20: The Hundred Tales Clan 

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

NAPABALIKWAS AKO NG bangon mula sa kama ko. Pawis na pawis ako pero napakunot ang noo ko nang mapansin kong nakasuot na ako ng pajama ko. I lifted my top to check on my stomach but found not a single scratch or wound there.

Did I regenerate after that attack?

Or was it even true?

Panaginip lang ba lahat ng iyon?

Sinapo ko ang ulo ko. Hindi ba sinipa ako no'ng babae rito? Iyon ang huli kong natatandaan bago ako mawalan ng malay.

Whether it was a dream or more like a nightmare, why did it feel so vivid? Ramdam ko iyong nanunuot na sakit ng sugat kong hindi naghilom. Maging iyong galit ko nang sabihin no'ng babae na sila ng mga kasama niyang hindi ko nakita ro'n ang pumatay sa nanay ko gamit iyong purple diamond sa dulo ng dagger niya ay natatandaan ko pa.

Tinaas ko ang mga tuhod ko at mas sinapo pa ang ulo ko gamit ang magkabilang palad ko.

Naguguluhan ako.

What the hell is happening?

Nag-angat ako ng tingin nang bumukas ang pinto ng kwarto ko. Pumasok si Papa dala ang tray na naglalaman ng mangkok ng sopas na umuusok pa sa init at mga baso ng tubig at gatas saka gamot.

"Alohi, kumusta na ang pakiramdam mo?" tanong ni Papa na nahihimigan ko ng pag-aalala. Sinapo niya rin ang noo ko. "Salamat at bumaba na ang lagnat mo. Pinagpapawisan ka na rin. Gusto mo bang i-on ko na ang aircon mo?"

"Pa, ano pong nangyari?"

"Pagdating ko kahapon ay si Tavleen ang nagbabantay ng Library dahil sabi niya ay hindi raw maganda ang pakiramdam mo. Pagtingin ko rito sa kwarto mo ay naabutan kitang nakatalukbong ng kumot at inaapoy ng lagnat," he explained.

"But that's not what I remembered! Umalis ako, Pa, kaya si Tavleen ang pinagbantay ko sa Library. Kikitain ko sana si Mami... Tama! Si Mamita!"

Mabilis na inabot ko ang cellphone sa bedside table ko at tinawagan si Mamita. "Mamita! Tinawagan kita kahapon, hindi po ba? Tapos sabi mo, hindi ka tumawag sa telepono dahil buong araw kang nasa meeting kasama ang Elders ng clan. You instructed me to leave the area right away because you weren't the one who arranged the meeting at Bucari Forest to apprehend the Book Thief.... right?"

"Alohi, apo, hinay-hinay lang. Wala akong maintindihan."

I scratched my right cheek in frustration. "Mamita, did we talk yesterday? I mean, did we call each other?"

"I didn't, but you were correct. I was in a meeting with the clan's Elders the entire day yesterday. Bakit? May nangyari ba?" nag-aalalang tanong niya.

Napapikit ako dahil sumasakit na naman ang ulo ko. "Wala naman po. Sorry kung naistorbo at pinag-alala ko po kayo."

After ending the call, I reclined on my bed while Papa observed me with concern. He sat on the edge of my bed and said, "Alohi, I know you've been through difficult fights these past few days with the Urban Legends and demons. Your mind and body need rest. Just take a break for now, anak. Papa will take care of everything."

"Pa, if I was dreaming, why did everything feel so real?" I insisted but then calmed down when I realized that the vividness might be really because of stress.

Kung anu-ano na lang ang nakikita ko kasi I admit I had been unstable these past few days.

"In that dream, I was inside the original Monsters Playbook. Doon ako dinala ng babaeng Bibliokinetic," pagkukuwento ko kay Papa. "I saw Mama's killer and found out what killed her. She was trying to destroy that very weapon so that they couldn't use it on me. Pa, ano po ba talagang nangyari kay Mama? Bakit siya namatay?"

Pag-angat ko ng tingin kay Papa ay nahuli ko ang matinding pag-aalala sa kanyang mga mata at itsura. "May problema ba, Pa?"

"How..." Umiling muna siya bago ako tinitigan nang maigi. "Anak, if you ever encounter an Urban Legend, demon, or the Bibliokinetics who has the original Monsters Playbook and see them with a purple diamond, no matter how small it is, please do not fight them and just leave immediately."

"Bakit po, Pa?" nakakunot-noong tanong ko sa kanya.

"That thing didn't originate from this world. It came from your mother's planet. It was their so-called kryptonite. Your mother's kind developed it so that their DNA could counter immortality. She mentioned that she received a vaccination in her childhood to ensure aging and mortality in her DNA. However, a substantial amount of it could be lethal for both them and you," Papa explained. "It was what caused her death. She tried to eliminate that for you."

Nanumbalik na naman ang kaba, pag-alala, at pagkalitong buong akala ko ay humupa na kanina dahil sa narinig ko ngayon. I had no idea about it, so how did my dream contain such detailed information?

"Bakit ngayon niyo lang po sinabi sa akin ito, Pa?"

"Your mother made me promise not to tell you. She did it to protect you and your sisters. Even though they didn't inherit your mother's abilities like you did, you all shared the same DNA, so she was scared."

I cannot believe what I just heard. These revelations gave me a headache. Gusto kong magalit kay Papa pero pumintig na naman ang ulo ko sa sakit. Kaagad na napansin din iyon ni Papa kaya inalalayan niya akong mahiga nang tuluyan ulit.

"Did you also know who killed her?" I asked again. "Pa, sagutin mo ako!"

"Yes, it was another Bibliokinetic." Napatingala si Papa na animo ay pinipigilan ang emosyon niya bago ako hinarap muli at nagpatuloy sa kanyang sinasabi, "Nahuli na ako sa pagliligtas sa kanya. Alam niyang hindi na niya kakayanin nang dumating ako, so she made me promise not to tell you and protect all of you always. I'm sorry, anak. I'm so sorry."

Nanghihina man ay bumangon ako at niyakap si Papa. It must have been difficult for him as well. He kept all these things to himself for a long time to uphold his promise to Mama.

"I'm not blaming you, Pa. It must have been hard for you, too. I'm sorry," I sincerely apologized as we hugged each other. "But can you please tell us more about it? We ought to know the truth."

Tumango si Papa at tinipon kaming magkakapatid sa dining table upang ikuwento ang buong nangyari noong araw na mamatay si Mama. He revealed that Mama was fighting an evil Bibliokinetic at that time who sought various methods like black magic and mad science to become powerful. He was known as the Monogatari.

They didn't know where or how that psychic got the purple diamond they called the Soulstone. My mother's race developed this stone, and they mixed a small amount of it into their DNA to counter immortality. That's why, despite our regenerative ability, we could die of old age.

Mama decided to destroy the Soulstone in the possession of that Bibliokinetic who began wreaking havoc in Westwood City eighteen years ago. He unsealed Urban Legends and other monsters from books to conquer and rule the city.

Mama secretly confronted him with two goals: to stop his evil plans and destroy the Soulstone. She was able to fulfill the latter, but she ultimately succumbed to death, and it was Papa who ended the Monogatari's life and evil plans. Despite winning the fight that night, he looked more than defeated when he returned home with Mama's lifeless body, and that was the last scene I remembered about Mama.

Binalot kami ng katahimikan lahat matapos ang rebelasyon ni Papa. Ako naman ay masyadong binabagabag pa rin ng panaginip kong parang totoong-totoo talaga, lalo na at nagkakatugma iyon sa mga bagong impormasyong ito.

Una, iyong tungkol sa Soulstone. Pangalawa, iyong katotohanang sinira na ni Mama iyon pero ang sabi ng misteryosong babae ay naitabi niya raw ang maliit na siyang huling piraso na ring iyon na nandito sa mundo. Pangatlo naman ay iyong eksenang pinasok ng Monogatari si Mama sa loob ng libro upang doon labanan. These were too much for a coincidence.

"Pa, don't you think the Bibliokinetics unsealing the Urban Legends from the Monsters Playbook have something to do with this Monogatari?" Ate Keena proposed the possibility, and we all shifted our attention to her.

Tumango naman si Papa, sumasang-ayon sa ideyang iyon. "I also considered that possibity, anak. I tried searching for the family members that he might have left. Posibleng may mga anak siyang hindi namin nakilala na gustong maghiganti sa nangyari sa ama nila."

"May nalaman po ba kayo sa pag-iimbestiga niyo sa mga anak niya?" tanong naman ni Tavleen.

"I've found out that he had four children who all got separated and left Westwood City after the incident," Papa explained. "Nobody knows where they are now, but since he's a Bibliokinetic, his children might have inherited his ability. Malaki ang posibilidad na sila nga ang mga nagpapalaya sa mga Urban Legend mula sa Monsters Playbook."

The Monogatari has four children, and the woman in my dreams might be one of them. Sigurado akong isa siya sa apat na iyon dahil lagi niyang sinasabi na 'sila' at hindi lang 'siya.'

Muli akong napahilot ng sentido ko nang pumintig iyon. Hindi ako naniniwalang simpleng panaginip lang lahat ng iyon.

"There's also one thing you need to know," muling hayag ni Papa. "Two people wrote the Monsters Playbook, the Sagrado's strongest supernatural hunter, Crisanto Sagrado, and Monotagari's grandfather, Lord Hyakku. They're two of the earliest known Bibliokinetics, and since they're the originals, they're also the most powerful. Your grandfather and I wrote the additional Urban Legends that recently appeared, like the Slender Man."

Papa continued his explanation, "Monogatari came from the clan known in ancient times as the Hundred Tales Clan, and they're a clan of very powerful Bibliokinetics led by Lord Hyakku."

According to Papa, the Hundred Tales Clan, which is now extinct, actually began as the Hyakumonogatari Kaidenkai, which translates to 'A Gathering of One Hundred Supernatural Tales.' It was a popular parlor game during Japan's Edo era. The game involved lighting 100 candles in a room at night, and those present would take turns telling ghost stories. After each story was completed, a candle was blown out, and supposedly, a supernatural being would be summoned forth once the final candle was extinguished.

Although the game's origins are unknown, it is believed to have been first played by samurai as a test of courage. With the rise in popularity of the practice and the advent of new printing and modern technology, there was a surge in the publication of books and online forums that revolved around ghost stories.

"Bibliokinesis began with the Hundred Tales Clan. They create new monsters through the ghost stories they make, collect, tell, and spread. Crisanto Sagrado was once part of their clan," Papa disclosed. "However, he observed that Lord Hyakku used this ability to gather and control both supernatural beings and humans. They frequently clashed until Crisanto decided to end all their members, sparing only Lord Hyakku, after their created monsters were used to massacre villages. And we might be dealing with the remaining members of this clan now."

"Pa, if they are really Bibliokinetic, why do they need to steal the original when they can make a copy of the Monsters Playbook that's as good as the actual one?" Ate Keena pointed out, and we all agreed.

Napaisip naman si Papa at mayamaya pa ay tila may napagtanto siya. "There could be something in the original that we both don't know and can't copy, so they stole it to find out."

"Do you also believe that one of them was the Book Thief?" I asked them and reasoned, "Let's say they're really Bibliokinetics just like their father, but they're still psychics, humans. We could have seen them in the CCTV footage. If they're supernatural beings, it's impossible for the Library not to feel their presence during that night and just welcome them."

Tumango naman si Ate Keena. "I agree. I also think it's a different person. It's someone more powerful than ordinary psychics and supernatural beings. Someone who could easily conceal its presence."

"Ano na pong plano natin?" tanong ni Tavleen.

Tumayo si Papa at sinabing, "Go on with your usual life, and let me handle the Urban Legends for the meantime, especially you, Alohi. Bawiin mo muna ang lakas mo at magpahinga. Napapansin kong naaapektuhan na kayo ng misyon nating ito at nag-aalala ako para sa kapakanan niyo."

"Pero, Pa—"

Papa immediately cut me off. "When you fully recover, that's when I will let you help. Understood?"

"Just listen to Papa, Alohi," Ate Keena seconded. "You can help him in the meantime by not being stubborn."

YEAH, I HEEDED their advice and rested. But when Ate Keena left for work and Papa to investigate another supernatural case, I swiftly changed and left the house. Tavleen, who was in charge of the Library's counter that day, looked surprised when she saw me.

"Ate, hindi ka pwedeng lumabas," kinakabahang saway niya sa akin. "Naka-house arrest ka!"

I scoffed. "Anong house arrest? Mukha ba akong dating pangulo na may sandamakmak na kaso ng graft and corruption?"

"Ate Alohi, naman, eh!" pagmamaktol niya. "Pagagalitan ako ni Ate Keena kapag umalis ka."

"Chill, okay. Sa café lang ako ni Griffin pupunta. Gusto ko lang kumain ng taho at bibingka. Babalik ako pagkatapos."

"Sige, pero bumalik ka kaagad, Ate, ha?"

"Oo na, dadalhan pa kita ng meryenda," pangako ko at umalis na ng Library.

Pinuntahan ko si Griffin upang makapag-rant ako sa kanya tungkol sa prustrasyong nararamdaman ko sa napaka-vivid na panaginip ko na iyon. Argh, hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin alam ang paniniwalaan ko!

Of course, I did not detail my dream to protect my family's secret. I just told him in a general way. Pasensyosong nakinig naman sa akin si Griffin.

"What do you think of it?" I asked, hoping that someone could finally give me a good explanation.

"Sigmund Freud believed dreams help us process our unresolved and repressed desires. Another prominent neurobiological theory suggests that dreams might not have any inherent meaning. Instead, they are electrical brain impulses that randomly retrieve thoughts and images from our memories. According to this theory, humans also create dream narratives after waking up as a natural effort to make sense of the experience."

"I don't know if I should feel relieved or stupid after hearing your explanation." Napahilamos ako ng mga palad ko sa sobrang frustration. "My mind might be playing tricks on me, but my heart believes everything was true. Even the part when I saw and heard you telling me that everything would be fine and that I was only dreaming. Pakiramdam ko nga no'ng part na 'yon, parang hini-hypnotize mo ako..."

Pag-angat ko ng tingin ay agad kong nakasalubong ang mariing titig ni Griffin sa akin. "Bakit?"

"I didn't see that one coming."

Bigla naman akong naalarma sa seryosong reaksyon niya kaya mabilis kong pinaliwanag ang lahat, "Huwag kang maniwala kay Sigmund Freud. Wala akong pagnanasa sa 'yo, promise!"

Napabuntong-hininga si Griffin at tumango. Buong akala ko ay makakahinga na ako nang maluwag doon kaso ay natigilan ako sa sunod niyang sinabi, "Perhaps it would have been better if I had just erased your memories of that night as well."

Gulat na napatitig ako sa nakangiti at maamo niyang mukha. I don't know why, but I got chills looking at him. It was the same feeling you get when you meet someone you know you can't handle, so you just cower in fear and submit.

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

Out of nowhere, the bartender in the coffee machine became motionless, and even the coffee streaming into the cup hung suspended. I scanned my surroundings and observed that the customers were also frozen in their respective positions. When I turned my gaze back to Griffin, it seemed only the two of us were moving.

What on earth is going on?

"Since you've wanted to hear this, let me confirm that everything you saw and felt last night—all of it really happened."

Tumayo ako mula sa high stool at lumayo sa kanya. Hindi ko alam pero natatakot ako sa kanya!

Tinalikuran ko siya upang tumakbo sana kaso pagharap ko ay nabunggo ako sa dibdib niya. Kinabahan ako nang hawakan niya ako sa mga braso ko. Sinubukan kong gamitin ang lakas ko upang hawiin ang kamay niya subalit hanggang pagpupumiglas lang ang nagawa ko. My eyes widened as I realized that he could effortlessly match my strength.

"Bitiwan mo ako!"

"I'd appreciate it if you finish your food first," kalmadong wika niya.

Sa sobrang pagpapanik ay tumingkayad ako at nagsisisigaw sa pagmumukha niya. Napapikit siya kaya kinuha ko ang pagkakataong iyon upang lumusot sa gilid niya at tumakas. Gayunpaman ay nagawa niya pa rin akong hulihin sa beywang ko at walang kahirap-hirap na binuhat gamit lamang ang kanang braso niya.

Pinaupo niya ako pabalik sa high stool at itinuko ang mga palad niya sa counter na nasa likuran ko upang ikulong ako sa pagitan ng mga braso niya.

"Calm down. I didn't mean to scare you," mahinahong aniya, lalo lang tuloy akong nagpanik.

"Paano ako kakalma?! Hindi ka tao!" sigaw ko at huminahon nang may bigla akong matanto. "Halatang hindi ka mortal pero... pero bakit nakakapasok ka sa Library without our permission and invitation? Anong klaseng nilalang ka—teka lang, ikaw ba ang Book Thief na hinahanap namin?"

"Yes."

Sa pagkakataong iyon ay kinuwelyuhan ko siya. Instantly, my fear vanished and was replaced by anger and betrayal because I had trusted him. I hadn't harbored a single negative thought about him, not even once. I felt like a fool who willingly discarded any suspicions against him.

"You fooled me! Bakit mo ninakaw ang Monsters Playbook?!"

"Someone made a deal with me. I fulfilled their wish in exchange for something they hold dear," he replied as if it was just a trivial matter.

Hinigpitan ko ang pagkakakuwelyo ko sa kanya. "Do you even understand how important this is to us?!"

"I do. I understand how important it is to you, but you also have to understand that these things are merely business as usual for beings like me. Just like how scorpions would bite anyone who touched them, regardless of how gently they were held, it's in my nature to grant wishes no matter how bad they may seem to humans like you."

"Anong klaseng nilalang ka ba talaga ha?" ngayon ay mahinahong tanong ko na.

"That's for me to know and for you to find out." He still won't reveal his real identity, huh?

"Kung gano'n sino? Sino ang humiling sa 'yo na nakawin ang Monsters Playbook sa Library?" I asked instead.

"I have to protect my client's confidentiality."

Hinatak ko siyang muli sa kuwelyo niya. "Ano?!"

His lips suddenly formed a teasing smile. My frown deepened. Why did it seem like he was toying with me?

"But if you're that determined, I know a way to grant your request."

"Ano? Paano?"

He drew near, and as I leaned back to prevent our lips from meeting, a teasing smile played again on his lips. He then purposely shifted his attention to my right ear, then his voice took on a seductive tone as he whispered, "Give me an offer I can't refuse."

「 ✦ 𝓛𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓪 𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓸 ✦ 」

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