"Witches? What sort—the green-skinned ones, school-going ones, or—" Raine's tone dripped with sarcasm.

"This is serious, Ms. De Verra," Eteri replied, unfazed. "My employer's concerned about the recent serial killings in the city. Something’s afoot, and they are certain of it."

"Desperate, I see. Plenty of private investigators out there—they could even hire someone from other cities or anywhere in the Philippines," Raine countered. "Why me?"

"Simple—it’s a matter of trust, Ms. Raine. And please, don't betray that," Eteri warned. "Now, do you remember the victim from last Monday? The report’s in, and it suggests she may have died from a ritual gone awry."

"What? The woman couldn't have died from something personal, like health issues?" Zane questioned.

"Pathology reports show she was in perfect health. No drugs, no poison," Eteri replied.

"And where did you dig up that information?" Zane asked, eyebrows raised.

"My employer isn’t one to be trifled with," Eteri responded coolly.

"Suit yourself," Zane muttered. "Anyway, maybe it was a bangungot—a bad dream so intense it can stop the heart. People sometimes don’t even have a chance to wake up to call for help."

"Some articles debunk that theory, Mr. Nuñez," Eteri replied, her tone unyielding. "They claim it lacks scientific evidence." Raine shifted uncomfortably, the familiar sting of being outsmarted creeping in.

"Better than your theories of bruhas, mangkukulam, mambabarang, and aswangs," Raine muttered under her breath.

Zane interjected, leaning forward. "Since we're tossing theories around, why do you believe witchcraft is involved?"

Eteri took a measured breath. "Listen, I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but I’m convinced this was witchcraft. This wasn’t just an ordinary death. There are forces at work here, forces beyond what we can see."

"Is this your employer speaking, or is it you?" Raine asked, eyes narrowing.

"To be honest, I don’t believe in the supernatural. Neither does my employer," Eteri replied.

"And who exactly is this employer of yours?" Zane pressed.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Nuñez, but I can’t say. I gave my word," Eteri said firmly.

"Then why are you here, Ms. Magallanes? I’d wager you’re meeting someone after this, aren’t you?" Raine challenged.

Eteri paused, momentarily taken aback. "What? How did you—?"

"That golden ring, for starters. It's new and polished, yet you keep fiddling with it—classic sign someone’s aware it's being noticed. And then there’s the little touch-up with your cardigan and makeup... clearly trying to impress someone," Raine observed.

Eteri glanced down, a faint blush colouring her cheeks. "You’re right. I have a... meeting. But it's only a friend," she murmured.

"Alright, no more sidetracks," Raine said, folding her arms. "Now, why are you here? Let’s go back to the beginning, Miss Magallanes."

"I'm neither confirming nor dismissing the mangkukulam theory. I just want to shed light on the situation," Eteri replied.

"If you’ve already seen the victim—Amara—she was researching strange things for the stories she was writing, wasn’t she? And there’s that odd atmosphere surrounding it all."

Eteri took a deep breath, feeling the gravity of the moment settle. "Yes, she’d been researching old Filipino rituals and superstitions. Obsessed, really," she admitted. "I met her before at one of the libraries. She was one of our loyal customers… or, well, she used to be."

Eteri glanced around, her voice dropping to a near whisper. "But Amara wasn’t just interested in folklore. She believed someone had cast a spell on her."

Raine leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "A spell? That’s rather grave. What made her think that?"

"She said she’d been seeing things—shadows shifting when no one else was around, voices murmuring her name in the dead of night. And the scents… strange smells filling her home even with the windows shut. Incense, herbs—the sort used in rituals," Eteri explained quietly.

"The same smell I noticed when we entered the room," Raine murmured, eyes narrowing as she replayed the scene in her mind.

"Did she have any enemies? Anyone with reason to harm her?" Zane asked. "If this involves mangkukulams, that could be the motive. Dark magic might explain her death—though, as a science teacher, I can’t claim it without evidence."

Eteri hesitated, gaze dropping. "I... I think so, but it’s hard to put into words. According to the files, Amara was sensitive, but she wasn’t paranoid," she said quietly.

"Have you interviewed those close to her?" Raine asked.

"She’s new to the area, just moved here a few months ago," Eteri replied. "According to her files, she didn’t have many friends, but she did make one—someone who lives near her home. The police conducted the interview. If you need further details, that’s up to you and your companion."

Zane nodded. "Do go on."

"Her friend mentioned that Amara kept saying she felt like she was being watched. She even started carrying charms with her—things meant to ward off spirits."

Zane exchanged a glance with Raine before turning back to Eteri. "What’s the connection between this person and your employer, the one you keep mentioning?"

"Can’t say," Eteri replied. "But all I can tell you is that once you uncover what’s happening in this city, you’ll be greatly rewarded. The police won’t touch anything that reeks of witchcraft or the supernatural. They’d just laugh it off. But… I needed to speak to someone who would listen and whom we can trust."

Zane nodded, his expression thoughtful. "We’ll look into it. You did the right thing coming here, Ms. Eteri. Whatever happened to Amara, we’ll uncover the truth."

"Thank you. But please, be careful," Eteri warned. "We're dealing with invisible forces here."

"Well, witchcraft, a mysterious employer who wants to remain anonymous, and a woman who believed she was cursed. Quite the case," Raine mused. "Oh, I do hope this isn't like those dull cases I handled before. They're just not entertaining at all.”

"And we still have the aswang murder case on our hands. Is it wrapped up yet?" Zane asked.

"Maybe this new case is connected to it. Who knows?" Raine replied.

Zane nodded slowly. "Indeed. And if there's even a chance this employer is tied to the government, we may be treading dangerous waters. We should tread lightly but dig deeper."

"I shall go now," Eteri said, rising from the sofa.

"Have a wonderful romantic weekend," Raine remarked.

"Just going for a meeting, no biggie," Eteri said as she made her way to the door.

"Have it your way," Raine murmured.

"Goodbye, Ms. Eteri," Zane added with a smile. "It’s nice to meet you again!"

It wasn’t long before Raine rose from her seat, a smile of enjoyment on her face. "Tell me everything you know about Filipino versions of witches," she said.

"Well, if Andrea were here, she'd be more knowledgeable—it’s her area of expertise," Zane replied.

"Then ask her. But don’t mention we’re working on a case," Raine advised.

"Why?"

"Again... privacy," Raine answered.

Zane took out his phone, and for several moments, he and Andrea exchanged text messages while Raine scoured the internet for information on the victim.

"Here's what I found out. According to Ms. Mercado, in Filipino folklore, there are two types you might hear about—the mangkukulam and the mambabarang. Both are feared in rural communities, but they’re distinct," Zane explained, his eyes scanning the text messages he’d received. "A mangkukulam is a type of witch or sorcerer who uses curses to harm others. They’re known for casting spells with chants, symbols, or candles—simple tools, really, but they supposedly call on supernatural forces."

"And a mambabarang? Is it the same thing?" Raine asked, jotting down notes on her laptop. "I need to make a note of that, too."

Zane shook his head. "Worse. Much worse. A mambabarang is considered an even darker sorcerer," he replied. "Instead of just casting spells, they supposedly use insects—beetles or worms—to infest the bodies of their victims. The creatures crawl inside, causing excruciating pain or a slow death. A mambabarang is believed to be far more dangerous and vindictive."

Raine shuddered slightly, as if the image had taken hold of her mind. "Insects… inside someone’s body? That’s grotesque. And people actually believe this is real?" she asked, incredulous.

"Grotesque?" Zane asked, trying to make sense of the word.

"Bizarrre... Ugly," Raine clarified.

Zane nodded, his voice steady. "Some do. Especially in rural areas, where these stories are passed down and treated with respect. I lived in the province before moving to Manila, and our place definitely had its own stories," he explained. "For those who believe, the effects are very real—even if there’s no curse, the fear alone can take hold of their minds."

Raine sighed, her gaze drifting around the quiet hallway as she continued to type the information. "Alright, so Amara might have genuinely believed one of these curses was cast on her,” she said. “Miss Eteri’s story is clearly incomplete. If she’s not directly involved with Amara’s case and her mysterious employer, then what’s her real angle here?"

"Can't you just deduce it?" Zane jested.

"I know I’m bad at inductive reasoning, Mr. Nuñez," she replied.

"O…kay. Now, Eteri’s interest in this might not be personal—it could be part of something bigger," Zane continued. "Maybe she and her secret employer are probing into hidden aspects of the city, looking for patterns or mysteries people want to keep buried. It’s possible that the two of them are more involved in this ‘curse’ than she’s letting on… or perhaps she’s using it as a cover for their own ends."

Raine nodded slowly, considering. "So, this could be more than just a superstition case after all," she said. "I’m beginning to enjoy this!"

“What do we do next? You want me to help you, right?” Zane asked.

“You want to?”

“I have a pretty free schedule this weekend… why not?” Zane replied.

“Great!” Raine beamed. “Do you want to do a little travelling?”

“Where’s the place again?” he asked.

“Somewhere in the nearest municipality in Nueva Aurora province,” Raine answered.

However, back in the same municipality, the friend of the latest victim, whom Eteri had mentioned, sat at the dining table in her humble yet spacious home. Betty and her husband, Mr. Aaron Suarez, were having breakfast with their school-aged child, a young boy.

“And what does your morning threaten, sweetheart?” Aaron asked, sipping his coffee. “Your friends spreading fake news about our family again? Lots of people owe you money?”

Betty cut herself a bite of fried tilapia and lifted it to her mouth with rice. “No, my dear,” she replied.

Aaron chuckled. “Why the long face, then?”

Betty set down her fork and spoon. “I found this letter early this morning, placed beside our gate. It has no sender or recipient—just the address: Santa Clara, District of Entiera,” she replied, pulling a scarlet-coloured letter from the drawer.

Aaron slit it open and froze, staring at the contents in horror.

“What is it?” Betty asked.

“To whom is this really for, sweetheart?” he asked, his voice tight.

“Aaron? What does it say?” Betty pressed, her concern growing.

Betty walked closer to her husband, gently pulling the envelope from his hands. She tipped the contents into her palm and noticed a single red rose petal inside.

“What does this mean?” she tried to jest. “You got a lover?”

She chuckled, but her laughter faltered when she saw Aaron’s appalled expression as he looked up at her.

“Death,” he replied, his voice thick with horror.

“What?” Betty asked, her voice trembling.

“This means death,” Aaron answered grimly. “Someone might die.”

Aaron’s eyes were filled with tears, but he quickly composed himself, attempting to laugh as he glanced at their curious child.

“Er, nothing. It’s, er, nothing. I was… messing around,” he said, his voice strained.

He placed the envelope and the petal on the table, and Betty, her concern growing, reached down to take her husband’s face in her hands.

“Carry on. We don’t want to keep our food waiting,” Aaron continued, forcing a smile as he tried to mask the fear that gripped him.