Jeproks

Chapter 5

Checking back at Poblacion Sarao. Felimon and Marites rally up their neighbors to form a search party. They brought with them flashlights and a full set of lungs for clamoring of Jaime's name. Marites tears up and tells her husband that they keep losing their children. Jaime was merely mum on her sentiments and could only hug her as a response. At the meantime, while others were searching for the missing child in the woods' premises, unnatural noises and movements seemingly were navigating the area around them. These gesticulations were mistaken by most of the party to belong from Jaime; and every time they pinpoint the sounds, they failed to find him but catch the vines in action instead. They ran away upon the face of such supernatural activities. This information then comes to the attention of the Sorianos. They convince the couple to continue the search during dawn instead. The notion among them is that they probably disturbed the spirits that dwells inside the forest of Makiling. Trying to also avoid the sickness curse that comes along with it called 'Hiwit', if they pursue this endeavor further. Eventually, one humongous shriek drives the whole party away, some even hauling the insistent parents forcefully back into town.

Inside the domain of the big Balete tree concurrently, Berting announces their second location - the Great Grey Lawa. In route going there, this time Honeyleth strikes a conversation with her brother. Not a moment too soon, Jaime replied. Minor chats here and there reignited between estranged siblings. During their resumed journey, Berting requested Honeyleth's companionship right beside him. The baby-ish halimaw sought for her to stoop down within his reach. Respectful of his plea, she done so. Berting crowns her a headband made out of the same balete. The purpose was to take away the hair that are constantly concealing her face; alongside the effort, he states that it shows her true façade. And partially disclosed to her that he feels at ease around her orbit. Her smile was the lone gesture she returned thereof. A little later, jokes were already exchanged among their company; and a deluge of laughter too is chronic in every dialogue. All was on board having negative notions at the onset of their second location. The three allies grasped of Jeprok's ornate panels being dumped in the middle islet of this boggy body of water. Here and now, it was Honeyleth's turn to volunteer. She is the best suited candidate in this part of the course as she is the best swimmer among them. The girl was afraid to disappoint anybody that she jumped right in headlong, while the two boys were still deciding. She was focused on her goal, despite the many presence of foliage and muck. Her brother Jaime and Berting's only rule of conduct now was to cheer the girl on of her endeavor. Her strokes were growing more and more energetic to each loud applause. Found herself currently in the middle of the swamp, her paddling briefly suspended. The two bystanders were puzzled on the status quo. Honeyleth sensed something was pulling on her leg. Without any hark and caution, she entirely disappeared from sight. Jaime panics and scampers his legs around back and forth. He was about to swim after his sister, only for the girl to resurface from the depths a few seconds later. Once more, she is swimming hastily to the islet. The water becomes restless from underneath. The awaiting revelation was a band of siyokoys emerging from the murky waters. Slipped in vintage scuba gears, they are relentless in obtaining Honeyleth. Berting bellows for her nimble paddling as these halimaws are known to drown their victims. From rocks to human accessories left scattered around, Jaime and the tiyanak tossed countless objects at the siyokoys to divert their concentration. Nevertheless, the siyokoys are very motivated on hunting Honeyleth down. They pursue giving chase to the girl. Along a small channel, an enormous golden ship magically appears and floats by her. From afar, Jaime dismisses the physics behind it and clamors for his sister to catch a ride, a safety away from the school of halimaws. She encroached some prickly weeds en route. When she was inches nearer, it quickly dispersed and vanished like a fog during daybreak. The girl was on her own again. Out of the blue, she gestured an idea popping inside her head; her brother notices this inner working. She dived down once again; the siyokoys do likewise. At first glance, they immensely flapped all over the water, bubbles soon replace them and then, a major splash. Within a brief lapse, utter stillness and silence succeed in this boggy environment. Jaime and Berting were getting nervous when minutes had already gone thru and she has yet to break the surface. Their concern was quickly washed away when Honeyleth's head ultimately reemerges. She climbs up and declared inhabitation on the islet, while holding and raising Jeprok's panels for everyone to see. When reunited later, Berting asked what befall of her pursuers. She unclothed of what resulted underwater: she succeeded obtaining a lengthy vine and wrapped it around the siyokoys' own connection cords. Honeyleth left the aquatic halimaws still entangled below depth. Despite the contrary, the girl was ensured to use a knot that would break a couple of minutes later. Her twin later clarifies about the splash that intervened from earlier. However, she has the faintest idea about it and facilely walked off. After assembling the two puzzle pieces of Jeproks together, the twins had to dragged it again. Berting hitches a ride on top of the still incomplete jeepney; while in transient, the halimaw clamors for their third and concluding location.