Chapter 4: Odd Solitary Tree

"Where am I?" tanong ko sa aking sarili nung nahulog ako sa isang puno.
Nahihilo pa ako at di ko alam saang planeta ako bumagsak.

Basta naalala ko lang... nung hinawakan ko yung puno pagkatapos nun ay may umilaw na parang sinag ng araw na sinusunod ang pattern na mahahalintulad ng isang simbolo.
I tried to figure it out but suddenly there was a hole making bigger and bigger and just I realize, it was a way to the bottom like an opening.

I felt the ground is shaking and suddenly I slipped all the way down then landed on a cement platform.

"Aray! a-ang sakit ng likod kooo." hinawakan ko ang aking likod at ulo dahil sa sakit na naramdaman sa pagkabagsak ko. Namimilipit ako sa sakit nito.

Argh! tumitindi lng ang sakit ng aking ulo ko sa kakaisip.

Nilibot ko ang aking paningin sa lugar kung saan ako ngayon.
The place seems like an abandoned underground tunnel.
Naghahanap ako ng posibleng labasan pero wala akong makita.

"I need to think of something way out of here." bulong ko sa sarili ko habang nag iisip kung ano ang gagawin.

I was at the corner area from where I fell, above mine are the huge tree roots and a small hole or isn't where I guess dyan ako nanggaling. The whole place was covered with ivy leaves, huge roots through the old walls even also in the ceiling.
Bushes and dry leaves all over the corner coating the place in centuries. The crack cemented pathway makes it look muddy because of tree roots and moss– puddles of water everywhere.

I continue to find a possible way out, may naaninag akong ilaw sa dulo pa norte galing sa pwesto ko. I was hesitant for a sec. but I left with no choice. I follow the light and slowly walk to the small pathway.

I actually felt afraid– well as a normal teenage ass human. My heartbeat drums so fast making it faster and louder because of the additional tension and creepy for I don't know what reason for this place. A lump rose in my throat but I need to stay at ease if I wanted to find a way out.

Hinawi ko ang mga nagtataasang ivy leaves na malakurtina ang style habang sinusundan ang kinaroroonan ng maliit ng liwanag, until the light gets clearer doon ko napagtanto na may pintuan pala.

An old huge door coated with a huge tree trunk and a small keyhole or just a hole from which the light comes. I look closely.

"Weird..." I mumbled.

Paanong may pintuan dito sa ganitong lugar? Nakapagtataka lang.

Habang papalapit ako sa pintuan na pinalibutan ng mga dahon at naglalakihang ugat ng puno.
Isn't it strange? It feels like the door is calling me to get in. My guts are also telling me to go through.

Kinakabahan ako kung ano man ang susunod na mangyayari.
I just felt so really weird literally mixed emotions, kinakabahan na parang natatakot. Lmao, I just wanna get out of here as soon as I can.

Sinubukan kong lumapit sa pintuan at sinuri ito ngunit nag sparkle ito na may sinusunod na maliit na pattern.
Lumapit pa ako para ma tignan ng malapitan.
Isang pattern ng buwan– a crescent moon to be exact there's also writings below in it but I can't figured it out kasi di ko alam anong lingguwahe ang ginamit. Parang arabic? I'm not that sure either. Sinuri ko ang mga nakasulat at sinundan ng tingin ang liwanag.

And the weirdest thing is I kinda feel that I have seen these writings before. Idk kung kailan o saan but I doubted that.

Napa atras ako ng unti-unting gumagalaw ang mga dahon at naglalakihang ugat pahawi ng pintuan.

"W-What's going on?" pa linga-linga kong tingin sa paligid.

Na out of balance ako ng biglang yumanig ang kinatatayuan ko at ng umangat ako ng tingin sa pintuan ay pa unti-unti na itong bumukas sa di malamang dahilan.

The light become clearer at bumukas na nga ng tuluyan ang pinto.

Nagdadalawang isip ako kung ano ang tiyak na mangyayari sakin kung papasok ba ako dito o babalik? Pero paano?

I would choose the latter instead. But there's something in there aside from those questions in my head that keeps bothering me, is it curiosity? maybe?

But I do hope that I should get out from here sooner. Baka kasi hinahanap na ako nila lolo... patay na naman ako.

Pinasok ko na ang pintuan at papasok pala ako sa isang mala tunnel na pinalibot ng dahon kagaya nung kanina

"Sana labasan na nga ito."

Naglakad ako ng naglakad ng biglang may suminag na liwanag sa dulo ng tunnel and excesses brightness of the light is blocking my vision.

Di ko pa maaninag kung saan na ako ngayon, kinukurot ko ang aking mga mata upang maibalik ang aking paningin. Nag a-adjust pa ang aking mga mata para ma klaro ang lugar na nilabasan ko. Nakalabas na pala ako pero, "Where the heck am I? What is this place?!"

Nilibot ko ang aking paningin sa panibagong lugar na napasukan ko, tiyak na ikinagugulat ko nung lumingon ako sa pinangalingan ko. Ngunit... lalong ikayanig ng buong sistema ang natuklasan ko.

A brick wall. With a visible sign same as I have seen earlier more like symbols on its upper level.

"WAIT- WHY IS THERE A?!" Are you kidding me? Is this some sort kind of magic? Sorcery? An unknown place?

"Oh God! A-ano ba tong nangyayari sakin?" di makapaniwalang tugon ko. Kakapanood ko ng mga movies about fiction napaparanoid na yata ako.

Then a sudden memory from those pop-ups in my head which is, not kinda helping.

"Wait... Tama! Kung parehas to ng mga napapanood ko sa mga movies na parang jungle puzzle or whatever the freak fact is happening to me right now." I scoff.

"No! No! Di naman to mukhang jungle pero maybe I can use those out? Yung parang nasa isang m-maze ka tapos h-hanap ka lng ng labasan t-tapos may mga codes or stuff like that ka na e so-solve..." halos pabulong at natataranta kong sabi.

Mind the word of panicking? Well, that's what I feel right now.

"Baka! [Idiot!] That's not it, dummy!" sabay gulo ko saking buhok.

"Composed yourself, Morgana! You have to end this freaking situation you are now."

Huminga ako ng malalalim na mga buntong hininga. Sinuri ko ang buong paligid. Shocked and utterly out of words. I was in a freaking train station! An underground subway.

"Saang lugar na naman ako pumunta? Impossible na may ganito dito."
Karma na siguro to sa kakalakwatsa kong mag-isa at binabango-ngot ako ng ganito?

I literally slap my face. "A-Aray!" Napaigtad ako sa sakit sa sarili kong kagagahan.

I'm not dreaming! This is all true pero paano?

I'm in an old train station with an old train railway alongside. There were benches that look dusty and barely damage. Concrete walls that seem the cracks are the basis of its old centuries of holding the hall to its position. Strangely observing at the place that looks like an abandoned just like before I enter this place.

But the thing I am confused more about is the fact that I came out on a freaking tunnel! How the hell has just happened that I came out on a freaking concrete wall. Behind me?!

"Oh please. I'm freaking out again."

I was stunned for the moment when my body shivered because of the cold breeze coming from somewhere. If you're thinking that I'm afraid of ghost or such kinds of stuff like that then quit it! I am not.

"Di na ako natutuwa sa sitwasong ito." pabulong na naiinis kong sabi.

I'm not afraid just freaking out! Kung bakit kasi sinundan ko pa yung liwanag. Kasalanan ko ba to? O-syempre hindi!

"Malay ko bang saang lupalop na ako ng mundo. Napapala kaka explore eh di naman ako si Dora!" na hy-hysteria kong sabi sa sarili ko. Nagmumukha na akong tanga kakasalita sa sarili ko.

Instead of yapping out there, I continue to look for another possible way out. I follow the direction of the wind that resides in the north of this hall may naaninag akong liwanag na nagmumula doon. I'm about to take a risk out there but I'm trusting my guts feeling kay sa nakatungo lamang dito.

Dahan-dahan na paglalakad patungo sa dulo na yun.

I'm keen on observing my surroundings, no one knows what could happen. It's better to be per-caution than being caught off guard.

Bigla akong napahinto nang may naalala na makakatulong kahit papano. I've always had my swiss knife in my pocket for emergency purposes at sa tingin ko magagamit ko na ito sa tamang paraan at dahilan.

Kinapa ko ito saking dalang fanny pack at hinugot yun. Iwinasiwas ko ito at nagpatuloy sa paglakad.

The place is dark and murky. The dim lights are coming from the old cracked window pane just right below the ceiling making just have a little light of the pathway. The wind starting to rustle faster means I am closer to the end of this hallway.

I immediately blocked my right hand to my eyesight when a huge light blocks my vision, "Crap! Ikalawa na tong mga sinag na to."

For the second time, I adjust my vision. I was literally stunned and out of words in so many ways because of what I discovered and saw.

"W-Wow..." was the only word that could utter a word and express what I feel right now.

It was a serene grassland alongside an old train railway. The cold wind brushed my skin as I close my eyes and breath in. The green grass was freshly cut, nothing else built but just a place wherein you can relax– more like a meadow you can name it.

I was mesmerized by the place that I forgot the reason to look for a possible exit. Was I already out?
I asked myself but neither a sign of a road nor mere living signs caught my attention but instead of those, there was only one tree near me.

A tree on a serene grassland in the middle of nowhere. Only one tree people.

What could be next? I was hesitant at first to look but something inside me maybe my instinct telling me to go through but my gut feeling said it's another way 'round, something you could call danger.

But just when I was about to turn around I felt a heat sensation coming from my bracelet.

Napansin ko din simula pa kanina nung napunta ako dito sa di ko alam na lugar... simula pa nung sa Duaw Park pa ako umilaw din to. Ano kayang ibig sabihin nito?
It was just a bracelet that my mother gave to me when I was still a young kid.

A big rustling of winds deprived my attention to my own thoughts, luminga-linga ako sa paligid para tignan kung saan nang galing ang hangin na kung pakikinggan mo ng mabuti nagmula pala ito sa puno.

Nagsimula akong paglakad patungo sa direksyon na iyon, nararamdaman ko pa rin ang init na mula sa aking bracelet pero kumpara kanina mas lalo itong uminit ng mapalapit ako sa puno.

I tried to remove the bracelet but damn, I can't. This is the only thing that reminded me of my mom.

I was about to touch the body of the tree when the wind starts becoming stronger, iniharang ko ang aking kamay sa gawi ng mata ko ng mapuwing ito dulot ng mga nalalagas na dahon mula sa puno at lumilikha ng parang ipo-ipo. Napasinghap ako ng maramdaman na parang hinihila ako ng hangin papasok sa puno.

"A-Ahhhhhckk!" napasigaw ako ng maramdaman na may tumamang bato sa gawi ng tuhod ko at dahil sa lakas ng hangin nahihirapan akong ma aninag ang aking nakikita upang sana makahanap ng hawakan para maka alis sa kalagayan na kinahahantungan ko.

Patuloy parin ang pag ihip ng hangin na hinihigop ako na parang nasa loob ng isang vaccum cleaner.

I started to back out and tried to run away but the bracelet that had in me made me weaken and go through the wind instead. I literally stunned when the tree trunk start to change its form to an arch.

"Ano t-to?" tila naurong lahat ng sasabihin ko mula sa pagkagulat ng aking nakita.

The winds pushing me to the tree that now is like an arch and I would have a chance to say anything–  there's only one word would come out from it and it's,

"A p-portal." still with wide eyes and utter of words I managed to say those.

Impossible! I'm not naive to not know what a portal is, but that was heck in movies that I watched and books that I read!

There's no way a portal still exists in this century but there's also a slime 10% chance that it exists in ways that we couldn't explain, for one reason, to hide the truth from us gullible humans.

I came back to my senses when it's only a matter of time to enter this arch or wherever I would be next. What's the next thing that could happen for me there? I just badly to go home. Wait...

Napahinto ako sa pag iisip ng may narinig. I pay more attention to the rustling of the wind and just right I listen to it closely I heard noises from it.

You know that feeling when someone's or something is calling you out of nowhere? I just freaking heard it! I could feel it too.

My fears started to raise up and maybe if I could look myself in the mirror I would really look like a dead pale living because of what I just heard and discover.

I don't know if it's a good thing or not but heck I am freaking out!
The next thing I knew a sudden light came from the arch and I'm finally inside of it. I can't see a thing and when I adjusted my vision for like millionth-time cause curse this light of brightness thing!

Nasubsob ako sa lupa nang huminto na rin ang malakas na ihip na hangin at nang mapa angat ako ng tingin parang binuhusan ako ng isang balde ng malamig na tubig na may kasamang yelo dahil sa nakita ko.

Nang lumingon ako sa aking gawi napa atras ako ng mapantantong lumabas ako sa isang puno.

It shouldn't be!

Di makapaniwalang tugon ko saking sarili. Hindi ko na talaga alam kung saan na ako at bakit napunta ako sa ganitong lugar pero kingina naman! Ano na naman tong napasukan ko?

I was just out on a tunnel, a subway, and a freaking grassland!

There's no way I came out on that tree!