And we're back.
Father Thomas glances back at his phone. The text message came from Peter. His mind is torn whether to read the message or to answer the door first.
He decides to read the text.
i want 2 tel u abt ur parents
"Father Thomas?" Tony continues to knock.
Tony should not have known about his current mission either. His gripe with BCC and everyone involved in it is personal. He can't let Tony get in his way.
Speaking of which, how did Tony even know about his location?
"Father Thomas?..."
Something stirs in the pit of Father Thomas' stomach. His chest tightens. He has no choice but to reveal himself. He slowly walks toward the bathroom doorway but doesn't reach the front door. He maintains the distance. He speaks loud enough for Tony to hear him from where he is.
"Who sent you?"
"Sent me?"
"You're not supposed to know where I am, Tony."
Tony's eye twitches. He heaves a silent breath, calming himself but not letting his frustration known. "You know it's my job, Father."
"Did they send you?" Father Thomas is talking about the BCC. They must have ordered Tony to go after him for what he had done to their organization.
"Just open the door—"
"Sumailalim na sa gapos ng apoy tumalima rin ang tugoy ng dugo lusawin ang hiwagang hiwalay ang pakay umanib sa'kin ang tinawag na kawal..."
Father Thomas' chant ends just as Tony forces open the door. Tony gapes at Father Thomas' bleeding mouth, unable to comprehend what he just uttered.
"What?!"
A different source of confusion emerges in front of Tony even before he could inquire about the first one. Four people—creatures...monsters...things, whatever!—materialize seemingly out of thin air. But really, it was smoke. Smoke appears out of thin air and creates a portal for four people to deploy from.
"What!" one leaf-headed creature exclaims. Of course, we know that this is Xun.
Father Thomas, who is cupping his hands under his chin, trying to keep his mouth from bleeding all over his robe, looks aghast. "Who are you people?"
The tallest and bulkiest among the bunch, with thick wavy black hair and inflamed neck tattoo visible from his leather jacket, whose body emits smoke from an unseen source of fire, who keeps writhing in pain as if he is actively burning, our 7-time Clash Match Champion, Virgil Mata himself, yells, "Curse!"
The youngest, whose dark red hair crackled like hearth fire, Helmar, concentrates on the smoke. "Yeah, it is active again."
"You think?" the last one, Keres, whose giant elvish ears seem to twitch at the slightest molecular movement, asks sarcastically, eyes scanning the unfamiliar motel room they just teleported randomly into.
"Yeah, it was just like you predicted," Xun agrees.
"Sorry we didn't believe you," Helmar adds.
"CURSE!!!" Virgil underscores.
"You're not supposed to be here," says Father Thomas.
"You're the one who activated the curse," Helmar points out.
"I only called him! Why are you with him? How did you even get here?"
"Heh. Easy. I tracked the curse," Helmar says proudly but with a shrug, like it's not a big deal.
"How?"
"What do you mean, how?" Now he's offended.
"Everyone, freeze. Don't. Move."
All funky-looking heads whip towards Tony's direction. He holds a gun at them, threatening to shoot at one misstep.
"I told you, you're not going to banish them properly with that," Father Thomas forewarns. And then, he says, "Disarm him."
Virgil, whose tattoo now burn a bright orange like it was lit on fire, charges forward. And in one swift move, incapacitates Tony by snatching his gun and pulling him into a hammerlock with ease.
As if snapping out of trance, Virgil shakes his head and glares at Father Thomas. "That's all you wanted me to do?! That was easy! You couldn't just ask?!"
"Would you have done it if I did?"
"...No. You cursed me!"
Xun walks toward Tony unceremoniously and blows a mysterious powder at his face. Within a few milliseconds, Tony falls unconscious. He weighs heavy on Virgil's arms. And he could no longer hold himself upright, so he set him down on the ground, facedown.
"Did you poison him?" Keres asks.
"No. That's powdered Dakit flower. It's good for a lot of things. Depends on your intention."
"So did you intend to poison him?"
"No! I just knocked him out! What, did you think I'd kill him?!"
"That's why I asked!"
"Virgil, can you send them back?"
"Now you're asking!? After you cursed me!!?"
"We have to go. Leave them."
"Ah-ah. You're not leaving me behind. This is the most interesting thing I've seen in a long time. How'd you do that curse? Does it hurt?" Helmar doesn't even stop to breathe.
"There's no time. Let's go."
Father Thomas bolts toward the door, dials Peter's number and waits for him to answer.
"Peter. Let's talk. Where are you?"
Crisanto and Mino is with Lakan Elias Gatdula, PNP Major General and Head of the Supernatural Crime Investigation Department.
Lakan Elias is a human, but intermingles with the mythfolk. He came from a line of noble chiefs during the pre-Colonial era, and armed forces generals from within the last six generations. His clan has formed a staunch allyship with most Enkanto folk and tribes of monster nobility. He inherited his board member seat at the Bikers Collision Coalition and other monster underground organizations that typically deal with topground trade. He funds the events they hold and sponsors the annual BCC Clash Match. He actually has one of the biggest shares in the company, and the highest stakes in the game Father Thomas spoiled. That's the reason why he personally sent his best agent Officer Anthony Alarcon after the culprit.
It is a scorching hot day. Crisanto fixes his form, swings his club perfectly, and follows the golf ball flying mid-air with his squinted eyes. He holds up a hand over his face to block out the sun.
Besides him, Mino, the Minokawa, basks in the heat. A creature of fire thrive under this kind of weather, while Lakan Elias practically melts beside him, the caddie holding up his parasol while he fans himself with his hand.
"They should be here by now," Elias says, agitated.
"They'll turn up," Crisanto assures him. "You really don't want Mino to go after him?"
"He said he knew the guy."
"Suit yourself."
A moment later, Tony does show up. Disoriented. Lost composure. Empty-handed.
The three men wait for him to explain what happened. Tony regretfully tells them everything.