DAYMARE 22: Reader Killer

“We gotta go,” Jethro said as we all left the little hut.

It was getting dark, and the rain started falling, tiny drops at first but steady.

I slung my brown sling bag over my shoulder, and the three of us ran back toward Sir Remy’s eatery.

It was September, that’s why it’s pouring rain everywhere.

My family and I have been living in this province for four months now as a grade 11 student at Torinay High School.

“Go home,” Riegel said coldly as he reached his house.

Then someone stepped in front of us. It was his mom. She was plump, wore a duster, and slippers.

They closed the eatery at 7 PM because they still had customers around then.

I glanced at Jethro’s watch. It’s past 6 PM already. I didn’t notice the time if it didn’t rain. Time is passing by faster when our brains are fully occupied.

“The rain’s gonna get worse. Your houses must be far from here. You can rest here, even stay overnight.” Rigel’s mother’s kindness was a sharp contrast to Riegel’s stubbornness.

“No thanks, Ma’am,” Jethro said. “We’re gonna stay at Lewin’s house. Actually, Lewin and I have a project, and Riegel’s helping us with it.”

I saw Riegel’s forehead furrowed, the same as mine. We both didn’t understand Jethro. No one did except Jethro himself.

“If you don’t mind, can we invite your son over to spend an overnight with us at Lewin’s residence?”

I shook my head when Jethro lied to Riegel’s mother in front of Riegel himself! Really, Jethro has a gangster side to him. His sneakiness is on another level compared to mine.

“Oh, is that so?” she pondered, looking at Riegel, who wasn’t entertained with what Jethro was planning out of the blue. “You didn’t tell me, son.”

“I-I’ll just help them tomorrow or maybe some other time,” Riegel replied. He didn’t want to be part of this investigation anymore—he’d already told us everything about Hestral. “Right, guys?” he stared at us, saying we should stop this nonsense at once or else he would kill us.

“Have you forgotten, Riegel? You promised us you’d help us with our upcoming school projects. You were a good president during your time. We want to be mentored by you. See, Lewin here? He’s not doing good with his grades.”

I glanced at Jethro with a confused face. I would like to protest for being dragged into his silly business. However, we need Riegel’s cooperation for this.

Well, I don’t know if I’m doing badly at school because my mind is usually outside the school’s premises. Maybe, yeah, he’s right.

“And I repeated a year. I didn’t make it to grade 12 in Metro City, so I hope you will help me finish grade 11 this time.” He pouted.

I wanna laugh right now at how much of a bluff Jethro was. He was acting like Riegel was his upperclassman, but the truth is they were the same age. While I’m a year younger than them.

The people thought Jethro was a genuine grade 11 student. Only we knew he had failed on purpose, so he could spend a year investigating Hestral’s case by going here in the province himself.

Riegel was noticeably mad. Jethro’s schemes are driving him nuts.

His mother had put pressure on him, so he was stuck.

“That’s a good initiative you have there, kids.” She’s so empathic. She looked at her son. “Go on, Riegel. Be the good example to them that you’ve ever been. Let your father know you’ll leave.”

We borrowed umbrellas from his mother to get to my house. Riegel had his own, and Jethro and I shared one. Jethro kept grumbling about getting wet and muddy roads.

It will take us about a 15-minute tricycle ride or a 45-minute walk. When we got to my house, I rang the doorbell.

“I’m going home.” Riegel left abruptly.

He just escorted us to my house.

Jethro stopped him. “We’re not done yet,”

Jethro seems restless, like he is fed up. Maybe with both of us.

“If you need help, just text me,” Riegel said softly, about to walk away.

“Wait, what’s wrong? You’re backing out already?” Jethro’s voice was sharp.

Here we go again. Is he about to start another fight?

“Will you stop me? I’m done. I’m out.” Riegel’s tone rose.

Honestly, I was more scared of him being mad than Jethro.

Riegel turned away and walked off.

“I’m home! Please open the gate for us!” I shouted.

No one came out to open the door for us for a while. I had the key, but it was hard to pull out in the rain.

“Let me guess. You’re being a coward again.”

Riegel froze, just standing there with his umbrella under the rain. He remained silent.

“You were a coward before, until now?” Jethro crossed his arms. His voice is becoming cold.

“Yeah, I’ve been a coward. Still am.” Riegel’s voice cracked. “That’s why I don’t wish that thing to happen again.”

“You don’t wish to… but you’re running away?”

“I’m not running. I just want to stay out of this mess you dragged me into.”

“Son of a—”

“Hey, Winwin, you’re late! Were you even gonna head home? Mama was calling you, but you didn’t pick up your phone!” My older sister opened the gate. “Oh? You have a visitor. Come on in, come in!” she welcomed Jethro.

We both glanced and waited for Riegel.

“Once a coward, always a coward,” Jethro mumbled.

“Tell me I’m a coward...” Riegel threw his umbrella to the side, letting the rain soak him.

Then he ran off without looking back.

After that, I realized Riegel might be seriously traumatized by seeing this house—Hestral’s house.

The first time I saw him was when he delivered the food that Sir Remy gave us. He was in a hurry to leave that I wasn’t able to ask for more information about him.

He didn’t want to see this place. The place of the crime scene where three people died. A place that witnessed where the dark mystery still hung over, waiting for its next victims.