“Thalia!” Jenny called out while preparing breakfast.

“Coming, sis!” Thalia replied as she stepped out of their room, already carrying her packed bag. Today was the day of her school camping trip.

“Hurry up, or you’ll miss the school bus!” Jenny said, setting the table. Their Kuya was still at work, so she had taken charge of preparing everything for her sister. Her own class started much later.

“It would be better if I missed the bus,” Thalia muttered under her breath.

Jenny turned, eyeing her carefully. Thalia rarely joked—she was always the serious type. With a sigh, Jenny shook her head and gently tapped her sister on the head.

“Eat up. I’ll go wake up Greg.”

As she walked toward their youngest brother’s room, Jenny suddenly froze.

Thalia… she whispered in her mind, sensing something.

A vision overtook her.

She saw Thalia walking down a long, empty concrete road—flanked by two women. But they weren’t human. They were spirits. One of them suddenly turned to face Jenny, her face drenched in blood, twisted into a haunting smile.

The vision vanished as quickly as it came. Jenny staggered and took a deep breath, cold sweat trickling down her back.

Why now? Why show me this right before Thalia leaves? she cursed silently.

She had never told anyone about her visions—her glimpses of what was yet to come. She didn’t want this ability. She only wanted to live a normal life. But fate had other plans.

Jenny hated her gift. She was still afraid of it. She wasn’t used to seeing such things… and she didn’t want to.

“Sis?” came a small voice.

She turned and saw Greg, their seven-year-old brother, rubbing his eyes sleepily. “What are you doing?” he asked curiously.

The storm in her thoughts quieted. Jenny forced a smile.

“Oh, you’re awake. Come on, let’s eat, okay?”

Greg nodded, and they returned to the table where Thalia was already sitting, quietly eating. She had waited for them before finishing her meal.

Jenny tried to shake off the dreadful image from her vision. Calm down, Jenny. Not everything you see comes true, she reminded herself.

“Sis, is something wrong?” Thalia asked, noticing her troubled expression.

“Huh? No, nothing’s wrong. Why?” Jenny replied quickly, helping Greg with his food.

“You just seem restless today. I’m worried about you.”

Jenny realized her uneasiness was showing. “Don’t worry. I’m just thinking about a few things,” she lied softly.

Thalia smiled. “You’re strong. I know you can handle it.”

Jenny smiled back—but it was forced.

“I’ll do the dishes. You should go, or you’ll miss the bus,” Jenny said, noticing Thalia was done eating and starting to clean up.

Thalia sighed, scratching her head. “Fine.”

“Sis Ta, when will you be back?” Greg asked, looking up at her.

Thalia bent down and smiled. “I’ll only be gone for three days. I won’t be long.”

“Be careful, sister,” Greg said, hugging her tightly.

“Thank you, Greg.”

“Go ahead,” Jenny added. “I’ll take care of Greg and bring him to school later.”

“Alright then. I’m off.” Thalia waved goodbye.

“Thalia,” Jenny called after her.

Thalia turned, waiting.

“Be careful,” Jenny said again—this time, her voice heavy, her chest tightening with unease.

Thalia nodded and stepped outside to wait for her ride. It was still early, and the road was quiet. Only a few vehicles passed by at that hour.

Soon, a small car pulled up.

“Perfect timing! Come on!” Ruth, Thalia’s classmate, called out from the driver’s side. “Good morning, Jenny!” she greeted cheerfully.

“Good morning,” Jenny replied with a faint smile.

But then—another vision struck her.

She saw Ruth running barefoot through the dark, crying and screaming for help. Two masked men chased her. A gunshot echoed through the night.

“Sis?” Thalia’s voice snapped her back to reality.

Jenny wiped the sweat from her forehead.

“Are you not feeling well?” Thalia asked, concerned.

Jenny shook her head quickly, but her gaze flicked to Ruth.

In her mind, she saw her again—Ruth lying in her uniform, drenched in blood. Lifeless.

“Just get some rest, sis,” Thalia said, clearly worried.

Jenny suddenly reached out and grabbed Ruth’s hand. “Ruth… never go out alone at night during camp. Ever,” she warned, her temples pounding.

Thalia and Ruth exchanged uneasy glances.

“Y-Yes, Jenny. Let’s go, Thalia,” Ruth said nervously.

Thalia climbed into the car, giving her sister one last look before they drove off.

“Big Sis,” Greg whispered, tugging at Jenny’s shirt. “Why does it look like someone’s following Sister Thalia?”

Jenny’s breath caught.

He continued, “And I saw a dark man walking beside them.”

Jenny’s hair stood on end.

She remembered what she had seen—Thalia walking beside spirits, and the shadow looming over Ruth. Her heart pounded in her chest.

Dear God, please no…

She looked down at Greg, her thoughts spinning. Does my brother have a sixth sense too?

People often said children were more sensitive to the supernatural. She wanted to brush it off—but her instincts screamed otherwise.

I’ll remind Thalia later, she vowed silently. Don’t leave Ruth alone. Ever.

Greg clung tightly to her and hid behind her. “Sis, let’s go inside,” he murmured.

Jenny followed him quietly. Across the street stood an abandoned house—one Greg had always been afraid of. He used to say he saw a headless woman wandering near it. Jenny had always dismissed it as childish imagination.

She helped Greg get ready for school, needing to leave early for her own classes. When her older brother arrived home later, exhausted from work, he went straight to bed.

Still, the vision lingered—the image of Thalia walking beside a spirit. Jenny pressed her fingers against her temples, trying to erase it.

She hated this gift. She had never asked for it.

All she ever wanted… was to live a normal life.