Chapter 29:

DAYMARE 14: Reversed Adverse

YOUR ONLINE READER KILLER


The air was heavier than before.

I gulped first to compose myself. "Sure, Sir. I’m glad to be of help."

“I asked permission from the victim’s parents. Mr. Gern let us share some details about the case with you since you had a connection with Hestral. And your information might be helpful with the investigation.” Mr. Sergio explained.

He didn’t bring his laptop, but instead, he handed me a flash drive.

“Read the victim’s document at your place,” he said.

Sir Johace handed me his calling card. “If anything clicks after you read it, give me a call.”

I quickly stuffed the flash drive and calling card into my pocket.

Our food arrived right after.

I couldn’t hold back anymore. “Sir…” I scratched my head. “Since we obtained permission from Hestral’s parents, may I know how Hestral died?”

Sir Johace looks serious. "Swear you’ll keep this between us."

“Even my sisters and mother?” I asked.

They both nodded. It felt heavy, like a secret too big for me to keep; I might burst into it.

“But, Sir why do we keep almost everything in secrecy?”

"It’s not about us being strict. This comes directly from the victim’s parents, and we’re obligated to honor their request." Mr. Sergio explained.

So, that’s the reason behind it. I must respect Hestral’s parents’ decision to be part of this investigation.

“Okay, I promise.”

Sir Johace pulled a black sling bag off his shoulder and passed me a worn-out white folder.

“This is the report on Hestral Gern’s death,” he stated.

I claimed the folder.

“Can I open this and read right now, Sir?” I asked for their permission.

This time, I’ve grown more mature, knowing that every action must be carefully considered before I take it.

“Go ahead,” Mr. Sergio gave me the go signal.

They started eating their food.

I opened the folder. The papers were stapled together, and the first page had the title: Hestral Gern’s Death Report.

I gulped.

I looked back down at the report and started reading.

Name: Hestral B. Gern

Age: 17

Gender: Female

Height: 160 cm

Weight: 50 kg.

Blood type: O+

Date of death: August 13, 2015. 10:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Last spotted: August 13, 2015. 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Cause of death: By stabbing her throat, noted as a suicide

The corpse was found on August 14, 2015, at 6:05 AM by her parents inside the victim’s room. The victim’s house was located on an unknown street.

I frowned.

“Sir, why does it say, ‘unknown street’ here?” I asked them.

Sir Johace swallowed his food first before answering me.

“Last year, the street you live on didn’t even have a name. It only got one recently.”

“Why is that?”

“Because the street is believed to be… cursed. That’s why it wasn’t named before.”

“Cursed? Seriously, is that some kind of joke?” I said in disbelief

He nodded in disagreement. “I see. No one’s really told you. The locals call it Sumules, which comes from the words Sumpa, Multo, and Espirito—meaning curse, ghost, and spirit. Your neighborhood believes those things are present on that street.”

I shook my head, creeped out by what Sir Johace revealed to me.

“What a total nonsense. Who believes in a curse!”

“I know it sounds unbelievable, but that’s what people say.” Mr. Sergio stated.

“And the government approved such idiocy.”

The fact that the local government let it slide is more ridiculous.

“The street wasn’t named for a long time, but after the incident which is the suicide of Miss Gern, it was finally given the name, Sumules Street.” Mr. Sergio confirmed.

“Suicide?”

“Yeah”

“If it was suicide, why are Hestral’s parents still investigating?”

“There are still unclear parts about her death. It’s odd that they just decided it was suicide. But one thing’s confirmed,” Sir Johace paused for a bit. “The victim killed herself by stabbing her neck with a long Phillips screwdriver. She died because she hit a delicate vein.”

“A screwdriver?”

“She had her father’s toolbox at the crime scene. It seems she was looking for a perfect tool to murder the two.”

I wasn’t sure how to feel, but I kept reading the paper they gave me.

The report stated that:

The body was found lying on the floor in front of the victim’s closet. Next to her was a heavy, blunt object with her fingerprints on it. She was also holding a cellphone in her right hand, which contained a document, her dying message.

“Do you have that document?” I asked them immediately after reading.

“It’s in the flash drive,” Sir Johace replied.

I resumed reading.

The victim’s throat was slashed with a Phillip screwdriver, resulting in immediate death. Certain veins exhibited signs of infection. The autopsy revealed evidence of a struggle, indicated by bruises and wounds on the body. Blood was present on the victim’s face, hands, and clothing.

Was her body covered in blood?

“Do you have any pictures of Hestral’s body?” I asked.

“The victim’s parents don’t want those shown.” Mr. Sergio answered.

“I want to see what she looked like when she died. It would help me understand everything better.”

The closet’s handle exhibited traces of blood along with the victim’s fingerprints. Blood was dispersed throughout the room, and items within were found scattered. In addition to the victim’s blood present on her body, two other blood types were detected on the corpse.

W-What… Two different types of blood were found in Hestral’s body!

My eyes went wide in disbelief. The two of them caught my reaction right away.

Sir Johace put down a fruit shake. “I know, you’re surprised.”

“There are two blood types…” I murmured.

I kept reading.

They were Type A and Type B—blood from two other victims. Near Miss Gern’s dead body were two more corpses. They were confirmed to be her friends: Miss Nicole Ronale and Mr. Lloyd Santia. Both had signs of a struggle because of the light bruises found.

Ronale and Santia… Wait, that means…

The long, heavy, blunt object next to Miss Gern’s body, covered in three different blood types, belonged to all three victims. From the blood evidence and the signs of fighting, they figured Miss Gern had fought someone before killing Nicole and Lloyd. Then, after killing those two, Miss Gern committed suicide.

I felt crushed reading all this.

I stared into my cold burger and melted iced tea. I completely lost my appetite, and time seemed to freeze. My hair stood on end, and a cold chill ran down my back.

I couldn’t believe what I was reading.

“San…tia… Ro..na…ale…” I mumbled, staring blankly, trembling and clutching the folder with those cold facts.

“Exactly. Aren’t Lorean Santia and Vance Ronale your friends?” Sir Johace asked me.

I nodded, still perplexed by another truth that I just knew. He continued. “Lorean and Lloyd Santia are siblings. The same goes with Nicole and Vance Ronale. Their sister and brother were killed by your former classmate from your school in Metro City, Miss Hestral Gern.”

I am speechless.

I sensed that the case of Hestral’s death would be heavy, but I didn’t anticipate its way heavier than I expected.

What’s worse is that Lorean and Vance are actually involved. All I thought was I’m the only one who’s connected with Hestral, but no…

Lorean’s older brother is Lloyd, and Vance’s older sister is Nicole. That’s why they never told me about their siblings. When I asked, they just got quiet. Maybe that’s why we became awkward when I asked them about their siblings, because I am acquainted with Hestral, the one who murdered their sibling.

“Wait, is there enough evidence that Hestral murdered them?”

“Yes. There’s plenty of evidence. Maybe you don’t believe it, but even Miss Gern’s parents find it unbelievable. They say their daughter isn’t capable of doing such a thing.” Mr. Sergio replied.

“They kept denying facts, that’s why we’re here.” Sir Johace added.

Who are you, Hestral?

She used to be a bully, but the tables have turned for her. She’s the one who’s being bullied by the people she bullied before. She moved here for reasons I don’t know.

If she switched schools already, then what was her reason to kill students here that she became friends with? The bully who used to pick on her is at Clairene Academy.

Could it be that Nicole and Lloyd, Lorean’s and Vance’s siblings, were bullying her too?

I’ve known Lorean and Vance for only a couple of weeks, but I’m sure they won’t harm others, especially those who are close to them. Their siblings must be good people, too, just like them.

Who is Hestral, really?

“Was there any proof that someone is picking on Hestral at Torinay High School?” I asked.

“No, no one bullied Miss Gern at the new school,” Sir Johace responded. “In fact, it’s the opposite of what she experienced compared to her previous school. She had no fights, became friendlier and always hangs out with her two new friends, Nicole and Lloyd.”

Then it’s impossible. If they were good friends, why would she kill them?

“Sir, why does Hestral have bruises and scars?”

I was wondering that too. Not only did Nicole and Lloyd have bruises, but Hestral had them as well. How strange.

“That’s another mystery to solve. Maybe the two fought back, trying not to be killed, and scratched her.”

That made some sense.

“So, the blunt object was used to kill the two?”

“Yes. But Miss Gern’s parents said they didn’t own that blunt weapon that was used during the incident. We found out that it belonged to Miss Ronale’s family. It’s a religious artifact.”

“What?”

“You haven’t read everything.” He crossed his arms. “It also says there that Lloyd Santia had a knife hidden on his leg. Because he wore pants, it wasn’t visible.”

I read again at the report again and saw it there.

“W-Wait…” I stuttered. “If the blunt weapon Hestral used to kill the two belonged to Nicole, and Lloyd was carrying a hidden knife… and all three had bruises and wounds because…”

Mr. Sergio is staring outside the restaurant, probably also thinking about the news I found.

Sir Johace stayed calm, sipping his watermelon fruit shake slowly until he finished it.

Sir Johace nodded. “That’s right. Miss Nicole Ronale and Mr. Lloyd Santia tried to kill Miss Gern…but they ended up being killed by her.”

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