"MARY GABRIELA REYES: P.O.V.
My name is Mary Gabriela, though my friends just call me Gabriela. My life took a turn toward a twisted fairy tale when my mother died. After my father married a woman named Amelia, everything changed. Amelia brought along her two children: Candice, who is my age, and our younger brother, Kevin.
At first, my stepmother treated me well enough. But the mask slipped the moment my papa disappeared.
In the wake of that tragedy, I dropped out of school to keep us afloat. I took a job as a waitress at a strip club, working long nights just to survive.
"Big sis?"
I looked down to see Kevin smiling up at me. "Before you go to work, wear this!" he said, handing me a handmade bracelet.
"This is beautiful, Kevin. Thank you," I whispered, pulling him into a warm hug.
"Take care of yourself, okay?"
My heart melted at his words. "Oh, I will, sweetie. Don't worry. I'll bring you some new beads tomorrow for your crafts, okay?"
"Thank you, big sis!" he chirped, his smile widening.
With a final wave, I headed out to the club.
Meanwhile, in Novaria...
"We must do something about this chaos," Beam declared, his voice heavy.
"We are trying to resolve the issue, but Criselda is still missing," Angel replied, frustration clear in her tone.
Suddenly, Leah approached them, breathless. "Dave is here! He finally found Criselda."
Behind her, Dave and Criselda appeared.
"Thanks to Bathala, you're both safe," Beam sighed in relief.
"What happened?" Angel asked, stepping forward.
GABRIELA
When I arrived at the club, my best friend Anastasia was already there. Her face was tight with worry.
"Bestie, Madam Azon is looking for you," she said, her voice laced with concern. I didn't waste any time; I headed straight for the office.
As I reached the door, a man in his mid-forties opened it to leave. The moment our eyes met, the world seemed to stop, and my heart hammered against my ribs. I was frozen until Anastasia nudged me.
"Are you okay?" she whispered.
"Yeah," I managed to reply, stepping inside.
Madam Azon was waiting. She didn't offer a smile; instead, she gestured toward the men in the room. "There you are. Gabriela, this is Mr. Sy of Sy Enterprises, and his son, Jasper."
I gave them a stiff, polite nod.
"I want you to assist Mr. Sy tonight and entertain his friends," Madam Azon commanded.
I felt a cold prickle of anger. "What do you mean? I was hired to serve drinks, not to be one of your... girls. I'm not a prostitute."
Madam Azon's face flushed with rage. "If you'll excuse us for a moment, Mr. Sy," she said through gritted teeth.
The men stepped out, closing the door behind them.
"Don't be a hypocrite, Gabriela!" she hissed. "I know you need the money, especially with your father still missing. You should be grateful I'm offering you this sideline. Mr. Sy is very generous."
"I don't care. I'm not doing it," I snapped. "Can I leave now, Auntie? I have work to do before the bar opens."
"Remember who you work for!" she barked.
"How could I forget? This place was built from my parents' sweat and blood."
That was the breaking point. Aunt Azon lunged forward and snatched a handful of my hair, yanking my head back.
"You're an orphan now! Your father is never coming back—remember that!" she snarled, her grip tightening. "You are my niece, which makes you my responsibility. You will obey me. Do you understand?"
"Madam Azon, please! That's enough!" Anastasia cried, rushing forward to pull her hands away.
Aunt Azon finally let go, shoving me toward the door. I scrambled out of the office with Anastasia on my heels, only to find the two men still waiting in the hall. Mr. Sy—the older one—gave me a sickeningly slow smile.
I rolled my eyes and stepped right into his space. "Excuse me. You're blocking my way."
I shouldered past them, bumping him hard as I went.
"Bestie, wait for me!" Anastasia called out, pausing to bow. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Sy!"
Behind us, I heard the older man, Arnulfo, chuckle. "I like her."
Jasper, his son, just stared after us with a poker face. "Dad, are you really doing all this? For that woman?"
"Yes, son," Arnulfo replied, his eyes following me. "I want her."
Jasper looked at his father with pure annoyance. "Whatever. You're a maniacal pervert."
In the Shadows of the Office Alone in her office, Aunt Azon stared at Robert's weathered journal, her eyes red and swollen.
"I'm sorry, Robert," she whispered, her voice breaking. "But I need her help to find you."
Meanwhile, in Khastriya... The air in the dark kingdom of Khastriya was thick with sulfur. The evil Queen Amanda stood over her prisoner: Lalahon, the ancient Goddess of Harvest and guardian of volcanoes. In the old Visayan tales, Lalahon was the protector against wildfires and earthquakes, but here, she was in chains.
"Bow to me!" Amanda commanded.
Lalahon lifted her chin, her gaze unwavering. "I glorify no one. Your heart is stone; remain as you are!"
Amanda's lips curled into a cruel smile. "If that's the case... by the power granted to me in the name of Sitan, I curse you!"
As Amanda's laughter echoed through the chamber, Lalahon's divine glow faded. Her skin withered and her back bent until she was transformed into a frail, nameless old woman.
Gabriela That night, the club was louder than usual. Following my aunt's orders, I sat at the VIP table with Senior Arnulfo's friends and his son, Jasper.
"Such a young lady," one of Arnulfo's associates remarked, leaning in. "What's your name?"
I forced a tight smile but said nothing.
"You seem uncomfortable," Jasper noted, his eyes scanning my face.
"I am," I replied coldly. "I'm a waitress, not an entertainer."
Before he could respond, Aunt Azon appeared and pressed a glass of wine into my hand. "What's this for?" I asked.
She leaned in, whispering into my ear, "Drink it. It'll help with the nerves."
"No, thanks," I said, trying to hand it back.
Her expression shifted. "Excuse us for a moment?" she said to the table, her grip tightening on my arm as she pulled me aside.
"What is wrong with you?" I hissed once we were out of earshot.
To my shock, Aunt Azon's eyes filled with tears at the mention of my father. "I am doing this for you, Gabriela. And for my brother."
"What are you talking about?"
"I've been investigating," she whispered urgently. "Senior Arnulfo Sy is a high-ranking member of the Black Dragon Syndicate. Your father wasn't just 'missing'—he was on a mission to take them down."
My heart stopped. "How do you know this?"
"His journal. When the police returned his effects, I found it hidden. He left messages for you and Kevin." Her gaze turned fierce. "I'm with you, Gabriela. But we have to play their game to get the truth."
I looked at the wine, then back at her. "I'm in. What's the plan?"
She gave me a grave warning. "Be careful. I won't let them take you. If they try anything, tell me—I'll be happy to put a rifle bullet through their heads myself."
I nodded, feeling a surge of adrenaline. Justice for my father.
I returned to the table, put on my best mask, and sat beside Senior Arnulfo. I didn't realize that while we were talking, someone had spiked the drink my aunt gave me.
"Did she scold you?" Arnulfo asked, his voice oily.
"No," I replied, holding his gaze. "She just told me something I found... very interesting."
"Oh? And what was that?"
"It was about you." I looked deep into his eyes and took a long sip of the wine.
Almost instantly, the room began to tilt. My head grew heavy, and a dark veil started to pull over my vision.
"Are you okay, sweetie?" Arnulfo's voice sounded like it was underwater.
That was the last thing I heard before the world went black. As I slipped into unconsciousness, I felt his hand slide onto my leg.
TO BE CONTINUED...