Enchanted Forest

Chapter 12: Lost

"What is this place?" Tanong ni Lee nang sa wakas ay nagkaroon na sila ng pagkakataon na makapagpahinga sa mahaba-habang habulan sa loob ng Enchanted forest. Kung ano-anong nilalang ang humahabol sa kanila dito. Man-eating babboons, Walking trees, stupid mushrooms and many more.

"Ruins." Sagot ni Ellie ng makahinga na siya ng maluwag. Umuupo siya sa gilid ng isang lumang balon. Careful not to fall inside it.

"Of a village?" Pag-kumpirma ni Lee, picking up a battered toy soldier on the ground before throwing something at her.

"Mm." Madali itong nasalo ni Ellie. Unti-unting natunaw ang yelo na nakabalot sa dalawang peras na ibinato sa kanya ni Lee. God, she's really starving. And it's not even helping na nauna ang intense workout kaysa sa pagkain niya. She's not on diet for Pete's sake.

Buti na lang nakapitas ng mga prutas si Lee habang nag te-temple run sila sa loob ng forest. Oh right, there's also a large black monkey-like pack ang humabol sa kanila destroying trees on the way. So yeah, napakalaking misteryo para sa kanya kung paano nakapitas ng mga prutas si Lee in those situations. Very, very mysterious.

"Lumang baryo ito dati." Kinagatan ni Ellie ang peras before looking up in the already darkening sky. Ang bilis ng oras, maggagabi na naman at hindi pa sila nakakalabas. "Maybe 5 years ago? It was suddenly..." Iwinave niya ang kamay sa mga natitira na lamang sa lumang baryo na tinutuntungan nila. "...wiped out."

"Just like that?"

"Yup. Just like that." Pagtango ulit ni Ellie.

"Hindi ka man lang nagtaka sa nangyari?"

She glanced sideway towards him. The fruit half-eaten in her hand. "Bakit naman?"

"Why not?"

She stared at him for a minute noticing the crease of his brows in confusion then a wistful smile spread on her lips. "Puppy. Puppy. Puppy." She started in a sing-song voice, it was almost mocking. "You shouldn't care about people who wouldn't give a damn about you. Waste of time and effort." And then she waved her hand in a languid motion.

Napatitig sa kanya si Lee, silently contemplating what she said. Why does it sound so unexpected coming from her?

Anyway that's not the problem at hand. Isantabi muna ang mga pinagsasabi ng pusang kasama niya, he needs to investigate kung anong nangyari sa lugar na ito. Ngayong may signs of civilization na sa paligid nila ibig sabihin ay malapit na sila sa labas. Good, he got enough free time. Inilibot niyang muli ang paningin sa sira at luma ng baryo. Claw marks are on some walls cut into halves. Probably seiged by mutants or Weres. No sign of technology, walang kable ng kuryente. But then again, It would cost a lot kung magpapakabit sila ng kuryente sa ganitong liblib na lugar. Besides, according to the ruins and some items scattered everywhere. The people occupying this once upon a time village were quite into primitive ways. Houses are made of bricks. Source of water is a well on his left side and the other one is where Ellie sat. And they got a bell tower made of woods. Who keeps those kind of thing? Panahon pa ata ng mga Hapon ang bell tower.

His cyan eyes narrowed. Noticing something is not right. Halos lahat ng bahay dito ay nasira na ngunit ang tower bell aside from the overgrown vines stuck on it ay galos lang ang natamo, isang kahoy ang naputol sa foundation nito ngunit nakakatayo pa rin. Ellie watched him with interest when he walked with purposeful strides towards the bell tower.

Nang makalapit siya dito ay napansin niya ang kulay asul na tela na nakapulupot sa isang paa ng bell tower. He look at Ellie, mentally counting the distance away from her. Hoping something wouldn't come out of nowhere with him busy . Sensing that there are no presences around the vicinity aside from the two of them, he continued to investigate and grab the blue cloth.