Chapter 53: The Predator Beneath the Smile
— A Week Later, somewhere in Makati —
Claire pulled the hood of her jacket tighter around her face as she stepped off the bus. Her eyes darted around, heart pounding. She clutched the single item she had left from that night—Damon’s Fool tarot card—now hidden safely in the inner pocket of her hoodie.
She’d done her best to lay low. But no amount of caution could stop the nightmares of Damon and Phoebe being dragged away. Every night, she saw their unconscious bodies, the black-clad soldiers, the gas. And that one name she kept hearing in her head:
"Patient D.A."
She needed help.
And right now, there was only one person she could think of.
— Same Day, 6:34 p.m. at a Quiet Coffee Shop —
Alfie and Loren sat at a corner booth, both in civilian clothes. Their faces were stiff, uneasy. The aftermath of the massacre still haunted them. Loren hadn’t spoken much since. Her nightmares now included children wearing Fool masks—masks she couldn’t erase from her memory.
Kevin arrived late.
Dressed sharply and walking with an air of arrogance, he gave Alfie a pat on the shoulder, completely ignoring Loren’s piercing stare.
"No more leads on The Fool yet," he said, sliding into the booth. "But it’s only a matter of time. He’ll slip up."
Before Alfie could respond, the bell above the café door jingled.