They were heading back to the hut where they were staying, unsure if it was appropriate to return so early.
Upon entering, they sensed immediately that no one was inside, prompting the three of them to exchange glances. A quick look at the time showed it was almost four in the morning.
"Are we going to sleep?" Chesca asked.
They went straight to their room but also peeked into the others' room, which was quiet.
"Come here," Thalia urged softly.
The light in their room was off. They lay down, straining their ears to listen. Footsteps echoed outside, and they exchanged glances. They signaled each other to stay silent, knowing their pajamas would give away that they had been out. Then came a loud bang on the door of the other room—sharp, urgent.
Ericka wondered why whoever had returned seemed so furious.
Probably, we weren't caught, she thought.
Silence eventually settled over the place, and the calm lulled Ericka back into sleep.
When sunlight finally streamed through their window, she woke. Checking her phone, she saw it was almost six o'clock. Stretching her arms and body to shake off drowsiness, she stepped out and found Thalia preparing breakfast.
Wearing house clothes, she returned to change into pajamas before coming back to the kitchen. Scanning the area, she noticed the two others were nowhere to be seen.
"Are those two still not awake?" Ericka asked.
"They're still sleeping," Chesca replied, busy with her own task.
Ericka nodded and began helping out. Soon, they heard yawns and footsteps approaching.
"Oh, good morning," Isabel greeted.
"Good morning," Thalia replied, also greeting the two with her.
There she goes again, Ericka thought.
They're going to play this game again. She only sighed at the thought.
Ericka knew Thalia was direct and unflinching, but when someone tried to toy with her, she never backed down.
I can see Isabel will have a hard time with Thalia, she mused silently.
When will I tell Thalia the truth about what happened to her parents? The question tugged at her as she chopped ingredients. Deep inside, guilt gnawed at her for not revealing that she had witnessed the truth of their deaths.
Next time, I'll tell her, she resolved.
"Thalia, did you go out earlier?" Isabel's question pulled her from her thoughts.
"Yes, I went out earlier, but I came back," Thalia answered calmly.
Ericka simply listened, unsure of Thalia's intentions.
"Oh, were you with Ericka?" Isabel asked.
"I was alone. Why do you ask, Isabel?" Thalia's voice was even, her expression innocent.
"No reason, I just saw you coming out of the hut, so I was worried. It's dangerous nowadays," Isabel said.
"I was just looking for something important. I came back right away," Thalia replied.
Chesca simply observed, letting the two talk.
"I see. Next time, be careful. I can go with you," Isabel offered with a smile.
"Thank you for your concern, Isabel. You're such a kind person," Thalia said with her own smile.
Where's the kindness in that, Thalia? Ericka thought, hiding a smirk.
She knew Isabel was trying to catch Thalia's slip from earlier to monitor her movements.
"I've gotten too close to you all. If you ever have problems, Ericka or Ruth, please tell me—I'm willing to help," Isabel said.
"Isn't that right, Tricia?" She asked the one quietly eating pandesal.
"Yeah, we'll always be there," Tricia agreed with a smile.
"Thank you. I hope you do the same if you have problems," Thalia replied.
"Of course," Isabel said.
They ate quietly, careful not to show the tension between them. Ericka knew she needed to keep up with everything happening.
Suddenly, images formed in her mind. She grabbed Thalia and Chesca, who were still eating. A vision unfolded—a map falling to the floor, triggering a chain of events. Isabel is following them everywhere. Their eventual capture. The warehouse.
She released them quickly.
"Are you okay, Ericka? You look pale. What happened?" the others asked, one after another.
"Ericka, you need to rest. Eat first," Isabel added.
Ericka only nodded, secretly meeting Thalia's gaze. She had seen another vision while holding her hand—men from the organization chasing two women carrying a notebook.
She gasped when she recognized one of the women.
Ellese? No… Mikaela.
A headache throbbed behind her temples. She pressed her hand to her forehead. She needed to rest.
"Eat first, then rest," Thalia told her.
Ericka nodded again, catching Chesca's worried look before she placed a hand on her own forehead, her eyes heavy with unspoken meaning.