Prologue

People in black attires filled the whole area as the dark clouds continued to shed. It’s expected that there will be rain. And of all the people here holding their own umbrellas, I’m the only one standing without one. My swollen eyes were fixed on the coffin going down into its grave.

This was the last funeral I’ll be attending. The last day that I will see them in a coffin.

It hurts so much to the point that it even breaks my heart. This month for me was a grieving one. The fact that the three special people in my life met the embrace of death. And without me, having the chance to do anything to save them was something I couldn't fathom. It’s an accident, but it’s hard for me to accept it.

It’s not just an accident; instead, it was an incident, and someone killed them.

I heaved a deep sigh and shivered due to the coldness of the rain. The rain got heavier as I cried harder, clutching the clothes in my chest, trying to ease the pain inside me.

“Queenie, let’s go home,” Kyle gently muttered, holding my shoulder.

“No, I don’t want to...” I refused and shooked my head. It’s something I couldn’t bear, something that was just so hard for me to do.

He pulled me closer and gave me a tight hug. “I know it’s hard. But please, don’t make yourself affected too much. We are all hurt, but we need to move on.”

I started crying on his chest. “Move on? That’s not an easy thing to do. I lost three of my friends. Kyle, three. I thought I’ll be meeting them for almost three years of parting away. Then here’s what happened. We’re so happy that day and the day after brought me this.” I almost failed to utter a single word properly.

“I understand, just cry. Everything will be fine,” he gently said to at least lighten the heaviness in me. I didn’t utter a single word again and let myself burst into tears—being in a vulnerable state.

It’s been three months after that, everything was still fresh in my mind. If only I came with them, I know that won’t happen. My hand stopped clenching the pen I am holding and placed it on the surface of the table.

Sighing, I touch the cup and took a sip of brown coffee on my white mug as I fixed my attention on reading the reports about the accident. I also got the CCTV footage.

According to the police statement, what happened was just an accident which was something that isn’t enough for me. I know that there’s something wrong and that wasn’t just an accident.

I also got a file from Kaira. She investigated the case of the Averro massacre during that time. She’s a friend of mine—one of the friends that I’ve lost—a famous and great detective.

She was supposed to give me this file on the same day as the incident. Good thing she told me about this thing. There’s a possibility that what happened to them was something that was connected to the said massacre.

I know it’s a dangerous thing to dig about this thing. I’ll be graduating next month but I never did anything but focus on this one. Teaching was not my choice. Of course, that’s what my family wants for me. I want to be an accountant. But that’ll only remain my dream.

I took a deep breath. I’m currently in the room of my apartment. I’ll surely come back to Manila after our graduation.

I took a glance at the picture where a man’s face can be seen. Gotcha! It was a guy smiling widely with his teeth. He’s one of the trusted bodyguards of the well-known billionaire, Arthur James El Devar.

I’ll make sure to avenge the death of my friends.