Chapter 26 - Offer

"Detectives.."

"Only you can stop the Highers"

"It's too much too ask but.."

"I need your help"

So that was the plan.

"The plan"

"This plan will succeed"

"The plan"

"It's our only hope"

"The plan"

"The plan is for the both of you to investigate the case"

"Aiden!!"

I was shaken as I was awaken by someone in front of me, a silheoutte of a man holding me from both of my shoulders.

His hands are cold.

"You are our only hope Aiden, You are our.."

His grip gets tight as I felt the pain from his grasp.

Fvck.

"YOU ARE OUR ONLY HOPE AIDEN"

~

My eyes opened as I stood up immeditely from a dream. I catch my breathe as I feel my heart beats wildly and sweat falls all around my body.

It feels like dying.

My attention got immediately caught on my hand as I was shocked to what am I holding.

Aize

The letter. Wth how did this got into my hand.

"You need to investigate his case"

I bit my tongue as I screamed internally as soon as I heard an echo around tsk, the pressure, it's stressing me out.

How can we do this request?! My arm isn't that healed yet, arghh.

I stood up from my bed and walked towards my desk and sitted. I unfolded the letter as Dale's words were displayed onto me again.

Arghh..

I read the whole poem over and over as I felt my head in aching pain, aish.

Need help?

You can shut up.. that would be great

Oh.. okay HAHAHA rude.

It is the truth, what is written

Notice where it was hidden

-

Take it back from the start

Hear it out from beginnings to:

Enter inside, see where it hides

-

Closed eyes but open minds

Lose a fight because of being wise

On the midst of bliss and mist

Seeking truth, will bring abyss

End the search or you'll fell through

Truth is in the depths of eyes of blue.

Shet.. I've already read this a thousand times before, I even ask Ava for help fvck, it's just so hard to understand this Dale's crap and I kept sayin, why can't he just write what he wanna say directly..

Arghh..

I smashed my desk as I lay my head on top of it. I'm losing it, I really am.

Matagal na Aize, kaya nga ko nandito HAHAHAHA.

Shut up.

I held my head deep on my hair as I totally give on to frustration hays, these things are making me crazy!

"Kuya?"

I got immediately startled from a voice as I quickly raised my head turning myself towards my room's door.

"Okay ka lang po?"

He tilted his head slightly while raising his eyebrow towards me, phew Liam. I don't know why he always got the timing when i'm not that feeling alright.

"Yeah kuya's good, just.. confused"

I uttered while turning myself again towards my desk. He slowly entered my room and stood beside me looking down also to the letter I have in front.

"Galeng po kay Ate Ava?"

A smile suddenly plaster on my face as I let out a silent laughter from what he said.

"Yes po kay Ate Ava mo"

"Oh? Sanaol po HAHA"

He teased then laughed happily towards me. He gently placed his right arm on my shoulder as he rigously looked and read the letter from my desk.

"Haha, it's nothing Liam.. it's not sweet, it was actually a brain twister poem"

"Woah, really?"

In awe and amazement his reaction make as I playfully messed up his hair. After a few seconds I let out a sigh as I felt something heavy again pulling my weight down.

"It's just so hard to crack you know Hahaha, it's kinda frustrating kuya, it's tiring him"

"Well, that was the purpose of it diba?"

He uttered in contrast as I just laughed silently from what he said. He's just too young to understand, why did I even open up?

"Kaya naman po may mga ganyang bagay para pahirapan kayo eh"

Lol, you heard it Dale? Kung nasan ka man ngayon my brother is spitting lit facts! HAHAHA.

"Yun na nga po Liam eh, what's the point of it being hard? Di po ba pwedeng sabihin nalang ng diretso yung gusto po nilang sabihen?"

"Edi alam na po ng lahat, asan yung thrill?"

I was stopped staring at the letter and got caught off guard from what he said. He got a fair point tho.

"Oh right.. right"

I uttered while nodding slowly as things kinda making sense to me right now. Right, damn it HAHAHA.

"You good na kuya?"

I looked at him with his brown eyes striking mine intensely. I nodded and smiled as I hugged him momentarily.

"Yes po, thank you Liam"

He then smiled at me and raised his hand showing a thumbs up.

Right, if it was just a simple sentence then everyone will know what it conveys but if it's a poem, you need time and dedication to decode it therefore people who are interested to it are just that ones who's gonna know it's message.

Lol, HAHAHAHA.

Hays, slow mind.. constantly giving in to frustration therefore blurring the picture.

Nope, I realized it cause you were silent HAHAHA.

Oh really, wow HAHAHA.

"Kaen na den daw po pala maya maya kuya baba ka na"

Liam uttered then walked towards the door walking out of my room.

Phew Thanks Liam, I realized some things. Kids words are somewhat meaningful afterall, we're just too old and clouded to understand.

Oh.

My attention got immediately caught on my phone that vibrated. I picked it and opened it up as a message notification were presented to my lock screen.

Unknown Number.. weird.

Unknown Number

: You're never safe.. Aiden.

  (File attachment)

My eyes widened as I gripped my phone tightly from anger as things are now getting into my nerves.

Fvck.

I've been just calmed down a while ago from that letter and now this shit will arghh.

I immediately went to my phone book and dialed Ava's phone number. The phone rings as I waited, nervously tapping my feet on the ground.

Aish, answer it.. answer love.

The number you have dialed--

Fvck.

I tried calling and calling her number again for a hundred times but no one answers the damn phone shet.

I immediately put my phone on my pocket as I put some jacket to wear on. I swiftly went out of my room, running down to our living room.

"Kuya?"

"Aiden, san ka pupunta?"

I didn't bother to answer them as I just went on running out of our house. Shet, I was stopped momentarily as I noticed the sun has already set, aish the roads are already dark.

"Aiden why are you running?! come back here immediately!"

Mom shouted as I turned my gaze upon them at my back. Her brows are furrowed with her hands on her hips emitting pure mad aura on me.

Geez, Mom rarely got angry like this.

"I'll be back i'm sorry, I just forget something "

I lied. Well, I can't say the truth either.

I ran again swiftly towards and outside the gate of our house with nothing on my mind but the text I received. Tsk, for sure it's that pyscho. I always wonder how he managed to get a photo of Ava in her fvcking room. That creep, he's really pissing me off.

"Kuya!"

I shouted towards a tricycle driver as I signed him to get a ride.

"San Lorenzo Village po"

He immediately started his engine as I went inside his trike. We quickly drove off fast as I felt the wind strikes my skin from the outside.

Aish, pakibilisan kuya.

I opened my phone and tried calling Ava again but it just keeps on ringing aish, why the hell no one's answering?! Is she alone in their house again?!

"Dyan lang po kuya"

The tricycle parked in front of their house as I quickly noticed something odd in it. Why the hell are there no lights?

"Eto po kuya, salamat"

I turned my back from the trike after I've paid as It started driving away from my position leaving me with the cold, dark and silent environment.

It's so peacefully quiet..

It's frightening.

I opened my phone and it's only the light source around besides the lamp posts and different lightsources from the neighbouring houses.

The phone kept ringing as I tried dialing Ava's number again, yet still no one answered.

Hays, I thought nights are for rests yet here I am dealing with the same problem again caused by the same fvcking people.. again, shet.

I reached out for the Gales residence's main gate but it's locked ofcourse lol HAHAHA.

I strolled my eyes around thinking of a way to get inside until I saw a fence gate just by the side.

Hays, this is gonna be hard to climb. When are you planning to heal my injury you motherflippin' author tsk, if you're real tho HAHAHA--

Wtf are you doing Aiden?

What the.. geez can you shut up? You startled me.

Wow, nabibigla ka na ulet saken HAHAHA.

Yeah, kase nasanay nakong wala ka.

Aw- am I supposed to cry? Huhu

Aish, shut up.

I dropped inside their lawn silently down to their grasses as I hid momentarily from a plant and alerted myself if anyone noticed.

Phew.

You know you'd make a decent robber with that skills.

Shhh, silent! tone down your voice a little someone may hear us.

Lol, they wouldn't even hear me I am just in your head, look I could even shout..

What? Wait, what no! No!

WAAAAAAH.

Arrghh, I immediately held my head as I felt pain cracking inside my skull damn it.

Shut up you noisy shit!

Oh sorry HAHAHA.

Damn it.

I shooked my head and slapped slapped my face lightly trying to freshen myself up geez.

Be silent, Ghad! Don't intervene in this mess.

I uttered as I sighed heavily, geez.

Lips sealed Aiden.

Good, thank you! hays.

I wiped my face and messed up my hair as I silently stood up again peeking towards the house. It's so dark inside, feels like no one is really home or if that's what I think so.

I analyzed every way in the doors, windows etc and it seems like the door on the front of their house is obviously locked

You should try the back of their house.. oh

What the hell, I told you to shut--

I'm just helping.

I was cut off as I let out a small sigh while palming my forehead.

Okay, okay backside it is aish.

I slowly stood up again and went out of the bush, running towards the parking area as I hid again to their houses wall.

Their car is not here, so Ava's parents aren't really home, fvck it she's alone again. I picked up my phone from my pocket as I opened it again using it's screen's dim light to lit up the place a little.

I can't use the phone's flashlight it will be too bright, I might alarm the neighbors or whoever the fvck may be inside this house.

Frick you Dylan.

I ran again through the parking area towards the back yard of their house and immediately went near the door.

Wth it's not locked.

Backdoors aren't usually locked when the house occupancies are home, they're just doing it so if they're going outside.

Oh, therefore..

Yes, there are someone inside.

I swallowed my breathe as I felt a little scared to what he said. Arghh, that pyscho might be really here, fvck him.

Careful Aiden, i'm always warning you.

I lightly grabbed the doorknob again as I slowly opened it revealing the inside of their house. A breeze swept through and towards me sending chills down to my bones, I quiver.

It's all or nothing.

I raised my phone facing forward, lighting the path a little making me see some small parts of inside.

Weird, I got the scared feeling but not of the ghosts or darkness that may surround me, but because of that freakin' alive pyscho that gives me the fright, geez.

'Be scared of the living not the dead' quote huh? HAHA.

I slowly walked, strolling my eyes all around with only my breathe can be heard echoing around.

"Ava?"

I silently uttered hoping she'll answer. I swiftly went outside the kitchen and towards their living room and there I saw from the couch.

Ava's phone.

Hays shet, where is she.

I tried dialing her number and calling her again and yes to my surprise the phone  rang, it's hers.

I closed the call and picked up her phone putting mine's in my pocket cause frick you injury I can't hold two phones with both of my arms aish.

Her lockscreen was shown and I was kinda weirded out for the security lock was not a pattern anymore, it's just a swipe up.

Wth, I know it's a pattern lock did she changed it?

I briefly swiped it and the phone opened as the phone's home screen was displayed with it's wallpaper on the screen-- what the fuck.

I was left shocked and frozen from what I saw, as I felt something boiling inside me, i'm heating up.

My grip gets tight holding Ava's phone with my teeth gritting rigously, as I've sensed someone walking down the stairs from my back arghh, shet.

I really fvcking disgust you.. Andrew Dylan.

"Now, I wanna make things simple AHA-AHAHAHA"

Damn that laugh echoing around, making it even more irritating arghh!

"Where is Ava you little shit!"

"Woah, calm down cowboy we don't want loud guests here be mannered AHAHA"

He continued walking down the stairs while brushing his hair with a comb, acting like a stupid piece of shit.

"Like I said, I came here for an offer"

A hand was reached out to mine asking me for a shake but I neglected it tapping it hard  to the side.

"Woah feisty AHA-AHAHA-AHAHAHA!"

The second I heard his laughter again I immediately held him in his collar pulling him near close to me.

"What the fvck do you want Dylan--"

I was shocked and immediately thrown out to the side losing my grasp on him when his fist swiftly touches my face.

Fvck.

"I want you to listen"

He uttered in pure seriousness as his tone of voice became deep arghh. I slowly raised myself from the floor as I felt pain from my right cheek and sore wound on my lips.

"I'll put it like this Aiden ehem"

I pushed myself up despite of the pain as I got myself onto my knees.

"You give me Ava or I'll get her from you"

What, what the fuck is he saying?

"Are you out of your mind?!"

"Oh yeah, probably AHA-AHAHAHAHA!"

I stand back up on my feet with weak knees as I felt the urge to fvcking punch this guy. It would be fun to crush this guy's face.

"So.. what do you say?"

He asked with raised eyebrow while looking intensely towards me.

Don't Aiden.

Shut up.

Don't! wait for my signal.

Fvck you and your signal.

What the hell.

I immediately run towards him as I've managed to get enough momentum and punched him in the face, frick yes.

"Aw-"

Run Aiden.

No.

"That hurts"

He muttered while slowly raising his face and brushing up his hair. A smile suddenly appeared from him with the light of Ava's phone flashing on his white teeth. Wtf creepy.

Run Aiden! Wth!

No.

Knife!

I was shocked and immediately stepped back when a knife suddenly came flying towards my face.

Fvck.

"This deal should've been short if you've just answered easily.. well"

Raised shoulders and a disappointed face was plastered as he quickly stepped closer drawing the knife in me in swift actions. I kept on backing up and avoiding his power thrusts on contrasts to his knife movements to-- shet, aw.

"Got you"

I immediately touched my left cheek and I felt a line wound with drips of blood dropping from it, wth.

"You should've just answered AHA-AHAHA-AHAHAHAHAHAA!"

His laughter echoed again on the surroundings, in accompaniment with my loud heart beats from my chest, aish.

I removed my hand from my face and looked at it, slightly splattered with blood, shet.

Hey get yourself together.

I know, I know.

He can't kill you, he's just wounding you.

I clenched my fist in anger as I tried calming myself, swallowing my fear and resting my heart from what's happening.

"Okay, I'll give you a chance AHA-AHAHA"

The pyscho uttered again with his disgusting laugh while playfully throwing his knife from the air.

"Aiden"

He said in a sweet voice.

"Will you.."

I closed my eyes.

"Give me Ava.."

Breathed in and out sharply.

"Or I.."

I felt my heart beat calming down a little as I exhaled a lof of air.

"Will get her from you"

I clicked my tongue.

"So what will it be? AHA-AHAHAHA!"

I took the moment to silent my mind, my heart and my body with the surrounding's peace and quietness.

It's really relaxing.

You ready?

I took a deep breathe again as I opened my eyes slowly and his disgusting smile was presented visible from the dark.

Phew.

Lead me.

Okay, follow me.

Silence filled the spaces between us for a second as both of us were standing still in the dark.

His smile was the only thing shining.

Let's break that.

"Wait, what--?!"

I strike my knee on his stomach as I pushed him with a kick throwing him away to the path of the kitchen making him lose grasp of the knife.

"Aw- w-what.."

He coughed in pain as blood splatter from his mouth towards his clothe. I fixed my hair and slowly walked towards his direction as I stepped onto the blade lying down the floor.

"Knife vs. A barehanded injured man, HAHAHA"

I swiftly kicked it away in anger as I clicked my tongue 4 times while shaking my head.

"Stand up you Pyscho and fight like a man!"

I mocked while lowering my body down to my knees to level himself on the floor. He smiled and laughed silently in shame as he looked at me directly in the eyes furiously.

"You'll be dead"

He uttered coldly with a killer motif in the tone of his voice.

...