Lolo Gani and Lumawig had just gotten back to their house when they heard the despair-filled scream of one of their neighbors. The two looked at each other, alarm could be seen in their eyes.
“Has something happened?” asked Lumawig.
Lolo Gani however did not answer him. Instead, a sharp look in his eyes appeared and he felt that something terrible was about to happen, and it all started with the scream. He remembered that earlier, when they were going to the balete tree, he felt an evil presence, seemingly looking at the pair, he thought that it was there for them, to create a disturbance during the ritual. At that time, he only shrugged it off his shoulders as he was confident that he could take it on should a confrontation arise. However, he never thought that it would attack someone else.
“Mawi, apò, listen to me carefully. It seems that something terrible is about to happen, and it started with that scream. I will be heading to where that scream originated, and I want you to come with me. Keep the librito on your pockets, but no matter what happens, never take them out. Wear the agimat on your neck as well but keep it hidden too. I’ll just get some of my medicines and sundang (bolo).” Lolo Gani hurriedly instructed Lumawig.
Sensing the urgency in his lolo’s voice, Lumawig only nodded in understanding and waited for his lolo to finish his arrangements. In just a short time, his lolo came out of their room carrying a small bottle of lana oil, then his lolo went to fetch his sundang, and carefully drip the lana oil on it, and wiping it on the blade to spread it. Seeing his lolo’s action, Lumawig became curious but he knew that now is not the best time to ask his question. Just as the two of them were about to go out of their house, Caloy, came in running to their yard.
“Lolo Gani! Lolo Gani! Quick! We need your help! Tiyo Noning’s pregnant wife is dead!” Caloy said without catching his breath.
Tiyo Noning was Lolo Gani’s junior in age, but he is one of his closest friends in the barangay as they were childhood friends. He is always the one to help him whenever it was time to plant rice or to harvest them. He is also the one to always invite lolo Gani for a cup of tubâ (coconut wine). Lolo Gani in turn took care of Tiyo Noning’s wife Elsie whenever he was not around. Due to the sensitive pregnancy of Elsie, lolo Gani has been very mindful of her and would give her medicines he himself concocted to help her ease her difficulties. She treated Elsie like a sister. So, hearing Caloy’s statement, lolo Gani was visibly shocked, and like lightning sped out of the house. Lumawig and Caloy were dumbstruck by the old man’s speed but quickly snapped out of it and hurriedly followed the old man. To their surprise, they were unable to catch up to him. Lumawig was surprised because he knew that his physical abilities had been raised after the ritual. Caloy on the other hand was even more shocked, as he also found out that Lumawig could run faster than him.
In no time the trio reached Tiyo Noning’s house. Lolo Gani did not appear to have run quite the distance with his steady breathing, Lumawig on the other hand was slightly out of breath; Caloy, the poor messenger was left behind and was wheezing and gasping for air when he arrived. He did not even have the strength left to ask Lumawig how he could run so fast, he just found a fence post and sat on the ground to recover.
There were already some people in Tiyo Noning’s house when lolo Gani arrived, but when they saw him, they all made way. With a trembling hand, lolo Gani made his way to the room of the husband and wife. There he saw Tiyo Noning kneeling, in his arms the lifeless body of his wife; he was weeping and shouting his wife’s name repeatedly.
“Elsie! Elsie! Who could have done this to you?!” Tiyo Noning wailed. He seems to not have noticed lolo Gani’s arrival. Seeing Tiyo Noning’s state, lolo Gani did not talk to him and just let him mourn for his dead wife, however, he just tried to observe the whole room. What he saw left him aghast and terrified. On the bedroom floor, the baníg (mat) where they sleep was full of blood. What was more horrifying is that one can see some entrails on them, those are human entrails. Unconsciously, lolo Gani turned his head to look at the body Tiyo Noning was holding, especially the abdomen area. He could not help but turn pale at the sight. The body that Tiyo Noning was holding, has her whole abdomen ripped out, some of the entrails could still be seen dangling, a greenish liquid mixed with the dark red blood could be seen as well, what is notable from this horrific sight is that Elsie’s liver, kidneys, and the fetus in her womb are completely missing, parts of her stomach and small intestines are gone as well. On the wall near the window, lolo Gani saw claw marks, and bloodied hand prints. This was the first time lolo Gani ever saw a scene such as this, and he tried to hold back his urge to throw up.
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Lumawig on the other hand has a weaker gut than his lolo. Seeing the terrible sight before him, partnered with the pungent smell of blood, he lost control and vomited on the spot. The sound of him puking his guts out snapped Tiyo Noning and lolo Gani from their thoughts. Tiyo Noning first saw Lumawig vomiting, and then his eyes looked at the man standing in front of Lumawig.
“Gani!” Tiyo Noning shakily stood up from the spot where he was crying. His t-shirt and shorts all soaked in blood; however, he seems to not care. His eyes were only looking at lolo Gani while he shakily made his way to him. Lolo Gani could only look at him with pity as he too was at a loss with the death of Elsie.
When Tiyo Noning reached lolo Gani, he reached out his hands and put them on lolo Gani’s shoulder and begged “Gani! I…help me! Help me get justice for my wife!” after telling lolo Gani these words, Tiyo Noning again broke down in tears. The sun has already risen, but no one inside the house could feel its warmth at that moment. The sun rays that found their way into the room only made it look cold. Hearing Tiyo Noning’s plea, lolo Gani could only put his hands on his friend’s shoulder and give him a tight squeeze to show his confirmation.
While Tiyo Noning was walking towards lolo Gani, Lumawig suddenly felt his chest area get hot, this time, he felt pain from the heat. Lumawig immediately knew that it was the agimat reacting to something. With the pain brought by the heat, Lumawig almost took out the agimat but remembered his lolo’s warning. Despite the pain, there was no injury on his chest.
“Noning, come see me in three days.” These were the only words lolo Gani could say as he was trying to be strong for his friend. He then turned around and walked out of the house, Lumawig who has gotten better followed his lolo outside. Caloy, who had just recovered, saw the maglolo step out of the house but saw the grieving look at the old man and the pale face of Lumawig and decided not to bother them. Highly curious, Caloy also went into the house, soon, another sound of retching could be heard.
It was almost six-thirty in the morning when the maglolo went home. Along the way, lolo Gani never said anything, he was just quiet. His brows will furrow periodically followed by a sharp look in his eyes. Lumawig on the other hand was looking at his lolo every now and then. Inside the house, lolo Gani put down his sundang and sat. His two elbows resting on the table while his palms covered his face. Lumawig on the other hand went outside to start fire and boil water for the two of them. He also went and collected the eggs laid by the four hens the day before. He quietly prepared breakfast for them, giving his lolo space to mourn the loss of a close friend.
Originally, lolo Gani was supposed to go out that day to help in harvesting melons, but with the incident that involved his two beloved friends, he was not in the mood to do anything. Only sadness can be seen on his face. As for Tiyo Noning, after the police arrived at the scene, he went with them to the hospital and processed his wife’s burial. All day long, whispers and rumors have been circulating not just in their neighborhood but in the whole barangay and to the next. This was the first ever case of murder, as police called it, so gory and horrifying, that many of them almost threw up at the scene, but this is naturally not the last. Naturally Tiyo Noning was questioned by the investigators, but his neighbors testified on his behalf that Tiyo Noning does not have any motive to kill Elsie as they all know how they loved each other so much.
Not long after, talks of an aswang having eaten Elsie and her baby surfaced. Many people started to believe this rumor as it is the only explanation, they have found it viable to explain the strange and gruesome death of Elsie. Adding to the fact that despite the handprints on the wall of their house, no fingerprints are present, and the claw marks could only signify an animal, or something that is like an animal. Naturally, lolo Gani and Lumawig also heard of the rumors, and they could only think about something. If this incident happened a week ago, Lumawig would have immediately dismissed the idea, however, what he has experienced moments before the gruesome event has opened his eyes and mind to many things.