Trying to avoid flying debris from the living room action scenes, the group crossed the space to locate the bedroom. Thanks to Pauline’s wooden creation guiding the directions, they eventually stumbled on a closed door behind a wall. 

“How’d that little thing get in?” Yani asked randomly.

The wooden creation pointed down on a chipped part of the door—signaling how it got in.

“Nice job, buddy.” Yani placed his pointer finger in front of it, and they fist-bumped despite not using any fists.

Since the door was locked, Kris kicked it open. 

They all entered together, and to their surprise, there was a transparent-looking person on the bed—hugging his knees. It looked exactly like Joseph. 

He seemed deeply distraught and frightened. When Kris took a step closer, he flinched.

“A ghost?” Yani questioned.

“No. Not yet.” Kris answered. “Just his spirit separated from his body.”

Kris took another step closer, and Joseph sank his face in between his knees. “We’re not here to hurt you.”

Joseph refused to give in to him. He stayed in his bed like it was the safest space in the world.

Kris walked towards the man, standing right beside him. And, Joseph hugged himself even tighter. “Yani, use your seventh sense. We need to know who did this.”

“What? But I don’t think he’s comfortable to-”

“Just do it.”

Yani was hesitant, but he followed Kris’s order, anyway. He approached the scared man and angled his hand above his shoulder. Then, the man shook harshly. “Kris, he’s scar-”

“Do it.”

Yani sighed, and placed his hand on the man’s shoulder. However, he slipped through it. “Wha- What?” He tried again, and it just kept slipping through.

Kris looked at Cielo, then back at the two. “I knew it. It should be his body you touch.”

Cielo peeked outside, seeing the maharlikas still heavily overpowered by the fake Joseph. “I don’t think that would be possible. Maybe ask Joseph instead.”

Kris nodded, and spoke in an authoritative tone. “Joseph. I know you did something to hurt Janna. Just tell us where that mambabarang is. See this as retribution for your sins.”

Joseph started breathing heavily upon the mention of her name, and began wailing. “Wha-” Kris paused his hands towards the man—unsure of what exactly happened.

Yani puffed his left cheek, and slapped Yani’s arm lightly. “You’re being too rough!”

“But I just told the truth.”

“Tsk. Let me do the talking.”

Yani smiled lightly, and sat beside the man who just twitched upon his movement. “Hey, Joseph. I’m Yani.”

A pause.

“I’m a mangkukulam.” He chuckled. “But you see, I also have a seventh sense!” He raised his fingers to show seven of them. “Which means, when I touch a person, I can see their past, and feel how they feel.”

Yani observed the latter—checking if he was listening.

“I actually met Janna, you know? I touched her arm, and that’s how we found you. And… I understand why you did that.”

This made Joseph lift his head up from his knees, just a little bit so his eyes were seen.

“You loved Janna a lot, right? You even spoil her to that lomi place nearby.”

Joseph kept listening.

“And when she cheated on you, that must have hurted so much. Hm? When you broke up with her, it must have hurt even more when she simply agreed, and did not fight for your relationship. And from your expression that day, I knew for a fact that you were willing to forgive her, and even take her back… as long as she fought for you.”

The man finally lifted his head up fully—looking at Yani—feeling that finally, someone understood him.

Cielo, Pauline, and Kris watched Yani do his work. He wasn’t doing anything spectacular, per se. But, it was working. It may or may not be his seventh sense working, but one thing’s for sure. Yani’s empathy is his greatest power.

“As a mangkukulam, I often get requests to curse other people. But of course, I do it just minimally. Kris probably wouldn’t agree, but-” He chuckled. “Some assholes deserve to be punished, right?

This made Joseph chuckle quietly.

“Let me guess, you didn’t intend for such a painful punishment for Janna?”

Joseph immediately responded, “No! I was- I was just hoping that she would have bad luck for a week. I didn’t know that the mambabarang would make her really sick! When her sister texted me about it, I was about to respond, but- But THIS happened.” He opened his arms to showcase his transparent body. “And- And my body… I- I don’t know who that is.”

Yani frowned—feeling sad for Joseph. “And you must regret it, right?”

“Yes. But thank you… for helping Janna.”

Yani’s frown switched to a kind smile. “That’s with the help of that grumpy guy over there, of course.” He looked towards Kris’s direction.

“Anyway, we’re here to help you. Just tell us where the mambabarang is.”

After the conversation and directions, they all went out of the bedroom to check on Isagani and Rafael. Thankfully, it seemed like the fight had already ended, with “Joseph” passed out on the floor as the two were hovering over him. But the living room? It looked like a storm raged inside it.

The real Joseph cautiously looked over his body with a sad yet relieved expression. 

“Whoa, a ghost!” Rafael exclaimed.

“Not a ghost.” Kris deadpanned. “Don’t be rude.”

Rafael moved his hand to “zip his mouth.”

Cielo took her humungous bag, and pulled out a bottle of red wine.

“Are you seriously drinking now?” Yani tilted his head—thinking that he might need some too. “Also, so that's what’s inside your bag.” He looked over—seeing so much liquor. Is she an alcoholic? 

Cielo laughed, “I told you that my bag is for my skill.” She placed the bottle of wine on the floor, and clasped her hands in a prayer position. “Please accept my offer. Bless me with an enchanted rope that would only untie itself when the real owner of the body it’s tied to comes back.”

A bright light enveloped the bottle. It was blinding—making Yani squint. And when his gaze came back to the bottle, a shimmering golden rope appeared on the table. Wow.

Cielo threw the rope to Rafael, and he began tying Joseph’s body up. “Joseph, when you wake up after we defeat the mambabarang, you won't remember a thing. However, I hope you apologize to Janna.”

Joseph nodded, “I will. Thank you.”

Yani, out of curiosity, observed the rope. “What was that skill?”

Cielo delightfully responded, “That was Alay. When I offer wine or other high value things to the gods, they would give me a gift. You could say that I’m malakas kay lord.” She says proudly. Then, she whispered, “Performing pag-aalis. Spirits, exorcise this man’s body. And when we defeat the caster, allow his spirit to return.”

Kris watched the body, and found a mosquito coming out of its nostril. He clapped his hand to garner everyone’s attention. “The day is not over yet. We need to find the mambabarang.”