As the clock struck six, the Suarezes and their guests gathered around the dining table. A spread of rice and various dishes awaited them—jackfruit cooked in coconut milk, lumpiang shanghai with sweet and sour sauce, and a plate of fried fish.

“I’m sorry if this is all I could manage—” Mrs. Betty began, only to be gently interrupted by Raine.

“No, no, don’t apologise, Mrs. Suarez. This is more than enough, and you’re very generous,” Raine assured her.

“Hold those sneaky hands, Vincent,” Mr. Aaron chided, spotting his son reaching for a lumpia. “We should pray before eating, remember?”

“Sorry, Papa,” the little boy mumbled, pulling his hand back.

“In the name of the Father…” Mrs. Suarez began, making the sign of the cross, and the others followed suit. After the prayer, they began their meal.

An unsettling quiet filled the room, each family member seemingly lost in their own thoughts. Tension simmered between the couple, casting a heavy silence over the table. Once dinner ended, Mrs. Betty moved to wash the dishes in silence, while Mr. Aaron settled in the living room, his eyes fixed on the flickering news reports. Little Vincent slipped off to the bathroom to brush his teeth, the distant sound of water the only noise in the still house.

As Raine and Zane started to head upstairs, Mr. Aaron glanced over his shoulder, his voice a low murmur. “I strongly advise you two to stay inside tonight—and don’t even think about opening a window,” he warned, peeking towards them for a moment. “There are forces out there… forces no one should dare disturb. Some of us have seen them. We’re lucky to still be alive.”

Night had settled in, the steady chirping of crickets filling the air. A cool breeze slipped through the window, rustling the curtains in the room where Raine and Zane were staying. The spacious room held a double-decker bed, each with its own mattress, and a window that offered a view of the shadowy left side of Sitio Santa Clara.

Zane slipped off his tennis shoes and sat on the lower bunk, facing the window. He pulled out his phone, its screen casting a dim glow as laughter and jests echoed from his short video clips.

“Could you lower it a bit, Mr. Nuñez?” Raine murmured, her gaze fixed outside.

Zane obliged, chuckling softly at the video. But soon his laughter faded, his attention drifting toward Raine, who stood silently by the window, her figure outlined against the dim light filtering through the glass.

“Are they all asleep by now? From your reports, how many people live around here?” Zane asked, turning off his phone.

“The whole barangay holds nearly two thousand, though I’d say this sitio has just over a hundred,” Raine replied.

“What are you looking at?” he asked, joining her at the window. Through the glass, they could see the vast fields, the scattered dots of streetlights, and the faint glow from nearby houses.

In the center of the rice fields, three small islet-like patches of land rose, each bearing a few houses, connected by a narrow pathway leading from the rice mill near the late Amara Turner’s house.

“You can see her house from here,” Zane observed. “A bit distant, but still visible due to the way the road curves around.”

“It is,” Raine murmured. “But isn’t it strange, Amara living alone? I haven’t got any information on her family. I should’ve asked my cousin.” She frowned. “What a fool I am.”

“Stop that. One simple oversight, and you’re talking nonsense?” he chided.

“The lights are out. The inspector and his crew must have finally pulled back, leaving someone new to guard the place,” Raine observed.

“What’s our next move?” Zane asked. “You’ve already mentioned your plan to the inspector.”

“Exactly—no need to raise suspicions,” Raine replied, a hint of satisfaction in her tone. “I’m only helping them.”

“Fine.”

“So, about that woman—what made you like her?” Raine asked, her tone casual.

“Who?” Zane replied, feigning ignorance.

“Ms. Mercado. The one with a fascination for history and nearly everything from the past,” Raine clarified.

“She’s talented, smart, and, above all, she has a very kind heart,” he answered simply.

Raine pulled out her phone, its screen glowing softly. Her expression shifted as she read a new message from an unknown sender. The words on the screen were brief, yet unsettling: No Clue.

“Is something troubling you?” Zane asked, his gaze fixed on her. “I swear I’ve seen you before—with a rope in your hand. Can’t remember exactly when.”

“If you’re suggesting—”

“Just hear me out,” he interrupted. “If you’re struggling, ending your life isn’t the answer.”

Raine raised an eyebrow, a smile of disbelief crossing her face. “Ending my life? What on earth are you on about? Have you gone mad?”

“The clues are all there,” Zane insisted, unfazed.

“Oh, really?” Raine challenged, crossing her arms. “Go on, then. Enlighten me.”

“You stepped on that chair, set everything up, and when you were about to, well, do the deed, the ceiling gave way and the chair toppled. A failed attempt at taking your life,” Zane deduced, his serious tone only making Raine burst out laughing.

“You’ve gone too far this time!” she chuckled. “I told you, it was just an experiment. This case involves a peculiar knot on a hanging rope, and I was curious about its purpose. Then you barged in, making me second-guess my hypothesis and somehow convinced the others it’s some dark magic nonsense.”

“Well, perhaps you should believe me now,” Zane replied, a smirk forming.

“I still don’t,” Raine retorted, crossing her arms with a defiant grin.

“Oh, really? Are you truly this cold-hearted?” Zane asked, his irritation seeping through. “Why are you even like this?”

“If you’d kindly hand me my dart gun,” she replied coolly, “I’ve got this sudden urge to use it right here in this very room.”

“Oh, shut up,” Zane huffed. “Do you have some kind of problem or what?”

In her mind, flashes of light and the blare of sirens erupted. A crash echoed, sharp and distant, pulling her back to the present. Her gaze softened, a tear barely restrained as she murmured, “Mum?” Her eyes fixed on the window, yet in her imagination, a woman’s figure appeared briefly, fading like smoke.

“You really do have issues,” Zane muttered under his breath, half to himself.

Raine slung her bag over her shoulder, pushed open the window, and stepped onto the terrace that connected to the master bedroom.

“What are you up to now?” Zane muttered, his voice laced with worry.

Raine didn’t respond. She moved toward a narrow metal staircase that led downstairs, only to find it locked. Undeterred, she pulled out her toolkit, selecting a universal key, and with a deft click, unlocked the gate. She descended quietly, her footsteps light as shadows, vanishing down the stairs.

Zane lingered, glancing nervously at the closed bedroom doors, imagining the Suarezes’ reaction if they discovered their guest sneaking out in the dead of night. He watched as Raine passed a broken wooden fence, slipping uphill along a winding pathway. The glow of her phone’s flashlight bobbed faintly, casting eerie shadows as she made her way further into the darkness.

Zane stood frozen for a moment, wrestling with his thoughts. What should I do now? I can’t just— His internal debate was cut short when a dog’s howl pierced the silence.

“Oh, Lord. Oh, no,” he muttered under his breath.

A shiver ran down his spine as he quickly made the sign of the cross, whispering fervent prayers to protect his loved ones from the danger he believed the howling dog had warned of. Each word was hurried, almost desperate, as he sought some kind of safety in ritual.

With a steadying breath, he took a hesitant step forward, resolving to trace Raine’s steps. He pulled his phone from his pocket, its torch casting a dim light that barely pierced the vast, shadowy night.

“Raine…” he whispered urgently, barely audibly, fearful that the sound of his voice would draw the attention of any wandering dogs or worse, something more sinister lurking nearby.

He pressed on, the eerie metallic thrumming vibrating through the air. He paused, turning his phone’s torch towards the source of the sound. Just as he moved to continue, the thrumming echoed once more.

The sound persisted, now joined by sharp metallic pings. Zane crept closer, then let out a quiet chuckle upon spotting a tin can among the litter of fallen leaves and discarded trash. Water dripped from a tree above, striking the can and creating the rhythmic thrums and pings.

Just as Zane exhaled in relief, a massive shape flashed past behind him, accompanied by the unmistakable beat of large wings.

Zane spun around, his gaze darting, but the creature had vanished. Just as he prepared to resume his search for Raine, an anguished, animalistic howl echoed from the distance. John’s heart raced as he turned, rushing to find his friend.

Meanwhile, Raine made her way up the steep, slippery hill, each careful step taking her closer to the summit. When she reached the top, she flicked her torch around, casting light over the area below—the houses of Amara’s two neighbours, their windows darkened for the night. As she scanned the surroundings, her eyes caught the massive prints scattered across the ground, their destination unsettling.

Zane sprinted towards Raine, each stride fueled by urgency. A second, longer howl pierced the air. Raine lifted her torch towards the source, her breath catching as the beam illuminated something enormous hovering just above her. The sound of wings flapping filled the air, but the darkness obscured the creature's form, leaving her rooted in place, too stunned to move as it disappeared into the night. Bewilderment clouded her features as she tried to process what she had just witnessed.

"Here you are!" Zane’s voice broke through the tension, causing Raine to jump. She lowered her head, her mind still reeling, unable to reconcile the monstrous sight with reality.

Raine glanced around, shaking her head, then descended the hill, retracing their steps.

"Did you hear that flapping?" Zane asked, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Raine stormed past him without a word, his footsteps quickening as he followed.

"It was nothing," she said, her pace quickening further. "Probably just an animal." She masked the tremor in her voice, her fear tightly bottled inside.

"You saw something?"

"No!" Raine snapped, her words sharp. "I didn’t."

"But you must have heard something strange," Zane pressed.

Raine stopped abruptly, her frustration boiling over. "Stop. Just stop. Let’s head to the house where we’re staying and we’ll continue solving this mystery tomorrow." With that, they returned, and she locked the terrace stairs behind them.

Once inside, Raine hurried upstairs and collapsed onto her bed, sweat beading on her forehead.

"I was terrified," Zane admitted, drawing the curtains closed and securing the window. "I honestly thought there was something out there."

Raine clasped her hands tightly, her eyes squeezed shut as she tried to steady her breath. Her heart raced as she clutched a pillow to her lap, fighting off the panic threatening to overwhelm her.

"Thankfully, it was just the trash," Zane said, trying to lighten the mood. "I can’t believe they’re burning plastic with the fallen leaves."

He paused when he noticed how distressed Raine looked, her posture tense. Putting his phone away, he stood and turned to face her as she leaned against the wall near the window.

"That flappy thing still has me rattled," he added, his voice edging with unease.

Raine exhaled another shaky breath, causing Zane to glance over at her, his brow furrowing in concern.

"Are you—"

"There was something," Raine began, her voice trembling. "A person, maybe."

"I'm sorry, what?" Zane blinked, struggling to process her words.

"The person was floating," Raine continued, her voice shaky but firm. "Hovering above me with huge black wings. The rest of it was pitch black, and then it just... flew away."

"What are you—"

"Don't you get it, Mr. Nuñez?" Raine interrupted, her frustration breaking through. "I saw something! Maybe the same thing Mr. Aaron was talking about earlier!"