I didn't expect Wichita something like this. Contrary to what we have in mind about this town—a dark, old-fashioned witch-inhabited rumored place. Wichita is quite different. Really different.

Nang makarating na kami sa bukana ng bayang ito, bumati sa amin ang kaliwa't-kanang mga bahay na yari sa konkreto. Mga bahay na kadalasang matatagpuan sa syudad, modernisado at maganda ang disenyo.

That's when we hear the sound of passing cars a few meters away from us. There's an intersection five blocks away. And look what we have here, the generic cars of the road.

Hindi ko maintindihan.

Ang akala ko nakakatakot ang Wichita. I thought there's something wicked waiting for us here—not that I am claiming we are completely safe now, it's just not what we really think this town was supposed to be.

Nakapatay lang ang mga ilaw sa labas ng mga bahay na nadadaanan namin ngunit maliwanag naman sa loob nito. We passed by a house where I saw a family of four, eating with each other a delicious feast in their dining table from an open window.

Everything seemed so normal for them. I can't feel any vibes of witch blood based with their looks.

"This is Wichita? Not bad," sabi ni Samantha, she's admiring the beautiful view of some trees carefully aligned on the sidewalk.

"Seryoso kayo na may mga mangkukulam dito?" nagtatakang tanong ni Marco sa amin, malikot ang kaniyang ulo na kaliwa't kanang lumilingon-lingon kung saan-saan.

Samantala, tahimik lang si Manuel na naglalakad sa aming likuran. Gaya nina Samantha, he's been observing the place around us and he's been keeping his judgement to himself.

"Yeah, this is not what the blog implied. This is more like a usual town," komento pa ni Samantha.

Narating namin ang intersection at mula sa kinatatayuan namin ay mas lalo pa kaming nagulat sa aming nakita.

There are lots of establishments here showing their patronization of stuff about witches. Mga souvenir shops, bookstores filled with stories in supernatural genre, and many other buildings that implies being a tourist trap.

"Sam, have you read anything about Wichita being a tourist destination?" I asked Sam, her eyes wide open as she stare on a display of the nearest shop before us.

She looked back at me. "N-no, wala akong nabasa na ginawa nilang tourist destination ang bayan na to," sambit ni Sam.

But I saw her lips twitching and when I see her doing that, I know one thing about her for sure.

"Sam. Did you really checked more information about Wichita?" I asked her again.

Sam bit her lower lip softly and she slowly shook her head. "P-pasensiya na, Angel. I was looking for information about this small town when I saw that blog and—"

"That's enough. So isa na ngang tourist trap ang bayan na 'to," sambit ko.

Akala ko naman ay nagsaliksik talaga nang mabuti si Samantha tungkol sa bayan na ito. I really don't have an idea this town would become something like a tourist spot considering the past it had.

It's dark, chilling, and totally morbid fascination of witch hunts.

But I guess we need to accept the fact that everything in this town is quite the opposite of what that blog implied it must look. Mabuti na lang din at hindi ito gaya ng iniisip namin, on the brighter side, we can find information about Monalisa easily.

Lumingon-lingon ako dahil tila may nararamdaman akong nakatingin sa amin. I can't just shrug this feeling, I know somewhere out there, someone is watching us.

I kept looking around, hoping to see the onlooker.

And there he is, a man standing outside a café across the road. He's wearing a brown cap and he's taller than most of us. Tantiya kong kasingtangkad niya si Manuel ngunit mas matikas naman ang katayuan ni Manuel sa lalaking nakatingin sa amin ngayon.

I saw him lit a cigarette, and he smoked. I couldn't see his face because of the distance between us. But all I know is he is looking at me, right into my eyes.

He tipped his cap and he started walking away. Lumiko siya sa unang kalyeng kaniyang nadaanan at hindi ko na alam kung saan na siya nagpunta.

"Saan na tayo nito, Angel?" tanong ni Marco sa akin.

"Maghanap muna tayo ng hotel, we need to find a place to stay for the night." I forced a smile as I kept looking back to where that man was standing before.

Siya ba yung lalaking tumawag sa akin? Is he the one who's been giving me tips about Monalisa's death?

"Wait, I'll try looking for a hotel. May app ako rito na makatutulong sa atin. If Wichita is basically a modern tourist destination, baka may hotels silang naka-register dito," sabi ni Samantha.

Inilabas niya ang cellphone niya at may inasikaso siya roon. A few seconds later, she smiled. "There are five hotels here but the nearest one is Hotel Stonington, it's just a few blocks away from us.." Samantha looked on her right, scanning the buildings nearby. "Ayun! That's the nearest hotel. What do you think?" she looked at me.

"Tara, puntahan natin," sabi ko.

Nanguna sa paglalakad si Marco at sumabay sa kaniya si Sam. They're casually chatting about everything they see around them. Marco was pointing his finger randomly at anything, and Samantha continued giving comments.

Meanwhile, Manuel seemed to be out of this world. His eyes are totally fixated on the sidewalk. But from time to time, he's always giving side glances to the cars passing by. And every time he do it, I can sense him being precautious all of the time.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. I felt so tired. I think I need to finally rest and call this a night. I looked at my hands, they're still fine. Kapag napapagod kasi ako, I feel like my hands are slowly deteriorating. Like my vision just automatically blurs the skin on my palms when I look at it.

Narating namin ang Hotel Stonington.

May isang babaeng receptionist ang siyang nakatayo sa reception area habang abala ito sa laptop na kaniyang kaharap.

As we entered the hotel premises, the receptionist took notice of our presence and she immediately closed her laptop and put it away to give us her full attention. A hurried smile showed up from her lips, her hands behind her back.

"Welcome to Hotel Stonington, how can I help you? Would you like to stay for the night? Here's the rating for different types of room we have," sambit ng babaeng receptionist na nagngangalang Abby base sa name tag na naka-pin sa suot niyang uniporme.

She picked up a flyer from a pile on top of the podium and she gave it to me. "Take your time to decide, ma'am," asked the receptionist as she carefully gave each of us a convincing look of hospitality.

Marco smiled at her, trying to flirt with his charm. I caught Sam rolling her eyes as she saw what I've seen too. She's jealous and I can see it.

I considered every rooms they have in this hotel. There are deluxe rooms but I decided to become practical. I will choose the cheapest rooms they have here.

I gave the flyer back to the receptionist pointing what kind of room we wanted to pick. "Kailangan namin ng dalawang kuwarto. Much better kung magkatapat lang," I gave Marco and Manuel a look. "Kayong dalawa ang magkasama sa isa at kami naman ni Samantha ang magkasama sa isa pa."

Samantha smiled. "Actually."

Abby nodded in response and she scanned her company computer. Narinig ko ang mga daliri niyang tumitipa sa keyboard, mabilis ang kaniyang pagkilos. I think she has more than an average words per minute typing speed.

"Consider it done!" The receptionist smiled after doing her job. "I've picked the best rooms for all of you."

~~~

"Now I get what that receptionist means of the best rooms she had found for us," sabi ni Samantha habang nakadungaw siya mula sa bintana sa loob ng aming kuwarto. "Ang ganda nga ng view rito, tignan mo, Angel. May circus sila sa gitna ng bayan ng Wichita."

I lied for being practical. I pointed the deluxe rooms on the flyers when I gave it back to Abby. We had a rough long day, I think we deserved to stay for a comfortable night here inside a well-spent room.

"Wala akong oras para sa circus. I had enough surprises about this town already. Ang akala ko lumang bayan ang madadatnan natin considering the warnings we've got before going here," I said as I lay down on the soft bed while staring at the ceiling. "Pero isa na pala tong tourist destination..."

Samantha closed the window and she walked into my direction. "Wala nga rin akong ideya na ganito ang makikita natin. I think, the search result for the small town of Wichita will always give us the dark history of this town. Pero akalain mo yon, they had successfully turned this town into a tourist trap."

I nodded. "We can leave the town just like that. I'll focus for Monalisa tomorrow," bumangon ako at kaagad akong nagtungo sa banyo. "I need to write this story bago pa ko maunahan ng iba. You know what? Naikuwento ko na sa'yo si Soledad 'di ba?"

Naghilamos ako nang mukha, iniwan kong nakabukas ang pintuan ng banyo para makita ko pa rin si Samantha habang siya ay nakaupo sa gilid ng kama.

Kumunot ang kaniyang noo. "Yung nagnakaw ng mga papers mo noon?"

"Yeah, she's a successful journalist na rin. And it turns out her luck hasn't run out yet," pinunasan ko ang aking mukha gamit ang tiwalyang nakasabit sa gilid ng lababo.

I suddenly feel awake. The cold water from the tap made my skin fresh.

"Anong meron sa kaniya?"

Lumabas ako ng banyo at tumabi ako kay Samantha sa kama. "Well, nasa Camp Tirso siya."

"What?!" Halatang nagulat si Samantha sa kaniyang narinig. She undo the bun in her hair and let it fall down into her shoulder.  "Anong ginagawa niya ro'n?"

"Remember the wolf attack? Nabalitaan niya ang tungkol sa nangyari, and she wants to write a story about..." I trailed off.

I was about to mention the word 'werewolf' but I stopped as soon as I think about it.

"About what?"

I shrugged. "About it. The werewolf attack."

Napailing si Samantha. "Nakita ka ba niya?"

Tumango ako.

"Oh my god, what if sumunod siya sa'yo? Tapos agawin na naman niya ang article na isusulat mo pa lang?"

Dahan-dahan akong umiling. "I won't let that happen. Natuto na ako sa nangyari noon," I closed my eyes.

"I hope so."

Then a couple of knock at the door disturbed our precious moment.

"Ako na magbubukas," sabi ni Samantha. Tumayo siya at pinagbuksan ang taong kumakatok sa labas.

Nakita ko si Manuel na nakatayo sa tapat ng pintuan, he looked at me. "Kailangan nating mag-usap."

Dagli akong napatayo. I don't know what he wants to talk about with me. Nagkatinginan kami ni Samantha, there's a hint of worry in her expression but I eased her mind by tapping her shoulders. "Magpahinga ka na."

Tumango si Samantha. Lumabas ako ng pinto at isinara ko ito. Muli akong tumingin sa direksiyon ni Manuel.

"Anong pag-uusapan natin?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

Manuel looked around. "Sa labas tayo mag-usap."

Hinawakan ni Manuel ang aking kamay at inakay niya ako patungo ng hagdan. But before we step down the stairs, I stopped him. "Wait, mag-elevator na lang tayo."

He considered it for a moment. "Sige."

Paglabas namin ng elevator ay bumati  na naman sa amin si Abby. She's still standing over the podium, doing something with her laptop.

"Good evening po, ma'am, sir." She gave me and Manuel a curtly bow. "What can I help you?"

Lumapit kami ni Manuel sa kaniya. "Puwede bang humingi ng mapa ng Wichita? Saan ba ang pinakamalapit na gasolinahan dito?"

Abby smiled as she picked up another piece of paper on another pile on top of her table. "Here's a newly updated map of Wichita including the sites and tourist spots you can visit in your stay here," she gave one copy to me and she also gave Manuel a copy for him, but Manuel declined it.

Ibinalik ni Abby ang mapang hindi tinanggap ni Manuel sa ibabaw ng pile ng mapa sa podium niya. "Enjoy your stay here ma'am, sir."

"Thank you," sambit ko bago kami lumabas ni Manuel ng hotel.

Habang nasa loob kasi kami ng elevator kanina, I decided to go and bring some gas for our van. Dahil nasa labas na rin kami at mukhang mahaba ang sasabihin ni Manuel, pumayag na rin siya sa gusto kong mangyari.

I looked at the map and scanned it for the nearest gasoline station to be found nearby. Fortunately, may gasolinahan na isang likuan lang pagtawid ng kalsada ang siyang matatagpuan malapit dito.

"Tara," sabi ko kay Manuel at kaagad kaming naglakad patungo sa gasoline station. "Bilisan na natin."

~~~

Si Manuel na ang nagbayad ng gasolinang siya mismo ang bumili. Binigyan kami ng gasoline boy ng isang container kung saan niya ibinuhos ang gasolinang binili namin.

Matapos niyang salinan ng gasolina ang container ay mahigpit niyang isinara ang takip nito. Nagpasalamat ako sa kaniya at agad na kaming naglakad ni Manuel palayo.

We're now walking back on our way to the dark road again. This time, I brought some flashlight. My phone's flashlight. Considering na wala kaming liwanag na susundan ngayon, I decided to use my phone's last remaining battery.

Ang bahay na nadaanan namin kanina na may pamilyang masayang nagsasalo ng hapunan sa kanilang hapag-kainan ay kasalukuyan nang nakasara ang mga bintana. Maging ang ilaw sa loob nito ay nakapatay na rin.

The town is slowly getting ready to call this day a night, and now most of the residents here are preparing for bedtime.

Habang kami ni Manuel ay naglalakad sa gilid ng madilim na kalsada, tanging ang liwanag ng flashlight mula sa aking cellphone ang siyang nagsisilbing tanglaw naming dalawa.

Umihip ang malakas na hangin na siyang dumampi sa aking braso. Gininaw ako at napayakap sa aking sarili. "Ang lamig."

Pero wala man lang sinabi si Manuel. He's not wearing any jacket so I wasn't expecting him to give me something to cover my body. As if he's going to put his clothes off and put it around my arms... though, I hope he'll do it, but certainly he is not that kind of man.

Nang makalayo-layo na kami mula sa mga kabahayan, napansin kong naging seryoso na muli si Manuel.

"Angel," bungad niya.

"Ano bang sasabihin mo?" I asked him insensitively, I know he's short-fused.

"Kailangan nating asikasuhin ang lahat bukas. May dalawang gabi na lang tayong natitira at kailangan ko nang bumalik sa Camp Tirso dahil mas agresibo ang lobong iyon kapag kabilugan ng buwan," aniya.

Doon ko biglang naalala ang mga napag-uusapan namin kagabi. We only have three nights left and tonight is the first night among those three.

Tumango ako. "Oo naman. I'm not here to enjoy the tourist spots. Bukas na bukas, pupunta tayo sa morgue nila rito. We might find Monalisa's body there."

I couldn't see Manuel's face since the night went deeper than the last time we traveled here by foot. Natatakpan din ng makapal na mga ulap ang buwan kaya hindi rin nito nagawang masinagan ang paligid kahit ng sapat na liwanag man lang.

"Sa tingin mo ba, may kinalaman nga ang mga mangkukulam sa bayan na ito sa nangyari sa kapatid ko?" sunod na tanong ni Manuel, his eyes was fixated at something beside me.

I looked to where he was looking but only the thick black forest is what I can see.

I shrugged, having no concrete answer for that question. "Hindi ko alam. Pero nagbabakasakali akong hindi pa huli ang lahat."

"Pero patay na siya." Walang kasigla-siglang sambit ni Manuel.

"Manuel, hindi pa natin nakikita ang katawan niya. What if she's not in the morgue? What if she's still alive? What if..." I trailed off.

"Ano?"

"What if I just received another lie?" I hate to admit this but if that man who gave me the tip was lying to me, I will certainly not forgive him.

Nakataya rito ang career ko. This is not just for me. This is for my mother's name.

Narinig kong bumuntong-hininga si Manuel. "Sana nga nagsisinungaling lang ang taong tumawag sa iyo."

I can't argue with him about that.

"Kung sakaling buhay pa si Monalisa, sasabihan ko nang tigilan niya na ang mga pinaggagagawa niya," aniya.

"Ba't mo naman siya pipigilan sa gusto niyang mangyari?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Dahil nilalagay lang niya sa peligro ang sarili niya. Dinadamay niya pa ang mga inosenteng kalahi namin."

"Pero kapatid mo siya, Manuel."

Dahan-dahan siyang umiling. "Kahit na kapatid ko siya, kung siya lang din naman ang puno't-dulo ng mga problema. Mas mabuti na ring wala siya rito."

Unti-unti ko nang nakikita ang itim na news van namin.

"Pa'no kung ituloy niya pa rin ang gusto niya?"

"Bahala na siya sa buhay niya. Mas mabuting umalis na siya ng Camp Tirso at wag nang bumalik pa," seryoso ang tono ng pananalita ni Manuel, his eyes are still pinned at the same direction.

Hindi ko na lang pinansin kung ano ang  tinitingnan niya even if it's certainly started bothering me.

Then I just realized that Manuel is giving Monalisa an ultimatum. No more if's and but's. Take it, or leave it. No turnaround.

Narating namin ang sasakyan at agad na pinondohan ni Manuel ng gas ang van. I have a spare key for this van that's why I opened the door on the driver's seat.

Pinaandar ko ang makina at agad na lumiwanag ang headlights ng van sa harapan. Manuel walks in front of the van, he's still focusing at something and now I am totally weirded out.

Lumabas ako ng van at nilapitan ko siya. "Seryoso ka ba talaga sa mga sinasabi mo sa kapatid mo? I mean, kayo na lang ang natitira sa pamilya ninyo. Hahayaan mo pa ba siyang mawala?"

Hindi siya sumagot sa tanong ko.

Inulit kong muli ang tanong ko sa kaniya at gaya kanina ay hindi siya sumagot.

"Hello? Anong nangyari sa'yo? Kanina ka pa parang lutang, ano bang tinitignan mo?" I asked him, then I realized, he wasn't looking at me.

He was looking at something behind me.

Tumalikod ako at saka ko nakita ang isang kuwago na nakadapo sa ibabaw ng putol na puno sa di kalayuan.

"Wait, familiar ang kuwago na yan sa akin a," lalapitan ko sana ang kuwagong iyon ngunit nagulat na lang ako ng hawakan ni Manuel ang kaliwang braso ko bago niya ako nilagpasan.

He picked up something on the ground just beside the road, it is a stone, and I just realized what it was when Manuel tried hitting the owl with a low accuracy as he throws the rock on its direction.

"Manuel! Anong ginagawa mo?! Ba't mo binato yung kuwago?" Nilapitan ko si Manuel at hinarangan ko siya, kinapitan ko ang kaniyang kanang braso pero masyado siyang malakas kumpara sa akin.

He was about to pick another stone to throw again to that poor little bird, but I stopped him. "Hoy! Tumigil ka nga sa ginagawa mo Manuel!"

He looked at me. "Hindi pa ba maliwanag sa iyo? May kakaiba sa nilalang na yan! Hindi ako makapagpokus sa iyo dahil kanina ko pa napapansing sinusundan tayo ng ibon na yan."

Hindi ko siya nagawang pigilan nang makapulot na naman siya ng bato na nakakalat lang sa gilid ng kalsada.

"Kakaiba? Ikaw ang kakaiba! Wala kang pakialam sa kapatid mo, pero bakit pati mga inosenteng hayop, gusto mong saktan? Sadista ka ba?!" I shouted on his face. "At ano naman kung sinusundan tayo ng ibon na yan? Isa lang 'yang kuwago. Baka gusto niya lang tayo kaya sumusunod siya sa atin?"

Manuel didn't listen to my rants as he forced himself to push me away beside him and throw the stone again to the owl's direction.

Napapikit ako ng mata dahil inakala ko ay matatamaan na niya ang kuwago sa batong kaniyang pinakawalan mula sa kaniyang kamao.

Ngunit wala akong narinig na anumang tunog mula sa ibon. I opened my eyes, the bird is still there, looking at Manuel with its wide open eyes.

Hindi na naman tinamaan ni Manuel ang ibon.

Muli na naman siyang pumulot ng bato, ngunit nakita kong malaking tipak na ng bato ang kaniyang hawak. Siguradong mamamatay ang kuwagong iyon kung sakaling tamaan niya ito.

"'Wag!" sumigaw na ako at aktong tatakbo ako para paalisin ang kuwago sa kaniyang kinatatayuan.

Ngunit kasabay ng aking pagsigaw ay ang paghagis ni Manuel ng bato sa ibon.

Ngunit iba ang sumunod na mga pangyayari sa aking inaasahan. Bago pa tumama ang bato sa kuwagong tahimik na nakatitig sa mga mata ni Manuel ay bigla na lang itong huminto sa ere bago ito tuluyang bumagsak sa lupa.

"Imposible..." bulong ni Manuel bago siya dahan-dahang lumingon sa direksiyon ko.

Nakaramdam ako ng kaba sa aking natunghayan. Imposible nga ang pangyayaring iyon, pero...

"Umalis na tayo rito," sabi ko kay Manuel.

Akmang kikilos na si Manuel nang bigla na lang siyang tumilapon at humampas sa mataas na puno sa di-kalayuan.

Narinig ko ang mahinang pag-aray ni Manuel kasunod ng mga dahong nagsibagsakan mula sa itaas ng punong pinagtalsikan niya.

I heard his groan as he falls down to the ground. "Manuel!" Kaagad ko siyang nilapitan.

He's facing down the ground so I pulled him face up. That's when the shock came into my nerves as I saw his face, bleeding...

A-anong nangyari...?