Thalia was hunched over her desk, neck aching as she worked on an assignment she wanted to finish early. Since Jasmin's funeral, life had slowly returned to normal—or at least the illusion of it. Their daily routines as students resumed.
She sighed and glanced at the calendar. The semestral break was only a few weeks away. She had decided: she needed to return to where everything began. There was a place—temporary, but safe—where she could stay while investigating the truth.
Ellese's presence clung to her thoughts, like a shadow behind every blink. Thalia's head throbbed as she tried to connect these flashes of memory to what was happening now.
"Thalia," a voice called softly.
It was Jenny, her sister, smiling faintly yet eyes filled with concern.
"Are you really going back there?" Jenny asked.
Thalia nodded. She knew Jenny could see glimpses of the future. She had never kept her own abilities secret either. Perhaps now, they could finally begin to uncover the truth.
"Jenny, Thalia!" their sibling called from the dining area.
Thalia hesitated. She hadn't asked their older brother yet. Part of her feared what his answers might be.
Jenny leaned closer and whispered, "Ta, you need to talk to our kuya too."
"I want to... but something's holding me back," Thalia admitted quietly.
"Come on," Jenny said, gently pulling her toward the dining table.
Their brother Felix was already there, cheerfully talking with their youngest sibling. He was off-duty today and had been home since early afternoon.
Thalia let her eyes close for a moment, hoping to rest her weary mind.
But as soon as they closed, she was swept into another vision.
When she opened them again, she found herself transported.
She stood in a familiar place, watching a table of young women chatting and laughing. Her siblings were gone.
She recognized the faces. They were clearer than any she had seen in past visions. Thalia frowned as she realized she herself was sitting among them, happily joking with the others.
Ellese was laughing beside Felisa. Across from them sat another table—and there, Thalia froze.
Two Elleses.
She took a small step back, throat tightening.
Then she saw Ruth.
Why is Ruth here?
The atmosphere suddenly shifted. The joy drained from the scene, replaced by silence and overwhelming sorrow. The women remained seated, but now only Ruth and Ellese's twin were left.
Am I going crazy?
She remembered the name Chesca. It echoed somewhere in her mind.
Sister Mikaela... Every time I close my eyes, I relive the torture Sister Ellese and Sister Felisa endured.
A memory surfaced: a news report mentioning twins who escaped with their half-sister—someone Thalia had never met.
Even Ellese's twin was hugging Ruth. Then the scene changed again. Doctors surrounded Ruth, who clutched her head in pain.
"Sister Mikaela! Help! It hurts! I don't want to see what happened to Sis Ellese and Sis Felisa anymore! I don't want to witness their suffering again!"
Grief filled the space as Ruth sobbed in her vision.
"Sis! It hurts!"
A disembodied voice echoed.
You have to help your sister.
"Her trauma is worsening, Mikaela," another voice said. But Thalia couldn't see who was speaking.
"W–what can I do to ease her pain?" Mikaela's voice trembled.
Erase Chesca's memories. The voice returned.
Mikaela looked at her sister, unable to speak at first.
You decide, Mikaela. Will you let her live like this forever? Only you can choose.
That voice… it was familiar.
"P–please… do it," Mikaela whispered. "Even if she forgets me. If it means she won't suffer anymore…"
Mikaela kissed Ruth's forehead.
"Chesca… come back to me. Find me when you remember. I'll be waiting. I'll help you—however I can."
Then the vision faded.
Thalia jolted back to reality, sweating, staring down at her untouched plate.
"—lia."
"Thalia!" Jenny called again, her voice sharp with concern.
Thalia looked around, dazed. Her siblings stared back at her with worried expressions.
How long have I been like this?
She remembered sitting down at 7 PM—but now the big clock said 8.
Did I just lose an entire hour?
Jenny's face was pale. Her older brother sighed.
"Greg, get Thalia a glass of water."
Their youngest sibling nodded and ran to the fridge.
"Jen, help Greg," Felix added.
Jenny hesitated but stood to help.
Felix looked back at Thalia, his expression serious.
"What did you see on your journey?"
Thalia blinked. "What?"
"Your spirit is wandering, isn't it?" he asked again.
She swallowed hard. Where should she even begin?
She couldn't shake the truth now echoing in her mind.
Ruth is Ellese's sister.
Could it be? Ruth was a transfer student... everything was connecting now.
"Brother... is Ruth and Chesca Fuego... the same person?" she asked softly.
Felix looked stunned.
Their siblings returned. Jenny sat beside her again.
Felix sighed and looked at each of them, one by one.
"I guess… it's time you all knew the truth."
Jenny and the others exchanged silent, anxious glances.