The Lie Beneath

Rhianne

Andrew Alfonso.

The name stared back at me from the paper, mocking me in thick, printed ink. I stared at it for too long. My grip on the folder tightened.

Kahit na ngayon ko pa lang din nakilala si andrew, i can tell mas naging mabait pa siya sa tingin ko pag katapos n'ya ako ipag handa ng dinner last night kahit i'm just a random person in his eyes. He didn't hesitate to communicate and be friends with me.

I stepped back slowly.

“Whoa,” Lazarus said, clearly noticing the shift in my face. “Okay, that wasn’t just an ‘oh, interesting’ expression. Spill it, Rhianne.”

“He’s my roommate,” I said through clenched teeth.

“Ooh,” he exhaled like a kid seeing fireworks. “Now this is personal.”

I shook my head, trying to stay focused. Sinabi n'ya sakin na mag papa member pa lang siya, right? There's a possibility na baka wala pang gawin sa kanya yung mga cult member or whatever they do. Dahil new pa lang siya, and it takes advantage for me. I only need hour to finish this case.

Besides, i also have my main reason why i was in this school. i need to find any lead about chelsea's disappearance. Pero as a detective, i can't just ignore the crime in front of me, and now here i was. Solving another case that don't point out on my main case.

“They could be using him,” I said aloud. “He might not even know what the club is really doing. He also mentioned to me na mag papa member pa lang siya, he's just new."

“Or,” Lazarus said gleefully, “he’s an active participant in murder masquerading as modern art. Delicious!”

I glared at him. “Can you at least pretend to be serious?”

That's not possible! He's just new to that environment, how could he possibly someone agad na magiging active participant? I don't trust that idea about lazarus.

“I am serious,” he said, raising both hands. “Seriously thrilled. Rhianne, this is the stuff legends are made of."

I turned away from him and looked at Marcus. “We need to move. Fast. Before they find out we’re onto them.”

Marcus nodded. “Already sent word to tighten the watch on all clubrooms. But we can’t accuse anyone yet. Not without direct proof.”

“Then we get the proof,” I said.

Lazarus clapped like a child. “Ohh, yes! this is the part where we go sneaky sneaky. Surveillance, infiltration, traps—can we wear disguises? I’ve always wanted to wear a mustache.”

“No disguises,” I muttered. “Just strategy.”

We moved fast. While Marcus coordinated with internal security, Lazarus and I returned to the arts building, this time not as curious detectives, but as hunters. We need to find evidence that will turn on against them.

The building looked ordinary from the outside, but after what we’d discovered, every brushstroke on the wall felt like it hid a secret. The clubs inside were still active. students laughing, creating, sketching. No idea na may mamatay na pala sa mga sining nila.