Tales From Babalangion

The Phantom

An interesting thing this world is. We live in a world where things can be embraced and shamed at the same time. Sinful activity is a good example. Some would claim your damned for something like a OnlyFans account. But at the same time, a large community praises you. But some people can't seem to understand the concept what's fine to one, is blasphemy to another.

The Phantom:

He sees me. I realize this as I crawl through the overgrowth. I know, because I feel his gaze on my neck, and the feeling gets more intense every second. I can't outrun him; I know that, but I must at least try. Then, it moves in front of me, and all hope and fight are gone from me. He hovers there in his pure black cloak and stares at me with the fire in his eye sockets that lay on his burnt and partially stained skull. It moves towards me, and a few stray bugs fall out. I try to scream, but the sound appears to get sucked up the open maw of my pursuer. He picks me up with finger bones covered in dirt and soot and he makes me stare into his dead eyes. Then just darkness.

"Huh" I gasped as I woke up. "Just another nightmare" I say to myself. I look around at the darkness that's been my bedroom since birth. I took a few deep breaths to calm myself and then I went to get a drink of water. "Hi Sam, what are you doing up so early?" My mom asks, "Just had a nightmare and wanted a drink." "Why are you still working? You know what me and Jacob think about it." "I just needed to finish up this project. You and your brother don't need to worry about me." "Mom you have been doing too much overtime ever since dad left!" My mom's eyes suddenly hardened "I told you to stop mentioning your father" she scolded me. She then proceeded to go upstairs to her room, I really don't blame her though. I know she needs to work overtime since it's her and two teenagers, but Jacob got a really good job at the local DNA study labs uptown, and he makes around 800 dollars every two days. It's not a lot but it is for an apprentice job. Anyway, I got my water and decided to try and get some rest.

"Sam breakfast!" My mom called me, I had a long and restless night but then I remembered it was the day of the prom and the day in which I hoped Selina would finally ask me to the dance. I jumped out of bed and made sure to take my time to pick out the perfect outfit to catch her eye. As I walk down the stairs to the kitchen, I see my brother getting his coat on with a bit of bacon in his mouth and a napkin in his pocket. "Morning Sam" he says after he swallows his food. "How did you sleep?" He asked "Fine, office this early?" I question while getting some toast. "Yeah but Mrs. Helsing says I can be one of her best in the near future well got to go, bye" he says while rushing out the door. "So..." My mom starts "I got to get to school" I cut her off and walk out the door. I am walking down the road when I hear "Hey", I turn to see Stacy and her friends. "Oh ####" I say under my breath as I try to quicken my pace. Since my friends weren't here, I was a sitting duck. Thankfully it was a busy street so they didn't try to catch up to me and even if they did the school was close enough so I could outrun them.

I'm sitting in class trying to stay awake when I see it, the thing from my dreams passes the door window. I brush it off as me seeing things, but after class on my lunch, I see some hospital staff rush in and out with a stretcher. I learn from some gossiping teens that a girl was found dead in a locker. They told me her tongue was cut out and bugs were eating her, but her body looked like she was dead for only half an hour. The rest of the day went with everyone acting with a sober demeanor. Even my favorite teacher Mr. William who was a bit of a clown was kind of looking down. A lot of kids kept going on about some local legend about a ghost who kills sinners in vengeance for when he was framed for murder. Some kids went one step farther about how the girl had a not so clean history. I dismissed it as just some rumor kids are going to use to scare their younger siblings. The bell rings and I get out of the school as soon as I can. I was tired of their gossip, and I had a job at 4:00. "Hey, Sam" Caden calls, I see him and my other friend Ava rush over. "Did you hear about the girl?" Ava asks "Well jeeze Ava I'm swell thanks for asking" I say sarcastically. "Sorry, but the school grapevine blew up after lunch" "Ava I've been hearing rumors all day, and I got to hurry, I got a job in less than an hour." Jacob and Ava's noses wrinkle at that, "I don't get why you do that stuff," Caden asks "I mean how do you just do that on a daily basis." "Judge all you want but I'm better off then you two" I snap. I storm off not wanting to hear them criticize my work anymore, I get why, but I must help keep my financially family stable.