ECLIPSE: THE UNTOLD STORY

CHAPTER 1:2

All I can see is water. Where the hell is the mansion? Then I remember,it will only be seen if there's an eclipse. But where? In the water? Hindi ako magaling lumangoy. Papaano?

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero biglang dumilim ang paligid, at biglang gumalaw ang lupa. Bigla akong napahawak sa higante na katabi ko dahil sa sobrang lakas ng hangin.

"What's happening? Is the eclipse already occurring?"

And then lights came across. Many fireflies. It makes the whole surrounding very clear for me to see what's happening.

In my 20 years of existence. I never..never seen this one. The water from the falls are forming into......a freaking mansion? And then the land where the water flow moves upward and in just a snap,a beautiful bridge are now in front of me with a decoration on it.

It was freaking mind blowing.

So this is the secret of this mountain. A freaking white mansion. The door is full of vines and light. The whole mansion is shining. I can't move from my place, I was stunned by its elegancy,then someone hit my head.

The giant.

Natauhan ako bigla.

The eclipse is already happening,and I have to to my mission before it will end.

Hinanap ko ang aking bag at ang metronome at compass, hinaplos ko ang aklat na nakabalot sa pulang tela.

"Let's end this."

I don't know where did I get the determination to end this. Before I step forward,I turn my back.

"Thank you for helping me. Wish me luck." I don't want to be emotional. I don't know if the reason of my tears are because our land will be free from punishment, or because I have no idea if I will succeed and be able to come back and see my alma mater.

It's all up to the fate now. Once I open those door,another door is waiting for me,its either life or death.

It's like the two creatures understand me,they both nodded so I continue going, every step I make is very hard for me. My heart thumps so fast as I grip unto the metronome and compass,once again I turn my back when I reach the front of the door. The giant howl again,the deer stamp it's feet. I wave at them and sigh.

"You can do this. Lola,mahal kita. I will come back."

With my right hand,I hold the door knob and slowly....I open it.

This is my fate. I can't run away from it,but I can change it in time.

When I successfully open the door,a dazzling light welcome me and the next thing I knew,there is an energy that drags me....in the world that I don't even know exist.

[LATRIVENA]

"Lady Aki,wala po kaming nakitang lumabas sa kwarto nyo kanina,ikaw lamang po." Ani ng isang gwardiya.

May nakawang nangyari sa palasyo.

"You dumbass! Anong akala mo sa akin tanga! My dress was stolen and yet you can't find who the hell stole my favorite dress! I'll tell kuya Archer to fire you!"

Walang mapaglagyan nang galit si Prinsesa Aki. Ang kawawang gwardiya ay yumuko nalang,ganun din ang ibang naroroon,takot na masigawan ng prinsesa.

"Na saan na ba kasi sila? Nakakainis!"

Biglang dumating ang isa sa mga leader nang tagapamahala sa seguridad ng palasyo.

Ang Latrivena ay nahahati sa apat na class. Low class- mga ordinaryong tao,at pawang mga ginagawang trabahador. Middle class- mas nakakaangat ang pamumuhay kesa sa mga low class,ngunit ang iba sa kanila ay maiihambing katulad ng mga low class. Sunod ay ang high class,sila ang mga taong mas nabibigyan ng privilege sa kahit anong bagay. At ang huli ay ang tinatawag na Royal class o ang Royal family,sila ang namamahala sa buong kaharian ng Latrivena.

Ang kahariang ito ay ang nangunguna sa lahat ng kaharian,dahil puno ito ng mahika.

"Ginoong Yakero,saan ang punta nyo? Nahanap nyo na ba ang nagnakaw ng dress ko?" Sandaling yumuko ang mga bagong dating.

"Papunta po kami sa Erikom,may natanggap kaming senyales na may nakapasok doon,malamang iyon din ang nagnakaw ng iyong damit,Lady Aki." Tugon ni Ginoong Yakero at namaalam.

"Lahat nang pwedeng daanan ay bantayan." Sigaw nito habang may dalang kumikinang na latigo.

Erikom. Ito ang kwartong inaakala ng lahat ay ordinaryo lamang, dito nakalagay ang samut saring aklat,ngunit lingid sa kaalaman ng iba,dito nakatago ang limang sagradong aklat nang buong kaharian,kaya ganun na lamang ang seguridad sa loob nito,at duon patungo ang grupo nina Yakero para tuklasin kung sino ang lapastangang pumasok sa Erikom.

[PLUM]

I think my soul was left behind,when I open the door, the dazzling light is the energy that drags me to enter this new world. When I felt that the energy is gone, I slowly open my eyes,and I was surprised on what I saw.

I'm in a library,I guess. There's a lot of books arrange in rows.

"How can I know the exact spot of this book?" Kinapa ko ang aklat na nakabalot sa pulang tela ngunit hindi ko ito nahawakan. Ngunit hawak ko pa rin ang metronome at compass, narirto rin ang aking bag.

Kinabahan ako bigla at parang hindi ko na kaya. Ang dahilan kung bakit ako narito ay dahil sa aklat,at ngayon ay nawawala ito.

I panic with the thought of that. Time is running,maybe it was left behind on my world. But how come it is missing right now?

Kinapkap ko ang aking damit, nagbabakasakaling makita ko ang aklat.

"The eclipse is soon to end." I whisper.

Why I am so unlucky? I really need the book back,or else I'm screwed. But instead of finding the book,I figured out different and weird about my clothes and body.

I saw a black wavy hair covering my eyes upto my face when I slightly bow my head.

"What the hell did happened to me?"

Now it all makes scene. Something is off. Something went wrong. I notice my girly voice and my clothes,I'm wearing a red dress right now,showing a bit of my skin on my shoulder. And the hair,jts my freaking hair!

I can't believe with this. I'm a boy..but I turned out to be a girl in this freaking world.

It all change when I enter this world.

"If I open those door,maybe it will redirect me again to my world,the eclipse is still occurring right now. "

I should return. The book is missing,my whole physical appearance has change.

I turn my back,and face the door.

Maybe if open again this door,everything will be back to normal,and I'll find the book with me.

I close my eyes when I slowly open the wide door with my both hands,I'm expecting for the dazzling light, but nothing came.

"Once more. Baka nagkamali lang."

I close the door again,and for the second time I close my eyes and slowly reopen the door,but like my first attempt,nothings change,all that I've seen is a wide and long aisle and it is decorated with white flowers.

"Once more Plum."

I tiredly close the door again and with full force I reopen it again for the third time.

"E. C. L.I.P.S.E!!" I shouted.

I even spell the word eclipse,baka gumana,but I was wrong again,instead I saw a lot of men and there is one who's infront of them with a... Latigong kumikinang?"

Or maybe my imagination is just playing tricks at me. Even I'm surprise,I close again the door and eventually open it,but I still saw them in their poker face. Again. I close the door,and open it..close the door and open it.. But they are not dissapearing from my sight.

"STOP!" Napapitlag ako sa sigaw ng lalaking nasa unahan na may hawak ng latigo,napatigil ako sa aking ginagawa.

Matalim ako nitong tinitigan,like I've done something wrong.

Are they humans also? Base on their appearance,I can tell that they are. They are just living in some unexplainable surroundings.

"Nado,Kiro!hawakan ang magnanakaw na babaeng yan!"

Napaatras ako sa sinabi nito,at bigla kong naalala ang sinabi ni Lola sa akin.

Isang pagkakamali lang,at mag-iiba ang takbo ng tadhana. That all makes sense now,nawawala ang aklat at kailangang makabalik na ako bago pa matapos ang eklipse,ngunit hindi ako makabalik,hindi na ako makakabalik.

Wala akong nagawa nang hinawakan ako ng dalawang lalaki sa magkabilang kamay.

"How dare you enter the Erikom and steal Lady Aki's dress?!"

Linatigo nya ang sahig kaya napapikit ako.

"Sandali. Wala akong alam sa sinasabi mo! Maniwala ka! Narito ako dahil isasauli ko ang aklat a-at--"

"No more lies woman. And yet you steal a book? An immoral sin!"

Linatigo nya ulit ang sahig kaya napapitlag ako sa takot.

Bakit ba ayaw niyang maniwala?

"Totoo ang sinasabi ko! Nandito ako dahil sa isang misyon na--"

"Manahimik ka babae! Kunin ang lahat nang kanyang gamit!"

"Sandali! Hindi naman yata makatarungan ito! Wala akong ninakaw! Narito ako dahil sa isang misyon-- Sandali! Sandali! Wag nyong kunin sa akin ang metronome at kumpas! Sandali!"

Nagpumiglas ako sa kanilang hawak,nagtagumpay silang kunin ang suot kong bag at ang metronome at compass na aking iniingatan.

Paano na ako makakabalik nito?

"Misyon? Misyon na magnakaw?" He hit again the floor with his lash.

"You even steal the metronome and the compass! Dalhin ang babaeng yan sa kulungan!"

"Sandali! Hindi totoong nagnakaw ako! Maniwala kayo sa akin. Parang awa nyo na. Wala akong kinalaman sa mga pinagsasabi nyo.. Mani--"

"SHUT UP!"

Hindi ko mapigilang maluha sa nadatnan ko. If I can turn back the time, I will not go in this world anymore. All I want is a life that is free from shit.. How can these people became blind and deaf towards the truth? All they want is to seek someone to blame,someone who can take the sin and unluckily,I am one of that 'someone.'

Ang akala ko sa dating mundo lang nagaganap ang ganito,pero mali ako,maling mali ang akala ko.

"B-bakit b-ba ayaw nyo ak--"

"MANAHIMIK KA BABAE! DALHIN NA SYA!"

"Hindi ako babae!" That's the truth. I'm not a girl,I just turned out to be like this. I don't have black wavy hair,I don't wear dress.

"You can't deceive us woman. Take her to the dungeon,an expiation is already waiting for her."

The two man are holding my both arms and forcing me to go with them,but my body is restraining from their action. When I met the superior man eyes,some dull images flash in my mind,or is it just my hallucination.

I gasp in pain when the man holding my right arm drag me with hostility. The man whom I think is the head,turn his back at us while holding tightly his lash. He lean forward towards the man who's holding my bag ,the metronome and the compass. He whisper something,and the man nodded his head for obliging.

I heard some footstep that are coming towards our place,and I saw a group of men again,with the same outfit with whom I am with right now. They're another group or just the same.

"Yakero,my team are here to take legal actions towards the presumptuous actions of the intruder."

I glared to the man who's tightly gripping my arm,surely it will leave a mark.

"We are the first one to come in here. You have no rights to interfere with this business,Luki."

I can't see the face of the man that 'Yakero is talking with,because he's blocking my view.

The man chuckled and take a peek at her,that's why she had the chance to see his face.

"Did you forgotten already,that I'm the one who's in charge in bringing the lawbreaker to the dungeon and decide the imposition of the fitted expiation for our loving intruder? And you,you're the one who is in charge on making sure that all the valuable things in the palace and in different countries are both in good place?"

The edge of the lash landed on the floor,making a soft whip sound.

This man is smart,I can feel it. But what matters right now is how can I go back? How can I search for the book? How can I defend myself from them. And how can I handle myself in the situation like this,especially that I'm a girl now. I don't have a clue if when is the next eclipse in my world. Or if I could keep my promise to my Lola. I think I can't go back. I'm stucked. Screwed.

"But this one is an expection. Move your ass from here Luki!"

The tension they are builting are much intense right now. I can feel the anger and the warm energy they are exerting. At this moment,my arms are already numb towards their grip. My muscles has been ripped. Their strength is unexplainable.

"Hand her to us,you can take care of that thing,since it's your business to take care of. "

The thing that maybe the man talking with is my 'things'.

Yakero whip again the floor,this times, it's already potent,he turn around and make a gesture to release me.

I quickly take a glance on my arm,to see if it is red ,it freaking hurts.

"Next time, I won't let you win."

Yakero made his way away from us,leaving me from the new team,who's head is Luki. I guess they are much kinder than the first one.

"They mistakenly accused me of stealing,the truth is that I'm--"

"We will know the truth in the dungeon. You can't hide the truth,lady. Take her to the dungeon."

Luki audacious voice echoed.I was wrong with the thought that they are kind,because they are more scarier than the lion. But before they could even touch my skin, I felt myself veiny swayed by the wind and taken upward and I was like.. Shit.. I'm standing in the air. How could this even possible?

"Master Arrow,don't do this to us. Play somewhere else."

So this is not my doings.

Luki looks so stressed while looking up at where I am floating.

"Let me play with this insolent lady first, Luki. Or you can join us."

I think my whole system collapse when I heard an alluring voice just close to my ear.

"Who are you?" With a snap,a figure of a man wearing a black robe appeared,he has a fan on his hand,his other hand is on my waist. He's the one who's making this possible. He has powers? Does all of the people here does have?

I am not ready for this.

"That's rude lady. You don't know who am I? Then you really deserve a punishment. A very hard one."

Then he laugh,I can't see his face, because of the robe.

"Master,we aren't playing this kind of stuff. Please hand her to us."

"No!" The one Luki called Master answered.

"SANDALIIII! HOY! TEKA! IBABA MO AKO! SANDALIIII!!"

I don't know where to put my voice. I think I've left my soul,when we started moving in the air,very fast than I could imagine.

"Hoy!! Sandaliiii!" I'm really screwed. We are moving in counterclockwise direction, making my head aches. Sometimes, we will come across to a wall then he will suddenly let go of my waist,letting me fall but before I land off the floor,his bare hands are on my waist again.

I figured out that almost all the people that are here in the mansion or what are looking upon us,while Luki's team are gaving their best to follow us.

"Luki! Catch!" His voice echoed while he laugh and what he did makes me really shock.

"Sandaliiii!!!" My scream and his laugh mixed up when he suddenly push me hard,making me fall and on the floor is Luki's team who are eagerly waiting to catch me.

Don't make me fall on the floor.

Thankfully,Luki catch me beautifully.

"This is...fuck!" He hissed and let stand on my own.

My whole system are drained.

"Did you like the game? Oh come on..let's play more. This time, don't catch her Luki,I want to see her head being bang on the floor."

Fuck you!

I stared at him for a second. But I can't stand with it. I can't stand staring at that evil man.

His way of tormenting me is kinda hard.

He look at me devilishly and smile creepily. He fanned himself,and k found myself again in the air.

Damn,I'm freaking wearing a dress.

"Don't catch her Luki,okay! Let's see who she go--"

"Stop what you are doing Arrow. Play outside."

A baritone voice echoed in the whole area,and when I looked down,everyone is on their knees and bowing.

"Your Highness."

Looks like someone who has higher rank is in here.

"But, I want to play with her... She did a mistake,so I want to teach her a lesson,kuya."

Uh huh. So his brother is here.

I felt myself going down.

"All of you,stand up." Everyone oblige,and suddenly a man showed up on their front.

He screams power,no wonder they bowed and bent in one knees when they heard his voice. But who is he? Your highness? Kind of Royal family?

"Playing someone's life is not funny Arrow. Even she has did a mistake,her life is still important. She's a human, not a toy to play with."

I was touch by what he said. It felts like I've found my ally.

"You aways interfere with my business,kuya!"

Anger is visible in that evil man voice.

"You're up way too much already."

Answered by the man.

"You! We will play another time."

He's not done with me yet!

A strong wind came across and Arrow disappeared.

"To the dungeon." He commanded.

Okay. I thought I was already free. I was wrong.

He take a glance at me before marching away from us.

Those dangerous stares. One look and I know he's scary. I'm really screwed. Who's really my ally?

No one.

"Better pray for your life every second."