Mermaid Blues: Beasts, Giants and Spirits

Before the Eclipse 3

Agatha is sitting on the bed. She is inside a narrow cell on the second floor of the underground prison. The prison is located underneath the mansion. It serves as a temporary jail for criminals.

Agatha is sitting on the bed. She curled up herself. She is quietly staring at the wall in front of her. There is only one light source in the room - the fluorescent light on the ceiling. The place is quiet, limited noises can only be heard outside, whether it is the loud footsteps of the guards walking past the rooms or their voices. Her hands are cuffed together with cuffs marked with a series of anti-magic letters on the rims.

Meanwhile, a guard from the outside opens the door. Agatha looked at the door. She was curious if someone might be visiting her. She sees Seth entering. The guard behind him pulled the door close just when the pack leader got inside. Seth stands by the door, staring at the witch on the bed.

Agatha sighed in frustration as she rolled her eyes. She looks at Seth with an annoyed expression on her face. "What do you want?"

Seth took a deep breath before he spoke. "I know you have some knowledge about the whereabouts of the Syndicate," he said.

"Oh come on," she rolled her eyes in dismay. "The babaylan friend of yours has already drained my knowledge about him. Isn't that enough?" she complained.

"But she didn't mention how many hideouts that coward has to hide that you know," he said. "In fact, maybe you are aware of his hide-out right now."

"I am here all this time. That guy has so many hideouts that I can't count how many," she said.

"Would you mind giving me a list of those hideouts you know?"

"When the moon becomes square, then I would," she replied in refusal.

Seth pouts. He got disappointed. "Okay then, let's do this the hard way," he said. "Since the creepy eight-legged spirit is not going to be with us anymore since their contract with the old woman is over, I might torture you a bit," he threatened.

"Oh...I like that," she replies with confidence. "If you think I am afraid of such pain, then you are wrong. Whip me, bite me, stab me, burn me if you want. Never in hell will I tell what I know to you."

"Sounds like a challenge," he smirked. "Fine! While waiting for another method, I will enjoy treating you like shit."

Agatha glares at him. Her glare is piercing through the old man's eyes. The old man also frowns at her with confidence. But then, his phone rang. Seth immediately left the room when he heard it ringing. He left Agatha alone in that silent, weird, and boring room again.

In the corridor, Seth puts his phone next to his ear. "Hello," he responded. He walks away from the cell of Agatha. Gaston replied on the other hand.

"Uncle. We found Mr. Kamsarim," he informed.

"Great!" he replied with enthusiasm. "Did he say anything?"

"Unfortunately...he did not. Because of that, he will never tell us anything," Gaston replied.

"What do you mean?"

"We found him, his corpse. We found him under the bridge here in Camp 3. I think he fell from there on the bridge and died on impact. We estimate the time of death will be two hours."

"Goddammit!" Seth exclaimed in anger.

***Blue Water***

In the office in the Mansion of the Marksmen Seth is sitting behind his desk. He is looking, examining the photos taken by the forensics agent. The photos contain the different wounds, bruises, and the whole body of Mr. Kamsarem. The forensics even shot an aerial view of the river for him to analyze. He is observing the bruises on his face then. It seemed like he was looking at a mark caused by something which hit his left cheek before he hit his face down into the river bed.

Cielo came inside. He found the old man looking at some photographs. He walked toward him. He is holding a portfolio of the enemies caught and arrested during Cielo's siege in Bontoc, Mountain Province.

"Hi!" he informed his presence.

Seth looks at the guy standing in front of him.

"Uhmm...I came here to tell you that I got the portfolio of Gabriel Umali's men that we caught during the operation in Bontoc," he said.

"Do they have any idea where he is right now?" Seth asked. He is hoping that somehow they can finally answer their questions.

"Unfortunately, they don't..." he replied in dismay. He took a deep breath before he continued to speak in order to explain. "It turns out, each of these men is used as scapegoats. They are all from Mindanao and have no knowledge about the Cordillera Region. These guys...are not even hunters, they are members of a terrorist organization."

"Don't tell me, the KHASIM?" Seth guessed.

Cielo sits down on the seat next to him. He nods. "It is confirmed, they are managed by a person named Gabriel Ramirez. He is the one that ordered them to defend the hideout while they are gone, but then, he never returned. They said they saw the girl, Ana, being transported out of the gate of the hideout. They recalled seeing her on a stretcher and carried by four men."

"Do they know about Gabriel Umali?" he asked.

"They don't," he answered. "They just saw his face. Other than that, nothing. It's just their manager that has direct contact with them, giving them orders."

"Ask for anyone they know that has contact with Gabriel Ramirez. Search for every name they know. Whether they are in Mindanao or here, I don't care. I'll hunt them until I am satisfied with this case," he said.

"There is one problem though," Cielo replied nervously.

"What?"

"Since Cielo and his gang revealed to them that werewolves exist, they are having such a hard time digesting it into their brains. They are so frightened that they don't want to talk to me again," he said.

"Still, do the best you can," he replied.

"Yes, Sir," Cielo replied.

:::::::::::::::::::::::

The Horizon Reached University...

Kendrick is playing badminton with Johnny. He is wearing a pair of jersey shorts and a Spalding, all of them are red. His opponent, Johnny, is wearing a Cordilleran woven headband around his skull. He is wearing a red spalding and a pair of yellow shorts. They play for almost thirty minutes on the badminton court located at the east corner of the plaza, next to the parking lot. They are sweating heavily as they feel tired but they are enjoying the game, so they don't mind. The cold breeze of the mountain cools them up anyway. The sun is not seen in the sky since the clouds are covering it.

The moisture is rising. The fog is invading the mountain peak of Mount Cabuyao. And so, the school will experience a huge wave of fog for a couple of hours.

"I'm tired. Let's call a time out," Johnny suggested.

Ken is panting, catching his breath. He feels his lungs are dry. "Yeah. I want my water anyway," he agrees.

And so, Johnny went to the bench on the right side of the court. Ken headed to the bench on the opposite side. Gilhameer is sitting on the bench, clapping his hands as he watches Ken approach.

"Nice one," he told Ken when he got there. He raised his hand wide open to signal Ken to high-five. Ken collides his hand with Gilhameer.

Ken went over to his backpack lying beside Gilhameer. He opens his bag to get his water tumbler inside. He drinks up. Gilhameer is scanning around. Then, he spotted Ana sitting on the bench on the other side, just beside the bench Johnny and his friend is sitting at. He noticed her spacing out.

"Hey. Is that Grace's friend whose mother got kidn*pped along with her mother?" he asked.

"Where?" Kendrick asked. He immediately looked around.

"Over there. At the bench right next to Johnny and Conny," he said. He points in the direction she is in.

Kendrick sees her. "I thought she was at their home. What is she doing here?" he wonders. He brought his eyebrows close together.

"She's pretty," Gilhameer commented. Then he teased Ken while nudging his thigh. "You like her. Ayiee!" he shrieked.

"SHH...His mother got kidn*pped. Have some compassion," Ken told him.

And then...

"Hi..." Ken smiled. He greeted her politely. "Why..why are you here?" he asked.

Ana gently shakes her head. When she hears his voice, she snaps out and comes back into reality. She looks at Ken's face.

"I...I...I'm sorry...I was...I think I can hear my mother's voice but...I think it's just my imagination," she stutters.

Ken smiled with optimism. He sits down beside her.

"I just came to ask for the approval of my completion forms in order for me to pass my activities to the instructors. You know, we have so many activities that I missed during the time I was taken to Bontoc," she said.

Ken nodded. " That is unfortunate," he commented. "How is it? Did you get the approval?" he asked.

Ana smiled. She nods. "Thankfully. I did," she said. Then, she took a deep breath and looked away from Ken. She looks directly at him.

"Did he call you again?" he asked.

Ana shook her head. "I don't know what to do anymore..." she looked at him. "The enemy says I have to, but Mr. Japeth says I should not."

"Well, it is hard to please everybody. But in the end, it is up to you to do what you think is good for everyone," he advised.

Ana bit her lips. She nods as she reflects on what he said.

Gilhameer is sitting on the bench in the distance. He is having butterflies in his stomach while watching his friend talking with someone he likes. Kendrick never told him that he likes her, but he knows that he likes Ana just by seeing him being happy next to her. He sees that they are a match.

Then, Ana's phone rings. Someone is calling her. She brought it out of her pocket and raised it next to her ear.

"Hello?" Ana responded.

"Tik-tock-tik-tock-tick-tock," Gaddo replied on the other line.

"Where is my mother?" Ana asked.

"You haven't killed him yet?" he said.

"Why would I kill such an innocent person? Bring back our mothers. They have nothing to do with you!"

"It is up to you," he said. "Two days are about to be over. Don't make them sad," he said.

Ken grabs the phone away from Ana. He stood up and walked away. He put the phone next to his ear.

"I will find you. And I swear I will kill you," he threatened.

"Kendrick Rosales. Is that you?" Gaddo replied.

"Listen up, you bastard. Release their mothers now!"

"I can't. She should complete the rest of the deal," he refused. "Tell her I'll kill them tomorrow and it is her responsibility to do so," he said. "Merry Christmas," he greeted insincerely before he hung up.

Kendrick looks at Ana. Ana was looking at her. He could tell that she was shaking in fear. Worry and devastation were in her eyes. Her tears began to flow.

On the other hand...

Gaddo hangs up his phone. Behind him are Asunta and Cynthia. They are still in those tubes. They are yelling for help as they knocked the glass as hard as they can.

Gaddo smirks. He can feel that sooner, Ana has no choice but to erase the mark of the last mystery tattoo wielder. He can feel the excitement that one day he will crush the spirit that cursed his family. While he stands a few meters away from the women in the glass tubes, blood from his lips is beginning to flow down his chin and dripping onto the ground.