- 8 -

"You let me go!" She shrieked, "Dad! Help me!" "How persistent of you…" Said the lady, "Tell me where he is!" "How many times do I have to tell you?" She growled, "I don't know him!"

"It's only me and my father!"

"Lies! Where is Joshua Langata?!"

"I don't know him!"

"You little brat! Take her to her room and lock her up!"

Two men appeared mysteriously and grabbed her. She starts screaming and tries to struggle for freedom. When they arrived, they pushed her and locked the door. She got up then starts slamming the door. "Let me out!" She shouted. No response. She then lie on bed then starts crying. "Paginoon, patulong mo ako…" (Lord, please help me…) She pleaded, "Ayaw ko na dito… (I don't like it already…) I want my dad to save, I beg of you." She then heard the door unlocked. She looked at the door. She thought it was her dad, but to her dismay, a teenage girl, about her age, walked in. Then the door was locked again. She then sat up for a while.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Faith Raphael Imperno. I'm sorry that my mom held you captive."

"That's your mom? She seems a bit to young to be your mom."

"She adopted me when her first child died."

"Your mom's really crazy. She keeps tell me 'Where's Joshua? Where's Joshua?' Who is he?"

- 9 -

"Joshua Serene Langata is the only son of the Langata Family. He was also the last of the family blood. His power stays dormant, but there are rumors saying that his powers will defeat my family, The Imperno, once and for all. My family were scared about his powers and decide to kill him before he was born. However, we didn't succeed. He was already born and his family escaped. We soon follow, but his father Allen Langata placed a curse on my family and couldn't escape. Of course that curse is a cost for his life, thus he died. We try to undo the curse, but we curse the town itself."

"When it's day time, Serene is just like the way it is. When it's dark, Darkness shrouds Serene and monsters appear."

"My family however, they can control them. What they did is…"

"They scare off tourists out of Serene Darkness, because your people doesn't want visitors."

"My family is making a ritual so Dios would undo the curse for us."

"I feel sorry for your people…"

"Thank you for your condolences. By the way, how do you know Serene Darkness?"

"My dad told me about it. He wanted to take me there on my sixteenth birthday."

- 10 -

"Really? I've turned sixteen two days ago."

"Happy belated birthday then. May the Lord bless you…"

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Now about your father, can you tell me a bit more about him? I'm a little curious about him?"

"People call him the Filipino Sherlock Holmes. Brendan Case can solve anything impossible. He travels all over the Philippines, solving problems and capture the criminals. When he was young, he watch many mystery shows. Then he decides to be a detective when he grows up. Then he's now the famous detective of the Philippines. I always wanted to be like him when I grow up."

"That's very interesting. Your father may find puzzles that are quite challenging."

"Oh yeah? He can solve them with two hands tied around his back!"

"You're kidding…"

"No I'm not!"

The girls starts laughing. "I'm glad that I met you Anya Case." She giggled. "I'm glad to meet you too Faith." She laughed. Then the door was unlocked. "Well, I'd better go." She said, "I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Anya." She left then the door was locked again. She lie down again. "Dad, please save me." She sighed, "I've got nothing do here, but at least I have someone to talk to." She grabbed the cross from her necklace and kissed it. "Lord, My Father. Please send a message to my dad so he would know that I'm not hurt. Salamat Paginoon…" (Thank you God)

- 11 -

"Allen, your people are dwindling. Give it up and join me, my family, The Imperno."

"I am not gonna serve Her. She wants you to cause utter chaos to the world! You have to snap out of it Daniel! You've been brainwashed!"

"Nonsense! You are the one who's brainwashed Allen! You once belong to us!"

"Lies! I'm never an Imperno! You are trying to manipulate me. It will not work Daniel. As a Langata, I am a Langata. Once my son's born, Dios and your people will be banish from this world forever!"

"You're bluffing!"

"Paginoon answered my people's prayers and my son will be granted that power."

"Dios will stop your son's birth!"

"What?!"

"Yes… Your wife is our offering."

He snaps his finger revealing…

"No…"

"Dad! Help me!"

"ANYA!" He shouted, breathing heavily. As he open his eyes, it didn't respond. "What's going on?" He said, "Is this the town's doing?"

- 12 -

"Do not be afraid…"

"Paginoon? Ikaw yan?" (God? Is that you?)

"Oo, ako si Paginoon." (Yes, I am God)

"Paginoon, bakit ang akin mga mata sarado?" (Lord, why are my eyes closed?)

"You will witness Night time Darkness. You will face many challenges."

"I'm well prepared and ready."

"Very good."

"I have one more to ask before you open my eyes."

"What is it?"

"Is my daughter alright? Is she hurt?"

"Anya is fine. She really misses you."

"Ok…"

"Now go. Your daughter is waiting for your arrival."

When he opened his eyes, everything changed: The floors were replaced with rusty metal, the walls are covered in dry blood, and the furniture look demon-like. "So this is the other side of Serene Darkness…" He awed. He grabs the bag and his coat. He left his room then looked at the hallway. The only thing he could smell is blood. Suddenly, his pocket radio starts giving off static. "What the…" Then he saw a monster appeared from the stretch of the shadows. Its skin was cloth-like, covered in blood, it had a hollow eye socket and carries a crowbar. "What is that thing?" He grabbed his gun then shot it two times. The creature was down and the radio static died down as well. "Well this radio seems special…" Then he thinks of the creature. "I've never seen anything like it…" He hummed.

- 13 -

His bag starts glowing. He grabs the glowing journal. As he opened it, the picture of the creature appeared as if it was written. Then the info of it appeared beside it.

Langata Journal Entry:

Follower

A very weak monster of the Imperno Family. It's height is the same as a child. It carries a weapon of any kind and attacks savagely, but its speed is very low and easy for the victims to escape. Kill it with at least three shot if you are carrying a gun or grab its weapon then kill it.

"So it's called a follower…" He repeated. He then starts to wonder. "Does Anya found some of these journals blank?" He grabs a scroll from the bag then opens it. It was the same writing he saw from the chest when he was a kid. "Well, this is the same writing." He laughed softly, "Looks like she can't read them yet." He placed both the journal and scroll back. He continues walking. When he reached the stairway, they stairs were missing. He starts thinking for a bit.

Few minutes later, he returns with a bucket of blood. He threw the contents and the blood revealed the stairs. He goes down slowly. By the time he reached ground floor, static starts to give off.

"My lady, a detective keeps killing our followers."

"How very persistent of him. He's just like that girl. Stop him from ruining the ritual!"

"Yes my lady…"

He stepped out of the hotel after killing the swarm of followers. Night time Darkness is a complete metallic graveyard. Life is dead, nothing's growing. "How awful…" He sighed.

- 14 -

"Paginoon, if you could hear my request, please… let… my soul… be with my Joshua…"

"Your request is granted Allen. May you watch over your son Joshua peacefully."

"Salamat… Paginoon…"

Brendan looked at the town map. It changed and showed additional locations. Without a fuss, he continues his search. After three hours, he sat down, moping. "I've looked everywhere…" He sighed, "Some father I am. I never spend time with my family. I'm starting to lose hope in myself. I am such a lousy detective. I can solve anything, but I can't find my daughter. Anya, I failed as your father. I lack the responsibilities of being one…"

"Do not say that! You taught your daughter many things about your mysteries."

He turned around and saw the same boy. He stood up.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"My name is Joshua Serene Langata. My purpose is to destroy the Imperno Family for my family's sake."

"My name's Brendan Case. Why must it be your purpose?"

"My family, The Langata, had a terrible feud since the beginning of time."

"What's it about? I'm curious."