Starting date: Oct. 20, 2009
Legend:
- 13 - : Page Number
Filipino word, phrase, or sentence (Translated)
* There are some bits of Tagalog and it's part of the story.
- 1 -
"Anya, time to go!"
"Okay dad! Bye mom!"
"Bye Anya. I hope you'll have a good time with dad!"
"I will!"
It was Anya's sixteenth birthday. Every year from her father's side, she visits one of her family members (mostly her aunt and uncle) and spends time with them for a week or visit one of the discovered thirteen mysterious wonders scattered around the Philippines with her dad, but it's rare for them to be discovered. "Are we going to Tita Mari and Tito Joey?" She asked. "Even better," he said proudly, "I just found the last wonder." "Really?!"
Brendan Joseph C. Case is famous for solving mysteries. When he was young he enjoys watching Scooby Doo, Where are You?, CSI and X-Files. When he was a teen, he starts playing horror and mystery games if there are any: Fatal Frame, Parasite Eve, Resident Evil, practically anything. He got a job as a detective, three months after graduating college. As time passes, he solves the impossible, making him famous. People call him the Filipino Sherlock Holmes.
During the holidays every year, he lives in a peaceful town where he lives a normal life with a loving wife name Nina Josephine A. Case, a teenage daughter name Anya Mari A. Case and the upcoming newborn, Trent A. Case.
"What is it?" She asked with glee.
- 2 -
"Somewhere in the forest lies a small town. It was full of cheerful people at day then becomes deserted at night. Some people fled while others died mysteriously. Kung minsan, ang ilang ay dadalhin sa impiyerno." (Sometimes, some are taken to hell.)
"What's the name of the town?"
"Serene Darkness."
"Serene Darkness huh?"
Anya wants to be like her father when she grows up. She also believes the supernatural. When she was ten, when her father was working, she discovered her father's family roots: they have supernatural powers/abilities and do witchcraft and wizardry. His family believes in Our God, The Father, making them Christians in the process, and serve the Lord, making the world pretty as it seems. They never used their powers until it's very necessary. They took their time and He is very pleased about their hard work. Some Filipinos join in and helped making Him even more pleased. All of their histories are recorded in twenty-one journals: old, creased papers, scrolls, diaries from his ancestors, and regular old journals themselves. She placed them in her detective bag, made by her mother before going.
"Dad, can I ask you a question?"
"Ano?" (What?)
"Pwede mo (can you), you know, tell me about your family?"
"Ano sabi mo?!" (What did you say?!)
"Ang pamiliya mo." (Your family.)
- 3 -
"Why do you want to know them?"
"Mom told me about her family when I asked her. I want to do it too."
"Anya Mari, my family work for the devil."
"What?!"
"My family disobey the Lord! They caused havoc and destruction by using their magic. They what is right and will not follow anyone! My mother told me about it when I asked when I was six!"
"Dad, hindi sila sabad!" (They are not bad!)
"Anong proof mo?" (What's your proof?)
"…"
"Wala!" (None!)
She was gonna save the surprise when they arrive. Now that he's mad, probably due to stress, she remained quiet for the entire trip.
Afternoon turn to dusk as they arrived a mile away from their destination. They got out and looked around. "We'll camp for the night." He says, "Tomorrow, we begin our investigation."
It was dark. Nocturnes came out and play.
- 4 -
Brendan was ashamed for telling his daughter about his family. He approaches her by the campfire and sat down.
"Hey Anya…"
"Hi…"
"I'm sorry about the afternoon. To tell you the truth, I never know my family. It's true that I asked your grandmother about my descendants. I never give up trying. That's how I became a detective."
"Well, looks like we'll find out."
"How?"
She grabbed her bag and takes out what's in there. He was shocked about it.
"How did you…? It was… Anya…"
"When I was ten, when you're at work, I went up the attic and play around. Then something caught my attention."
"The chest with the seal right? I found it as well."
"I tried to open it, but I failed. When I was about to leave, I found a medallion. I picked it up and looked at the chest. It starts glowing and the chest opened."
"I was trying to find it as well. I read the description from the back of the chest. For some strange reason, I can read it."
- 5 -
"That's amazing dad. I really can't understand it… I hope Trent can understand it or write it maybe."
"That's a nice imagination…"
"Dad…"
"Ano na Anya?" (What now Anya?)
"I'm really lucky to have a father like you."
"For me, I'm lucky that you're my daughter who wants to be like me."
The two start laughing. After their conversation, they went inside the tent and got inside their sleeping bags. They said goodnight to each other and went to sleep.
"Jen, you and Joshua have to escape!"
"I can't go without you Allen!"
"You have to go! He must continue! He must survive!"
"What will happen to you?"
"Jen, 'wag ka magalala (don't worry). I'll be with you and Joshua.. Now go! Get out of here while you still can!"
- 6 -
Brendan woke up, shocked. "What was that about?" He says. When he looked beside him, his daughter was gone. Only what's left is her detective bag and the medallion. He got out of the tent. "ANYA!" He bellowed. Only his echo was heard. "ANYA!" He repeated. Nothing. He packed everything away but the bag and medallion. He got out his shot gun from the bottom from the seat and the ammo from the backseat. He loaded the gun and starts his search on foot. "Anya! Saan ka?! (Where are you?!)" He shouted. He searched all over the forest. Then, it hits him. "Serene Darkness…" He whispered.
He was a few miles away from the abandon town. When he arrives, he saw a teenage boy, around either fifteen or sixteen. The boy headed in town. "Who is he?" He asked. Despite his question not answered, he entered town.
Daytime Serene is just like what he pictured: the buildings were new and tall, the roads and sidewalks were clean, trees and flowers were alive and pretty and there was a warm presence saying "Welcome to our Town."
He continues his search for his daughter. Three hours after searching, he decides to rest at the local coffee shop. As he entered, there was a table with a cup of coffee, ready to be served. Behind it are a few materials: a flashlight, a pocket radio, ammunition and the town map. He sat down, examined the materials, grabbed the cup and drank it. He read the map for a while then placed both the map and ammunition inside his daughter's bag. He placed the pocket radio on his belt. He picked up the flashlight. It wasn't any ordinary flashlight. He doesn't seen most of these in the Philippines. It's slightly shaped like the letter L. He then placed it on his left breast pocket. He got up then placed the empty cup by the counter. "Umm… thanks for the coffee…" He said blankly. He place down ten peso on the counter then left. From the shadows, a girl picked up the coins. "An intruder…" She says.
- 7 -
He then headed to the park. She there either, although the garden's beautiful. "I wish she could see this…" He sighed.
"Jen, we've been together for two years."
"Really? For me, it feels like we've been together for ten months."
"Jen, I've been waiting to ask you…"
"What is it?"
"Jenny Marie Arina Serene, will you marry me?"
"Oh Allen. Of course I would accept it."
"Then it's settled. We must prepare."
"Very… peculiar…" He murmured. Then he saw the boy. "Hoy!" He yelled. The boy runs away from the voice. "I wonder what's he doing here?" He asked, "Is he looking for someone?" He then continues his search. He searched everywhere the map showed him until sunset. He starts to yawn. "It's getting late…" He yawned. He locates the hotel on the map. When he arrives, a room key was sitting by the service counter. He picked it up. "Room 321." When he looked at the tag. "This is probably my room." He says. He reached the room and unlocked it. He went inside and placed his belongings by the bed. He went to the bathroom to take a shower, dressed up, and lie on bed. He placed his daughter's bag by his side then he went to sleep.
