Travelling the dark empty roads of Rizal province. The otherworlders are occupying themselves by mastering the phones gifted to them by Mateo.

  Being the first one to learn the basics. Claustrine teaches the others who now learning to type and use common functions such as typing and sending a message. And for their days learning the phone while on the road, they already learned a lot.

  Beltrand is enjoying listening to music with his earphones, Sophia is browsing the gallery where she takes so many pictures of herself and others while Claustrine teaches Shirna how to send a text message.

  "You already known what the letters mean right?"

  "Yes Claustrine except these symbols here. What are their purpose?" Shirna taps on an icon with switch to a keyboard full of non-alphabet symbols.

  "You should probably skip those for now. Even I don't have any use for them."

  "And these faces? They use to express emotions right?" Shirna change the keyboard to emoji board.

  "Correct."

  "Interesting idea. Why we didn't included something like this on handwritten letters?"

  "Because letters are very formal. You don't want to send a written report to Mr. Hilgurd with a wink face etched on it right?"

  The idea makes Shirna cringe.

  Mateo and Shiva in the front seats meanwhile are busying themselves talking about mundane topics.

  "Are you going to create Social Media accounts for them?" Shiva asked as he focused driving.

  "What do you mean?"

  "You already introduced them to the power of social media. Sooner or later, they gonna pester you to make them an account. It's better if you're prepared for that scenario."

  Mateo sigh on the thought.

  "I wish that's easy."

  "Isn't?"

  "Of course not. If it's the past, yes. But now we have to deal with sim card registration and that requires a valid ID. How we suppose to make them valid IDs first if they're literally aliens?"

  "That word again? What does that mean?" Claustrine overhears Mateo.

  "It means "out-of-this-world" Trinne."

  "I guess we really are in fact, aliens huh?" Claustrine ponders.

  "But we're not really look like that different. Well I guess I'm peculiar because elf and stuff. But still, we're quiet normal for this world's standard." Shirna joins the chatter. But his words make Shiva chuckle.

  "You surely do. You guys don't look like E.T or Xenomorphs."

  "Eee Tee?" Claustrine tilt her head slightly.

  "Senomorps?" Shirna do the same.

  "Why this chat turned into aliens? Can we go back to the the main topic?" Mateo sigh.

  "Ah right? You said we need some sort of ID right?"

  "Yup Trinne."

  "Is it similar to our adventurer's tag?"

  "Uhmmm... Yes a but a lot powerful. It represents that someone is in fact born and live in this country. A full blooded Filipino."

  "How powerful?"

  Mateo thinks for a moment then pulls his IDs on his wallets, showing it to Claustrine and Shirna.

  "Lets see... Valid IDs are used to get a job, to make a bank account, loan, credits, proof of authenticity, to access exclusive services which required such ID like healthcare and the main topic of us before it derail to alien talk - Creating a social media account."

  "You planning to allow us to use the Social Media?" Claustrine's interest is piqued which make her excited.

  "Yes Trinne. But I think this is not the time. Too many risks to factor."

  "Don't sweat it Mateo. If you think about it, it's not really that difficult. The Sim card registration is still a mess to this day. I heared in the news that fake accounts like Naruto Uzumaki got verified and accepted by the system." Shiva's non-chalant explanation.

  "Fucking hell." Mateo is in disbelief.

  "Besides, you have Ailan to do paperworks for you."

  "Ailan? Why he got involved to this conversation?"

  "Come on we all know that he's well verse on the underbelly of society. How you think he manage to scatter all those gold you selling to him without any suspicion?"

  The van went silent after Shiva speak his mind.

  Mateo want to reprimand his brother for saying such accusations but at the same time, he's making a lot of sense. It's been 3 years now since he started the deal with Ailan and that would mean he already sold so much gold that his friend would need to distribute it more than the legal means in order to spread it out and prevent it for making a trail that would lead to their group.

  "Don't get me wrong. I didn't mean Ailan is involved on more heinous crime like what you thinking now. I just saying that he might doing some shady things in order to continue doing business with you."

  "I understand. The gold I got to Yhigressia is not really legal by any means."

  "Exactly. You also should probably know why we suddenly do so many business ventures."

  Mateo is confused on the sudden switch of topic.

  "Huh? I thought you guys just want to become business tycoons on your own."

  "Of course not. It's to avoid suspicion from the people around us. What do you think would gonna happen if they suddenly see us having wealth while not finding any possible source of where it came from?"

  Mateo's expression turn serious as he thinks of the scenarios. From the least worrysome to the severe consequences.

  "That's the reason why we the Agbayani family now have a spot on the market, an auto-repair shop, dad having invested on cockfighting, and our sisters having numerous shops of varieties. A front to pretend that we become big by becoming entrepeneurs."

  "And Jade?"

  "I think he wants to pursue cullinary. He probably want to open numerous restaurants."

  Mateo smirks.

  "I wanna taste his cooking next time."

  Shiva sigh deeply.

  "Sorry for ruining the mood." Shiva sincerly apologize.

  "No worries. There's no good to ruin anyway as we talking about stressful topics." Mateo smile.

  "Thanks. But still, I believe you should ask Ailan for help if you asking for documentations. But for now, having a social media account might be a non-issue."

  "Noted."

  Far in front of them, they noticed a flash of light moving up and down. It obviously want to get their attention.

  "Are those carnappers?" Shiva is suspicious.

  "Lets find out. We can just fend them off if they turn out to be criminals." Mateo stays calm.

  Shiva slows down the van and as they got closer, they now see the ones waving the light. It's two figure looking at them with hope on their eyes.

  One is a man who waving the phone with open flashlight, standing beside him is a lady who obviously pregnant. Behind them is two travelling bags and further on the side of the road is a car with an open hood.

  "They seems in trouble. We should help them." Mateo's proposal. Calming himself when he sees that there's no threat.

  "Agree."

  Shiva stops the van in front of the what seems to be couple waiting for rescue. Mateo rolls down the window and face the man.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.

  "Need help?"

  "Oh thank god! Yes! We've been waiting here for hours now and you're the first one the we encounter." The man's friendly and hopeful explanation.

  "A very bad spot to have a faulty car especially on this time." Shiva speaks up as he look on their current location. The usual road with only trees on sight. Not even a street lamp nor electric pole on sight.

  Mateo look on the pregnant lady. She's timid yet hint of anxiety lingers within her. She seems afraid on them which is a normal response knowing that they are strangers.

  "Hop in. We gonna bring you to the next town." Mateo gives a friendly smile.

  The van opens and the otherworlders shows themselves to the couple which suprise them.

  "You guys bring out out baggages and put them on the rack above. Give them space." Mateo's order.

  Shirna climbs up and picks the baggage lifted by Beltrand then he secures them using a flexible rope. It takes a while before they finish packing up.

  The couple alongside Sophia is now on the middle row with their luggage under the seat. Mateo is still on the front seat while the rest are comfortably sitting on the back.

  "N-nice to meet you." Sophia's nice greeting. The pregnant lady nods then smile kindly.

  "Thank you."

  Mateo looks on the two from the front mirror. They seems to be on the age close to them.

  "You two seems traveling for a long distance? Vacationing perhaps?" Shiva asked.

  "Sort of. Actually, we came from Manila and we decide to go to my hometown and settle there instead. Far more healthy for our baby." The man smile as he gently carress the belly of his wife who gives him a loving smile.

  "Sadly, our car break down and we got stranded for hours. Thankfully, you give us a ride. We truly grateful." The lady's honest gratitude.

  "My name is Nathan and this is my wife Penelope."

  The others introduces themselves.

  "Is your hometown far away Nathan?" Shiva asked.

  "Ah yes. It's quiet a secluded backwater town."

  "Hmmm... I see. Is your town fun?"

  "Eh?" Nathan is surprsied on Mateo's sudden question.

  "You see, we're kinda doing a roadtrip vacation."

  "Ohhh... Then you're in luck! Tommorow is our town's fiesta. You guys should probably stay there and have a feast with us." Nathan is excited.

  "Babe are you sure? Your parents might be upset if we bring unannounced guests." Penelope's worry but Nathan seems unbothered.

  "It's more upsetting if we didn't pay back their kindness babe. I'm sure my parents would really understand once they know the story."

  Penelope smiles.

  "I trust you babe."

  "Guys what do you think?" Mateo asked his friends.

  "Sounds good to me!" -Beltrand.

  "I can't say to delicious food." Sophia is imagining the food.

  "Let's go." Claustrine smile.

  Mateo looks on Shirna only to see him looking at the couple with odd seriousness on his eyes.

  "Shirna?"

  Shirna hears Mateo and respond.

  "O-of course I'm in."

  "Good. Then Nathan lead us to your hometown."

  "Leave it to me." Nathan proudly proclaims.

  .

  .

  .

  After a short chatter. Everyone relaxed a little bit. Nathan giving instructions to Shiva while Penelope is sleeping beside him. The otherworlders as usual are entertaining themselves with their phones.

  BZZZTT!

  Mateo's phone vibrated.

  BZZZTT!

  After the second vibration, Mateo checks his phone and see a notification from a text message.

  It's from Shirna.

  He looks on Shirna and see him also staring at him with a serious expression, he give a nod. Mateo then looks on the text message and read Shirna messages.

  Shirna: ??????

  Shirna: Mateo

  Mateo raised his eyebrow after reading the unsual message.

  Mateo: What's wrong?

  Shirna: It's about our new friend here. ??

  Mateo: What about them?

  Shirna: They're suspicious ??

  Mateo: Huh? What's suspicious about them Shirna? One of them is pregnant and I don't sense hostility to Nathan.

  Shirna: I know that. ?? Penelope is safe. But Nathan. He is the one making me worry.

  Mateo becomes serious. There must be a reason why Shirna is alerted ever since he see him looking at the two.

  Mateo: How about Nathan? Do you notices something about him?

  Shirna: Yes. He smells odd. Very odd. I only smell a faint of it but I knew it'svunusual.

  Mateo: What he smells like?

  Shirna is typing...

  Shirna: Nathan smells like rotting flesh on a stagnant water. It makes me sick.

  Mateo: Are you sure you not smelling the Bagoong?

  Shirna: I know the smell of bagoong for crying out loud ??

  Shirna being their scout, his sense of smell is nothing to joke about. If he can smell something specific like that inside of their very own transport, he surely need to believe him.

  Mateo: Ok we're the only one that know this information but please Shirna don't show panic that would alert Nathan. Stay calm ok?

  Shirna: Ok. I'll do my best.

  Mateo: Good. For the meantime, update me if you find our more information about Nathan. Remember, just observe.

  Shirna stop replying. Mateo's calmness now gone after hearing the reports of Shirna. The thought that they're now harboring a monster inside their van makes everything complicated.

  What kind of monster he is?

  Is he strong?

  Mateo look at Shiva and becomes worried. There's so many uncertainty that makes him stop doing any actions. His brother's safety is his main concern as fighting on such confined space is going to be a guaranteed chaos.

  Adding the pregnant Penelope on the equation makes the situation 2x more tense and worse.

  Or what if Nathan is not a hostile monster like what him and Shirna first thought?

  With the current information he have. Mateo decides to stay calm and wait and observe. Just wait for an opportunity.

  "Your town is really secluded Nathan." Shiva commented as he see dirt road and the trees become even more overwhelming. Their only source of light outside is the lights of the van.

  The ride also becomes a bumpy one as the dirt road is not really a flattened surface with multiple small humps that make their vehicle shake a lot.

  "For real. Our town is not really touched by progress for a very long time. But that's for the good. Atleast we can still have simplicity of life." Nathan answers calmly.

  "But maybe progress a little bit. You know, ask for a concrete road." Mateo joins the chat casually to avoid suspicion.

  Nathan sighs deeply.

  "We already appeall so many times but the municipality hall refused. Stating that our town is just to isolated that it's not really worth it."

  "Nah. They just want to pocket the funds for their own." -Shiva.

  "That's one way to view it."

  "Despite all of that, you still want for your family to live there. Your place must be a very great place to stay." Mateo commented.

  Nathan smile gently.

  "You can see it yourself tommorow.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  It's 10:00 PM when they reach Nathan's hometown. The town is not really what they expected. It's really so isolated, more backwater than Ligaya's hometown they visited previously.

  There's no electricity. The houses source of light are coming from gas lamps except for a larger house who seems running in solar powered light.

  The houses got illuminated by the van's light and they see some of the home. They're very old school in design and materials used. The classic shelter made of coconut leaves or iron sheets for roofs, bamboo walls, wooden pillars for support and makeshift doors and windows.

  There's few parked vehicles outside consisting of tricycles and few trucks. The only transport of the town to sell goods to the nearby markets.

  The town is so secluded and out of progress that humming of cicadas are audible and flock of fireflies still roams around.

  "Come guys. Lets go to my parents house. You can stay there." Nathan's friendly invitation followed by Penelope who holding his hand as she walks carefully.

  Grand Ecstasy look at each other then decides to follow Nathan.

  "You know. This town reminds me of those backwater villages we visited in Yhigressia." Beltrand commented.

  "Same. But it baffles me that such town exist in such advance world. Considering all those places we visited here. This town is really an outlier."

  "Just to remind you Trinne. Towns like this still exist somewhere." Mateo tries to calm down Claustrine's curiosity.

  "But still, isn't this town have som-"

  Claustrine stops talking when she feel someone grabs her wrist. It's Mateo as he increase his grip. Mateo is not looking at Claustrine but she clearly read the message.

  "Nevermind."

  "We should not make our friend wait. Lets go."

  With Mateo's words, they follow Nathan until they reach a medium sized home made with the same materials as before. Nathan knocks to the door and they got greeted by an old couple.

  "Nathan! It's been a while!" The middle-aged lady's happy greeting.

  The man meanwhile looks on Grand Ecstasy first and give them a gentle smile. Then he looks at Penelope. Mateo see his eyes widen as he focused his gaze on Penelope's pregnant belly.

  The man opens the door wider and invites everyone to come inside happily, which they accept with gratitude.

  Sitting on the chairs made of wood and bamboo, they have a short chatter as the middle-aged lady brings them water to drink.

  "You must be Penelope right? My son is right, you're truly beautiful hija."

  "Hehe thank you tita."

  The middle-aged lady sits next to Penelope then gently carress her pregnant belly.

  "Do you have a name for your baby hija?"

  "Me and babe decided to name her Rosa."

  "Named after me?! I'm so happy!" Rosa is delighted.

  "If she's a boy. You gonna name him as Rene right?"

  "Dad. Your name is just too old school." Nathan sigh.

  Then they laugh happily as Grand Ecstasy just watch, happy for the family in front of them.

  Except Shirna. She feels even more unease yet he maintain calm composure as he look at Nathan and his parents. But it didn't went unnoticed as Mateo is looking at him. Knowing he watching something they didn't know.

  Rene then focus his gaze to Grand Ecstasy again.

  "Oh we almost forgot. Who are these young fellas you bring here?" Rene smile.

  "Right. Some of then are even foreigners." Rosa inspects her guests.

  "Ah! They're our new friends."

  Nathan proceeds to tell the story on how they got stranded at the dead of the night until Grand Ecstady arrives to help them. And then it ends with Nathan wishing if they can join for the town's fiesta tommorow.

  "Of course! You help our son so we should treat you with utmost care!"

  "Hehe it's nothing really." Mateo's humblesness.

  "It's not nothing hijo. I can't imagine what would happen if they encountered bad people instead." Rosa shivered they she stand up.

  "Rest assured! We gonna make your stay here a memorable one. So please have a good night rest as tommorow's fiesta would be early." Rosa smile with proudness then she walks away.

  "Again. Thank you for helping my son. Rest well my dear guests. We gonna prepare your room." Rene then follow Rosa who already inside of a room cleaning it.

  Nathan then gives a soft laugh.

  "They just happy that they got new guests besides the common neighbors. I bet."

  "Are outsiders really that rare here?" Claustrine asked.

  "Yes. This town is too far from civilization that it's a hassle to visit. You experienced the roads itself." Nathan chuckle.

  "True. Our baby might be shaken a little bit babe." Penelope chuckle alongside her lover.

  "Geez. Good grief." Beltrand smirks.

  ~~~~~~°~~~~~~

  Grand Ecstasy is now lying down soft sleeping mat on a seperate room. Despite the lack of electricity for an electric fan which not even there to begin with. The night is chill and calm as everyone enjoys their night fidgeting on their phones, waiting for them to fall asleep.

  But the calmness of the night is not effecting both Shirna and Mateo as they stay awake and alerted. The two focused on their phone for a completely different reason.

  Mateo: What's your observation Shirna?

  Shirna: DANGER. IT'S A LOT WORSE. ??????

  Mateo: The entire town right?

  Shirna: You know?

  Mateo: I have my doubts. By still give me your report so I can access our situation.

  Shirna is typing...

  Shirna: The smell is now a lot worse here. It's like the entire town is filled by the same smell Nathan have. I almost gag when we exit the van.

  Mateo: Fuck. It's a lot severe than I expected.

  Shirna: What we should do?

  Mateo: I gonna warn the others.

  Shirna: Ok.

  Mateo then makes a short message that he copy then message the others. As expected, their phones makes a notification sound.

  Claustrine, Sophia, Beltrand and Shiva look at Mateo who sent them a message. Mateo just give a serious nod. With no choice, they just read the text message with turn them into high alert.

  Mateo: DON'T MAKE ANY DRASTIC REACTION WHEN READING THIS MESSAGE. WE'RE CURRENTLY ON A POTENTIAL HOSTILE TERRITORY. I ADVISE EVERYONE TO STAY CALM AND DON'T SHOW ANY HINT THAT YOU KNOW WE SUSPECTING THE PEOPLE OF THIS TOWN. STAY CALM.