GRIEVOUS VENGEANCE

CHAPTER 11

Janine's father, Arthur, arrived on time while they were talking about the suicide case in their school. He greeted and kissed his wife on her forehead, then greeted Janine's visitors. He sat down at the couch to rest.

"Janine, I was assigned to investigate the suicide case in your school," SPO3 Arthur Alistair said. "Do you know the girl, Sandy Reyes?"

"Yes, Papa," Janine responded. "She was a victim of bullying in school."

"Do you know the names of those students who bullied her?" Arthur asked.

Janine shook her head. "No, Papa, but Professor Homer knows them. He also saw them when they bullied her outside our campus."

"I may need to ask him tomorrow." His Papa took out his notes and wrote something on it. "Sorry, Janine. I'm home yet I'm still working."

"it's okay, Papa. I also want to know what happened to her," Janine said.

"We need to rule out what triggered her suicide or if there's a foul play," he said. He scratched his head using his ball pen. He put his notes and ball pen back to his pocket.

"Papa," Janine called her father.

"Yes?" Her Papa looked at her, waiting for her to speak up.

"Before the incident today," Janine started speaking, opening up. "I accidentally held Sandy's torn book a few days ago and in my vision, I saw a guy's death due to strangling. I just don't understand why I saw it. Sandy's dead now. What's her connection with the killing I saw in my vision?"

Her father kept his silence for a few seconds. "Is there a way you could see more in your vision if you hold one of her belongings again?"

"I'm not sure, Papa," she replied. "I could give it a try."

"Let's see if we could get a hold of any of her belongings." Her Papa stood up. "We are also waiting for the forensics to retrieve all the data from her phone. We might be able to find a clue from there."

"I hope it can be solved," Jackie said. "I don't think she even planned to commit suicide. She was fine before that. She even went to the clinic to have her wound tended."

"Do you think someone killed him?" Marvin asked. "It's possible."

"Who would it be? I mean, her bullies?" Jackie couldn't believe it's possible. "Bullying can go to the extent of killing someone?"

"My sister Mina accidentally died because of cyber bullying," Mark said. He remembered her younger sister who died at the age of eighteen.

Arthur stood up. "Let's have our dinner first and we'll talk about it some other time. We're still conducting an investigation."

*****

"What are we going to do?" Luke asked. He's still nervous because of what they have done to Sandy earlier.

"No one would know if you will just shut your mouth!" Darryl exclaimed. They are currently in Darryl's room. His parents are away for a vacation.

"But I heard, the police will have an investigation," Cathy said. Her palms and lips are shaking. "They have her phone. They will find out we met her there before she died."

"I told you to shut your mouth!" he shouted again, hiding his frustration and anxiety.

"Okay, I'm sorry." Cathy raised her two hands.

"How's Ben and Sam?" Darryl looked for his other friends. They all ran away form school and the other two ran in different direction. He, Luke and Cathy ran directly towards his car and drove straight going home.

"Let me call Ben," Luke volunteered to call their friend. He dialed Ben's number. He waited for a few rings before he answered.

"Y-yes?" Ben responded with a shaky voice.

"What happened to you? You didn't follow us here in Darryl's house." Luke placed the call in loud speaker so the other could hear what Ben was saying.

"I-I went home straight," Ben replied. "Sam went straight to her aunt's laundry shop."

"Darryl said to keep your mouth shut," Luke warned him.

"I-I will," Ben agreed. "I don't have the guts to tell everyone I am responsible with what happened to her."

"Good," Darryl said. "You—" He couldn't continue what he was about to say when he heard Ben's phone seemed it dropped on the floor, and there was a screeching sound from his house. "What was that?"

"You... you stay away from me!" Ben said, seemed he was far from his phone. "G-go away! I-I didn't mean to kill you! It was Darryl! I just joined them to bully you!"

"Ben... Ben!" Darryl kept on calling his friend's name but all they heard was a loud scream from him, then the call got disconnected.

All three of them looked at each other, wondering and worrying about what happened to Ben.

"H-he must be just playing some prank," Luke said, awkwardly smiling. "You know him."

"Let's rest for today and rest early, guys," Darryl said. "We've had enough. You can stay and sleep here tonight. You can use the guest room next to mine."

"Good night, Darryl." Luke held Cathy's arm. They walked out of Darryl's room to let him rest.

*****

"Breaking news. Ben Castro, eighteen, a student from Camarin City College was found dead in his room this morning. According to the police, he died due to strangling, however, his faced seemed torn after dying by crashing it on the foor. There was no forced entry seen on the crime site. They were able to retrieve his phone, and there was a last photo shot before he died. They saw his face shocked and eyes wide open while looking at the camera. The police will still continue the investigation to find the suspect. Janice Sanchez, reporting."

Janine turned off the television. "Papa, he's one of Sanďy's bullies. I saw him with those other bullies the other day."

"He died just after Sandy's death yesterday," Arthur whispered. "I'll go with you to your school."

"Okay, Papa. I'll just get up and prepare." She rushed in taking shower and fixing herself. She was ready to leave with her father when she heard a knock from the door.

"Janine!" Jackie called her name from outside. She opened the door to let her friend in.

"You can't wait to see me," Janine teased her friend.

"I know," Jackie agreed, laughing. "But did you see the news? Do you remember that guy?"

"Yes, he's one of Sandy's bullies," Janine replied. "Papa's going with me to school to investigate."

"Do you think Sandy did it?" Jackie asked.

"I have a feeling she did." Janine sighed.

"Let's go, we'll see what we can do later to figure things out." Janine's father walked out of the house; Janine and Jackie followed him.