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Lost In Hinterland

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dark
brave
inspirational
bxg
mystery
another world
betrayal
friendship
special ability
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Blurb

Farrah Bovell, a genuine-hearted lady who was raised by her father alone, Mr. Ruther Bovell, was inclined in adventures, together with her friends.

Expedition was their cup of tea, not until they got lost in a mysterious world, the Hinterland, when they entered a portal that only appears twice a century.

This is a novel that'll make you quiver in excitement, agony, and fear. A story which builds and breaks trust. A cycle of betrayal, love, and sacrifices. Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

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Chapter 1 : Their Arrival
Their mussed odyssey started when... "Are you ready, Farrah?" Farrah breathed deeply before nodding, as she heard Haru's blissful voice on a video call. This isn't their first time to go on a voyage, but she can't explain what she's currently feeling. Siguro nga, excited lang talaga ako, she thought. "We'll wait here in the car na lang, huh?" he added, with a comforting smile on his face. Binaba niya rin agad iyong tawag, upang matapos na ang kanyang pag-aayos. But then she realized, wala naman siyang kailangang ipangamba, sapagkat kasama niya naman si Haru at iba pa nilang mga kaibigan. Bahala na, she sighed. "Farrah? Still there?" ani Phoebe, kasabay ng marahang pagkatok sa pinto ng kwarto niya. "Yes!" she briefly answered, while gently spraying perfume on herself. Naramdaman niya na lamang ang pagpasok nila. "Why you're so matagal ba?" they just chuckled, as Chloe begins grumbling. Hindi na bago sa kanila ang marinig ang pag-iinarte ng kaibigan nilang 'to. "Look, oh! I'm getting haggard na," sumandal na lamang siya sa couch, at pinag-krus ang braso sa tapat ng dibdib. "Sino ba namang tanga, Chloe? Alam mo nang magha-hiking tayo, ta's putok na putok iyang make-up mo!?" singit ni Reese sa usapan. Their friend just rolled her eyes. Sandaling tinitigan ni Farrah ang sarili sa harapan ng salamin, without any precised reason. "Tara na!" she firmly uttered, then hanged her bag on her shoulders. They left her room, and went downstairs. She saw her dad typing something on his laptop. Even though he's always facing pile of paper works, hindi naman siya nagkulang sa pag-aaruga kay Farrah. He is truly a kindhearted father. No wonder why he's adored by all of his employees, and why she eminently admire him, too. Kahit na sila lamang dalawa ang palaging magkasama. Hindi man lang siya nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na makasama ang kanyang ina, sapagkat binawian ito agad ng buhay, pagluwal pa lamang sa kanya. That's the sad reality she can't escape, but she learned to accept it subsequently. "Tito, we gotta go na po!" Chloe politely told him. Nag-angat ito ng tingin at tumayo sa kinauupuan upang lapitan sila. "Gusto niyo bang ipahatid ko na kayo kay Kuya Brody?" tugon ng kanyang ama sa kanila, he's been like this since before. "Salamat po, pero hindi na po kailangan. Jayden brought his chevrolet po kasi," magalang na sagot ni Phoebe. "We'll take a good care of your precious diamond naman, Tito. Don't worry," they all laughed as Reese released those words of flattery assurance. Napakamot na lamang sa likod ng ulo ang lalaki. "Oh, sige na mga hija. Mag-iingat kayo," they all nodded to him, and went outside. Paalis na rin sana si Farrah, ngunit marahang inagaw ng ama ang braso nito. "Mag-iingat ka, anak. Ikaw na lang ang mayroon ako." Nang ipaalam kasi niya noong nakaraang linggo na aalis sila ngayong araw, agad tumutol ang kanyang ama. Subalit hindi naglaon, pinayagan rin siya nito-alam niya namang hindi siya pababayaan ng kanyang mga kasama. Batid din niya na nag-aalala lamang ito, sapagkat bakas iyon sa kanyang mga mata. Ayaw niyang ipakita na maging siya ay kinakabahan, kaya pilit niyang ipininta ang ngiti sa kanyang mukha. Farrah walked towards him and embraced him tightly. "I will, Dad," she whispered. "Babalik ako dito nang ligtas. Huwag kang mag-alala." After a second, he let her go and accompanied her towards their front door. Exactly when Haru noticed Farrah's presence, he walked near her and carried her baggage. Sinuklian niya naman iyon ng isang matamis na ngiti. At sabay-sabay na silang naglakad palapit sa iba nilang kasama. Right after they went inside the chevrolet, Jayden pulled Chloe's arm and kissed her torridly, as if they're all alone. "Nakakaumay, pre! Tigil niyo nga 'yan!" pag-aangil ni Haru sa dalawang kaibigan nila. "Sus! Inggit ka lang, eh. Bakit hindi niyo ba 'to ginagawa ni Farrah?" Jayden mocked him. "...o baka naman hindi pa siya sinasagot!" pagsusulsol ni Davin sa pang-aasar ng kaibigan, habang nagmamaneho. Magkasabay silang naghalakhakan upang inisin pa ang isa. Mabuti na lamang at hindi madaling mapikon si Haru. "Non-sense," Farrah crossed her arms and just fixed her eyes on the scenery they're passing through. "Mabuti pa, magpahinga na lang muna kayo. Reserve your bodies sa gagawin natin." Sandaling nilamon ng katahimikan ang buong sasakyan, no one even dared to speak. Mas mainam ito sa palagay ni Farrah. "By the way, we're heading to Mt. Knavesmire," Avery broke the silence that moment by reminding them of their destination. "May kalayuan 'yon kaya libangin niyo muna ang mga sarili niyo, o hindi kaya'y matulog." "Why naman kasi super layo ng pinili niyong place?" Chloe pouted and rest her head on her boyfriend. "Napuntahan na kasi natin halos lahat ng malalapit na spots. Kaya I came up with Mt. Knavesmire, nabalitaan ko kasi na maganda 'yong view at the peak of it. So we must try it also." Haru answered. "So, you mean it's magandang place of pictorial for my IG?" maarteng bigkas ng babae. "Pwede ka rin naming itulak do'n sa tuktok," iritableng tugon ni Reese, na halatang kanina pa nakukulitan kay Chloe. "Baby, oh!" napipikon itong kumapit sa braso ng binatang katabi, dahilan para magtawanan sila nang malakas. Thereafter, tranquility started to dance and roam around them, again. Perhaps this is better. They need to save their energy. They need to rest. Ilang sandali lamang ay nakita na lamang ni Farrah ang ilan sa kanilang tuluyan nang nahimbing. "What's on your mind?" Haru's deep manly voice caught her whole wondering soul. He held her hand and looked at her. Full of sincerity and innocence, she thrown a glance at him. "Are y-you sure that we're gonna be s-safe?" inevitable discomfort made her stutter while talking to him. "I mean, alam ko naman na..." Hindi pa man siya tapos magsalita'y pinutol na agad ni Haru ang kanyang sasabihin. "You trust me, right?" sinalo agad ni Farrah ang mabibigat nitong titig. She looked straight into his eyes, and the pain of not trusting him drowns her. Hindi niya na kinaya pang tingnan ang binata, kaya't napayuko na lamang ito at kinuyom ang kanyang palad. "I always do," tipid niyang sagot. Pilit niyang isinantabi ang magkahalong kaba at takot na nadarama. "Just believe me, Farrah. Hindi ko naman hahayaang mapahamak ka," Haru comforted her, and gently laid her head on his shoulder. Kahit papaano'y nabawasan ang pangamba sa isipan niya. So, instead of making herself more worried, nagpahinga na lamang siya sa tabi ni Haru. Sitting beside him makes her feel safe. This sentiment is soothing. It feels like she's resting on her very own fortress. Hindi tuloy namalayan ni Farrah na maging siya'y dinatnan na ng antok. At sa muling pagmulat niya ng mga mata, hindi na araw kundi madilim na paligid ang kanyang nasaksihan. "How's your sleep?" nakangiting tanong ni Haru sa kanya. Teka, hindi ba siya natulog?! she asked herself. "It's good. How about you? You slept, right?" pangungumusta ni Farrah, habang inaayos ang kanyang sarili. "Yes. For I know how important it is to sleep," hindi niya nagugustuhan ang nakalolokong ngisi ni Haru ngayon. "But then I realized that watching you while you were sleeping is more meaningful. So that's what I did," she felt how her cheeks blushed, because of what he just uttered. Seryoso ba siyang pinanood niya lang ako habang natutulog, she thought. NAKAKAHIYAAAA! "Look at the moon," Avery stated, out of nowhere. Gaya ng sinabi ng binata, sabay-sabay silang nabigla sa pulang kulay ng maliwanag na buwan, nang sandaling pagmasdan nila ito. "It is called 'Bloody Cursed Moon'," Reese stated. "B-bl-blood-y?" Sean's trembling voice made Farrah clear her throat. "It only happens twice in a century. We're fortunate to witness such alluring phenomena," Reese added. How can she deliver those words without even shaking? Isn't she afraid of it? Farrah wondered. "According to the book I've red, past weeks ago, it is called 'cursed' due to the bunch of people that had gone, after the moon turned red," tumayo ang balahibo niya sa mga sinabi ni Avery. "At hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin sila natatagpuan." Totoo ba ang lahat ng mga iyon? Paano kung may masama ngang mangyari ngayon? Paano kami? she began sweating. "T-teka?! Sean, sino 'yang n-nasa tabi mo?!" Farrah's eyes went bigger, hearing Davin's threat. Kaya napalingon din siya agad sa kanyang likuran. "AAAAAHHHH!" nakaririnding tili ni Chloe na para bang nakasaksi ng multo. "Bakit ikaw ang tumili, Chloe? Baliw, ikaw kaya 'yong katabi ni Sean na tinutukoy ni Davin," calm, yet hilariously said by Phoebe. Kahit na nakabibingi ang hagalpakan nilang lahat, hindi pa rin maiwasan ni Farrah ang hindi mangamba sa mga sinabi ng mga kaibigan, kani-kanina lang. "Malayo pa ba tayo? Dumidilim na, oh," naduduwag na banggit ng baby nilang si Sean. To be honest, there's no difference between their ages, but he's kinda coward and fearful, that's why they treat him as their youngest. Oo nga, 'no? Hindi ba't masyado naman yatang matagal ang biyahe namin? Itinuon namin ang aming atensyon sa mga kasalukuyan naming nasasaksihan, kaya't hindi namin napansin ang oras, Farrah started worrying. "Base dito sa map application na gamit natin, malayo-layo pa nga tayo sa Mt. Knavesmire. Be patient, Guys," Haru vented out. "But there's a faster way to arrive there," madilim ang mukha ni Jayden nang magsalita ito. The other side of his lips rose, he's being ridiculously weird. "Don't tell me..." naniningkit ang mga matang lumingon si Avery sa kaibigan nila. "Wexham Road," ani Jayden. Napalunok si Farrah nang wala sa oras nang marinig ang pangalan ng pamilyar na pook na iyon. "You mean... the forbidden road of Wexham?!" hearing it, too, made Phoebe flabbergasted. Walang kahit na sinong nasa hustong pag-iisip ang susubok na sumuong sa lugar na iyon. Kaya hindi na siya magtataka kung bakit lumabo ang mga ekspresyon sa mukha ng ilan sa kanila. "No! Hindi tayo dadaan doon!" Farrah firmly voiced out. Nababaliw na ba sila?! she exclaimed inside her mind. "Tama si Jayden! Wala pa namang napatunayan na may napahamak doon, ah? So, bakit kayo natatakot?" natatawang banggit ni Davin. "Paano kung mapahamak tayo doon? Davin, hindi mo alam ang maaaring mangyari sa'tin!" she hardly contained her tears as she try to persuade them. "Pero, paano kung hindi naman pala talaga totoo 'yong mga kuro-kuro tungkol do'n? Farrah naman! 2020 na, oh! Naniniwala ka pa rin sa mga ganiyan?" Jayden spoke frankly. Parang kahit anong sandali ay babawian siya ng hininga sa paninikip ng dibdib niya. "Fine, if that's what you want! But please let me f*cking go. Kung gusto niyong ilagay sa bingit ng peligro iyang mga buhay niyo, bahala na kayo!" Farrah tried to finish her words, even though she's heavily panting. "Basta huwag niyong sasabihin sa'kin na 'di ko kayo pinaalalahanan." "Game! Sumama na kay Farrah 'yong mga naduduwag na tumuloy!" bakas sa tono ng pananalita ni Davin ang pagkayamot, pero anong magagawa ko?! Kunsintihin sila sa alam kong mali? Never! she thought. Inaasahan niyang may makikinig sa kamyang mga sinabi. Akala niya, siya'y paniniwalaan nila. Pero wala ni isang naglakas-loob na umalis. "See? Ikaw lang, Farrah. Kaya please lang, magtiwala ka na lang sa'min," dugtong ni Jayden. Bumigat lalo ang nararamdaman niya nang wala man lang nagnais na kumampi sa kanya. "Magpapasundo na lang ako kay Kuya Brody," she smiled sarcastically and reached out to get her phone. "s**t" she just rolled her eyes, after seeing that her phone don't have a signal. Trash! "I'll walk. Maghahanap na lang ako ng masasakyan sa daan." Susubukan na sanang umalis ni Farrah sa kinauupuan, ngunit mahigpit na hinawakan ni Haru ang kamay niya. Gustuhin mang magpumiglas, but his soft eyes weakened her. "Haru," her voice broke. Iyon na lamang ang tangi niyang nasambit sa dami ng mga salitang gumugulo sa puso niya. Instead of answering Farrah. Haru pulled her and laid her head on him. He hugged her tight, while patting her head. "Farrah, I'm here. I won't leave you," she buried her face on his chest, as she whimper. "Let's go, Davin." Naramdaman niya na lamang ang pag-andar ng makina ng sasakyan. Labag sa loob ni Farrah, subalit binaybay pa rin nila ang masukal na daan. Hindi niya alam ang maaaring mangyari sa desisyong pinili nila, ngunit magtitiwala na lamang siya sa kanila. Ilang sandali na ang nakalipas, subalit wala pa rin silang nadadatnan na kahit ano. Kaya sumisidhing muli sa kanyang kalooban ang pagkabalisa. "Sure ba kayo na tama itong dinadaanan natin?" judging Sean's voice and breathing, she can barely see how worried he is right now. "Sandali. May tao!!" Phoebe said. They're bewildered to see someone in this kind of perilous area. Ano namang ginagawa niya rito? Farrah got confused. Binusinahan ni Davin ang babae na nakatayo sa gitna ng daan. The woman was wearing a grey-colored head-to-toe dress, but they can't see her face, for it is veiled by a hood. "Please excuse us!" Davin shouted, as he press the horn. "Umalis na kayo rito!" the old lady shrieked, and it is way louder than Davin's. "Umalis na kayo rito!!" she screamed out, once again. "Sino ka ba?!" higit pang nilakasan ni Jayden ang pagsigaw. "Umalis na kayo rito!" I can't understand why does she tries to push us away unceasingly, pagtataka ni Farrah. "If you won't listen, it's your choice! Sasagasaan kita!" galit na tugon ni Davin, at pinaandar nga ng lalaki ang makina. Halatang seryoso ito sa gagawin. "Umalis na kayo ritooo!" "Are you crazy!? Davin, don't do that!" pagpigil ni Farrah sa kaibigan. Subalit walang nagawa ang kanyang mga sinabi. Tuluy-tuloy pa rin ito sa pagmamaneho't handang patayin 'yong matanda. "Daviiiin!!!" Farrah shouted from the wholeness of my lungs. Hanggang sa... "Holy Sh*t!" Jayden yelled in astonishment. They're all left dumbfounded by what they had seen. Imbes na matuwa sapagkat hindi napatay ni Davin iyong matanda, lahat sila ay natakot nang biglang naglaho na lamang ito na parang bula. Naglahong bigla... "What the heck?!" hindi pa rin tapos sa pagsigaw si Jayden. "Bumalik na tayo, please?! Ayaw ko na rito!" Sean screamed. They are all panting. Nakita rin ni Farrah kung paanong natulala si Phoebe, dahil sa kanilang nasaksihan. "Hey, Phoebe. Are you okay?" she asked her friend. Ni hindi nito magawang kumurap at patuloy pa rin sa panginginig. Hindi rin siya nito tinitingnan sa mga mata. Lahat ng iyon ay hindi pa sapat, sapagkat ilang sandali lamang ay biglang umusok ang makina ng sinasakyan ng magkakaibigan. "Malas!" Davin groaned and struck the steering wheel. They don't have any choice, but to go outside. They don't have any idea where theycare standing. Amidst this gloomy forest, they're now lost. Nilibot ni Farrah ang kanyang mga mata sa buong paligid. Madilim. Napaliligiran ng matatayog na puno. Mausok. "Nasa'n na tayo?" takot ngunit mahinahon pa rin ang pananalita ni Reese, habang marahang naglalakad. Her eyes went bigger as she smelt the fascinating scent from somewhere. This is so strange. Sa gitna ng kagubatang 'to, saan naman manggagaling iyong ganitong amoy? she thought. "OMG, what's this scent?!" tugon ni Chloe. "This is much more fragrant than my perfumes at my room. I need to have it, too!" Pilit nitong sinusundan ang pinanggagalingan niyon. "AAAAAHHHH!" nagulat silang lahat nang biglang mabitin patiwarik si Chloe. May mahigpit na lubid na nakatali sa paanan nito, at nakapagtataka sapagkat agad itong nagdugo. "Help!!" Chloe's broken voice was enough to tell them how hurt she was. "Chloe!!" tatakbo na sana palapit sa babae si Jayden nang mabilis siyang nahila ni Farrah sa kanyang braso. "JAYDEEEN!!" sigaw ni Chloe. Jayden cleared his throat when he realized that he just missed the sharp dagger, that eventually pierced the bark of tree on his direction. "Mag-iingat k-kayo..." sa hindi mawaring dahilan, bigla na lamang sumikip ang kanilang dibdib at nahirapan silang huminga. Nauna na ang ibang bumagsak sa lupa, habang sandali pang napaluhod si Farrah. Anong nangyayari? she cluelessly asked. Bago niya ipikit ang kanyang mga mata, nakita niya ang hindi mabilang na mga taong naglalakad palapit. They're wearing the same dress as the old lady earlier, but it is violet-colored. Hindi niya lubusang nakita ang mga hitsura nila, subalit malinaw sa kanya kung paano nakalolokong ngumisi iyong babaeng nasa harapan nilang lahat, sapat para siya'y kilabutan at panindigan ng balahibo. The mysterious woman giggled heinously, as they slowly walked near them. "Maligayang Pagdating sa Hinterland!"

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