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RAINE

I took my phone and typed the numbers of my sister who always spends her time alone during Christmas time.

"Pick up," I murmured as I waited for her to answer, not wanting anyone to notice my mixed emotions boiling up as I bit my lower lip.

It was at my third ring when the call was finally answered. "Hello?" her voice on the phone asked, seeming to be annoyed by the sudden message.

"Glad you answered," I replied, trying to sound casual.

"You know how much I hate it when someone disturbs my solitude during these hours?" she asked in her impatient voice.

"But you are awake and you must be celebrating there somehow," I said.

"Why did you call?" she asked.

"Elizalde managed to get a container with the same tablets that the victim took before the combustion," I answered. "I don't know if I am looking at her original food supplements or the evil pills that took her lights out."

"Oh really?" she asked.

"And I have this feeling that something must have happened to him," I answered.

Zane saw me, tapping my back, with no idea of what I just figured out.

"What happened? Was that your sister?" he asked.

"She just... Well..." I stammered, unable to identify the words I should say.

"What's that?" he asked once more.

"Pills," I replied. "I will examine this later today."

"But are you alright? You seem a little... pale," said Zane, brows furrowed in concern.

I took the wrapper with the coldness of the midnight hour accompanying the shivers I felt down my spine. I placed it back from the small box where it came from, putting it on a table beside me.

"Come on, dear. Let's pray first before eating," said Mrs. Nuñez as she stood beside me and Zane, organizing the food at the table with the other folks.

After the celebration where I tried to hide my guilt and conscience, I finally went towards the library again, away from Zane to gain solitude.

࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

THE afternoon arrived and I came upon the private hospital owned by my Ferrer cousins. All alone I went there to test the pills I gathered, with the box, wrapper, and container sent towards the other free workers for examination of their own.

With the help of trained two private doctor working at the hospital, the truth is that it was indeed a newly invented drug which triggers a combustion when mixed with a certain amount of water plus organs inside the body.

"Promise me you'll keep this a secret, Doctor Fajardo," I spoke towards the doctor as we finished writing papers for the experiment inside an isolated laboratory where we were the only ones inside.

"I promise," the forty-year-old man replied. They were the best in chemistry according to my observation and I knew I couldn't do the examination without experts. I had no choice but to gather people I trust most at the hospital where I mostly go ever since I was a little child, testing my discoveries.

Just as we were about to wrap things up, the other doctor, Doctor Padilla, who I entrusted with the other stuff came knocking at the door.

"I'll get it," said Dr. Fajardo as he went to the glass door and removed the lock before sliding it open.

Dr. Padilla came with the results printed on paper. She went inside the room and we once again gathered at that same office, the glass walls sealed by the door to prevent other people from coming.

"It turns out it was indeed from the man you call Elizalde. The DNA matched the ones from his records here in this hospital," she replied. "It has a high level of cortisol which just indicates he might have a rise in his adrenaline when that blood was shed."

After we analysed the report, my phone buzzed with a call from my sister. The office felt eerily silent, save for the faint hum of the air conditioning, with the two doctors gone to carry on with their tasks. I leaned back in the swivel chair, the worn leather creaking beneath me.

On the screen, she appeared seated at her desk, a dim glow casting shadows over her focused expression as her pen scratched against paper, ignoring my presence. I stared at the phone, waiting, the seconds stretching out. At last, the scratching stopped, and her eyes met mine, sharp and expectant.

"Update," she said, voice clipped, breaking the silence like a snap.

"I've already sent you the images of the results," I replied, keeping my tone steady. "Isn't that why you called?"

"Oh, right," she murmured nonchalantly. "Are you certain he's in trouble?"

"Actually, I was hoping for an update from you. Have you tracked him down yet?" I pressed.

"The search is still ongoing," Elizabeth replied. "We received a report that he hasn't returned home for two days. The family says he never misses Christmas dinners with them."

"He knew his life was at risk just for knowing about that invention, and now he's worsened it with this stunt," I said, frustration sharpening my words. "What is he trying to prove?"

"You need to understand him better, li'l sis," she replied.

"This isn't fair. Why won't you just tell me his biggest secret?" I shot back. "If you'd told me sooner, maybe we could have kept him out of whatever danger he's in now."

There was a pause, then Elizabeth replied, "I think you already have a clue."

"What are you talking about?"

"Merry Christmas, little sis," she said softly.

"I'm not finished-" The line went dead, her voice replaced by silence.

Left alone once more, I returned to the flat, a storm of unanswered questions whirling in my mind.

"Why did you leave without me?" Zane's voice sounded behind me, laced with a hint of disappointment.

"You're busy," I replied, barely meeting his gaze.

He reached for a cupcake from the table, eyes curious. "Want one?" he started, but I shook my head, my mind tangled with restless thoughts.

"It's yours," I said, turning towards my bedroom. "I need some rest."

Inside, I sank onto the bed, crossing my legs as I gazed out the window to my left. The sunset bathed me in its golden light, casting soft, amber shadows across the room. "Where are you, Elizalde? Why are you doing this?" I whispered, my voice lost to the quiet twilight.

My fingers found my phone, its screen dark and cold. I absently swiped over it, smudging the screen with faint fingerprints. "Are you alright?"

࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

IN THE DAYS that followed, there was no word from Zephyros. His loved ones had involved the police, urging them to find him quickly. I wrestled with unsettling thoughts-what if his secret was that he was struggling, perhaps even planning to vanish without a trace?

Returning home from Mrs. Nuñez's café, where I'd been reading, I noticed the flat's door was slightly ajar. Zane had gone out with his girlfriend earlier and had assured me he'd locked up before leaving.

I took a cautious step forward and nudged the door open. Just as my eyes caught a flicker of movement-a shadow shifting inside-the door swung inward, pulling me forward. I managed to slip my hand free just in time.

"Hello, li'l-" My sister stood before me, her curled hair framing her face, dressed in a pink coat and peach trousers.

"What are you doing here?" I cut in, barely masking my surprise.

"Care for an update?" she asked, glancing at her watch. "Come on, let's hurry before midnight strikes and the New Year begins. I refuse to kick off the year with an unsolved mystery."

She pushed the door wider, revealing another woman seated on the sofa in the living room. "Eteri Rylnn Magallanes," Elizabeth announced, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "Also known as Sunshine Grin."

The woman Elizabeth referred to as Eteri exuded a distinctive beauty, her vitiligo enhancing her elegance. She wore her hair in a neat low bun and was dressed in a tailored, knee-length white dress. A light cream cardigan draped over her shoulders, beautifully complementing her complexion.

"Lorraine Adriella de Verra," I said, extending my hand for a handshake.

"It's a pleasure to finally meet you," she replied, her wide grin warm and inviting. "I've heard so much about you and your impressive deductions."

"Would you... like some coffee?" I asked, hoping to extend hospitality and ease the awkward silence.

"We just had coffee earlier," Eteri replied. "But thank you."

As my gaze shifted to her, thoughts of her recent activities danced in my mind. "How did your workload go last night?" I inquired.

"Huh?" Eteri responded, feigning innocence.

"You spent the night out with someone-a gentleman, I presume. There's a hint of cologne on your cardigan that doesn't belong to you-unless you've suddenly developed a taste for men's fragrances," I replied, a teasing smile forming.

As I investigated, my gaze shifted to her hands. "There's a smudge of ink on your right pinky finger-likely from a pen. Archival ink, am I correct?"

"Raine, what are you doing?" Elizabeth interjected, a hint of exasperation in her tone.

"It's often found in libraries," I continued, undeterred. "And those eye bags suggest that after your date, you spent hours working hard in the library."

The woman furrowed her brow, glancing at Elizabeth. "That's quite the keen observation you've made, Ms. De Verra. Now you've given me the inspiration to help you."

"Help? How... exactly?"

"Ms. Eteri Magallanes owns a consulting firm where she serves as Operations Manager and also works as a Freelance Library Consultant," Elizabeth began. "According to Michael Tschudy, founder and CEO of David Edward Business Solutions, business consulting involves providing expert advice and guidance to organisations to streamline operations, achieve objectives, and tackle complex issues."

"And...?" I prompted, eager for more.

"This includes nonprofits, government entities, NGOs, and virtually any organisation striving for profit or a specific mission. Any organisation facing challenges in reaching its goals could benefit from a consultant's expertise," Eteri added. "And as a Library Consultant..."

I shot a glance at Elizabeth, struggling to mask my boredom at her companion's lengthy explanations.

"Our role primarily involves advising libraries on how to enhance their operations and services. This ranges from reorganising collections to implementing new cataloguing systems or even designing the layout of a new space to better serve patrons. We conduct assessments of existing resources, identify gaps or areas for improvement, and suggest ways to optimise everything from digital resources to physical spaces," she continued.

It was clear she was trying to match my bravado. I'm not one for lengthy explanations, yet this woman was impressive. She possessed extensive knowledge.

"We also focus on strategic planning-helping libraries adapt to changing needs, whether that means transitioning to more digital resources or finding effective ways to engage the community," she added. "What I worked on last night, after my visit, was reviewing the collection of rare books in a city library."

."Alright, let's get straight to the point," she chuckled. "I'll help you hide Zephyros Elizalde."

"How will you do that?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. "Hide? He hasn't even been found yet."

"Before you answer that, Eteri, I must mention that our agency has been tracking the newly invented drug's whereabouts for days, but we still haven't pinpointed the exact location of the company," Elizabeth said. "We received reports from other agencies in various countries regarding suspicious individuals linked to the invention, but they claim to know nothing."

"That invention-wasn't it developed here in the Philippines?" I asked.

"It was smuggled in from America. Rumours suggest they came here to avoid suspicion," she replied.

"Was the woman who was burned before the first victim?"

"The first was an elderly lady living alone in a house in the Visayan region," Elizabeth replied. "Ms. Bernal is their second test subject, which could ignite another rumour about a global phenomenon."

"Money and fame truly have a profound impact on people," I remarked, feeling a weight in my chest as an unsettling intuition crept in.

"Now, to answer your question, li'l sissy," Elizabeth continued. "Why don't you go check your bedroom?"

"Why? What have you done?" I asked, intrigued and eager to confirm the sudden intuition that had settled in my mind. I hurried to my bedroom, unlocking the door.

As I entered, my gaze fell upon something bumpy covered by my floral bedsheet. It was shifting, and my heart raced. "The tracker says he's here. His phone told us all about his whereabouts ," I heard Elizabeth's voice call from the living room.

I quickly yanked the sheet away, revealing a familiar man-half-naked, with his grey t-shirt lying beside him. My eyes widened, but as I instinctively tried to cover him again, he jolted awake, grabbing my hands tightly as a reflex, mistaking me for someone else.

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Disclaimer: The character Eteri (Sunshine Grin) is the property of MissNerdyGirl20. I sought permission from the author mentioned before including her character in my story. The main story featuring this character is from the book Patches of Purity. Events in this book may or may not be related to Eteri's original plotlines.