Narration: Riz
As sunset approaches, I can see from the window that Reyna is cooking different food for the upcoming celebration. I smell lumpia, pancit, and even lechon she received from neighbors. She tastes the pancit and smiles as she chews it.
I see Tito approach Reyna and smell the food.
“This is really good, Reyna. Your ma teaches you how to prepare these?”
Reyna shakes her head, “She is usually a busy woman. She’s a nurse after all. I had to figure this out on my own.”
“Still good. By the way, have you seen Riz?”
“I thought he was working with you on that old Jeepney you have.”
“It’s...a work in progress. As for Riz, I thought he went to the procession with you.”
The door swings open to reveal myself and my companions appear into the small house. I have a large bandage over my back hidden under my shirt as Fei and Finn look around the house.
Finn nods at approval of the place, though he did say he is a man of simple tastes on our way here. “Pretty fine.”
Reyna and Ricar appear in the living room to see us.
Tito has that annoyed look again. “Ok, who are these people?”
“Uh...new friends.”
Tito Ricar looks at Reyna and back at us.
I try to calm my Tito down, “I will explain everything. But first, can I just get my “guests” comfortable?”
“I can prepare some food for them,” Reyna says in her usual cheery mood.
“That would be best.”
Reyna walks out and calls back. “I hope you guys like Pinoy cuisine.”
Tito suddenly becomes more guarded as he looks at the two guests.
I try to move closer to Tito in a quieter tone, “She can’t know what I am about to tell you.”
“Syempre kabalo ko ana. Unsa’y problema?” Tito says as he switches to Cebuano.
“Bebarlang. But I can–”
Tito rubs his temples. “Fuck. Giatake ka ni Aswang? Swerte ka nga giprotektahan nako ang among balay.”
Finn says to us, “Look, I am not sure what you are saying but know this. Your nephew came to us. And those bastards managed to find us at the same time.”
Fei adds, “We can’t go back to our safehouse.”
Tito tilts his head. “Oh...so you’re what? Pulis? espesyal nga pulis?”
“If you mean police....well....yeah, in a way,” Fei responds.
“We think the aswang bastards are planning a terrorist attack on the parade tomorrow.” Finn shows him the chip that came from Tito’s fly. “Your nephew shared us this chip that contains footage of them priming bombs.”
Tito is taken aback. “What? Usa ka pag-atake? Dinhi? To what end?”
“Tito, English, please,” I try to get Tito to switch back to a language the others can understand.
Tito approaches me and speaks in a low voice. “Your cousin may know we are tikbalang, but I would rather not get her involved in the serious shit you are up to. Do they-?”
I interject, “They know of us. They aren’t exactly typical humans themselves.”
Fei chimes in, “I am undead actually.”
Tito takes a closer look at Fei. “So you are. So is there anything else you need to tell me?”
I reply, “We need old Maria.”
Fei and Finn look at each and both say, “Maria?”
Tito Ricar waves his hands disapprovingly. “Hell no. She is not even ready yet. I still have to make sure the storage room doesn’t end up succumbing to spatial collapse. Not to mention, I didn’t get my tires baptized yet. And I really want them blessed before we run over something unholy.”
Fei looks at the Jeepney outside the window. “Is this some magical vehicle? What exactly do you mean by baptized tires? How does that even work?”
Tito Ricar makes a shhh sound before Reyna enters back in the room. I agree with Fei. Really, Tito? Neither of us are even Christian. What’s blessed tires gonna do? Resurrect in three days if they end up damaged? Drive on water? Keep the spirits of dead dinosaurs away from the Jeepney in case we end up using improperly refined gasoline? That happens more than you think by the way.
Reyna calls out, “Ok, food’s ready. Hope you like it.”
“I actually–” Finn bumps Fei with his elbow, interrupting her words. “-would like to try some. I am starving so much I can eat a—-”
Tito and I raise our brows at her, since we basically know what she was going to end on. And she knows too, because I can tell she definitely looks embarrassed.
“Nevermind. What do you have?”
“C’mon I’ll show you.” Fei and Finn follow Reyna to the kitchen while I speak with Tito Ricar.
I switch to Cebuano. “Gisultihan ko nila kung unsa’y nahitabo. Kinahanglan nato ang tanannga tabang na pwede makuha aron mapug-ngan ang mga bomba gikan sa.”
Tito responds back, “Mga bomba? Ginoo ko. Pundokon nako ang pipila ka mga higala aron kamatabangan. Ang pipila ka mga tikbalang ug tawhanong higala.”
I nod, “Sige. Fei and Finn have the locations listed.”
Tito finally has a look of approval. “Good, the gang has been waiting for places where we can strike the aswang. They have been evading us for too long. We notified the local pulis that we will take care of the aswang. As for your cousin, she is looking forward to watching the parade with you.”
I know how much it meant to Reyna that I would be present at the parade with her, but with so many in danger, I don’t think I can pass on this duty. “I won’t be available if we are going to give the aswang a thrashing.”
“Then you best have a good explanation why.” Tito walks off.
“What a week,” I groan.
Narration: Fei
Reyna, Finn, and I are eating dinner together. Reyna looks at Finn. “Thanks for trying out my food, guys.”
Finn is busy digging in with enthusiasm. “No problem. Very delicious this lumpia and...the noodles?”
“Pancit.”
Finn nods, “Mmmmm. Nice.”
He tasted more of the food as I tried my best to eat convincingly. I struggle to swallow down the lechon. It’s been so long since I actually ate that I forgot to eat. Not to mention this food isn’t completely agreeable with me.
Reyna looks concerned. “You okay? I hope my food isn’t giving you trouble.”
I swallow slowly, “It’s...good. I just...haven’t eaten in awhile.”
Reyna perks up. "Oh so you must be starving. You want more?”
I rapidly shake my head. “No! No. It is alright. This is enough. I...have a small stomach.”
Finn raises a brow at me. I just shrug back. Reyna just chuckles. “No worries. Just happy enough to share food with new friends.”
Finn replies, “Glad we are pleasant company for you.”
Reyna nods, “Yes! So I just wanted us to introduce each other. I am Reyna, Riz’s cousin.”
“A good name. Finn’s mine and…” He points at me, “This is Fei.”
I couldn’t help but notice Reyna's eyes. “You....I noticed you have two different colored eyes”.
“Ah...One of them is a fake.” She points to her gray one tapping on it.
“Oh, forgive me if I am prying. But what happened that made you lose an eye?"
She chuckles, “Just an accident. Nothing special. But it’s fine. It only means that my other eye is sharper than before.”
Finn remarks, “Don’t know if that’s how human eyes work.”
Reyna shrugs back. “It seemed to work for me. But what about you, Fei. What’s up with your eyes?”
“Uhh...ummm...you see…”
Finn interrupts with something outlandish. “She’s one of those really hardcore goth scene girls. Went as far as to have her eye whites tattooed black.”
“Wait...wha—,” What does Finn mean by this? Wait, does she know what we are already?
Reyna seems impressed though. “That’s so....cool. Tattoos are awesome. I know many relatives have the traditional types that determine their lineage. You should check them out someday. And you are really brave to go as far as having your eyes tattooed.”
“Thanks?” I look at Finn confused. He just smirks at me. Well, a compliment is a compliment.
“Well, I was wondering because I don’t think a change of eye color is something typical to your undead nature, Fei.”
Finn and I pause. So she does know. I mean what is the point of trying to hide it then?
“What? It was kinda obvious. I am a cousin to a family of tikbalang. You thought I didn’t know what my relatives were?”
Finn makes an important observation, “It is odd how you are related to them.”
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“Ah, long story. But my side of the family had a long tradition of being attuned to the old magics.”
“Hmmm... Do you know any special tricks then,” Finn asks.
She giggles, “I wish. My family’s connection with the supernatural has....diluted significantly. But maybe being back here will help me gain a reconnection of what was once lost.”
“Well, I hope you find it,” I say as a token of encouragement.
Reyna continues with her cheerful demeanor. “Thanks.”
Riz comes into the kitchen and looks at Reyna. “Hey, Rey. I just wanted to tell you I need some time alone with these people?”
She then switches her expression to concern. "Is there something wrong?”
“No, just planning out tomorrow.”
“I thought you were going to be with me for the parade. I heard it can get very crowded. I even heard people throw paint out of nowhere.”
Riz sighs. “Well, I am sorry. Something related to my work came up. These guys," he points to Finn and I “–are involved. I should be done before the parade is over.”
Reyna looks down a bit but smiles weakly. “It’s...okay.” She looks up and smiles a bit more. “I am sure Tito Ricar can guide me through the parade. You stay safe. I am going to check on Tito.”
Reyna leaves the room. I can feel her sadness. That much is obvious. Finn and I look at Riz. We remain in awkward silence, until Finn talks. “Right...so the plan as we discussed on our way back here. You also mentioned we are going to have backup?”
Riz responds, “It may not seem like it, but my tribe along with the allies of tikbalang have been doing what we can to counter the aswang. We disrupted their blood cocaine trade, which is how they originally made their fortune. But one of my own told me that an outsider convinced Ate Dalisay, the Cebu aswang crime boss, to switch to human abductions.”
I recalled when Riz used the spy drone chip to connect to his smartphone to show us two monsters in conversation in the aswang lair, as we came from the safehouse. One was a female figure in tactical gear with purple skin and bat-like wings, while other was a large half-naked being with no head.
Riz continues. “I don’t know who this outsider is though, but he is not of Pinoy origin.”
“I think I can answer that.” A voice comes out of Finn’s earpiece, which has a texture of something going through static interference.
“Ow, too loud,” Finn says as he handles his ear.
Yaz goes straight to the point. “Too bad. Just checked on the details of the cyber zombies. Gotta warn you guys and your friend Bojack about who is really running the show.”
Riz looks confused. “Who the hell is Bojack?”
“Shh. You are dealing with an anthropophagus,” replies Yaz.
“You are not acting the maggot, are ya, lass?”
Now it’s Yaz’s turn to be confused. “What the hell...Does anyone know what he is talking about?”
Riz and I shake our heads. Sometimes Finn says things that to this day I wouldn’t understand, since sometimes it’s a mish-mash of things he picked up in his journeys, but I'm not sure how much of it is old or new or if he's just making it all up.
“Thought you were well-versed in phrasing. Just Irish slang. And anyways, quite a fancy name for the ugliest beast of the bunch.”
Yaz continues. “Well, he’s no joke. Herodotus of the Rotten Moon tribe. His lot are involved in dark magic in addition to being man-eating creatures. They are also a group of mercenaries that wage proxy conflicts for their clients. What makes him stand out is his practice of cybernecromancy. The same nature of magic that created Fei’s curse.”
“Cybernecro-what?” Riz’s eyes widen and he looks at me. I know of it. Know it all too well. Not much to get into about that. The name basically speaks for itself. It's something I really don't want think about now. The last thing I need to is have more flashbacks. I can deal with my trauma later.
“It’s a long story. But in short, his minions are definitely implanted with Pinnacle's tech. Which is odd for the aswang to work with him, as they are enemies of that corporation,” Yaz replies.
Finn ponders this, “Hmm, I heard of the Rotten Moon. Infamous even by merc standards. My sources tell me rumors that they recently became a subsidiary of Nadir, a sister company to Pinnacle which both belong under the same conglomerate. They specialize in weapons development and the creation of many private military contractor groups. I know Pinnacle and Nadir like to cross over and share tech and research. I wonder if Herodotus could have taken those implants with Pinnacle’s blessing. They can’t be used when stolen, right?”
“There’s a failsafe that deactivates them when used without the consent of Pinnacle.”
Riz adds to the conversation. “But they already have the country in their pockets. Why risk it all on aiding aswang gangs?”
Yaz answers to Riz, “Remember Manifest 64? Fei acquired the schematics from the manifest earlier. I did some more research and the bomb schematics are definitely Pinnacle’s design. The ciphers used to guard information in the schematic are consistent with what a subsidiary of Pinnacle uses for security in their missile defense systems. Like the Legazpi M-1565 defense system. In fact, it’s referenced here having the same subroutines in its programming as the bombs, which isn’t obvious to most unless you connect the dots.”
Riz adds, “I know of it. That system destroyed many aswang settlements and lives in the wilderness during the government’s purge campaign a few years ago. It is why many of them moved to the cities in the first place and started their gangs. Even hearing the reference to Legazpi will rile them up. Still doesn’t explain why Pinnacle would be involved. The aswang are very anti-corporate.”
Finn replies, “Not every group is a monolith. Even their own will have their special diverging agendas despite the past. Also, the American corporations of our age are insidious in ways beyond the surface. Remember they are the power that rules the Western Hemisphere now. So Yaz, Pinnacle and Nadir’s interactions might need exploring.”
“I will keep researching on that. But that may take time.”
Then Finn turns his attention to me, “Hey Fei, you have been awfully quiet. Something the matter?”
Didn’t know my silence would bring myself attention. “Yeah...Riz, may I talk to you in private?”
Yaz gets irritated. “Wait, now? But we have to...fuck it. I will brief the rest to Finn.”
Finn smiles and lays his hand on my shoulder; then he walks off from the kitchen.
Riz leans on the counter. “Something on your mind?”
“Yeah...I am not usually upfront about other people’s business but if it weren’t for the fact some monsters wanted to blow up the city, I would want you to spend time with your cousin.”
Riz crosses his arms, “I would but...wait, why are you so interested in that?”
“To be honest, I haven’t voiced it out but I am a bit envious of the people in this country. So many are celebrating together with family. Eating together, dancing together, singing together.”
“Well, we do love our karaoke here.”
I find the response rather humorous. “Right. It is a shame the aswang want to ruin this festival.”
“Well, aswang themselves are outcasts. To the human citizens here, they have a history of being predators by nature. I pity them honestly, considering aswang and my kind have a common similarity in not being human.”
“But do they have to be like that? There is no peaceful resolution to this?”
“The government wishes to see them exterminated because of their primary nature as monsters who prey on human society. But then again, that same government doesn’t trust my kind or any other non-humans in the Pilipinas though we are at least tolerated.”
“I see. Your cousin knows who you are. Is she concerned about what you do or what is going on here?”
Riz shrugs, “Not really. She always hopes for the best. And she has to be after what she had to deal with in the past. I was surprised she managed to get out of America before shit hit the fan there.”
“Yeah, I am all too familiar with what’s going on that side of the world. People are trying to get out to the point of applying for refugee status. Just shows how dangerous the world has become.”
“And what’s your story if you don’t mind me asking?”
I lean on the wall in deep thought, “I don’t usually talk about myself. But I will give you this. When I see the families here celebrating the festival, it makes me wish I had a different life growing up.”
Riz asks, “Bad family too?”
“I was a bit of a disappointment for my parents. Add to that, we were from the countryside, a particular part of the land that had...a reputation of strange things going on. When we moved to Beijing, rumors started spreading in the schools I attended about my background.”
“So you were seen as an outcast. As expected from those that don’t care to understand.”
I shrug, “Maybe. I grew up with very few friends and they eventually drifted off. My life was fairly boring. Nothing stands out. At least until college.”
“What made it stand out?”
“Something that was both the best and worst thing that has ever happened to me.” I was intentionally roundabout with him about this answer. It is still too painful to remember.
“How can something be worst and best at the same time?”
“You would know if you understand what I mean, Riz. It led to a lot of....things. A little hint...it rhymes with dove.”
“Hmmm....”
We both remain awkwardly silent for...seconds? It felt weird that I was opening up to someone I met on the same day. I guess either it’s something about Riz or I am getting more personable by the day. It usually doesn’t happen.
Riz breaks the silence. “Aside from our so-called troubled pasts, what else do you think we have in common?”
“No idea. This is the first day we met. And the first thing we do is fight spectral thugs together.”
“Hmm...would you prefer another activity? Like having coffee at Starbucks?”
“We would probably be on our phones.”
“Eugh...Hell no. Do you know how many people I encounter that do that?”
“Yeah, same.”
We both chuckle together. When he doesn’t put up a front, he’s quite personable.
“So, you wanna see Maria, The Jeepney Tito is working on?”
I respond, “We can later. I actually wanted to ask if we can at least cheer Reyna up before we stop the aswang tomorrow.”
Riz smirks, “Hmm, I know she likes to try karaoke when she feels down. I can hear some singing in the other room.”
With a slight smile, I say, “I would like that.”
“Great, let’s check the other room.”
Narration: Riz
Fei and I walk into the room just as Reyna finishes singing in front of the TV. Tito and Finn are lounging on the couch clapping for Reyna’s performance.
“Hey, we just finished our chat. How well did you do Rey?”
“Alright. I am a bit rusty with singing nowadays. But if you like, you two could go next.”
“Sure,” I say.
Then Finn teases, “How about you let Fei try? I haven’t heard her sing in a while.”
Fei ends up looking embarrassed. “Finn!”
“C’mon, lass. You should show what you can do.”
“Yeah. You should. It’ll be fun,” Reyna chuckles.
Fei sighs conceding to their suggestion. “Alright, but what should I sing?”
I state, “anything is fine. Tito, see if you can pull any song from online that Fei wants to sing.”
“Hmm, I know what I like to sing. It’s a Chinese lullaby from the northeastern region if that is alright with you.”
Finn gets increasingly amused. “Oh ho ho. I think I know what she is talking about. 3000 pesos that your jaw will drop by the end, Riz.”
“What? Hmm, well if it’s money you are willing to lose, sure,” Tikbalang don’t turn down a challenge often regardless if we win or not.
I can see that Tito and Reyna quirk their eyebrows in curiosity. C’mon, I am not someone so easily impressed with singers. Those idol shows have a full range I have seen. So I’m not sure how Fei will impress me with her approach. I see her choosing something on the TV with the remote. A song with Chinese lyrics and a moon background. The song started playing. Hmm, definitely traditional. Let’s see what she can do.
Fei starts singing the following lyrics in Chinese.
月儿明，风儿静，
树叶遮窗棂。
小宝宝，快睡觉，
睡在那个梦中。
The moon is bright, the wind is quiet,
The tree leaves hang over the window.
My little baby, go to sleep quickly,
Sleep, dreaming sweet dreams.
月儿那个明，风儿那个静，
摇篮轻摆动。
娘的宝宝，闭上眼睛，
睡呀睡在那个梦中。
The moon is bright, the wind is quiet,
The cradle moves softly.
My little one, close your eyes,
Sleep, sleep, dreaming sweet dreams.
Time seems slow after she finishes the song. If she wasn’t undead, I think she would be blushing. I look at the others who were all smirking at me. I notice my jaw is open this whole time. Goddammit.
Finn rubs salt on the wound, “Well, lad?”
“Shut up.” No choice but to fork over some pesos to him. I see Fei chuckle. Well, at least she has a sense of humor. Don’t know many undead that do.
Narration: Ate Dalisay
What makes an aswang a monster? It’s something I always mused about, even back in my early days as manananggal. To the average person, despite any origin story that explains our emergence, it comes back to the insatiable hunger we had for another living being. Flesh, blood, or in my circumstances, an unborn fetus. Do they ask what makes manananggal hunger for new life? They don’t. After all, an evil action no matter the context will still remain as such to these people. But hunger is at the core of all life.
We must consume to live. Should a tiger or a crocodile be condemned for feeding on another animal? Or maybe because we are self-aware beings and we continue to subsist on fresh life? Fairly rarely is there anything else that can satisfy and sustain our being. Our bodies demand a high consumption of newly created life force or we die.
I lean on the railing of the second floor of the warehouse. I look at a picture of a man in standard priest garb before putting it inside my coat. I take a cigarette and start smoking. Bad habit. But I need to calm my nerves. The lower-half of my body is walking up the stairs towards me. Slow as always. All the implants and cybernetics recently applied to my legs are starting to feel heavier now. Last thing I need is to have Vader-type legs, but it’s a big day tomorrow.
The ambush by my bebarlang failed. It only caused our foes to retreat somewhere more secure. We don’t have time to pursue them. I should have shot them for their failure. But I can’t afford to lose bodies for something this big happening tomorrow. Everyone is needed.
The lower-half reattaches to my body and I stop leaning while facing one of the sigbin.
“Everyone ready?”
The sigbin merely nods.
“Make sure you tell the other gangs that STAY away from the maneater. I can’t promise that he will not eat you.”
The minion nods once again before scurrying away as Herodotus walks over to me.
He munches on some raw, dessicated meat of unknown origin as I dump my cigarette. I look onward as I see my aswang subordinates and Herodotus’ undead preparing for the operation.
“Your thralls can handle something this delicate? I doubt it.”
Herodotus responds after finishing his meat. “The dead are there to check on you and your rabble. Otherwise, I’ll just let them feed.”
I sharply turn to him. “Keep your threats. The sooner we finish this, the sooner we stop working together.”
He laughs in a guttural manner. “Doubtful. Your superiors in Manila wish to add this mission to the greater plan for the Philippines.”
“Cebu is my business. I care less for Luzon.”
“I will leave that to you and them to discuss after this beautiful bloodbath ends. As for now, I will base myself on the ground to seek the meddlers.”
“Sure...And I will be at the highest point in Cebu to check progress.” I retrieve a sniper rifle and load it in preparation.
“It is time we gave the souls of this city our own festive gesture.” Herodotus walks away as I turn to my lieutenants among the aswang.
“Everyone, Time to move.” The aswang howl as they rally to me walking outside the facility to wage my war on Cebu.