Inside the hut, William couldn't stop glancing at the two young women he'd just rescued. His gaze shifted between them—Ericka and Chesca.
They had come dangerously close to being discovered by his companions. If it weren't for Vince and Zenne's swift actions, the girls might have stumbled into real danger.
He sighed heavily.
"What are you two doing out here in the forest?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
His eyes landed on Ericka.
"Especially you, Ericka." He flicked her forehead playfully, though concern underlined his tone.
Ericka had been a close childhood friend of his brother, Gerald.
"N—Nothing, Brother William. Just getting some air," she replied, fumbling for an excuse.
"Really? At this hour of the night, you're just out for fresh air?"
"I—I just saw Ericka," Chesca chimed in.
William nodded slightly. He remembered that Ericka and Chesca were schoolmates. Whatever story they were spinning, it needed to hold—for their own safety.
But William wasn't fooled.
He strongly suspected Ericka wasn't just here for a break. She was digging—looking for answers about her best friend Jasmin's death.
That's why he'd had Gerald quietly keep tabs on her.
He'd seen her earlier near the warehouse. She had nearly walked straight into Giovane, who was managing one of his father's secret operations.
William glanced at his watch.
2:30 a.m.
"Gerald!" he called.
His brother appeared from the hut's shadows.
"Take these two home."
Ericka blinked. "Gerald? What are you doing here?"
"I heard some noise in the woods, woke up, and saw you walking out here. So I followed you," Gerald replied casually.
It was a quick lie, but convincing enough. Ericka nodded in acceptance.
Meanwhile, Ruth—Ericka's companion—was hesitating.
"Ruth, don't you have somewhere to stay?" Ericka asked her.
"Oh no, I live nearby. It's fine," Ruth replied shyly.
"Still, stay at my place for now," Ericka insisted. "Just rest."
Gerald nodded and led them away. The two girls followed without protest.
William let out a breath.
He would have to continue pretending he didn't know Chesca—not yet. Not if it meant protecting Ericka.
He recalled the words from earlier: that Thalia and Chesca's paths would inevitably cross. And now Ericka's was entangled as well.
Three girls. One fate.
And someone else was pulling strings behind the scenes.
Still seated in the hut, William took out his phone.
He dialed Felix. The line rang for a while before a groggy voice finally picked up.
"Hello."
"Yeah," Felix said, clearly half-asleep. "Why'd you call?"
"They're here. Ericka and Chesca. Their paths have crossed."
"…Really?" Felix replied, his tone sharpening. "I guess it was inevitable."
"Yeah. Ericka's staying with us for now," William informed him. "Don't worry. I've got Gerald watching over them."
Felix paused. "Is Thalia moving already?"
William sighed.
"Vince warned her not to go near the warehouse. Gave her a map—told her to explore the area instead."
Felix responded with certainty. "She'll figure it out. Thalia's sharp like that."
"Yeah," William agreed.
"Any updates?"
"Giovane's still tangled up with his father's political rival," William said. "He's doing cleanup work ahead of the elections."
Felix exhaled. "The campaign season's going to be chaos."
"You've seen something?" William asked, lowering his voice.
Felix had a gift—one he rarely spoke of.
"There'll be unrest," Felix said flatly. "Power-hungry people don't step aside quietly. They'd rather destroy what's in front of them."
"What's your plan then?" William asked.
"I'll use the chaos to collect more evidence. The instability makes it easier to move unnoticed. I'll work alone for now."
William rubbed the back of his neck. "Just be careful, Felix. You don't know who's watching you. Don't let your guard down."
Felix didn't argue. "I know. Charles is also working in the shadows. He's calculated, quiet."
"Yeah… and his brother's a headache. Always trailing after him."
"We're being cautious, Will. Don't worry."
"Fine. I'm off to rest. I haven't slept at all."
"Alright. Keep me updated."
"Yeah."
The call ended.
Too many kids are involved in this mess.
William shook his head.
He stood from the bench, changed into his home clothes, and began his walk back toward the house.
As he passed the warehouse, he stopped for a moment. He stared at it, sighed, and moved on.
When he got home, the world was still dark. The sun hadn't risen yet—as if reluctant to pierce the silence.
Inside, his younger brother lay sleeping beneath a blanket. William moved quietly through the house.
On a nearby shelf, a photo caught his eye. It showed his youngest sister, laughing—forever frozen in a time before everything fell apart.
The image stirred a painful memory: her lifeless body, destroyed. Her laughter silenced.
If only you were here now.
I know you'd be laughing again.
He returned the photo to its place and went upstairs.
It was finally time to rest.