Chapter XLVII: The Companion of the Missing
At Bantaoan, as the mass reaches its end, Dolores, Dominga, and Liz's grandma step out of St. Ildephonse Parish Church, blending into the crowd. However, a familiar yet unwelcome face emerges from the shadows.
"Well, well, well, look what we have here. My wretched sister-in-law," the woman sneers, her arms crossed with a smug expression.
Liz's grandma glares at her. "What do you mean by wretched?!" she snaps, her voice laced with restrained anger. Dolores and Dominga instinctively grab her arms, trying to hold her back.
"It's not worth it," Dominga whispers.
With a deep breath, Liz's grandma turns away. "We just wanted to live peacefully," she mutters, shaking her head.
The trio quickly leave the church grounds and head toward the municipal food court. The air is filled with the scent of freshly cooked delicacies, momentarily easing the tension. They settle down at a table and order empanaditas, the crispy golden pastries arriving hot on a plate.
As Liz's grandma takes a bite, her thoughts drift to Liz. A deep concern settles in her chest. "I hope she's alright being home alone," she murmurs, pulling out her phone. With a quick press, she dials Liz's number.
At Bennett's house, Liz tiptoes out of his room, carefully pushing the door shut behind her. Just as she exhales in relief, her phone vibrates and rings loudly in her pocket. Panic surges through her as she scrambles to silence it. Without thinking, she darts into the Family Room adjacent to Bennett's room and slides under the couch, heart pounding.
A moment later, she hears the creak of a door. Heavy footsteps echo down the hallway.
"Did you hear that?" a groggy voice mutters.
"Yes," another replies. "It came from over here."
Liz holds her breath, pressing herself further against the floor, her fingers trembling. The parents step out of their room, scanning the dark hallway. She watches their feet shuffle cautiously before they sigh and retreat back to their bedroom, their door clicking shut.
Releasing a shaky breath, Liz slowly inches out from under the couch. Just as she gets to her knees, a movement catches her eye. Something white shifts in the darkness, crawling on all fours. A cold shiver races down her spine.
Not daring to stay any longer, she removes her shoes and tiptoes toward the staircase. Each step she takes is slow and deliberate, her ears straining for any sound.
As she reaches the bottom step, a sharp squeak pierces the silence. Her heart stops. She looks down.
A dog toy.
Her breath hitches as the sound echoes through the house. Upstairs, the silence breaks. A faint creak follows. Someone is stirring.
Liz frantically grabs the walkie-talkie clipped to her bag and whispers, "Adrian, Wyn… we have a problem."
Liz's grandmother tries calling Liz once again, but there is still no response. She frowns, her fingers gripping the phone tightly. "Why isn't she answering?" she mutters, worry evident in her voice.
Dolores places a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Maybe she's just asleep. It's late, and she must be exhausted."
Dominga nods in agreement. "Liz is responsible. She wouldn't do anything reckless."
Liz's grandmother sighs but eventually nods. "I hope you're both right."
Meanwhile, inside Bennett's house, Liz freezes as her foot presses down on a soft, squeaky object. A sharp sound breaks the silence, and her breath catches in her throat. Slowly, she looks down to see a small dog toy beneath her foot.
A chill runs down her spine as she notices movement from the living room. A small, white shadow emerges, shifting slightly in the dim light. Fear grips her. Is it another entity like the one that had impersonated Bennett?
Her heartbeat pounds in her ears as the figure steps closer, revealing itself under the faint moonlight. A fluffy white chihuahua-spitz mix with bright, curious eyes stands before her. Liz exhales sharply. It's not a monster—it's Bennett's dog.
The dog stares at her, ears perked up. She knows if it barks, she is doomed. She whispers under her breath, barely audible, "Bennett... help me."
The dog tilts its head before suddenly wagging its tail. Liz watches in confusion as the small creature takes a step forward, its excitement growing. Before she can react, the dog jumps at her, licking her face eagerly.
A memory floods her mind.
A few years ago, during one of her tutoring sessions at Bennett's house, Liz had met the small pup for the first time. Back then, he had been tiny, full of energy, and fiercely protective of Bennett.
"His name is Bolt," Bennett had said, picking up the small dog and holding him up in front of her. "He's a bit shy, but he'll warm up to you."
Liz had extended her hand, letting the pup sniff her fingers before gently rubbing his head. "He's adorable."
Bennett had smiled. "He likes you already. Maybe one day, he'll think of you as his second owner."
Over time, Liz had developed a bond with Bolt. Every time she visited, he would greet her with enthusiastic barks and tail wags, jumping onto her lap and demanding attention. And when she left, he would sit by the door, waiting for her to return.
As the flashback fades, Liz whispers, "You still remember me, Bolt."
She strokes the dog's soft fur, and tears well up in her eyes. Despite everything happening around her, this little creature's loyalty remains unchanged. She hugs him tightly, savoring the comfort he offers in this terrifying night.
But she knows she has to go.
"I have to leave, buddy," she whispers, scratching his ears one last time. "But I'll see you again."
Reluctantly, she stands up and moves toward the sliding window. Carefully, she unlocks it and pushes it open. A cool breeze rushes in. Bolt watches her curiously but makes no sound.
Liz glances outside. Adrian and Wyn wait in the shadows, their eyes scanning the area for any sign of movement. She takes a deep breath and climbs out. As soon as she is out, Adrian and Wyn grab her arms, helping her land softly.
"Took you long enough," Adrian whispers. "Are you okay?"
Liz nods. "Yeah. Let's go."
As they hurry away from the house, Liz checks her phone and notices a missed call from her grandmother. A pang of guilt washes over her, but she doesn't have time to dwell on it. They need to get back before anyone notices she's gone.
They hop onto Adrian's electric bike and speed through the empty streets, heading toward Bantaoan as fast as possible.
Meanwhile, back in Bantaoan, Liz's grandmother sighs, setting her phone down. "She's still not answering."
Dolores smiles reassuringly. "She's probably just fast asleep. Don't stress too much."
Dominga nods. "She'll call back when she wakes up."
Liz's grandmother forces a smile. "You're right. Let's just go home."
They stand up, pay for their food, and step outside. The night air is cool, and the streets are mostly empty. They hail a tricycle to take them back home, their house just across the river.
Back on the road, Adrian pushes the bike as hard as he can, but suddenly, the battery dies.
"Damn it," he mutters. "We'll have to go manual."
Liz and Wyn help push as Adrian pedals, moving as fast as possible. They pass through Ciudad Fernandina, then San Agustin, and finally reach the boundary of San Agustin and Bantaoan.
By the time they reach Liz's house, her legs are aching, but she wastes no time. She hops off the bike and dashes toward the house. The front door is locked, just as she hoped. Quickly, she climbs up the side of the house and slips inside through the window.
Moments later, a tricycle arrives, and Liz's grandmother, Dolores, and Dominga step out. They walk toward the house, chatting lightly.
Upstairs, Liz rushes to her bed, diving under the covers just as the front door unlocks. Her heartbeat pounds in her chest as she listens to the sounds of footsteps approaching.
Dolores and Dominga enter their room. They glance toward Liz, seeing her still under the blanket, appearing fast asleep.
"Looks like she's been asleep all this time," Dolores murmurs.
Dominga nods. "Nothing to worry about."
They leave the room and head downstairs, taking a moment to tidy up before finally deciding to get some rest.
As soon as the coast is clear, Liz slowly opens her eyes. She sits up and changes into her pajamas, her movements careful and silent. Then, she takes out the mysterious golden-wrapped item she retrieved from Bennett's chest and hides it securely. She also gets notified that Wyn and Adrian also got home safe.
Finally, exhaustion takes over, and she allows herself to lie down. Her eyes grow heavy, and within moments, she drifts into sleep, her mind filled with unanswered questions, memories, and the lingering warmth of a dog's love.