Chapter VI: Past and Present

                It was a lazy Sunday morning for the reunited couple. Marian, just in her night gown, was still asleep underneath the covers of the bed. A smile was etched on her face as she gripped the pillow beside her. The steady humming of the air-conditioner resonated inside the bedroom. Matt’s baggage laid carelessly by the foot of the bed.

Empire Streets Chapter V: Emperor

 The sun barely began its course lighting up the sky yet Sunday morning was already busy down at the plaza. Families and friends gathered as they entered the cathedral. Its massive church-bell atop the tower rang for miles, both becoming a wake-up call and alarm to the nearby residents. The children with their parents played, running around as they were scolded to behave inside the hallowed grounds of Imus Cathedral.

Empire Streets Chapter IV: A Working Detective

 Darwin stared down a glass of cold piss-colored beer like it was suspect during one of his interrogations. He took the glass with one hand and held it near his face. His brows furrowed as he observed the bead-like sweat running down the transparent glass. Darwin placed the tip on his lips and felt the cool and bitter liquid run down his throat. It was his refreshingly third glass.

Empire Streets Chapter III: Gumshoe Darwin

What's worse than Manila traffic? Manila traffic when you're in a fuckin' hurry. Those words ran through Detective Darwin Rodriguez mind as he drove down the bumper-to-bumper traffic near Pasig. A few minutes ago, he got a call from the chief-of-police. Some kid decided to swim in the god-forsaken river and as luck would have it, trash, muck and grime weren't the only things running down Pasig river's course. Chief said some kid felt someone grab his foot as he swam down the river. Turns out some poor dude got his feet cemented and was thrown down the river. Heh, someone's been watching too much gangster movies.

Empire Streets Chapter II: Marian

 The rural feel enveloped this hot Saturday morning. In  Imus, Cavite, just south of the Urban Jungle that is Manila, Marian Garcia was tending to her flowers just outside her house. As she watered the plants beside her olive-green home, the birds chirped a happy tune as they rested on the sturdy tree branches. It was such a peaceful ambiance... contradicting the loud pop music someone was playing inside her house.