29: Dance with the Devil
(American Urban Legend)

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

SAN ANTONIO'S RESIDENCE - 6:15 P.M.
"Basta pumunta kayo mamaya sa party ko ha?" paalala ni Avon sa mga kaibigang sina Pamela at Brent sa video call. "Hindi mabubuo ang birthday ko kung wala kayong dalawa."

"Oo naman. Hindi kami mawawala ro'n," Pamela reassured her.

"See you!" said Brent, and after a while, they ended the call.

Binaba nang nakahigang si Pamela ang cellphone niya sa ibabaw ng kanyang tiyan. Nagpaalam naman siya sa nanay niya kahapon subalit ayaw nito. Susubukan niya na lang ulit pagdating nito mamaya.

Nang marinig na niya ang boses ng ina mula sa sala ay kaagad na siyang tumayo at lumapit dito upang magpaalam muli. Tinulungan niya pa ito sa pagdadala ng mga pinamili nito upang payagan na talaga siya.

"Ma, mamaya na po pala 'yong birthday ni Avon. I want to be there on my best friend's special day."

Nagbago naman ang ekspresyon ng nanay niya nang marinig muli iyon. "Pamela, ilang beses ko bang kailangang ulitin sa 'yo na hindi ka nga pwedeng pumunta ro'n ngayon?"

"Bakit nga po?! Hindi niyo naman po kasi ako binibigyan ng rason kung bakit. Paanong hindi ko kayo kukulitin niyan?"

"Sabi ng pastor natin na iwasan muna ang pamamasyal o paglabas ngayong Biyernes ng gabi. It's Friday the 13th for goodness sake! Masamang pangitain 'yon!"

"What? Gosh, it's already the 21st century, Ma! Nagpapaniwala ka pa rin sa mga ganyan?"

"When we tell ourselves that the Devil doesn't exist, that's when he is the happiest. Bakit hindi ka na lang makinig sa akin at pagbigyan ang kahilingan ko? Para sa 'yo rin naman ito!"

Umabot ng halos kalahating oras ang sagutan ng mag-ina, parehong idinidiin ang mga punto nila. Sa huli ay hindi makapaniwalang napailing na lamang si Pamela at iniwan ang nanay niya sa sala. Gusto niyang ipakita ritong sumusuko na siya at ito ang nanalo sa pagitan nila dahil may ibang plano siya.

ANG NAKANGITING MUKHA nina Avon at Brent ang bumungad kay Pamela pagdating niya sa nightclub kung saan gustong idaos ng party girl na kaibigan ang kaarawan.

"I thought you wouldn't come!" ani Avon at bineso ang kaibigan.

"Pwede ba naman 'yon? Happy birthday," Pamela greeted her friend smilingly.

"Know what? Let's just enjoy the night!"

The party was in full swing, with the atmosphere electric and the music upbeat, as three friends joined the crowd of partygoers dancing to the rhythm under the dazzling lights. It was a fun night, and they were all enjoying themselves until Pamela spotted a tall, handsome stranger walking inside the club.

He caught her attention immediately as he stood out from the rest of the crowd with his elegantly tailored suit and jet-black hair slicked back from his forehead. Even though his style seemed out of place, he appeared ready to sweep any girl off her feet.

The handsome man noticed Pamela looking at him and gave her an alluring smile before walking over to the counter. Despite the loud music, Pamela felt drawn to him and excused herself from her friends, saying, "Sandali lang ha."

Pamela was not usually attracted to the opposite sex easily and had reservations due to her religious upbringing. However, she did not understand why she suddenly felt drawn to the mysterious man, as if an invisible force was beckoning her to go to him.

When she reached the counter, the man handed her one of the two drinks he had ordered earlier. It was a small gesture, but it made her feel special as if he had known she would come to him.

He gave her another seductive smile before leaning in to whisper in her ear, "You will dance with me."

The sound of his voice was so soothing that she couldn't resist his charm and nodded her head in silent agreement. A sly smile graced the man's lips as he took her hand and guided her to the dancefloor amidst the bustling crowd, where everyone was too absorbed to notice anything around them.

They danced until Pamela accidentally stepped on the man's foot, and that's when she noticed something bizarre. When she glanced down, she saw goat's hooves instead of normal feet. Shocked, she looked up only to find the once-handsome man now transformed into the grotesque face of the Devil.

Pamela tried to scream out of fear, but her voice wouldn't escape. The Devil, who was grinning slyly, silenced her, and they carried on dancing while her hand gradually burned with his touch.

──✧❁ 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 ❁✧──

𓆩◇𓆪꧁ 𓆩◇𓆪 ꧂ 𓆩◇𓆪

DANCE WITH THE DEVIL is a famous Texas Borderlands urban legend recounting the tale of a young woman who disregards her parents' warnings and sneaks out on Good Friday in 1979 to meet a handsome stranger, believed to be the devil, at a nightclub or school prom depending on the regional versions. As they dance, they ascend until reaching the roof, where he drops her and vanishes, leaving behind the scent of sulfur.

Other versions reveal that the devil had an unusual foot - one hoof and one chicken's talon. Some variations mention burns where the devil touched the girl, with outcomes ranging from immediate death to the girl waiting in madness for the devil's return.

The folktale, whose origins are unclear, imparts lessons on religion, obedience, and trust, with emphasis on avoiding going out during Holy Week, obeying your parents, and never dancing with strangers, even if they appear handsome.

"Alohi, can you please go home?" Keena told her sister, who was tailing her to the nightclub.

"Sasamahan nga kita!" Alohi insisted. "Hindi kita hahayaang mag-isa sa kasong 'to."

She caught her eldest sister sneaking out earlier. When she confronted her, she just told her that she would hang out with her friends. Siyempre ay hindi naniwala si Alohi. Alam niyang may pupuntahang kaso ng panibagong Urban Legend ito dahil nahuli niyang kausap nito si Raegan kaninang umaga na bitbit ang brown envelope nito na may supernatural case files.

"What case are you talking about? I'm partying with my friends nga!"

"Sige, Ate, lokohin mo pang sarili mo. Unang-una sa lahat, wala kang friends," pang-re-realtalk ni Alohi sa kapatid. "Pangalawa, hindi ka mahilig sa mga ganoong lugar. Pangatlo, nakita ko kayo ni Raegan na nag-uusap kanina habang bitbit niya 'yong mahiwagang brown envelope niya. At panghuli, kung wala ka talagang pupuntahang kaso, bakit dala mo 'yang Monsters Playbook, aber?"

Keena scoffed but then rolled her eyes defeatedly afterwards. Bakit ba ang hirap utuin ng kapatid niya? Kaya nga pasikreto niyang ginagawa iyon dahil ayaw na niyang pahirapan pa ito. She did not want Alohi to suffer silently anymore, but while looking at her now, she still could not bring herself to tell her that.

Nagkatinginan lang sila hanggang sa inabot ni Alohi ang kamay ni Keena at nginitian ito. "Hayaan mo akong tulungan ka, Ate. We can surely fight alone, but we're more than capable of winning when we work as a team. Ako ang haharap sa Urban Legend habang ikaw naman ang magbabalik dito sa Monsters Playbook. Pareho tayong lumalaban sa magkaibang paraan."

Keena smiled and nodded in agreement. The sisters entered the nightclub, where the loud music and intense laser lights welcomed them. Both groaned as they expressed their dislike for crowded places like this. Mas prefer nilang mag-inom mag-isa kasama ang pamilya nila habang nanonood ng Netflix.

"Ate, paano natin hahanapin iyong Urban Legend dito?" halos pasigaw na tanong ni Alohi sa kapatid dahil sa ingay ng paligid.

"Follow the smell of sulfur and check the feet. The Devil has hooves for feet."

"Should we go separate ways?"

"Yes, tawagin mo agad ako kapag nahanap mo na siya."

Naghiwalay ng landas ang magkapatid na Sagrado upang hanapin ang Urban Legend. While Keena traced the scent of sulfur, Alohi inspected the feet of those she walked past amidst the nightclub's blinding lights. Her attention remained on the ground until she unexpectedly collided with someone familiar.

"What are you doing here? And what are you doing?" nakakunot-noong tanong nito kay Alohi na muntikan nang bumangga sa pinakaiingatan niyang kayamanan.

"Jared, ano ring ginagawa mo rito?"

"We're having an after-party with my team. Ikaw? Bakit nandito ka?"

Magaang napakamot naman ng ulo si Alohi habang nag-iisip ng isasagot sa binata. "Hinahanap ko 'yong kapatid ko. Nandito raw siya at magpapasundo dahil lasing na."

Keena, on the other side, quickly found the source of the sulfur scent. It was from a handsome man dressed in a suit who was dancing with a girl who clearly wanted to leave, judging by her expression.

Despite the crowded surroundings, no one noticed the girl's discomfort. Nabahala si Keena nang mapansin ang napapasong balat ng dalaga sa bahagi kung saan hawak ito ng lalaki. It was no doubt the Urban Legend.

Though Keena's hands glowed violet, the intoxicated crowd didn't notice it. She used her mana to create a boomerang and quietly threw it at the man. The Devil let go of the girl, who quickly flee the scene.

Agad na luminga sa paligid ang Urban Legend upang hanapin ang may pakana no'n. The Devil glared at Keena in his true form. With his prey gone due to her interference, he started a fire inside the nightclub as a payback. The chaos ensued as people hurriedly tried to exit, but the hypnotized bouncers sealed the entrance to block any escape.

The Devil playfully flicked his tongue, seemingly enjoying the chaos, while the terrified partygoers pleaded for help, afraid of being burned alive inside the nightclub.

"Happy Friday the 13th!" ang nakangising hayag ng Urban Legend.

Little did he know, the Monsters Playbook was already hovering behind him, manipulated discreetly by Keena and her stronger mana control matched with her Bibliokinetic powers. The eldest Sagrado's eyes glowed violet as the book opened and forcefully pulled the Urban Legend back into its prison pages.

Ang nagmamadaling kumpol ng mga tao naman na dumadagsa sa entrance ay agad na nauwi sa stampede. Jared, with his back turned to the approaching crowd, was shoved forcefully and tumbled to the floor. The situation worsened as the frightened and oblivious partygoers, continued stepping on him, which caused him to lose consciousness and bleed.

Agad na kumilos si Alohi at yumuko saka walang kahirap-hirap na binuhat ang nawalan ng malay na lalaki. Nanumbalik na sa dati ang mga na-hypnotize na bouncer kaya nabuksan na rin ang entrance subalit marami pa rin ang dumudumog doon. Mas pinili na lang ng dalaga na sirain ang pader ng nightclub at doon ilabas si Jared. Sumunod din sa kanya ang iba pang mga nasa malapit upang makaligtas mula sa sunog.

Ibababa na sana ni Alohi sa kalsada ang binata nang masigurong nasa ligtas na ito upang balikan sa loob ang iba pa at ang Ate Keena niya subalit unti-unti na itong nagkamalay. Nang tuluyan na itong magdilat ng mga mata ay gulat at hindi makapaniwalang napatitig ito kay Alohi. He was surprised to find himself being carried bridal style by a petite woman.

"Bitiwan mo ako!" pagmamando niya sa dalaga na agad naman siyang sinunod kahit pa naguguluhan ito sa biglaang pagbabago ng ugali nito. "What did you just do?"

"Niligtas kita palabas sa nasusunog na nightclub," sagot ni Alohi sabay turo sa building na tinutupok ng apoy.

"I don't know what you really are but you should have dragged me out of there instead of carrying me that way! Hindi mo man lang ba naisip ang kahihiyang matatanggap ko kapag may nakakitang buhat-buhat ako ng isang babae ha?!"

Napaamang si Alohi habang nakatitig sa binata. Hindi siya makapaniwalang ganito pa ang maririnig niya mula rito sa halip na pasalamat matapos niya itong iligtas. Jared seemed frustrated, but instead of adding fuel to the fire, Alohi decided to calm down.

"Look, I just saved you. Ang importante ay ligtas ka. Hindi mo na dapat ginagawang malaking bagay iy-"

"No! This is a big deal!" giit pa ni Jared na mas ikinagulat ni Alohi. "Anong tingin mo sa sarili mo? Superhero? And you think those heroic acts will make you look beautiful?"

Jared advanced while the puzzled Alohi took a step back. "If you still don't get it, then let me spell it out for you. Men can't stand strong women. We want to be the protectors, the ones doing things for them, not the other way around. And you doing all those stunts did not impress me even the slightest. It fucking annoys m-"

Hindi na natapos pa ni Jared ang sasabihin dahil malakas na nahampas na siya ni Keena nang dala nitong Monsters Playbook. Sa sobrang lakas no'n ay napaupo pa siya sa kalsada at agad na sinuri ang gilid ng labi niyang pumutok.

"You jerk! I don't care if you're more into the damsel in distress type, but don't you ever dare insult and discourage women like my sister, who's obviously stronger than you!" Keena retorted sternly. "Assholes like you aren't even worth saving. Halika na, Alohi."

Hinuli ni Keena ang kamay ng kapatid at inilayo ito sa lalaki. Nang nasa distansya na sila at mapansin ng dalaga na tahimik pa rin ang kapatid niya ay huminto na muna sila at nilingon ito.

"Are you okay?" nag-aalalang tanong niya rito.

Tumango naman si Alohi. "Ayos lang ako, A-"

"No, you're not fine!" hindi na napigilang sigaw ni Keena na ikinagulat naman ni Alohi. "Alohi, you can answer no if you are not okay. You can also say no if you don't want it. Just, please, stop pretending that you are!"

"Hindi ko maintindihan ang sinasabi mo, Ate."

"Akala mo hindi namin napapansin? Alam naming lahat na ikaw iyong pinakamalakas sa ating tatlong magkakapatid. Ikaw din iyong pinakamatapang. Pero alam at ramdam din naming ikaw din iyong pinakanasasaktan..."

Alohi's eyes filled with tears as she kept looking at her eldest sister. Keena, also teary-eyed, softly held her sister's hand. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry kasi hindi agad napansin ni Ate iyong mga pinagdadaanan mo nang pasikreto."

"Kaya ba sinubukan mong tumakas kanina upang labanang mag-isa ang Urban Legend na 'yon?" Alohi pointed out and shook her head. "Ate, kaya nga hindi ko sinabi sa inyo, eh. Kasi alam ko na gagawin at gagawin niyo iyong mismong bagay na kinatatakutan kong mangyari kapag sinabi ko sa inyo iyong totoo."

She pulled her hand from her sister and wiped her tears with it. "Hindi ko naman gustong magsakripisyo kayo, eh! Ang gusto ko lang naman maintindihan niyo ako! Maintindihan niyo kung ano 'yong nararamdaman ko..."

"Kaya nga huwag mong itago sa amin kasi pamilya tayo, Alohi," Keena encouraged her. "Alam mo bang ang bigat-bigat sa pakiramdam kasi gusto ka naming tulungan. Pero kahit ang lapit-lapit lang natin sa isa't isa, pakiramdam namin ay ang layo-layo mo pa rin kasi tinatago mo iyong totoo sa amin. Hindi mo kailangan solohin ang lahat, Alohi. Sabihin mo at makikinig kami sa 'yo. We are your family, and family means sharing the pain and dividing the grief."

Overwhelmed by her emotions, Alohi crouched down, covered her face with her hands, and began sobbing her heart out. "Bakit gano'n, Ate? Bakit pakiramdam ko hindi naman protektor iyong role ko sa pamilya natin kundi pananggala?" sa wakas ay pag-amin ng dalaga sa tunay na nararamdaman niya.

"Hindi naman ibig sabihin na gumagaling ako agad, hindi na ako nasasaktan... A-Ate, I was so scared to tell you this because I didn't want to hurt you, but I'm so burnt out from always being the one to protect everyone else while constantly telling myself to hang in there a little more."

Keena also crouched down and embraced her sister as she continued to lend a listening ear to the feelings Alohi finally had the chance to express.

"Being strong is exhausting and soul-sucking. Hindi ko na alam kung anong gusto ko, o kung hanggang dito na lang ba talaga ako makikita ng iba."

At that moment, the older sister gained insight into Alohi's inner thoughts and understood her fears, struggles, and self-perception within the family. Despite her being the one relied upon for strength to carry the burdens of the family, the Library, and Westwood City, she was anxious about meeting these responsibilities.

The fear of not living up to her protective role bothered her and pushed her to continue acting like a hero. However, Alohi didn't really want to be a hero, but she felt like she had no value if she couldn't help those who needed her. The constant pressure to use her strength for others even made her wonder if her ability was the only thing that defined who she really was.

Keena silently vowed never to let her sister feel that way again. She needed to seal the Urban Legends back quickly and stop the mysterious group of Bibliokinetics.

「 ✦ 𝓛𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓪 𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓸 ✦ 」

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