Corazon stood still in the shadow of the trees, her eyes fixed on the house. It had been days since Leonida had died, but Corazon could still feel her presence lingering in the air. It was as though the very ground Leonida had walked on clung to her spirit, refusing to release her from this world. Corazon's lips curled into a sinister smile."Dead," she muttered to herself. "They’re both dead and yet they still haunt me." She squeezed her eyes shut, but it only made Leonida’s face sharper in her mind. "But if I can still feel her, then Alejandro... he must be near. Their love was always so insufferably pure." Her voice dripped with venom. "But I will bring him back to me, even if it’s only his spirit. And you, Leonida, will suffer in the shadows of eternity."She suppressed a hysterical laugh that threatened to break free, pressing her hand against her mouth. No, not now. Not yet. First, she had to take care of Leonora, the precious daughter. She watched from her hiding spot as the fa
The warm rays of the morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the dining room. Juanita hummed as she placed the last of the breakfast plates on the table. The smell of fresh bread and scrambled eggs filled the air, mixing with the scent of brewing coffee.“Isabela, aren’t you awake yet?” Juanita called out from the dining room, wiping her hands on her apron.The faint sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, and Juanita smiled to herself as she heard her daughter's light steps. A few moments later, Isabela entered the room, her face bright with the energy of youth.“Good morning, Mother and Father!” Isabela greeted them cheerfully.Not far behind her, Leonora shyly peeked into the room. She had always been a quiet child, more reserved than Leonida, but there was a sweetness to her presence that Juanita and Diego had come to adore.“Good morning, Grandpa and Grandma,” Leonora said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.Juanita and Diego beamed at the so
In the stillness of the night, while everyone else slept soundly, Tino quietly slipped out of the house. His heart raced, his mind overtaken by a single thought: I have to see her. I have to go to her. He muttered this like a mantra, his feet following the path to Corazon’s home as if drawn by an invisible force. Her image, beautiful and intoxicating, had completely consumed him. His breath came faster with every step he took.His mind echoed with her voice. The soft, sultry whispers that had seduced him, not just his body but his soul. He could see her—those smoldering eyes, the curves of her figure draped in shadowy mystery, the smile that promised forbidden delights. Tino had never felt such desire, such hunger, and now, nothing else mattered. His duties to the household, his uncle, and even his own dignity had vanished like mist. All he wanted was to be in her arms.As he approached her door, it was as though the entire world faded away. The crickets, the night breeze, the trees—a
Inside her dimly lit house, Corazon paced back and forth, her patience wearing thin. “What’s taking him so long?” she growled, her anger evident in her fiery gaze. “He should be here by now.” Tino was supposed to bring Leonora to her, and the delay gnawed at her, threatening to unravel her carefully laid plans.Frustrated, she stormed into the room where her altar stood—a chaotic display of candles, herbs, and dark trinkets. Corazon approached the altar, her fingers brushing over the items with reverence and desperation. “If he doesn’t come soon, I’ll summon him myself,” she muttered. She closed her eyes and began to chant, weaving words of power and darkness, hoping to draw Tino to her despite the distance.After finishing her incantation, she stood by the window, watching the night unfold, believing her powerful spell would call him to her, even if he were asleep. “Come to me, Tino,” she whispered, her heart racing with anticipation.Meanwhile, in Isabela’s house, a hushed conversat
Several days had passed, and Alice and Pedro still found themselves confined to the basement. The darkness, once foreboding, now felt almost like a cocoon for the relationship blossoming between them. Each day, Pedro’s affection for Alice became more apparent, and with every small act of care, Alice felt herself growing closer to him. He was gentle, thoughtful, and always attentive to her needs, something she had never experienced so intimately before.Pedro was busy altering clothes for Alice—something she would wear once they finally left their temporary hiding place. As he worked, Alice couldn’t help but steal glances at him. His Spanish Mestizo heritage was evident in his sharp, chiseled features. The soft light from the single bulb hanging in the room highlighted his strong jawline and the muscular contours of his body."It’s easy to fall in love with him," Alice thought, feeling her pulse quicken. Pedro had a quiet strength about him, making her feel safe despite the dangers out
Tino and Isabela trudged along the narrow pathway toward Leonida’s house, the trees on either side swaying gently in the breeze. Isabela wore a headscarf, carefully drawn around her face to conceal her identity as they walked. The path was familiar yet ominous; danger lurked everywhere. But thanks to her precautions, they managed to reach the house without encountering any problems.Instead of heading for the front door, they took a well-trodden path around to the back of the house. It was safer that way—more discreet. They reached the basement entrance, and Isabela knocked softly on the door.“Alice, Pedro, are you there?” Isabela called out quietly, careful not to let her voice carry too far outside. She strained to hear any response, her heart pounding with anxiety.After a moment, they heard movement inside, and then the sound of the lock being undone. Pedro opened the door cautiously, peering through the small gap before pulling it open fully. His eyes widened when he saw Tino st
“Isabela, Alice! I have news!” Lito burst through the door, breathless and wide-eyed.Alice, Isabela, and Pedro quickly gathered around him in the living room, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.“What did you find out?” Alice asked eagerly.“There were a lot of prisoners transferred from Manila to Sakura Heiei,” Lito replied, trying to catch his breath.Sakura Heiei was a notorious Japanese camp and prison, formerly known as Fort McKinley, now Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City.“Did you see the prisoners?” Alice pressed, her voice rising with urgency.“How many hours away from here?” Pedro chimed in almost simultaneously.“Yeah, how do we get there?” Isabela added, her brow furrowing in concern.Lito patiently answered their questions one by one. “I haven’t seen the prisoners, but I caught a glimpse, and I saw many American prisoners. Most of the Filipino prisoners were being forced into labor.” He turned to Alice, his voice filled with concern.“It would take about an hour
“What just happened?” Lito asked, his voice laced with confusion. “I thought we were just going to observe, why the sudden unplanned escape?”“Maybe because they got emotional when they saw their friends,” Isabela answered, her voice soft yet reflective, the weight of the situation sinking in.“Yes, that could be the only reason,” Alice added, her expression distant as her thoughts drifted to the memories of those left behind.Pedro, walking beside them, clenched his fists. “My poor brother,” he muttered, sadness clinging to his every word. His shoulders slumped with defeat, his eyes hollow as he trudged along the path back to Isabela’s house.Unbeknownst to them, deep within a dimly lit, cold room, Isagani and Johnson were enduring a fate far worse than death. They had been caught in their daring attempt to escape and were now prisoners—bound, gagged, and brutalized by Japanese soldiers. Every breath they took was a battle, every heartbeat a reminder of their suffering.“Tell us abou
Alice knew that to face Corazon, she needed to understand her enemy completely, even if that meant delving into the shadows of Corazon’s past. And so, as her friends remained close, Alice channeled her energy toward the spirit realm again—not just to search for Johnson and Leonora, but to uncover Corazon’s beginnings, the seed of darkness that had once blossomed within her.A Glimpse into Corazon’s PastIn the heart of a small village nestled between ancient trees and winding rivers, Corazon grew up as a child unlike any other. Long before she became a black witch, she was simply a girl with dark, curious eyes and a mind that wandered where others dared not go. While the other children played and laughed in the sunlit meadows, Corazon’s gaze lingered on the shadows that seemed to shift and breathe along the forest’s edge. She noticed what others ignored—the spaces between light and dark where strange things lurked, unseen yet undeniably real.One evening, as she watched a faint shadow
Alice lay awake, her mind thrumming with the image of Johnson’s ghostly form flickering before her and his haunting warning. She’s coming. The words echoed in her mind, making her feel more vulnerable and hunted than ever. Corazon was not just a shadow from her past—she was coming, and she was hungry for vengeance. But Alice wasn’t the same person Corazon had once overpowered. She had grown stronger, mastering gifts that went beyond anything she’d ever imagined.With each night, her powers sharpened further. She could feel the pulse of life in the plants outside her window, the murmur of the animals in the woods nearby, even the whispers of energy in the air. She was beginning to see that everything around her was connected, woven into an intricate web that she could touch, manipulate, and reshape. The world had become her ally, a vast and powerful force that flowed through her veins as naturally as her own blood.But as her power grew, so did her dread. The closer she got to Corazon,
In a matter of weeks, Alice had nearly perfected her skill in astral projection, slipping into the spirit realm with ease. But her triumph felt hollow; despite her dedication, she still couldn’t find any trace of Johnson or Leonora. She had poured months into honing her abilities, pushing herself beyond her limits night after night, ignoring Leonora’s advice to train gradually. The toll on her body was unmistakable, yet she persisted, consumed by the need to master her skills.One evening, Alice opened her eyes slowly, her surroundings a blur as she struggled to focus. The room was dimly lit, and as her vision cleared, she saw Pedro seated beside her bed, his face drawn with worry.“How are you feeling?” he asked softly, his gaze flickering with concern.Alice managed a weak smile, though it took almost all the energy she could muster. “I feel… drained, like everything’s been sapped out of me.” Her voice was barely a whisper, and her limbs felt heavy, as though her strength had seeped
As Alice and Pedro stood under the whispering trees and flickering lantern light, the elements pulsed around her, each with its own rhythm, calling her to push deeper. She had trained so hard, seeking a breakthrough. Tonight, she felt closer to something—some truth lying just out of reach, a glimmer of hope. Johnson, Leonora… they had to be there, somewhere just beyond the veil of her consciousness.Pedro’s eyes followed her, worry mingled with a quiet awe. “What do you need me to do?” he asked, ready for anything.Alice looked up at him, grateful for his steady presence. “Just stay here. I… I think I need to try something new.” She bit her lip, remembering what Leonora had told her once, about the power of sending one’s spirit out beyond the body. It was a risky skill, one Leonora had called astral projection, but Alice knew she had to try. If she couldn’t find her loved ones physically, maybe she could rea
Alice felt as though time had abandoned its flow, suspended in an endless haze. Since her haunting vision of Johnson and Leonora in Corazon’s mansion, silence fell over her mind's eye, as if Corazon had locked them away, hiding their presence in the shadows. That brief, final glimpse had stirred her desperation to a fever pitch, sparking a fire within her that pushed her powers to new heights.Now, her mental telepathy had reached an extraordinary peak. No longer confined to human thoughts, her mind wandered through the murmurs of animals, the whispers of trees, even the silent language of earth, wind, fire, and water. She felt each element as if it were an old friend. The animals, plants, and elements communicated with her in a language as clear as her own thoughts, weaving nature into her emotional tapestry.Yet with every new surge of strength, a faint ache gnawed at her heart—a reminder of the ones she couldn’t reach. Her bond with Johnson, her best friend and love
Alice’s pulse quickened as the dark, chilling presence crept over her, a feeling she’d come to recognize all too well. It wrapped around her like a shroud, suffocating and persistent, pressing into her mind until her senses screamed with dread. She reached out instinctively, stretching her mind toward Leonora and Johnson, but their presence was faint, as if something blocked her from connecting to them fully. The sense of wrongness was so profound that it stole her breath.In the nights that followed, the visions began again, as vivid and invasive as they’d been in the past. Alice saw Corazon's mansion, its lavish halls draped in silk and gold, filled with the muted sounds of revelry and dark promises. Flickering images came to her—Leonora, now eighteen years old, isolated in an opulent room, her pretty face pale yet steady, as though prepared for what was to come. But beneath that calm façade, a steely determination glimmered, tempered by a fea
As soon as Alice and the others stepped outside, she felt a sudden lightness, like a weight lifting from her shoulders. The dark presence that had lingered around them for days seemed to vanish, dissipating like fog in the morning sun. She reached out with her powers, searching the vast, invisible web that connected her to Leonora and Johnson, but there was nothing. It was as if the darkness had never existed.“She’s gone,” Alice muttered in disbelief, her voice a mixture of relief and frustration. She dropped to her knees, feeling a wave of helplessness. “I can’t find them, any of them—Leonora, Johnson, Corazon... It’s like they’ve disappeared.”Pedro knelt beside her, his hand resting gently on her shoulder. “We’ll find them, Alice,” he assured her, his tone soft yet firm. “You’re not alone in this.”Alice nodded, though her heart felt heavy. She allowed Pedro to help her
Alice’s vision blurred as the winds around her finally began to calm, her anguished shout echoing into the stillness. Her grief and fury had summoned a storm within her, the very elements responding to her pain, swirling around her with a force she could barely contain. Pedro, Fernando, and Odette gripped her shoulders tightly, trying to steady her. The stormy air crackled with an unearthly energy, as if the world itself were on the brink of something vast and impossible.But even as the winds died down, Alice’s heart was consumed by a single, desperate thought: I just want to know if Nana -----will be safe.The wish burned within her, fueled by an unyielding need to see a future where Leonora lived free from Corazon’s evil grasp. She felt the wish so strongly that it seemed to become a part of her, as real as the ground beneath her feet, as deep as the bond she shared with her companions."Do you feel that?" Alice asked, her voice barel
Alice’s frustration grew with every passing day, the sting of her last encounter with Corazon lingering in her mind. She had come so close to breaking Corazon’s hold over Johnson, only for the sorceress to escape, shrouding herself and Johnson within an impenetrable barrier. Desperate for answers, Alice sought out the one person she thought might understand magic’s intricate workings: Her Nana Leonora, the young girl with a natural gift for healing and an innate sense of the unseen.Leonora sat cross-legged on the floor of her her bed, her large eyes fixed on Alice with quiet understanding as she listened to her tale. Though young, Leonora had wisdom beyond her years, an intuition that Alice admired. When Alice finished describing Corazon’s spell and her failed attempt to break it, Leonora’s expression grew thoughtful.“It sounds like Corazon’s magic isn’t just dark but deeply rooted,” Leonora said softly. “Her spell is made to bind, to hold. Breaking it will take more