SCIAS OF THE UNDERWORLD

SEVEN

She was certain monsters do not exist. Sa totoong buhay, the only thing people should be wary of is each other. There's nothing more monstrous than human beings. Iyon ang paniniwala niya. But what she's seeing in front of her at the moment is no human. It's monstrous. 

Nagpumiglas siya sa hawak nito sa leeg niya ngunit mahigpit itong nakakapit sa kanya. Matangkad ito. And instead of having a human head, para itong isda. Matutulis ang maliliit na ngipin at sigurado siyang masakit iyon kapag bumaon sa balat niya. And its eyes were bloody red habang nakatingin sa kanya. Fear overwhelmed her kaya ang tanging magawa niya ay ang magpumiglas. She couldn't even ask for help. The creature made sure ahe couldn't scream.

The creature made a guttural sound. Lumuwag ang pagkakahawak nito sa leeg niya, just enough to let her breathe. The moment she was gasping for air, she could smell the sea from the creature. It was making strange sounds as if trying to talk to her but she couldn't understand. She couldn't decipher what it was talking about. It sounded like it was telling her something.

"Let go of me," she managed to say ngunit mukhang nagalit ito at mas hinigpitan ang hawak sa leeg niya. This time, mas mahigpit iyon kaysa sa una that she could feel the air being squeezed out of her. Her vision blurred and she was trying too hard to catch some breath. It was when she was about to pass out that the grip of the monster on her neck loosened hanggang sa tuluyan itong natanggal. BInitiwan siya nito and she slumped on the road. Nanghihina ang mga tuhod niya at nanginginig ang kalamnan niya as she looked at the monster again. 

Doon niya napagtanto na may sugat ito sa dibdib. A spear pierced the creature from behind. It staggered and blue blood came oozing out of its wound. What she's seeing was terrifying ngunit sa hindi niya alam na dahilan, she couldn't scream. She was too shocked by what she's seeing that she couldn't make a sound. Not even a whisper.

The creature slumped on the ground with a thud. The sound of its blood dripping was enough confirmation for her to realize she's already safe. She whimpered as she saw the monster slowly disintegrating.

May narinig siyang mga yabag ng papa dahilan para maging alerto ulit siya. The fear came back and she started trembling again. Ngunit nang tingnan niya kung sino ang paparating, relief flooded through her. 

"Juno," she said. She wanted to scream at him ngunit hindi niya magawa. She was too drained to be even fighting with her cousin kung bakit siya nito iniwang mag-isa. 

The monster completely disintegrated leaving not a single trace that it was just here a moment ago, with its fingers wrapped around her neck. Napahawak siya sa leeg niya. Paniguradong mag-iiwan iyon ng pasa. But that's the least of her concerns.

"Ally!" tawag ni Juno habang tumatakbo ito papalapit sa kanya. Nanatili siyang nakatingin sa sibat na hindi kalayuan sa kanya. It was the same spear na tumama sa dibdib ng nilalang kanina. Napatingin siya kay Juno na nakaupo sa kanyang harapan. His eyes scanned her whole being, checking if there are any wounds. He lifted her chin and he sighed as he saw what's on her neck. 

"Are you okay?" nakatingin ito sa kanya.

Now that the fear has slowly subsided, she took the moment to understand what just happened. Napatingin siya sa sibat at kay Juno. 

"Did you do that?" tanong niya sa pinsan. Her cousin just nodded. And looking at him, he doesn't seem to look fazed by what just happened. If anything, he looked more worried than terrified. 

"Paanong-- anong klaseng nilalang iyon? It was in front of me and...and its fingers were on my neck. Akala ko mamamatay na ako kanina. But then it disappeared. How did you do it?" she said and she could barely make a straight sentence. 

But Juno cupped her face and made her look at him before he said, "It's alright. I'm here now. Everything's fine--" 

She smacked his hand away saka tumayo ngunit nanghihina pa rin ang mga tuhod niya that she almost fell. But Juno was quick to help her.

"Everything's not fine, Juno! Someone or something just tried to kill me earlier. And you came killing it with just a spear. Ano 'yon?"

"You're not in the right state for me to tell you everything—"

"f**k it. Ano ang nilalang na iyon?" she said sternly as she looked at him. Waiting for him to say something.

Napakamot sa ulo si Juno saka nagbuntong-hininga. "Eh hindi ka naman kasi naniniwala --" 

"After that s**t I saw and experienced earlier, Juno. Trust me I will believe anything if that explains it." 

Juno sighed before he said, "What you saw earlier was a sea creature called Glenril." 

"A what?" 

"A Glenril. They rarely leave the sea--" 

"And that one earlier probably got bored and left the f*****g sea to kill some random people. Is that right?" sarkastiko niyang sagot. 

"Truth is, hindi ko rin alam kung bakit iyon napadpad dito. Sea creatures in general rarely leave their territory and they don't meddle with humans--" 

"So that was indeed not human." She let out a small gasp as she tries to process what she just heard. "How-- how are they real?" 

Juno was silent as if giving her time to process everything. But she couldn't. No matter how hard she tries to wrap her mind around it, hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala. Everything that happened was crazy. She felt her knees buckle again. Mabuti nalang at nakaalalay si Juno sa kanya. 

"I think we should get you home first bago ko sabihin sa iyo lahat. Grandma should know about this too." 

She groaned. "And then she'll go around enumerating all the bad decisions I have made in my life. Spare me that, Juno." 

"But she needed to know. And besides, she might know something as to why the Glenril specifically attacked you." 

Napatingin siya sa pinsan. "What? Specifically attacked me? What do you mean? Am I not just a random victim?" 

Ngunit sa takot niya'y umiling lang si Juno. Some weird creature decided to attack her and not just randomly but for some specific reason! She couldn't help the fear that's building inside her the more she thinks about it. 

Juno was helping her walk because everything was still so shocking her knees went weak. At isa pa itong pinsan niya. He looked like he's seen creatures like that before dahil hindi man lang ito natinag. Hindi man lang niya ito nakitaan ng takot. And he easily killed that creature--whatever it was called--with just an ordinary spear! 

But she stopped herself until they arrived home. Naabutan nila ang lola nilang nakaupo sa tabi ng bintana. Nakatingin ito sa bintana.

Juno skipped the greetings and went on to tell their grandma about what happened. Agad napalingon ang lola nila sa kanya. 

"Anong sinabi mo?" 

"A Glenril just attacked Ally," ulit ni Juno. She went to the sofa at umupo doon. Their grandma was on her feet instantly at humarap sa kanya. 

"Totoo ba ang sinasabi ng pinsan mo?" 

She sighed and closed her eyes as she massaged her temples. "I don't see any reason kung bakit siya magsisinungaling tungkol sa bagay na iyon. Yes, a weird creature attacked me and almost killed me. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. And as to how Juno easily killed it." Tiningnan niya ang pinsan na nasa kusina na at nagtitimpla ng tsaa. 

She heard her grandma mumbled something at napaupo sa silyang kaharap niya. "Kailangan mo nang umalis rito. Bumalik ka na sa syudad kung saan malayo sa dagat." 

"Ano?" nagtataka niyang tanong. "Why all of a sudden?" 

Umiling lang ang lola niya. "You have to get away as soon as possible. Juno!" tawag nito sa pinsan niya. Agad namang lumapit si Juno bitbit ang dalawang baso ng tsaa. 

"Ihatid mo si Ally pabalik sa syudad," utos nito.

Agad naman tumango si Juno saka tumingin sa kanya. 

She held up her hand. "Wait a second. Can somebody please explain what the hell is happening? Bakit kailangan kong umalis all of a sudden? Ano bang meron?" 

"We don't have time--" 

"I am not moving unless I know what the heck is going on," matigas niyang sabi ngunit hinampas lang siya ng lola niya sa likod. 

"Kahit kailan ang tigas ng ulo mo. Sasabihin ni Juno sa iyo ang lahat habang nasa biyahe kayo." 

"Paano po kayo? A monster just attacked me earlier. Who's to say that it will not attack other people too? Kailangan mong sumama sa amin, 'la." 

Napabuntong-hininga ang lola niya at saka tumingin sa kanya. And for the first time, she saw something in her eyes that she has never seen before. It was sincerity, compassion, and worry. Umiling ito sa kanya. 

"I have to stay here. Kailangan ako dito. Kung may pag-aatake ang mangyayari, kailangang narito ako." 

And that even confused her more. Hindi na niya naiintindihan ang nangyayari. Gusto niyang maintindihan. And then she looked at her grandma before she said, "Is this something related to those gods? Iyon ba iyon, lola?" 

Natahimik ang lola niya. Pati na rin si Juno. And that pissed her off. "Come on! Noon, ang ingay ingay niyong dalawa, forcing me to believe those myths at ngayong tinatanong ko kayo tungkol doon saka kayo mananahimik? Is this all about those gods?" 

Her cousin sighed saka tumango. "Gaya ng sinabi ni lola kanina, babalik na sila. At dala nila'y kaguluhan. Maghihiganti ang pinagtulungan noon at lalaban ang dagat. Ikaw ang magiging susi para matigil iyon." 

"Oh for f**k's sake. Can you please stop telling riddles? Anong ibig mong sabihin, 'la?" 

"Malalaman mo rin pagdating ng panahon. Pero sa ngayon, kailangan niyo nang umalis sa lalong madaling panahon." Tinulak siya ng lola niya sa loob ng kwarto. Ngunit bago pa man siya makapasok ay may narinig silang kumalabog sa labas ng bahay nila. Juno was quick to draw a spear na hindi niya alam saan nanggaling. Her grandma's eyes became more wary and alert. 

"Dalhin mo lang ang kailangan mo. Umalis na kayo." 

She was about to get inside nang makarinig ulit sila ng kalabog mula sa labas. And this time, it was much stronger and more violent than the first one. Doon siya nagsimulang kabahan. Dahil kagaya kanina, she could smell the ocean na para bang nasa paligid lang nila ito. The creature that attacked her earlier smelled like the ocean. And she was certain she was right because Juno already looked alert more than she's ever seen him before. Napatingin siya sa lola niyang nakatingin lang din sa pinto. 

"Huli na ang lahat," sambit nito. And she might have gotten what she meant by that they heard loud banging on the door. And when she looked below, on the floor, kitang-kita niya ang  tubig na pumapasok sa loob ng bahay nila. She knew instantly what it was and what would it do. Kaya naman agad niyang hinila ang lola niya papasok sa loob ng kwarto saka niya isinarado ang pinto. She knows a mere lock wouldn't be able to hold the monster off but somehow, it made her feel safe not being able to see it. But then she remembered Juno. 

"Juno!" sigaw niya at akmang lalabas nang harangan siya ng kanyang lola. Nagtataka siya kung bakit maliksi na agad itong kumilos. But then she has other pressing matters to be thinking about instead of her grandma's burst of energy. 

"Lola, si Juno!" 

But her grandma shook her head before she said, "Kaya na niya ang sarili niya. Buksan mo ang bintana at lumabas ka roon. Magpunta ka sa plaza kung saan maraming tao. Hindi sila nakakalapit kapag maraming tao." 

"Pero--" 

"Wala nang pero-pero!" bulyaw ng kanyang lola dahilan para mapatalon siya sa kinatatayuan. Agad lumapit ang lola niya sa kanya saka siya hinawakan sa magkabilang balikat. "Makinig ka, apo. Ang mga nilalang na ito--ikaw ang hinahanap nila. Hindi sila mananakit ng kung sino man maliban sa iyo. Kaya hindi nila kami sasaktan ni Juno. Iligtas mo ang sarili mo at magpunta ka sa plaza," saad nito. Akmang magsasalita na siya nang marinig niya ang malakas na kalabog mula sa labas.

Tiningnan niya ang lola niya bago binuksan ang bintana at tumalon doon. Muntikan pa siyang matapilok ngunit mabuti nalang at nakabawi agad ang mga paa niya. Maraming maliliit na bato sa daan ngunit isinawalang-bahala niya lang iyon. Nasa tuktok kasi ng isang burol ang bahay ng kanyang lola kaya naman kailangan pa niyang tumakbo ng ilang metro sa dilim ng maliit na kagubatan bago siya makakarating sa sentro. At kailangan pa niyang tumakbo nang ilang metro para makarating sa plaza. Noong bata pa siya, malapit lang iyon kung tatakbuhin. But at the moment, it seemed so far away no matter how fast she was running. 

She winced as one branch caught her sleeve and managed to cut her arm ngunit patuloy pa rin siya sa pagtakbo. Hanggang sa may marinig siyang kaluskos mula sa mga kahoy. Nang pakinggan niya itong mabuti, it sounded like something was jumping from one tree to another, trying to keep up with her. And she instantly knew something was chasing after her. 

Takot ang bumalot sa katawan niya nguntit mas binilisan niya pa ang pagtakbo hanggang sa makalabas siya sa gubat. Hindi siya tumigil at patuloy pa rin sa pagtakbo. Tahimik ang mga bahay dahil halos lahat ng mamamayan ay nasa plaza kung saan naroon ang selebrasyon. Sumasakit na rin ang paa at ang sugat sa braso niya.  

She was panting and her legs were shaking. Nararamdaman niya ring humihina ang pagtakbo niya. It was then that she realized that she couldn't hear something chasing after her anymore. Kaya naman napagdesisyunan niyang lumingon sa likuran only to see the very same creature who attacked her earlier. But it's bigger and faster. Matulin itong tumatakbo papunta sa direksyon niya at alam niyang kahit gaano pa niya bilisan ang pagtakbo ay aabutan pa rin siya nito. The monster was leaving trails of seawater on the road as it continued to chase after her. 

And then the most unfortunate thing happened and she lost her balance and fell to the ground. She whimpered in pain as she felt the sprain on her leg. Pinilit niyang tumayo ngunit walang silbi iyon. Masyadong masakit ang paa niya at hindi niya alam kung makakatakbo pa siya. Not even an adrenaline rush could help. Kaya ang tanging nagawa niya lang ay tingnan ang nilalang habang tumatakbo ito sa kanya. It was getting closer and closer and fear covered her whole being. Nang makalapit na ito nang husto, sapat para mahablot siya nito, ipinikit niya ang kanyang mga mata and waited for the monster to shred her apart.  

But it didn't come. Instead, she heard a very loud shriek dahilan para buksan niya ang kanyang mga mata. And then she saw the monster just a few centimeters away from her. A spear was pierced on its back and blue blood was quick to pool beneath it. But moments later, it started to disintegrate. She swallowed hard as he looked ahead, where Juno was standing, panting. May mga sugat itong natamo and he looked like he could collapse any minute. 

Pinilit niyang makatayo at tiningnan ang pinsan na naglalakad papunta sa kanya. It was then that he collapsed in her arms. Akala niya'y nawalan na ito ng malay ngunit naririnig niya ang hagulhol nito. It was then that her world stopped and she couldn't process what happened. Or she just refused to believe it.  

"Juno..." she called ngunit patuloy lang ito sa pag-iyak. Nararamdaman niya ring nagluluha ang mga mata niya. 

"She's gone, Ally," saad ng pinsan saka tumingin sa kanya. 

"Wala na si lola."

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