GRIEVOUS VENGEANCE

CHAPTER 16

The next morning, Saturday, Janine and the rest are on their way to visit Sandy's wake. Janine is seated in front while Marvin and Jackie are at the back.

"Your father didn't come home yesterday?" Marvin asked Janine.

"No," Janine replied. "They were busy resolving the killings of two students from Camarin City College, and the suicide of Sandy."

"Who's that girl, Sam?" Jackie asked everyone. "Is she friends with Darryl? Her death is similar to Ben Castro."

"She's most likely friends with them, and bullied Sandy." Janine worriedly looked outside the car. "I hope I could help her soul. She's a nice person. She seemed shy and timid when she was alive."

"Let's ask Nadia. She probably knows who those bullies are. Let's start from there," Mark said. He pressed the accelerator to speed up.

They arrived at Sandy's house. It was half-empty, most likely because it was still daytime. They saw the black banner of Sandy's photo, name and memorial day schedule at the front gate. She was cheerful and lively on the photo. They entered the opened gate, free for everyone to visit her for the last time.

Janine felt differently upon getting closer to the house. She felt stiff and she's having a goosebumps. She held Jackie's hand to get some courage while holding a boquet of flowers on the other hand.

"Good morning," An old lady greeted them at the entrance door. "Are you Sandy's friends?"

"Good morning, Ma'am," Janine replied back. "We're Sandy's colleagues and we also know Nadia. Our condolences, Ma'am." She handed a dozen of bouquet of white roses to the lady.

"Thank you," the old lady said. Tears welled in her eyes. She hugged the bouquet, then stared blankly to the clouds. Janine waited a little for her to speak but she remained like that for a few more seconds.

"Janine," Nadia called her name. She came out from the room on the left side. "Sandy's there. Come." She held Janine's hand and guided her towards the funeral room. She looked behind and nodded, telling everyone to follow them. "Forgive Sandy's Granny, she has dementia."

They entered a room where Sandy's white casket lies. It was beautifully arranged in the middle of white roses. Everything is white, even the drapes and curtains around the room. She noticed that the casket seemed closed. Everything is almost white, but the heavy feeling is still in there. she still feels goosebumps all over her body. Her nape is heavy and she can hardly breathe. it feels something is choking her.

"She's Sandy's Mom," Nadia referred to a middle-aged woman seated at the front row of arranged chairs. She was wiping her tears using her white hanky when she looked up and saw Janine's group. "Aunt Criselda, they're our colleagues from the same school."

"Thank you for coming here," she said. "It means a lot to know my daughter had friends and didn't suffer too much bullying in school."

Janine's heart melted, hearing those words from a mother who's mourning from her daughter's cruel death. "Sandy was kind, lively and loving when she was alive. She doesn't deserve bullying from anyone, Ma'am," she assured Sandy's Mom to calm her down. She can feel her heart's cry and longing for her daughter.

"Thank you for the kind words." She sniffed. Her phone rang, she peaked on the phone screen. "Nadia, please attend to their needs. I just need to talk to Sandy's father."

Nadia nodded. Aunt Criselda excused herself and walked out of the room to answer the phone. Janine and the others came closer to the closed casket to see Sandy. Janine looked at Nadia with a confused look.

"Her face was damaged. Even the best funeral services can't fixed it. Aunt Criselda decided to have her casket closed." Nadia walked closer to Sandy's casket. She touched it and brushed her hand smoothly.

"She was my best buddy since we were kids. She saved me when I was about to die. Someone tried to kidnap me when I was eight. I fought back but the kidnapper hit me on my head with a very sharp thing." She pointed on her forehead's scar. "The kidnapper panicked and ran away. I was almost dying. I lost a lot of blood, but I didn't know Sandy saw what happened. She called for help. I was saved because she was brave, and she cared about me." She wiped her tears using her hand.

"She's really a good friend to you," Janine said. She touched Nadia's shoulder to comfort her.

Nadia nodded. "She is."

Janine looked at Mark, Marvin and Jackie to back her up. They all nodded. She waited a bit before speaking again.

"Nadia," she called her attention.

"Yes?" She glanced at Janine.

"Do you know the girl who died in their house?" Janine asked. "It was reported earlier. She's also from our school."

Nadia's facial expression changed. Her mouth twitched and her eyes seemed on fire. Full of hatred. "She's one of Sandy's bullies. She turned her school life since Senior High into a nightmare, until Sandy's last breath."

"She died the same way as the other guy, Ben," Janine said.

"They both deserved it." Nadia's grip on the casket tightened. "They all deserve to die that way. Perhaps Sandy came back to haunt them all."

Janine and her friends looked at each other. Nadia is full of hatred, and they understand her. "B-but I hope it wasn't Sandy... if she really came back for justice. She's such a nice person when she was alive. She deserves to go to heaven after her death instead of hell."

Nadia didn't speak up. She just stared at the casket, silently crying for the lost of her best friend.

"Nadia, Sandy can have her justice if we can find out what happened on the rooftop," Janine continued. "Do you know anything about what happened back there?"

Nadia seemed paralyzed. She didn't move nor flinch.

"We want to help in seeking justice for her, and stop the killings. This isn't good for everyone, and this isn't right." Janine held Nadia's hands. "You know, my father is the assigned officer to investigate. I also know you avoided him yesterday."

Nadia broke down she cried her heart out. "They deserve to die. They killed her!" She sat on the floor while crying. "I know they killed her!"

Janine glanced at Mark. He nodded. Telling her to comfort Nadia. She held her close and hugged her. "We will find the culprit, Nadia. We won't stop until the criminal paid for what they did."