Anathema

May 25, 2019 (cont)

May 25, 2019, 12:37 PM

I decided to visit Mr. Harold's house.

Kung hindi sasabihin sa akin ni Murphy kung ano talaga ang nangyari, I need to see it myself. Sana lang gumagana 'yung cctv camera na nakita ko sa kusina kahapon.

The house was quiet when I went inside. As soon as I enter the doorway, it felt as though I was transported to a different world. The air was heavy and cold, and there was a sinister feeling that I couldn't point my finger on.

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko, and I suddenly had this urge to run away as fast as could. But I planted my feet firmly to where I'm standing. Hindi na ako pwedeng mag back out. Kailangan kong malaman kung ano ang nangyari dito kahapon.

Kaagad akong nagtungo sa kusina. Inakyat ko ang cctv at mabilis na kinuha ang memory card sa loob nito. Papanoorin ko ang footage sa laptop ko mamaya.

Dahan-dahan akong bumaba ng lababo, at nang papalabas na ako sa pinto ay bigla akong nakaramdam ng kakaiba. Hindi ko alam kung bakit, pero may kung anong pumipilit sa akin na umakyat sa ikalawang palapag ng bahay.

I know that what I'm about to do can be considered as idiotic, since ganito usually ang dahilan kung bakit namamatay ang characters sa horror movies. But I can't just ignore my guts. My nosy nature got the best of me. I have to see what's upstairs.

Dahan-dahan akong umakyat sa hagdan. The air started to feel much thicker, like I was wading underwater. But I continued to walk upstairs.

As soon as I reached the landing, stale air greeted me. It looked as though no one had been here for years. Puno ng alikabok ang paligid, at ang mga furnitures ay natatakpan ng puting tela. I flipped the switch beside me, pero hindi gumagana ang ilaw. I stared at the darkness, contemplating if I should continue to explore or not. After a minute of deliberation, I finally made up my mind. Wala namang tao dito, anyway. Walang mawawala if I do a little exploring.

Inilabas ko ang cellphone ko at binuksan ang flashlight. It was bright enough outside that I won't really need an extra light to help me see, but I wanted to examine everything. I don't know why but I just have the feeling that I might find something important here.

Napukaw ang atensyon ko sa isang makapal na libro na nakapatong sa maliit na mesa. Nilapitan ko iyon.

It wasn't a book, but a photo album.

I picked it up, and flipped the cover.

A picture with a group of people greeted me. They looked like...priests. And among them, was Mr. Harold. Out of all the people in the picture, he was the only one who wasn't smiling.

I flipped another page, and another, and another. The pictures were pretty much the same. They all contained priests in various gatherings. I was about to return the photo album when I noticed a piece of paper jutting out on its last page. I yanked it out and unfold it.

It was a document, stating that Mr. Harold is no longer part of the catholic church for conducting satanic rituals. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Mr. Harold is an ex-communicated priest.

An anathema.

Napatalon ako sa gulat nang biglang may kumalabog. Nabitiwan ko ang photo album na hawak ko, pati na rin ang dokumento.

I let out a shaky breath. I wasn't alone.

Tumingin ako sa paligid. Pakiramdam ko ay may nakamasid sa akin.

Bumalik ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko. I looked around, looking for a sign that someone was here with me. Then I noticed an open door at the corner. It was at the back of a closet, so I didn't notice it at first.

There was a huge chance that the noise came in there. I took a step towards it, and another, and another, until I'm right in front of the door. I can't see anything beyond it. Dahan-dahan kong inangat ang cellphone ko at inilawan ang loob ng kwarto.

There was something twitching in there.

I swallowed my fear, and took a step forward. It looked like a living thing, twitching ang writhing at the top of a long table. I took another step, and that was when the smell hit me.

Parang nabubulok na laman.

Dahan-dahan akong lumapit sa gumagalaw na nilalang, and when I was finally close enough to recognize it, my eyes widened in fear.

It was a goat. Its slitted throat was already full of worms, and it seemed to have been drained of blood, but it was still moving, like it was trying to escape. I instinctively took a step back.

And crashed into someone.

Kaagad akong lumingon, at tumambad sa akin ang nakangiting si Mr. Harold. Pulang-pula ang kanyang mga mata at mariin itong nakatitig sa akin. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko na mapasigaw.

Kumaripas ako ng takbo. Hindi ako tumigil hangga't hindi ako nakakalabas ng bahay na iyon. I didn't stop, until I was inside Murphy's house and the door was firmly shut behind me. I crashed into the couch, out of breath. I didn't realize that I have been crying until I touched my cheeks and felt the wet tears there.

Hanggang ngayon, habang sinusulat ko ito, nanginginig pa rin ang mga kamay ko. Iyon na siguro ang pinaka-nakakatakot na naranasan ko sa buong buhay ko. The way Mr. Harold stared at me will surely give me nightmares for weeks.

Habang nakaupo ako sa couch at kinakalma ang sarili ko, napansin ko si Murphy na nakatayo sa hagdan at nakatingin sa akin. When he saw me looking at him, he flashed a knowing smile.

As if he knew where I'd been, and what I had just experienced.