Snow's POV
As we walked by the dirt path walled with wild grass we noticed that there are hays stack up piled somewhere like there are people doing maintenance with the vicinity. Nothing was destroyed and so far yung kalat ko lang na ginawa ang tanging maiipintas sa lugar.
We are walking with caution and our senses is in heightened alert. I can sense the strong demonic energy everywhere but there is no miasma involved.
Malayo pa ang mansyon at mukhang mahabang lakaran pa ito. I was wondering why there is only a little snow in this area. Even this is the border, it shouldn't be like this.
Suddenly our senses just caught something around the barn yard. I can sense movement and it's alarming everyone.
"Prepare your weapons." Mahinang saad ni Yuan but it is enough for the six of us to hear it.
Napalunok ako. Tila natatakot ako sa bagay o kalaban na hindi namin alam kung ano ang potensyal at kakayahan. Matatagalan ko ba ang ganitong klaseng misyon sa mga darating na panahon? I doubt it, ngayon pa nga lang para ng dinadaga yung dibdib ko. Lahat na 'ata ng mga palatak ay naisigaw ko na sa utak ko.
"This movements is freaking the hell out of me." Saad ko. Pero bahala na, this is life threatening situation, do or die.
"There is nothing to be feared." Kalmadong saad ni Yuan.
"Fear the unknown." Saad ko. That thing is the most fearsome thing, things that you don't know if they are your enemy or not.
"There is nothing unknown in this world, if it is, it will only be categorized as a demon. If it gives harm, then we will kill it." Saad nito at biglang naningkit na ang mga mata nito.
Napatingin naman ako sa direksyon na tiningnan nito. The movement became more closer and suddenly something jump up so high and it landed in front of us. The way it looks, it looks like a human but dressed like a cowboy with hat and when it stands clearly, we recognized it right away.
"A scarecrow?" Naisambit ni Avis.
Nagkatinginan kaming lahat. We are all in question why the scarecrow is freaking moving! Shouldn't this be just on the field?
"It may be possessed." Maikling saad ni Jin.
"Then get an exorcist!" Naisigaw ko.
They looked at me like I had grown two heads. They must be thinking I am stupid, pero di ba pag may sinapian ay exorcist kaagad ang kinukuha?
"This is not a stupid movie. That thing sure is controlled by whoever the demon habituating in this village." Saad naman ni Violet.
I almost rolled my eyes. Just one scarecrow is not too much.
"Is this a joke?" Tanong naman ni Luna.
We all shrugged with the idea. Then in a one swift moment, the scarecrow attacked us in its most daring way. And with one swift slash of Jin, it turned this into a hay on the ground. That was too easy, and to think—
"Holyshit!" I screamed. When we killed one, 20 of them sprung from out from anywhere. They are like mushrooms! Popping out of nowhere.
"Shit. But this is easy." Saad ni Violet.
We began with swinging our swords cutting and slashing. It is unexpectedly easy, but seriously halloween is still too far, seeing them are like we are having a halloween party or something.
Tagumpay na napabagsak namin ang dalawampu. Pero napatingin na lang kami sa taas when there are shadow dots and became bigger. Nanlaki na lang ang aking mga mata ng makitang another wave of scarecrow is coming.
"I am getting impatient with this nonsense thing." Saad ni Yuan and without a warning, he released a blazing red flame above and as the scarecrows approaching they're starting to burn pieces and ashes are raining and some did fell while burning.
Hindi naman kami magkamayaw sa pag-ilag dahil baka tamaan kami ng mga nasusunog na scarecrow at baka maging additional pa kami sa mga nasusunog. Kaloka naman itong si Yuan di ba, wala man lang pasabi, gusto ko tuloy itong kasuhan ng arzon ng makulong.
"That was so reckless." Saad ko dahil paano na lang kung maging tanga kami at hindi nakailag.
"You did the same thing without a warning." Sagot naman nito. At sa akin pa talaga binato ang sisi diba? I was just surprise at that time and my brain stopped from working kaya hindi na ako nag-isip pa kung ano ang gagawin.
"That was different!" Sagot ko rito. Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na bumalik ang pagiging abnormal nito sa akin.
"Then what's the different with 2 hands?" Balik tanong nito sa akin.
Abnormal ba ito? Anong konek ng kamay ko? "They are left and right you idiot."
"What did you just call me?" Biglang dumilim ang anyo nito. If there is another thing to be afraid of aside from demon, it is Yuan.
"Hey enough. I don't know why you still get the luxury to bicker in the middle of our mission." Sita naman ni Jin.
"You call it luxury?" Nababaghang tanong ko naman kay Jin. Seriously? I don't see it as a luxury, it is a curse! A nightmare!
"At a time like this? Yes." Saad nito at nagpatuloy ba ito sa pagkalad.
I was fuming. Those two are really on the same feathers. I was stomping and almost whining while walking behind them. Papunta kami sa barn at sana naman wala na kaming makasalubong na problema.
•••
We are now in front of the gate of the gloomy looking barn. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba kaming pumasok na lang basta basta. We don't even know this freaking village!
"Papasok ba tayo?" Tanong ko.
"This is the nest of the demon, we have to." Saad naman ni Violet.
"But aren't we trespassing?" Tanong ko ulit. Hindi ko alam pero concern ako sa batas.
"They are the one who trespassed. This is my city and they dared to enter." Nakatiimbagang naman sagot ni Jin.
Kahit anong sabihin ko sa mga ito, may mga sagot talaga sila. Ayaw patalo. Kunsabagay lumaki ang mga ito na sila ang batas kaya walang takot ang mga ito. Ako naman, peace lover ako masyado at non-violator din ako.
Pumasok na sa gate si Yuan at sumunod din ang apat. Ako na lang ang natira na hindi pa pumasok kaya napalingon naman si Yuan sa akin ng napansin nitong hindi ako sumunod.
"Are you coming or what?" He coldly ask me.
"Eto na nga oh, naglalakad na." Sagot ko naman at nagmartsa na ako papasok.
They entered the door at sa totoo lang, masama ang pakiramdam ko rito. My instinct is screaming that it is a bad idea to enter pero ano pa ang silbe kung sasabihin ko di ba? Ayaw din naman nilang makinig. Pero kung ano man ang magyayari dito, mumultohin ko talaga silang lahat.
We entered the wide barn room with a gloomy ambiance. Creepy siyang tingnan and there lots of hays on the ground, may rake pa doon na kinakalawang. We did not take the step yet at kanina pa akong nanggigigil sa pagkakahawak ko sa aking espada. I am just prepared and anticipating an attack since we are already inside the demon's den. The reasoning is out of question, we literally serving our selves in a plate to be fed to the demon. Stupid Yuan.
Then we heard footsteps and it is bounching everywhere. Kinilabutan ako. The footsteps sounds so creepy and I am even already imagining some ghost. The last time I saw a demon, it had a freaking scary face, ano pa ba aasahan ko? A handsome demon? Is there such a thing?
I hid behind Yuan dahil ayaw ko na makita kung ano man yung naglalakad. Baka si Lutos feet kasi yan. Matatakutin pa naman ako masyado sa multo.
"Welcome, young ones." Narinig ko na saad ng isang malamig na boses. It sounded human so far. "Welcome to my humble abode."
The air went still. I have no idea why, but I am certain that it is the man or whatever is the reason.
"Who are you?" Malamig na tanong ni Jin.
Naiintriga na tuloy ako sa kung sino ang tinatanong nito. Their look on their faces doesn't change. Hindi nagulat ang mga ito at wala din bakas ng takot na makikita sa kanilang mga itsura.
"I should be the one asking." Sagot naman ng malalim na boses.
"How impertinent. I am the lord of this land and I have the right to question the suspicious people in my land." Diin na saad ni Jin.
Badass. Make sure not to cross with Jin, tahimik lang ito pero ibang level din ito kung magalit.
"Oh my, such an honor to be visited by the young lords. Come have a sit." Yaya pa nito. Saan naman kami uupo? This is a freaking barn if he's not aware of it.
No one moved, they stand still as if they never heard the man in front offered us to sit. Knowing this five they will never stoop low with their pride. Nobilities. Aristocrats. Goddamnit.
I was too curious and started to take a peak slowly. I moved slowly from Yuan's back and my eyes slowly seeing the figure in front by bits until he was whole.
My eyes went wide as I looked at the man who has a strong built but there are strange marking in his skin. They are like black tattoos and looks like veins crawling under his skin. His eyes is black bith red pupil and he is bald but with horns upturned.
Jin must be crazy. This is not suspicious at all! This is a demon itself! Paanong nagtanong pa sila kung sino ito? Ano ito? Meet and greet? Baliw baliwan lang?
"Are you crazy Jin?" I uttered loudly. "Suspicious is freaking understatement. There is no such thing as suspicious here. That thing is a legit. It's a demon!" Saad ko.
Napatingin naman sila sa akin even the demon in front of us eyed me.
"Huh? What are you talking about, this man is suspicious to me." Sagot naman ni Jin.
"Yeah, we can't just claim some human to be something else." Sagot naman ni Luna.
I was surprised by their statement. Human? There is nothing human in this freaking thing in front of us! Aren't they seeing it?
"Can't you see it? He is freaking demon with horns and black markings!" I said furiously. Hindi ba nila nakikita ito? It's too clear like a daylight!
Nagulat naman ang lima at napatigin ulit sa demon but their face turn into confusion.
"He looks so human to me Snow." Saad ni Avis.
What? Are they under some kind of illusion? But this thing in front of me is definitely a demon. I can feel it! The miasma is starting to fill the air.
"Don't trust its face. I can see his real face. Don't get swayed by it. This place is already suspicious and all of this may be just an illusion!" I nagged them. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang problema ng mga mata nila at hindi nila makita ang tunay na anyo nito.
I eyed the demon furiously. The fear I felt before somewhat vanished into thin air. The demon shoot a dagger look at me as if questioning my existence and eyeing me like he wants to devour me.
The demon showed a bone chilling grin as it flashed its shark like teeth as its pupil glows.
"I never thought, a mere human will see through." Saad nito at nakatingin sa akin. He looks really scary but I don't care. "The likes of you, must die."
With those statement, the floor we are standing swirled and everything is swirling. Agad akong hinawakan ni Yuan at ang apat naman ay pinalibutan ako. As the place is changing, it turned into a barren death land with dead trees and scattered skulls around.
"Stay behind me." Diin ni Yuan.
I do not plan on letting them fight alone. This is our mission and we fight together with this forsaken demon who is looking for trouble and eyeing the death of me.