Chapter LXIII: Potestas Conquiescamus
Adrian takes a tricycle ride to his friend's house, heading towards the sitio of Poblacion del Oeste, still within Ciudad Fernandina. The road is familiar, passing by the Cemetery Chapel and the well-known Bulevar de Liberacio. His mind is clouded with thoughts of Bennett, and the anticipation of tonight's rescue mission makes his heartbeat slightly faster.
As the tricycle stops in front of a modest but well-kept house, Adrian pays the fare and steps down. He walks towards the door, knocking lightly before pushing it open. The moment he steps inside, he is immediately caught off guard by a sudden movement—
A little girl armed with an arnis stick stands in a defensive stance, her sharp eyes locked on Adrian.
Startled, Adrian takes a step back before realizing who it is.
"Martha?" he says, raising an eyebrow.
The girl smirks, spinning the arnis stick in her hand before lowering it. "Adrian," she greets. "You're late."
Despite being the same age as him, Martha's short height always makes her seem much younger. But Adrian knows better. Behind that small frame is a girl sharper than most.
He sighs, shaking his head as he enters. "I'm just here to get some rest before heading to Colegio Metropolitana de San Pablo tonight."
Martha's playful demeanor fades slightly as she leans the arnis stick against the wall. "So, how's the case of Bennett going?"
Adrian sits down on the couch, rubbing his temple. "We're getting closer. We're planning to rescue him tonight."
Martha crosses her arms, intrigued. "You guys have seen him?"
Adrian hesitates, looking down. "Not physically," he admits. "But he's reached out to us—spiritually. In dreams. It's like… he's calling for help." He sighs, frustration evident in his voice. "But that's not enough. We need to find him, for real."
Martha watches him quietly before stepping forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You'll find him," she says firmly. "You and the others won't stop until you do."
Adrian gives a small smile at her confidence, but his mind remains troubled.
Martha, noticing this, tilts her head. "You know," she begins, "I wouldn't be surprised if Ivan's behind all of this."
Adrian's eyes snap open. "What?"
Martha shrugs. "I've noticed it a long time ago. Ivan's whole personality is a show. Flashy, flamboyant, always in the spotlight. But does he ever genuinely thank God? Does he serve out of faith, or just for appearances?" She shakes her head. "The guy reeks of deception. Social media makes him look like a saint, but in reality? He's far from it. And I just have this gut feeling—he's up to something big."
Adrian nods slowly. "You're not the only one who thinks that."
Martha gives him a knowing look. "Then trust your instincts. If he's involved, you'll find out soon enough."
She sees the exhaustion in his eyes and softens her tone. "But for now, you need rest. You'll need your energy tonight."
Adrian lets out a small chuckle. "Bossy as ever, huh?"
Martha grins. "Someone's gotta keep you in check."
She helps him settle into a comfortable position on the couch, draping a blanket over him. Adrian closes his eyes, willing himself to sleep despite the anticipation buzzing in his mind.
Tonight, everything will change. He can feel it.
At Colegio Metropolitana de San Pablo, while most of the students are engaged in sports like badminton and basketball, Liz and Wyn sit quietly at the Founder's Park, their eyes fixed on their phones. The air is thick with anticipation as they chat about what will happen later that night.
"We need to make sure everything is in place," Liz whispers, typing quickly on her phone.
Wyn nods, glancing up briefly before typing back. "Where are the items?"
"Inside the tent, locked. And the tent itself is locked," Liz reassures her.
However, just as she is about to verify the final details of the plan, a whisper echoes in her head. It is Bennett's voice.
"Be careful of your surroundings. Eleven o'clock."
Liz stiffens but does not raise her head directly. Instead, she shifts her eyes subtly toward the indicated direction. Her heart pounds as she notices something disturbing—the statue of the Founder staring at them with an eerie gaze.
She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a rosary, clutching it tightly. As soon as she does, the Founder's eye shifts back to its normal, lifeless form.
Wyn notices her reaction. "What was that?" she asks in a hushed tone.
Liz exhales sharply. "The Founder's eye—it was watching us. Bennett warned me."
Wyn's eyes widen, but she remains composed. "It's gone now?"
Liz nods, gripping the rosary as though it anchors her to reality. Now that the strange presence has disappeared, they resume their whispered discussion.
Liz leans in. "We will team up and start from the northern staircase. Adrian will be at the southern staircase."
"Does he know that?" Wyn asks.
"It's common sense. The gate is closer to the southern staircase. He will figure it out," Liz responds, her tone steady with confidence.
As the church bell chimes for 12 noon, Bro. Padilla calls the students for lunch. The group gathers as he blesses the food, which has been freshly prepared by the cafeteria women. The aroma of home-cooked meals fills the air, momentarily easing the tension Liz and Wyn feel.
They take their seats and begin eating. Bro. Padilla smiles at them. "Wyn, Liz, are you having fun?"
Liz swallows her food and nods politely. "Yes, Brother. We're enjoying camp."
Wyn quickly agrees, offering a small smile.
Bro. Padilla nods in satisfaction. "A certain someone would be really happy to hear that."
Liz stiffens slightly, knowing exactly who he is referring to—Bennett. The thought makes her chest tighten, but she keeps her expression neutral.
Meanwhile, sitting beside Bro. Padilla, Ivan pouts, his expression souring at the exchange. Liz notices but doesn't react, instead focusing on finishing her meal.
Once lunch is over, Bro. Padilla leads the prayer of thanksgiving. The students bow their heads, reciting the words in unison. As the prayer concludes, they disperse for Siesta—the traditional afternoon nap.
Liz and Wyn make their way back to their tent, constantly aware of their surroundings. As they enter, Liz locks the entrance behind them. She turns to Wyn, her voice hushed yet firm. "We need to sleep now. We have to be fully recharged for tonight."
Wyn nods but raises a finger. "Let's pray first. We need guidance."
They kneel together, clasping their hands. The tent fills with the soft murmurs of their prayer as they seek protection, strength, and clarity for the night ahead.
Once their prayer is finished, they lie down on their sleeping bags. Liz keeps the rosary close, gripping it like a lifeline. The exhaustion from the previous days catches up to them, and soon, both girls drift into a deep, yet uneasy, sleep.
The night ahead will be long, but for now, they rest.