"THE BANSHEE"
Previously... After Akihiko used his healing arts on Guada, the strain of the magic forced Baekhyun's true form into the light. Simultaneously, Kaito earned his second tail, though it came at the dark cost of nearly taking the young witch's life.
Seeking a way to free her mother, Jin Ae's team turned to Catherine's grandmother. The elder led them to a wealthy man who kept a black Sigbin—the cave's guardian—captive. They now plot to trade the creature to Jin Ae's grandfather in exchange for her mother's freedom.
Meanwhile, deep within Mr. Choi's prison, Jin Ae and Baekhyun's mother remain captive. There, a final, shattering secret has emerged: Baekhyun's true identity is inextricably linked to Amelia.
"Dad, you can't force my children to be Bellators," Ara said, her voice trembling but firm. "Especially not when your beliefs are so twisted."
"How dare you speak to me that way," Mr. Choi countered, a cold smirk playing on his lips. "Though, I must admit, your adopted son was remarkably aggressive in his attempt to save you. Tell me, Ara—does he even know he isn't yours?"
The Continuation...
Jin Ae, Catherine, and Jasmine arrived in the town as instructed by the cave guardian and the witch leader. Their goal was simple but daunting: find the Montes family—the clan whose sudden wealth was whispered to be the result of a dark pact with a Sigbin.
They eventually found a group of locals gathered at a sari-sari store, the humid air thick with the smell of dried snacks and laundry detergent.
"Hi there! We're actually from that famous TV magazine show," Jin Ae lied smoothly, introducing herself to the crowd.
"Wait, the one with the catchy tagline?" an older woman asked, immediately striking a pose and mimicking the show's famous host.
"That's the one! Wow, Granny, you're a natural," Jasmine chimed in, offering a bright smile. "Were you a reporter or something back in the day?"
The old woman opened her mouth to answer, but another woman cut her off with a bark of laughter.
"Her? A reporter? She's just the town's premier Marites," the woman teased, sending the entire group into fits of laughter.
"Hey, don't mind her! My name is Agnes, but everyone calls me Ate Tes," the gossip-monger said, puffing out her chest. "And for your information, my news is legit. If you need to know anything about this town, I'm your girl."
Jin Ae took a steadying breath, her eyes searching Ate Tes's face. "What can you tell us about the Montes family?"
The laughter died instantly. The group exchanged uneasy glances, the air suddenly feeling a lot heavier.
"There's no proof of those stories," the shop owner muttered, turning away to reorganize some jars.
"Right. Well, I've got chores to do," Ate Tes said, her friendly demeanor vanishing as she tried to slip away.
Catherine reached out, gently catching her arm. "Aling Marites, please. I know you know something. We really need your help."
"I don't know what you're talking about! Let go!" Marites snapped, shoving Catherine's hand away and hurrying off down the dusty road.
Jasmine stared after her, concerned. "Is she okay? That was a complete 180."
"I guess we don't have a choice," Jin Ae said, her gaze hardening as she looked toward the direction of the large estates. "We'll have to go straight to the source and see the Mayor himself."
The Forest of Selvage: The Old Mansion
Deep within the heart of the Selvage forest, Kaito stood before his companions with a chilling grin. Calista, Daisuke, and Maverick watched him, the air thick with an unspoken dread.
"I want you all to celebrate," Kaito announced.
Calista was the first to find her voice. "Kaito-sama? What do you mean? Celebrate what?"
"The Sigbinan failed to protect the young witch of the south-central," Kaito replied, his voice dropping to a predator's purr. "And after I drank her blood..."
He turned, allowing his power to flare. From the base of his spine, two distinct tails now shimmered in the dim light. Calista and Daisuke exchanged a look of pure terror.
"I have gained my second tail," Kaito mused, tapping his chin. "Perhaps I simply need more. More witches, more power."
Calista quickly summoned her Book of Knowledge. Her fingers trembled as she flipped through the ancient yellowed pages detailing the path of a Nogitsune to nine-tailed divinity. "To gain the tails," she read aloud, "one requires the blood of a young witch, a Gumiho or Kitsune, a Banshee, a Mermaid, a noble Engkanto, and a Sigbinan."
Kaito's predatory gaze immediately slid toward Daisuke.
"Kaito-sama, wait! I am no longer—" Daisuke began, his face paling.
He didn't get to finish. With a blur of supernatural speed, Kaito was on him. He pinned Daisuke back and sank his fangs deep into the side of the man's neck.
"A Kyuuketsuki vessel with the soul of a Nogitsune," Calista whispered, her eyes wide with horror as she watched the blood-sucking devil feed. "This is a disaster. He's becoming too strong."
Maverick lunged forward to stop the assault, but Zac caught his arm, holding him back with a grim shake of his head. "Don't. He is too powerful now. We are no match for him."
When Kaito finally pulled away, wiping a stray drop of crimson from his lip, a third tail unfurled behind him. Daisuke slumped to the floor, breathless.
"Daisuke!" Calista and Maverick rushed to their friend's side.
"I have searched for so long," Kaito said, ignoring them. "I can almost taste the Kitsune's blood already." He leaned down, placing a cold, possessive kiss on Daisuke's forehead; slowly, dark energy pulsed from Kaito back into Daisuke, forcing his strength to return.
"Zac," Kaito barked.
"Yes, my Lord," Zac replied, bowing low to hide the worry in his eyes.
"Find me a mermaid by tomorrow. But for now... let us celebrate."
The Police Station: A Shattered Truth
Meanwhile, Ethan, Akihiko, and Baekhyun arrived at the station.
"Ninong Jeff!" Ethan shouted, rushing toward his godfather.
"Ethan! Thank God you're safe!" Jeff pulled him into a fierce hug.
Standing nearby, a woman with an ethereal glow watched them. "And what about me, Apo?" Amelia asked with a small smile.
Ethan pulled back, stunned. "Lola Amelia? You look... beautiful. You look so young!"
"You always were a flatterer," Amelia chuckled, though her eyes remained sharp. "How was your mission?"
"It went well, Lola. Actually, I want you to meet someone. This is Baekhyun Choi."
The moment Amelia's eyes landed on Baekhyun, the air seemed to leave the room. She saw the ghost of a baby she had left with a Korean couple many years ago. "You..." she breathed, stepping closer.
"Hi, Lola Amelia. It's a pleasure to finally meet you," Baekhyun said politely.
Amelia reached out, gripping his left arm firmly. She pulled back his sleeve, and there it was—the birthmark she remembered. Her heart sank. "It is you. The child who carries the spirit of the Gumiho. Tell me... how is Ara Choi?"
Baekhyun's smile vanished. "How do you know my mother's name?"
"She is not your biological mother, Baekhyun," Amelia said softly, her voice filled with a painful truth. "Your real mother died in the war. I was the one who rescued you and Ethan. I know this is hard to explain, but—"
"Enough!" Baekhyun shouted, wrenching his arm away. His eyes were wide with shock and fury. "What are you talking about? I don't even know you, old woman! Don't talk about my mother!"
Without another word, he turned and bolted out of the station.
"Baekhyun, wait! I'm confused too!" Ethan called out, racing after him into the night.
Akihiko looked at Amelia, his head spinning. "Ninong, what is happening?"
Amelia let out a long, heavy sigh. "It is a long story, Akihiko. And I will tell it all... but only when Baekhyun is ready to hear the truth."
The Choi Mansion: The Great Escape
Ara had finally slipped her restraints. She moved like a shadow through the corridors of the private facility, her heart hammering against her ribs.
"I won't let you hurt my children, Papa," she whispered, pausing as she reached the heavy exit doors. Outside, the muffled voices of two guards drifted through the air.
"I need to hit the head, dude. I'll be right back," one guard grunted. "And don't you dare fall asleep. If Mr. Choi catches you napping on the job, you're fired."
"Whatever! Just go," the second guard retorted. "I'm just resting my eyes."
Ara waited until the first guard's footsteps faded. Peeking through the gap, she saw the second guard's head loll forward, his breathing turning into a shallow snore. She eased the gate open, the metal groaning almost imperceptibly, and slipped into the night.
She made it to the main mansion's servant entrance, only to collide with a young woman carrying a stack of linens.
"Charlotte?" Ara gasped.
"Miss Ara?" The housekeeper's eyes went wide, taking in Ara's disheveled state. "What happened to you? Why do you look like this?"
"It's a long story. Please, Charlotte—you have to help me escape."
Charlotte didn't hesitate. "Follow me, quickly! Hide in my room." She led Ara through the back halls to a small, cramped bedroom. "I have to go take out the trash soon. While I'm gone, change into some of my clothes. I have some savings hidden under the mattress—take it. I'll bring you food as soon as I can."
"Thank you, Charlotte. I won't forget this."
"I have to go—Manang Josa is already calling for me!" Charlotte whispered, clicking the door shut.
Left alone, Ara began to strip out of her hospital whites, her hands shaking as she reached for the humble clothes of a maid.
The Town: A Dark Omen
In their rented room, Jin Ae and Catherine (now going by Monday) sat hunched over a laptop, the air thick with frustration.
"Coffee?" Catherine offered, handing out cups.
"Thanks, Monday," Jasmine said, though she seemed distant.
"Wait, is that really what you want us to call you?" Jin Ae asked, looking up.
"Monday works for me," Catherine replied with a small smile. "Anyway, back to business. How do we get an audience with Mayor Montes? A man like him doesn't just take walk-ins."
"That's the problem," Jin Ae sighed. "I'm looking for a lead, but—"
A sudden clatter interrupted her. Jasmine's coffee cup had slipped from her hand, dark liquid pooling across the floor.
"Jasmine! Be careful," Jin Ae cried out.
But Jasmine didn't move to clean it. Her eyes had gone completely vacant, her pupils blown wide. She grabbed a charcoal pencil and began to whip it across her sketchbook. Her hand moved with a violent, mechanical speed, drawing jagged lines without her even looking at the paper.
"I know she loves to draw, but this... this isn't right," Jin Ae whispered, stepping back.
"She's not drawing," Catherine said, her voice dropping an octave. "She's channeling."
Jasmine's hand stopped abruptly. On the page was the hauntingly accurate face of a woman—Aling Marites.
"Who is this?" Catherine asked. "Jasmine, do you know her?"
Jasmine didn't answer. Instead, she threw her head back. A sound tore from her throat—not a human cry, but a piercing, bone-chilling wail. The lightbulb overhead shattered into a thousand shards. The glass windows began to spiderweb, cracking under the sheer force of the vibration.
"Jasmine, stop!" Catherine screamed over the noise.
Jasmine was weeping now, tears streaming down her face even as the horrific sound continued to pour out of her.
"What is happening to her, Monday?!" Jin Ae yelled, covering her ears.
"The legend is true," Catherine shouted back, her eyes fixed on the drawing of the terrified woman. "A Banshee only cries when someone is about to die!"
The Warning
Miles away, Aling Marites sat in her darkened home, trembling. She didn't see the shadow creeping across her window. She didn't see the creature enter.
"AHHHHHHH!" Her scream was cut short.
Back at the mansion, Mr. Choi stood before his assembled staff, his face a mask of false concern. He pulled back his sleeve to reveal a nasty, purpling bruise and a shallow cut.
"My daughter has escaped from the mental institute," he announced, his voice booming. "CCTV shows she headed toward the mansion. She is very ill, and she's dangerous. She nearly killed me during my last visit. If you see her, report it immediately. Do not approach her alone."
The hunt for Ara Choi had begun.
TO BE CONTINUED...