The mother of the girl Callisto saved from the burning house was on the television screen while Raymond and Phillip were watching, sharing the story of how the mysterious girl showed up out of nowhere, jumping straight into the window of the second floor of their house with only her feet and a bucket of water, to come out of the house through the roof with the girl in her arms safely.
At first, both the doctors didn't seem to think much about the story. If anything, the story sounded so surreal from the beginning. Even after other people appeared in the interview, who claimed they were also there when the girl appeared out of nowhere and saved the day, tell the interviewer that the story was true.
"I don't know how exactly she did it, but I'm thankful. I wish I could tell her how grateful I am, but she left as soon as she appeared."
But then, the interviewer, who seemed to have a doubtful expression on his face like any normal person would after hearing such a story, asked the mother if she could describe the appearance of the mysterious masked girl.
The mother cleared her throat as she began to speak again. "She has a cat-shaped white mask, a white and blue hoodie, and long white or silver hair."
As soon as the mother described her daughter's saviour with silver hair, a thought immediately crossed Raymond's mind. But not wanting to go into conclusions too quickly, he continued listening in, hoping this mysterious individual wasn't who he thought they were.
"She also has a pair of ears like a cat's above her head," the mother gestured to her own head with both hands, Raymond and Phillip creasing their foreheads by the information. "And a silver tail."
For a second, Raymond's and Phillip's eyes met before turning back to the television. Raymond didn't want to be right about his suspicion; he didn't want to believe that the person the mother was talking about was exactly the one he thought of. But after hearing the detailed description of the mysterious individual, there could be no doubting it.
The mother was talking about Callisto.
How?
If his suspicion was right, and the story about Callisto jumping several feet high to save the girl from being trapped in a burning house was true, how was she able to do it?
Raymond didn't really need to think hard of an explanation. There was only one answer to his question.
Just as he was thinking that, Raymond saw a familiar man appear next to the mother. He recognised him as the barangay captain of the district, a kind and diligent public servant.
What the barangay captain said to the officer was something that would make Raymond reconsider suspecting his own daughter.
"She also has golden eyes," the captain interjected, drawing the interviewer's attention completely towards him. "They're like a pair of suns."
"I don't think Callisto has gold eyes," Phillip said, looking at Raymond one more time.
Raymond shook his head. "She has blue ones."
"I thought so. But still, what an intriguing news."
Raymond remembered before Callisto got discharged from the hospital, he and Phillip had her go through some tests to make sure that she was okay and that no complications or abnormalities were present after the MDF operation. Besides the fact that the colour of her hair changed, the additional ears, the tail, and the flexibility similar to a cat, Raymond and Phillip didn't find anything concerning.
Callisto was in perfect health. There was no way she could have done an impossible feat such as jumping several feet high into the air to get into a burning house and save a trapped girl.
So then, who could this mysterious masked girl be?
* * *
The entire news was broadcasted nationwide, so many viewers heard about the incident in Silangan, as well as the story of the mysterious masked girl. Of course, among those many, a lot of people seemed to have taken interest in the mysterious masked girl.
"Are superheroes real?"
"When will I get my own superpower?"
"Is there more of them out there?"
"If she's real, I hope she gets rid of all the kidnappers in the country one day."
And there are those who seemed more than interested.
* * *
Inside of what seemed like a dark, abandoned warehouse located somewhere, filled with the scent of old chocolate and dust, sat a man in front of a dust-covered TV, whose face was covered in the dark of the room. Silently, he watched the same news Raymond was watching at the same moment.
At the far end of the warehouse, the loud, grating sound of a roller shutter being pushed open echoed. The light from the outside caught the ground, highlighting the silhouette of another man as he entered the room with slow, casual steps. His face was also blurred in the dark.
"Hey, Father, everything's set. Tsk. Are you listening?"
Unlike the man in front of the television, the other who came into the room looked out of place with the way he was donning a fancy fit as if he were going to a prom. He also seemed to give out a condescending vibe with the way he was irritated that the man he called Father didn't answer him.
The condescending young man stood next to his father. When he turned to the TV, he came to understand why the other wasn't bothering answering him.
* * *
In yet another dark place. Though more compact compared to the warehouse, this room seemed to be designed as an office for a person in power. And that person in power, a woman with long crimson hair tied in a high ponytail, sat in her chair.
Her lavender eyes, sharp and fierce, reflected the news she was viewing through her mobile phone before turning it off and leaving it on top of her desk. When she turned to the window illuminated by the morning scenery outside, she had a long stare on her face as if she were contemplating. Or planning something.
"A mysterious masked girl, huh?" From her side, her clothed hand balled into a fist; the motion conjured faint sparks of lightning around it. "What are they planning this time?"