SOUL SNATCHERS

CHAPTER 5

Under a cloudless night sky, the celestial canvas dazzled with countless stars, while the moon gently sailed like a small boat on a tranquil sea of sparkling lights. Occasionally, a shooting star would blaze across the heavens, its brief descent leaving the Earth untouched. Nocturnal birds gracefully took flight, embarking on their evening hunt, and the high-pitched squeak of bats echoed, signaling the awakening of thousands of insects below.

Amidst the heavy night air, burdened with humidity and the stubborn warmth of thirty degrees Celsius, Agnes found herself seated on the exposed massive root of a Camachile tree, gazing at her phone. Tears had ceased to flow, and she blamed herself for expecting too much from Karl. Her head throbbed with pain, and she regretted joining her friends instead of staying with her niece and nephews in Bacolor. At just seventeen, she was a freshman college student at a local state university in Pampanga. Though her classmates admired her for being a consistent honor student with a beautiful face, she lacked the courage to participate in beauty pageants within her community or school.

Placing her hand on her right temple, she gently massaged it, hoping to alleviate the pain. Determined not to endure any more heartache, she vowed never to speak to Karl again. Her love for him had left her feeling pathetic and vulnerable.

The surroundings were enveloped in darkness, casting an eerie atmosphere. Agnes decided it was best to return to the car and continue their journey to La Paradiso Hotel, where they were to meet their friend, Rose, secretly. She rummaged through her bag and retrieved a pocket mirror to check her makeup with the aid from the light of her cell phone. Applying some powder delicately to her face using her handkerchief, she prepared to stand up from the root of the tree where she had been seated. Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed from the nearby woods, sending chills down her spine. The insects' sounds ceased, and an unsettling silence engulfed the grassy area. Agnes froze in place, her senses heightened as she listened intently to her surroundings.

Moments later, another scream, this time that of a woman, pierced the air. Fear gripped her, causing her knees to tremble. The sound of approaching footsteps from the trees intensified her anxiety.

Who's there?!" she nervously called out, quickening her pace as she walked briskly. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of something moving in the Cogon grass beside her. Her heart pounded wildly when three crows suddenly took flight right in front of her, causing her to lose her balance and tumble into a three-meter deep pit.

"Oh, no!" she screeched as her body rolled down, accompanied by dried leaves and twigs.

Agnes landed at the bottom of the pit, struggling to maintain consciousness. As she gasped for breath, she carefully checked herself for any signs of serious injuries, relieved to find that there were no major bruises or wounds. However, when she attempted to move her feet, a sharp pain shot through her right foot, and she realized that the bones had dislocated from the joint.

"Oh, Gosh," she sighed in dismay, pouting her lips in pain. Surveying her surroundings in the pitch darkness, she desperately searched for her cellphone, which she had been holding when she fell. Unfortunately, it seemed to have disappeared during the fall, and she couldn't locate it anywhere.

Panic setting in, Agnes knew she needed her phone urgently to contact Vanessa or Karl for help. "Help! I need help!" she shouted into the darkness, straining to listen for any response or signs of nearby help.

"Is there anyone here?! Please, I need help!" Her desperate cries echoed in the darkness, but all that met her ears were the distant roars of passing vehicles on the nearby highway, where her friends were resting. Agnes racked her brain, trying to figure out how she could find help in this desolate place. Then, her eyes brightened as she noticed her bag lying nearby-thankfully, it had remained with her throughout the fall.