35: Strigoi
(Romanian Urban Legend)

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

THE COUNTDOWN TO the much-awaited Noche Buena has begun, and the air in Westwood City was filled with excitement and anticipation. The streets were bustling with people rushing to finish their last-minute preparations. The smell of delicious food also wafted through the air, and the merry sound of carolings permeated the atmosphere.

Levi was in charge of the kitchen and was busy preparing a feast for his loved ones. Tavleen, on the other hand, was getting ready to attend the evening mass and was carefully checking her attire in the mirror. However, amidst all the merriment, not everyone was feeling cheerful. Keena had shut herself in her room to seek solitude while avoiding someone she did not want to face. Meanwhile, someone was keeping a watchful eye on the Library and guarding its doors as if expecting a storm to hit any moment. Hindi ko sinasabing si Alohi ito pero parang ganoon na nga. Ilang araw at linggo na kasi ang lumilipas pero hindi pa rin umaatake o lumalabas ang huling Urban Legend ng Monsters Playbook, ang Strigoi.

Vampires are perceived differently in modern times than in the past. Once feared as dreadful monsters that haunted the darkness, they are now romanticized and depicted as god-like creatures. There are also many different types of vampires, ranging from shapeshifters to magic users and from those that are beautiful to those that are ugly. Almost every place has a story, myth, or legend about these creatures of the night, but we are looking into the ancestor of what vampires are mostly based on today - the Romanian Strigoi.

Strigoi in Romanian mythology are creatures commonly known as vampires. Lethargic by day and active at night, they leave distinct teeth marks on their victims. The vampire myth, notably associated with Transylvania, birthed the iconic figure of Dracula.

Identifying a strigoi involves signs such as a freshly preserved or swollen and blackened corpse before burial, a small hole in the headstone, a face-down position in the coffin with nearby blood, and an aversion to garlic. They have superhuman traits like speed, strength, shapeshifting, immortality, astral projection, and invisibility.

Becoming a strigoi is linked to suicide, curses by witches, unique birth conditions, a sinful life, dying alone or unseen, being a seventh child, or suffering specific circumstances like early birth or unbaptized death. Strigoi can also manifest as poltergeists, causing disturbances and haunting specific individuals rather than places. Preventing strigoi involves rituals such as driving a stake through the chest, burning the heart, beheading with the face-down position, or sealing the coffin with nails.

Historically, real-life cases like Jure Grando in 17th-century Croatia and Petar Blagojevich in 18th-century Serbia were associated with Strigoi. Throughout the 18th and 19th centuries, hideous crimes and suspected vampire attacks became embedded in Transylvanian folklore.

"Loosen up, Alohi. You're too focused on the final Urban Legend. Malay mo naman at holiday din ng Hundred Tales Clan ngayon kaya ceasefire muna sila," hayag ni Keena paglabas nila ni Tavleen ng bahay.

Nilingon sila ni Alohi. "Hindi talaga maganda ang kutob ko ngayong gabi. Pakiramdam ko, may masamang mangyayari."

"Have a break, sis, just like them. Kahit ang sasama nila, mga anak pa rin sila ng Diyos," tugon naman ni Keena, sinusubukang hikayatin ang kapatid.

"Oo nga, Ate Alohi. Bakit hindi na lang po muna kayo sumama sa aking magsimba?" nakangiting aya pa ni Tavleen sa mga kapatid.

"Teka, walang tumutulong kay Papa sa paghahanda ngayon?"

"Nagpaalam na ako nang maayos sa kanya, Ate Alohi, ha. Hinayaan niya ako at sinabihang siya na lang daw ang tatapos ng mga handa natin para sa noche buena."

Sunod namang binalingan ni Alohi si Keena. "Lumabas ka rin ng bahay. Sasama ka ba sa kanya sa pagsisimba?"

"Nope," sagot ni Keena at naupo sa couch saka pinagkrus ang mga braso at binti. "I don't want to stay there with him."

Napabuga naman nang malalim na buntong-hininga si Alohi. Hindi siya makapaniwalang talagang iniwan nitong mag-isa ang tatay nila sa pagluluto at paghahanda ng lahat. "Mukhang hindi nga effective sa 'yo 'yong holiday ceasefire, iyong Hundred Tales Clan pa kaya? Hay naku, magbantay ka na nga lang dito, Ate, at ako na ang tutulong kay Papa!"

"Tav, umuwi ka agad ha?" paalala nito sa bunsong kapatid bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob ng bahay upang tulungan ang kanilang ama.

"Opo, Ate!" Nang marinig ang doorbell sa kanilang gate ay agad na ring nagpaalam si Tavleen sa kanyang Ate Keena. "Alis na ako, Ate! Nand'yan na si Kiho. Sasamahan niya akong magsimba," nakangiting wika naman nitong ikinabahala ni Keena as an overprotective sistah.

Sinundan niya ito palabas ng gate at naabutan ang mga ito na naghahanda na para tumulak. Pati si Kiho ay hindi exempted sa katarayan ng panganay na kapatid ng kanyang kaibigan. "Anong oras matatapos ang misa?"

"Mga alas-nueve po ata. May espesyal na presentation daw po kasi si Father," paliwanag naman ni Tavleen pero nanatiling strikta ang mga tingin ni Keena sa binata.

"Ibalik mo ang kapatid ko ng alas-nueve impunto. Kapag wala pa kayo niyan, susunod na ako at huling simbang gabi niyo na 'to nang magkasam-"

"Ate Keena naman..." maagap na saway ni Tavleen sa kapatid, nahihiya na sa binata.

Magalang namang yumuko si Kiho rito at tumango. "Hindi ko po pababayaan si Tavleen. Sinisiguro ko po 'yan sa inyo."

Huminahon naman si Keena dahil sa magalang na paraan nang pagkakasagot ng binata sa kabila nang mataray niyang mando rito. "Okay... Mag-iingat kayo. Alas-nueve impunto, okay?"

Dahil malapit lang ang simbahan sa Library ay minaigi ng magkaibigang Kiho at Tavleen na lakarin na lamang ang distansya dahil maaga pa naman.

"Pagpasensyahan mo na 'yong Ate Keena ko ha? Masyado lang talagang overprotective ang mga iyon sa akin kasi nga ako iyong bunso," paumanhin ni Tavleen sa kaibigan.

"Naiintindihan ko naman. Ganoon din kasi ang mga kapatid ko sa akin."

Tavleen chuckled at the coincidence. "Pareho pala tayong bunso? Ano ba ang challenges na hinarap mo bilang bunso sa pamilya niyo?" pagbubukas pa ng dalaga ng mas mahaba-habang usapan.

"They never listened to me," Kiho sadly opened up. Napawi ang ngiti ni Tavleen sa narinig.

"Bakit mo naman nasabi 'yan?"

"They always told me that it's always about me and for my sake, but they never really listened to how I feel about it and what I really want."

"Kiho, mahal ka lang ng pamilya mo."

"Tav, will you still be fine even if your family does something bad to others for your sake?" ang matamang tanong ni Kiho na nagpatigil at nagpapatitig naman nang maigi kay Tavleen sa kanya.

Umiwas ng tingin si Tavleen sa kaibigan bago tahimik na umiling. She was brought up by her father to always choose the greater good, even if it means difficulty on their part as a family. Ganoon ang naging eksena hanggang sa makarating sila sa simbahan kung saan punuan na ang mga tao.

The lay ministers were outside the church to manage the flock of devotees attending the evening mass before Christmas. "Nais po naming humingi ng paumanhin sa inyo subalit hindi lahat ay makakapasok sa loob ng simbahan."

"Kung gano'n, dito na lang kami sa labas!" giit pa ng isang deboto.

"Isasara po namin ang pinto ng simbahan habang idinaraos ang misa ngayong gabi."

"At bakit naman? Pwede naman kami rito, ah?!" wika pa ng isang debotong tila hindi natutuwa sa paraang iyon. "Mapalabas man iyan o mapaloob, lahat kami rito buong-pusong makikinig sa pulong ng Diyos."

Umiling naman ang isa sa mga lay minister. "Maaari po kayong maghintay dito pagkatapos ng misa subalit ang makakapasok sa loob lamang ang maaaring makasaksi ng panghuling himala ng Diyos ngayong kapaskuhan."

Nagsimula na ang bulong-bulungan maging ang medyo hindi natutuwang komento ng mga pumaroon upang dumalo ng simbang gabi. Lahat sila ay gustong makasaksi ng milagro ni Father Cristobal Mendel ngayong Pasko.

This church recently became a popular destination for devotees, especially on Christmas Eve, due to the miracles performed by the priest during each of the nine evening masses. On the very first day, Father Mendel encouraged a young woman who was paralyzed to stand up from her wheelchair after blessing her. Many people, including the girl's parents, opposed this idea, but Father Mendel firmly believed that she could stand up if she believed in God. To everyone's surprise, the young woman managed to walk during the first evening mass.

On the second night, he enabled a young boy, who was born deaf and mute, to hear and speak. On the third evening, he cured an old man's terminal illness, thus extending his life. On the fourth night, he transformed a cup of water into wine. On the fifth evening, a blind woman could finally see the light. On the sixth night, he woke someone up from a 10-year coma. On the seventh time, he turned bread into flesh and wine into blood. On the eighth night, he cried tears of blood. Finally, during the ninth evening, he led a swarm of locusts into the church and tamed them until the end of mass.

Miracles refer to extraordinary events that defy scientific laws or predictions, and the idea of miracles has always captivated humanity. For the past few days, people have been praying for a miracle and spreading hope among each other. This has been particularly comforting because the messages come from within the church and during a special holiday. In essence, believing in God means believing in miracles, and believing in miracles means believing in hope, even when the odds seem against us.

"Huwag po kayong mag-alala dahil natitiyak kong lahat kayo ay makakasaksi ng himala ngayong gabi," ani ng isang lay minister na may optimistikong ngiti.

Dalawa sa mga pinalad na makapasok sa loob ng simbahan sina Tavleen at Kiho. Everyone quickly found their seats and settled down as the lay ministers closed the church's door. Father Mendel and his sacristans were already at the front.

Medyo kabado at excited si Tavleen sapagkat ito ang unang gabi na masasaksihan niya ang paghihimala nang nasabing pari. She had just heard the news from the Marites in her neighborhood and decided to invite Kiho to accompany her. Kiho had told her that his Christmas would be gloomier this year than in the past, and she wanted to help restore his faith in the holiday spirit and celebration.

The mass started and everything went smooth until something out of the ordinary happened during Father Mendel's sermon. "Tayo ay manampalataya at mas manalaig pa sapagkat ngayong gabi natin sasalubungin ang kapanganakan ng Panginoong Hesukristo. Sa gabing ito rin ninyo masasaksihan ang huling himalang nais ng Diyos na ibahagi ko sa inyo..."

Nagliwanag ang mukha ng mga deboto sa narinig at nagsimula ang bulong-bulungan na puno ng kasiyahan. Ngumiti si Father Mendel at inilahad ang kanyang palad sa entrada ng simbahan, tinuturo ang kung sinuman doon.

Father Mendel quoted Exodus 23:20, "Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared."

An ominous figure suddenly appeared at the entrance of the church. The figure had a bald head, pointed ears, pale skin, and sharp fingernails. It was wearing a cassock and began walking down the aisle. The churchgoers were shocked and terrified by its horrid appearance and had already stood up.

The priest cited Bible verses about angels, as he tried to convince the devotees with references and rhetorics. At the same time, his lay ministers all listened with smiles, but the young sacristans looked terrified at the inexplicable entity before them.

"And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow."

Tavleen stood frozen in fear as she gazed at the familiar grotesque monster. The Strigoi approached the altar with a slow, menacing stride. It then faced the believers, lifted its hands, and revealed its massive bat wings. Father Mendel continued to recite passages from the Bible while trying to calm the frightened churchgoers and prevent them from panicking at the sight of the so-called angel.

"And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!"

"The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous."

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them." There was silence. Only the cries of children inside could be heard. Father Mendel then continued, "Now is the time for God's final miracle through the angel. Tonight will be the birth of Jesus Christ, and so will ours, my dear brothers and sisters."

"Ano pong ibig niyong sabihin?" tanong ng isang lalaking malapit sa altar.

"Let him drink your blood, and you shall live an everlasting life, just like me," Father Mendel responded. He then revealed a hidden dagger from his cassock, struck himself in the head, and fell lifeless to the floor.

Napuno ng sigawan ang buong simbahan. Ang karamihan ay kumaripas ng takbo papunta sa pintuan, nagkukumahog na makatakas mula sa halimaw at sa kahibangang hindi nila maipaliwanag. Subalit bago pa man mabuksan ng mga tao ang pinto ay muling bumangon si Father Mendel na lubhang ikinagulat ng lahat.

"Buhay ako. Binuhay ako at niligtas ng anghel ng Diyos." Inilahad nang nakangiting si Father Mendel ang palad sa mga deboto. "Halikayo, mga kapatid at anak ng Diyos! Let this angel of God save all of us for those who believe in him, believe in God, and shall have everlasting life!"

"Nahihibang ka na! Hindi anghel ang isang 'yan kundi demonyo! Demon-" The Strigoi let out a piercing scream before extending a massive tentacle from its mouth and seizing the man. It proceeded to suck his blood and drain the life force from him.

Lalong nagkagulo sa loob ng simbahan, pinipilit ng lahat na mabuksan ang nakasaradong pinto at makalabas. The seemingly entranced Father Mendel observed as the Strigoi consumed the man's blood. His Adam's apple moved while an unexplainable thirst for blood lorded his entire being. In no time, he transformed into an infected Strigoi. He captured a lay minister who willingly offered herself for the promised eternity using the massive tentacle from his mouth, and she allowed the priest to suck her blood. It did not take long before the others also became infected and turned into blood-sucking monsters.

Tavleen, who hadn't brought any books with her at the time, found herself unable to seal the Strigoi. She summoned Hanako-san and was about to instruct the Urban Legend to destroy the door and allow the remaining people to survive, but Kiho suddenly stopped her, which surprised the young Sagrado.

"If you do that, the infected will have greater freedom to spread beyond these walls. We must contain them here." Kiho then raised his left hand, and the small bird tattoo on the underside of his index finger came to life. He commanded it, "Quickly bring the Sagrados here for help."

Napaamang si Tavleen habang pinagmamasdan ang kaibigan niya, hindi inaasahan ang kakaibang kakayahan nito. "Anong... Paanong..."

"Mamaya na ako magpapaliwanag sa 'yo. While waiting for your family's help, let's protect the remaining uninfected people here. However, do not harm the infected. Once the primary Strigoi is sealed, they'll revert to normal," saad ng binata saka itinaas ang manggas ng kanyang suot na long sleeves.

Despite losing his right hand, there was a large tattoo of a Jangsan Tiger on his arm. Tavleen was convinced that she saw the eyes of the legendary creature from South Korean folklore shine with a bright yellow light just before it emerged from the tattoo, now alive and ready to protect the survivors from the infected Strigoi.

Just what on earth was happening, Tavleen thought before instructing Hanako-san to reveal its true form and help Kiho protect the remaining survivors.

「 ✦ 𝓛𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓪 𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓸 ✦ 」

Hello, Charmings!

As I'm nearing the end of my story, I'd love to ask for your help by voting on it and sharing your thoughts with me. I truly appreciate your support. Thank you so much! ♥