Ericka found herself once again in a dense forest—her ability had led her here. She was seeing visions again. Flashes. Pictures.
She saw a woman.
Isabel? The name echoed in her mind. She walked forward until she came upon a pool of blood. There stood Isabel—her hands soaked in crimson, clutching a sharp knife.
Ericka's gaze followed the trail of blood… until she saw Thalia—riddled with stab wounds, her lifeless eyes staring straight at Isabel.
Ericka gasped.
A sudden gunshot rang out. She saw her own body collapse beside Thalia's.
She woke up, gasping for breath.
What was that? A vision? A warning? Her whole body was drenched in sweat. The dream lingered heavily in her mind.
She looked around. They were still at a friend's house, lying on makeshift beds. Ruth stirred beside her.
"What happened?" Ruth asked, noticing her distress.
Ericka swallowed hard. "We need to find Thalia."
Ruth blinked, startled by her urgency. "You traveled again, didn't you?"
Ericka nodded. Ruth had always known about her ability.
"I thought you'd moved on from that," Ruth whispered.
"What did you see?" she asked, concern deepening in her voice.
Ericka looked down, confused and shaken. "I don't understand… why Isabel is involved in all of this."
Ruth frowned. "Isabel? Isabel Fuentes?"
Ericka nodded again—and just then, her head throbbed painfully. Her ability was surging.
"I'll get you some water—you look pale," Ruth said, quickly getting up and heading toward the kitchen.
As Ruth left, Ericka saw Ellese and Felisa approach her. She didn't flinch. She was used to spirits by now—it had become second nature.
"Be careful who you trust," Ellese warned. "Not everyone you meet is who they seem to be."
Then she vanished.
Felisa remained a moment longer. "Be careful, Ericka. If you want justice for Jasmin, trust only yourself… and Ruth."
The name Jasmin pierced through her heart. Every time she heard it, a wave of guilt would hit her again.
Felisa, too, disappeared like a wisp of smoke.
Suddenly, her spirit was transported elsewhere—back to the hut. She saw it unfold like a scene in a movie: a young woman speaking to a man in a black jacket and hood… lifeless bodies scattered across the floor… personal belongings abandoned… women screaming as members of the organization dragged them from the hidden basement.
Ericka's heart raced.
Two girls were being abducted. They weren't even on the organization's radar. One of them… Isabel.
Was she involved in the disappearances? The doubts in her mind deepened.
Then she saw the warehouse.
She gasped—there was a man confronting Isabel. She recognized him.
Where have I seen him before?
Her memory clicked.
Sir Jake. That's the man Sir Jake talked to back in the forest.
Ericka kept watching—this man was letting the captured women into the warehouse.
A wave of fear crept over her. Something about this place—about this warehouse—felt horribly wrong. Even through her spiritual journey, the chill it gave her was real.
She took a cautious step forward—but a voice called out her name.
Suddenly, she was back in reality—in Gerald's house. The light was warm and gentle. Her childhood friend looked at her with worry.
"Ericka, are you okay?" Ruth asked, rushing to her side.
Laica handed her a handkerchief and gently wiped the blood now trickling from her nose. Her pajamas were soaked in it.
Ruth wrapped ice in a towel and pressed it to her forehead. It wasn't the first time this had happened—sometimes her journeys took too much out of her.
Ericka stayed quiet, embarrassed by the care she was receiving. Still, her body slowly calmed down. The images kept flooding her thoughts.
I need to talk to Thalia. I need to understand these visions.
That certainty was the only thing grounding her.
"It's okay, Auntie. Thank you," she said softly, holding the handkerchief to her head.
"Don't apologize, dear. Gerald, stay here with them," Ruth's mother instructed.
Gerald simply nodded. Laica stepped out to let her rest.
Her childhood friend sat beside her. "You traveled again, didn't you?"
She nodded.
There was so much to say, but she didn't know where to begin. Her mind was overwhelmed by everything she had seen.
At least the nosebleed had stopped. She removed the ice and slowly stood.
"Get dressed first," Gerald said, walking out of the room to give her privacy.
Now alone, Ericka rummaged through her bag for clean clothes. She looked down at the blood-stained pajamas and sighed.
I need to talk to Thalia. I need to know if what I saw is true.
That thought repeated in her mind like a prayer.