Carlos POV
Days turned into weeks, and sleep became optional. The case consumed us. I kept returning to Mina's neighborhood, hoping something—anything—would change. It never did.
"Ma'am, I really just need to speak with Mina," I pleaded again with her mother.
Like every other time, she looked at me with pure hostility.
"I don't care if you're a police officer," she shouted. "You can't force my child into whatever game you're playing! Leave before I report you to the barangay!"
The gate slammed shut in my face.
I let out a slow breath and walked back to my car. I was about to start the engine when I noticed someone watching me—half-hidden behind a pile of trash.
My heart jumped.
I stepped out quickly. "Mina?" I called.
She didn't answer. Instead, she handed me a folded piece of paper.
"Don't come back to the house," she said quietly. "But this will help you."
Before I could say anything else, she ran.
I opened the paper once I was back inside the car—and frowned.
It was just a drawing.
A diamond shape. A rose at the center. Thorns wrapped tightly around the stem.
What was it supposed to mean?
That night, I collapsed onto my couch, exhaustion settling deep into my bones. I stared at the drawing again, trying to make sense of it. Mina said it would help—but how?
"Damn," I muttered, rubbing my temples.
"What's that?"
I looked up. Elena was standing behind me.
"I honestly don't know," I admitted.
She stepped closer, then froze when she saw the paper. She picked it up, her brows slowly knitting together.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"I feel like… I've seen this before," she said.
I sat up straighter. "You're sure?"
Suddenly, she gasped, dropping the paper and clutching her head.
"Elena!" I stood up. "What's wrong?"
Her breathing became uneven. I reached out, but she stepped back.
"I—I need some air," she said quickly.
"Wait!" I called after her.
But she was already gone.
---
The next morning, I showed the drawing to the team. Within minutes, an emergency meeting was called.
"We went back to the bar where Anna worked," Luis said. "She was new—barely a week in. They said she was extremely thin when she arrived."
The screen lit up with photos.
"That symbol you brought," he continued, "was found tattooed on Anna's waist. And not just hers—every victim had the same marking."
My chest tightened.
"It's an identification mark," Luis added. "We traced it back to an organization operating in Manila—Black Moon."
Jenna took over. "They run illegal bars across the country. Anna used to work for one of them."
Luis nodded. "This isn't just about a murderer anymore. This is a syndicate. Powerful people. Dangerous people."
Silence filled the room.
We all knew what it meant. The job just became far more dangerous.
But none of us backed down.
---
Elena's POV
I watched Carlos from across the room, his eyes glued to his laptop. It was almost dawn, yet he still hadn't slept. I didn't want to disturb him.
My mind kept replaying what I saw earlier—what I felt—when I touched that drawing.
I saw Anna.
She stood in front of me as if we had known each other for years. She called me by my name.
"Ms. Elena, you need to leave," she warned. "Save yourself."
Those were the last words she said.
My heartbeat quickened as I looked down at my hand.
My breath caught.
There—on my skin—was the same tattoo.
The same symbol.
Exactly like the one in Mina's drawing.