The Last Guardian

Chapter_27: Thunderstruck!!

The cold night air sent shivers down Johnathan’s body. He had his sword in one hand and the flashlight in his other hand. Lisa was scared to death and she was shaking nervously-she was now regretting on her decision to tag along with them. It was getting darker by the minute and the starry sky was getting clouded. Far away in the distance they could hear thunder rolling- a storm was coming their way.

“Damn it! Why does the weather turn out like this every time?” cursed Johnathan.

The monster was circling above them and they could hear the sound of its wings flapping violently across the sky. Suddenly they heard rustling among the leaves ahead of them. The three of them shone their lights ahead in the general direction and they saw a gruesome sight. The detached torso was running across the bushes from one side to the other. The horror was unspeakable-the flashlights now clearly showed how gross and inhuman the sight truly was. There was clearly a broken spine and parts of intestines that were shaking so violently that it seemed that they would fall off any moment-it’s pale white feet ran at amazing speed! It was clearly trying to scare them and it was working.

Lisa wanted to shoot it but she somehow managed to keep her nerves steady.

“This ain’t gonna work- I will go after that torso and exorcise it- you guys keep an eye out for the flying thing- shoot, stab whatever-but distract it if it comes towards you! Remember- the Manananggal can only be killed if it's torso is exorcised and burned- so defend yourself and Johnny boy-believe!” said Billy.

“But how are you gonna do it?” asked Lisa.

“Pure and natural spices and the word of God!” he replied and took off after the torso.

Johnathan and Lisa stood close to each other looking out for the flying beast.

Both of them were moving in circles trying to keep as close to each other and shining their lights.

“Don’t worry I can handle it- this sword kills anything evil-“said Johnathan trying to console Lisa.

“I just wanna go home!” replied Lisa.

She was now standing behind Johnathan’s back and suddenly Johnathan heard the flapping of the wings grow louder. The creature flew from behind and with a loud scream grabbed Lisa’s arm and tried to take her away. Johnathan immediately reacted and using his sharp sword, he quickly sliced at one of it’s wings. Lisa began to scream on top of her lungs as she was being carried away almost 4 metres off ground, but as soon as Johnathan hurt its wings, the creature dropped Lisa to the ground and she fell with a thud on some rocks. The creature flew away screaming loudly. Johnathan ran towards Lisa- she was out cold and he put his sword down and tried to wake her up.

“Lisa! Lisa! C’mon- “he said shaking her arms.

Johnathan could see a small cut on her forehead and a drop of blood oozing out of the wound. He took out his handkerchief and dabbed on the wound. He felt terribly guilty- he had promised earlier that he would take care of her. He brushed her forehead softly and she slowly began to open her eyes.

“Oh! Thank God you’re okay-“he said almost hugging her.

Lisa saw Johnathan – he looked so worried.

“I’m fine – ah! My head- Where- where is that thing? My gun- where’s my gun-“ she said.

Again the pine tree above began to shake violently- the creature was resting on top and hissing loudly-

“Don’t worry- You stay down- It has chosen the wrong guy to mess with-“he said standing up and picking his word.

“C’mon you ugly piece of vile! C’mon- It’s me you want!” he challenged and taunted the monster.

Lisa looked at him- he seemed so brave and strong-like a soldier-no-like a knight- a brave and chivalrous knight!

Billy on the other hand had ran off too far after the torso-its lower disfigured part. The thing was right in front of him and he had chased it down for almost half a mile but it suddenly jumped with incredible agility and escaped into the woods. He stopped to take a breather.

“Oh! I’m too old for this crap!” he said to himself panting hard.

He shone his torch around and saw nothing but spooky darkness. The thunder was intensifying and the clouds above him began to roar. He looked at the dark night sky- it was different! The clouds were not normal- instead it seemed that a huge fog of black smog was flying across the sky creating thunder and lightning – Billy recognized what it was – it was the darkness-the ominous darkness itself manifesting itself as a cloud. Lightning struck across the sky and Billy whispered –

“Lord have mercy!”

Suddenly a splash of lightning hit the ground close to where Billy was standing and it seemed like a grenade had exploded- it knocked Billy right off his feet and he was thrown away by the shockwave. He collapsed to the ground-unconscious.

On the other side of the jungle, Johnathan was ready for a face-off with the beast- but the beast was cunning, it flew from behind and swooped away. Johnathan could hardly see anything and Lisa was too scared to look. And as soon as Johnathan turned his back, the thing flew at him from behind and this time it let its tongue out and tried to take Johnathan’s sword away. He was utterly grossed out by the touch of its slimy inhuman tongue licking his hand. He was annoyed of the fact that it was attacking him from behind his back. And then it flew at him once again- this time Johnathan calmed his mind and listened- the flapping of its wings- it was rhythmic- “one-two-and one-two-and-“ and as soon as the sound grew louder, he ducked. The monstrous tongue missed him and flew away. He waited a few seconds and again it came flying- “one-two-and one-two-and-“ Johnathan turned and swung his sword hard – he cut down its long tongue! Johnathan looked- the monster almost collapsed to the ground but managed to fly away somehow. But this time there was no screeching monstrous sound- it made a kind of wailing sound that almost felt like a woman crying in terrible agony. Johnathan stood on his feet and prepared for another attack but the monster didn’t try again. Lisa stood up and ran towards Johnathan-

“Did you kill it?” she asked holding his arm.

“No- but I think I hurt it badly enough-“ he said looking down at the ground.

The reptilian tongue was lying on the ground still quivering and shaking like a lizard’s tail- it was almost a meter long.

“Ew! What is that thing!” said Lisa in disgust.

Johnathan didn’t reply – he was feeling something- another dark and intense presence-he looked at the clouds above him- they didn’t look natural.

“We need to get out of here-“said Johnathan grabbing Lisa’s hand.

“But what about Billy?” she asked.

“He’ll be alright- Raven’s coming-“he replied.

He almost dragged Lisa away with him towards where they had parked their cars earlier. The winds were getting much stronger and the lightning was intensifying.

“What is this strange presence?” he thought to himself as he kept rushing out of the forest with Lisa by his side.