Marked By The Beast (COMPLETED)

Chapter 1

          A lot of things are running in my mind as I drove into the most remote area. I already reached the boarders of Quezon Province but I still continued driving around. I can only see palayans and lots of trees here; this could be an ideal place for me to hide. My head is already throbbing; it must be the Jack fucking Daniels that already went to my system. I'm getting a little bit dizzy but still, I continued driving. I reached for my phone that is lying on the floor of my car. I have to keep the record of our conversation earlier because that can be an evidence for future investigations. I saved it and I saw that there's no signal in this place. It is indeed an undeveloped area.

I was too engrossed with my phone and I almost forgot that I am driving. My body felt weak when I heard the gunshots from my phone when it played the conversation that my mom and I had. My head is throbbing really badly but I tried so hard to stay sane and drive safely. Until, a kambing suddenly litaw and I almost hit it but I managed to take a turn to the left. Everything went so fast, I managed to pull away from the goat but I hit a tree instead. I can see the smoke everywhere. I tried to get out of the car but my legs were naipit.

"OUCHIE HELP! TULONG! TULONG!" I cried. God, please send someone to help me. I felt the liquid gushing out of my head. My eyesight is getting blurry and all I can see is red. Is this the end? My story barely started and I'm going to die? Why me pa? Bakit now na agad? I have so many questions and everything just turned black.

           IT'S so hard to mulat my eyes but I tried my best. There's a cast on my legs and it's so hirap to galaw it. I touched my head and felt that there's a bandage around it. My body is so sakit. The bed felt soft on my back. Someone must have seen me on the road. My eyes wandered around the room, the walls are made of wood and there's a huge window where I can see the shadow of the trees from the labas. I can only see because of the moonlight and the little lamp on the top of the side-table. The sky looked so pretty and I can see the stars from here. I saw a bookshelf beside the door and a rattan chair. I looked at the dresser beside the bed and saw some masks on top of it. Huh? What kind of person helped me?

I was so nagulat when the door opened. My eyes widened when I saw a tall and massive man wearing a mask.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! ANO GAWA MO HERE?!" I screamed at the top of my lungs. It's so creepy. The mask is pure white. It reminded me of the nakakatakot guy in horror films, the one named Jason. I hugged the pillow beside me, waiting for the man to do something. Am I going to die?! I just woke up tapos patay agad?!

The man stood still and just stares at me. I can't see his face that's why I don't know what his reaction was. He is holding a tray, with a cup of water and a bowl which I can't see what's in it.

"Jabbawockeez?" I whispered. His mask reminded me of the one the famous dance crew used. He chuckled and walked towards me. He laid the tray on the bed.

"Eat." He said in a deep baritone and walked away. He closed the door after he went out of the room.

I was left so nagulat and stunned. I thought he was going to kill me. My eyes landed on my clothes and again, my jaw dropped. I'm wearing a big shirt; the dress that I wore was nowhere to be found. Did he saw my body and raped me while I was asleep?! I touched my pipi, trying to feel if it's wounded too just like the rest of my body. I sighed in relief when I felt that it's not.

I smelled the aroma of the chicken soup followed by my tummy which just made a sound; I'm so gutom na pala. I wondered how long had I been sleeping. I pushed myself up and reached for the cup of water, I'm feeling so thirsty. Maybe, the man is not what I think he is. He won't let me die on the road if he's a masamang tao diba? But why didn't he hatid me to the hospital instead? I silently prayed that I am in good hands.

           PAPUNTA ako sa pinagkukunan ko ng supplies nang may makita akong sasakyang punong-puno na ng usok sa gilid. Gusto ko mang ignorahin na lang at hayaan ang iba na may tumulong dito ay hindi ko magawa. This part is away from the civilized area. Wala masyadong nadaan sa lugar na to kaya nga dito ko ginustong tumira. I had no choice but to help whoever is it.

I jumped out of my Ranger. Nang makalapit ako ay sinilip ko ang nasa loob. There's a woman inside, alone. Sinubukan kong buksan ang pinto but it's locked. Umikot ako at binuksan ang pinto sa kabila na may sirang bintana. I saw a bullet inside. What just happened and who is this girl?

Dumukwang ako at chineck kung may pulso paba ito. Luckily ay meron pa. Binuksan ko ang pinto sa driver's seat at sinubukan kong hilahin ito. Naipit na ang binti ng babae dahil impact nang pag tama ng sasakyan niya sa puno. Inadjust ko ang upuan paatras para mailabas ito. I carried her at napansin ko agad ang gaan nito, matamang ko itong tinitigan she must have fainted from the pain and it looks like she also hit her head.

Her legs are still intact, mukha namang kakaonting fracture lang ang natamo. Inilagay ko ito sa backseat at hinila pababa ang damit nito, her panty is peeking through. Sino ba ang babaeng ito? Obviously she's not a resident here. Walang gantong babae sa probinsya, masyado itong liberated kung manamit. Binalikan ko ang sasakyan at tinignan kung may mga gamit ba ang babaeng ito para sa pag-kakakilanlan nya. May nakita akong phone at maliit na bag sa pasenger's seat. Dali-dali ko itong kinuha at tinabi sa babae.

Dinala ko ito sa bahay ko kahit medyo malayo. Inayos ko ito sa kama, pinaltan ng damit habang pilit pinipikit ang mata at ginawa ang first-aid. Maalam ako sa ganitong bagay dahil sa mga taon kong pag-sisilbi sa serbisyo. Pagkuwan ay iniwan ko muna ito at tinuloy ang pag-kuha ng mga supplies na kailangan ko para sa buwan na 'to sa tindahan ng pinag-kakatiwalaan ko.

Inabot na ako ng dilim dahil na rin sa byahe papunta at pabalik, maging ang pag-pili ng mga gamit. Hindi ko alam pero kinuha ko na rin ng mga necessity ang babaeng nasa kama ko sa oras na iyon. It's like I'm expecting her to stay for a long time. Gusto kong batukan ang sarili sa pag-iisip ng ganoong bagay. Lumayo nga ako para walang makasalamuhang tao tapos nag-dala pa ako ng sakit sa ulo sa sarili kong bahay.

Napaka-malas ko naman ngayong araw. She will probably feel disgusted once she sees my face at baka nga himatayin ulit iyon sa takot. Who wouldn't? I look like a monster, gaya ng sabi ni Amanda. Umiling ako, she won't stay for long. Aalis din yun agad kasi wala namang gugustuhing makasama ako.

Nakarating na ako sa cabin ko, nasa gitna ito ng gubat. Masukal ang daan papunta dito pero ginawan ko ng pathway ang sasakyan ko papunta sa garahe. Pilit ko talagang nilalayo ang sarili sa mga tao. Ilang taon na rin akong naninirahan dito at sinanay ko talaga ang sarili na walang nakakasalamuhang mga tao. They will just fool me anyway, anong silbi ng pakikipagsalamuha sa mga taong walang hangad kundi saktan ka. Pumasok na ako sa cabin at nagdiret-diretso sa kusina.

Inilagay ko sa counter-top ang mga pinamili. I should check the girl. Tinungo ko ang nag-iisang kwarto sa cabin na to. I don't have any guestrooms because the sole-purpose of why I lived here for years is to stay away from humans.

I peeked through the door and saw that she's still asleep. Mahimbing ang tulog nito. Lalagyan ko na lang sya ng pagkain sa tabi kung sakaling magising man sya at magutom. I prepared some chicken soup so she can gain strength and it is something she can eat easily. Nilagay ko ito sa tray at isang baso ng tubig. Sinuot ko ang mask ko para takpan ang dapat. Wala akong magagawa kundi suotin ang mask na to habang nandito sya. I don't want to scare her with my hideous face, baka magtatakbo rin sya kagaya ng ginawa ng babaeng minahal ko.

As expected, the girl screamed so loud when she saw me. Hindi pa nga nya nakikita ang mukha ko sumisigaw na sya. Ano pa kung tanggalin ko ang mask na ito. I smirked because of that thought. Nilapag ko na lang ang pag-kain nito sa tabi at lumabas agad ng kwarto. I went to the lounge. Humiga ako sa sofa at pilit pinag-kasya ang sarili ko. Bakit ko ba kasi kinuha pa ang babaeng iyon? Dagdag sakit sa ulo. Pumasok bigla sa isip ko ang pag-sasalita nito. "Ano gawa mo here?", napaka-conyo ng babae.

She reminded me of Kris Aquino. Natawa na lang ako ngunit biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang takot na nakita ko sa mata nito, I clenched my jaw. Tinanggal ko ang mask at pinatong sa coffee table. Humiga ako at pinikit ang mga mata habang nakatabon sa mukha ang aking braso. Lagi na lang ba ako kakatakutan?