Thalia was startled when Chesca abruptly rose from the bed and began to walk—still asleep.
She quickly got up and followed her, trailing her steps into the dense forest. Chesca stood motionless ahead, as if watching the darkness itself.
"When did Chesca start sleepwalking?" Ericka whispered.
"That's the third time she's done that," Thalia murmured, shaking her head while keeping her eyes on her.
When Chesca suddenly regained consciousness, it showed on her face—surprised, confused, scanning the shadows for something. She crouched as if to dig with her hands, but then a faint rustling came from her direction.
From a distance, Thalia and Ericka watched closely. Any careless move might put Chesca in danger. They kept behind a wide tree, ready to rush forward if needed.
Movement flickered in the corner of Thalia's vision—Isabel and the others, quietly making their way toward Chesca. She saw the way Isabel moved, muscles taut and cautious, then slipped back into hiding. Thalia knew Isabel's instincts would push her to follow.
Chesca began to panic. Before light could fall on them, Thalia quickly pulled her aside, and they returned to their spot. They made no sound.
"Let's go, Tricia," Isabel's companion urged.
Before leaving, Isabel looked back toward them, the forest now swallowed in darkness. All they could do was release a deep sigh.
"Sorry," Chesca whispered.
Thalia only shook her head.
"Mommy hid a piece of evidence here," Chesca admitted.
Thalia's attention sharpened, eyes fixed on her.
"W—what proof?" she asked.
"Is this coming from the police, Chesca?" Ericka pressed.
Chesca nodded.
"Come on, it's dangerous to talk here," Thalia urged. "If we stay longer, they'll find us."
"Thalia, where are we going?" Chesca asked.
"Just come on—we'll be safe."
Her companions exchanged glances but followed without protest. They reached a large clearing with a single hut standing in the open.
"Thalia, whose hut is this?" Chesca asked.
"My brother's," she whispered.
"Isn't it dangerous? The enemy might know every hut here."
"No," Thalia said firmly.
Before meeting them, she had already prepared for possible twists, thanks to a map from her cousin—and from William. They entered the hut. Like others in the area, it had an underground basement. The place stirred memories of hiding alongside Jasmin.
Thalia checked the time. Isabel and the others wouldn't have returned yet, and she knew a route near the hut where the five of them stayed before.
They headed below.
"My brother rarely uses this," Thalia explained, switching on the lights. "And it's not even his real basement—nor Charles's."
"How do you know all this?" Ericka asked, surprised.
Thalia held up the map her cousin had given her.
"Don't tell me Vince gave that to you?" Chesca said, startled.
"Yes," Thalia replied.
"Let me see," Ericka said.
The air grew heavy, the past closing in on them. Thalia turned to find Ericka and Chesca beside her.
"Where are we?" Chesca asked, disoriented.
"Sorry—it's my fault. Whenever I touch something, I travel…and you got pulled in too," Ericka explained.
Thalia scanned their surroundings, her gaze falling on a man seated nearby—her older brother.
"Is that map done?" he asked.
"Good, you're here now, Thalia," Ericka said. "When I'm alone, I can't always hear or see the past."
"Don't rush me, Fernan," her brother complained.
So before Fernan died, they had made that map, Thalia realized.
"The Fuego property is huge," Fernan said. "If we rush to mark hut locations, it'll be pointless. Give me another week to check the warehouse and assess what we can do."
"You know the murder of his two children is about to happen," Fernan continued. "I've seen it—the abduction of the four siblings. It happened on a rainy day, about two weeks apart."
Felix stepped outside, sighed, and looked at his cousin, who was lost in thought.
"That's why I need a week. And it'd be better if you helped me—both you and Vince," he said.
"They made this map because they foresaw what would happen to you, Chesca," Thalia explained. "Is that why you and Mikaela escaped?"
Chesca nodded. "They gave Mikaela's map to us because they knew they couldn't save Ellese and Felisa," she said quietly.
The three sat together.
"Does that mean we can use this map if we get into trouble?" Ericka asked.
"Yes," Thalia said, pointing to the X and check marks. "We avoid the X's—those are places monitored by hostile organizations. The checked huts belong to the secret group against the Fuego."
"But my brother didn't include his hut, or Fernan's, or others we could use in emergencies."
"Does that mean…?" Ericka met Thalia's eyes.
"The map might be fake?" she asked.
Thalia nodded. "My brother wanted our enemies to see me with this map."
"It's a trap—one that could either work or get us killed," Chesca said.
"Where's the real map?" Ericka asked.
"With my sister," Thalia replied.
"Does Mikaela have it too?" Chesca asked.
"I don't know, but Jenny has the original."
"I can't keep up with your brother's way of thinking," Ericka muttered.
"You probably think like him," Thalia countered. "I know you and Isabel are just having fun right now."
"I'm not playing," Thalia added, "but I don't want you hurt."
"We're going back," Thalia announced, preparing to leave.
"When?" Chesca asked.
"Don't worry—we will," she promised.