Ericka had finally arrived at her destination—the home of an old acquaintance of her parents. As awkward as it felt, she needed to stay here for two weeks. There was no time to waste.
Tonight, she would begin searching for a safe place—away from those lurking near the warehouse.
Ericka was truly grateful to the people who had taken her in.
"I'm sorry, Auntie Laica, for deciding to spend my semestral break here," she said softly while helping prepare dinner.
Her aunt just smiled faintly. "What are you talking about? We rarely get visitors."
That simple remark made Ericka laugh a little.
She smiled again as they prepared for dinner. Aunt Laica only had two children.
"Do we have a guest, Mom?" one of them asked curiously.
The visitor was none other than their childhood friend. They had grown up together.
"Yes, it's Ericka," said the kind-hearted Laica, turning toward her child.
"Hey, it's Ericka! Good thing you decided to visit," Gerald greeted warmly, giving her a friendly pat on the back.
"I just felt like coming here. I'm getting tired of the city, so I decided to stay in the province for a while," she replied.
"That's good to hear, Ericka," one of Laica's children chimed in.
"You're already here, William," said the other.
"Yeah, I just need to eat before my night shift," said the man in front of her.
Ericka had to be extra careful with what she said. Her parents didn't know she was here—and she wasn't staying with her grandparents, either.
"Thank you so much for welcoming me," Ericka said politely to her companions.
Gerald playfully ruffled her hair. He, her childhood friend, had another sibling. It had been two years since the lifeless body of their youngest sister was found in a nearby town. The family no longer talked about it. What happened was too painful to revisit.
Ericka's gaze fell on a photo—Faith and Gerald back when they were young. Sometimes she saw Faith in her dreams. It left her clenching her fists in frustration, helpless to do anything.
After dinner, she noticed William had already left for work. In passing moments during her travels and quiet thoughts, she often felt like she saw William—though she couldn't quite explain why.
She dismissed the feeling and stayed in the very room where the murdered woman had once lived. Oddly, it felt… comfortable. As if she was always welcome there.
Sometimes, the room showed her fleeting visions of the past—how Faith had been killed without resistance.
I see Faith. She's becoming a lost soul in this world, Ericka thought sadly, letting out a sigh.
How can I help her? she wondered. She owed this family something. She had to find a way to repay their kindness.
Find out what Faith wants to do, Ericka.
She jumped. Someone had just whispered in her ear, followed by a chilling breeze brushing past her neck.
She immediately turned around—and saw Felisa, blood covering her.
"Do you know Faith?" Ericka asked the spirit directly.
Felisa nodded in response.
It had been such a sorrowful death for Faith—crying endlessly before all her memories were lost. Even in death, she couldn't bring herself to forgive. Ericka, too, admitted she felt the sadness deeply.
"Thank you very much," she whispered to the spirit.
Just like that, Felisa vanished like a bubble bursting in the air. Ericka sighed.
No one in the house knew she had abilities. She didn't want to involve the quiet family who had given her shelter and food. She had to protect herself—no one else would do it for her.
Still, Ericka couldn't shake the feeling that she wasn't alone in this journey. Her instincts told her she would cross paths with Thalia again.
Lying down, she slowly closed her eyes.
Darkness welcomed her once again. Ericka rose and wandered through the void of light. She was used to this now.
She saw images of people speaking—but heard no sound. One man, in particular, caught her attention. He held a notebook, its pages stained with dried blood. She wasn't entirely sure, but something told her this man—and this notebook—were connected to the mystery she was meant to solve.
She awoke with a start, staring at the ceiling. She got up, checked the time on her phone, and sighed.
Almost midnight.
She had to move.
She put on a hooded jacket to protect herself from the cold. Quietly, she stepped out of the room. The house was dark and silent. She moved carefully, flashlight in hand.
She managed to open the door without making a sound. Outside, she gently shut it behind her.
She hurried off—but paused to glance back at the house. She would return. The people inside, still sound asleep, didn't know she had left.
Ericka made her way through the unfamiliar forest. Every step was cautious.
She had a purpose—and now, she was ready to begin.