The Last Guardian

Chapter-26: Flesh and Blood

It was a beautiful scene-the sun was setting over the mountains and the birds were flng home across the red sky. Lisa was following Johnathan’s truck keeping a safe distance- she had no idea how the evening was going to turn out but she needed to know as much as she can. The captain called earlier and she said what she saw and added that she was onto something and would report back in a few hours. Little did she know what the night had in store for her and she wondered how she was going to talk about supernatural stuff to the captain.

It was 6 p.m. now and they had crossed the city and entered the country side. Straight ahead- about 5 kms to the north was the forest. Johnathan already started to have that ominous feeling again- the one he had the night at the dockyard- something evil was lurking close by. Half an hour later Billy pulled over to the side of the broken country road- Lisa saw them stop, so she too followed suit. Billy and Johnathan got out of the truck and Lisa walked up to them checking her sidearm.

“Why did we stop?” she asked Billy.

“We walk from here- 3 kms through there-“said Billy pointing at the thick foliage ahead.

“Good thing I’ve got a flash light-“she replied.

Johnathan took his sword and tied it to his back. Lisa looked at him with doubt and wondered if that sword would be useful. Billy looked around and started to walk ahead while Lisa and Johnathan followed him.

“So why are we looking for this thing at this time- I mean we could do better in proper daylight-“ she asked Billy.

“This is the perfect time for these things to come out and play- it is twilight now- neither day nor night-the ancients say that this is the time when the veil between the supernatural world and our world is at its weakest-so if we gonna find something- we gonna find it now-“ said Billy walking ahead and consulting his weird map.

For ten minutes they walked in silence as the darkness was slowly engulfing the entire forest around them. They took out their flashlights and journeyed through dense bushes and grasses and crossed huge trees and rocky roads-the cicadas’ and bullfrogs were singing harmoniously-and there was no other sound except for their own footsteps crushing the dead leaves on the ground.

“So-how long have you been a detective?” asked Johnathan trying to start a conversation with Lisa. Billy was walking cautiously ahead watching his every step.

“About one and a half year- passed the academy with flying colours- got promoted to detective within months-“ she replied with a smile.

“Wow, that’s cool-wait! Hold on- Do not move-“said Johnathan.

Lisa froze- a huge tarantula was crawling up her sleeve, towards her shoulder. He gently walked towards her and using his right hand, he brushed that thing off of her shoulder. Lisa jumped nervously.

“It’s just a spider- “smiled Johnathan and looked into her eyes.

“Oh! Thanks- Ugh! I hate spiders-“she replied nervously looking away.

“You two quit your lollygagging and come over here-“whispered Billy in a strict tone.

Both of them went towards Billy like obedient kids.

“What is it?” said Johnathan scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

“Shh-quiet-stay down-look-” whispered Billy pointing through the bushes.

Johnathan and Lisa looked and their jaws fell to the ground. About 600 meters straight ahead, underneath a giant tree, stood the torso of a woman! The upper body was gone and only the lower part of the body from below the waist remained- dressed in rags, barely covering what was left of the body. Lisa saw this and a chill ran down her spine-she gasped and was about to scream in terror but Johnathan held her mouth.

“Shh...Shh...calm down- don’t make a sound” he whispered holding her mouth then slowly releasing his grip.

Lisa calmed down and looked away from the monstrous thing.

“What is that thing?” asked Johnathan.

“That’s what the creature does when it’s out looking for prey. That’s the vulnerable part of the Manananggal! We destroy that- we destroy the monster-”replied Billy.

“God! Now I think I’ve seen everything in my life!” remarked Johnathan, keeping his voice down.

“But we were not meant to find this! Ever!” said Billy, ”It hides its torso in a secret place- not out in the open like this- which could only mean that it knew we were coming-“

“So what do we do now? Destroy that-that-torso?” asked Johnathan barely able to look at the horrible sight in front of him.

“Yes- but make no mistake- that thing is somewhere close and it will attack us!”

Johnathan looked at Lisa- she was cowering under the bush with her eyes closed, whispering Lord’s name.

Billy took out a glass can from his bag and the holy bible.

"It's so weird- it seems so alive- just standing there so still-" said Johnathan.

"You two wait here- I'll get up there and start an exorcism-" said Billy quietly moving towards the disfigured torso.

But as soon as he came out of hiding, the tirso brgan to move- it turned itself backwards and started to run away!!

Johnathan couldn't believe his eyes- he froze in utter terror.

"Oh God! Oh God! It's moving- it's running- without a body!!" he cried out.

Billy couldn't get close enough and cursed his luck! He turned towards Johnathan and said-

"We're doomed!"

"What?!" said Johnathan coming out of the bushes and approaching Billy.

Lisa was too terrified to be alone and she quickly followed behind Johnathan.

"What just happened?" she asked.

Just at that moment a loud screeching sound pierced through the air. The three of them stood there- frozen. Billy realized that they had walked into a trap! He looked towards the dark night sky- the stars were shining bright but there was no moon. They were flashing their lights all over the place- trying to look for the source of the sound- but they saw nothing. The screeching sound grew louder and louder and Lisa quickly took out her gun and was ready to fire while Johnathan drew out his sword and anxiously searched for the monster. Billy went and put his bible in his jacket and took out his gun- the sound grew louder and it echoed throughout the jungle! Lisa looked everywhere- but all she could see were bushes and twigs and dead leaves and the huge pine trees and then she saw it! The hideous creature-up on the pine tree-holding  on to its branches with both of its human like hands-its long flowing hair and disfigured face and black eyes like the darkest pits of hell and it’s giant wings resting upon it’s shoulders-but that was only half of its body! Its guts were flowing out of it's detached body!!

“There- there-it’s on that tree!” she said- nervously firing a shot.

“Stop! Don’t waste your bullets-“cried Billy.

Lisa shone her light again at the same spot- but she saw nothing. Suddenly a foul smell reeked the night air and it smelled so bad that the three of them had to cover their noses. The creature flew out of sight but they could feel its presence nearby-it was stalking them-waiting for the perfect moment to attack!