26: Krampus
(German Urban Legend)

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

KEENA AND TAVLEEN stepped out of the bustling mall, filled with shoppers eagerly preparing for Christmas Eve, and joined Alohi in the car. The Sagrado sisters were heavily bundled up in parkas, gloves, and sherpa hats to brace themselves against the biting cold of the snowy town similar to Germany.

As they settled into the car, Alohi shivered and rubbed her gloved hands together. "Ate, bilisan nating maghanap ng accommodation. It's freezing out here."

Napahagikhik naman si Tavleen sa backseat. "Parang no'ng isang araw lang, Ate Alohi, tuwang-tuwa pa tayo na makakita ng snow. Pero ngayon ay halos sumpain na natin ang lamig."

First time kasing makakita at ma-experience nina Tavleen at Alohi ang snow kaya manghang-mangha at aliw na aliw sila no'ng una. Due to her frequent international trips for book signings and film shoots, Keena had seen it several times. This was why she was able to describe the story in such detail.

The sound of the car engine filled the air as Keena revved it up. They then drove through winding roads until they arrived at a charming village adorned with colorful decorations and bustling with holiday cheer. The air was also filled with the sweet aroma of freshly baked cookies and the sound of carolers singing beautifully. Although the Sagrado sisters were excited to spend Christmas Eve in this lively place, they had to remain vigilant in their search for the infamous urban legend, Krampus.

Krampus is a terrifying half-goat and half-demon creature known for punishing naughty individuals during the Christmas season.

With horns, fangs, and a long tongue, Krampus wields chains and bells to frighten people, along with birch sticks to discipline misbehaving children. He is believed to be the son of Hel in Norse mythology and shares characteristics with demonic beings from Greek mythology, such as satyrs and fauns.

The German tradition of Krampus, which originated centuries ago, is a dark counterpart to St. Nicholas. While St. Nicholas rewards good children with sweets, Krampus disciplines the 'wicked' by swatting them and taking them to his underworld lair.

Paglabas ng magkakapatid sa sasakyan ay hindi na naitago pa nina Alohi at Tavleen ang masayang ngiti nila. The snow-covered landscape provided a stunning backdrop to the spectacle, and as they watched in awe, they were enveloped by the joyous spirit of Christmas.

"Ate Keena, kapag po ba nag-picture tayo rito ay maglalaho rin iyong larawan pagbalik natin sa totoong mundo?" tanong ni Tavleen sa panganay na kapatid.

"Yes, that applies to ordinary mortals who find themselves trapped inside the book," Keena clarified. "But as Bibliokinetics, we can bring that photo back to the real world."

"Sige, Tav, picturan kita," alok naman ni Alohi sa bunsong kapatid. "Souvenir mo."

"Eh, ikaw, Ate Alohi? Alam kong gusto mo rin ng souvenir."

"Kahit na gustuhin ko, maglalaho rin naman iyong akin pagdating natin sa totoong mundo," ani Alohi na kahit nakangiti ay napansin ni Keena na may bahid pa rin ng kalungkutan at paghihinayang ang mga mata.

Keena grabbed her phone and pulled her sisters close for a group selfie. "Say cheese!"

Tavleen and Alohi were clearly caught off guard during the photo. Kung hindi nakanganga ay nakakunot-noo naman sila. They asked Keena to retake it when their eldest sister clarified that Alohi's picture would stay even when they returned to the real world because she had taken photos with Bibliokinetics. So, they needed all three of them in one frame for their souvenir.

Pagkatapos ng masayang photoshoot nila ay nagtulungan ang magkakapatid na ipasok sa loob ng bahay na inupahan nila para sa Christmas Eve ang mga gamit at handang dala nila. Natuwa naman sila dahil maging sa loob ay may mga pampaskong dekorasyon na. The Sagrado sisters then went to the kitchen to prepare early dinner together.

"Ate, bakit kailangan nating agahan iyong noche buena natin?" tanong ni Tavleen habang naghihiwa ng hotdog para sa gagawin nilang spaghetti.

"By 9 in the evening, Krampus and his minions will shroud the entire village in darkness," Keena responded.

"Hindi po ba natin pwedeng balaan in advance ang mga residente rito?"

"Even if we do, hindi pa rin maniniwala ang mga 'yon sa atin lalo na at masayang holiday dapat ito," paliwanag ni Keena at binalingan si Alohi na abala naman sa pagluluto ng butter chicken. "Okay na ba 'yong pasta? Ako nang bahala sa spaghetti."

Sunod namang binuksan ni Tavleen at hinanda mula sa kahon ang dala nilang black forest cake. Hindi niya maiwasang matakam habang nakatitig doon. "Kailangan talaga muna nating magpakabusog bago sumabak sa laban mamaya."

"Agree!" segunda naman ni Alohi. "Noche buena muna bago magkanda-leche-leche."

Mayamaya pa ay pinagsaluhan na ng magkakapatid ang kanilang simpleng handa. Pagkatapos ay binigyan na ni Keena ng kani-kanilang mga misyon para sa gabing iyon ang mga kapatid niya.

"Tavleen, your task is to rescue and ensure the safety of the residents alongside Hanako-san. Let me and Alohi handle the fighting." Sunod namang binalingan ni Keena si Alohi. "Speaking of which, Alohi, do you prefer taking on the minions or Krampus?"

"Your mana manipulation ability is more capable of taking down multiple enemies at once. Ako na ang bahala kay Krampus."

"Okay, I'll take care of its minions. You focus on finding and ending it. Maglalaho rin silang lahat kapag natalo mo na siya."

As the clock struck nine in the evening, a sudden change in the weather caught the villagers' attention. A thick nimbus cloud, accompanied by lightning, loomed over the houses, signaling an impending storm. After a few moments, a severe blizzard engulfed the entire village and caused a power outage that plunged the once-merry wonderland of Christmas lights into complete darkness.

The thick mist that accompanied the blizzard made it even harder to see in the darkness. The residents, who were supposed to be enjoying one of the happiest evenings of the year, were forced to retreat inside their homes to seek refuge from the storm and the unknown.

Keena closed the window and faced her sisters. "This is the third-to-last Urban Legend we need to handle here. Once we deal with this one and the remaining two, we'll be free from the book. You already know the drill."

Tumango naman sina Alohi and Tavleen upang sumang-ayon. Having faced over forty Urban Legends, not just in the pages of this book but also in the real world unleashed from the Monsters Playbook, they had gradually grown accustomed to hunting and, in a way, exorcising these supernatural entities.

Unexpectedly, their journey through the 50 Sites of Fright felt more like a training session than the stress-relieving vacation their father had in mind. Despite this, the experience left them feeling more confident and capable of facing the monsters now. Even Tavleen was gradually overcoming her fear. It was something she once found difficult to conquer.

Paglabas nila mula sa pinto ng kanilang bahay ay agad na naghiwa-hiwalay ang magkakapatid upang isakatuparan ang kanya-kanyang mga misyon nila. Keena, armed with her strong mana manipulation ability and powerful influence over the book she authored, took on Krampus's minions. The malevolent monster toys, unleashed from Christmas presents scattered by the Urban Legend's sleigh, wreaked havoc and targeted residents' homes.

Tavleen, accompanied by Hanako-san in its original form, focused on ensuring the safety of the residents. Meanwhile, Alohi hunted down Krampus while effortlessly dispatching the minions that crossed her path with her strong kicks and punches.

She then followed the sound of a child asking for help nearby. Her eyes widened as she saw a creature with big horns tossing a crying boy into a deep, fiery pit. If she was right, it was indeed the underworld where Krampus took young victims.

Bago pa man tuluyang bumagsak ang bata sa ilalim no'n ay mabilis na tumakbo si Alohi at agad na niyakap ito. Kinapit niya nang mahigpit ang isang kamay sa nakausling bahagi ng lupa nang sa ganoon ay hindi sila tuluyang mahulog na dalawa. Gayunpaman, alam niyang hindi niya matatagalan pa iyon. She couldn't risk letting go of her hand and just falling into the pit because she had the kid with her. Unlike her, who could easily regenerate, he wouldn't survive it.

Napaungot si Alohi nang maramdaman na niya ang pangangalay ng kamay niya hanggang sa unti-unti nang lumuluwang ang pagkakapit niya. She had to do something quickly!

"Ate Keena!" sigaw niya, humihingi ng tulong sa panganay na kapatid na alam niyang hindi biro ang tinataglay na impluwensiya sa sarili mismo nitong likha.

Keena turned toward the direction of Alohi's voice who was calling for help. Her hands glowed with violet-colored mana as she hurled beams at the minions and erected a dome or force field for protection. She sensed that her sister's location was far away and realized it would take some time before she could reach her for rescue.

"Fuck!" she yelled when an evil elf suddenly threw a spear made from birch at her, which she barely missed.

She tossed the little monster away with just a wave of her hand. Her eyes then glowed a bright violet as she used her mana manipulation ability, which she had improved during their time in the book and absorbed from the Latin spell book.

She found Alohi in a tight spot using her mana vision. Her sister was holding a boy in an open underworld that Krampus unlocked. She then sent them help by creating a protective force field that lifted them out of danger and safely dropped them to the ground.

Agad namang kinausap ni Alohi nang mahinahon ang batang nasa loob pa rin ng force field ng kanyang Ate Keena. "Umuwi ka na sa inyo. Poprotektahan ka ng ilaw na 'to."

Tumango ito at tumakbo na pauwi sa kanila. Tinanaw ni Alohi ang bata hanggang sa mawala na ito sa paningin niya. Tinalikuran ng dalaga ang direksyong tinahak ng bata at seryosong tinuon ang atensyon sa bandang tinahak ng pigurang nakita niya kanina. Ngayong sigurado na siyang si Krampus iyon, ang kailangan niya na lang gawin ay hanapin ito. Huminto si Alohi sa paglalakad nang mapansin ang nakabukas at madilim na barn sa malapit.

When Alohi entered the barn, a muscular, white, horned creature lifted its head and growled fiercely. It was followed by the unsettling noise of chains scraping the floor. She then spotted Krampus holding the chains and swinging them menacingly as he moved closer to her.

Kinuyom ni Alohi ang mga kamao at ipinuwesto ang mga paa niya upang maghanda sa atake ng Urban Legend. Krampus growled again and threw the chain at Alohi. She quickly kicked it away and swiftly docked before delivering a strong punch to its stomach that made the big monster stagger backward.

Hindi pa rin nagpatinag ang Urban Legend at muling inatake ang dalaga. Tumilapon si Alohi sa malayo nang magulat siya sa naging sunod na atake ni Krampus na sa halip na ang kadena nitong hinahanda ang gamitin ay ang malalaking sungay nito.

Muling umatake si Krampus at sa pagkakataong iyon ay hindi umiwas si Alohi bagkus ay sinalubong niya ito. Bahagyang tumalon ang dalaga at kumapit nang mahigpit sa malalaking sungay nito saka ito puwersahang hinila payuko kung saan sinalubong niya rin ang mukha nito nang isang malakas na sipa gamit ang kanyang tuhod. Pagbitiw niya sa Urban Legend ay napaatras ito at nawalan ng balanse.

Lalapitan na sana ni Alohi ito nang bigla itong maglaho at tahimik na lumitaw sa kanyang likuran. Krampus swiftly used its chain weapon to choke the woman, who fought desperately to escape the monster's grip.

Alohi summoned all her strength before she ran out of breath and managed to break Krampus' chains coiled around her neck. She seized the monster by its shoulders, bent down, and forcefully swung it before finally dropping it to the ground.

She looked down at him with exhausted yet determined eyes. "Merry Christmas," she coldly greeted before stepping forcefully on the Urban Legend's chest, causing its blood to burst and its heart to shatter.

It didn't take long for Krampus to succumb to death and turned into white ashes that were immediately swept away by the night breeze. His remains blended seamlessly with the falling snow. His minions screamed in pain before vanishing as well.

Tavleen, who was riding on the back of Hanako-san's three-headed lizard form, smiled as the minions of Krampus, whom she was pushing away to protect the residents inside their homes, suddenly disappeared into thin air.

Her elder sisters had done it again.

The lights flickered on and brought back the safe and joyful spirit of Christmas Eve. Residents emerged from their homes to inspect the outside, and the area appeared as if nothing had ever happened.

Hinaplos ni Tavleen si Hanako-san bago nakangiting sinabihan na, "You can rest for now, Hanako-san. They're already safe. Maraming salamat, and Merry Christmas."

Nang masiguro ng magkakapatid na Sagrado na maayos at ligtas na ang lahat ay bumalik na sila sa kanilang inuupahang bahay upang ipagpatuloy ang kanilang noche buena. After Alohi took a bath and changed clothes, she turned on the karaoke for everyone to sing. They picked Ariana Grande's 'Last Christmas.'

Keena went to the living room with two wine glasses and gave one to Alohi. Tavleen, on the other hand, was sitting on the couch with Hanako-san and covered in a blanket while sipping hot chocolate.

"Merry Christmas, everybody!" Alohi happily greeted using the microphone before singing.

"I hate that I remember
I wish I could forget what you did last December
You left my heart a mess..."

Keena, who held the second microphone, continued, "Boy, you blew it
How could you do it, do it?
Oh, yeah, oh, yeah..."

"It's The Rascals!" sang Alohi in a second voice.

Tumayo si Tavleen at inakbayan ang mga ate niya na may hawak ng mga mic at nakikanta na rin kasabay ng mga ito habang umiindak. "Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special, oh, yeah..."

The Sagrado sisters chuckled while swaying their shoulders back and forth, still singing, "Last Christmas, I gave you my heart
But the very next day, you gave it away
This year, to save me from tears
I'll give it to someone special..."

After the song, the Sagrado sisters embraced each other tightly in a big group hug and wished their father was there with them. Their journey through the 50 Sites of Fright was challenging. Yet, it provided valuable lessons that would undoubtedly boost their capabilities and confidence when they eventually returned to the real world, especially in battling the remaining Urban Legends from Monsters Playbook.

「 ✦ 𝓛𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓪 𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓸 ✦ 」

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