The Shadow of the Sugarcane

Chapter 1: The Rustling Cane The humid Escalante City, Negros Occidental air hung heavy, thick with the scent of fermenting sugarcane. Isabella Valera knelt beside her father's body, the rustling of the cane stalks a morbid lullaby. Dr. Aris Valera, renowned botanist, lay sprawled amidst his prize crop, his face serene, almost peaceful. The official cause: a heart attack. But Isabella, a journalist with an instinct for uncovering buried truths, saw something else in her father's lifeless eyes – a flicker of fear, perhaps, or a desperate plea. Isabella wiped her tears and stood up. She was determined to find out the truth. "Did her father die because of a heart attack or was it something else?...... ". That question hung heavy in her head, thinking about what to do first. She glanced down at her father's dead body, tears filled her eyes again when she saw him laying down lifeless on the floor. She felt a pang of anger and frustration in her chest, trying to understand if the cause is just really a heart attack or someone else did this on purpose? Isabella paced back and forth waiting for her mother to answer her call. Her mother " Juana Valera" is a well known lawyer in their town and is also known as a very kind and selfless lady. Juana answered the phone "Hello? Sweetheart?" Juana didn't know that her husband, the love of her life was now GONE. Isabella's voice trembled as she spoke "Mom it's about dad...." her voice cracking while sobs making her voice muffled. Juana was confused "Why is her daughter crying?", she stayed calm and answered Isabella. " What about dad sweetie? And why are you crying?". Isabella's sobs grew louder trying to explains to her mom what happened. "Daddy's gone mom, he's no longer with us...". Hearing those words Juana's heart dropped, she felt her tears building up in her eyes, she was unable to speak. Isabella spoke again her voice cracking through the phone as she spoke "I need you here mom, I need you....". Juana's thoughts snapped when she heard her daughter spoke her tears still running down her cheeks. "I'm on my way darling hang in there". Juana was speeding trying her best to be there as soon as possible. As soon as she got home she ran through the back yard. The sight of tall sugar canes surrounding her dancing and swaying through the air. She frantically ran under the tall and enormous sugar canes trying to find the Isabella and her husband. After what felt like eternity she saw Isabella crying, hugging her father's dead body. Time slowed down when Juana saw her lifeless husband in her eyes. "This can't be true right? I'm just dreaming right???...." Those thoughts lingered in her head. She knelt down beside Isabella and gave Isabella a warm tight embrace. "He's gone.... Dad's gone". Isabella's cries was like a stab in the knife for Juana, hearing those words from her daughter was just so painfully. "I know sweetie, I know..." her voice slightly trembling as she comforted Isabella. Dr. Aris Valera's body is now transferred in the morgue. Sitting there looking at her father's dead body made Isabella felt hopeless. Juana was beside her crying and sobbing, she was heart broken and fragile. Isabella stood up and excused herself from her mom. "Mom I'll go get fresh air first okay?". Juana nodded allowing Isabella to go out to let her emotions out because she knows this is also so hard for her. Isabella went out the hospital, taking the scent of fresh air to lighten what she's currently feeling right now. She took out her phone scrolling through her father's f*******: profile, reminiscing her father's photos, the family pictures, the times they spent was all gone..... Isabella was scrolling until something cuaght her eye. It was a comment but from an anonymous person?. Isabella stalked the profile of this anonymous person. Scrolling through the profile of this anonymous guy. "Who is this guy? Does he have a connection with Dr. Aris?.