Lady in Blue: The Billionaire's Regret

TRUTH

And true to what Ruscov said, Rio had a dream.

The dreamscape which is filled with blood rooted to damnation. It reeks with death. The demise to which she could tell means death. Somebody died. Somebody perished. All peril, annihilated by the masked killer, or was it a mask that the culprit wore? But woven skin taken from the victim who suffered, while the murderer’s face had gone missing. She recalled once on how she had encountered her—yes, her, to which she couldn’t grasp whether it was the whole truth or not. Another deception, another lies, and unconcealed truth that remains hidden on the dark. The missing killer. The cruelty that embraced Belize has been caused, and conformed by a woman. Mistaken as a man, for how much had she had gone through, the punishment she inflicted in accords as it was somehow similar to the psychopath killers, murderers of women between 1500’s, Jack—a reaper or so what he called himself with.

Thus far, it was another night to whereas Rio has been standing ahead. The abysmal darkness is profound. It was bottomless as they peer to her. It does not make her afraid. She wasn’t easily terrorized with meek shadows, because Rio had been gone through a lot. She face monsters to whereas the memories of how she could have almost died that day, the family she left, and the life she should thrive off that was long gone, and stolen.

But that wasn’t something that made her concern now, but it was because of another person, someone she had gotten familiar with. It was the woman, whom she saw killed, and she have no slightest idea why she had been in disturb to her dreams. Who was she? What does she wanted with her? Rio didn’t know. She couldn’t think of anything, but what was more dangerous about seeing her on her dreams was the fact that she was beginning to get intrigued. Her curiosity that could have evoke, urged Rio to seek and sough answer from places, whereas she isn’t supposed to.

“Who are you?” The same question her lips muttered. Uttering those in hope that she could have in something, but they were in a dream, aren’t they? And so it was also possible, a high chance that she wasn’t somebody whom they are looking for. That her head was just playing tricks on her, but even so—some would say, a few of believed that dreams was another doorway to whereas the dead are trying to talk, seek the justice by letting somebody in. But why it should be her? She didn’t know.

Rio do not have to do with the murdered victims.

Thus far, same as before, Rio earned no response.

Her lips remain sealed shut. However, this time something seems different.

The woman gestured.

“What was it?” Rio asked, frowning.

It was as if she was urging her to come, in pursuit even she turned her back as if unknowingly Rio would follow with instinct, and so she did. Before she could run, rakes her mind with what if’s, Rio found herself a meter away from that woman, and the darkness yielding to conformed whatever it might have been trying to hid, and buried suddenly disperse. The utter blackness has been replaced by a place to which Rio isn’t familiar with. Walls reappeared, they stood high, and erect. The ceilings were high, and the tiled floor was cold. Suddenly, Rio has been grasp ahold by a chilly sensation. It did not just prickled her skin, but it go deep to her chest. It was as if letting her see, and feel everything that may have reoccurred, or so she thought.

“What…” Rio mumbled.

She was silently, when the scene played. Realization hit her deeper on the head.

Her and the woman stood as two person sit on what she can tell was a kitchen. They are in the kitchen, talking a lot, laughing, to which Rio was confounded with—because the sound of their voice sounded familiar. Brisk memories, an avalanched that did not came ahead, but it was questions that filled her system. She was confused. Why does it felt like she knows them, but she don’t. Who are they?

It was a child, and a mother.

“Mama, why does papa don’t come home to us every day?” The child asked.

“Oh sweetie.” The mother stop, halting from her tracks. “He was just busy…”

But for Rio, what she said last trailed of, it was as if she was unsure—that there is something she do not wanted to tell to the child.

“Was it about work again?”

She could hint a sullen tone coming from the child. And somehow there is a pang on Rio’s chest to which she could felt. Unconsciously, Rio brings her hand, her palm feeling the slight throb on her chest. Her heart was like being torn apart, but why?

“Who are you…?” She repeated again, replaying the same words over and over, although her efforts are fruitless. Futile questions, which remain unanswered.

“It was—“ But the older women did not have the chance to finish her words, when the young girl cut her off with something. A truth she was trying to concealed for so long, unaware that she didn’t need. Daren’t speak of, not even giving away any clue, when they had been unveiled already.

“But I saw him, Mama.” In a whisper, she uttered. “I saw papa with his family…”

Shock flooded the mother’s face. Her visage in expression of utter surprised. Her lips parted. Set ajar, but no words have been expressed. It took her a moment, before she was able to compose herself.

“H—how…” The mother cleared her throat. Her eyes were no longer soft. They narrowed, disappointment was utterly could be seen on her orbs as it drastically changed. “ How did you know?”

The young girl lowered her head. She hangs it low as if she was ashamed.

“Why did you lie…?” But ‘stead of giving away the answer that her mother seeks, she reckons to confront her mother. “You could have tell me the truth—“

“NO!” The older woman shook her head, full of vigor as she clenched her jaw. “You are not supposed to find out! How dare you?!”

The coldness that filled the room has been soon preempted. Rage filled in, and the walls screeched as if it could feel the brimming emotions coming from the older woman herself.

Rio gulps.

“What was happening?” She blurted out, when she felt herself getting sucked by again.

And she knew exactly why. It means that it was her time to go, but no! Rio needed her answer, but to whatever may have been trying to drag her away from was too strong. Its strength to which she couldn’t fight against with was making it harder.

“N—no, please…!” She gasped aloud, breathing hardly as she did.

But before she get taken, the woman turned around to face Rio.

“It’s time to go, Amanda.” Her voice was soothing. It was so soft, as if she won’t be able to harm a fly even, but Rio knew what she is capable of. She knew the monsters hiding in a sheep’s’ clothing underneath that mask. Beneath there was a beast, waiting for its time to pounce once its prey lowered its guard. Unguarded, and soon she’ll earn their trust, as well as their head just like what she did before.

Rio shook her head. She doesn’t want to go yet.

“P—please….” She begs.

But to which she didn’t to. She knew she won’t let her be, but to remain now seems to be a little impossible. Beheld by surprises, when she saw her pulled her mask off. Rio’s orbs widened, they bulged from her sockets as the face she thought was hidden behind wasn’t something she had least expected. The woman was grinning, no, it was her.

The same face and the same features carved out from her face.

“Surprise, little girl.” The woman chuckled, enthusiastic, and that as the last thing that Rio could remembered before she had been woken up.

Sitting across on her bed as she sweats. Bathing on her on her own, while the moon light lit on the halls, and her window that was slightly opened. The cracks to where it slipped, and the clock that was placed on the table beside her bed proclaimed how early it was. Renounced that it was 4 in the morning. The streets remain silent, and souls deems to be plunged on a deep slumber, unlike her.

“That can’t be…” Her throat was parched up, in seek of water, but that wasn’t something she should of grew worried with. Her concern uprooted to her dreams. “What was that?”

Shakily, Rio brushed her hair, and she couldn’t withstand it. Why was—no, that can’t be her! It was absurd how she saw herself on that dream. Does that mean she was the killer? Ridiculously, she thought.

She hug her knees, and rocked herself.

“N—no.” In denial as she said those, before Rio buried her face on her knees.

Bothered as the thoughts did not leave her. But unlike before, Rio was alone, Nobody consoled her, no Midnight, and no Paxton as it seems they have something to deal with on their own.

To which the brother’s had.

“So, who did it?” Midnight held a serious expression on his face.

He looks grim, but how could he not be gravely concern, when they had just been informed of a death that came all of a sudden. It was Gerry, and his men, who had been mercilessly killed. If they were a rookie, both him and Paxton won’t be able to stomach the sickening sight. Gutted head, and bloods splattered everywhere. Smeared crimes, and their insides tied together as if to mocked whoever may have find them that they were a present whereas their skin was the one that was left unwrapped.

“You know who, didn’t you?” Midnight faced Paxton, who remain silent. His eyes trained across towards the dead bodies they have recovered. And of course, it wasn’t just them.

Agatha walked near to the pair.

“We recovered Gerry’s head on one of the stall in the bathroom from the left wing of the ship.” She said, her face was contorted even.

But how comes that the dispatch chief knew the Del Fierro’s brother? Simply as to say that Agatha is part of the case, before the Belize station. She had come first, in followed suit to Mexico just so they could pinned the killer. However, it wasn’t as easy as it may seem it was. The culprit managed to kill, murdered women on her stead, her footfalls to where she had stalked them silently. It was their power, the brother’s authority against a slick predator, who they couldn’t entrapped for so long.

“Anything else that you have scavenged?” Midnight asked her after she had gotten closer.

“Well, s**t Sherlock, but we have some.” With that said, Agatha raised her hand to show something. “Look what this cute little bear that I seems to lose before was doing here.”

On her hand, she was holding a familiar bear. A toy to which they had retrieved before the explosion, and now here.

“That means we she was near.” Midnight clenched her jaw.

It was just ridiculous how she had managed to slipped underneath their noses.

“I thought you were keeping her under your eyes?” Agatha crossed her arms above her chest.

“It wasn’t her.” Paxton meet her eyes.

“And how could you know that it wasn’t her even?” Agatha bites back.

“She was there, when Jed has been murdered—“

“To which we possibly know that she have an accomplice, doesn’t she?” But Agatha wouldn’t just back down easily.

“We didn’t know yet.” His face hardened. “It was just a speculations.”

“Yet, Paxton.” Agatha put an emphasis to her words. “That doesn’t mean it was closing the possibility that she has somebody with her. Had you check who was Malcolm? A friend, but where is he now? And why the f**k rare you defending her all of a sudden?”

Agatha narrowed her eyes to him. Her eyes bore suspicion as if she knew something has been going on inside his head.

“Tch.” Paxton only clicked his tongue, and looks away.

“Do not just click your tongue on me.” Agatha warned him. “Just make sure that whatever you may have been dealing with or whatever reason you may have—“ Agatha paused shortly. “—don’t you f*****g let it get on our way.”

Agatha left the warning as a threat, before she turned her back. On her trail followed suit Jin, who was watching the exchanges silently.

He was there as a spectator, an eyes serve for Agatha as he keep himself on the corner, and listen. But one thing bothers him.

“Do you really trust them?” He asked her after a moment that they manage to reach the vehicle they brought earlier.

“It depends.” Agatha responded. She pulled the strap, and buckled herself up on the seat.

“It depends from what?” Jin did not bother to hide his confusion.

“If they would stick on the plan or not.” Right as she said that, Agatha turned her head to look at him. “Haven’t you notice it?” She chuckled. “Paxton has been defending her, and I hope my suspicion was quite wrong, because it seems like they are going to go against with the law.”

“And what your guesses were wrong?”

“Then so be it, since I am hoping too that it was just a mistake.” Agatha leaned her back to her seat, falling into an unfathomable thought as she did.

On the other hand, Jin remains quite.

The car roared to life as the bodies was discarded, sent to be autopsied in hope that her print, Rio Amanda Buenaventura’s fingerprint was left there engraved. Once it does, then Agatha and the QCPD, to whereas the brother has been working for wouldn’t have any reason to hold back anymore.

But the real question is how did they come into such alliance?

[MADRID, SPAIN: FLASHBACKS TO WHERE THE ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE DEL FIERRO BROTHER’S AND MEXICO HAPPENS]

The room to where they are as of the moment was dark. A single bulb was the only light in luminosity that spread luminesce across the place, but that doesn’t mean it could easily repelled the shadows. They remain on the sides as a few individual gathered around on the long table.

There are six people who had been occupying the seats. In front of them, a projector was being played, and there on, it show photographs. It include of women, who was killed. Their faces taken as the flesh to where it was once before remain bleeding. The bloods dried as they rot, because it takes almost weeks, if not days, before they had been find out. Recovered from shacks, empty buildings to where most of them has been taken.

“I guess you can tell why I called you here.” The man on the center uttered. Shadows looms on his face as his eyes remain hooded.

Agatha nodded her head, beside her was Jin, and in front of them was the Del Fierro brother. A pair to whom they had least expected. In spite of having questions, Agatha remained calm; in compose as she settled her attention towards the matter at hand.

“I know, Chief,’ said Agatha. “But why are they included?” She added, pertaining to the pair.

She was referring to the Del Fierro’s brother, because as far as she know—they are not part of the department, but billionaire’s who thrive to the world’s wealth.

“Well, that is one of the reasons why you have been called here too.” The older man clasped her hand together. “I wanted you to meet them, Agatha.”

“But why?” She frowns. “I don’t understand…” She added, and trailed of.

“I know.” The man chuckled. “But oh well, they have been part of the team for so long.”

“From what department, Chief?” From then on, Agatha couldn’t still cope up with the truth ahead.

“QCPD, if you are wondering.” It was Midnight’s turn to speak to her, answering the question she have on mind.

“And if you still have some doubts.” Then in pursuit onwards his brother, Paxton. “You can thank us for capturing the bomber way back in—hmm, the one in the airport? Or the one who was meant to assassinate the prime minister? You choose.”

Her jaw dropped.

The older man laughs.

“Well I guess you could tell that they were the one behind it, but that was least of our concern right now, because as of the moment, we have one enemy that we should capture ahead.” With that said, their attention went back to the projector, which is projecting a masked person, and a bare visage they should look after.

Underneath her photograph, a name was written.

RIO AMANDA BUENAVENTURA.

@cycy