Marked By The Beast (COMPLETED)

Chapter 2

             NAGISING ako dahil sa malakas na lagabog galing sa kwarto. Mabilis kong sinuot ang mask at tumakbo papunta dito. Naabutan ko ang babae na nasa lapag. Dali-dali ko naman itong binuhat.

"Balak mo bang tumakas?" tanong ko. Tinignan ko ito, nanlalaki ang singkit na mga mata nya at pulang-pula ang mukha.

"Hindi, I just want to ihi." She said. Mabilis ko naman itong binuhat papunta sa banyo at iniupo sa toilet bowl pagkatapos ay mabilis din akong lumabas.

"Tawagin mo na lang ako pag tapos kana." Sabi ko habang naka-sandal sa pinto. It seems like I'm going to be a babysitter. Ilang taon naba ang babaeng ito. 16? She must be underage, napaka-liit ng katawan nito at napaka-amo ng mukha.

          I tried to get up on my own. My legs are so sakit especially my right leg, I was teary-eyed when I tried to get up. I fell because I was being stubborn. I want to wiwi but how am I supposed to go to the bathroom? Ang sakit ng pwet ko because of the impact of how I hulog. The door busted open; it was the man who helped me. He carried me and helped me to wiwi.

He made me sat on the toilet bowl and he went labas of the bathroom. I did what I need to do at tinawag ko na sya.

"I'm done." Mabilis naman nya akong binuhat at hiniga muli sa kama. He was silent all along and he's still wearing the creepy mask, all I can see is his green eyes. Why is it green? Isn't he a filipino? Sinubukan kong hawakan ang mask nya at mabilis naman nyang tinabig ang kamay ko.

"Wag. You're just going to scare yourself. Matulog kana ulit, ayokong bangungutin ka dahil sa mukha ko." He said at mabilis na lumabas ng kwarto. What is he hiding? Ano bang meron sa mukha nya?

I spent hours thinking about the mysterious man. The curiosity kind of diverted my attention from what just happened to my family. Pag naiisip ko naman ang pamilya ko ay sunod-sunod na tumutulo ang luha ko. Are they safe? I don't want to think that they are already dead. I'm still hoping that a miracle happened and someone saved them. I cried while praying for the safety of my family until morning.

The sunlight made me realize that it's already umaga. I just stared at the window, I can hear the birds humming and the scenery was just so peaceful. I can't do anything after all, thanks to that goat and my katangahan. Is the guy going to help me? He must be an old man with a weird hobby like wearing weird masks? But his voice doesn't sound that old naman. It just sounds so deep. I don't care basta parang mabait naman sya? Sana nga.

The door opened, lumapit sya sakin. Mukhang bagong paligo sya. Basa pa ang may kahabaang buhok nito. Its color is a shade of dark brown and it seems like it is his natural hair-color. Confirmed, he's not an old man because there are no strands of white hair visible. Dumukwang sya sakin at mukhang he's going to buhat me.

"Ilalabas kita para makakain ka." He said. I nodded my head, telling him that I'm fine with it. Kinarga nya ako at nasamyo ko ang body wash na ginamit nya. Hindi talaga amoy ng matanda and I can now clearly see his huge arms with so many veins visible and some scars, this is definitely not an old man. He carried me towards a porch behind the cabin. He made me sat on a wooden chair sa tapat nito ay may lamesa na may mga pagkain.

"Eat. I'll make something for you." That was he said at umalis na sya. I silently ate the food that he made. It's actually really masarap. I enjoyed the meal that he made and looking around. This place is so maganda, I wish I can stay here forever. I was startled when he suddenly appeared, wala akong naririnig na yabag ng paa; he is holding pieces of woods on his left hand. Nilapag nya ito at umalis muli.

Pag-balik naman nya ay may dala na syang tool box na and lagare na pilit hinahawakan gamit ang left hand nya. I noticed that his right hand only has 3 fingers left. His point-finger and middle-finger are missing. What happened to this man? I wondered.

"What are you going to gawa?" I asked. I'm still afraid of him because of his mask but he doesn't seem to be a masamang tao.

"Saklay mo." Tipid na sagot nito. I smiled, this stranger is really kind-hearted.

"Thank you." I thanked him right-away. He's done so much for me na.

He didn't say anything instead he just continued what he was doing. I spent hours watching him do it, it's like he is sanay na to craft things even though he do it slowly because of his mutilated right hand. Although he is helping me sobra, I'm still torn between thinking that he's a good or bad man. The way he walks without yabag made me realize that he's a dangerous man. It's like he is hunting for a prey, which made me shiver.

"Here." He handed me the saklay that he made. I looked at it; it looks like a well-made wooden saklay. He helped me tayo and he ayos the saklay under my kili-kili. It felt comfortable but I'm still not used using saklay. He took steps away from me and watched me remain standing using the saklay. I tried to move and when I was on the second step, I slipped. He quickly caught me using his right hand. I'm nakasandal on his matigas na chest. My eyes landed on his mutilated hand.

He saw me looking at it that's why he quickly made tago of it. "Careful." That was all he said as he made ayos of my position. Mabilis din syang lumayo sakin.

"Thank you ulit." All of the thoughts about him being a bad guy vanished. I'm just a stranger that he saw on the road yet he has done so much for me saka I felt safe in his arms.

"Pwede kang manood ng TV kung naiinip ka." He pointed the television that is inside through the wide window. I smiled at him. I slowly went inside and he turned the tv on for me. I should watch the news so I get to know what happened to my family. I dahan-dahan upo on the sofa. He sat beside me yet there's a wide distance between us although I can feel his stare it's like he is watching every move that I do.

"Ito oh." I lingon to him, he's handing me the remote control. His movements are slow like he's trying not to scare me. I smiled widely at him at slightly nodded my head while I reached for it.

I quickly put the channel on the news. I waited for something interesting to come up. I remembered my phone, did I left it on the car? Anyways, as I naalala there's no signal here. It's just going to be useless. A thought suddenly came into my mind; I haven't asked my savior's name. I quickly I turned to him. He looked startled because he made a lundag on his seat. I chuckled.

"What's your pangalan nga pala?" I curiously asked. Mataman ko itong tinitigan, still wondering what was his reaction behind the mask.

"Zyver, you can call me Ver." Malamig ang boses na sagot nito.

"Ah, I'm Lissandra nga pala." Pakilala ko.

I've been thinking about this since the first time I saw him. "Member ka ng Jabbawockeez?" I bit my lip.

He laughed. "You're still into it, huh?"

"Then, why don't you show me your face?" I'm so curious about his face.

"It's none of your business." He quickly got up and left me in the salas. Earlier he was still laughing and now, galit na sya? Should I just shut my mouth? My eyes widened, I should behave. He can kill me anytime. My hands were shaking, I'm scared. Why am I so pakielamera?!