METANOIA

Prologue

Prologue

~*~

"DI BA galing na ako dito kanina? Or ... maybe not?", I scratched my head unconsciously.

This forest isn't new to me. I've been here a lot of times to explore. Kampante ako na di ako maliligaw. But I'm not sure anymore.

"Nasan na kasi yun?"

Kahoy, damo at malalaking bato lamang ang aking napansin. I am kilometers away from the border. The border between this forest and the town of Azaleah. Sinunod ko ang sinabi ni Lorenzo sakin kahapon.

Sabi niya, nasa pusod ito ng gubat.

The trail looks the same, like I was going in circles. But I know I remember every track I stepped on.

This hexagram is really hard to locate.

It was midday nang napagpasyahan kong umupo sa isang malaking bato para makapagpahinga. Kinuha ko ang aking baong pagkain at nilantakan iyon.

Maybe I'm searching in vain.

Kinuha ko ang litrato na bigay ni Lorenzo sa akin. Ito ang nakunan ng kanyang laruang eroplano na may nakakabit na camera nang tinest niya ito sa gubat. I don't have doubts about its location but manong Carlos's words is hitting through my system.

What if he's right? Na baka hindi ang gubat nato ang napasukan ni Lorenzo. Pero iba ang sinasabi ng kutob ko. Andito iyon sa gubat na ito. Kailangan ko lang itong mahanap.

I looked up. Unti-unting natatabunan ng makapal na ulap ang araw samahan pa sa mga anino ng malalagong puno kaya bahagyang dumilim. Uulan pa ata.

Pagtayo ko ay natigilan ako.

I became attentive when I heard a rustling sound. It was the sound of dried leaves like they were being stepped on. I flinched when I heard it getting nearer.

Nagbago na ang paligid. Fog and mist is slowly contaminating the place. The forest is growing alive. My body is becoming attentive to every sound. I can hear a low growl not far from me. Damn it mukhang nasa sentro na nga ako ng gubat. There must be wolves nearby.

Mabilis akong tumakbo. I can hear it going after me. Hindi ko alam kung anong direksyon ang tinatahak ko. I just want to lose these beasts. Nagpapanic na ako dahil naramdaman ko na medyo marami sila. Shit. I can almost hear my heart thumping.

Napasigaw ako nang bigla akong napatid ng malaking ugat ng puno. Next thing I knew, I was rolling down on a steep slope before I fell down with a thump. I cursed.

Tumayo ako at tumakbo ulit para hindi ako maabutan. Mas nagpanic na ako nung halos di ko na alam kung san dadaan dahil sa kumakapal na ang fog. Lumalamig na rin. Medyo nakaramdam ako ng pagkahilo.

Damn it.

My sight is playing tricks with me. I can almost imagine shapes of human on the shadows all through the mist. Tila ba tinitignan nila ako habang nagtatago. They seem to be moving as the fog moves.

Reign ...

Reign ...

I can hear hushed voices. Like someone is calling for me. What's going on?

Naglakad pa ako at muntik ulit akong matalisod buti na lang naibalik ko ang balanse ko. Pagtingin ko, I am stepping on a concrete floor almost covered with moss.

Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. I forgot that I was being chased. Mabilis kong tinignan ang kabuuan nito. Even with the grasses and weeds growing, with the moss almost concealing the marble floor, I can still make out the figure. Faint colors from it is visible even for the fact that its old and forgotten.

I squatted to have a better look.

A 6-pointed star inside a circle. The hexagram. I found it.

~*~