Towards the Farthest Side: A Collection Of Sci-Fi Short Stories And Novelettes

"Abomination Part 4"

New Jacinto was a sleepy suburb; made up of asphalt roads that winds around and hugs the forest hills where the town is situated, some dusty dirt off-roads leads into and up the forest hills where some pockets of dwellings are also present, houses dotted the sides of these roads with their lots surrounded by brick-walls and some with ornate wrought iron fences. But what New Jacinto differs from Jennifer's town of Leoranda, is that it is greener; forests devour every inch of empty piece of land, and the town center contains some diners and convenient stores.

If I did decide to make a home, I would really choose this town.

I arrived at New Jacinto before dawn and people are just opening their shops and some are having coffee at their front lots. I didn't waste any time and asked around if they knew where Philip Terona lived.

Some folks were uncooperative and dismissive, telling me to stop snooping around, but there are some people who pointed me to some individuals who might know the Teronas. Many of the mentioned individuals though knew Philip Terona but had no idea what happened to him as they failed to see him around town.

I was starting to lose hope until I came across an old woman who told me that she knew the Teronas and that the Terona's are still living in Loren's Manor. The old woman instructed me that I need to trek on the western off-road of the town and it would take me to the Manor. It's the only house in that area according to the old woman, so it is hard to miss it.

Loren's Manor. How sweet of Philip to name the place after his deceased wife.

I followed the directions that the old woman provided me and it took me half an hour of trekking the forest while enjoying the memories flashing on my mind's eye as I walk along the dirt road. The forest is calming and the scent so familiar. The whole experience felt more of a nostalgia than recovering from a temporary memory loss.

I arrived at the Manor, and I was not expecting that the place would be this huge; a mansion with paint the color of ivory and it's roof made of green bricks. The lot was spacious surrounded by wrought iron fences painted in russets. Despite the look of grandeur the place however looked deserted.

I hesitated and checked first if the metal gate was open, and I was not disappointed to know that it was. I cautiously walked across the grassy lot hoping that in the past I didn't own a dog and feared that it would no longer recognize me, but there was none.

When I reached the front door, I rang the doorbell located on the side of the doorknob. No one answered.

Maybe Phil's not around. He could be at work.

I tried to ring the doorbell again and still no one is answering the door. I pressed my ears against the door and there was no sound of any movement inside. I started worrying.

Maybe Phil no longer lives here. Maybe he ditched the place and changed address.

My eyes wander at the sorroundings; the lot looks unkept and abandoned, the grass looks untrimmed and dried fallen leaves scattered all over the place.

I've been gone for ten years, maybe no one had been keeping the place in order. Where is Phil anyway?

Then I realized, if Phil is still alive maybe he is 49 or 50 years old already.

How will he react if he saw me? Will he recognize his dead wife?

The thought made me hesitant to continue seeing him, but I shook my head.

I need to see him first, then I'll decide what to do afterwards.

A few moments later I heard movements from inside the house and the door slowly opened, and felt my heart skipped a beat.

Phil. My Phil.

But it wasn't him.

"Hello there," greeted a woman who looked at me with surprise curiosity. She seems to be in her early 40's, elegantly looking in her brunette hair. "Can I help you?" she politely asked.

"Umm- sorry the gate was open so I kind of trespassed," I said stuttering. The woman smiled, but I felt that she was edging me to clarify myself further.

"I wonder if this is Loren's Manor?" I asked feeling a little embarrassed. The woman nodded, still not breaking eye contact.

"Is Philip Terona still lives here?" I inquired, this time a little anxious to know.

Please say yes. Please.

The woman eyed me from head to toe. "Yes. And may I know who might be looking?" the woman asked, her brows raised in smug curiosity.

"Some friend from Leoranda." I said sounding unsure.

The woman looked at me suspiciously.

"Oh, my husband didn't mention any friends in Leoranda," the woman said, her face assumed a stoic expression.