For The Stars Have Sinned

I silently put my attention back in front and pretended not to see him. What was he doing here? Suddenly, my mind wandered back to when he joked, ‘See you there’, when we’re still in EGL. Looks like he did exactly what he said. But I thought he was just kidding me!

Sighing, I tried hard to ignore his presence and put my mind at ease. Then I joined the other fans when they sing along. “I am drowning in your lifeless eyes, they meet mine. You captivated my soul. Oh, I am under your spell.”

And I yelled, “Vine! I love you!”

I got drunk in their song. I spun around, jumping up and down. I headbanged and screamed at the top of my lungs. “Oh! I’m under your spell! I love you, Vine!”

“Why are you shouting so loud?” Lyndon asked suddenly, but because the music was so loud, I didn’t hear what he said. So I ignored him and kept looking straight ahead. But he made his voice louder for me to hear. “Miss Larica!”

The corner of my lips twitched. I thought it was just a coincidence that I saw him here, but it looks like he really intended to follow me in Panglao. And how he acquired a seat next to me? That’s the thing I was wondering about. But what I am sure was that he came here with a purpose.

My face crumpled and continued to ignore him, but he kept asking questions so it wasn’t long before I am done with his annoying voice. It’s hard to concentrate when he’s right beside me and calling my name like it’s his last day.

So I hastily turned to him and shot daggers with my stare. “Can you shut up? I’m listening to my idols’ singing!”

“I need to talk to you,” he said without taking his eyes off my face.

Why is he looking at me? I’m not comfortable with someone staring at me like that. “Let’s talk later, okay? We’re still at the concert,” I said and scoffed at him before I continued shouting and jumping along with other fans.

He was silent for a moment but he continued pestering me a few minutes later. “It’s about the crime that happened at Arbor two months ago. I’ve found an evidence!”

What? Did I hear him right? I turned to Lyndon, frowning a bit. His face was serious and he was staring at me. It’s seemed like he was not  joking at all. And it made me swallow hard. “Crime in Arbor?”

“Yes. And maybe you’ll be surprised.”

“W-Why?”

He smirked. And I knew then, it’s not a good idea. Lyndon gestured for me to follow him. Without a choice, I did. I felt like I’m going to vomit as I look around the place and at Vine who’s playing on stage. When I looked at Lyndon again, I saw him seriously staring at me.

In the end, I just sighed in defeat. I need to see the evidence he’s been talking about. I was suddenly curious, because the police couldn’t find any evidence, but he could? It seemed… impossible to do so. But with Lyndon, I want to see the evidence.

There were a lot of people and the crowd was wild so it’s hard to go through them. I froze when a muscular man hit my ass and winked at me! Lyndon was behind me so he saw what happened. In a blink of an eye, the man got knocked out by Lyndon’s hard punch on the face. The fans around us who saw what happened fell silent.

My cheeks warmed and I pulled Lyndon out of that area. The man didn’t follow us for revenge and I sighed in relief.

He led me to a dark alley a few steps from the auditorium. The light from the auditorium reflected some parts of the alley, but it was not enough to illuminate the whole area.

He took out his cellphone and stepped closer to me. I stepped back in shock. He laughed. “I thought you wanted to know?”

“Oh.” I stepped closer to him which made him smirk a bit. Tch.

He handed me the cell phone which I immediately accepted. And he shown me a video. My eyes narrowed and looked up at him again. “CCTV footage?”

“Yes.” He nodded with a serious expression. “That’s two hundred kilometers CCTV camera footage from the crime scene, attached to one of Arbor’s private residences.”

“And… This is your evidence? How come?”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

His eyes narrowed. “January 8, 2021 at 1:45 A. M. A black car passed the highway, followed by a white car smaller than the previous one. If you flash-forward it, you will notice that no other vehicle for the next 30 minutes except for that white car traveling opposite to the two prior cars.”

“What do you mean by t-that?” I swallowed.

“The black and white car was going south, minutes later, there was a white car going north. Rishell, the white car had the same plate number that followed the black one and returned. When I checked the owner’s record at LTFRB with the help of my investigator friend for that crime, it was registered to your name. That white car was yours, Rishell Joy Larica. You were there at the crime scene.”

What the heck was his conclusion?

“How can you deduce that? Then it’s not enough evidence. One more thing…” I looked at him from head to toe and bit my lower lip. It is not easy to get information from a government agency unless he works for the government. I sighed and looked away. “Anyway, I say that I don’t know what you’re talking about, Engineer.”

He stared at me for a few minutes before speaking. “Tell me the truth. Are you a victim, a witness, or a suspect?”

My eyes sparkled. I taught him. “How dare you accuse me! You haven’t even seen me drive! How can I drive a car?”

“Government records don’t lie, Rishell. And I asked your father.” He frowned and folded his arms. “You were given a student permit before you had your accident. When I asked your father about that accident, he said that it was January 8. The exact date of that incident.”

“You’re interfering again, Lyn –”

“That accident was not an accident. You crashed the car. Tell me the truth… Are you hiding something?”

I breathed deeply. “How sure are you that I really crashed the car into the pole? Don’t make your assumptions without proving it to me, Engineer.”

“You never like to commute. You always used your car to travel to and from Cebu City. You loved your car as much as you love your idols.” Lyndon grinned. “Well, that’s what your father told me about your fascination of cars. Even your father, Mister Larica, is wondering why you gave up your student permit that easily. And I had concluded that it has something to do with that incident two months ago .”

I froze at what he said. How did he deduce using only a record, CCTV footage, and Papa’s story? I swallowed hard but still couldn’t believe it. Rolling my eyes at him, I huffed. “What are you up to, huh?”

He sighed again. He quickly took the cellphone back from my hand. What the heck! I wish I had thrown it earlier!

Lyndon grinned. “That letter and that necklace.”

“W-What about those?” I asked breathlessly.

“That letter is for Levitus, and that necklace is your gift to him. Am I right, Rishell?”

My eyes widened. I clenched my fists when my insides felt cold. If it hadn’t been the darkness of the alley, he would see my face turning pale at what he accused me to. “W-Who are y-you?” I mumbled in disbelief.

I held my breath as my heart beat faster. I kept what I saw that night for a long time, and this man just easily uncovered it? I can’t accept it!

“What right do you have to interfere in my life?” I asked, skeptical. “You’re just an engineer and not an officer! You are not allowed to investigate me!”

He shrugged and stepped closer to me. I stepped back. Half of his face was reflected in the light from the auditorium. I saw how he smiled, a threatening one. “You never know who I am. But I know a lot about you.”

“Who are you? Who are you, Lyndon Ephraim Davies?! And why are you doing this? That incident is case-closed!”

“Not for the victim, Rishell. Not for your idols who have a secret to hide. Not for the elusive one. It’s better if you tell the truth. Tell what role you played in that crime.”

“N-No! I don’t know what are you talking about!”

I quickly turned and ran away.

“Rishel!” he called.

I sped up the pace. I hugged the shoulder bag and ran without thinking. I turned through the alleys, and turned into the houses. I stopped only when I reached a large covered court.

Covered court…

I remember that night, where I ran in the rain while being chased by drunken people! My fist is clenched. What happened that night is still clear in my memory.

Maybe those men thought that I had forgiven them for chasing me… They thought that their lives would be quiet. But not. After I finish school, and when I have the fishing port, I will find those three men and feed them mud! They don’t deserve to live in peace!

“Rishel!”

My eyes widened and turned to Lyndon. He’s chasing me and his eyes were sharp. I swallowed hard and hastily entered the open covered court. I got dazzled by the bright light coming from inside so I closed my eyes for a moment before continuing my escape from Lyndon until I reached the center of the covered court.

Just then I opened my eyes and was stunned when I noticed that there were people inside. There was a monoblock chairs around and the place was decorated with colorful balloons. There’s also foods ready on the side. The place looks like a celebration’s coming.

“Miss?” a woman approached and asked. There was a small smile on her lips. “I think you got lost?”

“Uhm… yes. I’m sorry,” I said breathlessly.

She nodded. “You seem to be in a hurry. Is there a problem?” she asked and looked at where I came from. And I knew she’s checking if someone’s after my life.

I shook my head and smiled warily. “Nothing,” I said and looked around. “A celebration?”

The woman bent down and took something from the cooler. It’s a bottle of water which she handed to me while smiling from ear to ear. “Drink water first. It looks like you’ve been running for a while.”

Both of my cheeks warmed up from embarrassment and I thanked her before I accepted the bottled water. I looked at the entrance but I didn’t see Lyndon. A smile formed on my lips when I realized I lost him.

I turned back to the woman and asked permission to stay for a few hours. She agreed and I thanked her again. Clenching my trembling hand, I sat on a vacant chair and calm my breathing. I knew Lyndon’s still looking for me outside so I need to stay inside until that man gave up.

When I looked at the small platform lying at the front, I got stunned when I read the writing on the blue background. ‘Jesus set the captives free.’