# CHAPTER 25
A/N: Thanks for my Editor who edited the 1st sequel! My fellow friend Roxanne Mendoza! (Well, she's now part of this story) I still need corrections jk. I can't avoid mistakes and typos coz I'm so lazyyyyy (I'm werking) as ever so sorry! x
Chloe's POV
Exactly when Stacie and I came in the Barden Chapel we saw the area having a yellow tape saying there's a police inside.
Stacie and I walked towards the Chapel exactly Beca saw me.
This morning I acted cold to her coz she's being insensitive and asshole like what I told Stacie earlier. Since I decided to adopt Billie, she kept on saying how Jade took care of Billie like I'm not her girlfriend and just sort of baby sitter of Billie. I even ignored her texts but when she finally called me I immediately answered it and that's a mistake coz she noticed that I'm not in my class while she's in the Detective Club.
She made us enter the yellow tape.
"Hi babe. Hi Stacie. you okay?" Beca asked the girl behind me. I frowned at her question so I looked back at Stacie and saw her pale while looking inside the chapter. I looked at the direction where she's staring at.
I gasped and covered my mouth when I saw a girl hanging in the middle of the ceiling. Hanging by a metal pipe that was connected to the ceiling while her head being stabbed by pipe through her both.. ears. Causing her to lift steady. We can't see her face because it's being covered by her long hair. She looks like the girl in the movie The Ring. But she's not wearing white dress but a cardigan and flowered design skirt. I immediately composed myself when I realized that there's so many people out here.
"Okay guys. I called Chloe to investigate with me but if you want Stacie, you can join us." Beca said. She was about to hold my hand when I discreetly pull away my hand and crossed my arms.
"So what are gonna-
"I.. I knew her." Stacie cutted. She looks so anxious of what's happening but I think she'll really be a big help.
Beca looked around and moved closer to us. "Okay- wait. What do you mean by you knew her? How?" Beca asked in a low voice. "Coz Stacie if you're not sure don't conclude you might be one of the suspect. Coz this is obviously not suicide." She added.
"I.. I saw her a while. Uhm. She's crying in the.. hallway. Near the library." Stacie rambled. She looks so nervous.
"Wait. Let's talk about it inside. I'll call Ashley." Beca pulled her back she didn't move.
"I-I can't." Stacie said and seems like any moment she's going to cry.
"Okay. Let's just move a little over there please coz police might hear us." Beca paused. "And please don't cry. What ever happens everything will be fine." She then look at me. "And you Chloe please.. what ever happened this morning that made you so distant to me since then.. I still love you." She gave me a quick peck and pulled Stacie to the other side. I felt my stomach made some knots and I unconsciously form a smile while walking to the entrance of the Chapel.
I finally saw the victim's body closer than before. I looked around and saw many police around looking for something helpful in this case.
I saw the figure of Fat Amy in the front while staring at something. I made my way towards her and approached her.
"Amy." I approached and bumped her arms with my arms.
"You're here."
"Yes. I'm with Stacie actually and she's talking to Beca right now. I think she knew something about the victim." I told her and she nodded. I looked around and saw some scattered blood on the floor. Some were at the edge of the stairs near where we are standing, mostly on the below victim's feet.
"How did someone put her in that position?" I asked as I stared at the victim's body. I clearly saw her stab wounds on her back because it's soaked by a lot of blood. I crossed my arms over my chest and let out an exhale.
"I still don't know. We'll only know if she's been put down. Police only got here a minute ago and they still need to take her a photo for some forensic details before she put down." Fat Amy explained and turned around to see the victim's body. "They're so cruel."
"What do you mean?"
"They're getting into Mafia's nerve." She mumbled and I swallowed my saliva hard. Did she mean.. they know who did this?
"Okay I don't get it Amy. What do you mean?"
"You should be aware Chloe. You're in danger. Beca's in danger. We're in danger. Beca will soon explain it to you."
"Why can't you just explain it now to me. Coz seriously. I don't know what's happening." I sighed. "I felt that I'm still out of the picture."
"Oh c'mon. This story is half of your point of #$%." She mumbled that I barely hear.
"What?"
"I said if I were you, I won't go deeper. You'll be disappointed." She said and walked away.
Beca's POV
I'm so interested in this where I am in game called 'who's my killer'. I have an idea of who's the mastermind which is Alpha named Tom. I just don't know who's his accomplice in this game. It might be one of my acquainted. It might be one of them or it might be my girl.
I keep on texting Chloe where she were early this morning coz I saw her in a black jacket, black cap and jeans like Chloe's jeans right now while roaming the quadrangle. I'm in the third floor where I'm sitting next to the window while my first subject approached so out of boredom I watched the women athletes did their sprint every morning. I'm not sure if it's her but she has the same figure and fiery hair of Chloe. I just can't see her face because of the cap. So I doubt that it was her. Then there she was, knowing she skipped class and someone died made my interest in this whole fucking game higher than it was.
Then again, there was Stacie.
Being interrogate by the police. She's not talking since she sat there so Ashley and I decided to help the police with her. We made our way to sit beside Stacie. She's quietly playing her fingers while staring at it. Why she looks so affected?
"Okay Stacie. I'm gonna go straight from what I'm intended to do. You said you know the victim? Who is she to you?"
"Look, I only knew her for minutes. I don't know her name or what. I only know that she's pathetically discussing some sort of rapture.. that no one wants to believes in."
"Stacie let's take this seriously. The victim-
"So basically, you're not believing on me?"
"I thought you are-
"No. I'm serious. I don't know her. I only knew her when I'm being kind so much so I approached her and talked to her why she was crying. And she told me '"Will you believe in me if I told you something? Like something ridiculous or what? Then I said, why not? The she finally said, will you going to believe if I say.. the end is near?" She said and let out a sarcastic laugh. Ashley and I looked at each other before turning our gaze to her once again. "I told you. I don't know her. I didn't know someone has a gut on killing innocents like her. Or it might be the reason of.. maybe she's a freak so that someone wants to shut her down the grave. She's so pathetic."
"So you're telling us that.. you don't know her?" I repeated that made rolled her eyes before deciding to nod in disgust. So we're still clueless?
"Okay. Actually we only have her bag without a gadget on. She only have her thing from school and church like books, notebook, pens, id and.. b-bible. Wait!" Ashley said and rushed out the room. The last word she said sounds like a whisper because she seems like she remember something.
Ashley looks different this past few days. She seems so busy and distant especially to Jessica who's her best friend. Well, I really don't care about that. I just noticed.
I didn't know I'm spacing out until Stacie snapped her fingers in front of me.
"Beca, I said how's christmas? Chloe looks so mad at you." Stacie said as she leaned on the couch and crossed her arms. Chloe's mad at me? Why?
"What do you mean?" I asked as my brows met. I'm really clueless at this kind of state.
"Oh you two should really talk about it. She skipped class because she's worried about you imagining her as your ex. I don't know who's your ex but she seems like she's really beautiful than Chloe that Chloe could be jealous like that." Stacie said that made my mouth dropped. "Don't tell me you don't have any idea of what you are doing?" I shook my head frantically. "Oh my god. Chloe's right. Or maybe not. You might be really insensitive or she's lying. Or could be both?" She clicked her tongue while shaking her head. "You know what? Chloe's perfect- but she's not my type. She's just perfect for you like both short stunning hot lesbians who loves the last pizza but will sacrifice for the other." She wandered before looking back at me. "Something like that." She giggled.
"Wait. So you're with Chloe the whole time?" I asked coz if my theory is right...
"No. After I met the victim I saw Chloe in the library. Why?"
"What was she doing there when you saw her?" I asked with ful of interest and she frowned before answering.
"She was reading a book."
"Oh. Okay."
So who's that.. okay.
I must be aware that someone is imposing as my girlfriend. She might be someone who's near us. She might be the cause of Chloe's danger. And I need to be more careful.
I've seen Chloe mad at me like many times but knowing she's mad at me because she's jealous of Jade is a.. big deal. Like.. so big deal. She doesn't want me to talk about her but this past few days I'm not aware of myself talking about her again because of Billie. And I'm very sorry because of that.
I thought giving her a present like a pet was going to be fun. I didn't even think about her choosing a very anxious and traumatic puppy like Billie. There's so many cute and healthy puppies in my pound like we could play with or jog with when we're both bored and no class. We can't do sex anymore coz seriously, I'm still worried about her getting pregnant. You know. I might sound so asshole right now but I'm just joking when I said to her we should have sex in our quiet time or I want her to see naked. I'm just playing around and tried to test her if she's still into it after what I did to her that Christmas eve. Sometimes, not so often, I seriously missed it. I miss her. Oral will do but she's not in the mood knowing I'll still use my hand who'd hurt her.
I didn't regret it though.
I'm still anxious. Even I get hard from her teasing. I'm still worrying at the back of my head that I might get her pregnant. My little friend is really functioning well so I must be careful.
Then Amy entered the room.
Not totally coz she just tilted her upper body to see us and call us. "Hey folks! Ashley need your presence. Let's go!"
Chloe's POV
I heard some running foot steps towards me. I saw Ashley running towards me. She's holding a plastic container with a.. I can't barely see it. Not until she passed by me and wore her gloves and started to scan the bible in front of the altar. Forensic Investigator came minutes ago and started to take a picture of every angle the victim has before they put her down. I almost scream that time when we all heard a cracking sound from her head, it made them be careful knowing her neck broke and in any mistake she would be probably beheaded. They were at least 5 people who carried her down and carefully put her in a bag and took it out of the chapter.
I looked beside Ashley and watched her scanning the bible. Like each page of the new testament. She's reading it carefully and I don't dare to ask her or disturb what she's doing.
Maybe she's praying for the victim's body.
Then suddenly Fat Amy came with another bible in hand. She also scanning it in the old testament. beside Ashley.
Oh.
They're going to pray?
After a moment of waiting..
"Gotcha!" Ashley exclaimed and immediately put her phone out of her pocket. So I'm wrong? "Amy are you done?" She asked without looking.
"Not yet." Fat Amy mumbled. Brows narrowing. I felt some goosebumps when Ashley smirked.
"Okay." She put her phone in her pocket and grabbed the bible Amy was holding. "Call Beca and Stacie. I need their presence here." Amy just nodded and walked away. "You're here." She finally said and smiled at me.
"I'm actually here almost an hour ago." I smiled back. I understand how busy she was that she didn't even notice my presence when she passed by me.
"Oh sorry. Anyway can I borrow a pen? I forgot my pen in my bag."
"Sure. Wait for sec." I said and pulled my bag off of my shoulder and opened it. I searched for my pen and there it is. "Here."
"Thanks." She said and picked the pen on my hand and sat to the chair. She immediately opened the plastic container and put out all the wooden letters- I think a letter from the scrabble board game but it has no corresponding numbers- with a letter behind it. You can identify which was the front and back by its color. The I'm seeing now was color light brown and the other side was dark side. I walked by her and sat beside her. I watched her every move though she's not moving now and like she's in a deep thinking.
I looked at the wooden letters.
S
And..
5490 over 9
It's so easy coz it's by 9.
54 ÷ 9 = 6
90 ÷ 9 = 10
So, 610!
It's just four digit though.
But if it's five and so on, it will be like this:
10854 ÷ 9 = 1206
11763 ÷ 9 = 1307
18099 ÷ 9 = 2011
Coz,
108 ÷ 9 = 12
54 ÷ 9 = 6
While,
117 ÷ 9 = 13
63 ÷ 9 = 7
And,
180 ÷ 9 = 20
99 ÷ 9 = 11
Let's just add one 0 'before' the answer was only one digit to make it tenths or two digits.
It's same with,
54108 ÷ 9 = 6012
63117 ÷ 9 = 7013
99180 ÷ 9 = 11020
But this one you'll add 0 'after the 3 digit pair that can be divided by 9.
635481 ÷ 9 = 70609
10854108 ÷ 9 = 1206012
Just remind you guys that it will only work the 2 or 3 digit INSIDE the given that can be divided by 9.
That's the secret of dividing obvious givens.
Hope you don't get it.
After a moment. Beca, Stacie and Amy came. They sat beside Ashley and Beca awkwardly sat beside me. Exactly at my back. I'm sitting in front of Ashley so behind me is the altar. I angled myself to Ashley so I could see them and not Beca. I ignored her.
"So I need you to help me with this. What word can you do with this wooden piece of crap?" Ashley said and looked at us. It was really looks like a scrabble thing huh?
S
"His." I said. Ashley took note what I've said.
"Is." Amy said.
"Dog." Beca said.
"God." Stacie said.
"Dish." Amy said.
"High." Stacie said.
"Hi?" Beca skeptically said.
"Hid." I said.
"Dig." Amy said. We're all looking at Ashley's small notebook.
"Gosh." I said.
"Sod." Beca said.
"Hig." Stacie said.
We all stopped from thinking and only turned our gaze to Stacie.
Huh?
"I know so many language but.. hig is not one of them. What does that mean?" Fat Amy asked. Stacie startled and looked at us.
"Oh." Stacie chuckled. "That's my favorite position when it comes to.. you know." She smirked and I cringed.
"Oh god. Let's proceed." Beca cutted after a hand gesture. "Dosh."
"Hog." Amy said and Ashley giggled. Amy glared at her.
"Are you fat-shaming me?" Amy asked while killing Ashley on her stares. Ashley and Beca just giggled. Ashley motioned 'continue'.
"Sigh!" I exclaimed that seems like I'm playing a bet poll where I suddenly won that cause to echo over the place. I abruptly covered my mouth with my hands and gave them a peace sign.
Then we all became silent again in a moment.
"I think there's no more word?" Stacie said while looking at the letters.
"There's no word that can make this 9 letters?" Ashley asked while staring at the letters. "So the only thing we can do is to sum up this words without repeating the given letter to make this 9 letter a sentence." She added that made us looked at the small notebook.
S
His Is Dog God Dish High Hi Hid Dig Gosh Sod Hig Dosh Hog Sigh
Beca turned the letters to see what's behind of it.
S
L
We all looked at each other before exclaiming,
"Dog Is High!" We exclaimed
"God Is High!" Stacie exclaimed at the same time that made Ashley looked at her.
Okay this is hilarious.
"Right. You're so brilliant!" Ashley complement her and immediately arrange the letters into 'GOD IS HIGH'.
We all frowned. Ashley took her phone again as well as Amy.
"I think I already hear that phrase. I just can't remember where or what's the meaning of it." Stacie blurted while rubbing her temple. "I'm so stress."
"So what's the connection of this equation to that word?" Beca questioned behind me.
"I think. If it's a word and a number. It's something like a verse in the bible." Ashley answered without looking at Beca. "Well, the meaning of God Is High in hebrew is Jeremiah and it's indicating to this 5490 over 9." Ashley said.
"It's 610." I blurted. They looked incredulous at me. "I saw that equation earlier so I already answer it mentally." I grinned.
"Alright. Great. So it could be Jeremiah 6:10. Obviously a verse." Ashley said while nodding. She grabbed the bible Amy was using earlier and find the verse. The cover of the bible says it's new international version. She immediately scan it.
"I know it's weird but why they're using the bible for a clue?" Stacie asked. Totally have no idea like me. It's the second time I saw a bible in a crime scene.
"Because they are all gay-shaming me." Beca mumbled behind me exactly for me hear it. She sits properly and crossed her arms. Now facing the altar. What does that mean?
"Because it's the easiest thing to do inside the chapel? Where you find to do your crime with a future up coming frantic nun?" Fat Amy assumed, still holding her phone.
"They are totally disrespecting the house of God." Stacie scolded. She looks different right now. I didn't know that this person in front of me is kinda religious huh.
"Oh well. That's how they do it. They respect no one." Fat Amy said.
"So here it is." Ashley said and finally looked at us. "And I think we got it right." Ashley added. "Jeremiah 6:10. To whom can I speak and give warning. Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed. So they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them, they find no pleasure in it."
"Ears." Beca mumbled again without even turning her back to the group. "We need to tell them to close the case now." She said again.
"Wait. There's another one!" Fat Amy exclaimed. "GOD IS HIGH in the front but the back of it was HAKELDAMA. I searched it on google. It says there that it's the place where Judas Iscariot, one of the apostles of Jesus, died. Uhm. Where he hanged himself and fell down a precipice and was dashed into pieces. I mean. Okay. I'll read the article." Fat Amy sighed. "It's my first time to be nervous. But whatever." What? Nervous of what? "According to Matthew 27:3-6, the treacherous apostle quickly felt remorse over his betrayal of Jesus and went to the Temple to recant. When the high priests ignored his plea, he threw down the 30 pieces of silver that he had been paid, deeming it as blood money, and therefore illegal to put into their treasury, they used it instead to buy the field as a burial ground for foreigners. Went off and hanged himself. But Acts 1:15-20, gives a different and even grislier version of Judas' demise. He says that Judas used the blood money to purchase a piece of land and then fell headlong from a high place there, so that he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. Jerusalem residents subsequently named the place Aceldama or Hakeldama, which means... 'The Field Of Blood'."
"That's bullshit." Beca infuriated and walked out of the Chapel.
I found myself following her.
Beca's POV
I know it's them again. I know for the nth time it's them. I just couldn't figure it out they would end up killing innocent people while telling me I should die unhappy.
Why are they doing this to me? To Barden? To the students here?!
I'm so tired of protecting people and end up losing them. I'm so tired of seeing people dying because of me.
I don't know what to do anymore.
I found myself in the middle of the field. The sky is kinda bit dark saying it will going to rain in any minute by then. I hate rain because it made me uncomfortable under my clothes but if that's the only thing that could hide my pain and frustrations then.. why not?
I sat there and laid my back flat in the grass. I closed my eyes and tried hard to stop the tears that's going to fall from my eyes. I bite my lips as I heard someone's voice. Beautiful voice from the person I love.
"You okay?" She asked beside me. Exactly at my ear. Her voice was so soft. I didn't look at her I'm scared to show her my vulnerability instead I only sensed her body beside me.
But my mental construction are far from my overwhelming emotions.
"I'm so tired of being miserable, Chloe." I whispered and can't help but to let out a soft sob. I don't want to show Chloe this soft side of me but I think I need to. I think I really need to. I might explode in any moment by now coz everything in the past is coming by me. Coming by everyone around me. And I don't want to scare her.
She hushed me. I felt her warm breath on my cheek. Her scent makes my soul calm.
"That's okay baby." She said and I felt her hand in my head. "I'm with you." I finally looked at her. She's laying upside down beside me.
"What else I'm going to do?" I mumbles. I may look so pathetic right now but I'm serious of being clueless.
She smiled at me like everything is okay. She smiled at me like she's okay after I messed up this past few days. She smiled at me like nothing was going on.
"Let's go face it." She said in enthusiasm. "What ever it is. The only way to get through of everything is facing it. I'm here. I'm ready to help you." Why are you acting like that.. why are you acting you're ready to die for me..
Even if I need some help of getting through this craps I still can't sacrifice her safety for my sake. I don't want to happen that again. Also, even I decided to introduce her to my father this Christmas vacation, I'm still coward of knowing there's a possibility that Chloe is one of the intruders. Yes, they're still doubting Chloe, I doubt her even we have something that can prove she's not the redhead in the cctvs and the girl whom I saw this morning that might be the killer. I kept on saying to my father that I'm not yet ready. But I love her at the same time. Maybe that's also the reason why I became insensitive or what to Chloe, because I'm too coward.
Coward of everything.
"No Chloe. You don't understand. You can't help me. I don't want you to get hurt again because of me. I'm so worried of you that day you got shot and I won't dare to do that again with you. I'm so worried of not seeing you beside me. Or you not talking to me. Please. Don't do things for me-
"No. Beca," She cutted. "You're the only person I have. And doing things for you is the only thing I can do. Please don't stop me from doing that."
"You're with yourself before you came into me-
"So what do you mean?" She sat up and I did the same. "That I should separate to you so I have reason to not do everything you're saying to me right now?"
"No!" I suprisingly exclaimed. I didn't mean to be sounded like that.
"Then what? You're my girlfriend and I should be capable of doing things for you." She exclaimed. "You're sounding unreasonable." She infuriated.
"I mean, no. Just... just don't waste your life for me. I can't afford of losing you. I might get crazy thinking of you not being with me if you left or.. or breaking up with me." I finally stared back at her. I gulped. "But I'm going to die once I see you.. dead."
She hissed and let out a fake chuckle. Her one brow was up while her face down. Seconds after she looked up and looked at the other side before she gave the attention I regret having.
"Why people kept on giving me a warning about me going to die if I insisted myself to you?" She infuriated and stood up that made her startled. "You know what? I'm tired of hearing bullshits and I swear! If someone wants to kill me then.. KILL ME NOW YOU PRICKS!" She yelled as she turned around and threw her hands in the air. I breath hard and gave her a look for seconds as she started to walk away. I laid my back again and feel the air that slapped me in the face.