Lost In Hinterland

Chapter 2 : His Prowess

"Nasa'n na sila?"

Maging ang sariling tinig ni Farrah ay tila tatakasan siya, sa hina ng paghinga niya ng mga salita. Habang binabagtas ang masukal na kagubatan, hindi niya maikulong ang agam-agam sa loob ng kanyang isipan.

Sa kapaligirang binabalot ng nakakikilabot na katahimikan, dinig na dinig ang tunog ng mga nababaling sanga at tuyong dahon na natatapakan niya.

She turned her head all around, but she have seen nothing, aside from the shadows of towering trees that are indeed frightening. It gave her a strange sensation, as if she was surrounded by vague silhouette of countless giants.

"Kailangan ko silang mahanap," habang hinahabol ang sariling hininga, pinilit niyang kumaripas, umaasang sa ilang distansyang pagitan ay mamamataan niya ang mga kaibigan. "Guys?!"

Ubo.

Sa tindi ng pinagtagping nakasusulasok na usok, at makapal na hamog, hindi lamang siya nahihirapang makita nang maaliwalas ang daan, bagkus ay dahan-dahan din siya nitong sinasakal.

If this extant coming off unveils reality: being mislaid in the midst of this damn caliginous woods, apart from my dad and friends-I'd rather choose to die, she thought.

"TULOOOOONG!" Farrah heard a howl drenching with agony and torment, stone's throw away from where she was. She didn't waste any single second, and ran immediately towards the voice.

Her heart fallen from where it was attached, seeing the man who ought to protect her, ploddingly losing his own life, while she can't even move her own feet. Haru's being choked by an unknown guy. Pakiramdam niya'y siya ang marahang kinikitilan ng buhay habang pinagmamasdan ang binata.

"I must do something," she whispered. "I couldn't let him suffer," subalit nang subukan niyang humakbang, nagulat na lamang siya nang dali-daling pumulupot sa kanyang binti ang matatalim na baging mula sa kung saan. Sa tuwing pinipilit niyang kumilos nang kahit bahagya, higit lamang itong bumabaon sa kanyang kalamnan.

"F-Far...rah," nagdurusang saad ni Haru, habang nakabaon sa leeg nito ang mga matutulis na kuko ng estranghero. Hindi magawang titigan ni Farrah habang mala-ilog na dumadaloy ang mga dugo mula sa leeg ng binata. "Tumakbo k-ka na..."

A tear suddenly flowed through her cheek. She clenched her fists and cleared her throat.

"Get your f*****g hands off him!" pinuwersa niyang ihakbang ang kanyang mga paa at iligtas si Haru, upang giyagisin ang mga nakalingkis na baging, ngunit kasabay din nito ang malubhang pagkasugat na hindi na niya ininda pa. "Haruuuuu!" batid niyang higit na pighati ang dulot sa kanya, kung hahayaan niya lamang malagutan ng hininga ang lalaki, nang wala man lang siyang ginawang paraan upang ito'y protektahan.

HINDI KO SIYA HAHAYAANG MAMATAY... she bravely uttered in her mind.

Every thing went somber, her sight became obscure. Even the remaining hope she had suddenly melted, and she found herself kneeling down the ground, voiceless. Ni hindi niya alam kung ano ang kanyang magiging reaksiyon. Wala na siyang maramdaman.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!?"

Farrah shrieked, when that damn demon unmercifully beheaded Haru with its own hands. His blood showered throughout the spot where they are standing. No spot that's left neat.

Asamin man ni Farrah na lapitan siya, subalit hindi niya magawang igalaw ang kanyang sariling paa-natulala.

Para siyang sinasaksak nang paulit-ulit, habang tinititigan ang pag-agos ng dugo mula sa namumutlang katawan ni Haru.

"Farrah?!" she gasp woefully after hearing Sean's voice that eventually awakened her. "Okay ka lang ba?"

Thank God that's just a dream, a nightmare, rather. Hindi ko yata kakayanin kung mawala ang isa sa kanila... lalo na si Haru, she was relieved.

Malamig na simoy ng hangin ang yumayakap sa buo niyang katawan.

A-anong lugar 'to? she wondered.

Decayed human bones. Rotten skulls. Horn of horrible creatures. These are all vivid elucidation of how terrifyingly eccentric this place is. Every corner of it made Farrah quiver in ghast.

Binihag at iginapos sila ng mga talipandas na 'yon sa loob ng lumang silid na ito.

Pero... Bakit naman nila iyon ginawa? Anong tunay na pakay nila sa'min? nagsimulang mag-isip si Farrah.

"Ugh!" bahagya niyang minasahe ang sariling sentido, dahil sa kirot na nararamdaman niya mula rito, tila umiikot pa rin ang lahat ng mga nakapaligid sa kanya.

But regardless of the dizziness she's feeling, Farrah still managed to seek Haru with her eyes, but she haven't seen even his shadow. Wala rin iyong iba nilang kasamahan. "Nasa'n sila Chloe?" she asked them, but they only served a glance at me. "Reese, Davin?" her heart started pounding. "At si... Haru?"

Their silence conveys incognizance. Malamang, kung alam nila kung nasaan ang iba'y tinunton na rin nila ang mga iyon. But they didn't, tugon niya sa kanyang sarili.

"Samahan niyo ko, hahanapin natin sila!" due to her urge to find them, she stumbled down the floor, hindi man lang niya napansin ang kakaibang lubid na nakakabit sa kamay at paanan nila. Para bang babaon na ito sa kanyang kalamnan, dahil sa higpit ng pagkakakabit nito.

"Dahan-dahan, Farrah," with all concerns, Phoebe told her. Maging ang kaibiga'y nakagapos din.

Where the hell we exactly are? she asked.

"Finally!" AVERY exclaimed as he managed to get rid off that rope. "Don't be impulsive, guys," he calmly said, while wiping off the dust on his body. "As of now, all we need is to be wise at all aspect."

"Dammit!" JAYDEN hurled that thing down after he took it off. "Ako na riyan, Sean," tugon nito at dali-dali niyang tinulungan ang kaibigan.

Avery helped Phoebe, while Farrah removed it all by herself, after she watched what the guys did on theirs.

"Are we all fine?" Mahinahong saad ni Avery sa kanilang lahat, habang nililingon sila isa-isa. I mean, he's undeniably impressive, how can he still be composed, even amidst the uncertainty like this one? He's indeed a signet of prudence, namamanghang tugon ni Farrah sa kanyang sarili.

But, before she forget, may mga kaibigan pa silang kailangang iligtas.

Their feet began stepping towards the doorway, in spite of the fact that they have no clue on what they might witness outside this horrifying room. But PHOEBE's craned arm stopped them and made them stand still.

"T-Trov...esians," she almost whispered in a cold voice.

Nagtataka tumitig si Farrah sa kaniya. Hindi nito mawari kung anong tinutukoy niya. Ano raw?

TROVESIANS?

AVERY heaved a sigh, he seems moved by what Phoebe has said. "So, they are really existing?" he stated. Both of them were catching their breaths.

"Mga mumu ba sila?" natatakot na tanong ni Sean, namumutla.

"They're worse," it is strange to hear PHOEBE getting off with a deep whole voice. Avery and her were dead serious. "They're monsters!" she uttered, while shaking.

Kahit ilang ulit pa nilang ilarawan ang nasasaksihan nila, hindi ito lubusang mauunawaan ni FARRAH kung hindi niya ito tuwirang masisilayan. Ano ba talaga iyong halimaw na namumutawi sa mga bibig nila?! she wondered.

"DU-MASHIRAAA-DU-LEDOVIYAAA..."

Hindi pa man niya nakikita ang gayak nila, nauna nang tumindig ang balahibo sa buo niyang katawan, nang kanyang marinig ang ritmo ng nakakikilabot na salmo.

"RE-HAGAMIII-LE-NODOSHIRAAAA..."

Napalunok na lamang siya nang tuluyan niyang mamataan ang pinanggagalingan ng pinagbuklod na mga himig. Tama! Sila 'yong nakita ko bago ako mawalan ng malay. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali, Farrah was sure about it.

SEAN covered his mouth, the moment he saw circle of individuals wearing violet dresses. "F-Farrah!" his voice was fraughted with dread. They are all sweating and can't even open their lips to speak.

"H-HOLY s**t!" JAYDEN cussed in astound. "We badly need to look for them, bago pa sila mahuli ng mga halimaw na 'yan!" kakaripas na sana siya ng takbo, subalit mabilis siyang napigilan ni Avery.

Inis siyang isinandal ni Avery sa pader at kinuwelyuhan. "Hindi ka ba talaga nag-iisip, Jayden?!" both of their eyes were bloodshot. Farrah could sense that both of them have their own stuffs in mind, that contradicts each other. "Hindi mo pa sila nahahanap, sigurado akong mas mauuna ka pang bumagsak sa lupa. Papatayin ka ng mga 'yon!"

Jayden pushed the other guy away, gnashing. "Huwag kang magsasalita na parang naiintindihan mo 'yong nararamdaman ko, ha!" he pointed him.

"Calm your d**k, Jayden!" Avery yelled. "Hindi naman mamamatay 'yong girlfriend mo!?"

Wasn't able to control his temper, Jayden clenched his fist. "Gago ka pala, eh!" he rapidly punched Avery's face, that made the side of his lips bleed.

"Stop it!" FARRAH pulled Jayden's shirt, away from the guy. "Does it made both of your jerks better?" she shouted. "Hindi 'di ba?!"

Hindi niya maunawaan kung bakit imbes na mag-isip ng paraan upang makatakas sa impyernong 'to, higit pa nilang pinagtuunan ng pansin ang pagtatalo. Her whole mind was f****d up, not just because of this damn hell, but also due to their foolishness.

"Kasalanan mo 'to, Jayden!" nakayuko, ngunit malinaw na sigaw ni Sean. Ito ang unang pagkakataon na masasaksihan niya itong umakto nang ganito. "Kung nakinig lang sana kayo kay Farrah, hindi sana tayo..." hindi na nito nawakasan ang sinasabi, sapagkat matulin na sumugod ang isa nilang kaibigan patungo sa kanyang direksyon.

"Sige, subukan mong saktan din si Sean!" FARRAH did nothing but gave Jayden a perilous glare, dahilan upang ito'y lumingon. "Ako mismo ang makakaharap mo," she uttered placidly.

"Bakit ka nagagalit?" sarkastikong tanong ni Sean. "Totoo naman, ah? Gusto niyo kasing kayo palagi ang masunod. But, does it make you cooler?" dagdag pa nito.

"Enough, Sean," She said in low tone, calmer.

"Sowwii," he pouted and went beside her.

Kumagat muli ang katahimikan sa puwesto nila. "Look!" Phoebe suddenly said. Gaya ng tinuran ng kaibigan, muli nilang sinilip ang mga kakaibang taong iyon. "Pansinin niyo iyong mga kataka-takang kilos nila," Phoebe's words also made her wonder.

Bakit sila nakapabilog?! Kulto ba sila?! At tsaka... nababahalang tanong ni Farrah.

ANONG MISTERYO ANG MAYROON SA LUGAR NA 'TO?!

"I couldn't explain the wholeness of their culture in this kind of place and time." Seryosong tugon ni Avery. "But, that thing at the center of them is an ancient coffin," he added. "Pero hindi iyan basta-bastang ataul."

It means, what they worship is just a coffin?! pagkabigla ni Farrah.

No, like what he said, I must not belittle it. It's not a typical one. Sigurado ako na may kababalaghan pa hinggil diyan. After all, hindi ko alam kung ano ang nananahan sa loob n'on, she thought.

"Huh?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Phoebe. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Hindi iyan normal na ataul lamang, kasi riyan nakabilanggo ang diyos na sinasamba nilang lahat," he explained. "Based on what I've red about this last time, their god was imprisoned by someone I don't exactly know. And the only way to freed him, is to shed countless, but enough liters of blood above the coffin, and threw a human body inside it."

Tila nabingi siya sa mga binigkas na salita ni Avery.

"Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi sa'min iyong mga tungkol sa kanila?" Jayden asked. As if he has a plan to go here, if ever he had already known these facts before.

"I thought they're just a fruit of author's creative imagination, just a fantasy. Akala ko fictionalized 'yong book about trovesians, so what's the sense of spreading it?" he stated. "But... I was wrong about it."

"Oh, my God!" Phoebe touched her chest, while focusing on what they called 'Trovesians'.

FARRAH hold her breath, as she watch them slowly taking off their hoods. How do they exactly look like? What's behind those veils? Are they really terrifying, like how they describe them? her mind wondered.

Umurong ang kanyang dila nang masagot ng mga nasasaksihan ang lahat ng katanungang bumabagabag sa kanyang isipan.

Black dagger-like fingernails, that turned Haru into a lifeless corpse in her worst nightmare.

A single but enourmous eye at the top-middle of their faces, and it seems like they're able to see every corner of their sight.

And set of trenchant teeth that homes inside their wide mouth.

Truly, those creatures aren't humans. They're surely menacing monsters, waiting for a man to be devoured.

May malamig na kung ano ang dumaloy mula paa hanggang sa ulo niya.

So, those are TROVESIANS, she thought.

"Narinig yata nila tayo!" Phoebe cracked the tranquility that made Farrah's heart pound even harder. "Patay!"

"Ano na'ng gagawin natin?!" natatarantang tanong ni Sean, he began being biting his nails. "Mamamatay na ba tayo?!"

"Think of something, guys," Farrah tried to make the atmosphere lighter. "Breathe in, breathe out..." kahit papaano'y kumalma ang mga kasamahan niya.

Before she came up with another words to say, she had received those monsters' spine-chilling frowns. Those grins on their faces speak a lot about death.

"Here!" Avery prompted them to follow his directions. "Make your moves faster than usual, bago pa nila tayo mahuli!" batid niyang maging ang kaibiga'y kinakabahan sa maaari nilang kalagyan, subalit nananatili pa rin itong matatag. So, I will, too, she told herself.

"Phoebe," tinabihan niya ito sa pagtakbo. "Sean, okay ka lang ba?" she asked him, but he can't afford to utter anything, he just gave her an anxious nod. Pinilit niyang lumingon sa likuran nila, upang silipin kung patuloy pa rin ba silang sinusundan. And she noticed how far they got from all of those trovesians.

"Nakalayo na tayo," Jayden said, while catching his breath. "But we must keep on going, para mahanap na natin sila."

Oh, God! I don't know where the hell we currently are. Guide us, please? she said in distress.

"UGH!" Sean howled, as he stumble because of an unnoticed rock on the way. "AAAAAACCKKK!" Farrah was shocked, after she saw a deep wound on his knees. It keeps shedding blood.

"Seaaaan!" malayo-layo na ang distansyang natakbo nila ni Phoebe, subalit hindi niya kayang tiisin na magpatuloy nang wala ang isa sa kanila, kaya mabilis siyang bumalik sa puwesto ng kaibigan. Mula sa pagkakatitig sa kanyang mga mata, lumingon sa likod si Sean at napansin ang papalapit nang papalapit na mga trovesians.

"Just leave me here, Farrah!" pakiusap nito. "Hanapin niyo na silang lahat at umalis na kayo rito!" tears started flowing through his cheeks, both in pain and melancholy. "Please?"

She wiped his tears with the back of her hand. "If gripping death is our fate, let's face it together then!" she tried to smile, hoping that it'll somehow ease his pain, even for a little. "We won't leave you!"

"Padaan!" her body suddenly moved, as Jayden spoke a word. "Who told you that we'll just dump you here? you, little brat!" maging si SEAN ay nabigla nang buhatin siya nito mula sa pagkakadapa.

Farrah didn't noticed how she eventually formed a smile, seeing Jayden like this. "Thank you, Jayden!" her melting heart genuinely voiced out for her.

"Nagkabangayan tayo kanina't hindi nagkasundo," he answered, while panting. "But it doesn't mean na hindi ko na kayo kaibigan," his aura is still numb as he always is. But it is fine, they loved and accepted him for being a damn stone-hearted man, even while they're still young.

They ran as far as they can, regardless of where the path they have chosen might lead them. Farrah could barely feel the pain all throughout her body, and her chest's getting tighter.

"Malapit na sila!" Phoebe yelled out.

"Keep running, guys!" tugon niya naman habang pinupunasan ang tumatagaktak na pawis sa kanyang noo. "Mahahanap din natin sil..."

Tila binuhusan siya ng malamig na tubig, nang matanaw sa 'di kalayuan sa kanilang harapan ang panibagong kumpol ng mga halimaw na iyon. Hindi ba talaga nila kami tatantanan? o hindi naman kaya-kami talaga ang kailangan nila, she worriedly said.

"Dito tayo sa gilid dumaan," matulin silang lumiko, gaya ng binigkas ni Avery. Sa kabila ng pagkapagal nang dahil sa walang tigil na pagkaripas ng takbo, pinili nilang hindi magpahinga, sapagkat maaaring kamatayan ang kahantungan nila sa oras na sila'y mahuli.

"Kaya mo pa ba, Jayden?" pabulong na tanong ni Sean sa kanya. Naaawa ito sa binatang may tangan sa kanya simula kanina, ngunit wala naman siyang magagawa.

"Huwag mo 'kong intindihin," Jayden briefly replied, then thrown him a little smile. "Kaya ko ang sarili ko."

"Oh, crap!" Avery exclaimed as he notice another countless troviseans approaching ahead of them. They tried to step backwards, but they have nowhere to go now, for they're coming near, too.

"Bloody hell!" Jayden firmly uttered, before settling Sean down the ground.

Oh, God! Saan na kami pupunta ngayon? Each our side has a lot of them. We're now moveless, trapped, she thought.

Their hearts throbbed, when a violet-colored viper slithered near them. It stopped right in front of them.

"MAMAAAA!" sigaw ni Sean, nang biglang nagpalit ng anyo iyong ahas at naging isang babaeng trovesian. Seriously?

"Ahihihihihi!" THE WOMAN cackled weirdly. Naglakad ito palapit sa kanilang kinatatayuan, at nakakikilabot na tiningnan si Jayden. "Isn't it fun playing with us, handsome guy?" she whispered on his ear, then sniffed his neck. "Ugh! I missed the appealing scent of men," she caressed his shoulders.

FARRAH badly want to slap that woman, why does she keeps on harassing him? annoyed, she uttered to herself.

"Put your hands off me!" matikas na saad ng binata, ngunit tinawanan lamang ito. "Huwag mong subukang gawin 'yan sa harap ni Chloe."

"Who's that Chloe?" the weird woman chuckled and withdrew herself. "Okay, fine. Eh, ikaw kaya?" mabilis itong lumipat sa kinasasadlakan ni Sean. Agad namutla at tumulo ang pawis ng kanyang kaibigan. Farrah keeps gnashing her teeth, still trying to make herself composed. "Sariwa, hmmm. I badly want your scent, too," the weirdo said seductively, that made Sean uncomfortable.

She's done keeping herself calm, after that woman committed something she won't forgive, and it is disrepecting her friends.

As soon as she grabbed its hair, she woefully pulled that damn out of its head and hurled the woman away from them, with a strength that she couldn't even explain.

THE LADY flew rapidly towards the direction where Farrah thrown her, but she managed to kick on a tree and bounced back.

"Beatrix," she was interrupted by the voice of a slightly enormous trovisean in the middle of them. She turned quiet beside him.

"Paumanhin, Tyler!" she apologized, then sighed.

So, her name is Beatrix, Farrah thought.

The one named 'TYLER' lifted his right hand, obviously giving a sign to someone on their corps. "Hailey," he said calmly.

Another trovesian pointed a hand towards them. "AAAAHHHHHHH!" they all cried out in anguish, as the vines from nowhere wrapped around their arms, tight. At mas tumindi pa ang sakit nang dahan-dahan itong ibinaon n'ong babae, sa pamamagitan ng pagkuyom nito ng kanyang palad. Nagsimulang dumaloy ang dugo mula rito.

"Gustuhin niyo man o hindi. Wala na kayong ibang mapupuntahan," his voice was unruffled, but still possess immense power. "Kahit ilang beses niyo pang tangkaing tumakbo, hindi niyo magagawang makatakas sa kamatayan niyo."

They swallowed, when a dark smoke came off his mouth, and it goes inside their eyes, and made them lose their sights. They could see nothing now, but a pure murk.

"Magpahinga muna kayo, mga mahihinang nilalang." Tyler chuckled obnoxiously. "Sapagkat nalalapit na namin kayong ialay sa aming minamahal na panginoon."

Then, Farrah suddenly faced the ground, after being struck in her head.