

"I'm sorry, we are just in an emergency situation. People are dying here and my girl is in danger, being trapped in the middle of it." He glanced at Janine and stared again on the phone camera. "We need your help."

Steve sighed. "Okay, do whatever you want me to do. I'll pack my things now." He stood up and went to his closet. He grabbed the biggest luggage he has. "I'll be staying there for a long time. Feed me well, Marvin." He started packing his things.

"Of course!" Marvin grinned. "I'd be happy to have you here. I miss California." He looked at Mark. "Hand me your phone. I'll book a flight for him."

Mark threw his phone to Marvin and he was able to catch it.

"Mark..." Janine was about to say something but she doesn't know how.

"Janine," Mark said her name sweetly. "I want to help you and your Papa resolve this case. I also hate seeing people die everyday. This is my contribution to help everyone."

"Thank you," she said it sincerely. It's rare for her to find a man like Mark. She's grateful and happy.

Jackie smiled, seeing her friend happy and in love. She picked her phone and browsed through her social media account. Her eyes went wide when she saw the breaking news. "Janine! Hear this!"

"Yes, why?" she asked. "What is it?"

"According to the news, the police regained the data from Sandy's broken phone and found an evidence on that phone that she met up someone at the rooftop before she died." She handed her phone to Janine. "Here."

Janine read the news and saw that her father is also the investigator of Sandy's case. "Someone killed her?!"

"Who could be it? Why kill her?" Tears welled in Jackie's eyes. "She didn't deserve it. No one deserves to die like that!"

"What else can we do now?" Jackie asked.

"Nothing as of the moment," Mark replied. "Steve will have a long haul flight, and probably have a jet lag once he's in the Philippines. We can't do anything for now."

"I hope Papa could immediately trace that person Sandy met that day." Janine sighed. "At least we could save one life, and save Sandy."

"I don't have mercy for those bullies. I don't pity them. I want Sandy's soul to be saved though," Jackie said. "This will serve as a lesson and an eye opener to people who bully the weak."

"I am dying to know how the two bullies died." Marvin scratched his chin using his thumb and index finger.

"It's something to do wtih how the victim was lured and died, or how she was bullied." He raised his phone and stared at it.

"is your ability kicking in?" Jackie asked.

"You know?" Marvin was amzed by Jackie's quick thinking.

"You said your ability is something like intuition or clear knowing without physical evidence." She pointed her index finger on her head. "I can easily remember things I hear."

"Woah!" Marvin excalimed. "See, I have this feeling that the broken phone is related. She received a text message to meet up before she died. She probably appears somewhere like gadgets or anything."

Jackie and Janine stared again to each other.

"Just like what Mina did," Mark said what the two girls were thinking. "She appeared on computer and laptop screens. She was cyber bullied on a website."

"I need to verify that with Nadia," Janine said. "Hold on." She pulled out her phone and dialed Nadia's number. She waited for a few rings before she answered the call.

"Hello, Janine," Nadia greeted her.

"Nadia, how are you feeling?" Janine asked.

"I'll lie if I say I'm okay," Nadia said in a low energy tone. "Have you heard? Sandy was about to meet someone at the rooftop. Your father is the investigator."

"Right, I heard that, too, that's why I called to check on you." Janine took the courage to ask her about

Sandy's experiences in bullying. "Nadia, I need to ask something."

"What is it?"

"How do they bully her? I mean, aside from pouring water on her or throwing her hurtful words?"

"You have no idea," Nadia said in an angry tone. "The bully her everywhere. She received text messages, chats, emails and other form of bullying everywhere. There are times she didn'y use a phone just to have a peace of mind."

Bingo! Janine said in her mind. "That's horrible!"

"I know. Although I am partly the cause why she was bullied. I mean, Sally saw the slum note. It was my carelessness that brought Sandy to... to this." She sobbed on the phone.

"Do you blame yourself?" Janine asked. "Do you think it was your fault that's why Sandy is dead now?"

"Yes," Nadia whispered. "If only I was careful enough, Sally, Darryl and their friends will not bother Sandy."

"That's why you want to payback those people who bullied her?" Janine needs to verify this small information to confirm her instinct.

"I want them to die like how Sandy died. I want them to burn in hell!" Nadia shouted. Her voice changede a bit, into a little deep voice.

Janine had a goosebumps. "O-okay, Nadia. Calm down. You should take a rest," Janine said. "I'm sure my father will find that person who met Sandy on the rooftop."

"Okay, I will. I'm still at Sandy's wake. Thanks for your care."

"Bye, Nadia. You take a rest, okay?" Janine repeated her advice. She ended the call.

"What is it?" Mark asked.

"I think I know who's the person cried deep inside and heard by evil." She sighed. "It is Nadia."

"What are we supposed to do?" Jackie asked. She rubbed her arms out of nervousness.

"We can't do anything, until Steve arrives. I hope it's not too late yet once he's here." Marvin said. "He's the only one we know who could help Nadia, and Sandy to cross the light."