Decay In Her Bones

CHAPTER 11

"The onset of the Northeast Monsoon is expected to worsen the cold temperate that we are currently experiencing this week. According to PAGASA, Hanging Amihan which brings a cold and dry air will hit the country by late October, and will become a major factor in the cold weather. It will directly affect the eastern parts of the country," a weather forecaster was saying; an animation of the Philippines with blue arrows that represented the winds was being displayed at her background. "Expect colder nights in the coming days."

Bobby and Mylene were on their way home that evening aboard a bus. They sat a few rows from the front so they could clearly hear the sound of the television which hanged a few feet above where the driver was sitting. Although it was transmitting a poor signal and jumped to static from time to time, the evening News was still successful in captivating the attention of the bus' passengers. All eyes seemed to be glued to the idiot box.

"Meanwhile," another reporter said, "in San Pedro, Laguna..."

Both Bobby and Mylene's heads jerked upward, trying to get a closer look at the report.

The male reporter continued, "...a man has died after a hold-up incident last Sunday. Let's hear Julia Gagarin reporting live in Laguna. Julia?"

The News Program's logo flashed on the screen and a series of edited video clips followed. Julia's voice dubbed over: "After being under comatose for two days, jeepney driver Orlando Ignacio, age 54, died today of internal bleeding at around four in the afternoon at the Ospital ng Muntinlupa. According to reports, the jeepney Ignacio was driving was robbed by two unknown holdapers last Sunday in Muntinlupa at past seven. Witnesses stated that Ignacio resisted the demands of the holdapers and that's when he received three stabs. Ignacio was brought to the hospital but died eventually after two days due to complications caused by an internal bleeding."

A woman that appeared to be Ignacio's wife appeared on the screen, replacing the shots of the hospital previously being shown. She was crying her eyes out. "Have pity on my husband! Whoever you are that did this, please, surrender to the police!"

The scene was cut and now showed the reporter, Julia, holding a mic. This time, her live reporting played. "Muntinlupa Police says that they have been on investigation of the incident and are still convening witnesses to have a lead on the suspects. Meanwhile, Ignacio's wake is currently being held here at the Ignacio residence in San Pedro, Laguna."

Bobby and Mylene did not need each other's confirmation to know that the reported incident was the one they had witnessed two days ago and that the Orlando Ignacio who passed away today was the driver of the jeepney they rode from Landayan to Muntinlupa. Mylene's grip on Bobby's arm tightened. She whispered something he did not hear. Behind the reporter, Bobby could see a blurred view of the burial wake and a vague picture of Orlando displayed at the far side of the house. It was him. Before the report ended, Bobby paid a glance at the upper right corner of the screen. It said: LIVE, Crismor Subd., San Pedro, Laguna.

The muscles on Bobby's jaw tightened as the ghostly image of the driver flashed back to his memories. He remembered seeing the driver's mirror entity in front of him, spread out like a zombie on top of the jeepney's hood. His blood went cold; he also remembered seeing a knife protruding from his shoulder.

Bobby wondered if what he saw was a vision of what was about to happen. Sort of like a premonition.

"Do you know where Crismor is?" Bobby asked Mylene.

The report ended. The TV screen now showed the two studio anchors.

"Yes. It's far, Dy."

"Where is that?"