A long scream echoed across the forest, and it was followed by heavy footsteps of the two male villagers running—anxiously glancing behind them, as if something had been following them since then.
"Holden, run faster!" Sigaw ng lalaking nasa unahan ni Holden.
Holden breathed out before he spoke back, "We were told not to get woods in this area, Declan!" Holden shouted angrily, putting the blame to Declan who insisted on getting woods in the forbidden forest.
"This isn't time for arguments, Holden!"
Suddenly, a loud rustling sound emerged from behind them, their gaze roamed around the woods to locate the source but it seemed to come everywhere. Holden and Declan didn't stop running, but the frightening sound just grew louder and louder, along with a slithering sound, like something large dragging itself through the trees.
Sa kabila ng liwanag na dulot ng araw, wala parin silang takas sa itim na nilalang na naninirahan sa gubat. Declan pulled Holden behind the large tree, napaupo sila habang naghahabol ng hininga.
"The chief was right about this place," Declan said in a breathy tone.
Sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Holden, "Do you think he was just messing around when he warned us?!" Madiin nitong bulong.
The two villagers had been warned not to venture too deep in the woods, but Declan insisted to get woods in this area and that causes them to disturb something they shouldn't.
Crack....Sabay na napahinto ang dalawa ng marinig ang nakakatakot na tunog na iyon, maingat silang huminga, at maya maya pa'y hinawakan ni Declan sa braso si Holden. Panic set in, and they started running again, the underbrush snagging at their clothes. It was an exhausting sight, they were running for their lives endlessly, like they were in a loop.
"Shxt, it's chasing us endlessly!" Declan shouted, panting heavily while dragging Heldon who can barely walk.
But the creature was relentless, closing in as the forest twisted around them. Declan tripped over a root, and Holden froze in fear as he looked around, the whispers surged, filling their minds with terror.
"Hol....Holden, help me quickly!" Declan demanded, trying to get back to his feet—pero bali na ang isa niyang paa para tumakbo pa.
Nakapinta sa mukha ni Holden ang takot, nanginginig ang katawan niya at kinakain ng mga bulong mula sa isip niya ang sarili niya. When the rustling sound stopped, the forest fell in a sudden eerie silence. Declan and Holden looked at the tree facing them, a moment later, the rustling sound echoed again from that tree and the creature emerged.
"Run....Holden, run!"
–
Tahimik ang naging byahe namin. Lumilipad kami sa ere habang tumatakbo ang bus na sinasakyan namin. Sure, I was amazed by the sight but I had no energy left, pakiramdam ko'y bibigay na ang katawan ko sa pagod. A minute later, hindi ko namalayang nakatulog na pala ako habang naka-sandal naman sa balikat ko si Nathalia, mahimbing rin ang tulog.
The next moment, I woke up because of the sound of people walking past our seat. Naramdaman ko ring gumaan ang balikat ko kung saan sumandal si Nathalia.
"Oh. We're here," Sambit ni Nathalia na medyo basag pa ang boses dahil bagong gising.
"Hmm, mauna ka na sa baba, ako na bahalang magbuhat ng mga gamit mo," Sagot ko.
BINABASA MO ANG
MOON GODDESS: The Novel Reader's Fate (BL)
FantasíaOne night, Astra dreamed of a mysterious woman who told him that La Luna would summon him, and he would replace her. The next morning, Astra learned that the author of "The Goddess of the Moon", his favorite novel, had committed suicide. Confused an...
