Baylan is a small developing city that can be found in the Southwestern region of Mindanao. Its Northern reaches are surrounded by high mountain ranges. It faces a sheltered bay in the South and is rich in good fishing grounds. The city has been prosperous for years now with new businesses popping up in every corner. It is also considered a peaceful place since the crime rates are lower compared to other cities.
Anya was born in Baylan. She lived and breathed in this place. Though not as well known as other major cities in her country, still one can see that it's well underway into becoming a rapidly highly urbanized area.
Anya has a lot of fond and sad memories in this place. She was 24 years old when both of her parents died. It was unexpected as most deaths by accident are. She remembers it all clearly like it happened yesterday. It was a family reunion. Her parents and her father's siblings planned their little trip to a waterfall located in the Northern part of Baylan. The said place was a bit remote and only local tourists were allowed during its opening at that time. The sun was shining brightly back then when they arrived at their destination. The place seemed beautiful and enchanting. It looked like one of those mysterious and untouched for centuries kind of a place a person sees on television shows that bewitches anyone who visits there. Even though big boulders can be found scattered around, many people still enjoy the shaded place and its cool waters. A few hours passed as they were soaking in the pristine waters, they noticed a light rainshower falling from the sky. Moments later, they heard a low rumbling sound from afar. It seemed to be getting closer. They didn't mind it at first though since they didn't know any better. It was their first time bathing in a waterfall. The area was not opened until that day since the locals have considered the falls and its surrounding forest sacred. For hundreds of years no one was allowed to even go near the place for fear of old superstitious beliefs; one of which involves 'dwendes' and 'aswangs' who play tricks and kidnap people never to be seen again to name a few. Looking back Anya thought maybe the local people made those rumors to serve as warning for others that we all need to be wary of nature. Filled with laughter whilst making conversation with other family members, they soon noticed the water turned brown. However, it was already too late. In a blink of an eye, there was a sudden rush of muddy water from up above the waterfall. Being nearer to the water's edge, Anya miraculously was able to move to safety. Her parents, one of her aunt and two of her cousins among several other people swimming in the water at that time were not so lucky though. They were quickly swept away by the strong waters from upstream. It was a heart-wrenching day for them. Anya was an only child and in a brief moment she's the only one left. They were a trio. She had always been close to her parents. Other people may see her as childish when interacting with them but she had such a strong bond with her father and mother. It took her a long time to understand what happened back then. She was rooted to the spot, lost in emptiness. She could never forget the wails of those that were left behind on the sidelines though, powerless and unable to do anything but watch as their loved ones were devoured by the flashflood - just like her. Death has this way of leaving such an ugly mark in a person's mind.
Pulling herself from the folds of her memories, Anya started walking toward one of the largest supermarket that is located in the center of Baylan. 2022 is coming a few hours from now. New year means new beginnings for her. There's nothing wrong with remembering the past but she must be careful not to be drowned by it, she thought.
Dragging herself faster, she takes a shopping cart from the entrance and pushes it to the pasta section. Like everyone around her, she is doing some last minute shopping in preparation for the celebration of New Year. She needs to finish buying the things she needs in order to make a sumptuous and gratifying meal. Just because she lives alone doesn't mean she's gonna sit in a corner and not enjoy the festivity in her home.
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It's already 7:00 in the evening. She got off late from work due to the reports she had to finish. Good thing Cale stayed with her for a while otherwise it would be hard for her to grab a ride. She asked him to drop her off in the city center. She remembered Cale inviting her earlier to spend New Year at his father's house together with his family but she declined. Call her an introvert or whatever but she really does not want to intrude in his family's gathering. She was also avoiding the possibility that he might say something about her living conditions in front of his family. That guy was still concerned about her especially with what happened earlier. She finds his act very endearing. It feels like she has a family again. Not that she's trying to replace her parents but she's thankful that even if they're gone now, there is still a person who stayed by her side. He is someone who constantly reminds her that she's not alone in this world. Sure, she has relatives nearby but they weren't really that close with each other to begin with. It became worse because of what happened a long time ago. Some wounds take a very long time to heal. She thinks maybe it's hard for them to see her as much as it's hard for her to see them. It brings back painful memories. It's funny though - how fate lets us meet people who make us feel like family even if we're not related by blood. And she's very grateful for that.
She's in the middle of deciding which brand of pasta to choose from when the lights began to flicker. She didn't mind it af first. Baylan may be prosperous but it still suffers from power interruption from time to time. It got worse since two weeks ago a powerful storm ravaged the country. Baylan encountered a few fallen electrical posts in the aftermath of said storm.
She's looking at the price of the pasta in her hand when she noticed that it suddenly became eerily quiet. Looking around, she found that no one was in the aisle with her.
"That's weird. I'm pretty sure there were a few people around here earlier," she says to herself.
"You're right. However I made them leave," a deep and chilly voice came from behind her.
Anya quickly turned around.
"A pleasure to meet you, disciple of Aguaye."
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A man wearing a uniform trudged along a small path holding a flashlight. He was doing his usual rounds checking that no one has stayed inside the park now that it has closed for the day. Silence has crept in the area. It was still 6:00 in the evening but the park has already been covered in darkness. Not a single soul nor a single noise can be seen and heard apart from the guard's footsteps and breathing. He has worked here for 10 years now and has gotten used to roaming around the park alone. But, this time something felt different. For some unexplainable reason goosebumps start showing up on his skin. Fighting off the chills he felt, he continued walking a bit further until he reached the children's playground. Slumped on the ground near the monkey bars was a man.
"Hey mister. We're already closed. You should come with me and I'll accompany you to the exit," he said. The guard waited but no reply came from the unknown person.
At first he thought the man was drunk and was just passed out. He moved closer to the man and tried to wake him up. Then, he was dumbfounded. The light illuminated droplets of blood on the ground. He dropped low to check if the man still has a pulse. He was taken aback though. The slumped figure completely slid to the ground. Upon closer look his face was contorted. Panic etched on it. It was like he died of fear - of seeing something he shouldn't have. However, that was not what made the guard step back. What he saw was worse for he saw that the dead man's eyes were hollow. Blood gushed out from the sockets. His eyeballs were gone. There was also a hole in his chest in which more blood poured out. The guard couldn't take it anymore. He ran away immediately screaming for help.
The guard did not notice that in the distance hidden among the trees, a pair of blood red eyes gave an ominous glint in the darkness. A low growl can be heard as the night air changes.