The Hidden Ones

Those who live among us

He has earphones on both ears even though he was not really listening to any music. Watching out for anything out of the ordinary... Feeling the surroundings for anything that is ominous... Scrutinizing every face to see what lies behind... This was the thing that he always does, it was second nature to him. Ever since he was a child, he knew that he was not like the other kids. He was different, but so are many people that he comes across, sales clerks, security guards, bank tellers, street vendors, managers, waiters, beggars. They are everywhere coming from all walks of life, rich or poor. To the naked eye, they are just ordinary people, living in the hustle and bustle of one of the most densely populated cities in the world. But he knows them, he can see them, he senses them because he is one of them...

For millennia, they have been known by many names. They have been feared and they are beyond the comprehension of the human mind. They have been living among us for so long. They are the called aswang.  According to legends, they are creatures of the night out to prey on unsuspecting victims, devouring their flesh, their blood and entrails. Targeting the weak and helpless, children and pregnant women were their favorite things on the menu. Hiding in the thickness of the trees in the jungle. But what we don't know is that they have always been among us. Living even in the concrete jungle of Manila...

"Hey, you're here! What a coincidence, let's just ride the train together." Abegail cheerfully said after pulling one of his earpieces out. Usually, he would be annoyed by this but he was too busy looking at a man in a black leather jacket, blue jeans and wearing a black Chuck's. To everyone else he is just an ordinary train passenger on the platform of North Avenue Station, waiting for the next train to arrive. But he knew better, he is one of them for sure.

"You startled me Gail! I thought you were a thief or something." Bryan said. He is working as a reporter for a major daily newspaper. Their office is in Ayala Avenue, the central business district of the country. He usually had to work night shifts in order for him to be able to layout his articles to be published the next day, which for him was perfect since it was the time of the day that he was most active. However, today he had to come to work in the morning as requested by his editor since they are a bit short-staffed. 

"Anyway, why are you here? don't you have the night shift today?"Bryan asked "Well, I have things to do that's why." She responded.

He was really good at his job and people say he really has a keen eye for detail and he is almost always the first one at the crime scenes, getting the best angles of the news stories. But the truth is, he has another job. He tracks down the rogue elements of their hidden society making sure that they are kept in  line to ensure that those who live among us remain hidden.  To them he is known as "Sundang", the sword, the executioner.