09: The Hookman
(American Urban Legend)

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

JACINTO PARK - 10:56 P.M.
After their date, a young couple indulged in a passionate evening together in the middle of the woods in an isolated area in Westwood City. The girlfriend sat on her boyfriend's lap and embraced him as they shared intense French kisses. His hands explored her body, from her smooth thigh to her slender waist, before pausing at her underboob. He swiftly unclasped her bra then fondled her breast and sensually sucked on the other.

As the guy opened his eyes to take things further and start completely undressing, he suddenly froze and became alert at the sight of a silhouetted figure wearing a raincoat and a rain hat that covered most of his features, particularly his face. The figure stood nearby and in front of their car, seemingly observing them.

"Stop, stop," he told his girlfriend, who promptly obeyed.

"What's wrong?"

"There's a man watching us," kinakabahang sagot niya rito.

"Ha?!" Mabilis na lumingon ang babae upang tingnan ang sinasabi ng kanyang nobyo nang parehong pagbaling nila ay wala namang tao roon.

"Guni-guni mo lang 'yon, babe," the woman reassured and leaned in to kiss her boyfriend again. However, their intimate moment was interrupted by a scraping sound coming from their car door.

"That's it! Someone was really watching us!"

Pinaalis ng lalaki ang babae mula sa pagkakapatong sa kanya at kinuha ang kanyang baril mula sa glove compartment ng kotse niya.

Ang girlfriend naman niyang bumalik sa passenger seat at inaayos ang bra nito ay nabahala nang masaksihan niya ang pagkuhang iyon ng boyfriend niya ng baril.

"What are you doing?" madiin at kinakabahang tanong niya rito.

"Tuturuan ko ng leksyon kung sinuman ang hayop na 'yon."

"Babe, hayaan mo na!"

"Hindi, dito ka lang," anito sabay kasa ng baril at labas sa kotse.

Tinanaw ng babae ang kasintahan niyang lumalayo habang hinahanap iyong sinasabi nitong nanonood sa kanila kanina. While waiting for her boyfriend, the woman dozed off briefly, only to be jolted awake by a disturbing, repetitive thumping coming from the car's roof.

"Babe? Ikaw na ba 'yan?"

The unsettling thumping persisted, which compelled the woman to cautiously exit the car. To her utter shock, she spotted a black-hooded figure with a hook in place of a right hand seated on the roof, banging her boyfriend's severed head against it with his left hand.

She quickly attempted to flee, but her efforts were in vain when she discovered her boyfriend's mutilated body suspended upside down from a tree, his blood forming a gruesome pool on the ground. She dropped to her knees as her eyes widened in terror, and a piercing scream escaped her lips.

──✧❁ 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 ❁✧──

𓆩◇𓆪꧁ 𓆩◇𓆪 ꧂ 𓆩◇𓆪

THE ENDURING URBAN legend of The Hookman recounts the harrowing tale of a "hook-handed lunatic" who manages to flee from a nearby institution in Pennsylvania, USA. This  campfire narrative first emerged in the 1950s, and while it has evolved in numerous ways over the years, the core narrative has largely remained intact, with occasional modifications.

The Hookman is believed to be a dangerous figure who targets innocent people, especially young couples when they are out at night. This mythical tale gained popularity among American teenagers in 1959 and continued to grow throughout the 1960s.

Some writers and journalists who investigate these things say that the urban legend is connected to a few well-known murder cases, like the 1946 Texarkana Moonlight Murders.

In 1960, the story was published again in the well-respected advice column "Dear Abby" and has been mentioned in various scary movies since then.

Gabi na nang makarating ako sa drive-in cinema kung saan ang huling destinasyon ng date nina Tavleen at Griffin. I've been trying to call my sister since earlier, but she hasn't answered any of my calls.

Kaagad ko siyang sinagot nang sa wakas ay nagawa na niyang tumawag pabalik. "Hello, nasaan kayo?"

"A-Ate..." Bigla akong dinambahan ng kaba nang marinig ang umiiyak niyang boses sa kabilang linya. "Si Kuya Griffin..."

"Tavleen, anong nangyari? Bakit ka umiiyak? Nasaan ka at pupuntahan kita?"

I rushed to where Tavleen was at the drive-in cinema. She was still crying when I found her, and I also saw a woman who was severely injured and covered in blood next to her.

"Anong nangyari rito? Sino siya? Ayos lang ba kayo?"

"Tumawag na ako ng ambulansya para sa kanya, Ate. Paparating na sila."

Hinawakan ni Tavleen ang mga braso ko at magmakaawang, "Ate, humingi ng tulong sa amin iyong babae na tulungan ang boyfriend niyang naiwan kasama raw po no'ng lalaking may hook na kamay d'yan sa may kakahuyan po. Pero hanggang ngayon, hindi pa siya bumabalik, Ate. Natatakot akong baka kung ano nang nangyari kay Kuya Griffin, Ate."

It was really the Hookman.

"Huwag kang mag-alala. Hahanapin ko si Griffin. Kapag dumating sina Ate Keena, pakisabi sa kanilang sumunod sa may kakahuyan nang sa gano'n mabalik na natin ang halimaw na 'yon sa mga pahina."

I did not waste any more time and entered the restricted woods because it was a protected area. I searched and shouted for Griffin's name everywhere. "Griffin! Nasaan ka na?!"

Bawat minutong magdaan na hindi ko pa siya nahahanap ay palakas nang palakas ang tambol ng dibdib ko dala ng kaba at takot. Huwag naman sana siyang mapaano.

Nahinto ako sa paglalakad nang may matapakan akong kung anong malapot. Walang ibang source ng ilaw sa madilim na kakahuyan na iyon kundi ang liwanag ng buwan. Mula sa lupa ay hindi ko makita nang mabuti kung ano iyon. Pero no'ng maaninag ko ang totoong kulay no'n sa dulo ng puti kong sneakers ay dahan-dahan akong nag-angat ng tingin sa punong pinakamalapit sa akin.

Napabagsak ako sa lupa habang windang na nakatitig sa bangkay na nakabitin patiwarik doon sa may puno. Ang dugong mula sa pugot nitong ulo ay umaagos pa rin sa lupa. Nahintatakutan akong napaatras ngunit natigil din nang may mabangga ako sa likuran ko.

Pumihit ako paharap doon at ganoon na lamang ang panlalaki ng mga mata ko nang makita ang nakahandusay na si Griffin doon, duguan at nag-aagaw-buhay.

I tried putting pressure on his wounds kahit na hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang ginagawa ko.

"Griffin... kumapit ka. Nandito na ang ambulansya. Ililigtas ka nila," naiiyak na sabi ko sa kanya, hindi sigurado kung naririnig ba niya ako.

I suddenly vomited blood when someone hooked the top of my head from behind. I lifted my gaze, only to be met by the sinister grin of the Hookman.

"I was instructed to take out the Gatekeeper first because she's the most powerful among the sisters," he said.

He didn't give me a chance to recover and pulled me further into the woods while his hook remained embedded in my bleeding head.

"Walang personalan. Pawang trabaho lang," dagdag niya pa habang patuloy pa rin akong hinihila.

I screamed in both pain and frustration. Naiwan pa roon si Griffin na nag-aagaw-buhay. Kailangan kong gumawa ng paraan!

I increased the weight in my body to make each of the Hookman's pulls slower and leave deep marks on the ground. He eventually stopped because he was unable to continue dragging me due to my increased heaviness.

Kinuha ko ang pagkakataong iyon upang hawakan ang hook niyang kamay at bunutin iyon mula sa nagdurugo kong ulo. I got up and didn't stop there. I twisted his hook hand and his entire right arm, causing him to scream in agony.

He disappeared from my grasp in the blink of an eye. With his hook hand twisted, he just launched quick kicks and punches at me from unexpected angles, which caught me off guard. I scanned my surroundings and observed him moving very quickly as if he was teleporting from one spot to another.

These monsters of the imagination had grown incredibly stronger now.

I tilted my head from side to side as I felt my wound rapidly healing. It helped me recover my strength and regain my footing.

I shut my eyes and concentrated on calming myself while feeling the raindrops trickle down my face. When I sensed his presence approaching, I swiftly opened my eyes and grabbed his left hand, then squeezed it tightly to break his knuckles.

I also twisted his left arm, forcing him to his knees as his screams grew even louder. The sound of his ribcage breaking and his piercing cries echoed through the dark woods as I delivered a sharp kick to his chest.

Nang babagsak na siya sa lupa ay hinuli ko ang buhok niya at sinabutan. Yumuko ako at ibinulong sa kanyang, "You can try all you want by all means, but you'll never defeat me and my family."

With that, I snapped his neck and let his lifeless body fall to the damp ground.

These monsters of imagination will keep coming back unless they are sealed within the Monsters Playbook. Ate Keena arrived drenched in the rain while shielding the book from the downpour with her violet-colored force field. She manipulated the book within the force field. She opened it and sealed the Hookman back within the prison pages.

"I hereby return this entity to these pages and seal it within them!"

ILANG ARAW NANG walang malay si Griffin sa ospital. Ako ngayon ang nakatokang magbantay sa kanya. Hawak-hawak ko ang kaliwang kamay niya habang umiidlip ako sa tabi ng kama niya upang mapansin ko kaagad ang paggalaw no'n.

Nagising ako agad nang maramdaman kong gumalaw ang mga daliri niya. I looked at him and found him silently looking at me. Nanginig ang mga labi ko sa tuwa. Sa wakas ay gising na siya!

"Tatawagin ko lang ang nurse."

Tatayo na sana upang magtawag ng mga nurse nang hawakan ni Griffin nang mas mahigpit ang magkahawak naming mga kamay.

"Are you crying?" he asked.

Mabilis na tumalikod naman ako sa kanya at pinunasan ang mga luha ko. "Hindi, ah!"

Pero tumakas pa rin ang hikbi sa mga labi ko kaya hinarap ko siyang muli habang umiiyak. "Siyempre, oo!" I admitted. "Muntik ka nang mamatay! Alangan namang magpa-party ako? Alam mo ba kung gaano kami ka nag-alala sa 'yo? Hindi ba binilinan ko kayong mag-ingat? Bakit hindi ka nakinig?!"

Griffin softly chuckled and gently tapped my head using his right hand. "It's okay. I'm okay now, so please stop crying."

His reassuring smile and comforting words made me want to cry all the more. Sinubsob ko ang mukha ko sa kutson ng kama niya at doon mas umiyak. Nagpatuloy naman siya sa marahang pagtapik sa ulo ko upang patahanin ako.

Sa sumunod na araw ay inutusan ako ni Ate Keena na idaan daw sa building ng ADC Network ang naiwan niyang flashdrive dahil nandoon ang presentation na ibabahagi niya sa meeting nila para sa isang bagong proyekto. On the way naman sa ospital ang building kaya dinaan ko na lang gaya nang gusto niya.

"Nandito na ako sa ground floor. Hindi na ako aakyat d'yan, Ate. Wala raw akong appointment, eh," sabi ko sa kanya sa tawag pagdating ko ng building.

"Okay, wait for me there."

Pagkababa ko ng tawag ay nagpalinga-linga ako sa paligid habang naghihintay sa kapatid ko. Napukaw ng isang malaking portrait na nakasabit sa pader ang atensyon ko.

The painting depicted an enigmatic nine-tailed fox, or Gumiho, standing proudly on a cliff with the moon as its backdrop. The hyperrealistic art style brought the mythical creature to life, making it seem almost real with its piercing eyes.

"Beautiful, isn't it?"

Napabaling ako sa lalaking nakapamulsa na nagsalita sa tabi ko. Nangunot ang noo ko dahil siya lang naman ang mayabang na reporter na nakilala ko sa presinto nina Raegan noong isang linggo.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito?" I asked.

"I should be the one asking you that. You're at the ADC Network, and this is the office for the Good Night, Westwood show."

Ayoko nang gulo kaya ibinaling ko na lang ulit ang atensyon sa napakagandang portrait. "Ikaw ba gumawa niyan?"

"My brother did it. Napakaganda, hindi ba?" nakangiting tanong niya, seemingly proud of something.

Himalang nakangiti siya ngayon. Parang nag-ibang tao siya sa harap ng portrait. Nang tingnan kong muli ang portrait ay hindi ko maiwasang mahalina sa Gumiho na nandoon. I just then found myself smiling at it.

"Tama ka. Napakaganda nga."

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

"HOW LONG DO you plan on staying here?" tanong ng isang lalaki habang naghihiwa ng mansanas sa tabi ni Griffin.

Bumangon si Griffin mula sa pagkakahiga at naupo sa kama niya saka kumuha ng isang slice ng mansanas.

"That I'm not sure. The second daughter takes especially good care of me," ang nakangiting tugon naman nito bago sinubo ang slice ng mansanas saka kumuha pa ng panibago.

"You could banish that monster of imagination without lifting a finger. Did you really have to go this far?"

Griffin shrugged his shoulders and said, "I have to play the part."

The chorus of a trending pop song suddenly played from his phone. He raised his hands in the air and began swaying to the music, all the while munching on apple slices in his hospital bed.

"How's the others?"

"They're planning something new."

Griffin's hands were suspended in the air, and the music stopped playing. "She's here."

Kinuha niya ang huling slice ng mansanas at sinubo iyon bago siya dali-daling nahiga ulit at tinakpan ng kumot ang katawan.

"Go, leave," he told the other guy.

"Talagang sasayangin mo ang panahon mo rito?"

Griffin closed his eyes, smiled, and nodded while gesturing with his hand as if he were shooing the guy away. "Shoo, shoo," he said in a firm yet friendly voice.

The guy shook his head in response and vanished instantly when the door swung open and revealed Alohi carrying an insulated bag with Griffin's soup lunch.

"Nagluto ako ng arroz caldo. Sabay na tayong mananghalian," nakangiting saad ng dalaga.

「 ✦ 𝓛𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓪 𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓸 ✦ 」

Your votes and comments are highly appreciated! Thank you! ♥︎