Explained

I sighed, my first case was so messed up. Instead of wallowing in depression I went back to my plan, it wasn't something very complicated but at the same time it wasn't easy. Soon I heard the doorbell ring, "Pizza delivery", I heard Chris' voice. I welcomed him in, "what no tip?" We laughed and had our small pizza party.

Chris was overprotective with me for we've been friends since we were kids. He had been there for me when my parents died and also through the therapy, in our group of friends he was more like a brother to me; seeing that he is cautious proves that he worries about me a bit too much. I told him that everything was fine to comfort him then congratulated him for closing his first case. He smiled back and said that seeing me alive was a lot better than closing a case, he was such a sucker.

"So what brings me here?" He asked as he pulled his third slice of pizza.

"I need a partner in my case. I'm pretty close on solving it", I showed him the paper with the address of Sta. Isabel Manor. "I had an anonymous tip that I would find the missing girl in this address; if she is alive this will be great but if not we just have to take home her body."

Chris nodded, what I told him so far was the "plan" if this was a normal case but since it wasn't, I cleared my head and began.

"That my friend was supposed to be the plan", he stared at me questioning, "but due to very special circumstances I can assure you right now that Annie Villafuerte is alive. I have seen her." Again that questioning look and absolute silence, pausing with Chris is useless, he's making this harder than what I want.

"Question?" He shook his head, I went on.

"Annie is a victim of..." I paused, I was choosing the best term but there wasn't any so for the lack of a better term I settled with, "possession. Demonic possession." This time Chris reacted, "Robin are you still high on morphine?"

I know this will happen, "No, and I am serious Chris. Do you think I'll tell you this if I wasn't even a bit serious? Annie Villafuerte is possessed by a crazy-assed demon which has been trying to kill me all this time. And no, I'm not insane, I was given a medical clearance for mental illnesses by both my therapist and a government psychologist."

Chris was silent again, evidently brooding over what I just revealed to him. He stared at me for a few minutes and said, "Robin, I knew you since we were kids, and I know everything about you. I also know that if you think that this wasn't true in the slightest you wouldn't mention anything about it to anyone and dismiss it instantly."

"O...kay..." I said, waiting.

"I'll believe you."

I breathed a sigh of relief, he believes me, somehow it makes me mentally relaxed. After hearing his words I went over to the plan and told him that early tomorrow we will be meeting with the victim's father, Senator Villafuerte.

The following day, we drove to the Villafuerte property. My friend and I was welcomed by the Senator himself and with him was unexpectedly Bethany. She was pale when she saw me, I must have evoked a lot of hateful memories. Pleasantries were then exchanged, I introduced my partner and gave a status report to the Senator and his daughter. I chose my words carefully and delivered my report easily. When I reached the point that I was itching to discuss, I felt a hand on my arm.

When I looked up it was Annie, and once again I was on the beach, this girl has a thing for timing. She mouthed something inaudible, somehow I understood it; she smiled at me and like that I was back. When I got back Chris was explaining his part, the whole process and he turned to me, that vision was so seamless that it feels as if it didn't even happened.

"We have reasons to believe that Annie is at Sta. Isabel mansion, it's one of your properties is it not?" I said to them, the senator shuddered at the mere mention of the place, he simply nodded.

"With your permission we would like to be granted access to that place."

"Why?" said the senator, "that place is run down and no one has been there for years." Bethany looked at her father with a sudden animated motion.

I took a deep breath and recalled what Annie had told me, "We know what took place in that mansion sir. She's trapped there because of what you did. "

"Daddy what's he saying?" Bethany suddenly said to her father but was silenced by a wave of his hand, Bethany looked angered and hurt, she was looking at me with dagger eyes, her father's face color was that of paper as he stared at me.

"Very well. I shall give you the keys to the place, please bring her home, or at least her body." the senator's eyes were soon welling with tears, "she told me about you, you know?"

I looked silently at him, "she told me right after she got lost, she visited in a dream, that someone like you will be coming in the future, I honestly wished that you didn't came, but it was inevitable. So all I ask of you is bring her home. It's been too long."

All I could do is nod.