Mermaid Blues: Beasts, Giants and Spirits

Trauma of Reality

Gordon and Gaston were walking along the hallway. Walking with them is the nurse assigned to take care of the patient the Association found in Abra. The name of the nurse is Mary Rose Gabangan. They were on their way to the room where the foreign patient was in.

"How is he? Is he still rampaging in there?" Gaston asked.

"Thankfully," Nurse Mary answered. "He's getting better now. He is calm. I can see some progress in him lately. We are thinking of taking off his handcuffs later this afternoon but we are still hesitating."

"Let's hope he can talk to us so that we can get through this damn case," Gaston replied.

"Speaking of talk. Do you know the language he was yelling when he was still trying to break the handcuffs?" she asked Gordon.

"No," he answered. "It seemed like he was speaking a native language we haven't discovered yet."

"Huh...So, it's not French or Spanish?"

Gordon shrugged. "Too far. Sounds like Egyptian or ancient Hebrew with a mix of Greek."

Gaston brought his eyebrows together. "Can't he at least speak a little English or at least understand English...or Filipino?"

"He does understand English. However, he is not fluent in it. He is striving to find the right words," she replied.

"Okay," muttered Gordon. "At least that's a start."

They arrived at the door where they spotted two bodyguards standing on each side of the door. One of the bodyguards grabbed the knob and opened the door for them. Gaston, Gordon, and the nurse came in. Gordon and Gaston stood beside the door as they stare at the foreigner lying on the bed a few steps away. They let the nurse go over him first.

"Hi," the nurse greeted the patient with a smile.

However, the guy didn't seem to care. He was just looking at the guys standing in the distance. He was staring at them anxiously while wondering why they were in the room. He had never met them before, so he was getting nervous.

"Do you see those guys over there, yeah?" she asked.

The patient nodded. His eyes were showing distrust.

"Don't worry, they are good. Those guys are the ones I told you before to visit. They are people capable of trust," she explained.

"Help...me? They can?" he asked.

The nurse nodded with a smile to show certainty and trust, telling him to believe her and she was telling the truth. The patient read that on her face.

"I'll leave you to them. Don't worry, they won't hurt you," the nurse told him. Then, she turned her back on him and walked over to the door to exit.

The two leaders got closer.

"Hi. My name is Gordon Agbaliw. And the person beside me is Gaston...Boss Gaston. We are from the Association of Cordilleran Marksmen, whose aim is to protect Lignodons like you from any danger. Do you understand what we are saying?"

"Gaston," he nodded as he stared at Gaston. He took his eyes to Gordon. "Gordon."

"Yes, that's me. If you remember, we met back then. In Abra, remember? I saw you crossing through the wall and I kept on shouting, telling you to stop crossing through that bubble wall," Gordon replied with an enthusiastic smile.

"Abra?" he asked.

"Yes, that's the place we found you," Gordon nodded, maintaining his smile.

Gaston cleared his throat. "Sir, I am sorry to interrupt but...what's your name?"

"Name?" he asked himself as he looked at his hands. Thinking about it made his head ache. And so, he pressed his temples and grunted. His teeth clentched trying to find his name from the depths of his memories.

Gaston and Gordon got alarmed but the guy's sudden behavior. And so, Gaston immediately stormed out of the room to call the nurses outside. Gordon was left to try to calm him down as much as he can as he waits for the nurses to arrive.

::::::::Blue Water:::::

In the Headquarters of the Marksmen. Gaston and Gordon were walking as fast as they could in a hallway leading to the conference room. Gordon was reading the files they got from the hospital.

"Damn, this case is pissing me off." Gordon said. "Where the heck do you think he came from? May be from Biringan, or from the mythical world of Agartha, right?"

"The thing that I am pissed about right now is that we still have no clue about who was leading the murders of those three tattooed guys," Gaston said. "God! Of all the cases I have solved, this is my least favorite."

"I disagree with you. This is fun," Gordon disagreed. "Solving mysteries excites me."

"For now, we are just going to piss the others off. We didn't even bring anything. Damn...we didn't even gather his name."

"Well. That's because someone suddenly asked his name without even thinking," Gordon mockingly replied as an innuendo.

Gaston glared at him. "Shut up."

They have arrived at the door. Gaston pushed it to open. Upon entering, they were surprised to see the president and his bodyguards. They did not expect him to come. They saw him sitting down on one of the seats on the left side of the table. His guards were standing beside him. Cielo was seated across from the president. Pack Leader Seth was sitting close to the broad monitor. It seemed like they were discussing something serious before Gordon and Gaston came in.

"President Delgado? Is there a problem, sir?" Gordon asked nervously.

"Are the media getting in our way again?" Gaston asked in his pissed voice.

"You also might wanna sit down and hear this, gentlemen," President Delgado immediately told them.

Gaston sat down on the chair nearest to the door. Gordon sat beside Cielo.

"What's this about, Sir?" Gordon asked the president.

"Look at the monitor," Cielo replied.

Gordon's heart raced as he stared at the monitor, a potent cocktail of terror and disbelief coursing through him. The enormity of what he was witnessing left him in a state of utter shock. On the colossal screen before him, a trio of images unfolded, each depicting a bizarre and unnerving phenomenon that had unfolded in New Zealand.

To the right, an imposing mountain loomed, set against a sky that defied all logic. Swirling colors, reminiscent of the mesmerizing hues in a soap bubble, danced above it. The surreal spectacle took an even more surreal turn as bolts of lightning rained down from the heavens, striking the mountain's peak simultaneously. It was as if nature itself had unleashed its wrath upon the land.

In the middle image, a monstrous apparition emerges from the depths of the South Pacific Ocean. Only its colossal head breached the water's surface, while the rest of its gargantuan body remained hidden beneath the waves. The ominous creature bore an eerie resemblance to the mythical Loch Ness monster, a chilling sight that sent shivers down Gordon's spine.

The left-most image was equally disturbing. What had once been a peaceful town had been transformed in the blink of an eye into a dense, untamed jungle. The rapidity of the transformation mirrored the inexplicable events that had unfolded in Bangued, Abra. The familiar streets and buildings were now lost beneath an impenetrable green sea.

Gordon's racing thoughts were interrupted by the somber voice of the president's secretary, who relayed the grim details. "Those images were captured in New Zealand," she said with a gravity that matched the situation. "The picture on the right depicts a mountain that was struck by a barrage of thousands of lightning bolts simultaneously. Minutes later, the mountain's peak simply vanished."

"The bubble sky..." Gordon wondered. He was trying to refuse what his brain thinks is.

Cielo told him his theory. "It seems like the two realities clashing to one another does not only take place here in our country."

"New Zealand is experiencing anomalies like what we are experiencing here in the Cordillera?" Gordon asked in disbelief.

"I am afraid not only in New Zealand," President Delgado said. He looked at his secretary standing next to the monitor and nodded at her. The secretary nodded back. And so, she pressed the previous button on the remote control.

"Japan. On December fifteen of twenty-twenty-four, the first 'bubble' phenomenon was observed in that country. A giant moon thrice the size of our moon suddenly appeared in the sky above the Tokyo Tower. As you can see, our moon is below it. As a result, the coastal waters around the country arouse significantly, resulting in floods in some coastal areas," the secretary explained.

"It happened the same day as the sea in the middle of the rice fields in Cagayan and the thunderbolts in New Zealand," Gordon got intrigued while he was stroking his chin.

"Yep. It's not only Japan and New Zealand though. In Africa, especially in Congo and Rowanda, some parts of Europe, like the Stonehenge and Lake Loch Ness, and America are experiencing them too. Each series of events happens at the same time. All the first phenomena happened on the same day altogether, December fifteen. The second phenomenon, and the third."

"What the heck?" Gordon brought his eyebrows together.

"Anything we can learn from the guy from Abra?" Cielo asked Gordon.

"The man still refuses to talk to us," Gaston answered.

Seth chuckled in disbelief. "Oh, God. This gets much more complicated."

"If it so happened that our Spanish guy had some knowledge about the phenomenon, the hunters killing the Lignodons, and his mark, then it will be a huge leap to understanding this investigation, or else were just unning around in circles."

The president, his guards, and his secretary looked at him with their eyes intrigued. They have no idea what he is talking about. They are getting curious.

"Oh. I am so sorry. I realized you were not updated to our case," Gordon apologized.

"Go on," President Delgado responded.

:::::::::::

In the hospital where the stranger who suddenly barged into Benjie's house was brought in...

Benjie was sitting on a seat among the series of chairs beside the wall of the hallway. Sitting beside him was Japeth. He had just handed over the records about the patient resting inside the room. Benjie immediately read the information printed on it.

"Faustino, Wendel," he read aloud. "Profession: Laborer. Province: Kalinga."

"He came from Kalinga just to find you," Japeth said.

"You think?" Benjie raised his eyebrows.

"That's the only explanation I have. Gordon says that the marks you and him have to connect you to each other through psychic telepathy."

Then, the nurse came out of the door. Japeth and Benjie stood up, they were eager to hear what the nurse is going to say.

"You can come in now," she said.

Japeth was about to take a step, but Benjie stopped him. "I'll talk to him. Alone," he said.

"Are you kidding me, Benjie? Now is not the time for any conflict you have with Seth," Japeth complained. "It is the Bakunawa Association's job. It is our right to talk to him."

"I was the one whom he came to. I should speak to him first. Do you think he will believe you, a stranger? He is scared."

That statement had made Japeth reflect on what he said. He nodded. "Okay. I'll give you ten minutes. You go talk to him alone."

::::::::;:

"Another reality. Wait, you are saying that something from a science fiction exists?" The president was quite shocked. "So you're saying that this guy from Abra, came from another reality, phased through the bubble wall without any damage at all? Due to a tattoo?"

"Yes, Sir," Gordon agreed. "My team believes that digging information about the life of that foreigner might give us some leads into understanding what was happening. Since he's got that tattoo like what Mr. Benjie Rosales bears, we have a nice shot. He might know something that Benjie never knows. Only if he could manage to bring his memories back together."

"He has no memories of his past? Like nothing at all," President Delgado followed up.

"His memories are vague, somewhat jumbled. Only the nurse is the only one he could talk to right now. She mentioned that he told her he witnessed the deaths of his five friends while he was there in the other side, " Gordon explained.

"And now, these hunters, they are hunting for them because...?" Delgado asked once more.

"That's the question we are still trying to answer, Mr. President," Gordon replied.

"Well, you should get all the answers fast. We can't let any more damage happen just because of these hunters killing lycants. People in this country are wondering about the series of anomalies that happened here. And I don't want any more commotion to deal with," he said.

"That's what we are trying to do, Sir," Seth said. "However, those guys are one step ahead of us. They know which victim they are going to prey on next, while we have no clue about stopping them."

"I advise questioning those marked people who are in your custody. Especially that guy from Abra. I am sure he still knows something we are not aware of or maybe how to prevent this natural bullshit from happening again."

"Yes, Sir." The four leaders responded.

"If two realities are colliding here in this reality, does that mean that the other one is experiencing it too?" one of the president's guards asked just to confirm his own speculation.

"Yes. It shoud be," Gordon said.

::::::::::::::;

Benjie opened the door. He entered the room. He looked at the guy lying on the bed. He was getting nervous. He was trying to think of some words to start the conversation.

Wendel was silently looking at him standing by the door. His oxygen mask was no longer hugging his mouth. At last, he can breathe naturally again. All his wounds are sealed by gauze and bandages.

Benjie sighed before he walked slowly toward Wendel. When he came over, he sat down on the chair beside the bed. He examined him for a second.

"Nice tattoo you have there on your wrist," he said.

Wendel didn't reply. Instead, he turned his eyes away from Benjie.

"You came for me, aren't you?" Benjie followed up. " How did you find me? I mean, you came from Kalinga and you ran all the way here."

Wendel sighed nervously. "I don't know," he replied. "Before those hunters came over to my home and tried to kill me, I always heard those voices over my head. Voices calling for help...desperate. I can't even sleep at night because of those. Voices come from different people. I always wonder why they are calling for help. Until those hunters came and made me leave my hometown."

"I hear them too," Benjie responded. "I didn't...I didn't realize those voices really came from you. I didn't know that there are others who are living in this world carrying this curse."

"Yeah," Wendel replied. "I realize that every time one of us is killed, this tattoo burns me."

"I do," Benjie nodded. "It is painful once it suddenly lights up."

"I hid in the mountains for many days just to stay away from the hunters. Those voices in my head...they are diminishing. But then, I found your voice. I do not know how, but this tattoo taught me how to track you down. It gave me your exact scent, the familiarity of the place where you are, exactly where you live, and the humidity of the environment you were in."

Benjie nodded. "How exactly did it give you my scent and all?"

"Sometimes, all I have to do is accept anything that is happening. I stopped resisting its magic two years ago. Slowly and slowly, I found out what this thing's capable of. I have found out there are others like us, wielding the same tattoo as ours."

Benjie kept silent. He didn't ask any questions anymore. It appeared that Wendel was making sense in his mind. While he was still reflecting on Wendel's words, Wendel asked, as he began to wonder. "Don't tell me you haven't figured out anything about your tattoo?"

Benjie looked down. He smirked, showing his dimples, and shook his head. "It just keeps on bringing me pain and headaches," he answered.

"No. Come on," Wendel whined in disappointment. "You said you could hear voices. I am sure one of them is mine."

"That too. I kept on hearing voices that were not mine. They kept on appearing sometimes, then recently they became noisier."

"One of those voices is mine," Wendel said.

"I just realized that," said Benjie.

Then, the door opened. Japeth slipped in.

"Time's up," he said. "Whether you like it or not, I am already inside the room."

Benjie sighed in frustration. He looked at the Marksmen leader with a smug face. He stood up, intending to leave the room. Benjie took a glance at the patient. There were so many questions popping out of his mind that he wanted to ask Wendel. However, he can't stand being with any of the agents of the association any longer.

"You can join me though. I know you still have something to ask," Japeth told Benjie with a blank expression on his face.

"No. It's fine. I'll get out of here," Benjie insisted.

"I know where to find the other one of us. He is still alive and well somewhere here in the city," Wendel suddenly informed him. Benjie looked at him with intrigue.

"See? I told 'ya," Japeth smirked as he briefly tilted his head.

::::::::::

It is already six in the evening. Ana had arrived home from school. She slowly pulled the door open while humming. She was surprised when a dog, a puppy, suddenly approached her as she entered. It was barking then as it wags its tail from side to side.

"Hi! Hello!" she greeted. She creased her forehead, wondering why there was a puppy in their house. She sat down on the floor and tried to touch the puppy. Luckily, it's gentle and friendly. "Hi, why are you here? Did they buy you from SM?" she asked while rubbing its fur. Then, when the dog rolled over, she noticed that it had lace around its neck with a thin round blank metal sheet hanging on it.

"Wait, Mama has no interest in dogs. Moreover, Ate Kate can't buy this because she's busy," she wondered further. She knew it was expensive since she recognized the dog was a Siberian husky.

"Oh? Doggie. You are there," Someone suddenly spoke. It's Kate, her big sister. She immediately climbed down the stairs to where Ana and the dog were.

"D-Doggie?" Ana was slightly surprised. "You bought him?" she asked. The big sister immediately approached the playful puppy.

"No. I just found it in the neighborhood. He was weak and pitiful so I took him in", Kate explained.

Then their mother came.

"Psst...Kate. don't get too attached to that dog," She reminded. "Remember, it is not yours, it's whoever the owner is."

"I know, Ma. But isn't he cute?" She whined like a kid.

"I wonder who its owner is." Ana was caressing it while admiring its fur. "Whoever he is, I can tell that he cares for this dog."

"Yeah," Kate said. She was also caressing it. They can see that the dog was enjoying it though.

"Are you really sure you just found him alone or you stole him?" Ana asked. Which made her mother laugh.

"No. I just told you I found him around the corner. There's no one with him so I took him," she defended.

"No. You snatched him," Ana teased.

"Oh my God, my daughter is a thief," her mother taunted, then she laughed so loudly.

"No! I would never steal such a thing" She answered. "How dare you." She pulled Ana's hair gently.

"Ouch! Mama, she pulled my hair," Ana complained. Her mother then halted laughing.

"If someone steps forward claiming that it's that dog's owner, give it to him, understand?" Their mother advised.

"Wen (yes)," her daughters responded.

"Especially you, Kate. I will tell your father if you still haven't managed to return that," she warned.

"Okay," she responded.

"I should get some sleep now. Ana, if you are going to eat, there's the adobo. Just pre-heat it," she told her.

"Thanks, Ma," Ana replied. Then his mother went upstairs.

After she left. Ana and Kate were still playing with the husky. Then suddenly, something came out of Ana's mind which made her wonder.

"But seriously, who is his owner?" Ana asked.

"I hope he is cute. Like his dog," Kate chuckled.

Ana scowled at her and then she slightly laughed.

"Whatever you say," Ana started to walk away.

"Hey, don't you want to have a rich and cute boyfriend?" Kate yelled as she watched her moving further towards the kitchen.

"Well, if you don't, then whoever he is, he's mine," her big sister added.

"I don't care," Ana replied.

::::::::

It's already ten 'o' clock in the afternoon. Kendrick was walking alone along the corridor. He was trying to call his big brother on the phone. Still, he wasn't responding. He stopped walking for a while.

"Tsk," Ken slowly shook his head due to his disappointment. He held his phone near his ear once more as it rang.

Sorry, the number you're calling is outside of the coverage area.

"Come on, dude," he scratched his head. "I am so sick of this slow signal." He put his phone inside his pocket at the front of his pants.

Unexpectedly, when he was about to move forward, he got surprised because he bumped into someone. The person wasn't just someone though, he was a teacher. A very strict and hot-tempered teacher whose name was known throughout the school. The worst is that the vase the teacher was holding accidentally fell down the concrete tiled floor. Ken and he just watched it rapidly fell. As the vase landed, it broke into pieces.

Everyone's attention was captured after they heard the noise as it broke. And so, they looked at them.

Kendrick's heart suddenly raced. He slowly raised his head up and looked at the person who owned the vase. To his surprise, his heart suddenly raced more and he suddenly felt tense. The teacher he bumped was the 'worst' teacher the school has ever had - Mr. Matty is also known as "General Matty". Kendrick's eyes widened as he looked at Mr. Matty's face frowned and turned red, a sign that Ken must run away.

"Sorry, po! Sorry, po!" He said over and over as he panicked.

"'Sorry?'"The teacher said faintly."'Sorry?'"Then, he yelled in anger. "Do you think 'sorry' can pay whatever you destroyed?!"

"I...I...I'll just pay then," Ken replied in a panic. "Naku!" He muttered.

"I'm really sorry, sir."

"No. I don't need your money." He insisted. " How about punishing you instead," he said.

Ken widened his eyes. "Huh?"

Kendrick took a gulp of his saliva. He was sweating and he was feeling tense while waiting for the teacher to tell him his punishment.