01: The Exorcism of Honolu Magalona

~𖥔☾𖤓☽𖥔~

“Matagal pa ba ‘yan?” naiinip nang tanong ni Honolu habang nakaupo at nakatali sa loob ng shrine room ng Pamilya Magalona.

Although it was physically Honolu, the one speaking the whole time was the primordial being who possessed her.

“Hindi ko maintindihan. We did everything to exorcise you. Plus, you're willingly cooperating. It should be successful now, but you're still inside her,” Holmes explained while Alohi and Holland assisted him.

During the entire rite, the primordial being willingly cooperated because he was eager to return to his former host. In fact, he had shared crucial details to ensure the ritual’s success. He had also revealed his name to be Alfa.

“I prefer the old priest. With him, I'm more in control.”

“Anong ibig mong sabihin?” singit ng nag-aalalang si Alohi. “Bakit mo pa siya sinaniban kung mas gusto mo pala ang dati mong host?”

The primordial being looked up at her and smirked. “I told you. It wasn't me who possessed her. My old host isn't dead yet, so I'm most likely to stay with him.”

Lumapit si Holmes sa tapat ng primordial being at tumalungko upang maglebel ang mga mata nila saka nagsalita nang seryoso, “Naiintindihan ko iyan. Pero papaanong nasaniban mo nang buong-buo ang anak ko? You have two pupils, which means complete possession.”

In exorcism, the eyes often serve as a visual indicator of the possession's stage. In the early stages of involuntary possession, the eyes turn completely black. They then turn red as the possession deepens, which also signifies the individual's growing submission to the intruding entity. Finally, the appearance of two pupils indicates complete submission and a consented possession.

“It's a shame for a former god not to know what kind of creature is his daughter,” Alfa teased.

“Anong ibig mong sabihin?!” pagsingit ni Alohi sabay lapit sa nilalang. Mabilis namang tumayo si Holmes at pinigilan ang asawang nawawalan na ng pasensya. “Walang mali sa anak ko! Katunayan, siya pa nga ang pinakanormal sa aming lahat dito!”

“Well, I'm sorry to break this to you, Mrs. Magalona, but your ordinary daughter is a soul-sucking machine,” the primordial being revealed.

Natahimik si Alohi at binalingan ang kanyang asawa upang manghingi ng paliwanag dito subalit marahan naman itong umiling. “Hindi ko rin alam. I thought she was completely normal all this time. I didn't know that she could extract souls and spirits...”

Muli namang nilingon ni Holmes ang sinaunang nilalang. Duda niyang tama nga ang sinasabi nito tungkol sa kanyang anak. Matagal na ring palaisipan sa kanya kung bakit may kakaibang abilidad ang bunsong anak subalit tila nilakwatan naman ang panganay. He didn't realize that her powers might still be sleeping early on and only manifested now that she was already old enough to harness it.

“If that's true, then your existence is now deeply intertwined with hers. Ibig sabihin, kung mamamatay siya ay maglalaho ka na rin nang tuluyan,” paliwanag ni Holmes na siyang ikinagulat naman ni Alfa.

Sa sobrang gulat niya sa narinig ay humakbang siya palapit sa lalaki gamit ang kanyang mga tuhod sapagkat siya ay nakatali pa rin habang nakaluhod. Ang takot at pangamba ay mababanaag din sa mukha ng kanyang sinasaniban.

“Hindi maaari ‘yon. Didn't you hear me earlier? I've lived for eternity. I never cease to exist. I just transferred from one host to another after their death,” he countered. “Kaya imposible ang sinasabi mo!”

“Holmes, ano bang pinagsasabi mo?!”

“Pa, sigurado ka ba?!”

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang si Holmes sa sabayang tanong ng pamilya niya. Nasapak pa siya ng nanggigigil niyang asawa gamit ang hawak nitong gohei o wand na ginagamit sa Shinto exorcism. 

Everything was also shocking news to him. He was unsure how to handle the situation, especially considering his daughter's abilities were not suited for combat. Yet, if his instincts and his goddess sister's prophecy of a great demise were accurate, he needs to find a way to protect her, even if it meant allowing the primordial being to possess her.

“There is a way we haven't tried yet,” ani Holmes at mariing tinitigan si Alfa na kaagad namang tumango-tango at nakinig nang mabuti.“Names of the intruding entities are important. You have to tell me your real name so that we can perform the exorcism again. It might be a success this time.”

It took Alfa a few minutes of silence before answering in a whisper, “I... don't know my real name.”

He had revealed earlier that he had no memory of his true identity. All he knew was that he was the byproduct of a failed summoning ritual conducted by a powerful clan in the mortal realm. When they discovered his abilities, they exploited him as a weapon.

Alfa was merely a name they had assigned to him. The clan had also carefully selected hosts for him, one of whom was the elderly priest, who also happened to be an ordained exorcist.

“Then that's what we have to find out in the following days if you want out of her.”

Lumapit si Holmes sa kanya at kinalagan siya. Naalarma naman si Alohi nang masaksihan ang ginagawa ng kanyang asawa.

“Holmes, anong ginagawa mo? Bakit mo siya kinakalagan? Hindi pa bumabalik sa atin si Honolu!” histerikal na puna niya.

“Although the exorcism did not completely sever their connections, we did one thing successfully,” kalmadong paliwanag nito habang kinakalagan si Alfa.

Sunod namang kinuha ni Holmes sa kanyang bulsa ang bracelet na gawa sa prayer beads at isinuot iyon sa kamay ni Honolu. Maagap namang nasalo ng ama ang katawan ng dalaga nang mawalan na ito ng malay.

“We can temporarily drive him out of Honolu's body with the help of this and other talismans,” pagpapatuloy ni Holmes bago binuhat nang tuluyan ang wala nang malay na anak.

Tila nabunutan naman ng tinik si Alohi at binilinan muna ang anak na si Holland na maglipit ng shrine room bago hinabol ang kanyang asawa.

They brought Honolu to her room to help her rest after a long, eventful day. Pagkababa ni Holmes sa kanya sa malambot niyang kama ay agad siyang kinumutan ng nag-aalalang ina.

“Ano bang plano mo sa primordial being na ‘yon, Holmes? Hindi basta-basta ‘yon! I can... I can sense his immense power. Ang mas nakakatawa pa niyan ay alam niyang dati kang diyos pero hindi niya maalala ang tunay niyang pangalan,” Alohi voiced out her worries.

“You know very well, love, that it's not only evil spirits that can possess people. There are benevolent forces that can do the same, and he's one of them. So far...”

Pinukol naman ni Alohi nang matalim na tingin ang asawa. “So far? Hindi ka sure?”

“Iyon ay dahil hindi pa natin siya lubusang nakikilala. Isa pa, ngayong makarugtong na ang buhay nila, sigurado akong mapoprotektahan niya ang anak natin. We need him to protect Honolu.”

“Sana nga tama ka, Holmes. Sana tama ka. Kasi hinding-hindi ko kakayanin kung may mangyari man sa kung sinuman sa pamilya natin. Now I understand Papa even better. I'm this worried and protective because you're all I have, and we're always dealing with something out of the ordinary.”

Holmes took Alohi's right hand and gently held it as he sincerely promised, “Huwag kang mag-alaala. Hinding-hindi ko hahayaang may mangyari masama sa pamilya natin.”

~𖥔☾𖤓☽𖥔~

DAHAN-DAHANG IMINULAT NI Father Giuseppe Wong ang kanyang mga mata. Alam niyang matindi at malala ang naging tama niya sa engkwentro nila ng Leviathan kagabi. Natatandaan niya pang may inosenteng nadamay.

Surprisingly, his body did not ache as much as he had expected from such an intense fight. He finally understood why when his vision cleared, and he saw his niece standing beside his hospital bed.

“How are you, Tito Giuseppe?” the beautiful woman, still in her formal attire, softly asked him.

“Did you heal me, Rachelle?”

Ngiti lamang ang tanging naisagot ng pamangkin niya sa kanya.

“Maraming salamat,” he said gratefully.

“I know it was difficult for you, Tito. You're already old and without Alfa, the normal medical intervention wouldn't be enough to help you survive,” she explained.

“I know, I know. Did you know where he is now? I'm sorry. I lost our family's legacy.”

Maagap namang inalu ni Rachelle ang tiyuhin at sinigurado ritong, “Mahahanap natin siya, Tito. He'll be back soon.”

“Tingin ko'y hindi na kakayanin pa ng katawan kong tanggapin si Alfa. Maybe it's time for Conan to—”

“Just rest for now, Tito. We'll figure out everything one step at a time,” kaagad na pag-iiba ni Rachelle sa usapan.

Nang masiguro niyang muli nang nagpapahinga ang kanyang tiyuhin ay binilinan niya ang mga bodyguard nito na bantayan ito nang maigi at maging alerto, lalo na sa mga bumibisita rito.

Lumabas siya ng ospital at sinundo ang anim na taong-gulang niyang anak na si Conan sa labas.

On the surface, he seemed like any other child. How she wished it would always stay that way...

“Conan, honey, let's go.”

Kaagad na tumayo si Conan at niligpit ang kanyang libro saka isinukbit ang backpack bago inabot ang nakalahad na palad ng kanyang ina.

“Are we going home to our last house or are we staying somewhere new?” he asked her while they were making their way to her car.

Pinapasok muna ni Rachelle ang anak sa backseat saka siniguradong maayos ang seatbelt nito.

“Mommy found a new house, and it's bigger than the last one.”

“Mom, why are we always changing homes?”

Hindi na nagulat pa si Rachelle sa tanong ng anak. It was a question he always asked whenever they moved to a new house and answering it was like a routine she was growing accustomed to.

Ngumiti siya at marahang hinaplos ang pisngi nito. “So that we can be safe, hon.”

Nanatiling nakatitig si Conan sa ina na tila ba tinitimbang ang laman ng palaging sagot nito. Rachelle knew how smart her son was. He was always quick to catch on things, but he always needed concrete answers to validate his theories.

“Then why don't we find a home that is not big or grand but is safe?” he asked.

“I hope we can find it, baby. I really hope so.”

⭑𖤓☽| 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 |☾𖤓⭑

MY BODY ACHED so much when I woke up. Para akong dinaganan ng sangkaterbang pison sa sobrang sakit.

Bukod pa ro‘n ay masakit din ang ulo ko. Ang huling natatandaan ko lang ay nakatitig ako sa pares ng mga matang parang naglalaman ng buong kalawakan.

Napaungot ako sa sakit pero pinilit ko pa ring bumangon at bumaba ng kwarto. Nasa hagdanan na ako nang hanapin at tawagin ko ang aso naming lab na lab ko.

“Good morning, Uki!”

Ganoon na lamang ang pagkagulat ko nang kumaripas ng takbo palapit sa akin ang isang dambuhalang puting nilalang na may siyam na buntot. Like an obedient dog, he stretched, wagged his nine tails excitedly, and offered his head for a pet while he waited for me at the foot of the stairs.

“What the heck...” nakatulalang usal ko bago napasigaw nang malakas.

Agad namang nagsilabasan ang buong pamilya ko. Si Papa na mula sa tindahan namin, si Holland mula sa banyo na may sipilyo pa sa bibig, at sina Mama saka Shannon mula sa kwarto na nag-aayos na para pumasok sa iskul.

“Mwate, anwong prowlema?!” tanong ng kapatid ko kahit na nakasungalngal pa ng sipilyo ang bumubulang bibig.

“Si... Si Uki!” natatarantang sagot ko sabay turo sa dambuhalang nilalang. “Anong nangyari kay Uki?!”

Sabay-sabay namang nagpakawala ng buntong-hininga ang buong pamilya ko at bumalik na sa kani-kanilang ginagawa.

“Akwawa ko namwan kung anow na...” ani Holland na para bang normal na eksena lang ‘yon.

“Wowa, hindi po ba alam ni Tatskie na gano'n po talaga kalaki si Uki basta po nasa loob siya ng bahay natin?” dinig kong inosenteng tanong naman ni Shannon kay Mama.

“Pagpasensyahan mo na, apo. Ngayon lang kasi nagbukas ang third eye niya,” pabulong na sagot naman nito sa bata.

Only Papa remained among them. He smiled thoughtfully at me and explained, "Mitsuki is a gumiho and that is his yokai form. To outsiders, he still appears as a big, fluffy white dog. His true form is only visible here and to our family. Now, you can see it too. The exorcism the other night might have really awakened your spiritual awareness, and especially now that your body is hosting a primordial being."

"Congratulations, Hon. You've finally opened your third eye," my ever-supportive father added.

°˖ 𔓘 𝓛𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓪 𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓸 𔓘 ˖°

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