03: Fear and Sensation

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

THERE IS ONE thing I will never forget about Urban Legends that Papa once told me.

Urban legends are more than just scary stories. They reflect our fears and the world around us. They give birth to secret and imaginary places in our cities that are shaped and reimagined through the lens of the stories we tell. They also provide a platform for supernatural characters to impart valuable lessons and enlighten us about the hidden aspects of our environments.

The story of the Kuchisake-onna, for instance, has many versions. In the first one, she was believed to have been an unfaithful wife or concubine of a samurai. Her husband punished her for her infidelity by slicing the corners of her mouth from ear to ear. Other versions of the story suggest that her mouth was mutilated during a medical or dental procedure, or by a woman who was envious of her beauty, or that her mouth is filled with sharp teeth. However, in all versions, the Kuchisake-onna returns as a vengeful spirit.

By tracing the roots of this tale, we can uncover its social implications.

People started writing about this legend in 1979, but the story's origins are even older. The legend goes way back to Japan's Edo period, which was from the 17th to the 19th centuries. It was said that the spirits of those who died in really cruel ways, like abused wives or tortured enemies, sometimes don't find peace in the afterlife.

The Kuchisake-onna legend was particularly unsettling for children in 1979 Japan. The creature was said to appear during dusk or twilight when children were on their way home from school or attending a supplementary cram school. The fear was so great that parents and teachers formed groups to accompany children to and from school, and in some instances, police patrolled the roads that children took.

Even after the initial hysteria subsided, she became a media sensation. She was portrayed in popular films like the blockbuster Ringu in 1998 and Carved: The Slit-mouthed Woman in 2007. Over time, she transformed from a figure of fear and terror to a seemingly endless source of entertainment and profit.

May nalalaman pa silang concept ng pelikula kung saan paglalabanin nila ang mga Urban Legend gaya ng Kuchisake-onna vs. Mary-San noong 2017, parang Japanese version ng Freddy vs. Jason ng mga Amerikano noong 2003.

No matter how entertaining these movies could be, it is important to note that Urban Legends gained strength as their stories spread and more people believed in them. It was because these Monsters of Imagination feed on fear and sensation.

Kaya hindi na ako magtataka kung ang Kuchisake-onna na kailangan naming ibalik sa Monsters Playbook ngayon ay biglang lumakas sa loob lang ng dalawang araw mula nang makawala ito sa mga pahina.

"Am I still pretty?"

The drunk man, who had initially said yes to her question, turned pale when she removed her mask.

"What the fuck..." He started screaming and fell to the ground as he attempted to escape from the Kuchisake-onna.

Tila nahimasmasan sa kalasingan niya ang lalaki dala nang sobrang takot at kahit na ang bumangon at tumakbo ay hindi na niya magawa pa. Nakasalampak lang siya sa may sahig nang madilim na eskinita na iyon habang nagsisisigaw.

Inangat ng Kuchisake-onna ang dala niyang malaking gunting at aatakehin na ang bagong biktima nang hinampas ko ang hawak na steel bar sa likod ng ulo niya dahilan upang mapayuko ito.

"Oops..." bulong ko pagkakitang bumaliko ang steel bar sa lakas ng pagkakahampas ko.

Agad namang sinaklolohan nina Ate Keena at Tavleen ang lalaki at tinulungang makatayo upang makatakas.

The Kuchisake-onna turned towards me and let out a piercing scream, then lunged at me with her large medical scissors. I swiftly grabbed the tip of the weapon to prevent it from stabbing my eye. Even though I can regenerate, it doesn't mean it doesn't hurt! It still freaking hurts!

My right hand bled, and I realized this creature had really become stronger that it almost matched my strength. It used its second hand to push the scissors closer to my right side.

"Hindi na ako babalik sa libro!" Kuchisake-onna screamed at me and pushed the scissors' tip more.

Namilog ang mga mata ko dahil sa pagkakataong iyon ay natanto kong hindi lang siya pisikal na lumakas. The Kuchisake-onna had developed a stronger willpower. It seemed like someone with abilities similar to my family's might have given it awareness about their presence.

"Sinong nagpalabas sa 'yo mula sa Monsters Playbook?" I asked her.

She screamed once more before repeating the words, "Am I pretty? Am I pretty?" like a malfunctioning robot.

It was evident that someone was controlling the Kuchisake-onna!

"I hereby return this entity to these pages and seal it within them!" sigaw ni Ate Keena habang hawak ang nakabukas na kopya ng Monsters Playbook sa likuran namin ng Kuchisake-onna.

The Monsters Playbook released a brilliant light, and akin to how a black hole consumes a dead star, its powerful gravitational force dragged the screaming Kuchisake-onna away from me before swallowing it entirely. As the book closed, the first Urban Legend was now fully sealed back within its prison pages.

Sa sobrang lakas no'n ay napaupo si Ate Keena sa sahig. Napapikit siya at nakahingang maluwag sabay yakap sa Monsters Playbook nang mahigpit. "Finally."

PAGKATAPOS KONG HUGASAN ang dugo mula sa naghilom na sugat sa kanang palad ko ay pinunasan ko iyon bago ako lumabas ng banyo ng mga babae at naupo sa tabi ni Papa kasama ang mga kapatid ko.

Nasa presinto kami ngayon at kaharap si Raegan na hinihingan kami ng panayam tungkol sa nangyari.

"Hindi na ba talaga makakalabas ang Kusi..." Umiling siya, nahihirapang tandaan ang Japanese name ng Urban Legend. "Ibig kong sabihin ay ang Slit-Mouthed Woman? Wala pa sa inyo iyong original na Monsters Playbook, hindi ba?"

Papa calmly explained, "The original writers of the Monsters Playbook imposed two limitations on the book. The Bibliokinetic holding the book could summon a specific Urban Legend only once a year. Secondly, due to the known danger of the book, they could summon only one Urban Legend at a time. Although the intentions of the Book Thief remain unclear, the Monsters Playbook contains more terrifying Urban Legends than the Kuchisake-onna, so I'm confident they won't summon it again."

"Okay po, Tito," tumatango-tangong saad ni Raegan bago ako binalingan. "Paano mo nalaman na nasa Kornelia Street o Kundiman Street susunod na mambibiktima ang Urban Legend na 'yon?"

"Tav, akin na 'yong notebook ko," pakisuyo ko sa kapatid na siyang pinagdala ko no'n.

"Ito po, Ate."

Pagkakuha ko no'n ay agad kong binuklat iyon sa pahinang sinulatan ko kanina. "Gaya nga ng sabi ni Papa, hindi pa namin alam ang totoong intensyon ng Book Thief. I tried to look for patterns sa mga detalye ng krimen. The perpetrator might have intentionally left clues sa totoong pakay niya. And I found this hidden message..."

Inilapag ko ang notebook ko at ipinakita iyon sa kanila.

1st victim - Itaewon Street (alley) - 42 - Male

2nd victim - Manolo Subdivision (at home) - 23 - Male

3rd victim - Belvedere Homes (at home) - 14 - Male

4th victim - Aurora Drive (at the back of an abandoned building) - 11 - Male

5th victim - Civoleg Hills (at the back of an abandoned building) - 11 - Female

"I assembled the first letters from the names of the places where the victims were found in chronological order of the murders. I for Itaewon Street, M for Manolo Subdivision, B for Belvedere Homes, A for Aurora Drive, and C for Civoleg Hills."

Tutok na tutok naman sila habang nagpapatuloy ako sa pagpapaliwanag.

"When you put them together, they will reveal IMBAC. No'ng binasa ko nang paulit-ulit, natanto ko na isa iyong hidden message. It's I'm bac na kulang ng letter k. They might have planned to have the Kuchisake-onna carry out the last murder or more to complete their message. Naghanap ako ng mga lugar na karaniwan ay hindi matao at may maraming madidilim na eskinita na nagsisimula sa k, I found Kornelia Street and Kundiman Street. We went to Kornelia at doon nga namin siya naabutan na aatakehin na sana ang panibagong biktima."

"The perpetrators sure planned all of this deliberately, but I am more surprised that Alohi could actually think like this," panira pa ni Ate Keena sa mala-Sherlock Holmes ko na sanang moment. Inismiran ko na lang siya.

"I'm back? Kung gano'n ay sino po ang nagbabalik?" kyuryusong tanong naman ni Tavleen saka tiningnan si Papa sa tabi niya. "Pa, may kaaway po ba kayong hindi namin alam?"

"Si Papa, wala, pero si Ate Keena, hindi ko na mabilang," pabulong na sagot ko naman. "Suspect number one, nasa harap natin," pagtutukoy ko kay Raegan na ex-boyfriend ni Ate.

Nakurot tuloy ako ni Ate sa hita ko. Tahimik na napasirit ako sa sakit ng kuko niya. Pero hindi na lang ako gumanti kasi baka lumusot siya sa pader kapag ka natulak ko.

"Wala akong matandaan na naging kaalitan ko, anak. Pero hindi ako sigurado sa buong angkan natin. Marahil ay hindi lang tayo ang tinutukoy nito kundi maging ang buong angkan ng mga Sagrado," ani Papa na may punto naman.

Raegan, who seemed uncomfortable facing his ex-girlfriend, cleared his throat to get our attention.

"Sa ngayon ay kailangan na lang nating kumalap ng mas maraming impormasyon pa. We will update you and enlist your help when the supernatural crime unit receives another mysterious case involving urban legends."

He sincerely thanked us, "Maraming salamat sa tulong ninyo. I promise also to help you find the Book Thief."

Hindi pa man namin alam kung sino ang Book Thief ay may isang bagay na ang malinaw sa amin ngayon with all these murders - they do not mean good. Ang mas nakakatakot pa niyan ay mukhang may Bibliokinetic ability din ang may hawak ng orihinal na Monsters Playbook ngayon dahil hindi niya lang kayang pakawalan ang mga nasa libro, may kakayahan din siyang kontrolin at palakasin ang mga ito.

Hindi lang siya basta-bastang Writer o Reader. The level of the perpetrator's abilities could rival that of the Librarian, who is known as the most powerful among all the Bibliokinetics. Sa madaling sabi, kapantay niya sa abilidad si Papa.

Palabas na kami ng presinto upang umuwi nang marinig ko ang dalawang lalaking nagpapanik na kausap ang isang pulis.

"Sir, alam kong hindi kayo maniniwala sa maririnig niyo pero nagsasabi po talaga ako nang totoo. Nag-away lang po kami ng binatilyong 'to para makababa sa bus na 'yon dahil may mga multong nakasakay do'n!" the older man frustratedly explained.

"Kumalma po muna kayo, sir. Ikaw, toy? Anong masasabi mo?"

"Sir, hindi ko po alam kung anong sasabihin ko. Pero... no'ng sumakay po iyong tatlong 'yon sa bus namin, nanindig po talaga ang mga balahibo ko."

"'Yan! 'Yan! Totoo 'yan!" pagsang-ayon pa no'ng mas matandang lalaki sa sinasabi ng binatilyo. "Pagsakay pa lang nila, alam mo nang may mali sa kanila! Diyos ko, 2023, saan ka ba naman nakakita ng mga taong nagsusuot ng makalumang kasuotan ng mga Tsino habang pumapara sa gitna ng gabi?!"

"Ate Alohi, halika na. Naghihintay na sina Papa sa sasakyan ni Ate Keena," pagtawag ni Tavleen sa atensyon ko.

Tumango naman ako at tuluyan nang lumabas ng presinto kasama siya.

"PA, ARE YOU really sure that you'll be sleeping here?" tanong ni Ate Keena kay Papa na inaayos na ang hihigaan nitong sofa bed sa may lounge ng library.

"Babantayan ko 'yong mga libro. Mahirap na at baka manakawan na naman tayo." Pagkatapos ni Papa sa pag-aayos ng sofa bed ay naupo na siya roon. "Sige na, magpahinga na kayo at maaga pa kayo bukas. Magpapahinga na rin ako para magising ako nang maaga at makapaghanda ng almusal niyo."

"You don't have to do that, Pa. Since Alohi is now jobless, she can do all the housework—"

"Hindi mo ako katu—"

"Susuwelduhan kita para tulungan si Papa, ayaw mo?"

"Tutulungan ko si Papa sa abot ng aking makakaya," I promised my sister.

"Heto na ang midnight snacks natin!" masiglang anunsyo ni Tavleen na dala-dala ang tray na naglalaman ng bandehado ng pancit canton na may hard-boiled eggs sa top. May dalawang packet din ng sliced bread saka canned soft drinks.

Kumilos agad ako para tulungan siyang ihanda ang mga iyon sa coffee table namin. Naupo kaming lahat sa sofa na kaharap ng kay Papa saka pinagsaluhan iyong mga pagkain at inumin. Wala talagang makakatalo sa supremacy ng pancit canton bilang midnight snacks.

"Pa, nahihiya na po akong manghingi ng baon kay Ate Alohi kasi wala na siyang trabaho," biglang pagbubukas ni Tavleen ng usapan habang kumakain kami. "Okay lang po ba kung sa inyo na lang po ako manghingi?"

I silently chuckled. Kaya pala may pa-midnight snacks si manenay kasi may hihinging pabor. Iba talaga maglambing ang mga bunso.

"Why not ask from me?" tanong naman ni Ate Keena na wala talagang kaide-ideyang tustado kami lagi sa kanya sa tuwing nanghihingi ng baon dahil bumubuga siya ng apoy. "Mukha ba akong nangangain ng tao?"

Tahimik na nagkatinginan kami ni Tavleen bago muling binalingan ng bunso namin si Papa at inalog-alog ang braso nito habang namimilit, "Pa, please!"

"Matagal ko nang sinasabi sa 'yo 'yan, Tavleen. Huwag mo nang abalahin ang mga ate mo tungkol sa baon mo dahil ako ang may obligasyong magbigay no'n sa 'yo."

Tavleen's face lit up, and she side-hugged Papa, "Thank you po, Pa!"

Papa did not have any time to work outside the Library because he was busy raising us while managing it. One may ask, saan kumukuha ng pera si Papa na ginagasto para sa amin gayung libre ang pagpasok ng mga mortal na gustong magbasa rito sa amin?

In addition to Papa's book reproduction services, which catered to academic and non-dangerous books with sentimental value, the Sagrado family regularly provided us with a monthly allowance of one million since we started managing the Library. Ganoon sila kagalante magbigay. Ang allowance na binibigay ng angkan ay para sa aming gastusin at dito na rin sa Library.

The Sagrado clan is powerful, both in the supernatural and financial worlds. Their businesses fund our missions, protect the innocent, and maintain balance.

KILIG NA KILIG na sana ako sa pinapanood kong KDrama nang kinailangan kong i-pause iyon dahil pumasok sa Library si Raegan na may bitbit na namang brown envelope na tingin ko ay para kay Papa.

Ako ang una niyang nakita sa may counter kaya sa akin siya lumapit.

"Ano pong maipaglilingkod ko sa inyo, Kamahalan?" pambungad na pang-aasar ko sa kanya.

"Si Tito Levi?"

"Sinamahan si Tavleen sa meeting ng mga graduating student," sagot ko at pinukol ng tingin ng dala niyang envelope. "Huhulaan ko, bagong kaso na naman 'yan involving an Urban Legend na natatandaan mong nabasa mo rito noon."

"What's that?" tanong ni Ate Keena na nag-work-from-home dahil may bad hair day. Sanaol may ganoon kalakas na guts umabsent para sa gano'ng klaseng emergency.

She snatched the envelope from Raegan's hold. Si Raegan naman na nainis ay inagaw din iyon sa kanya.

"You just can't grab confidential documents like that," saway nito sa kanya.

Inagaw ulit iyon ni Ate Keena. "So what? I'm sure you'll leave this here for Papa's copy."

Hinablot ulit iyon ni Raegan mula sa kanya. "'Yan ang problema sa 'yo, Keena, eh. Ang tigas ng ulo mo! Kahit kailan hindi ka talaga nakikinig sa akin!"

"Oh, really?! Kaya ba naghanap ka ng iba?!"

Napaawang naman ang bibig ni Raegan sa narinig. "Anong sinasabi mong naghanap ng iba? Mukha ba akong naghanap ng iba simula no'ng iwan mo ako three years ago?!"

"Whoa, whoa!" I chimed in, completely entertained by the romance story playing out right in front of me. "Ito ba 'yong tinatawag nilang ex-lovers' quarrel?"

"Shut up!" sabay nilang sigaw pagsulyap sa akin bago pasigaw na nag-throwback sa kanilang nakaraan.

I rang the desk bell repeatedly to stop their banters. "Nasa library po kayo, utang na loob. Mahiya naman kayo sa tatlong bisitang nagbabasa sa may tabi."

Natigil naman ang dalawa pagkatapos no'n. Naupo kaming tatlo sa isang table at hinayaan si Raegan na simulan ang paliwanag tungkol sa bagong kaso na hawak niya. Binuksan niya ang envelope at inilapag ang larawan ng isang naaksidenteng bus sa may water reservoir.

"Four days ago, we received a report of ghost sightings involving three mysterious men dressed in Chinese clothing. No'ng pinakita namin sa witnesses kung aling kasuotan, tinuro nila iyong Chinese robes noong Qing Dynasty, so it's probably around 1644–1911." Tinuro ni Raegan ang larawan no'ng sinasabi ng mga witness na roba.

Napakunot ang noo ko. Ito 'yong narinig kong report sa presinto no'ng nakaraan ha.

"It's strange to see men wearing something like that in the middle of the night while trying to hail a bus in an isolated area. No'ng ang mga witness na lang ang naiwan sa bus kasama iyong tatlong lalaki ay nagpanggap silang nag-aaway upang makababa lang sa bus na 'yon at makapag-report sa pinakamalapit na presinto."

"Ang sabi no'ng isang witness, nasilip niya raw na walang mga paa ang tatlong 'yon at buong oras nakalutang lang. Nagbigay pa sila ng plate number no'ng bus na sinakyan nila upang kumustahin ang driver at konduktor na naiwan no'ng bumaba silang dalawa. But the policemen did not believe them. Hindi nila pinansin," he added.

Raegan tapped the next pictures - a bus getting lifted from a water reservoir and its closeup photo I saw earlier.

"The morning after it was reported, nag-issue ng statement ang bus company tungkol sa nawawalang bus na may parehong plate number. The search began, and the bus was found immersed in the water reservoir on the third day, just 100 kilometers away from its destination."

Sunod namang ipinakita sa amin ni Raegan ang picture na nagpatayo kay Ate Keena upang sumuka. The photo was printed in black and white to lessen its graphic nature. It depicted the three decomposed bodies inside the bus.

"The discovered corpses belonged to the driver, the conductor, and an unidentified man. Their decomposition was unusual from what could be expected in just 48 hours. Even considering the heat of the season, experts considered this rapid decomposition highly abnormal."

Nagpatuloy pa si Raegan sa pagbibigay-impormasyon. "Hindi lang 'yan. Nang suriin ang bus, nalaman nilang hindi petrolyo ang laman ng tank, kundi dugo ng tao. Hindi ko matandaan kung ano pero sigurado akong nabasa ko na 'to noon dito."

"Of course, it was one of your favorite urban legends before," pagtatama ko naman sa kanya bago siya seryosong tinitigan. "It's the Beijing Ghost Bus, also known as The Last Bus To Fragrant Hills."

「 ✦ 𝓛𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓪 𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓸 ✦ 」

Happy Halloween! 🎃

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