Narration: Finn

Ahhh, nothing like some good Guinness and watching some sports on the TV to relax after all this jetlag I had earlier. Sure, the bar had its activity with all the clanging of cutlery as well as the chewing and talking of the people here, but the music is quite the banger. Most likely techno, which was something I started warming up to last decade.

The sports show goes on an emergency announcement of a news broadcast that says the following:

“We are expecting this year’s Sinulog to have the highest yield of visitors compared to the last 30 years. As concerns of disappearances become an issue to the authorities during this important time, Mayor Alfonso Ramos had this to say for comment.”

The image of the news anchor changes to whom I assume is the mayor of Cebu in his office. The typical politician look. He follows up with his speech.

“We are making quick strides to accommodate the coming of many tourists from the Philippines and beyond for this year’s celebration. And thanks to our benefactors, such accommodations are possible. As for the disappearances, the authorities are well under way into busting numerous gangs in what seems to be a large human trafficking operation. These people will be brought to justice and the victims brought home to their loved ones.”

I hear a scoff from my earpiece, as I down the last of the Guinness. It’s Yazmin, our tech analyst and fellow agent back at AGON. She usually just communicates with us online since she isn’t a field agent. An Arab from Jordan, the lass ended up joining AGON after she hacked a server from one of our bases in Lebanon. They managed to convince her it was in her best interest to join them. However, it was not through punishment but reward as they have access to resources that she as a hacker and programmer could only covet above all. It helped that they paid for the lass’ education as well becoming one of the most infamous members of the Cybersecurity department in the organization. Of course, she is quite the prickly one. Not one of the nicest people to meet.

From my earpiece she said, “He may say that but good luck trying foil damned vampires or ghouls.”

I nod in agreement. “Aye. Never could really rely on local authorities. They are dealing with big fish.”

“I have contacted the division on the paranormal in Manila. Right now they have their own troubles dealing with aswang there. They are stretched thin.” I can hear her typing away on her keyboard.

" Right....” I call for the bartender. “Hey barkeep, another one, please.”

He nods and takes out a glass. He fills it up with some Guinness. I would have some whiskey but I have to be focused tonight. Our informants say the aswang usually move their victims from different parts of the city every 2 days. Makes them hard to detect. I see the bartender slide the drink to me.

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“Even so, typical security and police forces are hardly ever competent, especially with the types of syndicates growing here. They are bold,” She said as I downed my drink.

“Aye. Thanks for giving us another tropical country to go to. Couldn’t stand being out in the cold like back in Kamchatka.”

“Hey, if I was in your shoes, I would be kicking and screaming to assign me somewhere in my element. You wouldn’t catch me dead in fucking Russia. Just don’t get too comfortable. It’s still a field mission. I heard the situation here is no less volatile than when you were both in Brazil awhile ago.” Ah yes, Brazil. Fei and I are still on probation for the nonsense that happened there. For a scary-looking lass, she has quite the bleeding heart. It definitely worked against us, since our adversaries were gunning for her to take the bait. Don’t need to make the same mistake here.

I point my finger up showing that I just need one more drink and I am good. I continue while the bartender makes another cold one. “Another mission in a warm country with unstable political upheaval. It almost rhymes like poetry. Wasn’t that what George Lucas said about---”

Yaz interjects. “Don’t. Fucking. Start. Because if you do, we’ll be here all day talking about my love-hate relationship with you know what. I get angry just thinking about the direction they took for my favorite franchise.”

“Aye. Settle down. Settle down,” I chuckle. Yaz and her fixations. I was trying to say stuff in jest, but she always gets rigid over things that really shouldn’t be taken that seriously. I mean the last couple of those movies weren’t that bad. Aren't most stories simply about good and evil? Best we tell ourselves simple yarns to avoid the mess that is…real life.

I hear a tick on my watch and check the time. Dark already? Oh, well. I can always see Manchester United lose like they always should on another break.

“I should probably check on our ghostly lass. See if she has found anything interesting in her ops.”

I take one more drink and finish the glass, while paying the bartender for his service plus a good tip. “Knowing her, probably. Just tell her, we will make a move very soon on the aswang's base.” Yaz sends me the coordinates just as she finishes her reply.

I nod as I walk out the bar. “Will do.”

As I leave the bar, I notice it’s oddly calm outside. People here don't go out as much at this time like they used to. If they have to, they have to be at least in parties of four or five. The Aswang Brotherhood are not to be underestimated. They remind me of the ruthlessness of the Cartels of Xibalba and Mictlan. Violent, visceral, and the type that loves to leave a message, like the bodies they butchered. They come from an older, primal era, when humans feared those that lurked in the dark. Now, even the monsters fear those that shine in the light, the corporations and the governments that serve them.

Perhaps, this will be just another mission like all the rest. The lass is learning well, and she has done so much these last couple of years. Even so, something is bothering me. Don't know what. But I bet my thumb, I feel like we are being watched, and I am not talking about the aswang. I just hope the lass keeps her wits about her.

As I walk down the street, I see scratch marks on posters for the local festival that is coming up soon. I see the symbol of the aswang, a skull with jagged teeth jutting out with a long tongue pointing down. Seems vandalism is something the gangsters like to indulge in too.

Maybe I should have chosen more whiskey for that extra buzz.