Thalia's phone rang while she was resting inside the small house where she currently stayed. She immediately checked who the caller was.
Her brows furrowed as she answered.
"Sister?" she greeted.
"Thalia," Jenny said, concern lacing her voice.
"Are you okay, sis?" Thalia asked, sensing something wrong.
"Thalia, have you talked to Vince?" Her older brother's voice came through next.
"W—What is it, brother? Vince is still busy," she replied, puzzled by their tone.
"Ah, Vince… I swear, I'm really going to kick you," her brother muttered.
Thalia frowned. "Is that your brother?" Vince asked, noticing her expression.
She nodded. "Big brother wants to talk to you," she said, handing the phone over.
Vince took it wordlessly. Thalia remained in the room.
What will Vince say to him? she wondered silently.
"I was going to tell Thalia, but you just called out of the blue," Vince said, slightly annoyed. He scratched his head. "Alright, alright, can you forgive me now?"
Thalia's curiosity deepened.
"So, why did you call?" Vince asked, his tone suddenly serious.
Thalia got up from the bed. Something about the atmosphere changed. She sensed Vince knew more than he was letting on.
She watched him closely as he hung up and returned the phone to her with a solemn expression.
Vince sighed. "The ability really does run in our family. I don't know which of our ancestors passed it down, but it's... not a gift."
Ability? I never said I had any ability, Thalia thought, staring at him in surprise.
Vince sat down on the monoblock chair. "I know why you're here, Thalia," he said. "You came to uncover the truth hidden in your dreams, right?"
Thalia swallowed before speaking. She cleared her throat. "Brother, do you also have… abilities?"
"I can't lie to you. Yes, I do," he confessed.
"If you know why I'm here, then you also know what I'm searching for."
"Yes," Vince replied simply.
He paused, sighed deeply, then added, "To be honest, I'm a member of that organization."
Thalia stared at him. Had she heard that right? Was Vince truly part of the same organization Fernan had been involved in?
"They're killing people, Vince! Do you even know what's going on in that organization?" she shouted, standing up, overwhelmed.
Vince let out another sigh. "That's exactly why I hesitated to tell you."
Thalia trembled. She was afraid to ask, but she had to know. "Does my big brother Felix know about this too?"
"Yes. He's our contact on the outside. Right now, the organization is in chaos, Thalia. And your choice to come here... shocked me. Now that you know, will you still continue?"
"Why did my brother get involved?" she asked, finally sitting down as tension settled in her chest.
"Thalia," Vince began gently, "Felix did it to investigate whether your parents' deaths were truly accidents. That's when he discovered that Fernan had joined the organization—because it was his way of putting food on the table."
"But Fernan never killed anyone," he added quickly. "His only job was to dispose of the bodies. The others… they were the real monsters."
"Instead of going to the police, Felix chose to stay close—he became our informant. Fernan has also been looking for others within the group who feel the same guilt we do."
He stared at her again. "Can you forgive Fernan, Thalia?"
"It shouldn't be this way," she muttered. "We can't take justice into our own hands."
Vince let out a dry laugh. "It's easy for you to say that now, Thalia. But you're here seeking truth—and I know you'll uncover even more."
He leaned forward. "I'll ask again. Will you continue?"
She didn't answer right away, but the decision burned within her.
"I have to continue what I started. My ability... and Jasmin's too... they won't let me rest," she said quietly.
"Stubbornness runs deep in our blood," Vince muttered, shaking his head. "If that's what you truly want, then listen closely: be wary of their traps, Thalia. I can't save you—even if your brother asked me to look after you. You're on your own."
He handed her a map.
"Study that," he instructed. "It outlines the entire forest area."
She looked closely and noticed marks. "What do these crosses and check marks mean?"
"The crosses mark danger zones—for people like us. The checks are safe places. Once you reach a checked area, look for a small hut. Use the codename 'Beta.' Say the phrase I gave you."
Thalia nodded, absorbing every word.
"You can move around at night or in the early morning. But whatever you do, don't go to the warehouse," Vince warned.
Her hand trembled slightly. She knew what he meant.
"Don't worry," Vince said gently, ruffling her hair. "I'll do my best to guide you through this jungle."
She nodded again.
"By the way," Vince added, "I saw in a premonition—you'll be with Chesca and another woman."
The name hit her like a wave. Chesca? Ruth?
"Your paths will cross again, Thalia."
She didn't reply. She simply nodded, uncertain how she would face Chesca again—whenever that time came.