The Moonlight Assassin

The Father's Revelation

The townsfolk of San Roque, armed with makeshift weapons, holy water, and sheer determination, successfully fought off the manananggal minions, driving them back into the night. Amidst the chaos and the triumphant cries, Don Salvador, feeling the weight of his past and the present conflict, knew it was time to reveal his dark secret.

As the families regrouped inside the Calachuchi Inn, tending to their wounds and catching their breath, Don Salvador stepped forward, his face etched with a mix of sorrow and resolve.

"Everyone, please, listen to me," he began, his voice steady but tinged with emotion. "There is something you all need to know about me, about why I am the way I am."

Sylvia, Esperanza, Miguel, and the others turned their attention to Salvador, their expressions wary but curious.

"I wasn't always like this," Salvador continued. "I was once a young man, much like any of you, filled with dreams and desires. But my life took a dark turn when I encountered a being who changed everything."

Salvador took a deep breath, recalling the events of his youth. "Her name was Ariana Velasquez, a resident of this quaint yet beautiful town. She was a simple farm lady of Bungang Kahoy, who tended to their mango plantation. But then our paths crossed when she entered San Roque High School, and there her beauty and intelligence captivated me.

She had this mesmerizing beauty that captured my heart the moment I laid eyes on her. She was unlike anyone I had ever met, and I quickly fell under her spell. 

He continued, "I courted her one day, and even if she was not prepared to have a relationship like I wanted, she accepted me. For three years, we were madly in love with each other, spending time in the river, the rice fields, the seashore, and on the town plaza.

But I didn't know then that she was a manananggal, heir to their kingdom."

Gasps of surprise filled the room, but Salvador pressed on. "One night, Ariana took me to a barren grassland. And there, she revealed her true nature to me, and instead of fear, I felt an obsessive fascination. I was drawn to her world, her power, and the forbidden allure of the manananggals."

He paused, looking around the room, seeing the mixture of shock and empathy in their eyes. "I became obsessed with the idea of becoming one of them. I wanted to be with Ariana, to share her immortality, her power.

In my desperation, one night, pretending to introduce Ariana to her parents, I went to their mansion in Bungang Kahoy. When I introduced myself to Ariana's parents, they were foaming their mouths in delight, I don't know what reason, but I felt they were about to slaughter me. So, I had to take action.

Quickly as I distracted them, I was able to steal a liquid elixir that the manananggals used to complete their transformation. It was a substance they rubbed into their bodies, allowing them to split their torsos and gain the ability to fly."

"Using that elixir, I began to research, studying its properties and the pathogen that caused the transformation. I discovered that the elixir contained a microscopic alien organism, that looked like a black-colored parasite that when applied to the skin, caused those whose DNA compatible to transform to what we call a manananggal. 

A compatible human exposed to it will gain bat-like wings, increased strength and agility, and an insaitable hunger for human blood, but the side-effects I found that the individual must split their torso, as the lower extremities aren't essential to the transformation.

Also, the parasite is sensitive to UV rays, and therefore, strong sunlight can cause a transformed individual to be killed instantly. That is why a manananggal must return to its lower extremities and go back human form before daylight.

In addition, another side effect of those exposed to the pathogen is that they become sensitive to sulfites, turpentines, and capsaicin, the substance found in spices such as garlic and chili, and coniferous trees like pines. That's why manananggals don't like the smell of garlic, onions, chili, and even pine trees.

But because of these facts, my obsession grew, and I found a way to induce the transformation in myself. One moon-filled night, I took the elixir and vowed to myself that I will be one of Ariana's kind, to love her and to become one with her. There, I injected the liquid into my skin and suddenly my body shook violently, my back felt a shooting pain as wings started to form, my muscles grew and ripped through my shirt, my hands turned into sharp claws, then my waist began to stretch and split apart. I felt a strange surge in power. 

There I became a manananggal through science, driven by my love for Ariana and my desire for power."

As he was telling this story, Salvador himself transformed into his manananggal form. His body shimmered and twisted as he activated the manananggal elixir within him. His torso split from his lower body, wings sprouting from his back, and his eyes glowing with an eerie light. Gasps of shock and awe filled the room as the townsfolk witnessed Salvador's complete metamorphosis.

"This is what I have become," he said, his voice resonating with a mix of sadness and resolve. "But I am not here to harm you. I am here to help."

His wife Sylvia couldn't bear the pain Salvador felt while he transformed and telling his story. Her eyes filled with tears, and she stepped closer to her husband. "Why didn't you tell us, my love Salvador? Why did you keep this secret for so long?"

Salvador's voice trembled with regret. "I thought I could control it, that I could use my power to protect you all. But the darkness consumed me, and I became something monstrous. I hurt people, I hurt you, and for that, I am deeply sorry."

Miguel, feeling a mix of anger and compassion, stepped forward. "Don Salvador, what you've done is unforgivable, but your willingness to admit your mistakes shows there's still humanity in you." 

Salvador nodded, his resolve strengthening. "Miguel, I knew this day would come. And it was not easy to tell this story to you. When we finished high school to go to college in Maharlika City, Ariana and I escaped the town to build a life for ourselves. We married and eventually returned to San Roque to build our own hacienda and establish our own manananggal kingdom. And it was you who would have become the heir. But you all know it didn't go as planned."

Miguel replied, "Well,  it seemed I got something in you as my father in blood. But now, we need your help to fight the manananggals, to end this once and for all."

Salvador agree, "Yes, Miguel, my child. I will do whatever it takes to make amends. My children Alice and Jeremy and their followers are powerful, but together, we can stop them."

Miguel responded, "Yes Salvador, my father, thank you for believing in us. And thank you for trusting me." He hugged Salvador tightly, and broke in tears of joy.

"Oh my son," Salvador cried, "I wish I could be like you. Being in the Light relieves my pain."

"You will, my father," said Miguel, "soon I will hand you to the people who guided my life to our Lord."

The revelation of Salvador's past added a new layer of urgency and determination to the group. As they prepared for the next assault, they knew they had an unlikely ally in Salvador, whose knowledge of the manananggals' secrets could tip the scales in their favor.

Outside, the moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over San Roque. The townsfolk, now united and ready to defend their home, steeled themselves for the final confrontation. Salvador stood alongside them, no longer just a figure of fear and power, but a man seeking redemption, ready to fight for the town he had once endangered.

As the night deepened, the battle for San Roque's future loomed ever closer, with the hope that, through unity and courage, they could overcome the darkness and find a path to a brighter tomorrow.