it’s been one month exactly since tamara found out from her dead grandmother that she was a seer, a person who can converse with the dead. and it has been twenty-nine days since her grandmother left her a warning: that demons will be coming after her because of her ability.

the old woman’s spirit didn’t say why, but tamara didn’t think it’s because demons were in a hurry to speak with their departed loved ones.

she sure wished that was the case though.

a week ago, tamara’s best friend george had pointed out a sudden rise in murder crimes. george’s a field reporter, and he was assigned the police beat. instead of complaining about it, her best friend had reveled in the triviality of most crimes. until last week.

“tamara, the police have three dozen murder cases with the same manner of death, all within the vicinity of quiapo, and they have no murder suspect.” tamara wasn’t sure if george was horrified or excited. “i think we have a serial killer on our hands.”

“there is no such thing as a serial killer in the philippines, someone famous told me that.” tamara said dryly.

“then how do you explain the similar murders?” george raised an eyebrow at tamara. “thirty-six unrelated murder cases with the same manner of death.”

“i don’t know. you’re the guy assigned to the police beat.” tamara pointed out, “why don’t you ask the officers what they think?”

“i did.” george heaved a deep sigh. “no one could answer me.”

one week later, tamara found that she now could answer george’s question. because it was staring at her face.

it had yellow teeth. that was the most distinguishing feature tamara could point out. the rest of it was a swirling gray mass that wouldn’t stay still. tamara wasn’t sure if it even had a body. but she was pretty sure that yellow teeth were solid. and would hurt.

”now, all i ask is that you remember all the stories. because it will save your life.” tamara remembered her grandmother’s words that fateful night she found out she was a seer. and she knew her grandmother had said something about yellow teeth.

but what it was, tamara couldn’t remember.

fortunately for her, lola ising’s spirit was still around. the spirit of the old woman materialized beside tamara, and pointed at her purse. tamara didn’t think her grandmother wanted her to bludgeon the yellow teeth monster with her purse, so she opened it.

her grandmother waved a hand at her compact mirror, which tamara quickly took a hold of. she opened the compact, and as if she knew what she was doing, she pointed the mirror at yellow teeth.

nothing happened.

tamara could picture her grandmother doing the face-palm move. probably because the old woman’s spirit was actually doing it beside her. but tamara decided to let it pass. the yellow teeth were moving in on her. and her grandmother chanted aloud words that tamara knew she had to say aloud.

which she did. and the yellow teeth creature was absorbed by her compact mirror. very ghostbusters-y.

tamara turned to her grandmother, smiling sheepishly. her grandmother had a disproving look. the spirit said, “i am very disappointed in you, tamara reyes.”

“well, i couldn’t remember your story about the yellow teeth.”

the old woman’s spirit floated in front of tamara. “most demons have yellow teeth,” lola ising growled. “that was a soul-eater. a low-level demon.”

“low-level?”

“meaning there is more, child.” the old woman motioned to the compact mirror tamara was holding. “a soul-eater is not a popular demon, but there are many of them. and they collect souls of seers. of people who can see spirits.”

“choosy!” tamara cracked. when the old woman glared at her, tamara shrugged and asked, “why?”

“because seers have access to ancient powers. and their souls could hasten the coming of the dark lord.”

tamara didn’t like the sound of that. but before she could ask more questions, her grandmother had disappeared. leaving her alone in the middle of a crowded alley full of people looking at her as if she was crazy.

and that’s when tamara knew her life was about to go crazy on her.