#JMC1

"Ahhh!" I got up from a deep sleep, fear is crawling all of my body. My face was full of sweat and I'm out of breath.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead with my hand. I dreamed again, the same nightmare just like I always dreamed.

I shifted my glance to the clock, which was on the bedside table. It's already 2:00 am, the same time too. Again.

I dragged myself into a sitting position and climbed out to my bed. I left the room and went straight to the kitchen. I didn't even bother to turn on the light. Because I can still see where I'm going through because of the glow in the dark stars attached to the entire ceiling of the house, that gives some light. I put that on purpose because it gives me relaxation.

I went to the fridge and pulled out a pitcher of water. I didn't take a glass, instead I immediately gulped it down. Then I walked over to the table and pulled up a chair and sat down. I stapled my hand and put above the table, and fell into deep thought.

I have been living in this house for more than two weeks. And since my first day here, the woman in my dreams never lived me.

Who is she? Is it possible that my dream has something to do in reality? But it's impossible. There's no such thing like that. But really? Should I focus on her? I don't know her and I have never seen her before. I can't even see her face well, because of the blood spread on her face. She is always begging for help.

I shake my head to erase my thoughts. I let out a deep sigh and felt my senses. My head hurts from what is happening to me.

The day after.

I'm getting ready to go to work. Anyway, I am Detective Namih Chan, from the Violence Crimes Bureau (VCB), a 28-year-old. My parents both died, someone killed them to be exact. Murdered by an anonymous person. Two years ago, I still haven't gotten justice.

They are both involved in the business industry. They are both Chinese, and of course, I am pure Chinese too, but a pure hearted Filipina. I was raised here in the Philippines.

My parents left a business, but my older brother manages it. I let him managed it. I hate business and I'm not interested. I just love solving crimes, that's why I chose this job. But I stopped after the death of my parents. I decided to stop. And now I'm back again. A week ago.

I want to open the case of my parents. There is something in me that pushes me to investigate my parent's case even more. I don't know why, I totally don't understand.

I left the investigation of my parent's death to those who are better and have a long experience in this kind of work than me, but nobody solved it. They see no evidence that the accident was intentional. Because what came out of the investigation is that the car that my parents were riding in did lose its brakes, which is why they had an accident.

But my instinct said that it wasn't just that they lost brakes. Someone planned everything.

I stopped thinking, when my cell phone rang. I immediately grabbed it from my coat and answered the call from my brother.

"Yes, brother, Good morning," I said softly.

"Namih, aren't you going home?" he asked with a concerned tone.

"Brother, we already talked about that and I will tell you again and again that, I'm old enough and I can handle myself so you don't have anything to worry about," I amusedly answered on the other line.

This scenario is repeated over and over again.

"Yes, here we are again. You're old enough to live on your own. But look, honey, It's dangerous for a woman like you to live alone in a house," he said.

My brother is really worried about my safety. I understand that. I know he loves me that much. That's why he is overprotective.

"You can stay here at home, can't you? The house is big for the two of us. If you don't want to talk, if you want to be alone. And if you like peace of mind, you can do that at home. And one more thing, we have helpers, so you don't struggle to do the home job. And there are bodyguards to protect you," he added.

Big brother has been so protective since our parents died. He said, I am his only family left. So as long as possible, he will protect me at all costs. That's why he's convincing me almost every day. It's even annoying me sometimes.

He wants me to be at home, but he is always not at home. He is always busy. I will be even more sad and miss our parents because I remember Mommy and Daddy in every corner of our house. And I can only feel the big gap in my heart.

I just laugh at what my brother says, about the bodyguards.

"Brother, are you joking? You are proud of our bodyguards? Well, I am stronger than them. Even if I put the five of them together, I can knock them out at the same time," I said proudly.

I heard my brother tsked on the other line.

"You're so hard headed," he said with annoyance in his voice.

"Ok, brother, just to keep your soul quiet. I will talk to MG and Kitt to join me here at this house. How about that?" I said softly to make him relax.

"Ok fine. But make sure of it, Namih. I will check on you."

"I promise," I give him assurance.

I said goodbye to him because I might be late for work.

***

I'm Detective Mary Grace Santillan, belongs to the Identification Bureau Detective. Actually Kitt Santos and I, the two of us who have been assigned here. Namih and I are childhood friends. But she and Kitt used to be friends before, until they met me and the three of us became friends.

"Kitt, Is there any news on the murder case of a woman last week? Who's working on it?" I asked Kitt.

"Oh, Mike is the lead Detective assigned to that case. But until now there is no evidence yet to point to the culprit," answered Kitt, who didn't even bother to look at me because she was busy fiddling with her computer.

That one is hardworking.

"It seems that the killings are increasing now in the city. I doubt that there is only one killer of those who are killed because the method of killing is the same. The body is dismembered. It is very brutal. The record is the same as last year. And now the murderer coming back again. I'm also terrified that even if we are well-trained, we still shouldn't be taken for granted because anytime, anywhere we might be the target of a killer," I said.

"And that's what I'm praying doesn't happen. If Namih had returned sooner, maybe she could have handled that case. You know how capable she is," Kitt commented.

I agree with what Kitt said, if only Namih had come early, she might have handled the case. Namih is so good and professional at solving cases and finding serial killers. She won't sleep until she caught the culprit.

I turned my gaze to Namih. There she is again, mesmerizing. Just like she was loosing her mind.

Since when she returned to work and was assigned to Manila, she was like that. I don't know if it was because of the loss of her parents or if there was another reason for her sometimes silence and stupor.

"Namih!" I called her.

***

"Help me! Give justice to my death…" A voice whispered in my full ear.

I can feel her warm breath touching my ear. And her heavy presence behind me. The hair on my arms and at the back of my neck stood up when the cold wind passed in front of me.

Who said those words over and over again? Who really she is? She makes me feel her not only in dreams. But even when my eyes are wide open and the sun is shining.

She follows me anywhere I was. I can't even see her face. Is she a ghost? Can ghosts really exist and grieving? It's making me crazy again. And what about…

"Ouch!" I stopped thinking when something suddenly hit me. I didn't turn around, I paused.

I suddenly felt fear. Creepy! Is the ghost hit me because I didn't give her attention?

"Namih!" Mg shouted, so I automatically turned around.

"What's going on with you? You're always out of your mind," she added.

So, Mg was the only one who attacked me, I thought the ghost was angry with me.

"Namih, what's wrong?" question Kitt.

I just shook my head.

"Nothing."

They just shook their heads after hearing. My answer.

I don't have any plan to tell them about that lady ghost. They might just laugh at me and think I'm crazy.

***

After our work, we went home. I told Mg and Kitt about them living in the house I was renting with me. Fortunately, they were easy to talk to and agreed immediately.

After we had dinner, we directly went to the bedroom. The house I rent has only one room. So we only have one room.

The room is big, so there is no problem. It is spacious for the three of us. I slept on the bed and they just slept on the floor. But they have thick foam beds.

We fell asleep right away because we were both tired from working all day.

But suddenly, I woke up when I felt the presence of another person in the room. Add to that, the cold air that seems to be crawling at my feet.

My hair stood on end because of the strange feeling. I looked at the clock. I frowned when I saw that it was past two in the morning.

It's like I just fell asleep. I haven't really slept much yet. I looked down to my friends to check them.

But that's how scared I was when I realized they weren't there.

Am I dreaming again?

"Namih," a female voice called me. The hair on my arms stood up even more. I even swallowed because of the fear I feel.

There she is again. At this time, I want to talk to her. I want to know what she's always bothering me. But my fear prevailed.

To be continued…