Anathema

May 25, 2019 (pt 4)

May 25, 2019, 4 PM

Alam ko na ang lahat ng nangyari.

Kung hindi ko nakita ang footage mismo, hindi ako maniniwala na nag e-exist ang mga ganoong klaseng bagay. It was something out of a nightmare, the kind of which you won't be able to wake up from.

Luckily, the cctv camera has some sort of microphone installed on it, so the entire conversation was recorded as well. The revelations that Mr. Harold made was enough to make my skin crawl.

He isn't Mr. Harold anymore.

He is an entity from Hell.

Pagpasok ni Murphy sa bahay ni Mr. Harold, hindi muna siya nagtungo sa kusina. I saw his body at the edge of the video, making his way upstairs. He looked as if he was hearing something that the cctv's microphone cannot pick up.

Walang nangyari sa video sa loob ng ilang minuto. Then, finally, Murphy appeared again. But this time, Marty was snuggled in his arms, together with the old, black notebook. Binuksan niya ang front door para lumabas, pero bigla siyang natigilan.

Humakbang paatras. At muling humakbang.

Then Mr. Harold came into view.

He was dressed in a corporate attire, completed with tie and black shoes. Paatras na humakbang si Murphy. Paulit-ulit, hanggang sa makarating siya sa kusina.

Mr. Harold's deep voice filled the silence.

"Anong ginagawa mo sa bahay ko?"

Alam kong takot na takot si Murphy noong mga oras na iyon. Hindi ko man ito mahalata sa video, I know that he must've been terrified.

"Kinukuha ko lang ang kapatid ko," sagot niya sa tanong ni Mr. Harold.

The old man's eyes fell on Marty, who was fast asleep in Murphy's arms.

"Pero ikaw mismo ang nagbigay sa kanya sa akin. Hindi mo ba natatandaan?"

Nakatalikod si Murphy mula sa cctv, kaya't hindi ko makita ang kanyang facial expression. Pero damang-dama ko sa boses niya ang pagkabalisa.

"H-hindi totoo iyan. Hindi ko gagawin iyon."

Mr. Harold smiled. "Pero ginawa mo."

Umiling si Murphy. "It doesn't matter. Nandito na ko ngayon. I'm taking my little brother home."

Maglalakad na sana papunta sa front door si Murphy, pero hinarangan siya ni Mr. Harold.

"Hindi kita maaaring payagan sa gusto mong mangyari," ani ng matanda. "Ibigay mo sa akin ang bata, at makakalabas ka rito nang hindi nasasaktan."

"Why the fuck would I do that?" Mataas na ang boses ni Murphy. "Hindi ko hahayaan na may gawin kang masama sa kapatid ko."

Hindi sumagot si Mr. Harold.

"It's either you'll let us live, or I'm going to beat the shit out of you."

Murphy's shoulder were shaking uncontrollably. Because of extreme anger or fear, I don't know. Mabilis ang tibok ng puso ko habang pinapanood ang footage. Hindi ko inasahan ang mga susunod na nangyari.

Nakaharang pa rin si Mr. Harold sa daraanan ni Murphy.

"Move the fuck out of my way!"

Ngunit tumawa lang ang matanda. Pero iba na ang kanyang boses. It was as if it was coming from below ground, creepy and distorted. Akala ko noong una ay nagkamali lang ang aking pandinig. But after watching the footage for the second time, sigurado na ako.