*Season's P.O.V.*
"Season!" The clinic's door burst open while Alyssa and I were talking about that Siyokoy creature that attacked us on the dive sight and I looked at my brother who looks really worried.
"Sean..." I responded as he gave me a light hug while inspecting my body that has bandages here and there because of the cuts that I attained.
"I heard about what happened. Weren't you careful?" He fired. I was going to reason to him when my new found friend answered on my behalf.
"She saved me." Alyssa said and Sean just sighed. But he did smile afterwards.
"I'm sorry, I just don't want anything to happen to you." He apologized. I just nodded. "So, are you allowed to go to your room now?"
"Yes I guess, the cuts weren't that deep." I answered as he helped me up, then I looked at Alyssa. "We'll keep in touch right?"
"Of course, I'll text you." She smiled and waved at us. Her wounds were way deeper than mine and she had to rest in the clinic until tomorrow and she got her cousins there with her.
As Sean and I walked out of the clinic, Mr. Perez stood there looking as worried as my brother. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt your business meeting." I said quietly.
"That's fine dear. Are you okay?" Wow, Mr. Perez has a really good hearing.
"Yeah, just really ummm... Bothered." I said honestly.
"Rest." Sean said as he opened the door to my room.
I entered and my eyes landed on the view outside the window. The view that I awed earlier today is the same view that haunts me right now. The vast blue that turned orange at the setting of the sun, although majestic feels eerie to me so I closed the curtains and just sat at my bed. Maybe I really need to rest. I hope tomorrow would be a better day for me.
Two days passed since that incident in the diving sight and I did nothing but hide in my room and surf the net instead of the waves. I found myself searching facts about mythical creatures in the Philippines and gosh! I found a lot. Alyssa was right about our attacker to be a Siyokoy because its features matches the description provided in the websites I opened. Atleast that says that I'm not totally crazy and that this is not just in my head cause other people testifies to its existence. Makes me feel a little better yeah, but still kind of traumatized. I mean, I fought an aswang kind of prepared but that Siyokoy was on the spot. And I could've died if it wasn't for the merman that helped me. But really, if I go tell my brother about this, he won't believe me.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
I turned to look at my phone and saw an unknown number calling. I decided to pick it up anyway.
"Hello?" I started off as soon as I hit the answer button.
"Hi Season, it's Alyssa, how are you doing?" My Filipina friend greeted on the other line.
"Hey Alyssa, I'm good. Didn't do much really. How about you?" I inquired.
"Been better. Just finishing up this vacation despite my condition, I mean, I wouldn't want to spoil it for the rest of the gang. Speaking of that, we're going on a camping trip later this afternoon on the woodside of the resort and ummm, as a form of gratitude for uhh, you saving me, I thought of inviting you. If you're still in the resort." She declared and a smile stretched on my lips. Well, I wouldn't really want to be stuck in this room whilst I'm here. Might as well meet more people.
"Sure, time and place?" I agreed excitedly.
As we agreed upon, I met with Alyssa and her friends/cousins at the camping booth and she introduced me to everyone.
"Pasensya ka na miss, kase we not good in the English, we will just be interpretation by Alyssa kase Englishera sya." The guy, Jason said and they all laughed.
"Wag ka na lang mag English pre, nakakatakot." Andrew, Alyssa's cousin said.
I just smiled at them. They don't have to worry about the language though, I don't mind really. So, we all started on the nature trail and I admired the beauty and the riches in this country once again. It's one of those countries that's abundant in its flora and fauna, that's the reason why tourists are attracted and all. About an hour into the hike and reached a clearing up in the mountains and I watched in awe at the overlooking view.
"I know right, I don't wanna watch the ocean side either." Alyssa said.
"Yeah, I agree. The memory of the incident is still so vivid for me." I seconded and we just stared at the scenery. The afternoon sun making everything look more majestic.
"Oh, ano pa tinitingin-tingin nyo jan? Hali na e-set na natin ang camp!" Jason said, well I bet he's saying that we should set the camp now and everybody merrily did their parts, setting the tents, collecting some firewoods, preparing the food, and all the basic things to do in a camping endeavor. I love camps. My family used to do it every other weekend until... I don't have to think about it now, I gotta have fun.
And fun it really is. Getting to know Alyssa's gang and all. They're really nice, funny and easy to vibe with despite the language differences. Soon the night air kissed our skin and dinner is ready so we ate like there's a feast. They call it salo-salo which is nice. And of course there's liquor but I only took a shot cause I'm not really a fan and they didn't even force me. As the night got deeper, most of us retired to our tents with the exception of Andrew, Jason, and Robert who are still into the drinking contest.
I just chuckled at the dares they gave each other as I laid semi-confortably in my sleeping bag. I love the outdoors. That's why the roof of my tent is transparent, so I can see the stars.
"Sige nga Andrew kung matapang ka, puntahan mo yung puno ng balete na dinaanan natin kanina." I overheard Robert say, they're not really keeping their voices down so... Balete? That's one of the trees mentioned on the website when I did that mini-research on the mythical creatures. If I remembered correctly, that's where most engkantos reside. Engkanto. My mind went straight to his piercing blue eyes and immediately shook my head.
"Heh, sisiw lang yan pre." Andrew said and they all cheered. Woah, is he going? I mean, it sounds like it. And why would he not go anyway? Plus, why am I suddenly curious? Anyways maybe he really did go cause I can only hear Robert and Jason drunkly talking until it became quiet. I kept tossing and turning on my mat and decided to sit up and go outside. I need to pee anyways.
When I was done with my business, a few distance away from the camp, I made my way back however a strong wind brushed through the bushes. I sharply turned to look at what it was but saw nothing. So I kept going when I heard a distant scream and my instincts told me to follow it. Armed with nothing but my flashlight, I ventured past the camp where everyone seems to be asleep and into the path that we took to get there. I have my guards up, listening past the sounds of crickets and other natural sounds at night, eyes darting here and there for any signs of threat. Not that I'm a scout or a guard but I might as well be a ninja.
I heard a twig snap and I turned to my left, shining my flashlight to, "Andrew?" I mumbled out of shock and relief.
"Season! Hey Seasom, I'm glad to see you Season. I-uh..." He stammered with his words and I raised a brow at his sweaty facade despite the cool night breeze. "I feel kind of lost." He finally said.
"Lost? You're a few meters away from the camp, there's the single path that leads you there. You can't be that lost." I chuckled a bit. Maybe he's a little drunk that's why.
"I know but I can't seem to find it." He scratched the back of his neck at that. I just shook my head and made my way to the path that leads to the camp, motioning for him to follow.
"Maybe you drank a good amount of liquor." I voiced out my thoughts earlier but he reasoned otherwise.
"No, I'm perfectly fine with those shots. Where are you headed? The path leads this way." He questioned me, pointing to our right when it is very clear that I'm following the path to the camp. I turned my flashlight to that direction to lecture him of how wrong he is but the hairs at the back of my neck started rising.
"It's a drapery of vines. There's no..." Drapery of vines. Drapery of vines! Just like the ones I entered when I was following Kaloy! Oh gosh. I didn't remember passing by a drapery of vines earlier this morning, where did this come from? And what is wrong with Andrew claiming that it's the way to the camp? "No don't go there." I sternly spoke as I pulled his hand to tug him away from it since he started walking to the vines.
"Our tents are over there." He said.
"No they're not! You're seeing things." I uttered, pulling him with me. But I guess he's not the only one seeing things cause when I turned around to march to the right path with him, I bumped into a hard wall. I know this sounds cliche but, I swear it's not cause when I stepped back, I became face to face with a... A creature that is tall, which has a head of a horse and a body like a human it's just that its limbs are disproportionate. And uhh, it looks scary.
"Magandang gabi." Oh my god! It spoke. I was frozen and I can feel Andrew trembling beside me.
"W-what did it say?" I managed to ask though spooked by the apparition.
"Good e-evening." Andrew generously translated although the same kind of fear vibrated in his whole being.
"Ahhh, masaya to. Hindi mo ako maiintindihan pero naiintindihan kita, kano." The creature said with a teasing chuckle. I stayed quiet, not that I'd know how to respond to that. "Sabihin mo sa kasama mo na, lahat ng pumapasok sa teritoryo namin ng hindi nanghihingi ng pahintulot ay hindi na namin hahayaang makalabas... Ng ligtas." He said to Andrew who looks more frightened at his statement.
"Season, I-I think we're in great trouble. For everyone that dares to enter in their teritory without their permission cannot go out... Safely." He said. Uh-oh.
"Well, danger might as well be my last name because it follows me all the time. Is there a way we can make it out though? The camp is right behind him!" I frustratedly said and I heard the creature laughing.
"Namamangha ako sapagkat hindi ka ata natatablan ng kapangyarihan ko." The horse-like creature said.
"You're not affected by his powers. He said." Andrew translated as he tugged me backwards so we'd create more distance with the creature whose name I still have to know.
"Powers? You have powers? What are you?" I asked. I know there's no time to chitchat it's just that he still didn't launch a hostile attack at us which makes me think that perhaps we can talk this through.
"He's a Tikbalang, a-a creature of the forest feared by us. Season, I'm begging you, don't make him mad." Andrew hurriedly whispered. But the glint in the Tikbalang's eyes tells me he heard it.
"Sinagot na yan ng kaibigan mo. Mas interesado akong malaman kung sino at ano ka. Kung may kapangyarihan ka man na pangongtra sa akin, patunayan mo ang lakas nito!" I didn't have time to let someone translate that cause he charge at us as fast as the wind. Good thing I managed to drag Andrew with me as we rolled to the ground to dodge that attack. We stumbled back at our feet and tried to run towards the camp but the Tikbalang made it before us. "At saan ka papunta?" It said as it picked up Andrew who screamed and threw him to the side.
"Andrew!" I called, trying to run to his aid as he hit his head on a rock but the Tikbalang charged at me. I spotted a huge branch, fallen on the ground, I quickly picked it up and used it to stop the Tikbalang from getting at me. It's like I'm holding a sword on a cross position with the enemy where strength matters most. And I am no match to the creature's strength at all. He managed to break the branch and I ducked before he could get to me, I ducked under his long legs to get behind him but he sharply turned, with his eyes blazing red. It roared or was it a neigh? I couldn't differentiate, all I knew is that I need to get out of here. I ran as fast as my legs could take me when smoke that smells like sulfur surrounded me as thundering footsteps trailed behind me.
I ran when I spotted the balete tree up ahead. That's where Jason and Robert tasked Andrew to go. I didn't mind it though as I jumped over its protruding roots, hoping to get to the base of the trail where I could seek help from the resort. However, as I ran further, I noticed the balete tree once again. Fuck! It's the same tree! So I stopped. My mind's playing tricks on me, or I thought so until the creature, otherwise known as a Tikbalang stopped in front of me with a haunting chuckle.
"I reckon, when your guards are up, my magic won't work on you. But when they're down, you're going down with them!" It sniggered. It knows how to speak English! But I still don't understand what it is talking about. "You're pretty and strong. I might want to make you my wife."
Now that statement terrorized me. Wife? It must be crazy. "No! You abominable creature!" I spat as I threw a rock at it when it slowly walked towards me. That act angered it and made it leap directly at me, pinning me to the ground. It tried to hurt me, perhaps rape me even but I fought as best as I could. I tried to get away from its clutches and after a few minutes of hopeless kicking, it got really irritated at me and decided to just end me. It wrapped its slim yet powerful hands around my neck yet before it could choke me to death, a strong breeze knocked it over.
I tried to catch my breath as it threw me to the side because it too was attacked by another Tikbalang? However, this new Tikbalang that came to my rescue is kind of wearing a suit? Damn! What the hell is going on? They charged at each other at a speed that makes it hard for me to see exactly how they fought with each other. But it isn't the thing that matters most right now.
When I felt like I regained my strength, I looked around and spotted Andrew. I looked at the dueling Tikbalangs and took my chance to get to my friend. "Andrew? Get up, we need to get out of here." I said as he groaned at the pain he must be feeling because of his bleeding head. Without thinking too much, I removed my shirt and let him hold it to his head where the cut is to somehow slow down the bleeding. "Come on, we can make it out." I urged as I aided him.
I swear we're almost past the drapery of vines and into the camp when a roar of defeat resounded behind us along with a loud thud. I didn't want to look back but I did and my eyes widened in horror as the Tikbalang that attacked us earlier stood over the Tikbalang on a suit who's knocked out on the ground. Then the horse-like creature turned at us. With its incredible speed it charged towards us, this time I wasn't able to do anything as Andrew weighed me down.
Everything turned blurry, until there was nothing. I was consumed by a darkness darker than the night and I knew I lost it.