Inside the Admin and General Facility building, Engineer Malek relayed instructions to check the warehouses, and mining facilities down to the camp accommodations where the employees live, making sure there will be no problem during the heavy rain. 

Men in raincoats and hardhats went on a steady stream outside checking every corner of the whole processing area of Stella. It was about eight in the evening when everything was settled. Engineer Malek almost shed tears of joy when Sena finally declared she will return to her hotel to rest. So without further ado, he assigned the most skilled and trusted driver to send her back after she politely refused a convoy of escorts. 

Meanwhile, inside a military truck galloping through the drizzle, Nicholas dialled Michael’s number on a secure line. 

“How’s it going with my package?”

There was a burst of keystrokes beyond the line. “It hasn't moved out of Country R and I doubt it would even be shipped far away. It was supposed to leave today but I found that the package was returned.” 

“Explain further.” 

“I dug your package from an international shipment but I couldn’t find it on the plane’s manifest so I tried running through customs and sure enough I found it was logged in there. It appears that your package mistakenly got mixed with a bunch of overseas cargo and was returned after it was confirmed later that the waybill number was for a domestic one.” 

“Is it possible for the system to make a mistake between domestic and overseas?”

“Sometimes machines do that,” Michael replied. 

Or someone else deliberately did. Nicholas thought. 

“What happens next?”

“The package got held up in the customs but don’t worry it was scheduled to be returned to the warehouse in K Province the day after tomorrow.”

Now that’s good news, isn’t it?

He thanked Michael for the update and ended the call. There was something fishy about that package Sena wanted. What could be inside? Just to be sure, they might as well intercept it on the way before it arrives at its destination. 

Wind from the slipstream drilled through the half-open window of the car as larger trucks drove past them. The evacuation procedures are going smoothly. 

“The typhoon is expected to land in the middle of the night.” his driver said. “This one is ought to be big, the local government is not holding back on the warning.” 

“It’s better to take precautions a lot more seriously than regret it later.” 

“Right.” The driver agreed then looked outside the window, “but there are still some stubborn folks who refuse to leave their houses temporarily.” 

On either side of the highway, small cement paths led off to concrete walls surrounding exclusive villages with uniformly made modern houses. Fancy avenues appeared. Three to four-storey buildings began to shoot up intermittently until finally, they made it to the centre and the livelier part of Mirabella town. 

“We’re here.” 

The sky is brewing another thunderstorm so before another downpour begins, Nicholas hopped out of the car and entered the lobby of Palms Hotel. He walked towards the reception desk and talked to the clerk briefly. Not even a few minutes later the driver saw him walking back with a dark face.

“Where are we heading next?”

Nicholas pinched the bridge of his nose. Unease is silently spreading inside him. “Go to Caesar’s place.” 

 

Outside of Stella. 

Tall trees with wide overhanging branches swayed like drunk giants against strong winds. Sena and April sat quietly at the back as their driver Abin drove steadily on the eerie remote highway heading back to town. The headlights sliced through the darkness illuminating their path as the 4runner off-road vehicle drove several miles of wide asphalt before it took a turn and came into a gravel road. 

“Miss, we better use the shortcut just in case there is already water on the main road,” Abin said while wiping the fog on the windshield. 

“How long does it take to detour?”

“Only a quarter of an hour. Don’t worry, it's very safe here because this path will pass through a local village. A few kilometres from there is a concrete bridge leading right to the east side of Mirabella town cutting our journey in half.” 

“Alright, let’s go there.” Sena agreed. 

The gravel path ride wasn’t as rough as they thought it should be but it wasn’t smooth either. On the left side of the narrow road is a steep slope leading to a shallow creek. A mile later, the road broke into a sparse woodland and then climbed high towards a small hill.

“I can see a village,” April blurted out. 

Sena cupped her hand on the window, “Where?” 

A sheep ran from the side of the path right in front of the vehicle, Abin hit the brakes. 

“Is everyone alright?” Abin asked worriedly. “I’m sorry Miss, something leapt out in front of us.”

There was a red flash from the brake lights on the rear.

“It’s alright, Abin,” Sena assured him. 

The ladies in the back had their seatbelts clipped so no one suffered from the sudden stop. However, outside the truck, an old man with a torch was running frantically up the slope to rescue the hapless sheep. The whole car fell into a deafening silence as the old man in front stood there unmoving while holding the small animal. His oversized poncho flapped wildly with the wind, and from the glare of the lights, his whole person seemed to blur. 

“Grandpa Pan?” Abin shouted through the wind. “Why are you still out at this hour?” 

The old man squinted his eyes and looked at the huge car in front and the uniformed guy behind the wheel. His wrinkled face suddenly stretched into a smile. 

“Oh, it’s you kid.” 

Sena and April exchanged knowing looks with each other. Thank goodness it wasn’t a ghost! 

“One of my sheep ran out after the thunderstorm.” Grandpa Pan said in a subtle voice. “How about you, boy? The road’s all flooded, where do you think you’re going?”

Abin scratched his head. “We’re hoping to cross the bridge before the water goes up.”

Grandpa Pan shook his head. His eyes looked through the car before sighing. 

“Stop over at my house. You shouldn’t insist on going further.” 

“But we’re in a hurry. I have to—” 

“Are you rushing to reach the afterlife?” Grandpa Pan interrupted sternly. 

The three people inside exchanged glances and felt the fine hairs on their bodies stand for some reason.

“Listen and follow me back.” He commanded, leaving no room for argument.

Grandpa Pan may look like a typical farmer but there was something in his eyes and his firm posture that compelled them to listen. A clap of thunder boomed again leaving them no choice but to obey the old guy back to his cottage. 

Using a stick, he carefully guided the sheep to the village entrance and finally to the barn. Surprisingly, Sena found four more cars of different labels parked in the empty area of the village. 

“They must be tourists from the town,” Abin told them. “This village is known for its lucky charms and talismans, many people come here before the holidays to ask for them.”

“Like those wooden pendants?” April pointed under the eaves of the largest house. 

“Yes.” Abin nodded as they walked into Grandpa Pan’s doorstep. “They come in many shapes and patterns depending on how the elder carver perceives the owner’s aura. Interesting, right?” 

April’s eyes suddenly lit up, “Can I have mine made as well? Is there a requirement?”

“Not really, the elders rarely turn down guests. Though most people do not believe in mysticism or the like, some came out of curiosity so aside from Stella Mine, the talismans in this village are also one of the reasons why our K Province has gradually become known.”

“You said, they rarely turn down guests. Does that mean there is still a possibility not to get a wooden carving?”

Abin nodded. “Those are few people. Well, according to what I heard they are those who have innate luck and no longer need any supplements from charms.”

Sena also did her fair share of looking around. The village has about a hundred households and has its own rustic appeal with traditional cubic houses made of brown bricks and roof tiles. Small alleys made of stone slabs divided each house and their yards. 

“You kids hurry up and get in.” the old cranky voice sounded from the house.  

Grandpa Pan’s place is a simple stone cottage that looks bigger than it looks outside. It was jammed with tiny wood carvings and potteries of every size. A loft above might have been a bedroom or a storeroom, then a kitchen and dining area and a small living room where they found themselves stuck. Upon entering, he immediately went to boil water in the kettle while his three guests sat on woven straw mats waiting for him to finish brewing ginger tea.   

“Boss, it feels like going back in time, isn’t it?” April asked smilingly. 

Sena agreed. The house has an old-world appeal that would fit perfectly in an ancient movie. 

“You should stay for a day,” Grandpa Pan suddenly said, gaining their attention, “The chief’s house is relatively large to accommodate guests. It will not be a problem to stay for a night or two.” Sena laughed inwardly, the grandpa sounded like a desperate local forcefully inviting guests. Then a clap from the table startled her. When she looked over, she found him squinting at her.

Her mind went blank. S-Sorry, my thoughts are rude. 

“This weather is not calming down anytime soon.” 

Abin wanted to say that he needed to deliver the two ladies back to town urgently but a glare from the old man intimidated him. 

“What could be more important than your life?” Grandpa Pan asked crankily. “You can be daring at times but you must never be reckless. The rain from earlier must have eroded the slopes leading to the bridge, if you insist you may not end up well.”  

“I didn’t know it was that bad already…” Abin murmured and looked at Sena waiting for her to make a decision. 

She hesitated. 

The ‘bang bang bang’ sound from the pounding of ginger made his three guests fidget in their seats. For several minutes, there is only the sound of the old guy shuffling in the kitchen. Sena tried her hardest to stay put on the straw mat but her mind kept rewinding Apple’s reminder making her antsy. She took out her cellphone and found the signal bar barely hanging on two. Perhaps she will call him later and Nikki too. Another long agonizing moment passed with her trying to distract herself by sweeping her eyes around the room. She couldn't help it! 

Throughout the entire space, there are mineral specimens, another wood carving and some intricate straw handicrafts hung on the walls. There are so many interesting things to see. Over a polished wooden credenza that appeared so out of place in such a tribal-looking room is an antique turntable. 

“It’s quite an eclectic taste.” She murmured. 

Grandpa Pan snorted as he came with a tray with three cups of steaming tea. “Drink while it’s hot. Youngsters today do not care about health.” 

Who was caught in the rain chasing sheep late at night again? She thought funnily. They did not mind his grumpy mutterings, in fact, they even found it adorable that his words just went in from one ear and exited on the other. Sena was about to put her eyes back on her lap when the old guy’s stare caught her. She cringed inwardly and wished she could be anywhere else instead of having a staring contest with the old guy. 

“You’re not thinking of braving this weather, are you?” Strangely enough, when he spoke, the surrounding noise was muted. As though someone pressed the pause button. 

Sena looked around confused. 

“Cherish the hard-won second chance Sena, there are still disordered lives waiting for you to change.” 

Her hand holding a cup shook, the tea sloshed wetting the straw mat beneath her, “Grandpa you—”

You know about my rebirth?! She wanted to ask.

He held a hand up. She could not remember Abin mentioning her name to the old guy. As if reading her thoughts, Grandpa Pan smiled, a few teeth missing in front. 

“Your mother was a staunch realist.” He began. “She was never an advocate of mysteries and the supernatural but one day, she came here and asked me to make a wooden talisman for your birthday.” 

Sena’s breath was caught in her throat. He knew her mother! The information came so fast that it left her lightheaded.

But despite her confusion, the old guy went on unbothered, “You should know that I have long stopped making charms and amulets because it’s a taboo that goes against the will of fate. But your mother, the stubborn woman that she is, lowered her pride and begged me to make one for her child.” 

“She… why?”

“Does a mother need a reason why she has to protect her child?” His voice was calm yet it was filled with amusement that made her feel like he was fond of her mother. 

Tears welled up in her eyes. “Mama…” 

“It was just an ordinary lucky charm but surprisingly, the bearer was more than I expected. You have a great fate, girl. The haze of short life is gone.” 

Sena lowered her head and bit her lip. She remembered that when she was small her mama told her that their family blood is thin. From the flourishing Erde family tree to having no blood relatives at all. Did she come here because of it? Fat drops of tears fell on her shaking hands. 

“Indeed, you have a good fate. However, that does mean that you should take caution lightly.”

She nodded her head frantically. 

“You have a good mother, though too overbearing and headstrong, nevertheless a good one. I’m looking forward to her next visit.”

“Mama is…” she choked in both loss and pain. 

The strange atmosphere was cut short as everything began moving back on pace again. The steam on the ginger tea floated up, the sound of rain pounding on the roof returned and April and Abin appeared the same as usual oblivious to what they talked about. 

Sena blinked her red eyes, shaken by the abrupt change. To say she wasn’t spooked was a lie but she was not scared to the point of panic. What she heard tonight shed some light on the shadow of her mysterious rebirth. At the same time, it also relieved her of the guilt of selfishly changing people’s fate. 

“Grandpa, about my mother she is no longer he—”

“Dinner will be in half an hour.”  

When she looked at Grandpa Pan, he was already on his feet walking to the kitchen to make a simple meal. She sighed inwardly, she will tell him later when she has the chance that her mother is no longer here. 

 

Violent winds with torrential rains came on schedule in the middle of the night and in just a few hours, parts of K Province were already submerged in flood. Fortunately, the local government had taken preventive measures to minimize the damage caused by the typhoon. Families living in low-lying areas and those near the rivers were evacuated to safety shelters earlier in the day. 

“Goodness, the sun was shining brightly this morning and the next thing you know you are high up your neck with water.” A man with a thick Aussie accent said while shaking his head.

“Gotta get used to it when you’re in the subequatorial zone. Every day is an adventure.” Abin replied to the foreigner. 

The men came out earlier to help tie up and nail the tarp on sheepfold’s roof to prevent it from leaking. They also removed the parked cars on nearby trees just in case a branch fell off and smashed the roofs. Windows have been nailed shut and sandbags were placed on the back of the village to help slow down the rushing water.  

Sena fidgeted while looking at the flickering lights overhead and the sharp whistle of winds outside the window. The guests and other folks who were restless gathered in the chief’s house, the largest in the village with three floors in total. They huddled in the living room listening to the news on the radio and perhaps sought comfort from their fellow citizens in this time of catastrophe. 

“Back home, we are visited by typhoons twenty times every year, three or more of which are the same as category five hurricanes,” April said, handing a bowl of warm soup to Sena. 

A while ago they went out in the rain helping with the evacuation of the children and transferring them to the chief’s house. They just wiped their wet hair and hung their jackets to dry near the stove. 

“I remember my parents hiding me under the table after the storm peeled the roof of our house. The two of them didn’t look scared, maybe that’s the reason why I never felt scared at that time but when morning came and everything calmed down, we saw our broken house, the flooded fields…” 

“What did you feel then?” Sena asked, rubbing her hand on the warm bowl. 

April leaned her head on her hand, “I was sad, of course. Everyone was. But despite that, it was surprising to see people picking up everything with smiles on their faces a few days later. Dad always says; that what matters is that we are safe and alive. Material things can be slowly bought back.” 

Sena found herself agreeing to the word of April’s dad. She saw him several times on video chat and he looks like one of those soft-spoken yet wise uncles. The people seated near them admired April for being calm and positive in times of crisis. 

Later though Sena found her secretary poking her side. “Boss, in case the water rises, what would you do?”

She thought about it for a while, “Uhm, go to the roof like everyone else.” 

April nodded in approval. “When I was small I used to have a contest with boys in our village climbing trees. You see, I honed my skills well. Boss, if the roof fails I can still climb coconut trees to avoid deep water. Fortunately, you are with me… I can teach you a trick or two. We will be safe then until the rescue arrives.” 

“I don’t seem to see any coconut trees around.” 

“It was quite dark when we came, but there’s four at the entrance of the village. I saw it.” 

She was seriously considering that option, wasn’t she? Sena thought funnily. Worried about their situation, she was already making plans of carrying her on top of a tree! She knew April was saying this for her own sake so she nodded her head along. 

“Okay and if the rescue took too long, maybe we can eat coconut fruits to survive.” 

“Hm! I hope they taste good.” April giggled seeing that she was no longer as nervous as she was in the beginning. 

The silly conversation between the two made the people around them laugh. Those who were afraid of the storm slightly relaxed their tense nerves and slowly took their mind off any negative thoughts. This is a relatively safe place anyway, panicking will only exhaust them mentally and physically so why not take this time to prepare themselves in case the worst strikes?  

On the radio, people from the military came to help evacuate the citizens. They brought with them large trucks to transport evacuees and escort them towards the assigned shelters. A survival expert imparted some simple preparation instructions for the citizens to follow; put a bottle of water inside your bag, a set of change of clothes wrapped in plastic, batteries and flashlight, and some emergency food. April, efficient as always, rushed to check if they have the survival pack completed. 

In the following hours, the weather became fiercer and rescue operations had to be forcefully stopped. At this moment, Sena still had no idea that the people are already going crazy looking for her everywhere. 

 

Nicholas felt like a hollow was punched right out of his stomach after discovering that Sena was no longer in Stella. She’s not in the hotel either! He tried calling her but it kept dropping due to a bad signal. He clenched the phone tightly oblivious whether he was crushing the poor thing. 

“It ain’t letting up in a couple of hours or more.” 

Turning over to the speaker, Nicholas began to move restlessly again like a captive animal measuring the limits of its cage. He didn’t even have time to wipe off the water dripping from his hair. “Don’t you have something else, anything else that can get through the damned rain?”

His old comrade Caesar shook his head. 

“Not unless you have a jetski and incredible luck to cross that.” He pointed to the raging rapids of mud and branches washed by torrential showers from the mountains. 

The road to the mine is no doubt flooded at the moment and there might even be landslides. Just thinking about the scenario of a lonely car getting crushed under giant boulders and trees made the soles of his feet cold. 

Nicholas dialled again while repeatedly chanting an unknown prayer in his head, “Come on, sweetie. You haven’t given me my late night call yet.” 

The call wouldn’t connect, making his jaw lock tightly in frustration. He unknowingly stepped out of the tent gazing towards the darkness ahead. 

From the six-hour flight, he barely even had time to exchange pleasantries with a friend when he heard about the typhoon coming. He was tired, restless and extremely worried. Originally, he came to surprise Sena but that a much bigger surprise is waiting for him. His dearest girlfriend is missing! 

“You better be okay…” his mutterings were drowned out by the rain. 

Caesar could only let out a sigh. He had never seen this side of Nicholas even when they were about to be bombed to paste. Knowing him, the shittier the situation the more his nasty humour comes out. But tonight he is different. 

He looks more human. Helpless. 

Apple had better luck than him, as soon as he connected to her line he went ballistics and broke into rapid-fire preaching. “Are you trying to send me to an early grave?! You damn girl stay put wherever you are and let me beat your ass once!” 

Sena who didn’t take his rage to heart still dared to laugh, “I’m safe. We’re okay here—”

“My God, I told you a million times to be careful. I reminded you before letting you off. Ah, I’m going to get bald from stress!”

Relax, you have the thickest hair among men I saw. She wanted to point it out but decided against it in the end.

“The village we are staying at is high on a hill. Even higher than the hotel we booked in the town of Mirabella.” 

“Just, just please don’t move. Don’t move until I arrive.” Apple huffed. As most of his anger slowly dissipated his voice began to quake. “If I found out you jumped again— Paula forgive me— I will tie you up and put you in a box to be sent back to your ancestral home.”   

Even April overhearing on the side winced. 

“Alright, I’m waiting for you. You can get angry with me however you like later.” She said gently. 

Looking at her phone after the call, Sena felt like she had missed something but couldn’t tell exactly what it was. She was sure there should be something else she needed to do but forgot. Soon she had no time to think about it, the landfall of the typhoon stopped all operations.

Successive lightning burst into the sky like gorgeous firecrackers and rainfall pounded the ground with vengeance. The windows that had been shut tight still rattled from the fierce winds. The people in Stella shuddered to hear the thunder, Engr. Malek looked outside the glass windows holding a cup of hot coffee.

“Damn it must be a miracle.” He whispered. “Fortunately, we are under inspection. Both people and machinery are safe.” 

“Engr, who was that young lady with you earlier?” A female staff member inquired. “She looks very familiar.” 

Engr. Malek turned around with a small smile, “Have you been to the CEO’s temporary office above?”

The lady nodded then paused. “No wonder!”   

“They look the same right? The founder’s wife, Madam Stella Erde.”  

“But I heard Miss is currently finishing her college at Stanford University?”

Engr. Malek waved his hand, “There is also a rumour saying she’s in a private school in Switzerland but the truth is, we don’t really know. Look how she suddenly appeared here for an ocular visit. She was also the one who proposed the inspections and directly fired the former head. You see, we cannot just rely on hearsays when it comes to the Miss. After all, Chairman Pascal and the other two old men are keeping her whereabouts well.”  

Back in the village. 

It was already six o’clock in the morning when things calmed down and everyone’s nerves loosened up. For the next few days when there is a flood, every household has to secure their food reserves when it is unclear when is the next time they can leave for town to buy provisions. For a farming village like here, the folks usually have their stock of homegrown food so there is currently no problem with eating. And sometimes, they even might have better conditions than those who were evacuated. 

But people outside don't think so. Worried relatives believe that they are trapped and helpless waiting for help. Apple in particular hadn’t slept all night while waiting for the next chopper to fly out. However, the moment the airspace is declared clear for flying, someone else jumps faster than him leaving him howling in anger. 

“Did you hear that?” Abin who came back from Grandpa Pan’s cottage ran to the neighbouring chief’s house. 

Sena briefly looked over but continued to watch the fire under the eaves. They were waiting for the sweet potato to roast under the hot coals so they could have breakfast. Thinking that the roads might still be flooded, they decided to stay and wait for Apple. 

“Sounds like a helicopter.” April wasn’t sure. She patted the creases off her parka, put on her hiking shoes baking on the warm stove and walked to the side of the house to join the peanut gallery. 

The people of the sleepy village on top of the hill slowly came out of their houses clutching their hats and jackets squinting over the hovering helicopter above. The whirring sound is getting nearer and nearer. The folks who rarely see this kind of machine took its arrival as a good show to watch. They gathered and followed it with their eyes as it carefully descended to the clearing. 

“It must be Apple,” Sena smiled wryly and continued to roast sweet potatoes. Sweat dripped from her forehead to the tips of her nose and she quickly wiped it off with her hand. 

She took the iron tongs and began digging through the blackened pile until she found the lumps. Gently, she pinched them over to her side, patted them repeatedly and thanks to the weather it quickly cooled that she was able to hold it barehand. 

“This smells good, April you’re—” 

“Sena Erde.” A shadow loomed above her like a malevolent towering spectre. 

The words lodged in her throat. 

The arrival of the threat made all her fine hairs stand and her nerves tight. In a slow awkward motion, she raised her head and came face to face with the man’s thunderous gaze. 

“I caught you…” he said silkily. 

Her whole body felt numb not because of the cold but the obvious danger in his tone. The sweet potato fell from her hands and rolled over towards the person’s muddy feet.