Malediction

Embedded in My Skin

I waved Tim goodbye as he was called to show up at the office an hour later. With me alone in the park, I obliged myself to find Chris. I had no idea where to start so I came back to where I lost him, I returned to Quiapo. Like everyday, lots of people gathered there for a number of reasons aside from godly devotion. It just took me one more ride from Luneta to the well-known church's area. Returning to that crowded place, my head bump began to sting. It reminded me how hard the apprentice swung the rusted frying pan. I was rather glad she hadn't smashed my head with it when she had the chance. My anxiety for Chris' safety wasn't as terrible as after I realized he was taken away. I just thought that maybe he was safe despite being in captivity. But, in all rationality and logical understanding, that wasn't safe at all.

The Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene, or Quiapo church, stands tall before me. I gazed at it like I was seeing it for the first time. Something felt familiar about looking into it, but my vision of the church was lower in my memory. It was as if I was a child then, glazing over the national landmark.

Was my family religious? Maybe. I can remember coming here with my small hands held by slender ones. It was warm and gentle. Those were the words I used to describe my mother to Andrea before, with no memories to make it true. Now, I know I was right back then.

My eyes roamed the streets along Quiapo Church, searching for one particular face that may be stalking me from afar. She can't resist taking the necklace away from me. Maybe I should just give it to her if she wanted it that bad. It was making my life difficult anyway. From our first encounter, I remember she needed it to make the Manggagaway disappear or contain her.

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"Who are you?"

"It doesn't matter who I am. I'm just a nobody." The unknown woman's voice was deep, reminiscent of an accent. "You took something from us. It will bring chaos and havoc to your life if you don't return it." She drew a step closer and held my hand from my unsupported arm, "Sa amin lamang magiging payapa ang aming Mangagaway. Give the necklace back."

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Yeah, I thought I was dreaming that time but feeling my head bump now, she is very real. That woman was also the most persistent person I met. If it wasn't for Chris, she would've been bothering Andrea too. I owe Chris that one.

I continued to move along the sidewalk filled with street vendors and consumers from different parts of the country, some foreigners were also wandering around. It was all different faces of various races, it confused me. I can see her and I can't at the same time, her face sometimes blends with other people that have a similar physique as hers.

I sat down by the pavement as exhaustion took over me. I could feel sweat trickling over my skin again with the shirt I borrowed from Tim already stuck on my skin. I sighed heavily. The afternoon heat was still evident. The perspiration of my shoulders that traveled from my neck seemed to be heavier… it was pressing me. Why would sweat press my skin?

I was mistaken. It wasn't sweat. It was fingers.

I felt it pull my necklace to become a tight wrap around my neck. I tried to pull against the force cutting my oxygen off but that anonymous person was stronger. I rolled through the sidewalk attempting to shake those unknown hands trying to k*ll me, but to no avail. I can see the apprentice standing before me with her hands on both of her sides, waiting for my demise. She was enjoying my pain, happy to see me getting choked by something that she wanted so badly.

"Too late." She mouthed.

As I struggled for air, I heard whispers of incantation in my ears. It was a loud weak voice overpowering the noise of the busy street. I wasn't familiar with the language it spoke. But the voice, that eerie tone creeping in my dreams was something I'll never forget. I was in the presence of Mangagaway, and I was sure she was cursing me.

This was a Malediction.

Aside from the hemp of the necklace strangling me. I felt something dug under the skin of my nape. It wasn't the Mangagaway's nails. It was the same peculiar necklace I've struggled to keep away from others. It connected its ropes inside my flesh. It was trying to force its way open without being invasive and messy. It was moving on its own accord, like a whole living organism. When the necklace completely became a part of me, the str*ngling stopped. The apprentice in my sight disappeared.

The street noise came back. People passing through became apparent to my now blurring vision. The pain disappeared. I felt my neck and the necklace. There were no impressions of the hemp it was made of that could've been indicative of what happened earlier. Yet the knot was nowhere to be found. I tried to tug the necklace slightly only to experience my muscles being pulled. The knot was in my muscles. There was no escaping this anymore.

_________

Andrea was anxious to see me later that day. I wasn't answering her calls nor did I reply to her texts. I was supposed to be home hours before but the time passes fast when you're being targeted to be cursed.

Andrea already had a lot on her plate and I never liked doing that to her, making her wait blindly, so I felt guilty. It was never right to make someone else worry. I went and bought her a bouquet of roses and some pizza just to ease her feelings of worry about me. My own supernatural issues with the Mangagaway wasn't her concern. I'm not truly sure if she'll believe me even if she knew. This was just too much to handle.

I opened the door to our apartment by the first hours of the evening. The first thing my eyes searched for was Andrea. There she was, hugging a pillow I used as she watched a movie on the screen. With the sound of my footsteps and rustling paper, she took a glance to where the noise came from. Upon seeing me, she smiled so happily, it was heartwarming. She stood up to have a better look at me and walked closer. Seeing the things that I brought, her eyes widened in surprise.

"Our anniversary just happened a while ago." She said to me, appreciating the thought. Her smile wasn't fading at all. " It doesn't have to be." I replied. I kissed her neck. After giving her the bouquet of roses, she whiffed a scent of the roses. "Thank you."

" But where have you been?" She asked in concern. I thought I totally eluded the question. Unfortunately, I didn't. "I dropped by Quiapo church to pray. I think we need that after what happened."

"You're experimenting with sacred activities again." She laughed. "Pray? You don't believe in anything that doesn't meet the eye. Especially spells, fortune telling and witches." She said, amused by what I said. "I do that?" I asked, looking into her bright eyes with all seriousness. She nodded. "You're a curious cat too." She commented. Damn, was that malediction a revenge of entities I may have disturbed before? I sighed.

Andrea pointed to the sofa. With my tired face, she knew I needed a breather. I slumped on it with what I felt like to be my dead weight. I just want to sleep for days. Andrea took the pizza boxes I left by the counter and placed them in front of me, on the center table. Upon opening the boxes, the aroma of pizza wafted on me, making me realize how I hadn't even eaten lunch. I was starving. I took two of them together and slapped the toppings to the center of my makeshift pizza sandwich. Andrea saw this and laughed. She placed a pitcher of water and cups in front of me. "I hate for you to choke." She said giggling.

I smiled. " I'm just hungry." I said with my mouth half full. She sat beside me, and took a bite of my pizza instead of taking her own. She liked how it was and did one herself. Halfway through it, she asked, "Do you want me to tell you about what happened a few days before with Bennie?"

"No. It's okay." I said. Sometimes, uncomfortable topics should be left when time is not ready for it. I want to see her smiles more today, more than ever. I don't want to torment her more by reliving memories she tried so hard to forget. Tim's side of the story was enough for me. That man never lies, so does Andrea. She just like to hide things and I'm not sure if it was considered lying too.

Andrea's phone vibrated against the wooden table. The name on the screen was a long awaited one to show up. It had been a while since she called.

It was Sandra. And there was something new with the governor's wife affair.