After dinner, Dwight bid farewell to Reese, telling him he would pick him up tomorrow at 4 a.m. Then they went their separate ways.
When Reese got home and saw that it was only 8:15 p.m., he decided to meditate to calm his mind and pass the time.
-----
7 hours later.
On the dimly lit carnival grounds, two shadowy figures moved with purpose, their steps silent against the backdrop of the night.
They prowled through the deserted carnival, their senses attuned to any hint of the black mask man's aura. With the Eye of Shadows in hand, they sought to detect even the faintest essence of the black mask man's aura, but their efforts yielded no results.
Before they could continue, a man's voice distributed their concentration to detect the black mask man's aura.
"Hey, who's there?" the worker called out, his voice tinged with apprehension.
But before the worker could continue questioning the two individuals, one of the lieutenants, swift and silent as a wraith, surged forward, tendrils of shadow extending from his hand to envelop the man's mouth, stifling his cries. With a firm grip, the lieutenant dragged the struggling worker closer.
The worker's heart pounded in his chest as he stared into the crimson eyes of his captor, his fear palpable in the stifled breaths that escaped his gagged mouth. Regret flooded his mind as he cursed himself for not leaving the carnival grounds after the chaotic events of the previous night.
He didn't want to die, not like this, alone in the dark with only his own terror for company. But with the gag muffling his cries, he was powerless to plead for mercy, his fate now at the mercy of the two individuals.
"What should we do with this... pest?" one of the lieutenants whispered, his voice filled with malice.
The other lieutenant just stared at the human with disgust. "You don't need to ask; kill the human and dispose of his body."
The captive's eyes widened in horror as he heard the conversation between his captors. Desperation flooded his mind as he realized the gravity of his situation. He struggled against his bonds, but it was futile.
Without a moment's hesitation, the lieutenant raised his blade and swiftly beheaded the worker. Blood sprouted from the worker's neck like a fountain as his head rolled a meter away.
The two lieutenants, seeing the blood, were almost tempted to devour the body, but their mission was far more important than their appetite.
As the lifeless body slumped to the ground, the captors quickly moved to dispose of the evidence, leaving behind only darkness and the echoes of their grim task.
After the two lieutenants disposed of the body and cleaned the scene, they exited the carnival grounds like nothing had happened.
"We need to inform the others," one of them said, his voice low but urgent.
The others nodded in agreement. "Agreed. We'll convene at the usual spot."
---
In a secluded alleyway in the heart of Cebu City, the ten lieutenants of the League of Shadows gathered, their faces hidden beneath hoods, as they discussed their next move.
"We need to lure the black mask man out into the open," one of them said, his voice laced with determination. "But how do we do it? The second general wants us to be discreet."
The others exchanged glances, each lost in thought as they pondered the situation at hand.
One lieutenant, his voice a low whisper, suggested, "Perhaps we could create a disturbance, something that would draw his attention without alerting others."
Another nodded in agreement. "A staged incident, perhaps. Something that appears innocuous to outsiders but would pique the curiosity of someone like him."
The others murmured their approval, their minds already racing with possibilities. They knew that subtlety was key; they couldn't risk alerting the authorities or drawing unwanted attention to themselves.
"We'll need to plan carefully," one of them said, his tone grave. "But if we can lure him out into the open, we'll have the advantage."
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Then one of the lieutenants stepped forward with a glint of excitement in his eyes. "I have an idea," he announced, capturing the attention of the other lieutenants.
---
As the early morning darkness enveloped the Ramirez residence, the family prepared for their departure to Bantayan Island. Dwight, Chloe's personal bodyguard, was at the wheel, ready to drive Jasper and Chloe to their destination.
Chloe sat quietly in the backseat, her thoughts a mystery. Jasper exuded a sense of restless energy as he settled beside his sister.
Once everyone was settled, Dwight started the engine and eased the car out of the driveway.
As they made their way through the early morning streets, Dwight broke the silence with an unexpected announcement. "We need to make a quick stop at Guadalupe Church first. I have to pick up my cousin."
Jasper turned to Dwight, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Your cousin? What's this about? We’re supposed to head straight to Bantayan Island."
Chloe remained silent, her eyes fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. Her silence spoke volumes, though she chose not to voice her thoughts.
Dwight glanced at Jasper briefly before returning his focus to the road. "My cousin has been wanting to go to Bantayan Island for a while. He practically begged me to let him come along and relax. I figured it wouldn't hurt to have an extra hand."
Jasper's confusion deepened, his voice tinged with frustration. "Why wasn't I told about this earlier? I thought we had everything planned."
Dwight kept his tone calm and reassuring. "I understand, sir. This was a last-minute decision. My cousin is reliable and will make sure everything goes smoothly. You’ll see."
Jasper sighed, leaning back in his seat, still unconvinced. "Fine, but this better not delay us too much."
Dwight nodded, steering the car toward Guadalupe Church. The journey continued in relative silence, with the only sound being the rhythmic hum of the car engine. Chloe remained introspective, seemingly lost in her own world.
As they approached the church, Dwight slowed the car, scanning the area. He pulled over and parked the car, then took out his phone to call Reese.
"Hey, we're here," Dwight said into the phone. "Come on out."
A moment later, Reese emerged from the shadows near the entrance of the church, walking briskly toward the car. Dwight stepped out to greet him, exchanging a few words before they both returned to the vehicle. Reese climbed into the passenger's seat and greeted Chloe and Jasper in the back.
"Good morning," Reese said, his tone courteous yet formal.
Jasper studied Reese for a moment, curiosity evident in his gaze. "Morning. So, you're Dwight's cousin?"
"Yes," Reese replied simply, his demeanor calm and composed. "I'll be assisting with the trip."
Jasper nodded slowly, still processing the unexpected addition to their party. "Alright, let's get going then."
With everyone settled, Dwight resumed driving, merging back into the flow of traffic.
-----
After nearly three hours of driving, the car finally pulled into Hagnaya Port. The sun had begun to rise, casting a warm glow over the bustling harbor. Dwight expertly navigated through the early morning traffic, finding a parking spot near the ticketing office.
"Alright, we're here," Dwight announced as he turned off the engine. "Let's eat first and then get our tickets."
Jasper and Chloe stepped out of the car, stretching their legs after the long drive. Reese followed suit, taking in the lively atmosphere of the port. The trio followed Dwight and made their way to the nearest restaurant. After eating, they went to the ticketing office, where a small queue had already formed.
As they stood in line, Chloe suddenly suggested, "Someone will pick us up when we arrive in Bantayan Island. So why don't we just leave the car here at Hagnaya port. It would save us the trouble of dealing with the car on the ferry."
Dwight nodded thoughtfully. "That's a good idea."
Jasper and Reese nodded in agreement, appreciating the simplicity of the plan.
After purchasing their tickets, they moved to the waiting area, where they found a few empty seats. They had about 30 minutes until the next ferry departure, so they settled in for the wait.
Reese, wanting to break the silence and get to know his companions better, decided to strike up a conversation. "So, Jasper, Chloe, have you been to Bantayan Island before?"
Jasper glanced at Reese briefly, then returned his gaze to his phone. "Yeah, a few times."
Chloe nodded, her attention seemingly more focused on the view of the harbor than the conversation. "Yes, it's a nice place."
Reese tried to keep the conversation going. "That's great. I've heard the beaches there are amazing."
Chloe offered a small smile. "The beaches are really beautiful. You can rent bikes and explore the island."
Reese, sensing the conversation was struggling, decided to change the topic. "Do you guys have any favorite places to eat there? I've heard the seafood is incredible."
Jasper looked up from his phone momentarily. "Yeah, the seafood is good."
Chloe nodded again. "There are some nice restaurants near the beach."
Reese could feel the awkwardness growing with each passing moment. Determined to make one last attempt, he asked, "So, any interesting stories from your previous trips?"
Jasper and Chloe exchanged a quick glance before both gave curt responses.
"Not really," Jasper said, his tone indifferent.
"Just the usual vacation stuff," Chloe added, looking back out at the harbor.
Reese smiled awkwardly, realizing his efforts were falling flat. "Well, that sounds like fun," he said, chuckling nervously.
The siblings' lack of enthusiasm left Reese feeling a bit out of place. He decided to give up on the conversation and let them be. He leaned back in his chair, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Dwight, who had been watching the exchange with a knowing smile, leaned over to Reese and whispered, "Nice try, man. They're not exactly morning people."
Reese chuckled quietly. "Yeah, I noticed. Guess I'll just enjoy the peace and quiet."
Dwight grinned. "Don't worry. You'll get used to them."
As the minutes ticked by, the awkwardness slowly dissipated, replaced by a comfortable silence. Reese glanced at his watch, counting down the remaining minutes until the ferry's departure. Despite the initial awkwardness, he felt a growing sense of excitement for the journey ahead.
Reese had never been to Bantayan Island, even though it was only half an hour away from his house in Bogo City.