Prologue 1.1
PROLOGUE 1.1
After the three of us had a bonding moment inside the airport, they helped me with my luggage and boarded the taxi we saw parked outside. It's a good thing we found a man who didn't have a ride because there were many people waiting to get a ride, it was also difficult to book online.
That's why I'm so thankful that man just hung out on the side. It's like the Lord sent him for us.
It's getting dark outside. It was 4pm because the plane I was on landed due to a slight delay plus the time I spent at customs. When all the suitcases we struggled to fit in the car, the driver was good and kind, we went inside together. I sat at the back of the car next to Riley. Luna sided with the driver.
"Sky, are we going straight to your house or are we going to go somewhere else? After Riley and I left there earlier, your mom was still cooking. All your neighbours were invited because you're back home."
I laughed at what Luna said. It's really mom. She didn't pick me up at the airport and I was picked up by the two of them because she said her couriers had already arrived. Marites seems to be more dear than me. She texted me earlier, saying, I'l tell Riley and Luna to pick you up. Marites has arrived. Another neighbour might backstab me if I leave her here alone. Then maybe eat the spring rolls.
I have the funniest, at the same time, the sweetest mother on earth.
"Ladies, for your safety, it's better if I take you straight to your house. It's very dangerous right now. Did you see on the news? There's a serial killer who can't be caught late. It's terrifying and strange to kill. To put my mind at ease, I'd rather take you home. Especially since you three are beautiful, you might get shot on the way. It's dangerous." The driver joins the conversation. The driver is old and you know he has been in this field for a long time, so you can tell that his concern is really sincere.
"Alright, let's go straight home." I gave him my address and then he started driving.
"Anyway, baby Sky, have you heard about that?" Riley asked
"About what?"
"The serial killer?" she added.
I looked at the rear-view mirror of the taxi when I felt someone staring at me. It's Luna. She was staring at me as if her eyes were talking.
"Yes. Mykel has already told me." I answered Riley's question while staring at Luna in the rear-view mirror of her car.
"Isn't it bad? I hope that the killer is caught. His killing spree is bad no matter who he is, the son of the devil. Because of him, I had a curfew at home. Aside from that, our friend's social life is also getting shorter. We're going to spend the night at the station looking for that abnormal psycho."
"Riley." Luna called her name with authority in her voice. She looked at Riley in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes are telling Riley to shut up because there are other people in the taxi with us. It's a confidential case.
Riley just snorted and kept quiet.
Luna is a detective, she's working for NBI. She is one of those who solve the mystery behind the series of murders that are taking place. Series of connected crimes. Why connected? The look of the victims when they are found were the same.
Mykel, who's also working with Luna, told me that whenever the serial killer kills, they always receive a tip. The person who sent the message to the NBI was a mysterious email address that the police couldn't track, providing a specific address with a landmark. Every time the police arrive, they find a body. It's always too late.
But, that's not the most gruesome thing about this case. It's the killer's way of slaughtering the victims. He or she or whoever that killer is, has a unique way of killing. It's like the killer is turning the victims into a piece of art.
Yes, an artwork.
It's hard to explain, but according to Mykel's description, the victims, their positions are like those of art you often see in museums or art galleries. There was this one guy victim who had both legs dismembered and crossed. His two severed legs were tied with rope so that they formed an "X" shape. The victim's two hands were wrapped around his neck as if he was strangling himself. Although both legs were cut off, the killer left his genitals. The victim's naked body was leaning against his severed legs in a cross shape. His head was lying in the middle of the "X" while his mouth was open and his eyes were wide open. He also had no tongue. The victim's face was said to have a painting on it. The way it was painted was as if the victim's face was slowly melting using different colors. It's scary to think, but almost everyone a serial killer kills is turned into a work of art.
But that's not all. For some inexplicable reason, the victims' private parts always have flowers attached to them. Shrubs of Lilac. It seems like the killer is deliberately covering their private parts.
But that's not the most puzzling part for the investigation team. As per Mykel, it's the target victim. All the victims were male and according to their investigation, all the men had a history of sexual or child assaults. The victims were also criminals, most were rapists.
There's a motive. It's like the killer has a message he wants to convey.
"You're thinking deeply."
I suddenly stopped in my thoughts and looked at Riley.
"I'm just thinking of Mykel's story about this kill-"
"Sshhh, shut up, baby. Don't think about the problems of the Philippines for now. I'm sorry I brought it up so suddenly. You just got home. No to bad news for now. Let's have a positive vibe here for now. Go ahead, the magic of Canada will disappear from your face in no time. The Philippine air that makes you stressed, tired, and sleepless will take its toll on your face." She said foolishly while fixing my hair and tucking it behind my ear.
I looked at the rear-view mirror again. The driver and Luna were both looking at us. They're both smiling because of Riley's carelessness in saying whatever, then now she's wiping my face with her handkerchief. I just smiled back at the two of them.
Riley is really a born idiot.
"That's it! Just smile. Think of Aunt Sophie and her delicious cooking when you get home. And that's not all! Besides the delicious cooking, there are other delicious things waiting for you at your house. Your baby Mykel’s gift to you-AWW!" She moaned when I suddenly pinched her in the groin.
"You're really crazy! You're so chatty."
"Of course! Your boyfriend misses your beauty. So for sure, later you-GOD!!" Luna reached out to her from the passenger seat and pulled the hem of her hair with force.
"You're so flirtatious, you little slut!"
"You're a beast!"
The driver just laughed at the two of them. They were so rude even inside the taxi, they weren't embarrassed. They still behaved like high school students. Luna is a Detective while Riley's a veterinarian, but when they were together, they had no professions. They still behaved like angry kids.
"You're a fool. You hurt me, I just made my beautiful baby smile, so she wouldn't get stressed right away. Since you're your breakfast until dinner stress. Even the one you gargle with in the morning is stress!" Riley snapped at Luna who had already adjusted her seat next to the driver.
“At least, my brain has no rabies unlike you, you treated the rabies of dogs but it will move to your brain.”
I just shook my head at the two of them teasing me. It's a good thing my dad the driver was really cool and just laughed at their antics. If it were any other driver, we might have been dropped off in the middle of EDSA.
"Oh! Ms. Pretty is shaking her head at you two. Maybe she'll order me to get you two off." The driver commented, making me laugh. Maybe he really wanted to get those two abnormalities off.
They both just struggled and then both settled into their seats.
The driver stopped the taxi at the same time the stop light turned red. I noticed that he was staring at me in the car's rear view mirror.
ENJOY