Chapter LIV: Plan
Liz blinks awake, her dream still vivid in her mind. The warmth of Bennett's embrace, the flickering monitor showing his past, and the deep conviction in his words all linger in her thoughts. She takes a deep breath, stretching her arms before sitting up.
The room is quiet, save for the faint sounds of birds chirping outside. Realizing she has overslept slightly, Liz quickly gets out of bed and makes her way downstairs, the scent of breakfast wafting from the kitchen.
Her grandma is already there, setting the table.
"Good morning, hija. You look like you had a deep sleep," her grandma observes, glancing at her.
Liz nods, offering a small smile. "Good morning, Abuelita." She takes a seat, grabbing a plate. "Yeah, I had… a lot to think about."
Her grandma hums knowingly, but doesn't pry further. Instead, she serves her a portion of warm rice and dried fish. Liz eats quietly, her thoughts still wrapped around her dream and what it could mean.
After breakfast, Liz heads to the bathroom for a quick bath, letting the cool water wake her up completely. By the time she's dressed and ready, her grandma is already waiting for her at the door.
"Let's go, hija. We have a lot to do today."
They head out to Ciudad Fernandina, a trip Liz takes with a renewed sense of determination. While the errands they run are the usual ones, there is something different about Liz's demeanor. She is more mindful, more reflective. Her grandma notices but says nothing, simply watching her with a proud glint in her eyes.
Upon arriving at school, Liz makes her way to the classroom, where Wyn is already waiting. As expected, Wyn greets her with her usual teasing grin.
"Look who finally made it! Thought you got lost on the way."
Liz rolls her eyes but takes her seat beside Wyn. As break time approaches, the two of them head to the cafeteria to grab snacks. They find a quiet corner to sit, munching on their food as the students around them chat animatedly.
After a few minutes, Liz turns to Wyn, her expression more serious than usual. "Have you ever asked yourself, what if you hadn't changed from your old self?"
Wyn quirks a brow, then smirks. "You mean, like, if I was still the same old Wyn from years ago? Probably would've been the most feared person here." She laughs, but when she notices Liz's unwavering gaze, she clears her throat. "Okay, you're serious about this."
Liz nods. "Yeah, I really want to know. What do you think?"
Wyn leans back, thinking. "Honestly? It would've been ridiculous. No improvement at all, just stuck in the same loop, doing the same things. No growth, no lessons learned."
Liz absorbs her words, then shifts in her seat. "And… what about me?"
Wyn pauses mid-bite, blinking. "What do you mean?"
Liz sighs. "If I hadn't changed at all… if I was still my old self."
Wyn doesn't answer immediately. Instead, memories rush to her mind—memories of Liz's past self. The time she cursed at an old man on the street, the time she snapped at her grandma with such venom that Wyn had to step in, and worst of all, the way she treated Bennett.
The sharpness in her words, the coldness in her actions—it all replays in Wyn's head like a bad dream.
Snapping out of the flashback, Wyn forces a chuckle. "Oh, you know… it would've been...fine."
Liz narrows her eyes at her. "You're being sarcastic."
Wyn sighs, setting down her drink. "Fine, you got me. It would've been chaotic. I don't even want to imagine it. But you did change, and that's what matters. And you know why you changed?"
Liz stays quiet, waiting for her to continue.
"It's because of one person," Wyn says gently. "And he's still missing to this very day."
Liz's chest tightens at the mention of Bennett. She looks down at her hands, gripping her snack wrapper slightly. After a moment, she takes a deep breath and looks up.
"Thanks, Wyn," she says softly.
Wyn gives her a small smile. "Anytime."
Liz then glances around, as if making sure no one else is listening. She leans in slightly. "I have to tell you something."
Wyn raises a brow. "What is it?"
Liz hesitates for a moment before recounting her dream. The cathedral, St. Paul, the memories she was shown—everything. Wyn listens with wide eyes, occasionally nodding as Liz speaks.
When Liz finally finishes, Wyn exhales. "Wow. That's… intense."
Liz nods. "Yeah. But it made me realize something."
Wyn tilts her head. "What?"
Liz smiles, a new light in her eyes. "I have a plan."
Wyn blinks. "A plan? For what?"
Before Liz can answer, the school bell rings, signaling the end of break. Wyn groans, stretching her arms. "Guess that means we'll have to continue this later."
Liz grins. "Yeah. But don't worry, you'll know soon enough."
As they head back to the classroom, Liz feels a newfound sense of purpose. Whatever happens next, she knows one thing for sure—change is coming.
The 10-12nn session ends, and as soon as the bell rings, Liz and Wyn step out of the classroom. The corridors hum with the chatter of students making their way to the cafeteria or heading off to their favorite lunch spots. Liz and Wyn waste no time and make their way to the cafeteria, securing a spot at one of the vacant tables before unpacking their lunches.
Liz takes a bite of her sandwich before glancing at Wyn. "Let's video call Adrian."
Wyn nods while chewing, then pulls out her phone. Within seconds, Adrian's face appears on the screen. He is at Colegio de San Agustin, checking the materials for their experiment, ensuring everything is in place.
"Hey, Adrian, you busy?" Liz asks, adjusting the angle of the phone.
Adrian briefly looks up from his checklist and smirks. "Kinda. Just making sure I have everything I need for my Biochemistry. What's up?"
Liz leans in closer. "We need to finalize the plan. Here's what we're going to do."
Adrian raises an eyebrow but listens attentively as Liz explains. "First, we need to be there at the old chapel around 10:30 p.m. That's the time when most of the guards will be exhausted and not as alert."
Wyn interjects, "We'll have to be careful, though. There's still a chance someone might spot us."
"Exactly," Liz continues. "Which is why we need a diversion. We need to get the attention of at least one guard by setting up a scarecrow to look like a ghost."
Adrian chuckles. "Oh, I'm good at diversions. Leave that to me."
"Great," Liz says with a small nod. "Now, for protection, we need to bring garlic, salt, incense, a rosary, and a crucifix. If we ever get separated, each of us will have something to defend ourselves against any evil lurking in the chapel."
Wyn shivers slightly. "That place has been abandoned for years. Who knows what's inside? We need to be vigilant."
"That's why we need to come prepared," Liz says firmly. "We also need to wear black overalls to blend into the darkness."
Adrian tilts his head, thinking. "That could work... but what if they have night vision equipment?"
Liz pauses, considering the possibility. "That could be a problem, but if we act quickly, we can eliminate any threats before they become an issue."
Adrian nods slowly. "Fair enough. So what exactly are we expecting inside?"
Liz takes a deep breath. "Bennett will be there. And everything we need to know will be revealed inside the old chapel."
Wyn furrows her brows. "Do you really think it's safe?"
Liz looks at her with determination. "I don't know for sure, but I do know that we have to do this."
Adrian exhales and rubs the back of his head. "Alright, then. When do we prepare everything?"
Liz glances at Wyn before answering. "We get everything ready tomorrow. The night after that, we execute the plan."
Both Adrian and Wyn nod in agreement. "Got it," Adrian says. "I'll gather the necessary supplies on my end."
"Same here," Wyn adds.
Liz smiles. "Then it's settled. We move forward with this."
As they wrap up their call, Adrian returns to checking his materials at Colegio de San Agustin, while Liz and Wyn finish their lunch. The bell rings soon after, signaling the end of the break, and they make their way back to the classroom, each of them mentally preparing for what lies ahead.