IMAGICIENCE
- [ B O O K 2 ] -
CHAPTER 1
MANILA, Two thousand years later. At a prominent university, that was
bustling with students. Inside a science class. "Odette," Miss Claire
Desiderio; the instructress, said. "Tell me what era was in between the
Miocene and the Ice Age and kindly explain this time period?" The teacher
inquired while scanning around her students for Odette. A girl stood upright
from her chair, she has a praiseworthy complexion and a black shoulder length
hair. She stands five feet in height and has a perfectly curved body except
for her thighs. While directing her eyes at her instructor she began to
speak, "This period marking between the two is called the Pliocene. It was
golden-time, just before the dawn of rational humankind," she paused and
looked outside the window and back at her teacher again and continued, "A
time of benevolent climate and flourishing plant and animal life. A vintage
time, unspoiled and tranquil, an autumn before the terrible winter of
Pleistocene glaciation." Odette remained standing up, confidence can be seen
from her.
"And who theorizes about the evolution?", Miss Claire asked Odette. "It was
Charles Darwin."
"Chito...", Miss Desiderio swept her gaze on the front row, "...based on
this evolution theory....", Her question was interrupted by the ringing
of the university's bell. It echoed all throughout out their room.
"Okay class, by next week we will have our final exam." Her student all
rose up and walked towards the door gleefully. Miss Desiderio was left still
standing on the ramp and watching them pass by. Then a young girl approached
her, it was Odette.
"Ma'am I have something for you, it's from my uncle. He just arrived
yesterday from Australia!" Odette opened her bag and picked a pack of
ripe grapes.
"Thanks," she merrily took the grapes and smiled.
"Your uncle Jojo still remembers my favorite fruits. By the way, how's
your uncle,", she contracted her brows. "It's been a long time since last
time I saw him." Odette let out a deep breath first and then let her
shoulders hang down,
"Well, ever since his wife died two years ago he's keeping himself very
busy."
"Don't worry too much, he'll get by. He's always like that everytime he
was heavy with problems, even during our college days.", Claire was
patting Odette's back.
"Yah, I guess so." She sighed again. "Anyway, where are you going to
spend your summer vacation ma'am?"
"Most probably in Puerto Galera, where my Uncle Nhemy lives." Odette looked
at her watch, realizing she was late for her next class.
"Gotta go now Ma'am, see you next week in our exam."
"Bye."
Claire waved her hand. Odette quickly darted outside and ran after her
classmates.
AND THEN THE WEEK FADED QUICKLY. Claire was at home and preparing her
belongings. She was looking forward for this much needed vacation. Before
Claire Desiderio said her farewell to her parents and younger brother, she
earnestly prayed for a while, being an Evangelical Born-again Christian she
loves communicating to the divine being in prayers. Claire can vividly
remembered how she became a Born-again. It was a year before her father,
named Johnny, passed away. It had a tragic impact on her for she was close to
her father rather than to her mother, Ederlina. Her uncles and aunts deemed
her to be a papa's girl, yet she knew she wasn't. Three years later her
mother remarried another man. She took it open-mindedly like a mature lady
should. Her necklace, that her father gave her, served to remind her of her
loving father. Probably that was the reasons behind that she could easily
relate to Odette's pain. Living here in Pasay, where the streets were crowded
with unattended children. Claire took time to preach them the word of God
during Sunday at her home. To her it was a labor of love rather than
obligations. But now she needed a well-deserved rest to renew her spirits
with God's creation such as the nature and to clear her mind on some personal
problems that she is suffering from. Perhaps nature will help her find a way
to forget her problems.
BY EARLY SUNNY MORNING, she was at the pier and walking up the ship to Japan.
She was afraid to take a plane. She always had this foreboding vision about
crashing plane. It was difficult for her not to sweat for she possesses a
long straight hair. She was slim with beautiful set of deep- brown eyes that
seemed to sparkle when she smiles. Standing in line to purchase her ticket,
an old half-blind woman walked toward her, limping, begging alms. Having a
soft-heart for the poor, she reached inside her wallet and gave the old
beggar some large bills.
"Here," said Claire, smiling, "buy yourself some food." As their hands
touched. The old lady's eyes bulge unexpectedly not from the large bills
that Claire gave but from an uncanny sense of vibration.
The old beggar looked at Claire and remarked softly in her ruin tone, "Child,
I know that what I will tell you are shocking and confusing. Frightening,
even. But all that will be taken care of, in time. You'll understand
everything, in time. Don't let anyone stampede or coerce you. For the light
will give-up to the razor edge of darkness, but then, only then that the
broken light will roused and redeem itself and bring life to a New World.
Full circle, divine truth." The beggar then bowed her weary head and walked
away and vanished unto the tick crowd.
Claire was left bewildered. As soon as she avail her ticket she immediately
proceeded to her designated room and arranged her things. It was a long
journey she thought. It's a good thing she brought along something to read,
it was her bible. Opening it randomly a piece of paper fell off, she
curiously picked it up and discovered that it was a note:
Dear Claire,
Lighten up and try to forget you problems!
Your old friend, Doreen.
She gave a broad smile at the idea of her thoughtful friend and co- teacher.
Doreen must have slipped the note during her class period and knowing that
she will be away for a while she troubled herself to make a note for her. She
was blessed to have such a sweet bestfriend. With that on mind she began to
drowse to sleep.
When she opened her eyes she wondered how long she had fallen asleep.
She checked her watch, "Five hours!". She looked outside the window and
noticed that dusk was consuming the afternoon. She went out and the cold
-dewy wind frolicked around her hair.
As she pondered at the horizon, she briefly touched her necklace that has a
pendant of a Latin cross. Looking at the West Side of the ship, she saw the
sun was exquisitely setting and it has gray-orange radiance. Large nimbus
clouds was forming and twisting into abstract shapes. Suddenly, it began to
drizzle. It brought forth even more chilly wind that then made her to
return inside and made her decide to eat her meal. Again, she lay down
comfortably at her soft bed and began reading the Holy Testament. The rain
began to pour and the pitter-patter of the rain was almost musical to her
ears, "Ahh, nature sure has a way of making music." She zestfully thought.
The nature's music slowly lulled her to sleep once
more.
After momentarily, she was awaken by the swaying of the ship. The storm
was getting stronger and she could hear the wind howling furiously outside.
From her sliding window she can barely see the exterior for it was very dark
and only occasionally brightened by the sharp luminous lightning. Fear was
sluggishly creeping behind her spine.
"How could nature rebel against mankind this way?"
Boarding it was like riding a raging bull while it was being tossed by
waves. The rocking of the ship intensified every passing moment. She
alarmingly retrieved her life-vest and wore it. Tension was building up
among the passengers. Some were entreating to their God and some was hoping
that the ship would hold on together.
The waves were accumulating its turbulence and so did the passenger's
fear and hopelessness. The winds blowing were somewhere around eight-five
knots. Without warning, she heard a loud bang, something like metal being
torn at the boat's hull. She saw several boatmen rushing to the front
with some big ropes and appeared to be tying the metal cover of the hull.
It was then that the boat started taking in more water that it could pump
out. Everything happened so fast. Their boat's engine suddenly stopped.
Shortly after, Claire and other the passengers smelled something like
burning motor oil.
"Abandon ship!, abandon ship!" The captain ordered in his baritone voice.
After hearing the captain's instruction, she immediately headed to her door,
as she was opening it, she discovered that it was jammed, she desperately
tried to force it open yet it won't unbarred. She then hurriedly ran to the
window and pushed the sliding window on one side, with adrenaline
pumping hard, but still somewhat composed, she managed to pull herself
out of the window. When she got out staccato bolts of lightning peppered
her and she smelled the metallic odor of spent electricity as they hit the
water, then frightened by ball lightning running off the yards. The water
seemed to mysteriously glowing with hue of white and blue. Cautiously but
in a hurry, she proceeded to corner of the outrigger.
As the big waves tried to pull the boat apart, the passenger donned
their life-vest, some clung on to the big blue rope, which the boatmen had
earlier tied to the hull, while other jumped over to the sea. There were
some that bravely leaped without the support of a life-vest. The ship was
crumbling apart like some jigsaw puzzle. In panic, The passengers began
screaming and crying. Claire felt the growing weight of despair in people all
around her. She felt a wave of ominous and unfamiliar fear...fear not for
herself but for the passengers safety.
It took all Claire's courage to jump over board; it was then that she felt
the harshness of the sea. The waves were in constant turmoil that she was
slammed against the debris of wood and metal from the ship. She loses count
on how many times her head slammed. The raging waves threatened to swallow
her. She tried to keep her body submerged in the water as the cold harsh wind
blew around her. The moment she felt her legs cramping, she knew she would
drown. Then she became apprehensive that she could perish in a matter of
time.
"Is this the end?" She asked herself with a little hope. She
frantically searched her heart for an impression from the Lord, whether she
was going to perish or not, and she felt her whole being reaching out to Him
in silent plea, "Lord, I will never let go of You, but if you will let go of
us, I surrender everything to You." It was then that her consciousness began
to be engulfed by sickening blackness.
AT FIRST THERE WAS ONLY FRIGID DARKNESS, then slowly light and
consciousness began to grow. The first thing that ran through Claire's
reeling mind was "Where am I?" Despite her throbbing head she lifted
herself up and looked around her. From her front, there were nothing but
infinite trees and variety of vegetation and to her back there was endless
expanse of calm seawater. There was no indication that the exotic island was
inhabited. She looked again at the ocean and began to wonder if the
others made it alive. The sun bathed upon her wet body unmercifully.
She walked towards the shade of a tree and rests her aching
body. When she examined herself she noticed that she had bruises on her arms
and forehead. The hours passed along quietly like the falling dry leaves.
There was still no one in sight.
Finally, she decided to go beyond the deep region of the forest and
uttering words of prayer that she would encounter someone or something that
will denote civilization. She was walking for hours until late afternoon. Her
stomach ached for sustenance and her parched lips craved for liquids. Using
her skill in science, she began to look around for trees that bear fruits.
Unable to find one that was not poisonous or too high to reach, she prayed
solemnly and then upon lifting her head, across the gully she noticed a
broad-leafed tree that bears very yellowish-green, brocaded-like fruit
called atis. She was almost running towards the tree in desperate hunger.
She merrily picked the ripe ones. She relaxed as she started to eat the
sweet fruit contentedly.
"Praise be to God!" she whispered with tears of joy. After which her
hunger was satisfied, she packed some fruits on her journey to
uncertainty. Again and again, Claire Desiderio set her sights on the most
distant visible hill and trudge to it, hoping to find signs of urbanization
or perhaps a trail. But all she found was more uphill walking. This went on
all afternoon.
On her travel, she was expecting to be attacked by wild animals or even
worse, a venomous snake, but to her surprise there weren't any. Not even the
gentle birds were in sight except for the two large, black and ugly crows
that was following her. They stared at her with beady eyes as if to check
on the state of her physical deterioration. After seeing that she was
still stronger, the two black birds became wary and eventually lost
interest in her.
Long hours had now passed since she gotten lost and she had so little
strength that she had to stop and rest every few minutes. She also had
serious problems with her feet. When she finally climbed the hill, her
heart sank. For miles, she could see nothing but more rock, cliffs and
large trees. The forest shadow were spreading quickly as dusk overtook the
long, tiring day that Claire had spent searching for traces of civilization.
As sunlight faded, she was getting frustrated and
frightened. She wanted to return to the open space of the seashore but it was
too late, she already lost her way out.
"Better make myself a campfire before its gets cold and dark here." She
decided uneasily. Selecting from the fallen branches of the trees, she began
to arrange it geometrically along with the dry leaves in a bonfire position.
It was then that she scanned the area for phorus or flintstone as matches.
It took her a long time to start a fire that her hands were sore and was
sweating heavily. She sat beside her fire and began to massage her aching
legs and arms.
The sun was almost down and the cold wind blew upon her body, Not far
from her, the crickets began their remarkable chirping orchestra.
The day completely gave up to the ebony night.
The glinting stars splattered around the sky like diamonds. Then suddenly she
heard rustling noise. She kept silent and listens closely but the sound was
gone. She tried to hum a song to relieve from her fear. She tried to force
pleasant thoughts to her mind but it turned upon her, transforming it into
images of wild boars and angry wolves preying upon her defenseless body.
Again the sound returned. She looked around nervously and then closed her
eyes and recited a verse from the bible that always gave her the courage when
she was afraid. She grasped for Psalm 23: "Though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of the death, I will fear no harm; for Thou art with me: Thy
rod and thy staff, they comfort me." Her courage was slowly developing. Again
she repeated the verse.
Nearby, crumbling leaves resounded loudly and then it was gone instantly as
it came. Claire again hummed a tune to relieve from her trembling fear. But
then a soft screechy child-like laughter lingered around causing her to
rose to her feet.
"Who..who's there?" she shunningly asked.
But no one responded except the cold and silent darkness. Then she heard some
sort of animals approaching on the ground. The undergrowth crackled beneath
its feet. Its breath was loud, rasping, and rheumy. She could not see through
the foliage to determine what it was. She ceased her hum and froze, scarcely
breathing herself.
Her heart almost stopped when two sets of luminous red
eyes emerged through the leaves and stared at her, unblinkingly. All she
could do was stare back at it. Then it multiplied into many. She was made to
back away.
"Who's there?", she again asked.
The owners of the eyes chuckled hauntingly. Her body hair rose in genuine
terror. "You Krugon?, huh?, huh?", The shadow asked Claire inquisitively.
"What?" She said in confusion.
"You Bulawan?", another inquired almost in a ruin tone.
"Wha..What is that?" Her eyes kept sweeping the area. Then there were
laughers all around her. She then ran hurriedly into the forest. There
were no definite direction to her tracks, she couldn't tell if she was
running in circles or not. All she knew was that she must outdistance her
would be assailants "Please God help me!" she prayed in tears. She felt that
she was being followed yet when she dared to turn her head, there was
nothing except more rustling sounds.
Fear motivated her to pushed unto speed. She did not falter until her
breath was almost gone. Then she paused and looked around and felt
her head was throbbing with bone-numbing fear.
Once again, she looked behind. No one was in sight. She listened around.
Nothing. She couldn't hear anything but her pounding heart.
From out of nowhere a humanoid figure appeared before her. It measures
about two-point -eight meters and Claire assumed that it weigh about one
hundred twenty kilograms. The creature's skin was mahogany brown and
exhibit dermal bone deposition, resulting in spines, rough surface texture.
Looking at his chest, she saw that it was clothed with short tufts of hair.
Again, she nervously looked at the monster grotesquely disfigured face,
as the creature came nearer she saw the creature's nose was broad and ears
show definite points. What frightened Claire the most was the monster's
lower canines for it were enlarged and his morals display extreme
convolutions. It was a horrific sight for it defied her wildest imaginations.
And the monsters eyes, by all that is holy!, he has a red glaring eyes
with a small black retina. Those same frightening eyes stared at her and
an ice-cold fear stabbed down her spine. She will never forget these
sinister eyes.
Then adding to her fear was that from the monster's behind, more ghastly
creatures appeared. Some looked like a half-man and half-horse and some
looked like creatures from old folklore she knew. After a moment they
shifted their form, turning into more grotesquely figure similar to the
first one. With a last desperate act, she quickly grabbed a large wood and
attempted to strike the monster but it was a futile effort for the monster
slapped her first and was flung across the edge of the cliff. She was
falling very fast. Her head and body thrust a lot of time against the
rocky edges of the cliff and then began to lose her consciousness
adversely to the dark consuming void of nothingness.
- [ B O O K 2 ] -
CHAPTER 1
MANILA, Two thousand years later. At a prominent university, that was
bustling with students. Inside a science class. "Odette," Miss Claire
Desiderio; the instructress, said. "Tell me what era was in between the
Miocene and the Ice Age and kindly explain this time period?" The teacher
inquired while scanning around her students for Odette. A girl stood upright
from her chair, she has a praiseworthy complexion and a black shoulder length
hair. She stands five feet in height and has a perfectly curved body except
for her thighs. While directing her eyes at her instructor she began to
speak, "This period marking between the two is called the Pliocene. It was
golden-time, just before the dawn of rational humankind," she paused and
looked outside the window and back at her teacher again and continued, "A
time of benevolent climate and flourishing plant and animal life. A vintage
time, unspoiled and tranquil, an autumn before the terrible winter of
Pleistocene glaciation." Odette remained standing up, confidence can be seen
from her.
"And who theorizes about the evolution?", Miss Claire asked Odette. "It was
Charles Darwin."
"Chito...", Miss Desiderio swept her gaze on the front row, "...based on
this evolution theory....", Her question was interrupted by the ringing
of the university's bell. It echoed all throughout out their room.
"Okay class, by next week we will have our final exam." Her student all
rose up and walked towards the door gleefully. Miss Desiderio was left still
standing on the ramp and watching them pass by. Then a young girl approached
her, it was Odette.
"Ma'am I have something for you, it's from my uncle. He just arrived
yesterday from Australia!" Odette opened her bag and picked a pack of
ripe grapes.
"Thanks," she merrily took the grapes and smiled.
"Your uncle Jojo still remembers my favorite fruits. By the way, how's
your uncle,", she contracted her brows. "It's been a long time since last
time I saw him." Odette let out a deep breath first and then let her
shoulders hang down,
"Well, ever since his wife died two years ago he's keeping himself very
busy."
"Don't worry too much, he'll get by. He's always like that everytime he
was heavy with problems, even during our college days.", Claire was
patting Odette's back.
"Yah, I guess so." She sighed again. "Anyway, where are you going to
spend your summer vacation ma'am?"
"Most probably in Puerto Galera, where my Uncle Nhemy lives." Odette looked
at her watch, realizing she was late for her next class.
"Gotta go now Ma'am, see you next week in our exam."
"Bye."
Claire waved her hand. Odette quickly darted outside and ran after her
classmates.
AND THEN THE WEEK FADED QUICKLY. Claire was at home and preparing her
belongings. She was looking forward for this much needed vacation. Before
Claire Desiderio said her farewell to her parents and younger brother, she
earnestly prayed for a while, being an Evangelical Born-again Christian she
loves communicating to the divine being in prayers. Claire can vividly
remembered how she became a Born-again. It was a year before her father,
named Johnny, passed away. It had a tragic impact on her for she was close to
her father rather than to her mother, Ederlina. Her uncles and aunts deemed
her to be a papa's girl, yet she knew she wasn't. Three years later her
mother remarried another man. She took it open-mindedly like a mature lady
should. Her necklace, that her father gave her, served to remind her of her
loving father. Probably that was the reasons behind that she could easily
relate to Odette's pain. Living here in Pasay, where the streets were crowded
with unattended children. Claire took time to preach them the word of God
during Sunday at her home. To her it was a labor of love rather than
obligations. But now she needed a well-deserved rest to renew her spirits
with God's creation such as the nature and to clear her mind on some personal
problems that she is suffering from. Perhaps nature will help her find a way
to forget her problems.
BY EARLY SUNNY MORNING, she was at the pier and walking up the ship to Japan.
She was afraid to take a plane. She always had this foreboding vision about
crashing plane. It was difficult for her not to sweat for she possesses a
long straight hair. She was slim with beautiful set of deep- brown eyes that
seemed to sparkle when she smiles. Standing in line to purchase her ticket,
an old half-blind woman walked toward her, limping, begging alms. Having a
soft-heart for the poor, she reached inside her wallet and gave the old
beggar some large bills.
"Here," said Claire, smiling, "buy yourself some food." As their hands
touched. The old lady's eyes bulge unexpectedly not from the large bills
that Claire gave but from an uncanny sense of vibration.
The old beggar looked at Claire and remarked softly in her ruin tone, "Child,
I know that what I will tell you are shocking and confusing. Frightening,
even. But all that will be taken care of, in time. You'll understand
everything, in time. Don't let anyone stampede or coerce you. For the light
will give-up to the razor edge of darkness, but then, only then that the
broken light will roused and redeem itself and bring life to a New World.
Full circle, divine truth." The beggar then bowed her weary head and walked
away and vanished unto the tick crowd.
Claire was left bewildered. As soon as she avail her ticket she immediately
proceeded to her designated room and arranged her things. It was a long
journey she thought. It's a good thing she brought along something to read,
it was her bible. Opening it randomly a piece of paper fell off, she
curiously picked it up and discovered that it was a note:
Dear Claire,
Lighten up and try to forget you problems!
Your old friend, Doreen.
She gave a broad smile at the idea of her thoughtful friend and co- teacher.
Doreen must have slipped the note during her class period and knowing that
she will be away for a while she troubled herself to make a note for her. She
was blessed to have such a sweet bestfriend. With that on mind she began to
drowse to sleep.
When she opened her eyes she wondered how long she had fallen asleep.
She checked her watch, "Five hours!". She looked outside the window and
noticed that dusk was consuming the afternoon. She went out and the cold
-dewy wind frolicked around her hair.
As she pondered at the horizon, she briefly touched her necklace that has a
pendant of a Latin cross. Looking at the West Side of the ship, she saw the
sun was exquisitely setting and it has gray-orange radiance. Large nimbus
clouds was forming and twisting into abstract shapes. Suddenly, it began to
drizzle. It brought forth even more chilly wind that then made her to
return inside and made her decide to eat her meal. Again, she lay down
comfortably at her soft bed and began reading the Holy Testament. The rain
began to pour and the pitter-patter of the rain was almost musical to her
ears, "Ahh, nature sure has a way of making music." She zestfully thought.
The nature's music slowly lulled her to sleep once
more.
After momentarily, she was awaken by the swaying of the ship. The storm
was getting stronger and she could hear the wind howling furiously outside.
From her sliding window she can barely see the exterior for it was very dark
and only occasionally brightened by the sharp luminous lightning. Fear was
sluggishly creeping behind her spine.
"How could nature rebel against mankind this way?"
Boarding it was like riding a raging bull while it was being tossed by
waves. The rocking of the ship intensified every passing moment. She
alarmingly retrieved her life-vest and wore it. Tension was building up
among the passengers. Some were entreating to their God and some was hoping
that the ship would hold on together.
The waves were accumulating its turbulence and so did the passenger's
fear and hopelessness. The winds blowing were somewhere around eight-five
knots. Without warning, she heard a loud bang, something like metal being
torn at the boat's hull. She saw several boatmen rushing to the front
with some big ropes and appeared to be tying the metal cover of the hull.
It was then that the boat started taking in more water that it could pump
out. Everything happened so fast. Their boat's engine suddenly stopped.
Shortly after, Claire and other the passengers smelled something like
burning motor oil.
"Abandon ship!, abandon ship!" The captain ordered in his baritone voice.
After hearing the captain's instruction, she immediately headed to her door,
as she was opening it, she discovered that it was jammed, she desperately
tried to force it open yet it won't unbarred. She then hurriedly ran to the
window and pushed the sliding window on one side, with adrenaline
pumping hard, but still somewhat composed, she managed to pull herself
out of the window. When she got out staccato bolts of lightning peppered
her and she smelled the metallic odor of spent electricity as they hit the
water, then frightened by ball lightning running off the yards. The water
seemed to mysteriously glowing with hue of white and blue. Cautiously but
in a hurry, she proceeded to corner of the outrigger.
As the big waves tried to pull the boat apart, the passenger donned
their life-vest, some clung on to the big blue rope, which the boatmen had
earlier tied to the hull, while other jumped over to the sea. There were
some that bravely leaped without the support of a life-vest. The ship was
crumbling apart like some jigsaw puzzle. In panic, The passengers began
screaming and crying. Claire felt the growing weight of despair in people all
around her. She felt a wave of ominous and unfamiliar fear...fear not for
herself but for the passengers safety.
It took all Claire's courage to jump over board; it was then that she felt
the harshness of the sea. The waves were in constant turmoil that she was
slammed against the debris of wood and metal from the ship. She loses count
on how many times her head slammed. The raging waves threatened to swallow
her. She tried to keep her body submerged in the water as the cold harsh wind
blew around her. The moment she felt her legs cramping, she knew she would
drown. Then she became apprehensive that she could perish in a matter of
time.
"Is this the end?" She asked herself with a little hope. She
frantically searched her heart for an impression from the Lord, whether she
was going to perish or not, and she felt her whole being reaching out to Him
in silent plea, "Lord, I will never let go of You, but if you will let go of
us, I surrender everything to You." It was then that her consciousness began
to be engulfed by sickening blackness.
AT FIRST THERE WAS ONLY FRIGID DARKNESS, then slowly light and
consciousness began to grow. The first thing that ran through Claire's
reeling mind was "Where am I?" Despite her throbbing head she lifted
herself up and looked around her. From her front, there were nothing but
infinite trees and variety of vegetation and to her back there was endless
expanse of calm seawater. There was no indication that the exotic island was
inhabited. She looked again at the ocean and began to wonder if the
others made it alive. The sun bathed upon her wet body unmercifully.
She walked towards the shade of a tree and rests her aching
body. When she examined herself she noticed that she had bruises on her arms
and forehead. The hours passed along quietly like the falling dry leaves.
There was still no one in sight.
Finally, she decided to go beyond the deep region of the forest and
uttering words of prayer that she would encounter someone or something that
will denote civilization. She was walking for hours until late afternoon. Her
stomach ached for sustenance and her parched lips craved for liquids. Using
her skill in science, she began to look around for trees that bear fruits.
Unable to find one that was not poisonous or too high to reach, she prayed
solemnly and then upon lifting her head, across the gully she noticed a
broad-leafed tree that bears very yellowish-green, brocaded-like fruit
called atis. She was almost running towards the tree in desperate hunger.
She merrily picked the ripe ones. She relaxed as she started to eat the
sweet fruit contentedly.
"Praise be to God!" she whispered with tears of joy. After which her
hunger was satisfied, she packed some fruits on her journey to
uncertainty. Again and again, Claire Desiderio set her sights on the most
distant visible hill and trudge to it, hoping to find signs of urbanization
or perhaps a trail. But all she found was more uphill walking. This went on
all afternoon.
On her travel, she was expecting to be attacked by wild animals or even
worse, a venomous snake, but to her surprise there weren't any. Not even the
gentle birds were in sight except for the two large, black and ugly crows
that was following her. They stared at her with beady eyes as if to check
on the state of her physical deterioration. After seeing that she was
still stronger, the two black birds became wary and eventually lost
interest in her.
Long hours had now passed since she gotten lost and she had so little
strength that she had to stop and rest every few minutes. She also had
serious problems with her feet. When she finally climbed the hill, her
heart sank. For miles, she could see nothing but more rock, cliffs and
large trees. The forest shadow were spreading quickly as dusk overtook the
long, tiring day that Claire had spent searching for traces of civilization.
As sunlight faded, she was getting frustrated and
frightened. She wanted to return to the open space of the seashore but it was
too late, she already lost her way out.
"Better make myself a campfire before its gets cold and dark here." She
decided uneasily. Selecting from the fallen branches of the trees, she began
to arrange it geometrically along with the dry leaves in a bonfire position.
It was then that she scanned the area for phorus or flintstone as matches.
It took her a long time to start a fire that her hands were sore and was
sweating heavily. She sat beside her fire and began to massage her aching
legs and arms.
The sun was almost down and the cold wind blew upon her body, Not far
from her, the crickets began their remarkable chirping orchestra.
The day completely gave up to the ebony night.
The glinting stars splattered around the sky like diamonds. Then suddenly she
heard rustling noise. She kept silent and listens closely but the sound was
gone. She tried to hum a song to relieve from her fear. She tried to force
pleasant thoughts to her mind but it turned upon her, transforming it into
images of wild boars and angry wolves preying upon her defenseless body.
Again the sound returned. She looked around nervously and then closed her
eyes and recited a verse from the bible that always gave her the courage when
she was afraid. She grasped for Psalm 23: "Though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of the death, I will fear no harm; for Thou art with me: Thy
rod and thy staff, they comfort me." Her courage was slowly developing. Again
she repeated the verse.
Nearby, crumbling leaves resounded loudly and then it was gone instantly as
it came. Claire again hummed a tune to relieve from her trembling fear. But
then a soft screechy child-like laughter lingered around causing her to
rose to her feet.
"Who..who's there?" she shunningly asked.
But no one responded except the cold and silent darkness. Then she heard some
sort of animals approaching on the ground. The undergrowth crackled beneath
its feet. Its breath was loud, rasping, and rheumy. She could not see through
the foliage to determine what it was. She ceased her hum and froze, scarcely
breathing herself.
Her heart almost stopped when two sets of luminous red
eyes emerged through the leaves and stared at her, unblinkingly. All she
could do was stare back at it. Then it multiplied into many. She was made to
back away.
"Who's there?", she again asked.
The owners of the eyes chuckled hauntingly. Her body hair rose in genuine
terror. "You Krugon?, huh?, huh?", The shadow asked Claire inquisitively.
"What?" She said in confusion.
"You Bulawan?", another inquired almost in a ruin tone.
"Wha..What is that?" Her eyes kept sweeping the area. Then there were
laughers all around her. She then ran hurriedly into the forest. There
were no definite direction to her tracks, she couldn't tell if she was
running in circles or not. All she knew was that she must outdistance her
would be assailants "Please God help me!" she prayed in tears. She felt that
she was being followed yet when she dared to turn her head, there was
nothing except more rustling sounds.
Fear motivated her to pushed unto speed. She did not falter until her
breath was almost gone. Then she paused and looked around and felt
her head was throbbing with bone-numbing fear.
Once again, she looked behind. No one was in sight. She listened around.
Nothing. She couldn't hear anything but her pounding heart.
From out of nowhere a humanoid figure appeared before her. It measures
about two-point -eight meters and Claire assumed that it weigh about one
hundred twenty kilograms. The creature's skin was mahogany brown and
exhibit dermal bone deposition, resulting in spines, rough surface texture.
Looking at his chest, she saw that it was clothed with short tufts of hair.
Again, she nervously looked at the monster grotesquely disfigured face,
as the creature came nearer she saw the creature's nose was broad and ears
show definite points. What frightened Claire the most was the monster's
lower canines for it were enlarged and his morals display extreme
convolutions. It was a horrific sight for it defied her wildest imaginations.
And the monsters eyes, by all that is holy!, he has a red glaring eyes
with a small black retina. Those same frightening eyes stared at her and
an ice-cold fear stabbed down her spine. She will never forget these
sinister eyes.
Then adding to her fear was that from the monster's behind, more ghastly
creatures appeared. Some looked like a half-man and half-horse and some
looked like creatures from old folklore she knew. After a moment they
shifted their form, turning into more grotesquely figure similar to the
first one. With a last desperate act, she quickly grabbed a large wood and
attempted to strike the monster but it was a futile effort for the monster
slapped her first and was flung across the edge of the cliff. She was
falling very fast. Her head and body thrust a lot of time against the
rocky edges of the cliff and then began to lose her consciousness
adversely to the dark consuming void of nothingness.