Alec had led the Aven Family to an isolated hotel. Before talking he checked if there are any cameras or anything that could spy on them. After making sure that there are no objects that could hear them he started talking. "There is a Super Typhoon occuring in the Philippines as of right now. A week ago, Riane had heard from the news that a Typhoon three times stronger than Yolanda will hit Philippines. He had a bad premonition after hearing it so he told me to leave the country. He had promised that he'll follow. However, the typhoon arrived sooner than expected. So he got stuck. Actually Riane went to the library and found an old record about a strong typhoon that hit Philippines more than 300 years ago. In which unimaginable horrors happened." Alec explained. "I heard a book just like that. It was called Record Of Devadiña, many of us in the military thought it was just a myth. We thought that there is no such book." Riane's father said. "It actually is true." Replied Alec. "Even if that is true, why would Riane panic or feel danger at all? It's just a typhoon." Denver said, Riane's eldest brother. "Yes that is just a strong typhoon. But that typhoon took a month to completely stop. And it's not just the strong winds and rain, the book was about the horrors of author that he experienced during that month long typhoon. Many deaths and illnesses came during and after the typhoon that they had to close the country for years. In order for the stench to dissipate and nature to recover. That book was one of the topics my amigas and I were gossiping about. One of them was a direct descendant of the old monarchy. She told us some parts of it." Riane's mother said as worry began to etch on her face again. "It is not just the horrors and the illnesses. The reason they had locked down the country for years was to get the gold hidden underneath the collapsed mountains. They used the remaining survivors as slaves and forced them to mine gold under the unstable mine shaft. They also found other resources and sold it to the Chinese people for other things. That's why those that participated in it became the richest and most powerful entities for generations and generations. There was also locals at that time who made a bargain and got rich along with them. Later the King of Spain found out about it but he would not tell on them as long as they shared their riches to him. In which they all agreed. Now that it happened again. It means that these Families will do the same thing as their ancestors did. The book was not complete. The author didn't kill himself. He killed the two remaining survivors because they might tell what he had done. Most of the record was true. He was the one who ate all their colleagues when they decided to go to the coast. He ate them like an animal. He ate them raw. He felt no remorse as he eats them alive. The fear of the others became their downfall. He was also the one who told about the hidden treasures. He was the first to sell everything that he looted. That book was later banned to make it more like a hoax." Alec again explained. "So you mean. These families and the government had completely locked down the country and wait for the disaster to stop? Why didn't tell it to the public?" Asked Terrence, Riane's second eldest brother. "Before it was them. Now it's not only them but other allied countries as well. They all made connections after the second world war. I came here looking for you, to make ammends to my mistakes. Riane got angry because I hadn't told him the truth long before. But I am worried." Alec answered. "Don't worry. He's smart enough, I have faith in my son. He probably locked himself in his basement with cameras all over his house. He had developed a generator that could last a long time. He was also trained professionally." Riane's dad boasted with pride. "I know. But what worries me the most are the experiments. Do you know the powerplant almost near to Riane's house? That powerplant was just a disguise. The organisation had hired scientists and specialists to do some experiments on animals and humans. It was inhumane. They had developed a dog that could take out a whole group of people. A virus that can turn any living being into vicious animal like creatures, the virus was incomplete. The virus can only spread if someone injested it. Along with the nuclear radiation if the facility exploded then that means those beasts could mutate." Alec said nervously. "We really need help. But where could we get it? We need to rescue Riane." Riane's mother said in panic and fear. "We will look for a way. For now let's plan." Gregory said.
In the Philippines, Riane who was sleeping soundly sneezed which woke him up. While eating he thought of his parents and brothers. He thinks that they are still enjoying the vacation. He walked towards monitor and saw the father having a silent breakfast. This was new to Riane as he got used to the son laughing and the father tells stories. He then pressed the intercom. "Anong pangalan mo? (What's your name?)" Riane asked. "Lito, ikaw anong pangalan mo? (Lito, you, what's your name?) Lito asked back. "I am Riane. This is my house. But I permit you to stay as long as you want." Riane replied. Lito couldn't understand some of Riane's words but he still knew what he meant. "Nasaan ka? Bakit hindi ka nagpapakita? (Where are you? Why won't you show yourself?)" Lito again asked. "Hindi na muna sa ngayon. Magpapakita lang ako kung talagang mapagkakatiwalaan kita. Patunayan mo saakin na mapagkakatiwalaan kita. (Not for now. I can only show myself to you if I trust you. Prove it to me that I can trust you.) Riane answered truthfully. Lito nodded and continued to eat. Riane continued to monitor the outside. He then saw three people running towards his house. "Lito, may paparating dito sa bahay. Huwag mong sasabihin na meron kang kasama. (Lito, there are people coming to the house. Don't tell them you have company.) Riane urgently said and the room became silent. Lito went to the window and saw a woman, a man, and a fat kid. The man tried to break in inside but he couldn't. Lito then talked. "Ano ang kailangan ninyo? Umalis na kayo dito!(What do you need? Get out of here!) Lito said. "Pawangawa niyo na papasukin niyo na kami. Maawa po kayo. Wala po kaming makakain. Hinahabol kami ng mga demonyong aso. (Please let us in. Habe mercy. We don't have food to eat. We were chased by the demon dogs.)" Pleaded the woman. Riane whispered in the intercom "Let them in." Lito nodded and opened the door. The trio quickly got inside wet from the storm.
As soon as they appeared, Riane had already felt something amiss. It would be impossible for these people to be hungry and have no place. There is something fishy about them. He watched as the woman pleaded outside the door. Her voice wanting mercy but her face smiling like she had won something precious. Riane then sneered, these kind of people really are the worst of the worst. He knew what was going on. He wanted to test Lito if he could really trust him. He watched as the family of three went straight to the kitchen. Lito offered them food. Lito had cooked some soup a while ago. At first the family was polite and ate what was served. Then they asked if they could stay for the night. Lito sighed and nodded. In the afternoon, the fat kid said he was hungry. He made a tantrum when Lito said that they can only eat little at a time. The parents tried to defend the fat kid but Lito was firm telling that it's not his obligation to feed them all the time. As the night deepens Lito went to sleep. He kept the food inside the room where he slept. He was woken up by the door being knocked. Once he opened the door he saw the man look at him. "Pwede bang kami nalang matulog diyan. Malawak kasi ang kama diyan at kasya kaming tatlo diyan. Hindi kasi kami sanay na matulog sa sofa. (Can we just sleep in there? The bed seems pretty big and the three of us can fit in there. We are not used to sleeping on the sofa.)" Lito rolled his eyes. He can't believe these people still had the audacity to ask for more when he is completely struggling. He kept cool. He refused. The woman started crying and so is the fat kid. Saying that he is a selfish jerk. Lito got really angry. Riane, watching the drama, can't take it anymore. He opened the secret door and he put on his raincoat he washed the gasoline that prevents the dogs in smelling inside the house. Luckily there were two mutated dogs who quickly smelled the breath of a human. He opened the door and led the dogs inside. "Lito! Isara mo ang pinto! Huwag mo silang papasukin sa kwarto bilis! (Lito! Close the door! Don't let them inside the room, quick!)" Riane shouted. Lito recognised the voice. He saw a glimpse of a black raincoat running inside the living room. The family of three were a astounded. Lito took the chance to close and lock the door as the trio looked downstairs. Their shock turned to fear as they saw the two mutated dogs. They shouted and begged Lito to open the door. But Lito barricaded the door again. The family ran outside the house. Riane waited until they are out of the gate before shooting the soles of their feet making them limp. Riane then again put gasoline around the house to mask their scent. He locked the gate and went inside. He went to where Lito was hiding. "Lito wala na sila. Pwede ka nang lumabas. (Lito, they're not here anymore. You can go out now.)" Riane said. As Lito opened the door he was amazed how well kept Riane is. Lito was frozen for a bit before coughing a bit to hide his embarrassment. "They were assholes. The moment I saw them through the cameras they were badnews. But I wanted to test you if I could really trust you. And you proved yourself." Riane said. He hadn't talked this much for a week. "C-camera? K-kaya pala a-alam mo kung nasaan ako. E-edi n-nakita mo rin akong nakahubad na naglalakad? (C-camera? T-that's why y-you know where I am. S-so you s-saw me walking around naked.)" Lito asked in embarassment. "Yeah." Riane answered shortly and blushed. But Riane quickly went serious and so is Lito. "Get the things you needed. Also all the food. The people are getting out of hand." Lito took everything he needed even the food. Riane then led him towards a secret door. They went inside and Riane bolted the door and locked it. Riane led Lito inside his basement. Lito saw the monitor screens, the stove with gas, lights, bathroom, books and papers. But what really piqued his interest was the bulletin board on the wall. He saw information that really shocked him. "Ibig sabihin nito, wala ang gobyerno sa Pinas? Tumakas lahat sila? Kaya pala walang suldado o pulis man lang na nag round. (So this means, that the government was not in the Philippines? They all ran away? That's why there were no soldiers or police officers that patrolled.)" Lito said in sadness and anger. "The soldiers were taken down even before the storm started. The other uniformed personel got the same fate. Either they were dismissed last minute, killed, went with the government and became puppets or imprisoned." Riane said. "There is only one bed. But the two of us can fit in it. You can sleep if you want. I just have to do something." Riane said. Lito was a bit curious, so he observed Riane. He watched as Riane rummage through books and files. While watching Riane work, he unknowingly fell asleep. "Good night. Hope you take a good rest. The hell is just starting, hope we survive this year. The storm was just the beginning. We need all the strength we need to fight." Riane softly said as Lito dozed off. Riane was not sure if Lito heard him or not. "Don't come and rescue me. Alec, mom, dad, and my two brothers. Please don't rescue me. I can't lose you." Riane cried. He knew that all of those who were left behind can't live long. He knew something bigger was coming. He hoped that he had strength in facing it.