Chayse knew it wouldn't be an easy task.

Bukod sa kailangan niyang maging maingat para hindi matunugan ng nakababatang Neverwood ang pagsunod ni Chayse sa kanya, the fact that the darkness of the sky gave Evil a perfect camouflage while in his crow form didn't help her much either. Black feathers that blended into the night so well that even her own tracking device is put to the test.

The dot on her screen flickered.

She couldn't even see him in the sky anymore!

"Paano mo huhuliin ang isang ibong ayaw naman magpahuli?"

After a calming breath, she pressed harder on the gas and sped over several trash cans blocking her way. She barely recovered from the impact before the engine roared again, accelerating to keep up with the target. Kapag nalaman na naman ng kanyang seniors ang kanyang "reckless driving" gamit pa ang kanilang motorbike, she'll probably be banned to use the study lounge and pantry area for a whole month (at best). Chayse doesn't even want to think of an even worse punishment than that.

'Just follow the signal, KC. Follow the signal and you'll be fine.'

But her resolve slowly crumbled when she saw where Evil was heading.

Sinalubong ang dalaga ng dilim. Labag man sa kalooban niya, itinigil niya ang motorbike at bumaba rito. Chayse had to blink once, twice, to adjust to her new surroundings. On a normal occasion, she can maneuver the bike through these dense trees, but Chayse doubts she'll be able to do it at nighttime. The roots and the uneven ground would only do her more harm than good.

Sa sobrang tahimik ng paligid, magiging agaw-eksena ang tunog ng makina. If she does that, she would either get Evil's attention or the attention of some vicious animal lurking the area.

Chayse frowned, glancing at the screen where the dot still flickered ahead.

"What in the world is he doing inside the forest?"

*

Hindi alam ni Chayse kung gaano katagal na siyang naglalakad.

With her phone's flashlight as the only source of illumination, she can barely make it through the cluster of trees and bushes. Sa kapal ng mga dahon, hindi na halos tumatagos ang liwanag ng buwan dito. Kanina pa rin siya nakakarinig ng mga kuliglig at kaluskos sa 'di kalayuan. Chayse tried to calm herself down, knowing very well that panicking in this situation would only be a waste of energy.

...and would probably just make her a prey to whichever animal finds her first.

"Nasaan na ba ang isang 'yon?"

Chayse glared at her phone's screen as if she was glaring at the notorious Neverwood himself.

It doesn't make sense! Halos hindi na gumagalaw ang target base sa activity nito sa screen, pero hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring anumang indikasyon na narito si Evil. Chayse used the binoculars stuffed inside her satchel and kept looking up at the trees, but she couldn't find a crow anywhere. She trekked silently and peeked behind every tree trunk and plant, but it was no luck.

'Lalabas kaya siya kapag naglapag ako ng bird feed dito?'

Damn, sana pala nagdala siya.

But Chayse wasn't going to give up now. Not when the future of Eastwood and the life of innocent civilians depend on their cooperation to take down EKT. Hindi lang ang buhay niya ang nakasalalay rito, at hindi mabibigyan ng hustisya ang mga taong naging biktima ng tournament kung hindi niya makukumbinsi si Evil sa alliance na ito. That alone is enough reason for Chayse to keep moving forward, for the hopes and dreams of everyone who deserves a chance to live their life to the fullest...

"Mark my words, Evil: I will always fight for the little good left in this world."

She gripped her phone a little tighter, glancing once more at the screen.

Doon niya lang napansing paubos na pala ang battery nito.

No... No, no, no, no, no!

Shit. Naiwan ni Chayse ang powerbank niya sa compartment ng motorbike! But she can't go back now, not when she already walked this far into the heart of the forest. Mahihirapan na rin siyang i-retrace ang daan pabalik kung mawawalan siya ng flashlight.

'Don't die on me now, stupid phone!'

To her horror and dismay, the dot on the screen flickered on more time as if teasing her...

Before the screen went blank.

It felt like a betrayal.

"Argh! Bakit ba ang malas-malas ko ngayong gabi?!"

Inis niyang sabi bago hinagis ang kanyang phone at naupo sa ilalim ng isang puno. Chayse frustratedly buried her head, hugging her knees closer to her. She was clumsy (very), but never misfortunate! Ano bang ginawa niya ngayong araw at mukhang ginalit niya ang Lady Luck? This isn't fair. She was tired, sleepless, and hungry... Chayse doesn't need to deal with this too.

'Hindi ako susuko. Hindi ako susuko. Hindi ako susuko!'

Taking in deep breaths, Chayse raised her head and tried to make sense of the landscape in front of her.

Hindi niya namalayang napadpad na pala siya sa isang bahagi ng kagubatan na hindi gaano kakapal ang mga puno. It was still dark, but compared to earlier, she can now actually see the outline of the forest floor thanks to the few rays of moonlight seeping through the canopy of trees. Pilit niyang inaalala ang kung saan huling nagkaroon ng signal ang tracking device.

'Up ahead?'

Chayse blinked. Once, twice.

Until she noticed another phone placed beside hers.

"Teka, wala 'yan kanina..."

Hindi naman siguro siya niloloko ng contact lens niya? Admittedly, all those years of studying, reading novels in the dark, and binge-watching her favorite K-drama series took a toll on her eyesight. Hence, she would either wear eyeglasses or contact lens (especially when she needs to go on missions assigned by the Rebellion). Maaaring namamalik-mata lang siya, pero sigurado siyang wala 'yong cellphone na 'yon kanina!

Frowning, Chayse crawled towards the device and studied it.

"An iPhone? Sino namang rich kid ang nakaiwan nito sa---AAAAAAHHHH!"

Everything happened in a split second.

Chayse's scream echoed throughout the empty forest, silencing the crickets and the gush of wind that followed her here. In that split second, the leaves beneath her rustled, a net appeared out of nowhere, and she was hoisted up in the air.

'A net trap?!'

Hindi siya makapaniwala! At sino namang magse-set up ng ganitong patibong sa gitna ng gubat, hunting is forbidden in Eastwood as far as she knows and....and...

....and a pair of dark eyes watched Chayse Dayanghirang from his casual position, perched on a tree branch in front of her as if he was an apparition of royalty. Isang iritableng ekspresyon sa maamong mukha ni Evillois Neverwood.

"You mortals really have a death wish, don't you?"

---

"He was the king of chaos,
an empty vessel, no emotion;
He plays this chess called life,
and set the pieces into motion."

---Chayse Dayanghirang