The place was lit up with an orange glow. The smell of burning plastic and paper fills the air. Images of the hardbound and softbound books on the second floor, of the plastic and brown envelopes containing tidbits of information about the Shade collected over the years, of the Shade drawings drawn in different styles we saw last time we haunteds came here returned to me. They're all gone. Is that what I am smelling now?

  The wooden house, which serves as the entrance and reception area to the museum, is now a raging inferno. The more modern, concrete building behind it was not spared by the flames. Out of every shattered window, smoke and fire billowed out like tongues, leaving behind dark soot wherever they licked.

  I have zero doubt in my mind about what caused the fire. Or more accurately, who. The attack on the university this morning, the city hall, and now this. These were no coincidences.

  The heat was unbearable. I was already sweating from all that running to get here. So I took off my leather jacket and just dropped it beside my feet.

  The investigation would probably conclude it was an accident. I'm sure the cultists would plant evidence to make it seem that way. And the viewers at home would be none the wiser. But to us who knows better, there is only one reason why the Shade Museum is burning right now.

  And if it is still burning, that means this arson was just done recently. They could still be out here. Mixed in with the crowd. Or watching from some distance away from the scene. Some place we wouldn't see them, but they could see us.

  The wind started blowing the smoke in our direction, making my nose and throat all itchy and scratchy. All the more reason for me to get as far away from this place as possible. But instead, I pulled the hem of my v-neck shirt over my nose and moved not an inch from my spot.

  So, why? Why do I stay when our worst fears have been realized? Why let my skin be subjected to the intense heat longer instead of running away? Knowing that every second we stay out in the open increases the chance of the cultists finding us?

  The answer escaped my lips.

  I'm done...

  This was our last-ditch effort, a longshot gamble that didn't pay.

  Since this morning, we've been ambushed, shot at, and had Death follow us wherever we go. It's a miracle we got this far without being caught. We even did something as despicable as abandoning our unconscious and wounded friend to save ourselves. And for what? All our efforts were in vain.

  Because now, amidst the sea of chaos, the screaming, the crowding, and the intense heat, we watched in horror as our only hope of returning to Major Coleman went up in flames.

  I was devastated. My legs and feet ache. I feel light-headed and weak from hunger. The constant worry and fear of getting caught by the cultists had drained me. I have been in a state of nervousness since this morning, which can't be good for anyone's heart.

  I don't even feel like crying. From the frustration of coming all this way just to see your hope burn up. No. There is nothing left in me. I'm just...done.

  If the cultists are still here, then what are they waiting for? I don't want to run anymore. I don't have any fight left in me. All I want to do is for this nightmare to end. From the looks of it, it won't be the end I would want. But at this point, I don't care anymore. I would welcome any end. Just please...

  Let it end

  I turned to Cana. Her brown hair glowed bright from the fire. Tears are streaming down her cheeks. Her denim jacket folded neatly on her arm. She didn't say anything. But it was clear from her face that she was heartbroken as well.

  I guess this is it, huh,

  I thought while watching Cana just stare at the building.

  I don't know if the heat or the glow of the fire was playing tricks on my eyes but her cap was gone. Her hair became blonde, tied into a ponytail. . Her brown eyes turned blue. The recognition of the face sent shockwaves to my entire being.

  She turned to me. "Have you forgotten why I died?" Eris said but the words and the voice were Azgarmoth's. It was the same thing Azgarmoth said to me when I first met him in the threshold.

  When I blinked, all was I saw Cana again, still staring at the burning building.

  I gripped my chest hard. The guilt gnawing at my heart like a starving wild beast forced me to act.

  I HAVE to care.

  I gritted my teeth and forced my mind into sharp focus.

  "Okay, okay, okay," I repeated to myself to stop myself from breaking down. If the best choice is no longer available, then what's the next best thing? What's something we can do right now?

  The answer was obvious. We deal with the immediate threat. We're out here, exposed. In danger of being seen by the cultists. And we don't have any reason to be here any longer. The news reporter had started interviewing people on the scene. The cameras might have already gotten a passing glimpse of us.

  "Cana, come on," I said. "We can't stay here for long."

  Cana didn't reply. She didn't even look at me. She kept her gaze on the building. I didn't wait for her permission. I grabbed her by the wrist and dragged her away from here. I didn't feel any resistance from her. I weaved through the firefighters and curious bystanders flooding in. It didn't take long before we were back at Florante St.

  But we were still outside in the streets. Easy to spot. The Shade Museum is near our school so I am familiar with this place. Not taking any chances, I continued dragging Cana back to the safety of the alley.

  Cana resisted. "This way," Cana said. "I know a place."

  About after 20 minutes of walking fast, cutting through from alley to alley, we headed into the a forested area.

  "What is this place?" I asked.

  "It's not part of the park," Cana said. "But for some reason, there is an open way back here connecting to the park. Like a secret entrance."

  We've walked till we've reached the esplanade overlooking the river. There was a a lot of people in here so I didn't think this is the best location for us to hide. But when I turned back to Cana to suggest we went elsewhere, she was already sitting down the metal floor.

  I sat next to her. "You okay?" I asked. Dumb question, I know. But what else can I say?

  Cana said nothing. She just stared at the river.

  I didn't want to press her for an answer. So I took this time to breathe. To rest. And to think. What the hell are we supposed to do now?

  "I wanted to stay," Cana started. I turned to her. She was wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand.

  "That maybe the librarian made it out," she continued. "But I doubt she would have stayed in the area after being evacuated."

  I said nothing. For a moment, we watched in silence as another bird took a plunge into the river, hidden from our view by the metal barrier surrounding the platform overlooking the river. I heard a flap of wings against water. Then saw the bird flew up. But its beak was empty.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  "And if I was right," Cana said. "And the librarians do have rotating shifts, how would we know who to look for? What do they look like? And how are we supposed to find them in that swarm of people?"

  More birds dove. All of the same white plumage. Must be native to this area. All of them came up with nothing in their mouths.

  "Vergil," Cana said. "What do we do?"

  Her sigh. Her exhausted expression. I wanted to tell her it would be all right. That it will all somehow work out in the end. But like the birds, I came up with nothing good to say.

  "I don't know," I said. "I honestly don't."

  "Why are we still alive?" Cana said. "It looked like they burned the place just recently. Why did no one see us? Why aren't we being followed right now?"

  "Assuming we are NOT being followed," I said.

  "What do you mean?" Cana said.

  "I mean, how can we be sure?" I said. "We were pretty exposed back there."

  "So what?" Cana said. "Do you think they're keeping their distance? So they can follow us back to Major Coleman?"

  "Maybe," I said. But something from earlier popped up in my mind. "Or is it possible that the group who burned the museum isn't tasked with our capture?"

  "What do you mean?"

  "Think about what that cultist said in city hall," I said. "They only wanted to make sure that none of us came there. To me, it sounded like they didn't know we were there. And it certainly didn't sound like they were looking for us."

  "I guess..." Cana said. "If I were the cultists, I would have played that "My-son-run-away-from-home" bit for all its worth and left my number with Mr. Oliveros. But they didn't."

  "Because that's not their job," I said. "City Hall, now the Shade Museum. Both are places that could take us back to Major Coleman. Maybe their job was just to prevent us from getting back?"

  "Wait a minute," Cana said. "No one knows the Shade Museum was part of the system. Not even us. We only found out about that because we were researching the original cult."

  "Hmmm," I said. I thought about it for a few seconds and concluded that Cana was right. "So why burn it down?"

  "Right," Cana said. "They couldn't have known about the library. Meaning, they have no reason to expect us to come back there. The fact that we're not being followed solidifies it. They have absolutely no reason to burn it down."

  "I mean, it still is the only place with lots of information about the Shade," I muttered. "But no, none of the information there is accurate. It's all theories that we've seen to be wrong.

  I snapped my fingers. "Maybe it was in the plans they stole from the base?"

  "Maybe," Cana said. She stared back to the river. "After all, we didn't see what they stole. All we know is what Major Coleman said."

  "That brings us back to your first question," I said.

  "Yeah," Cana said. "They have all these spies inside schools and the police but somehow they couldn't be bothered to have someone stay behind in case we did come by?"

  I sighed. "I don't know, man. Is it crazy to say that maybe it's not the cult?"

  "But the coincidence of it all..."

  "Yeah, I hear you..."

  There was a lull in the conversation. We watched as a couple holding hands walked up to the railing.

  "Look at them," Cana said. "So blissfully ignorant that the cult is back and is trying to bring about another Massacre."

  "True," I said. My hand rested on my bulging pocket, reminding me of the cultist's journal. "But maybe, these same, crazy cultists are our only chance now."

  Finally, Cana turned her eyes to me. Her face was a mixture of both shock and anger. "I can't believe you've just said that."

  "Well, I'm out of ideas," I admitted. "And it's about to get dark soon."

  I don't have to remind her of what the darkness brings. After Major Coleman showed us the video proving that some of the cultists had the same power as the original Shade/Daniel, we were to make updates to the Haunted's Handbook. And it was agreed that we are to assume that these new Shades have all the powers of the Original Shade/Daniel, and maybe even more and so we are to plan and act accordingly moving forward. And one power of the Shade was to track us haunteds wherever we were at night.

  "You mentioned the hotel?" Cana said. "Let's try that."

  "I don't think the hotel has any connection with Major Coleman," I said. "Not like the library. I'm pretty sure it was just a hotel Major Coleman booked for us for that day. Did you hear him say something that would mean I'm wrong?"

  "No, but I remember the name Major Coleman used," Cana said. "They probably have his number. On a log book or computer."

  "Yeah, a disposable one," I said. "And if for some reason, he gave them his personal number, or Biringan's number, there is no way they are going to give that information to a couple of kids. That's confidential. How do you plan on getting them? How would you even know it was the right number and right name?"

  Cana looked back to the couple and leaned back to the wall behind us.

  A group of college students wearing white nursing uniforms came to our view. Some of them sat on the railing, while the others kept standing, chatting with one another. The group shrieked in chorus as this one girl admitted that she had a crush on this one guy.

  "School's still open," Cana said. "It will take some convincing lies. But they can take us back to Biringan."

  Right. We have to keep the entire thing a secret to prevent another Dark Year. But that plan carries greater risks. Risks I don't think Cana has yet realized.

  "Are you sure you want to go back?" I asked in a low voice. "Getting back means getting your dad involved. And you saw what happened to people who got involved with us."

  That got her to look at me. Then she looked away.

  And that is assuming that the school wasn't attacked today. The city hall and the school are the places that can take haunteds to Biringan once identified. So if they attacked the city hall to prevent us from getting back, why not our school? There's a high chance they've probably already attacked all the schools in Bastillio.

  Of course, I didn't share this with Cana.

  "So what?" Cana said. "Our only option is to go back to the same people who are trying to kill us?"

  "Maybe that guy was telling the truth," I said. "Why else would he give us the very thing that would lead to their arrest?"

  "Are you kidding me right now? Cana said, her voice rising. "Did you forget? We've abandoned Indigo to run away from him. And now you're saying we should've gone with him!? You shot him!!"

  "You're right!" I snapped. For being reminded of what I've done. "You're right," I repeated but in a calmer voice. "But that was a different time. I was scared. Confused. We just got chased and shot at. I wasn't thinking."

  "Okay, so now you're calm and collected and you've thought about it," Cana said. "And now you think it was a good idea? Because I still don't!"

  "Well, I don't see you giving any alternatives!"

  "I just did," Cana said. "And you shot them all down!"

  "Because it was all stupid!" I said. "And you couldn't even see it."

  Cana looked away. She looked hurt. Fuming. This was the first time we fought. We argued a lot but not like this. Not to the point of shouting. I saw the nursing students looking at us. They looked away once our eyes met. Same with the couple.

  "Let's just go to the police," Cana said. Her voice was brittle.

  I looked at her. She wouldn't meet my eyes. I exhaled the anger through my nose.

  "The police?" I asked in a low, measured voice. "What good would that do?"

  "Maybe Major Coleman has a system in place that we don't know of," Cana said. "Just like with the library."

  "Don't you remember? The cultist I shot said they have people inside the force..."

  "We'll take our chances," Cana said. "They can't be in all the precincts, can they?"

  "Suppose we got lucky," I said. "We went into a non-infiltrated precinct. We're on the news. They're on the lookout for us."

  "They would lock us up, Cana. For triggering that fire alarm," I continued. "Then what?"

  "Then we admit the truth," Cana said. "Say we're haunteds. Let them take a picture. You saw how fast Mr. Oliveros took us seriously when he saw our pictures. They'll probably contact Biringan for us on their own."

  "Maybe, probably," I shook my head, scoffing. "I'm sorry but that sounded so desperate."

  Cana raised an eyebrow. "I'm desperate?" she said. "When you're the one suggesting to go to our enemies for protection. Like, do you even hear yourself? How does that even make sense!?"

  Anger made me open my mouth, but in the end, I said nothing. I do see her point. But her ideas are all based on maybe or probably. Mine at least is based on something real. I've got the journal. From the cultist who killed his fellow members to "get us". It makes sense...doesn't it? In the end, I thought that forcing her to agree with me just won't happen. So I let it slide.

  So there we were, sitting in silence. Not looking at each other. Besides me, I could hear exhaling a lungful. I started feeling conscious as if the whole park was now looking at us after our argument.

  Cana understood the situation. She immediately stood up and walked away. Although feeling a bit upset after our fight, I ran after her. We should get away from here after getting this much attention.

  We've kept walking until we've entered a wooden path in the woods. Once we climbed up a raised bridge, I grabbed Cana by her wrist.

  "Stop, stop," I said.

  She turned around. Her face was hard to read.

  "We're not gonna solve anything like this," I said. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I am desperate. I'm tired. And scared. And that makes me unable to see how bad my choice is right now. But I can say the same about you and your plan."

  She didn't react.

  I sighed and scratched my head. "The truth is, I don't think any of our ideas is the best one. I don't know which one of our terrible ideas we should go with. There's only one thing I'm sure of. If we don't work together, we won't make it back alive."

  She looked away. Her chest falls as she exhales the air in her lungs. "I believe so too," she said. She turned to me again. "So what do you propose?" Because I have a feeling none of us would want to do the other's plan."

  "Rock-paper-scissors," I said. I brought my right hand up in a ball. "Best of one. Whoever wins, that's the plan we do. No complains. No hard feelings. No backing out. We bet it all on the winner's plan."

  Slowly, Cana raised her right hand and curled it into a ball. "Deal."

  Rock! Paper! Scissors! Go!

  I brought down my fist and at the last minute, I changed it into scissors.

  Up front, Cana's hand had all her fingers outstretched.

  I looked up till my eyes met Cana. True to her agreement to our deal, she didn't look frustrated or defeated.

  "I guess it's decided then," Cana simply said.

  I nodded. "We're going to the cult's base."