GHOSTLY RIDES

RUIN STATIONS

Driving through the ruins on our final stop, ten to fifteen minutes after emerging from the last tunnel, I found myself lost in contemplation. Karen sat beside me, her eyes closed and earplugs in place, lost in her own thoughts. I gazed out the window, resting my head against it, my hands fidgeting as I recalled Almira's words. As guardians, it was our duty to maintain order, to save as many spirits as we could, even if it meant sacrifices along the way.

As we approached the ruins, a scene of organized chaos unfolded before us. Buses, lined up in a disciplined manner, stood as silent sentinels along the hillsides. Each bus was assigned a color stand, a visual representation of the diverse groups that traversed these realms. Orange for mortals, violet for the ghostly inhabitants, and blue for the elite cultivators, each with their own unique purpose and destination.

Miguel, parked on our group's color stand, turning right , it's always the mortals' side has the longest bus line, 3 to 5 buses a day, not to mention the pandemic effect and natural death occurrence as of April 28 2020 . The average death per day is five to ten, depending on the situation, disasters, accidents, and to date the coronavirus.

As Miguel parked our vehicle, Lawrence stood , Karen fixed her bag. This will be our last stop and pwede na kaming umuwi lay in bed and rest. I fix mine,  as i moved i felt a sting of pain on my foot, injured?, cant think when did I got hurt?, continue on putting them all in my bag.

 " We've arrived, " Miguel called out, turning off the bus engines.

Lawrence, checking our passengers, one by one carrying a similar ipod gadget, ensuring the names and faces are exactly the same on our given list.

Miguel swipes the mini iPod screen on Lawrence's side to inform the spirit guides we've arrived . 

" Bus 1923 arrived," , Miguel Reports

" 11 , 4 accidents, 5 natural deaths " rence says as he walks in front handling the papers to Miguel .

Miguel check their record , a normal gadget tablet like,  Karen and I stood.   Miguel's voice echoes as we aid lawrence on the necessary procedures.

As I stood  I suddenly felt a tinge pain my right ankle, I slowly rotate it, all  good baka  sprain  lang or ngawit . Back on the task . 

" yung isa batang babae " rence mouthed. 

 Searching the seats, karen is on the girl side ,

And the other one , a dog that died in hunger, exhaustion from injuries, searching for a dog.

" it's on a cycle ", miguel whispers as he saw a new face.

We had a dog , but when the bus reaches the ruins

The dog turn into young man, wearing a long  brown robe small round face and lost eyes in wonders. 

" he shifted, " I says as I saw him the new face , could not identify his origin. 

" Maybe the fight causes him to shift earlier " Karen speaks, as she puts a seal to the kids forehead.

 She stood, swinging her hand, as if letting a thing out of her fingers, showing every spirit's aura, a spell unique on her family's. 

The spirits revealed their auras in a mesmerizing display of color, each hue carrying its own significance and weight.

Pure white, almost transparent, emanated from spirits who had accepted their fate, their souls ready to depart. These spirits bore the weight of life lessons, regrets, and the realization of mistakes made - their sincerity and purity shining through in their ethereal glow.