Maya's story unfolded over cups of blood chocolate (her new favorite) and careful questions.
Marikit had found her in Cebu, a lonely teenager with no family, no future, no hope.
"She promised me power," Maya whispered. "Said I could be like you—famous, loved, important. I was stupid. I believed her."
The turning had been brutal—painful in ways Maya still couldn't describe. And afterward, Marikit hadn't been kind. She'd been demanding. Controlling. Threatening.
"She wanted me to spy on you. Infiltrate your community. Report back everything." Maya looked up, tears streaming. "But I couldn't. I watched your videos. Read your story. You're not what she said. You're good."
Glad pulled her into a hug. "You did the right thing coming here."
"But she'll find me. She'll—"
"She won't touch you." Glad's voice hardened. "Not here. Not ever."
She called an emergency council meeting.
"Marikit is alive. She's making Manananggals. And she's targeting us."
The council erupted.
"We need to find her," Luningning said. "Before she makes more."
"Agreed. But carefully. She's smart, she's ancient, and she's desperate." Glad looked at Maya. "You're the key. You know her patterns, her hideouts, her plans. Will you help us?"
Maya nodded, fear and determination mixing in her young eyes.
"I'll do anything to stop her."