Chapter 4

Chapter 4 : A Glimpse of the Past

---

The morning in Baguio was crisp, the kind of cold that tingled on the skin and made the air feel alive. As the city slowly awoke, the familiar scent of pine trees and damp earth lingered in the atmosphere. The streets were filled with the soft murmur of jeepneys and the rustling of leaves from the towering trees lining the roads. In this early stillness, the crew of Watcher packed up their gear in the van, their faces a mix of excitement and quiet anticipation. They were on their way to investigate a mystery that had taken hold of their every waking moment—an enigmatic woman whose presence in Baguio was causing ripples in ways they couldn't yet fully comprehend.

Ryan stood by the van, his eyes scanning the surroundings as he double-checked the equipment. Cameras, EMF meters, EVP recorders, and thermal cameras—all packed and ready. Today, they hoped to uncover something more tangible about the mysterious woman who had been the subject of their investigation for days.

“Alright, guys,” Ryan said, a grin playing at the corners of his mouth as he adjusted his mic. “Another day, another mystery to unravel. Let’s see if today’s the day we finally get a glimpse of the one we’ve been hearing about.”

Shane, who was hunched over adjusting the camera, glanced up with a mischievous glint in his eye. “Let’s just hope she’s ready to show herself. I’ve got a feeling today’s going to be... interesting.”

With the van doors sliding shut, the crew set off, the wheels of the van humming against the roads, taking them toward downtown Baguio. They were headed to the Starbucks café where the mysterious woman, who had been the subject of rumors and online speculation, had been seen on a regular basis.

---

The streets of downtown Baguio were already alive with the hum of morning activity. Locals rushed to their destinations, some hurrying to work, others wandering lazily under the cool mountain sun. The quaint cafés and stores exhaled warmth, filling the air with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and the earthy scent of pine. As they approached the familiar green and white Starbucks, the team couldn't shake the feeling that something extraordinary was about to happen.

Ryan pushed open the door, the familiar jingle of the bell above their heads accompanying their entrance. Inside, the café was filled with the usual energy—customers sipping coffee, the staff behind the counter moving with practiced ease. But there was something different today. As soon as the crew set up their cameras and equipment, the air seemed to thicken. Staff members exchanged nervous glances, unsure of what to expect, but the manager, an older woman with kind eyes, stepped forward.

“Oh, we remember her,” the manager said, her voice soft but filled with a knowing smile. “She’s... well, she’s different. Beautiful, definitely. But there’s something more about her. She’s been coming in here for a long time now, and she’s always so calm, so cheerful. It’s like she’s a light in the room. People just gravitate toward her.”

Ryan leaned forward, his curiosity piqued. “What’s her name? Can you tell us anything else about her?”

The staff member at the counter, a young woman with wide eyes, spoke up hesitantly, as if unsure of how much she should reveal. “We don’t really know her name. She’s... very private. But she’s always so friendly. Really witty, funny, and just... radiates this calm energy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her upset. It’s almost like she doesn’t belong to this world, you know?”

Another staff member, a man, chimed in with his own observation. “Honestly, the first time I saw her, I thought she looked a lot like Aerith from that recent Final Fantasy game—that soft, graceful vibe. But there was something distinctly Filipino about her too. It was like she had this perfect blend of two worlds. It was... striking, really.”

The manager nodded, her smile broadening. “And she always had this way of making everyone feel at ease. She’d sit for hours, just talking to people, laughing with them. It’s like she brought this peace with her. But it wasn’t forced. It just... happened.”

Ryan and Shane exchanged a knowing glance. They had heard similar stories from every corner of the city—each account adding a layer to the growing mystery. This wasn’t just a woman, it was something more—a presence that defied explanation.

After thanking the staff for their time, the crew packed up their gear and made their way out of the café. They had more questions than answers, but each new revelation only deepened the mystery. There were whispers of a woman who seemed to belong to another time, a figure who was both a part of the past and deeply connected to the present.

---

The team drove toward their next destination—Burnham Park. As they pulled into the park’s entrance, a sense of quiet anticipation settled over them. The park, with its winding paths and towering trees, felt almost sacred, as though it had witnessed centuries of history unfold. The mist from the mountains hung in the air, a gentle reminder of the city’s mystical roots.

They set up their equipment at the heart of the park, the ground soft beneath their feet as the crew fanned out. The air felt different here, heavier, like it carried the weight of something ancient, something alive beneath the surface. Ryan glanced around, scanning the area for any signs of activity. But the meters remained calm, and the air, though thick with energy, offered no immediate answers.

Shane wandered over, his voice low, almost reverent as he spoke to Ryan. “This place... it feels like it’s been touched by something bigger. Not haunted, not evil... just... different. I don’t know how to explain it. It’s like the air’s... waiting for something.”

Ryan nodded in agreement, his gaze wandering over the park’s expanse. “We’re going to use everything—thermal cameras, EVP recorders, everything we’ve got. If there’s any residual energy here from the past, this is where we’ll find it.”

Minutes passed, but nothing happened. The equipment remained still, and the sounds of the park—distant footsteps, birds calling out—seemed almost too ordinary, too mundane. But then, just as Ryan was about to speak, a strange shift rippled through the air. The temperature dropped, and the world around them began to change.

The first sign was subtle—the trees seemed to shift, their trunks growing thicker, their leaves darker. The air grew heavier, and for a moment, it was as though the park itself had paused, holding its breath. Ryan’s heart raced as he glanced around.

“What the... is that...?” he whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Suddenly, the world around them began to warp. The modern park, with its manicured paths and fresh flowers, dissolved into something older, wilder. The trees were gnarled, twisted, and the air was filled with the scent of dust and earth. The people who had been strolling through the park were no longer wearing modern clothes. They were dressed in old-fashioned garments—men in suits, women in dresses from another era. Their movements were slow, deliberate, as though they were walking through the pages of a forgotten history.

Ryan’s breath caught in his throat. “Is this... is this real? Are we seeing... the past?”

Shane, his voice trembling with excitement and fear, nodded slowly. “This is insane. It’s like we’ve been... transported. This isn’t just a haunting. This is... history.”

As they looked around, they saw her. At the center of the park stood a woman, regal and serene, her long, dark hair flowing in the breeze. She wore an elaborate ancient-like attire that shimmered in the soft sunlight, her gaze fixed ahead. She was calm, untouched by the changes around her. She seemed to belong to this moment and yet to be of another time entirely.

Ryan felt the air leave his lungs. “There... there she is. That’s... the woman we’ve been hearing about. She’s... from another time. But she’s so real, so... present. It’s like she’s waiting for something.”

The team watched in awe, barely able to comprehend what they were witnessing. And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the vision faded. The park shifted back to the present. The people were in modern clothes again, the trees stood tall and familiar, and the sounds of the city crept back into the background.

Shane, his voice shaking, broke the silence. “Did we just... see that? Was that a ghost? Or something else?”

Producer Steven Lim, still processing what they had witnessed, nodded slowly. “That wasn’t a ghost. That was a memory. A real one, not just some echo. We saw history. We saw the past...”

Ryan stood in stunned silence, his mind racing as the weight of what they had experienced began to sink in. The EMF meters were spiking now, and the EVP recorders were picking up faint whispers—words in a language he couldn’t quite understand.

Ryan, his voice barely a whisper, said what they were all thinking: “That was real. We saw it. And we missed everything. We missed the evidence while it was happening.”

As they packed up their gear, still processing the enormity of what had just happened, the weight of their investigation became clear. They were no longer just chasing a mystery. They were standing on the edge of something much greater.

As the crew waited for the van once again, they noticed the same taxi driver who had given them a ride not long ago. He pulled up beside them, his face unreadable, his eyes knowing.

"You people are persistent."

His voice caught most of the crew's attention.

“I see you’re still chasing the mysteries of Baguio,” the taxi driver said, his voice low and cryptic. “I can take you to the Sacred Forest... but I have one condition.”

Ryan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “What’s the condition?”

The driver’s smile faded, and his voice turned serious. “You must listen to the forest. It does not give up its secrets easily. Be prepared for what you might find... because not everyone returns with the truth.”

Ryan’s heart began to race, a mix of excitement and apprehension building within him. “Then let’s go. We’re ready.”

With a final glance at the mist-covered mountains, they climbed into the van, the mystery of Baguio pulling them deeper into its secrets. The journey was far from over, and the answers they sought lay just beyond the horizon.

CHAPTER END