"Freymount Town, a town with a population of 3,455, living in peace regards to the solace from the creatures who almost took their town—and as to today's date, Freymount Town keep it safe and secured from anything that would step right into their town..." Stella immediately crumpled the page of her notebook, grunted by the fact that her information wasn't that strong to make it go viral. She threw it to the bin and reclined herself unto the chair.

Sobrang public na ng information na iyon and it wouldn't become intriguing kung ang ibibigay lang nila ay ang nakahain na mismo sa mga mata ng mga mambabasa. They didn't wan't that. They want to feed themselves if it's new and exotic. 

Ully coming from the bathroom saw weary Stella, he wiped his wet hair with a towel and sat on the couch. "Don't push yourself too hard on this Stels, we're just getting into the ride, remember?"

Umayos naman ng pagkakaupo si Stella at hinarap ang kaibigan pero agad din naman niyang inalis ang tingin nito sa kanya dahil wala itong pang-itaas na damit at tinuon sa notebook niya ang atensyon. "I know we just got into the ride but I'm too eager to dig deep about this town—a-and about this vampire girl!" she grunted.

Ully wore a plain white shirt and layer it with a thin-texture gray sheath coat. He walked to Stella and massaged her shoulder. "We may not have the information we needed right now, but I'm too positive that we will get it and we can be big right after!"

She smirked and he pressed his hands on her shoulder. "You were my fighting spirit Ully. You bring the positivity in me when I'm too deprived of our work."

"Well, that's what are friends for right?" He smiled, showing off his white even teeth.

Her smile slipped away. "Yeah, I know..." she continued and stood up from the chair. "And as you're now prepared. I gotta go change myself."

"I'll be waiting, Stels." He winked and he then prepared his camera bag.

Tumungo naman sa bathroom si Stella to change her outfit. The public dinner was set off to be discretionary which means it is should be descent and of course, respect each other as it is the main purpose of the event. Keep everyone in a state of helping and security to provide more than what the town can offer.

Stella removed her clothes and put on her green slip dress. She looked herself in front of the mirror, turning around to make herself comfortable and see how the hem of her dress dances to the waves it created. Mula sa pagkakatali, inilugay niya ang kanyang buhok and it complemented her outfit. She doesn't wear too much makeup but a loose powder will do and red matte lipstick to give more shape to her lips.

When she's done, she headed out of the bathroom giving Ully a sight to view. She just let him looked at her. It is some kind of appreciation she thought. And Stella knew how to make a man fall for her—not just Ully.

Napangisi na lamang si Stella. "Keep your mouth closed, Ully."

She chuckled and shook his head, he stood up and comes closer to his friend. "Wow! That's the only thing I can say. Halos magkasama na tayo but I can really say you even get prettier every damn day. How did you do that?"

Pinalo naman ni Stella sa braso ang kaibigan. "Don't make me flatter myself, Ully dahil papaniwalaan ko talaga 'yan and it's nothing in my power what I can do, I just do it naturally. Maliit na bagay."

He nodded, so amazed, and guffawed. "Well, that's an understatement."

"Well..." Stella giggled. "By the way, we should go now. We can't let the story go off this time. Ayoko nang mahuli."

Stella picked up her clutch bag, and to never forget her notebook and a ballpen. Ully grabbed his camera bag and together they left the motel which their temporary stay-in home for a few days and nights in the town. They paid for it and everything came from their own pockets. They don't have any allowances as they are both independent journalists. Sa mga raket lamang sila kumikita. Mga commission na hindi gano'n kalakihan ang bayad. Sharing the same bed wasn't a bother for both of them. Ang mahalaga ay makakuha sila ng impormasyon patungkol sa Freymount at sa mga nilalang na nabuhay noon.

Nagsisimula na ring magdilim ang kalangitan mula sa kaninang kahel lamang. Hindi rin kalayuan ang Chieftain Hall mula sa motel na kanilang tinutuluyan. Some people would objectify their stay in that place because people nowadays would only think the manner of two-person does intimate things inside, but what the motel does was to accompanied such out of town people to have stay-ins. In short term, a motel means for people who traveled from town to town.

Nang manataw nila ang chieftain hall, they were bound to encounter a statue where it has no head but the rock body was still formed and sturdy on its feet—just the head was gone. Ully took a photo of it as it might be another story to tell.

They headed to the hall along with the other guests. They find them very sophisticated and glamorous. They were also amazed by the fact that every one of them valued the celebration they are doing. What may be happening a long time ago brings them a lot of sense and unity.

"Ully!" Stella called her as he was keeping himself busy taking video of everybody. Stella grabbed his arms and they enter the hall.

They bound to greet by soft noises and chitchats from everybody. They were also blinded by the lights coming from everywhere, and the chandelier at the center of the hall screams luxury. They make their way searching for the Chieftain. After jamming around the crowd, they found him talking with some associates and guarded by his security.

"So, Stels, how do we plan to get into him?" Ully asked.

Stella shrugged off. "I don't know, but we should find some ways." Ully creased his forehead when she said that. When it comes to this part, Stella always envisions herself to attain what she needed and this time, he's seeing it again on her. "Alam ko na." Isang ideya naman ang pumasok sa isipan ni Stella.

"Would you mind telling it to me?"

"There's no time, tara na." Hinigit ni Stella ang kamay ni Ully papunta sa gitna ng hall, sa ilalim ng chandelier. Mabilis na iniharap ni Stella si Ully sa kanya at humugot ito ng malalim na hininga. "This means nothing, Ully, okay?"

He just showed a steady face. "Ano bang gagawin at ano iyon, Stels?"

She didn't mind answering him instead, she cupped her hands on his face and in a sudden—she kissed him. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Ully sa ginawa ng kaibigan at hindi niya alam ang gagawin and he only wanted to ride what's Stella's doing kaya hindi niya ito pinigilan. And what he thought, the chandelier resembles the mistletoe which they kissed under the hanging crystals. Mabilis din naman nawala doon ang pag-iisip ni Ully nang umalis si Stella mula sa pagkakahalik sa kanya. Inagaw ni Stella ang kamay nito at niyakap niya sa kanyang sarili.

He still doesn't know what's happening.

Until she pushed him away and started to make a scene. Gulong-gulo si Ully sa ginawa ng kaibigan but slowly, he started to understand what she's trying to do and he just have to ride with it. Dinuduro-duro ni Stella si Ully. "You have no right to do that to me! I shouldn't have come here with you!" she exclaimed, bursting with anger.

"Oh, my love. I can't let you go."

"Let go your face!" she rebuked, crossing her arms. "You know what, I should go and leave you here in this miserable town!" by what she says, she caught a lot more of attention and was ashamed by the word she used. She couldn't take the sharp looks that have been given to her right now. Gusto niyang tumakbo at umalis na lang sa party na ito but she can't, she has to play with it.

"Don't leave me here, honey."

Honey, what the fuck, Ully? she thought on her mind.

"Hey, hey, hey." They were attended by security trying to settle down the situation. They started to hear some gossips about them, some may notice both of them earlier on the streets. Somehow they managed to keep their character until the chieftain come to their direction. "Please, show some respect." The security said giving his way to his boss.

The chieftain stopped infront of the journalists. "Who's leaving the celebration?"

"I am, sir," Stella stated, trying to look reasonable. "And by means of leaving, as in right now."

"No, no, no," mabilis na pagpigil ni Chieftain Clements kay Stella. He also noticed the notebook on her hand kaya hindi niya ito dapat palampasin dahil kung hahayaan niyang umalis ang babaeng ito. It would only create a bad image in his town—hindi niya ito mapapayagan. "You don't say my town is miserable, do you?"

"I just did. What else I can say?"

"You can drop all those in your mind, miss... what's your name?"

"I'm Stella Escott."

"Nice to mee you Miss Escott. I am Roman Clements, and I can tell that you and your buddy here were reporters?"

"Journalists," she corrected, "we are independent journalists and we chose this town to do our next project but as we can see, there's nothing but just a glamorous celebration like this every year. What else can we expect?"

"Stella, you don't have to leave right now," Ully chimed in. Still acting his part.

"I won't if Mr. Clements would accept my request to ask him a few questions or else, you will find not a very good image on our online blogs."

Chieftain Clements chuckled. "If that's what you want, I can take you a few minutes after the celebration to answer your questions, is that okay?"

Stella nodded, confidently. "Of course, that would be fine for me."

"Good to know that. I hope you will enjoy the rest of our celebration and of course the town," he said. "We'll talk again later, and don't forget to forgive your boyfriend." He chuckled as he made his way back to other guests.

Nakahinga nang maluwag si Stella nang mapagtagumpayan niya iyon. She's a really good actress, but she doesn't want to be in that kind of spotlight at ang gusto niya ay ang maihilira sa mga tanyag na journalists and this time, she can see that this will create a big mark on her career.

Kinuha ni Stella ang kamay ni Ully at inilayo nila ang sarili nila sa kumpulan ng mga tao. Ully couldn't believe Stella can do that, natatawa na lang din ito dahil sa huling sinabi ni Chieftain Clements na boyfriend niya ito. Well, he's still shocked about the kiss but he knew, Stella wouldn't look at it any further.

Nang mapunta sila sa isang sulok ay doon sila nakampante dahil wala nang nakakakilala sa kanila doon. Nadala siya ng emosyon sa ginawa niya kay Ully kanina. Though the kiss wasn't meant to be something, ginawa lang niya iyon para simulan ang kung anong maari niyang gawin. It is her way to eliminate something that should never occured to happen.

"I'm freezing," her voice is shaking. She's rubbing her arms to keep them warm. Napansin naman iyon ni Ully kaya dali-dali niya ring tinanggal ang suot niyang coat at pinatong ito sa balikat ni Stella. "You're really a lifesaver, Ully. Bakit ba kasi naisipan kong mag-sleeveless din."

"I thought you didn't care, but the cold bothered you now, eh," Ully chuckled.

"Hey, you guys!" Mabilis namang tumapon ang atensyon ng dalawa sa lalaking tumawag sa kanila. At first, nagtataka pa sila dahil wala namang nakakakilala sa kanila dito kaya imposibleng may tumawag na parang close kung tawagin ang kanilang atensyon. They are strangers to this town yet they find it very mysterious and meticulous that they want to stay to know what's more behind this town. When he came close to them, they recognized him from the event earlier. "Good to know you attended the celebration. How was it?"

"It's great! We wouldn't want to miss it anyway," Stella responded.

"That's right, and we already got an appointment with Chieftain Clements after the celebration," Ully said.

"Oh, wow! That's great. Most of the days, Chieftain Clements didn't entertain such media news but I'm glad you did... and also, just a reminder,  you have to ask the yearly victim of the celebration."

Nagkatinginan ang dalawa. It is like a piece of new information was born sa sinabi nito. "What do you mean by the yearly victim?" Stella asked.

"Hindi niyo ba alam?" the thirty-eight-year-old man questioned.

Umiling naman ang dalawa. "No, sir, we don't," Ully said.

He nodded. "That's odd because every year, there will one person who's gonna dressed like Aletheia and wander on the street of Freymount—being punished and tortured but every year, this thing becomes a supernatural event that happened to every single portrayer of her that gets to be killed..."

"Just like what happened earlier!" Ully gasped.

He nodded, confirming it. "Yes. The one that you saw... and it will just add up to the names of the victims. Gladly, the girl was rescued immediately but she lost too much blood that's why she had to be in the hospital for few days."

"But why does it happened?" Stella asked, writing all the details on her notebook.

The man shrugged off and shook his head. "That's out of my knowledge. Wala nang nakakaalam kung bakit nangyayari iyon taon-taon. Who knows, maybe Chieftain Clements had the answer, right?"

"Thank you sir..." Stella said, "I'm sorry but we didn't get to know your name, what's your name?"

The man nodded and chuckled. "Of course, I am Elius."

"Nice to mee you, Elius." Ully reach out his hand. "Thank you for sharing that story with us. You must trust us for doing that and it would be a big help on our project."

"No problem. I'm glad I helped you out. By the way, see you around. I need to see some of my friends."

"See you around!" Stella smiled.

"Thank you, Elius," Ully said as he left.

Humarap si Stella sa kaibigan. "There are so many things to add up to the story now. How can we put it all together?"

Napataas ng kilay si Ully. "Maybe we need more, Stella. One person doesn't always signify its story and its fact. Kailangan pa natin ng iba and it would be good and we can weave our great project."

"Yeah... but I think, we should enjoy the party now."

"Absolutely, we should," Ully agreed.

Dumaan naman ang isang waiter sa harapan nila na may dalang wine glasses, pinahinto nila ito at kumuha mula sa tray. Getting their own glasses, muntik pang matapon sa kanila ang tray nang may isang tao ang bumangga sa waiter—mabuti na lamang ay maingat din ang waiter at naunahan niyang kumalat pa sa mga guests. Stella almost lost her balance, nasalo naman siya nang bumangga sa waiter at itinayo kaagad siya nito. He wasn't looking into her, basta naglakad na lang siya palayo. Stella and Ully followed the person who hit the waiter but then he was gone.

The waiter apologized and let the scene goes off. They couldn't wait to reach the end of the celebration, so they can have a private talk with the chieftain. And Stella couldn't be more proud of herself, she can pull it off and act and also interrogate the town's chieftain.