"Come now, little brat. Do you really think you can take the three of us on?" the silver-haired girl taunted, her sly smile laced with menace. Even though her tone was playful, I couldn't shake the palpable sense of danger radiating from her.

"Leave my brother alone. I will not let you take him away!" I shouted, planting my feet firmly despite the tremor in my voice.

"Makisig, you need to trust us. This is for the best," the gentle-looking girl said softly, her voice a soothing balm against the tension. "Someday, when the truth is clear to you, you'll understand why we must do this."

"Hiraya, you know this isn't how we operate," Rajah interjected with a tone of authority. "We don't owe a civilian any explanations. Protocol dictates our actions, and any interference with our mission must be dealt with immediately and decisively. No exceptions."

"But he's not a threat, Rajah. We already established that," the girl called Hiraya argued, her tone firm yet compassionate. "Can't you spare him some mercy? Even Apo would understand."

I could feel Hiraya's sincerity, but I couldn't bring myself to fully trust any of them. They seemed relentless in their intent to take my brother, and I couldn't let them succeed. And though the night had already been filled with bizarre events, an unshakable feeling told me that things were about to get even stranger.

"If that's the case, let's settle this as a tribe," Rajah declared, turning to Mayari. "You'll break the tie. I favor eliminating the obstacle before us, while Hiraya suggests otherwise. What's your take?"

Rajah's dislike for me was evident, but Mayari was an entirely different beast. Her playful demeanor masked something far more unsettling.

Mayari tilted her head, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "Hmm, he already knows too much about us. Maybe we should just... get rid of him altogether?"

Her words sent an icy chill down my spine. Get rid of me? Did she mean what I feared?

"Mayari!" Hiraya scolded, her voice sharp with disapproval.

"Relax, I'm just messing around," Mayari replied with a light giggle, though her eyes gleamed with something far darker. She leaned closer, her gaze locking onto mine with chilling intensity. "Or am I?"

The playfulness vanished from her tone as her right eye began to glow an intense red, illuminating the darkness like a burning ember. Her gaze was predatory, like that of a wild beast cornering its prey. Her presence oozed danger—a cold, calculated killer.

My legs buckled, and I fell into a sitting position as she closed the distance between us. Trembling, I watched as she crouched down gracefully, her face descending toward mine. Her clawed hand reached out, lifting my chin gently yet firmly. I felt like a trapped animal, powerless to escape. Yet amidst my fear, I found myself drawn to the unsettling beauty of her glowing scarlet eye, its vivid hue mesmerizing me as if I were under a spell.

"What... what are you?" I stammered, my voice trembling with both terror and awe.

She smiled, her expression filled with dark amusement.

"Some call us heroes, others the devil incarnate. They say we bring salvation, while others fear us like the angel of death. But in the end, what we are is up to you to decide. The real question is... can you trust a monster with your life?"

Her words sent a shiver through me, conjuring fragmented memories of news reports and cryptic stories about shadowy figures operating in the dead of night.

"Are you... what they call the Shadows?" I managed to ask, recalling the strange man on TV who had raved about creatures lurking in the darkness. At the time, I'd dismissed him as a lunatic. Now, faced with Mayari and the others, the possibility seemed disturbingly real.

She chuckled, low and mocking. "Ah yes, the Shadows. Strange creatures that haunt your nights, wrapped in mystery and fear. It's a fitting name, though hardly accurate. But trust me on this, little boy—whatever you've read or heard about us barely scratches the surface. Words can't capture the truth of what we are. And if you're lucky, you'll never have to find out."

Her expression darkened, the playful glint replaced by an ominous edge.

"Listen up, little brat. We're here for your brother, whether you like it or not. I can't promise what'll happen to him, but if you behave and act like the good little boy I know you can be, I'll let you walk away in one piece. Maybe I'll even toss you some candy as a parting gift. Sound like a deal, pumpkin?"

Her mocking tone ignited a fury in me, but my helplessness stung even more. I hated the idea of surrendering, of letting them treat me like a weak, clueless child. But looking at the three of them, I knew there was no way I could stand against them.

Before I could respond, I heard heavy, ragged breathing behind me. I turned to look for my brother, but he was gone. In his place stood a monstrous figure with glowing eyes and fangs that made the Amalanhigs seem harmless.

The creature rose to its full height, its grotesque features morphing as scales covered its body and long, pointed ears jutted from its head. Its resemblance to my brother was faint, but undeniable.

A guttural roar tore through the night, echoing across the park. I was paralyzed as its glowing eyes locked onto me, filled with fury and malice. Gone were the warmth and care I'd always known. What stood before me now was a terrifying being consumed by rage.

I braced myself as its claws, gleaming like deadly daggers, slashed through the air, closing in on me with ruthless intent. Frozen with fear, my breath hitched as I stared into the face of my doom.

Author's Note:

Apo — this name can be used to refer to any elder person or ancestor, signifying respect for someone older and wiser. Furthermore, Apo can also denote the highest mountain in the Philippines, known as 'Mount Apo'.