Mermaid Blues: Beasts, Giants and Spirits

The Baas. A village located in the middle of the forest, somewhere in the mountains of Kalinga, Cordillera Region. It is an isolated place away from modern civilizations. A village nearby rice terraces. A village that was once inhabited by the Baas people. These Baas people were Igorots who chose to live away from the outside world because of their differences. They were extraordinary humans who have the ability to shape-shift into beasts. They were lycants who are members of shape-shifting humankind scientifically called Lignodons. They are one of the civilizations left that possess tons of gold that were passed down by their ancient ancestors. Yet, they are not living in a giant mansion nor living luxuriously as rich people do. Like ordinary people, they mostly rely on farming. They were only living in nipa huts or in houses made of wood. They are aware of the modern world. However, like any other village in the mountains, they prefer living as simple as it is. However, that place that was once prosperous and simple has met its terrible destruction. March thirteenth of the year twenty-twenty-five. Houses are no longer standing there. All that is left is ashes covering the ground. Smokes are being swayed by the wind. Everything in that village is covered in black ashes. The trees inside that village were affected by the massive flames, and portions of their trunks were turned to coal. People were lying breathless along the muddy road. Some of them were buried in the mud, shot in their heads with silver bullets. Gaston, one of the pack leaders of the supernatural agency called "Association of Cordilleran Marksmen", was crouching down as he devastatingly stared at the disturbing sight. His investigators are roaming around the village looking for clues to understand what happened. The agents of the Marksmen were looking for some survivors. Cielo (pronounced as 'Si-lo), another pack leader of the Bakunawa, was coming towards Gaston. He is a German man who prefers to work in the country of paradise. He is at least six feet tall and is thirty years old. "I can't believe this," Gaston said as he slowly shook his head. "The hunters have outdone it this time," Cielo said. "Those bastards. How could they do this to a humble village? How could they be this cruel?" "They are hunters. Lignodons are their prey." "I don't understand," Gaston replied as he stood up. "These people are humans too. They just happened to be different from anyone else. They are the ones who are already distancing themselves from ordinary people. They want peace as well as we do." "Hunters don't understand us too," Cielo told him. "Come. Follow me. I'll show you something," he instructed. He turned his back on Gaston and he walked away. He followed Cielo. Cielo brought him to a spot by the rock at the foot of a charred tree where there was a corpse lying down buried slightly in ash and dirt. Not like the other corpses, there was no bullet in his system, instead, he was beheaded. Gaston found two investigators uncovering the body from the dirt with brushes and their bare hands. Gaston and Cielo stood before the corpse. "Look at his wrist," Cielo instructed. And so, Gaston looked below at the unknown man's arm. He widened his eyes in surprise when he saw something familiar marking on the corpse's wrist. He crouched down and he began squinting down at the mark. "Is that, what I think it is?" Gaston reacted with wonder. He was looking at a mark that seemed branded on the corpse's wrist, much like how a mark is branded onto the cattle's skin by a branding iron. The mark was smoking with steam. As for what the mark looks like. It is shaped like the figure of a lizard. A lizard that resembles exactly the figure of the Cordilleran motif. "Yap," Cielo replied with a determined tone in his voice. He grabbed his waist. "That's the same mark as the previous victim last month, and the last three months. I think this is not a coincidence anymore." "Whatever the hunters want in this village, this guy might be the intended prey," Gaston theorized. " The question is, ' what do they want from this guy and the victims from these past months?'" "ID-ing him would be useful," Cielo shrugged. "However, those sons of bitches took his head so, it will take a very long time to identify him." "Better make it quick," he stood up. He sighed and then he looked around. "Let's find out the reason why he was targeted, causing a harmless village into a shooting ground." "Sir," an agent called as he approaches. The two leaders turned around to face the agent. "The Bureau of Investigation's called. There's another phenomenon that happened in Abra. They want us there ...right now." Gaston and Ceilo looked at each other with wonder on their faces. *****Deep Secret***** Somewhere, along with the shaded areas in the corners of the wide playground of the Horizon Reached University... A student named Sherdel was sitting on a concrete bench designed to look like it's made of pine logs. Next to him was a concrete table which has the same design as the bench where he laid his bag down. He was just there, sitting alone. Boredom drew out on his face while watching the students moving at the grassy ground in front of him. He was glaring at them that those who were passing by felt insecure when they saw him. A couple of moments passed, he finally ceased staring at people. He took his eyes on his phone, hoping that someone will call him by that minute. He sighed as he put down his phone on the table, then he ballooned his cheeks. Just after that, he got startled when his phone suddenly rang. He immediately took it and answered the call. "Hi, babe!" He greeted her with a monotone uncheery but sincere voice. His face who was painted with boredom and bitterness still remained unchanged in his face. "Babe, may I ask a favor?" The girl on the other line responded. "Okay. What can I do for you?" he replied. "Is there something wrong over there?" "You little rascal," the girl chuckled. "Don't worry, I am not in danger, You know I wouldn't even want you to punch a shark for me. Just fetch me here in Burnham. " "That so? Okay, I'm on my way," he hung up his phone. He immediately stood up, grabbed his bag, and then he walked away. ::::::::::::::::::::::::: At the parking lot located west of the university... Sherdel was on his way to the corner where his car was. Then, his phone rang. He picked it up. "Hello, babe. Yes, I'm already near my car." "Hurry up. It feels like it's going to rain." She hung up her phone. Sherdel can already see his car about ten meters away. He walked toward it as fast as he can. Finally, he got there. He sat down at the driver's seat and then he started the engine. He advanced his car forward, but suddenly, his car screeched as he stopped his car when someone blocked the way. "Bullsh..." he honked his car. Then, he immediately hopped out. "Hoy! Would you please be careful next --" he suddenly paused when he realized that the person he was yelling to was someone he knows...but not a friend. "Sherdel!" The young boy, the same age as he is, greeted. Sherdel didn't say a word he was just glaring at him. He clenched his fist as he readied to punch him. "Don't be like that. Come on," He told Sherdel while showing his fake optimistic smile against Shardel's irritated look. "I've got no time to play with you, Gregory," he told him. "Get your face out of my face. I have to be somewhere." "Really now?" He went closer to Sherdel. Without a warning, Gregory punched his face. "That's what you get for breaking us up with my girlfriend." "Girlfriend? Which one? The other one or the other one?" Sherdel talked back. "You never loved them anyway, so why bother? It's better to tell them that you stink than making them fools." "What did you say?" Gregory grabbed his collar. "Don't act like you are innocent," Sherdel pushed him away. "So, would you please move?" Sherdel was about to touch the knob of the car when he took another punch in the face. The punch was powerful enough to knock Sherdel down. "You sick son of a b***h!" Sherdel immediately stood up. It's his turn to hit Gregory. Likewise, Gregory was knocked down. Then he stood up and they wrestled. A few minutes later, two security guards finally came to stop them. :::::::::::::::::::::::: "Sherdelino Prado Malvar Alhibing!" His grandfather shouted so loud that even the teachers outside his office got startled. "Lolo. I'm sorry, okay? My emotion got the best of me," he told. He's got bruises on his left cheek and around his left eye which were covered by bandages. " I was about to flee from the parking lot but that i***t cousin blocked my way and taunted me." Sherdel was sitting down on a chair in front of his grandfather's desk. While his grandfather was walking around the room as he felt frustrated. "You should have just ignored him! Is it that hard to just tolerate him? Oh God, why can't my family be as normal as I want?" "I'm sorry. My emotion just got the best of me." "Don't 'sorry sorry' me, boy. You know, I am sick of all your reasons. How many times did I tell you to stop being so aggressive? Almost every day, there are people coming to me reporting and complaining about you brawling with everyone!" "I tried. I tried to stay away from them but they are the ones who are looking for me," he defended himself. The old man rubbed his forehead with his left hand. Then he ballooned his cheeks in order to calm himself. "Listen up," he said with a soft voice, trying to calm himself down. The old man went behind his desk to where his rotating chair was. The old man sat across from him. He sighed before looking at Sherdel. "Listen up, Sherdel," he pointed at him. "I want you and Mr. Gregory, who is at the hospital right now, to attend community service." Sherdel widened his eyes. He couldn't believe that his Lolo will make him attend to one of the things he hates. Moreover, Gregory will be there. "No. Please. No." "This is your punishment for being reckless. Whether you like it or not I will force you to." Before Sherdel could speak, someone outside knocked on the door. "Enter!" the old man said. Donna entered the room. She is the daughter of Tony Alhibing and the aunt of Sherdel. "I am sorry to interrupt, but the press is here." The old man stood up and then he fixed his necktie. He glanced at Sherdel. "Let's talk again later," he told him before he and his daughter went out of the room. Sherdel sighed in frustration. ::::::::::::::::::::::::: "Mama! Yehey Mamma!" Grace was shouting to her mother as she hurriedly approaches. She was excited to tell her the good news. Her mother paused hanging her laundry when she heard her daughter calling. Her mother was in the backyard where the clotheslines were, hanging the clothes she just washed. She turned in the direction where her daughter was coming from. "What? What is it, Grace? Has something happened?" her mother asked. She was curious why her daughter was looking so happy. "I passed the exam!" Grace spoke with a high pitch in her voice, indicating she's excited. "What?" Her mother made a wide smile on her face when she heard the news. She can't believe it, however, she was happy for her daughter's achievement. "Look!" Grace said as she showed her mother the confirmation letter to her mother. It was a coupon bond containing a printed ink stating that Grace is now a legitimate scholar of the Horizon Reached University. "I passed! Finally, I will be going to study in the Horizon Reached." "Wow! Congratulations. I am so proud of you! You got what you want." Her mother hugged her. She was very happy. Grace hugged her back. "I can't wait for what's in that elite school." "I am sure you're going to be fine there," her mother replied. Then, she moved back. "I can't believe my baby girl is going to be a college girl now." Grace chuckled. "Speaking of being in college, I can now allow you to bring home a guy," her mother teased. "Mama!" Grace was surprised. She can't believe those words just came from her mother. "What? I am sure there will be lots of guys there who want to date you. Especially, the students in that university are said to be rich and handsome," she teased. "I can't believe you are saying that to me," Grace told her. "You're already grown up. I am sure you can already handle a relationship. Moreover, I trust you because you're smart. You can't easily fall into the wrong guy." "I'll have a boyfriend, only when I found the one for me," Grace responded with a smile. "Of course," her mom agreed. "Besides, I am a scholar now. I will be busy. I don't have time for that," she explained. "And that's why you are smart," her mother complimented. "Come here. I'll hug you again." Grace gladly came closer to her and hugged her. Her mother hugged her back. ::::::::::::::::::::::::: In a conference room located in one of the buildings owned by the Horizon Reached University called the United Architect's Association Building, UPA in short... People have filled in the entire room. Those people are the reporters, journalists, cameramen, and others who are working for the media. On the stage, they were facing, Mr. Tony Alhibing, the owner himself was standing behind the podium, answering every question thrown by the interviewers. Donna was silently standing at the back, on his right. "Is it true that you are going to step down being a Head Director of the Horizon Reached?" A guy reporter asked. "Yes," he replied proudly. "I would like to address the rumor. It is true that I am not going to be involved in any responsibility that involves this school anymore." The people filled the room with murmurs. " I know that it is sad. But I can't ignore the fact that I am also ruling the Geo-Atlas Group of Architects. All these three years that I am the Head Director of this beloved school, it is hard splitting myself into two, managing the company and managing this school. It is time for me to choose between the two. Which responsibility will I choose? So, I chose to manage the Geo-Atlas." "Is that the reason why Miss Donna is here? To introduce her as the new Head Director of the Horizon Reached?" the other reporter asked. "Yes. From now on, she will be the new Head Director of the Horizon Reached University. I trust her ability. And I am looking forward to her improving this school further." The people in the hall murmured again. While looking at the press's reactions, Donna was getting more nervous. However, she hid it by making an enthusiastic smile on her face. She took a deep breath to lessen the tension she was feeling in her chest. "Ladies and gentlemen. Meet the new Head Director of the Horizon Reached University. No other than my daughter, my successor herself, Missis Donna Faye Alhibing Santiago." Mr. Alhibing then moved back. Donna stepped forward close to the podium. As the crowd claps and cheers for her, she stood confidently behind the podium and smiled. "I am very honored to accept this very duty that my dear father had started. As the new Head Director of this school, I will do my very best to accomplish this school's mission and to make our vision come to reality. As the new Head Director, I am now ready to answer any questions you have about this school's agenda." Then, a woman reporter stood up from her chair. "Madam Donna. We are aware that there is this kind of strict standard that you are following that only an elite student is capable of studying in this institution. Will it be possible for those students who are in the lower status wishing to be part of this institution to study here?" "Well, it is true that the elites are able to study in this school because of the high tuition. We really did that on purpose. The school is indeed new. Our partners, my Dad and I had agreed to keep it that way. We are not ready to accommodate lots of students yet. However, it is not right to say that the school is only exclusive to the elite. We also welcome any students who desire to study here. We have this Exclusive Scholarship, a very tough one. First of all, children must have to be registered for an entrance exam. But before that, the student should have to comply with the requirements. If that student successfully complied and meet the criteria we expect from him or her, the student should have to pass the exam. Since we are only welcoming a limited number of students, we are going to strain the students who have passed according to their scores until we meet the desired number of students we are expecting to be enrolled." Everyone murmured again. "Any more questions?" Donna asked. Then, everyone raised their hands. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::: In the municipality of Bangued, Abra... "What the heck....! Is happening here?" Gordon, an Igorot Kankana-ey guy, and another pack leader of the Cordilleran Marksmen. He was staring at a very unbelievable view from afar. He was standing at the top of the Cassamata Hill National Park. From there, he can see the entire view of the civilization. He used a pair of binoculars to further enhance his view and to see things clearly from afar. He put down his binoculars for a while. What Gordon and the agents of Cordilleran Marksmen were looking at was a giant dome of bubble covering the entire town down the hill. The bubble was so gigantic that it swallowed the entire plain of buildings whole. It was towering at the height of about one thousand four hundred meters. Not only was the bubble that was happening, but the activity inside it was bothering. There are trees and plants of unknown species that started to grow in that town. Resulting in the buildings and other human structures crumbling down. Fortunately, people living in that town have been evacuated before the situation has gotten worse. Only he and his crew were the only people allowed to get near the bubble. The hill is the best place for them to observe the phenomenon. Two of his investigators are taking photos of the view. His agents were on their binoculars, spotting some people who were stranded inside the bubble dome. Drones with cameras attached to them were hovering above the bubbles. The technicians were squatting down on the grass while they were staring at their laptops to check the feedback coming from the drone cameras. "Boss Gaston, you won't believe what we are looking at here. It's nuts! It is something that came out from a sci-fi movie." He excitedly informed. He was talking to Gaston on the radio. "I can see that on my phone," Gaston replied. "How are the residence?" Then he asked. "According to the drone cams, an estimated fifty are left stuck in there. I am assuming they are now dead, we can't think of any methods to save them if ever anybody of them is still alive. The rest were immediately evacuated after they see the earth cracking underneath. There was no earthquake, however, the ground was cracking. Somewhere between six o'clock in the morning. The Bureau of Investigations said that witnesses saw flashes of white light in the sky while the cracking was taking place. One hour later, this happened."Explained Gordon. "Too bad you couldn't see this personally. It is so cool." "It killed fifty people, you stupid. Just get to work, boss," Gaston rolled his eyes. "So, how did that happen?" "My men are still working on it. Right now, the only explanation I've got is that the bubble of space-time has brought the other reality here. Like what I always theorize on the previous cases." "The Bureau of Investigations, how are they handling the situation?" "They are confused, but a little more than we are," he answered. "I have their head investigator beside me," he informed. He turned to look at the head investigator, Mr. Asuncio Sagat. "Mr. Sagat is assisting us in scouting around the bubble, making sure no resident would intend to get any closer to it. At the same time helping us gather more information." Afterward, Gordon put down his communicator. He called everyone's attention. He was walking around the area as he delivers his message. "Okay, guys! I would like you to give me some new pieces of information as soon as possible. I don't wanna hear any usual crap. Whatever you do, take note of every activity you see. Even if you think that it is insignificant. Even if you see birds flying or dogs having their businesses, take note of it. But never touch the bubble. We don't want someone to get fried again after attempting to cross over it. Just observe in this place, away from the bubble as possible. By that I also meant the bureau," he announced. "Mr. Sagat," he called the attention of the head director as he came over. The head director was standing behind the technicians sitting on the ground while he watches them working on their laptops. "Are there any more victims?" "Nothing, so far," Mr. Sagat answered. Then, he looked at the town. "What the hell is happening?" he asked "I can't tell," Gordon answered. "All I know, my friend, is that you are looking at the opposite face of mother Earth." "Sir!" one of the technicians called. "What?" Gaston approached him. "Our drones are detecting a heat signature at the east edge of town," he informed. "It is coming from a human being. And it is moving." "What?" he suddenly wondered as he widened his eyes. He looked at the laptop screen to confirm if the technician was telling the truth. "He should be crushed by now." Gaston squinted at the screen. "Is he moving closer to the edge?" And so, Gaston looked away from the screen and he immediately looked at the town. "He's going to get out..." he muttered. "Guys! To the east side of town. Now! Go! Go! Go!" he announced to the crew. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Gordon and his agents have arrived at the east side. Together, with the NBI, they have gathered there, waiting for the person beyond the bubble wall to reveal whoever he or she is. Gordon was holding a megaphone then to warn the person just in case he or she intends to cross over the wall. They can already see a silhouette of a person on the wall. They can see him coming closer and closer to the translucent wall. It was revealed that the person was a male. "Sir, please, stop right there. You should not get close to the wall. I repeat, stop right there!" Gordon warned. " Sir, you can't come any closer. " However, the man ignored the warning. He was still slowly approaching the barrier. He was just staring at them with a stern look on his face. He was one foot close to the wall when he stopped. Gordon walked close to the stranger. He stood still when he was almost a meter away from the wall. "Can you hear me, sir? Stay right there. Don't move." Like he didn't hear anything, the man still decided to lift his foot and let it pass through the barrier. "NO! DON'T!" Gordon shouted with fright. He was about to walk closer but his agents grabbed his arms and they pulled him back. The guy took another step. He successfully set both his feet on the other side. He was neither got hurt, bruised, nor burned. He came out from the wall of the bubble without losing any of his body parts. The agents were shocked. They got puzzled, trying to figure out why didn't he got disintegrated by the wall of space-time. Even, Gordon - the scientist, was confused. He was staring at a person who shouldn't survive. The stranger looks like he's somewhere between twenty to thirty years old. He's got shiny green eyes, brown hair, and a pointy nose. He has a brown beard. He seems of European descent. The stranger was standing still. Only his head was moving from side to side allowing him to scan at the people who were anxiously looking at him. He stared back at them with a frown. His vision was suddenly doubled. Then, he fainted on the ground. Immediately, Gordon and his team came over to the unconscious guy. Gordon grabbed the guy's right wrist to check his pulse. Suddenly, Gordon was surprised to see a familiar mark on the guy's wrist. He widened his eyes as he stares at the mark. A mark that is a tribal lizard motif. Unlike the murdered victims who have the same mark he has, his mark is embedded on his wrist in a form of a tattoo instead, not in a form of a burnt scar. "Son of a gun," Gordon reacted. Then, the bureau carried him to a stretcher. Immediately, they brought him to the ambulance. Not for long, they drove him away from the scene. :::::::::::::::::::::::::: Grace Joy was in her room, sitting on her bed while enjoying her glass of water as she sang one of Moira's calming songs. She lifted some of the water to the air above the glass with her power. She shaped it into a sphere then she tore it into smaller marble-sized droplets that spread in the mid-air around her. She stopped singing because she got amazed at what her eyes revealed. She watched them shimmer against the light as they revolved around her slowly. Meanwhile, through her mind, she turned them into hard solid. Not ice but something crystalline and transparent like marbles. "Wow!" She whispered. Someone came to the door. It was her little brother Janus. "Hoy, get out of there, let's eat!" he yelled as he knocks. Grace Joy got startled when she heard the noise from outside. And so, she dropped them down on the bedsheet. "Yeah, I heard you. Just go, I'll be there in a moment." "Okay. I'm going downstairs now," Janus replied. Grace Joy sighed with relief. She turned her head to see the mirror on the right side of the bed. She looked at her reflection and smiled.