Heir of Hell

CHAPTER 3

As it was getting late, the ambience gradually darkened until it was entirely dark, but fortunately, the moonlight is bright and serves as a source of illumination for everything in here at the moment. Yet there was still no jeep, and the panic in my chest continuously grew more. I wanted to call Aunt Rose to somehow alleviate my fear and see if she might help me feel better right now, but there was no signal in this location.

Until suddenly I spotted an old guy approaching me, carrying what appeared to be firewood. "What are you doing here?" he wondered aloud, concerned. "I'm waiting for a ride to Sitio Encanto, but no one has shown up so far!" I explained, scared. "You shouldn't be here, especially at night," he sighed, adding, "This place is dangerous!" "I know, but there's nothing I can do but to just wait because I don't have anyone to ask for help!" I explained again, my eyes welling up with tears. "Come with me if you want to at least spend the night at my place," the elderly man urged. But I just stared and hesitated, knowing how difficult it was to trust in a place like this. "I understand it's difficult to trust, but don't worry; I'm not a bad person, and I'm willing to help you," he added as he explained. I'm not sure, but I'm quite convinced this is the better option. After everything I've been through, it's scary and strange to trust, but I don't want to sleep in this dreadful station. Which means there will almost certainly be many more horrific occurrences, something I will witness. Thus, despite my desire, I accepted his offer and went to his place with him, and to spend the night there, for now.

I joined him, and we strolled through the dark woods, yet with moonlight shining brightly enough, that we didn't have far too much difficulty walking. Until we came to a halt, unveiling a grander and more magnificent mansion with a vast garden in front of me. I wondered bluntly, "Do you live here?"

But he didn't respond, and we just kept walking beyond their gate. I was stunned by what I saw. When we walked in, he unloaded his firewood and an old lady received us. She was dressed in an expensive-looking, lovely, but out-of-style gown. "Tope, who is that with you?" the old lady inquired of the old man who had brought me here, and it was only now that I discovered his name was Tope. The old man just only smiled at me, perhaps because I hadn't told him my name yet. "Ah, my name is Luke! I was waiting for a ride at the station earlier, but no one came until the night caught up with me there," I stated, smiling. "That's why I thought I'd just take him with me and spend the night here because it's unsafe outdoors," Tope interrupted as I spoke to the old lady.

And then she began to introduce herself by elegantly stating, "Just call me Doña Diana!" She added, smiling, "And, call him Don Tope! By the way, let's come inside because the food I prepared might be cold!" And indeed the majestic interior of their mansion opened up to me as we entered. I've never seen something like this before, so I'm extremely amazed as of the moment.

They walked me into their dining room table, which was enormous and lengthy as well as appeared to be constructed of gold. So is the gigantic chandelier, which twinkles like an enchanting crystal when the light strikes it. And we sat down as we were given so much delicious food in front of us presently, that I really can't believe it was happening. And then, in the distance, a beautiful teenage girl walked who, with her attire to her posture, appeared to be either a princess, and sat opposite from me. Then she just sat down and began eating, as if she couldn't see the two adults, both of whom I think to be her parents. "Just ignore her, because she's that not very chatty," Don Tope remarked, smiling as he caught my gaze focused on the girl eating in front of me.

Yet, for reasons I don't know, she looked unhappy and worn. Nevertheless, it does seem impossible that they are treating her like a maid in this huge mansion, since her clothing is lovely and well-kept, and her body appears to be in fine shape. "Why haven't you started eating yet?" the old woman Doña Diana questioned me, smiling. "When it gets cold, it won't be delicious anymore," she added.

My focus has shifted to the dish in front of me, which was absolutely exquisite. But then I recalled something Mom used to remark about, when she was still alive, and we were still living in the province where I will be heading. That I must neither take or eat any food offered to me by a stranger, especially in places such as this. Because she claimed that once I take it, I would be unable to resist anymore, however once I eat it, I will never leave the place where I did eat. I'm not sure if all of Mom's commands are real, yet they usually are. So perhaps, I should just do what she says. For, after everything I've seen and experienced, it's meaningless to disbelieve superstitions and supernatural events that many people say cannot really happen in real life.

"Oh, sorry but I'm still full, from what I ate earlier," I reasoned, smiling. While I sensed her dismay, something I assumed was owing to what I just had said. "It does seem you don't like the foods served in front of you," Don Tope stated. "If you want, we can ask our maid to cook something you like, just let us know!" I simply just smiled as he said it politely. "I'm sorry, but I'm still really full," I explained while smiling. "All I want to do right now is go to sleep because I'm really tired." They both just smiled at me, and one of them began to speak shortly after. "If that's what you want!" Don Tope responded to me, "but don't be hesitant about asking for food when you get hungry!" "Thena, take Luke to our guest room, so he can now take some rest," he said to the girl who was dining with us.

Till, all of a sudden, a girl named Thena stood up and began walking, but she was emotionless. Strange, but I didn't hesitate to follow her. Yet their house was really breathtaking, and I was totally stunned. Each wall was constructed of pearl marble, and the staircase we journeyed looked like gold with diamonds pinned to it. Thena, but on the other hand, kept walking without saying anything. Therefore I made the first move in order just for us to have a chat. "So Thena is your name. It's lovely!" I said. "By the way, I'm Luke," as I continued. But she doesn't actually say anything and doesn't convey any emotion. Until we stopped at the front of a silvery door, whom she unsealed. Then, suddenly she turned around and walked away. Those unusual actions of her, confused and disturbed me.

I'm not sure what's wrong with her, but her actions are out of the ordinary, and she doesn't speak either. But then I still went into the room where she left me, thinking it would be the one Don Tope said. It's bigger on the inside than I imagined, with its own CR, living room, and library. The room was pleasant and appealing, as if anyone who entered here would never want to leave. Yet I'm exhausted and starving, though I'm not sure if I made the right decision not to eat earlier. Until I suddenly felt sleepy, but just as I was going to lie down to sleep, I was shocked awake by loud and repetitive banging on the door. Then panic and trembling engulfed my entire body once again, as though I had no idea what to do at the moment.

Although I wasn't planning on opening that door until I heard a woman's voice from beyond it. It said, "It's me, Thena! Please" in a frightened tone. So I quickly got out of bed and unlocked the door, till Thena, who was clearly terrified and anxious, opened up to me. "What's the matter? Did something happen?" I questioned, concerned. "You must leave right now!" I was so taken aback by what she said that I couldn't speak because I wasn't sure if something unusual was about to happen again. "But, why?" I wondered, and puzzled. Yet she didn't respond, instead taking a step back and just slowly turning around. "You have to believe and trust me, if you don't want to be lost forever," she remarked suddenly, sobbing and visibly weary, before eventually leaving. I seemed to have no notion what else to do because I was so confused by what was going on. But this is not the time to be pessimistic and disregard the near impossible occurrences.

So I grabbed all my belongings and rushed from the room. I moved gently out of the house, watching each and every of my steps in case anyone saw me go. I knew I wasn't doing the right thing whenever I left without ever even informing them or thanking them for their aid. But I'm also aware that they may refuse to let me go or that they will be upset when they discover what I am doing. I'm certainly aware that something must be wrong in this mansion, owing to Thena's unusual behaviour, something I've observed since the very first time I saw her. So I just kept wandering till I stumbled upon another table loaded with delicious foods again. I was drawn to them, but I knew I should really not eat them. And eventually I reached the main door, which had not been locked, so I easily opened it and was able to escape safely.

I didn't look back and just kept walking through the dense forest till I passed through. I knew no one was after me, yet I was still ramping up my walk to the point where I was almost sprinting. But as I passed through the woods, I began to notice that the sun had risen, which confused me since I had believed it was still dark and night when I was there at the mansion.

Then I breathed deeply, and when I glanced at my watch, I could see it was 10:00 a.m., despite the reality that I had only been on the inside of the mansion for a short time. Which made me shocked and perplexed even more. Until a woman approached me from a distance, carrying baggage and asking, "Are you okay?" in a worried tone. But I couldn't say anything because of what was going through, so I just smiled and nodded at her.

And again, with a smile, she asked, "Are you heading to Landeria Station as well?" I simply smiled and nodded again. "Oh, me too!" she said, "come on, let's go there together." I don't even know what I'm doing, but I just walked quietly with her back to the Station, uncertain if I'd ever be able to trust again after everything that had happened to me. I'm also perplexed as to why I've been linked to unusual incidents since I was a child. And then, I just sat down on the iron chair again till we came, and we still didn't even speak with each other at the moment, yet I noticed she's throwing me a lateral gaze. Suddenly, she smirked as she glanced at me and continued calmly, "You know, it's been a long time since I left this place, which is now fairly old."

"Do you live here? And, are you a ghost, or what?" was my surprised response as I diverted my eyes to her. "No, I used to live in Sitio Encanto, but now I live in Manila, and I'm just going to see my parents," she explained, laughing slightly. "Do you really believe in ghosts?" she added. I answered calmly, "Before I'm not, but I don't know now," until I noticed that she stated Sitio Encanto. "Oh, I'll be at Sitio Encanto as well!" ", I declared. "It's great then, and I've got someone with me," she answered, smiling. But all I did was smile back until she added, "Did you just arrive too?" I don't know if I'm going to answer due to everything happened which making me so unconscious and confused about, but I still did "Actually, I arrived here yesterday but no jeep showed, so it was fortunate that someone helped me and welcomed me to their mansion, even though I didn't even thank them, and just left," I explained softly. "Mansion? Where? There is no mansion here in Landeria!" she exclaimed, surprised. "Yes, there is! It's in the woods, and the people there are nice, but I'm not sure why everything seems strange, so I just left like the girl there advised," I replied. But the woman I was speaking with, widened her eyes and was apparently stunned by what I said. "What?!" she exclaimed, "but that mansion has been closed for a long time," she added, clearly terrified. "Oh?" I was so surprised yet confused as well. "Since the year 2000, when thieves murdered the residents and set fire to everything!" she said, her voice trembling, as I was shocked and unsure to what to do. "It's a good thing you managed to get out," she said, staring at me, "Because I heard some stories about that mansion from folks, who say that no one can get out of there and just be stuck forever!" She added in a worried tone, "I never thought that those urban legends are real!"

I wasn't sure what to do or if I could believe all she said. So I didn't just say anything; Just shifted my eyes away from her and stared intently at the ground. Until later, the jeep I had been waiting for since yesterday, has finally come. But then, I was still astonished when we boarded and couldn't understand what had just occurred.

There really seem to be a lot of things I do not even fully comprehend, but somehow the fact that everything is actually occurring to me is unusual. Although dreaming that it would all be over and where I would arrive safely to Sitio Encanto, even I felt terrified and terribly weary. And I'm not even sure where to begin or even how I'll convey the whole of my thoughts. Still powerless, afraid, nor prepared, yet I knew I was ready when something came anew afterwards that had all transpired.