PROSEChapter 1
IT WAS A DARK NIGHT as the freezing air grips the flesh of the body from the shores not from where the couple Danilo and Monina lives. The man tossed and turned through out the night, as if the night has plans on unveiling a dark secret during that time. As is his eerie surroundings was dying to find out what that secret is. A secret that Danilo knows all to well. He knows that something interesting will happen that night and such thoughts where the ones bothering him since the day started. He was wide awake that time, even though he did tried to fall asleep. He had several sleepless nights, only because of his suspicions regarding his very own wife Monina.
It wasn't long until he felt his wife awaken from her slumber. She rushed out of bed as if she was chasing somebody, as she fiercely shut the door behind her. The next thing he heard was the loud and distinct sound of wings flapping, only that this sound seems to come from a huge bird. Danilo hurriedly went out the house to see what just happened. He searched everywhere but found no trace of his wife Monina
“Where could she be? How did she disappear so quickly. She couldn't possibly have wings and fly like a bird.” he asked himself.
As he was still thinking to himself of what happened, he noticed something in the bushes, not far from their front door.
“Huh!? W-What a huge shadow of an animal. Looks like a wolf” he exclaimed.
He quickly chased after the beast, as it started to flee. He started to pick up the pace but it seems that the beast he was after suddenly disappeared.
“What a waste of energy. But that animal was beyond ordinary. With that size, it could surely swallow me whole!” he said as he still tries to catch his breath.
Feeling tired, he decided to go back in the house. He had no choice but to wait for his wife to come back home.
It's only been months since they started living together, which leaves him clueless of the secrets his wife has been keeping from him all this time. All he knows is that it all started when she was invited by a close friend to celebrate a feast on Capiz. He knew it was his fault for allowing her to travel on her own
It didn't just happened once, but it kept happening over and over again. She would usually leave the house in a full moon. So this is what came to his mind. He is about to believe that his wife had become one of the "aswang". A transformation that would surely affect the lives of their future children.
Danilo waited several hours for her return. His slumber left him unconscious of the fly attempting to enter his ear. He then started to drive away the pest that has been bothering him, like a helpless cow from their blood thirsty instincts .
It wasn't long until he felt the sun rise up in the early morning, along with the loud crow of the rooster that seemed to serve its purpose of waking the whole neighborhood. Danilo knows that the sun would soon consume the darkness and turn everything into light. From there, he saw his wife come out of the forest who seem to be very tired, as if she had journeyed from a distant place
“What happened to you Monina? Where have you been?” as Danilo hurriedly went to her.
“I am tired. I want to have some rest!” she replied.
He assisted her inside and gently placed her on the bed. It was just in a few minutes when Monina had completely fallen asleep. That gave her husband a chance to observe her. Just doing so led him to many questions and thoughts. Thoughts still looking for an answer.
“What secret have you been keeping from me? I am certain you are no longer the Monina I have known and loved. And you are most certainly no longer the woman I have married in front of the altar!’ he asked and insisted to himself.
It was in the late afternoon when she had already woke up. That is when Danilo took the advantage of discussing with her.
“You have changed a lot. You are always so quiet. What really happened to you? Why was it that ever since you went to Capiz, you started being distant from me?” he asked.
Monina turned her gaze away from the man as if she couldn't bear the questions she was being asked. As if her secrets were that deep to be kept from her husband.
“I don't even know where you go during the nights. You've made me suffer for so long!’ he continued
The man sighed, as he kept on pushing his wife to tell him something, but she intends not to. She can't even look straight into her husband's eyes.
“I know you are feeling something different. I know you've been keeping secrets from me. As your husband, allow me to help you in what you are facing right now!’ Danilo cried.
“I keep no secrets from you Danilo!” she exclaimed.
“I will ask Impong Tasyo to help us. I know he is the only one who could help us solve this matter !” the man insisted.
The woman was surprised to hear her husband's words. Enraged, she was like a wild dog as she screamed, “GRAAAH!” Don't you dare do that Danilo! Don't you dare!”
The husband was shocked with her actions. He only had one thought as he turned his back from her.
“Whether you like it or now, I'll pick up Impong Tasyo. I'll let him remove that evil spirit that has been inhabiting your body all this time!”, he said confidently.
TO BE CONTINUED
