Phantasm

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Errors ahead. You have been warned.

I wrote this entry way back 2017 for a Project Loki's fan fiction Christmas contest (suki ng contest? lol) if my memory serves it right and unfortunately I didn't make it to the list. Anyway, here I am posting this here to share it with you. Please don't hesitate to leave your insights, that will be highly appreciated. Sayonara!

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LORELEI

Malamig na simoy ng hangin ang bumalatay sa aking katawan matapos makalabas ng dorm. It was past one-o'clock in the morning and my fellow dorm mates are in their sweetest dreams right now, I think so-or not.

Bisperas ng Pasko na pala bukas ngunit parang hindi ko maramdaman ang diwa ng Kapaskuhan.

Hanggang twelve-midnight lamang nakabukas ang mga poste ng ilaw kaya dinala ko ang aking cellphone upang ipang-flash light.

Napakalamig. Tumataas ang aking balahibo sa tuwing humahampas ang malakas na simoy ng hangin sa aking balat. Also, the soothing feeling of this peaceful surrounding is somehow eerie to me.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako dadalhin nitong mga paa ko but I know that something thrilling is awaiting me.

Hinayaan kong dalhin ako ng mga paa ko kung saan nito gusto. Wala naman sigurong makakakita sa akin dahil mahimbing na natutulog na ang lahat.

I was walking in deep thoughts throughout the whole time. Biglang bumugso ang mas malakas na simoy ng hangin dahilan para mapahalukipkip ako.

Lumalangitngit ang mga dahon na aking natatapakan. Ito lang ang tanging maririnig bukod sa huni ng mga insekto at ibon sa paligid.

I didn't know I would end up in this forest. I roamed my eyes around and thoughts started engulfing my sanity.

This forest was put in restriction due to the incident happened a year ago. I don't know the whole story but since napakabilis lumipad ng tsismis, malamang ay nakarating sa akin ang ilang impormasyon patungkol sa pagkawala ng isang Grade 10 student na babae.

Sabi ng iba ay baka kinain daw ng mababangis na hayop ang estudyanteng 'yon. Mayro'n namang nagsabi na baka nahulog daw ito sa isang trap o butas at hindi na naka-ahon pa. Those were lame conclusions for me though.

Anyway, ayon sa imbestigasyon ng mga pulis, maaaring nakikipagkita ang estudyanteng 'yon sa isang tao-particularly sa isang lalaki dahil napabalitang may boyfriend daw ito na taga-ibang school na sa kasamaang palad ay hindi pabor sa magulang ng babae.

Patago ang bawat pagkikita ng dalawa at sa forest nga na 'to ang palagi nilang meeting place. The police came up with the conclusion na baka nagtanan ang dalawa. Maaaring sinabi na lamang nila na ang duguang uniporme na nakita nila sa forest ay kagagawan ng mababangis na hayop.

This boarding school was all-girls-school, that's why it is understood that boys are prohibited to enter inside the school's jurisdiction, except for the forest of course-it's not under the school's surveillance anymore. I know I will sound ridiculous if I'll say that even the security personnels, teachers, and any other staffs here were all girls.

But still, my dad-which happened to be not my real dad enrolled me in this weird boarding school and I didn't have the guts and courage to complain. Even though I have found out na hindi siya ang tunay kong ama hindi nabawasan ang respeto na mayro'n ako para sa kaniya. He was still the one who provided my needs throughout and I thank him for that.