04: Agents of Wong Haunted Real Estate

~𖥔☾𖤓☽𖥔~

"HONOLU, WAKE UP..."

Alfa's voice was like a persistent alarm. Its constant ringing was threatening to drag me awake. But I couldn't understand it. I was trying to open my eyes, but my eyelids felt impossibly heavy. I couldn't even feel my body.

"Honolu, wake up. You've been drugged."

Binuksan ko bahagya ang bibig ko upang humanap ng hangin. Hindi ko lubos maintindihan kung bakit ang hirap-hirap maghabol ng hininga ng mga sandaling iyon. Pawis na pawis na rin ako kahit na wala na iyong pink na blazer ko at tanging ang puting tank top na lamang ang naiwang pang-itaas ko.

Hindi ko maintindihan...

Wala akong naiintindihan...

Nang magawa kong buksan nang bahagya ang aking mga mata ay isinara kong muli ang mga iyon dahil sa liwanag na tumama roon kaagad.

I opened my eyes again and adjusted my vision. Mas naging determinado akong alamin ang nangyayari sa paligid ko nang marinig ko ang malakas na sigaw ng isa sa mga kasama ko sa loob ng elevator-it was the voice of Javier Solis, the biologist.

Kahit na naghahabol pa rin ako ng hininga ay kitang-kita ko na sa pagkakataong ito ang kinalalagyan namin.

We were in a spacious function room dominated by a massive table in the center, set with expensive tableware and lit by the warm glow of a grand chandelier. A group of people, all dressed in black and adorned with luxurious jewelry, sat around it.

Pero ang mas nakapagpagulat sa akin ay ang masaklap na kalagayan ng mga kasama kong aplikante kanina.

We were all bound, hands and feet, to wheelchairs. Alfa had been right-we'd been drugged. That smoke in the elevator must have been some kind of gas, which was meant to incapacitate us.

Despite my weakened state, I could see the others, equally helpless and in tears.

Jerome, the triathlete, had lost his limbs and a pool of blood spread beneath his chair. The musician, Glaiza, had her fingers severed and was just as bloodied. But Ben Logan... his eyes were open, and his throat was sliced and hollowed out as if his vocal cords had been removed.

Lalo akong nahindik nang matanaw ko malapit sa lamesa ng mga naka-itim na grupo si Javier. Nakaposas din siya at inaalalayan ng dalawang lalaking naka-itim din samantalang nasa tapat naman niya ang isang dambuhalang lalaki na duguan at may dalang chainsaw.

"Prepare the next meal, Butcher," utos ng babaeng nakaupo sa pinakagitna ng dining table.

The lanky man beside her ran his long tongue over his lower lip, as if savoring the thought of some irresistible delicacy. "I love... brains," he said. "Especially from someone with a high intellect. They're so, hmm... tasty."

Nahuli ko ang pagkagimbal sa mukha ni Javier pero kagaya ko ay hindi rin siya makapagsalita nang buo, pawang mga sigaw at ungol lang ng pagprotesta ang lumalabas sa bibig niya.

Humalakhak lang ang mga nakaupo samantalang pumuwesto na ang dambuhalang lalaki at inilapit ang umaandar ng chainsaw sa noo ni Javier na kahit na nanghihina ay pilit na nagpupumiglas upang makawala. Hinawakan pa ito upang pigilan ng dalawang lalaki sa magkabilang gilid niya.

My breath caught as I watched blood splatter when the man they'd called Butcher sawed into Javier's forehead. The gruesome sight was mercifully blocked when Alfa, now without his dark aviators, squatted in front of me.

"Listen, Honolu," he said calmly, trying to reassure me. "Those people in black are cannibals. They set up job interviews to lure unsuspecting victims and targeted special people for their 'quality meat.' I've seen them before. They're escaped beasts, creatures from hell called the Leviathans."

I know he could see the horror in my eyes, even though I couldn't speak. It was clear I was completely terrified.

"Now, I'm giving you my consent for the possession. All I need is yours," he continued as he glanced at my bracelet. "I've tried to remove it, but it burns me every time. Only you can give permission."

I tried my best to wiggle my bound hands, but they were tied so tightly I couldn't even twitch a wrist.

"Shit..." narinig kong usal ni Alfa habang pinapanood ako.

Napapikit ako nang marinig muli ang palahaw na sigaw ni Javier habang binubuksan ang ulo niya. The thought of them feasting on his exposed brain like it was some kind of dessert almost made me vomit.

Pagdilat ko ay hindi nga nalalayo sa imahinasyon ko ang nangyari dahil tumayo ang mga nakaupo kanina at lumapit sa ngayon ay wala nang buhay na si Javier. Bawat isa sa kanila ay may dalang kutsarita at salit-salitang sumalok ng bahagi ng utak ng lalaki saka iyon tinikman. Nasaksihan ko pang napaungol ang lalaking payat na matangkad kanina na animo ay nasasarapan ito.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin sa kanila at bumangad naman sa akin ang babaeng nakapula, ang multo kanina sa elevator, na nakatayo na ngayon sa tabi ko at malungkot na nanonood sa nangyayari.

"They've turned our place into a hellhole. Hindi dapat sila narito," aniya bago ako nilingon, ang kanyang mukha ay tila nagmamakaawa pa. "Tulungan niyo akong paalisin sila rito."

Gusto kong magtanong subalit hindi ko pa rin magawang magsalita. Alfa took the initiative to explain things to me again.

"She's the ghost who haunts this place. The Leviathans turned her home into a bloody, violent mess, which was something she never wanted."

It was only then that I realized Alfa was visible only to me and my family-not to the Leviathans, nor even to the ghost of the Saidah Tower.

"The main course is done. It's time for dessert," saad ng lalaking payatot saka itinutok ang atensyon nila sa akin. "And for our dessert, we'll have the eyes of an exorcist for the first time. I can't wait to discover the taste," dagdag pa nito sabay hagikhik.

Nagpumiglas ako nang nagsimula nang maglakad palapit sa akin ang dalawang lalaking pumigil kay Javier kanina. Kasama rin nila ang Butcher na ngayon naman ay kinuha ang bread knife na nakapatong sa dining table.

Nagmamakaawang tumingin ako sa namomroblema nang si Alfa. Kapag namatay ako rito ay dawit din ang buhay niya!

I was half-paralyzed and temporarily mute. I need him to find a way to save us both!

He cursed under his breath as I silently begged him to do something, anything, while the Leviathans closed in. Two men positioned themselves on either side of me, their grips tightened on my shoulders, while the Butcher held his bread knife poised before my eyes. I was sweating profusely, my breath catching in ragged gasps, and my heart pounding in sheer terror.

Alfa, save me!

"I don't know if this will work, but-damn it!" he muttered in frustration before blocking my view, cupping my chin, and leaning in to kiss me.

~𖥔☾𖤓☽𖥔~

"THAT'S RIGHT. JUST look here, and we'll make this quick," the Butcher told Honolu, whose eyes were fixed on him and the bread knife he held.

Just before the blade could find its way to her, Honolu broke free from her shackles. She seized the knife from the butcher and, in a swift reversal, stabbed it into his eyes. The Leviathan roared in pain.

Honolu kicked him away and stood before turning to the man on her left. She seized him, twisted his right arm first and then his left wrist, which forced a scream from his lips.

The man on the right lunged, but Honolu was too fast. She seized his right arm and twisted it sharply before a brutal kick shattered the bone in his shin. He crumpled while screaming. Honolu then turned to face the remaining cannibals, her head moving slowly from right to left in a daunting manner.

"Breaking bones," she said while a teasing smile played on her lips, "it's such good exercise when you have a physical body."

"S-Sino ka? Bakit kakaiba na ang awrang nararamdaman namin sa 'yo ngayon kumpara kanina?" the female Leviathan asked.

“This vessel is Honolu Magalona,” she introduced while tapping her chest lightly. Her mischievous grin then spread wider. “The entity within? Alfa.”

"We didn't feel your presence earlier. What exactly are you?" tanong naman ng lalaking Leviathan na tila kanang-kamay ng babae kanina.

"That I'm not sure," she replied while advancing on them. "But I'm certain tonight this madness ends."

Honolu lifted her hand, and it revealed the cross-shaped mark etched into her palm. As she brushed her left hand across it, Kurikara materialized-a katana with a hilt bound in blue and a striking silver handguard, an unusual feature for such a blade.

Honolu's unique ability allowed the katana to seal demons and supernatural spirits. Now, Alfa's power can also surge through it and manifest as blue flames that dance along the blade. More importantly, Kurikara could purify miasma-a contagious and pervasive spiritual defilement and the lingering stain of actions against Natural Law. This made it an essential tool for exorcisms.

The female Leviathan immediately stepped back and ordered her remaining Leviathan guards to block the way so that she and her loyal assistant could escape.

Agad na umatake ang mga ito kay Alfa subalit tila walang binatbat din ang mga ito dahil sa isang saksak lang niya ay kaagad na natumba ang mga ito.

Ang natitirang mga Leviathan na pinamumunuan ng babae kanina ay nakahinga na nang maluwag pagsakay nila ng elevator. They were ready to flee and had already chosen the site of their cannibalistic haunt.

"Order the remaining guards to prepare our next location. Lilipat na tayo ng headquarters doon. Also, send the job interview invites for the next batch of special applicants. This night was exhausting. We need to eat more," utos niya sa kasama na kaagad namang tumalima at tinawagan ang miyembro nilang nasa kabilang lokasyon.

Tumunog ang elevator pagdating nila ng basement. Pagbukas ng elevator ay nabitiwan ng lalaking Leviathan na kanang-kamay ng lider ang cellphone na hawak nito nang makita ang bulto ng duguang si Alfa na nasa tapat na nang nakabukas na pinto at nag-aabang sa kanila. Her head was tilted to the left, the Kurikara rested on her right shoulder, and a mischievous smile played on her lips.

"Took you long enough," she said and stepped into the elevator.

The doors slid shut. Then, the screams began.

"THIS IS WESTWOOD City Supernatural Police Department, and you are under arrest!" Captain Rosen Araneta declared as his team of police officers with special abilities stormed the 14th-floor function room of Saidah Tower.

A report from the family of a previously missing applicant, combined with an inspection of Wong's Haunted Real Estate Agency, had brought them here. The company's findings detailed not only ghostly activity, but also the presence of cannibalistic Leviathans who had turned the location into their lair.

Agad na itinutok nila sa mga Leviathan ang mga espesyal na armas na gawa ng mga exorcist mula sa angkan ng mga Araneta at Sagrado. Iyon na lang ay lahat ng mga katawan na naroroon ay nakahandusay na sa duguang sahig-pawang nabawian na ng mga buhay maliban na lamang sa dalawang biktimang naghihingalo na sina Jerome Stantam at Glaiza Diaz.

Amidst the crimson pool and atop the grotesque pile of Leviathan corpses sat a familiar woman who was completely drenched in blood. It was Alfa, inhabiting Honolu's form.

"What the hell..." Captain Araneta muttered, his voice thick with disbelief. "Hold your fire! Where's Agent Magalona? Get him here!"

Agad namang tinawag ng mga kasama nila ang representative mula sa Wong's Haunted Real Estate na sumama sa kanila para sa operasyong iyon. Pagpasok nang nagmamadaling si Holland sa loob ng function room ay natigilan siya sa nasaksihan. Nakakunot-noong binalingan naman siya ng naguguluhang pinsan na si Rosendo na panganay na anak nina Raegan Araneta at Keena Sagrado-ang panganay na kapatid ng nanay niyang si Alohi.

"Anong ginagawa ng ate mo rito?"

Binuksan ni Holland ang bibig pero itinikom ding muli. Gulong-gulo rin siya sa nangyayari. Ang alam niya kasi ay may pupuntahang job interview ang kapatid niya. Hindi niya inaasahang dito pala ang destinasyon nito.

The sitting Alfa suddenly chuckled and drew every attention to her. A knowing grin spread across her face as she wagged a warning finger at the second Magalona child. "Seems like the obedient son isn't so obedient after all."

Doon lang napansin ni Holland na hindi na suot ng kanyang kapatid ang bracelet na ibinigay ng kanilang ama rito. He quickly searched for it and found it near a mangled wheelchair, then swiftly fastened it around his sister's wrist.

"Please don't tell my parents about this," pabulong na pakiusap ni Holland sa primordial being.

Ngumisi naman si Alfa. "I wonder why you're so familiar. I finally remembered you now, Agent Magalona from Wong's Haunted Real Estate," anito bago tuluyang humiwalay sa katawan ni Honolu na kaagad namang nawalan ng malay.

Mabuti na lang at maagap siyang nasalo ng kapatid. Ang nalilito naman nilang pinsan ay lumapit din sa kanila matapos utusan ang pwersa nitong i-secure ang crime scene para sa mangyayaring imbestigasyon.

"Did she kill all these Leviathans alone? The place has already been purified as well. Not a single soul lingers around," aniya saka seryosong hinarap si Holland. "Mukhang mahaba-mahabang paliwanagan ito, insan."

"I'll explain everything later. But for now, can we please take her to the Wong's Haunted Real Estate Office? Dr. Rachelle Wong can help heal her injuries," sa halip ay pakiusap ni Holland sa pinsan na kaagad namang pumayag at tumulong.

"I almost forgot that Honolu can't regenerate, unlike you and Tita Alohi," Rosen remarked while they were all inside his car. "But I'm sure your beautiful boss will be able to help her using her healing ability."

"Bukod pa ro'n, may isa pa akong problema."

"Ano 'yon, insan?"

Nagpakawala muna nang malalim na buntong-hininga si Holland bago sumagot ng, "Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ipapaliwanag sa mga magulang ko, lalong-lalo na kay Mama, na hindi ako isang ordinaryong pulis. The primordial being possessing Ate Honolu saw me. Siguro, pati si Ate Honolu, malalaman iyon pagkagising niya."

"No way! Six years there, and they had no clue you were a bodyguard for a company that deals in haunted properties?"

Napapikit si Holland sabay hilot sa sentido niya. "Iyon na nga, eh. Hindi ko magawang aminin sa kanila ang totoo, lalo na at lagi akong pinupuri ni Mama dahil mas pinili ko raw mamuhay nang normal. Paniwalang-paniwala siya, insan. Nagi-guilty ako pero ayoko rin siyang magalit at patigilin ako sa trabahong matagal nang bumubuhay sa amin ng anak ko at kung saan masaya ako."

"Bro, you're not normal in the first place. Nothing is in our family," Rosen frankly replied before chuckling. "Just come clean already. I know Tita Alohi will forgive you. Ano pa bang malalang magagawa niya maliban sa ihagis ka sa Mount Apo?"

Humalakhak si Rosen pero ilang segundo pa'y huminto rin nang mapansin sa front view mirror na nag-aalala talaga ang kanyang pinsan.

"Trust me, bro. It'll be fine."

"I just hope so..."

Pagdating nila sa Wong's Haunted Real Estate Company na katabi lang din ng Westwood City Police Station ay kaagad na isinugod nila si Honolu sa clinic ng CEO na si Dr. Rachelle Wong. The beautiful doctor quickly rose when she saw them with the unconscious Honolu on the stretcher and noticed the worry on Holland's face.

"Doc, please tulungan niyo po ang kapatid ko," Holland pleaded.

Tahimik na tumango ang doktora subalit ang atensyon niya ay nakatutok sa nilalang na nakasuot ng itim na salamin sa mata at trench coat na nakatayo rin sa tabi ng stretcher nang walang malay na si Honolu.

"We've been searching everywhere for you, Alfa. Where were you? What happened?" she asked.

Alfa gave a weak, playful salute, then nodded toward the unconscious Honolu. "Things got messy when I met her. I'm tied to her now, so any help would be great."

°˖ 𔓘 𝓛𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓪 𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓸 𔓘 ˖°

Please vote and comment your thoughts. It will greatly help me. God bless!