Chapter 2

The breakfast plates had barely been cleared when Yvonne shot to her feet, her chair scraping against the floor with a screech that made everyone wince.

“I’m heading out!” she announced, already backing toward the hallway. “Got… uh… library business to take care of. Important book-related stuff that can’t wait until Monday.”

As if organizing the romance section counts as an emergency, she thought, but her mother was already turning her attention to Zachary and Sidney, who’d been roped into staying for lunch per her “request” which was really more of a royal decree.

“Marriage is a serious commitment, dear,” Yvonne overheard her mother say as she ducked out of the dining room. “One year is perfectly reasonable—your father and I were engaged after six months!”

Yvonne rolled her eyes as she jogged up the stairs to grab her jacket. Six months? No wonder they argue about where to put the Christmas tree every year. She’d always thought you needed at least eight years to really know someone—long enough to discover if they pick their nose when they think no one’s looking, or if they secretly hate your favorite movie. What if Zach and Sidney wake up ten years from now and realize they’re as compatible as oil and water? she mused, pulling on her worn leather jacket. I’ll have to be the one to hide their divorce papers between the encyclopedias.

She grabbed her helmet from the hook by the door and made a beeline for the garage. Her motorcycle—a glossy black Honda that she’d nicknamed “Shadow”—was parked in its usual spot, gleaming under the fluorescent lights. As she kicked the stand up and fired up the engine, the familiar rumble sent a jolt of relief through her. Nothing clears your head like a good ride.

She pulled out her phone and fired off texts to her two oldest friends:

To: The Dream Team

Guys, to our usual spot in 15 mins. Bring snacks.

Bianca replied first: Already on my way! Grabbed those cheesy puffs you love [smirking emoji]

Mateo followed seconds later: Saving you a seat. Also… need your help. Emergency gift situation.

Yvonne grinned, revving the engine before pulling out of the driveway. The wind whipped through her hair as she weaved through the streets of Rewon City, past bustling markets and tree-lined avenues. By the time she pulled up to their usual hangout spot—a small park with a weathered gazebo that they’d claimed as their own since elementary school—Bianca was already there, sprawled on a bench with a giant bag of snacks, and Mateo was pacing circles around the gazebo like a caged tiger.

“Okay, spill,” Yvonne said, yanking off her helmet and shaking out her hair. “What's the emergency?”

Mateo ran a hand through his curly hair, looking more stressed than when their seventh-grade math teacher announced a surprise final exam. “It’s Sophia’s birthday next week,” he said, his voice tight with panic. “I want to get her something meaningful—not just another stuffed animal or perfume. I need it to say… you know… ‘I’m not just dating you for your amazing cooking skills’.”

Bianca snorted, tossing a cheesy puff at him. “Please. We all know you’re dating her for the adobo alone.”

“Hey!” Mateo protested, but he was grinning. “It’s really good adobo.”

Yvonne leaned against the gazebo railing, already mentally cataloging gift ideas. Something personal, not too flashy… “What about jewelry? Something small, not too expensive, but with meaning.”

“Exactly!” Mateo’s face lit up. “I was thinking a necklace—but I have no idea what style she’d like.”

“Then it’s settled,” Bianca declared, jumping to her feet. “We’re going to the mall. Operation: Find The Perfect Necklace That Won’t Make Mateo Go Broke.”

An hour later, they were wandering through the gleaming halls of Tarlac City Mall, dodging strolling families and teenagers clustered around the arcade. They’d hit three jewelry stores already—Mateo had nearly fainted at the price tags in the first one, and the second had only sold pieces that looked like they belonged in a royal treasury.

Then they spotted it: tucked away in the corner of a small, cozy shop, a silver butterfly necklace with delicate wings that caught the light like tiny prisms.

“That’s it,” Yvonne breathed, pointing at the display case. “Sophia loves butterflies—she has that whole garden dedicated to them in her backyard.”

Mateo pressed his face against the glass like a kid in a candy store. “How much?”

The shop owner—a kind-faced woman with graying hair—smiled as she pulled out the necklace. “For such a lovely piece for a lovely girl? I’ll give you a discount. It’s perfect for someone special.”

When Mateo saw the price, he practically did a happy dance. “Sold! Wrap it up—with a bow, please!”

With the gift crisis averted, they decided to celebrate with lunch at a small restaurant just outside the mall, where they’d been regulars since high school. They shared a table piled high with sinigang, lechon kawali, and garlic rice, laughing as they traded stories about their days in tenth grade.

“Remember when Mr. Dela Cruz caught you trying to feed your lunch to the class lizard?” Bianca asked Yvonne, nearly choking on her rice.

“In my defense, he looked hungry!” Yvonne protested, though she was grinning. “And he was a very good listener during history lectures.”

After lunch, they spent another hour wandering through the mall—Bianca trying on every pair of shoes she could find, Mateo stopping to look at every video game display, and Yvonne browsing through a bookstore that had just opened up on the ground floor. She’d just found a copy of a new mystery novel when Bianca’s phone buzzed loudly.

“Ugh, it’s Mom,” she groaned, answering the call. Her face fell a moment later. “Okay… okay, I’ll be right there.” She hung up and sighed. “Emergency at the bakery—one of the ovens broke and they need extra hands to finish the wedding cakes for this weekend.”

“Go,” Yvonne said, giving her a quick hug. “We’ll hold down the fort without you.”

As if on cue, Mateo’s phone chimed with a text. He read it and grinned like a fool. “Speaking of forts… Sophia just texted. She wants to take me on a surprise date.”

Yvonne rolled her eyes playfully. “Fine, fine—abandon me for your significant others. I see how it is.” But she was smiling as she hugged him goodbye. “Tell Sophia we found the perfect gift.”

By the time Yvonne stepped back outside, the bright afternoon sky had turned dark and heavy, clouds rolling in like a blanket ready to pour. Looks like rain’s on the way, she thought, pulling out her phone to check the weather app—sure enough, rain was expected to hit within the hour.

Instead of heading home right away, she decided to duck into a small coffee shop she’d noticed when she and her friends passed by earlier—a cozy place with warm lighting and a chalkboard menu covered in fancy latte names. She ordered a vanilla latte with extra foam and found a corner table tucked away from the main crowd.

Settling into her seat, she pulled out her phone to see if anyone had messaged her, then set it aside and sipped her drink. Rain began to streak the window, blurring the afternoon crowds on the street below. Yvonne traced the rim of her cup with a finger, letting the low murmur of conversation wash over her—until a familiar laugh cut through the noise.

Cara Montenegro. They’d been classmates in tenth grade—Yvonne remembered swapping notes during math lectures and eating together at lunch break. A warm smile crossed her face as their eyes met across the room. To her surprise, Cara smiled back and gave a small wave, then started gathering her things as if to come over.

Then Yvonne saw it.

Thick black threads twisted around Cara’s arms, her waist, and her throat—denser and darker than any she had ever witnessed, swallowing the light from the overhead lamps. Before she could look away, the world tilted beneath her.

She was no longer in the coffee shop. Darkness surrounded her, and fragments of vision flashed before her eyes like frames from a broken film. A hand clad in dark leather wrapped around a knife that glistened wet and red. On the attacker’s index finger gleamed a silver ring, twisted into the shape of a serpent, its eyes tiny chips of obsidian.

Cara was on the floor, her eyes wide with shock and fear. The knife descended. Crimson spread across the pavement like spilled wine.

Yvonne gasped, stumbling back in her chair as the vision fractured and faded. Her heart hammered against her ribs so hard she thought it might burst through her chest. This wasn’t an accident. Not illness.

Murder.

Without hesitation, she pushed her chair back and stood up, weaving through the tables toward Cara—she had to warn her, somehow find a way to speak without sounding insane. But as she took her first step forward, movement in the window caught her eye.

A figure stood just outside under the awning, hood pulled low over their face, watching through the rain-streaked glass.

Yvonne’s breath caught in her throat.

There, on their hand, catching the faint glow of the street lamp through the downpour, was the serpent ring.

The figure’s head tilted slightly. Even through the deep shadow of the hood, Yvonne knew with bone-deep certainty—they were not looking at Cara, who was now standing and making her way toward her.

They were looking directly at her.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***