36: Good Night, Westwood

⋆༺𓆩☠︎︎𓆪༻⋆

TAVLEEN AND KIHO joined forces to protect the remaining survivors while knocking the infected Strigoi unconscious. Ang dami pa sanang mga tanong ng dalaga sa binata subalit iipunin na lamang niya lahat iyon mamaya nang sa ganoon ay matuon ang buong atensyon nila sa kasalukuyang misyon nila.

The main Strigoi unleashed a piercing scream as his army stalled in front of the two individuals with remarkable skills. It then spread its bat wings and charged at them with its sharp fingernails ready to strike. However, before reaching the duo, a blinding light suddenly pulled it back. It screamed again and dug its fingernails into the floor, trying to resist the strong force pulling it. It was eventually overpowered and sealed within the Monsters Playbook, closed and held by the mighty Librarian, Levi Sagrado.

With the Strigoi now sealed, all the infected people reverted to normal before falling unconscious to the floor.

Nakahinga nang maluwag si Tavleen nang makita ang ama. Nakangiting tinawag niya ito, "Pa, mabuti na lang at dumating ka. Paano ka nakapasok dito?"

"The open Bible allowed me to teleport inside it," paliwanag nito at itinuro ang Bibliyang nakabukas sa tapat ng altar. Lalo namang napangiti si Tavleen, hindi maiwasang isipin na paraan iyon ng Diyos upang tulungan sila.

Alohi forced the church's door open, and all the survivors rushed outside tearfully, relieved that the nightmare had finally ended. Nasa labas na rin sina Keena at Raegan kasama ang puwersa ng pulisya na tutulong sa pagsasaayos ng lahat.

Mabilis na binalik ni Kiho ang mga tattoo niyang ibon at ang Jangsan tiger sa katawan niya bago pa siya sumamang lumabas kay Tavleen na pinaglaho na rin muna si Hanako-san. Bago pa man siya makapagtanong sa binata ay ganoon na lamang ang pagkagulat nilang lahat nang isa sa mga pulis ang hinila ng isang gahiganteng galamay papasok sa loob ng simbahan. Namilog ang mga mata nilang lahat habang pinapanood ang Strigoi na inuubos ang dugo ng kawawang pulis.

"Paanong..." hindi makapaniwalang usal mismo ni Levi.

Sigurado siyang nakulong na niya sa Monsters Playbook ang Strigoi kanina. Maging sina Tavleen ay saksi roon, kaya paanong lumitaw ulit ito roon? They can only be unsealed once a year. It's impossible for them to escape the Monsters Playbook again.

Levi was the first to recover from the shocking turn of events and electrocuted the Strigoi with his cane. The Urban Legend released the police, who quickly became an infected Strigoi and attacked others. Meanwhile, the main Strigoi screamed in pain, but being a monster of imagination, it swiftly recovered.

Raegan quickly mobilized his team, but the situation took a dark turn when a massive snake-like creature suddenly engulfed a civilian. Keena and Raegan were shocked to see the very Urban Legend they had faced in the mall before.

Despite their gunfire, the creature regenerated rapidly, much like the Strigoi. Suddenly, a loud snarl echoed, and Bigfoot, a massive, hairy humanoid monster, emerged out of nowhere. It charged into the crowd and violently smashed a few people to death. Lalong nagkagulo ang lahat. Binalot ng takot at sigawan ang gabi habang nagsitakbuhan ang karamihan upang tumakas sa mga halimaw na bigla na lamang lumitaw at tila hindi mapigilan ng pinagsamang puwersa ng mga pulis at espesyal na indibwal.

Hinarangan pa ng Hookman at Kuchisake-onna ang mga tumatakbong residente at walang-awang pinagsasaksak ang mga ito. The Spring-Heeled Jack from British folklore, along with the El Sombrerón, also abducted women and did unthinkable deeds.

"What the fuck is happening?!" galit na tanong ni Keena saka tinapunan saglit ng tingin ang ama bago kumilos upang iligtas ang mga taong naroroon.

Alohi dealt with the Bigfoot to stop it from smashing poor innocents to death. Keena created protective domes to stop the approaching Urban Legends from harming the fleeing people. Inutusan din ni Tavleen si Hanako-san na harapin ang Snake-man. Kiho also let his tattoo out to help the Sagrados. Raegan and Levi also used their powers to defend the people and attack the monsters of imagination.

Gulong-gulo man sa nangyayari ay walang ibang magawa ang mga naroroon kundi ang lumaban upang iligtas at protektahan ang mga inosenteng buhay. Lalong napamura si Keena nang mapansin niya ang linya nang bagong dating na mga Urban Legend na kinabibilangan ng Slenderman, Homey the Clown, Jeff the Killer, and Bunny Man, all of them harbored strong murderous intent.

"Fuck! Paano sila nakalabas sa Monsters Playbook?!" pasigaw na tanong ni Keena sa ama habang pareho silang abala sa pakikipaglaban sa kanya-kanyang Urban Legend at infected Strigoi.

"Ito ata iyong sinasabi ng Skinwalker na magkikita ulit kami," said Alohi after snapping the huge arm of the Bigfoot, making it growl in pain. "Kaya pala confident ang hayup na ikulong ulit sa Monsters Playbook. May plano pala silang ganito!"

"I'm sure they're not from the Monsters Playbook. Someone summoned them through other means. Perhaps the Hundred Tales Clan was able to come up with another way unknown to us to bring all of these Urban Legends to life," paliwanag naman ni Levi.

Natigilan si Tavleen nang biglang may natanto. Binalingan niya si Kiho na nakikipaglaban at nang mahuli ng binata ang tingin niya ay bigla itong huminto at umatras, tila alam na ang nasa isip ng dalaga sa paraan pa lang ng pagkakatitig nito.

Tavleen became suspicious after noticing something unusual about him – he could bring his tattoos to life. One of these tattoos even represented the Urban Legend from South Korean folklore known as the Jangsan Tiger.

"May... alam ka ba rito?"

Despite the ongoing battle, all eyes turned towards Kiho. But instead of responding to Tavleen, he silently took another step back. The atmosphere grew heavy as the young Sagrado's heart shattered upon hearing the words from her only friend.

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

A peculiar creature resembling a kangaroo with the face of a horse, a dog-like head, bat wings, horns, and a tail suddenly materialized. The Jersey Devil from American folklore had seized the young man as if it was already there and just waiting for his signal to take him.

Tavleen attempted to chase him and make him explain everything, but a sudden sound stopped her and everyone nearby. It caused even the Urban Legends to freeze in place. The LED screen in the nearby appliance shop and every television in Westwood City homes switched on suddenly. It resembled an emergency broadcast, but the only face that appeared was the renowned host of the late-night show Good Night, Westwood.

"Allow me to take the remaining five minutes before Christmas," he began. "The monsters you've seen and perhaps encountered were the Urban Legends we've been discussing in the past few months on this show. I hope you apply everything you've learned from here and the Sleepy Hollow website to protect yourselves from my Night Parade of a Hundred Urban Legends. This carnage will continue until Mayor Raoul Sagrado steps down and Librarian Levi Sagrado dies. It's been a long time coming, but this is not revenge. This is us reclaiming what is rightfully ours as we embark on the path to conquering the world. Merry Christmas, and for the final time, Good night, Westwood."

"He's one of the Hundred Tales Clan members..." hindi makapaniwalang usal ni Tavleen habang nakatitig sa naglalahong nang mukha ng kanyang iniidolong host at storyteller ng paborito niyang palabas. After that, all the LED and TV screens displayed static.

Napakuyom naman ang kamao ni Alohi. Nang muling kumilos ang Bigfoot na kalaban niya kanina ay sa bawat malalakas na suntok niya rito ibinuhos lahat ng mga prustrasyon niya. Jared Cuevas operated the Good Night, Westwood show without suspicion and employed his exceptional storytelling on television to magnify the unsettling urban legends in Westwood City. This approach cultivated fear and even drew believers, factors capable of enhancing the intelligence and strength of these monsters of imagination. The Sleepy Hollow website, coupled with the influence of the internet and the reach of mass media, also played pivotal roles in mobilizing and fortifying the entire scheme orchestrated by the Hundred Tales Clan.

After stabbing and electrocuting the Strigoi, Levi Sagrado called his daughters, "Mga anak, makinig kayo. May isang sikreto pa kayong kailangang malaman."

"And you really feel like confessing another lie to us right now?!" singhal naman kaagad ni Keena sa ama habang abala rin siya sa pakikipaglaban sa La Siguanaba, isang Urban Legend mula sa Mexico.

"The three of you will become real humans once your creator is dead," pagpapatuloy pa rin ni Levi dahilan upang matigilan ang tatlong magkakapatid, maging si Keena.

Nang tumitig sila sa ama ay malungkot na ngumiti ito sa kanila. "Anong ibig mong sabihin, Pa?" tanong ni Alohi na siyang unang nakabawi sa kanilang tatlo.

"That's the only way to stop this and protect the remaining residents."

Mabilis na umiling-iling sina Alohi at Tavleen, hindi sumasang-ayon sa desisyon ng ama nila. Maluha-luha na ang bunso ni Levi nang yakapin siya nito nang mahigpit. "Pa, please, huwag... Huwag mo kaming iiwan, Pa..."

Keena enabled several domes to imprison the Urban Legends and hold them out for the meantime. Nanatili pa rin siyang nakatitig sa amang yakap-yakap ang bunsong kapatid niya na umiiyak na habang nagmamakaawa. Lalong kumirot naman ang puso ni Alohi nang mapansin ang naluluhang mga mata ng ama. Ayaw rin nitong iwan sila pero handa itong magsakripisyo para sa kanila at sa kapakanan ng nakararami.

"Pa, sabi mo, 'di ba, hindi mo kami iiwan? Pa!" malakas na tawag ni Alohi rito, hindi na kaya ang bigat ng kanyang damdamin. "Nangako ka! Nangako kang hindi mo kami iiwan noong mawala si Mama. Pa, ikaw na lang ang mayro'n kami, e!"

"Magkasama nga tayong apat pero... wala nang ibang natitira pa. And that's not the future I want the three of you to have." Tumingala saglit si Levi upang pigilan ang pagtulo ng kanyang mga luha. He heaved a deep sigh before gathering the courage to let go of his youngest daughter. "Matanda na ako. You still have a bright future ahead of you, along with everyone else. I will do everything for you to have that kind of future."

"Pa..." umiiyak na tawag ni Tavleen sabay huli sa kamay ng ama at hawak dito nang mahigpit, ayaw itong pakawalan. "Please... Huwag mo kaming iwan..."

Malungkot na ngumiti si Levi sa anak at dahan-dahang tinanggal ang kamay niya mula sa pagkakahawak nito. "Magiging maayos lang si Papa, anak. Mahal na mahal ko kayo."

Hindi na napigilan pa ni Levi ang mga luha niya nang talikuran niya ang umiiyak na anak at nagsimulang maglakad palayo sa mga ito upang isuko ang sarili niya at ang buhay niya sa Hundred Tales Clan kapalit ng kapakanan at kinabukasan ng mga ito at ng mga residente ng Westwood City. Subalit bago pa man siya tuluyang makalayo ay napahinto siya sa paglalakad nang humarang sa harapan niya ang isang matayog na force field.

"Who cares if we don't become real humans anymore?!" ang pasigaw na wika ni Keena. "I'd rather become a fictional character forever than lose the very person who taught me what it truly means to become human and made me feel like one..."

Gulat na napalingon si Levi sa panganay na anak na sa kabila nang matapang na ekspresyon ay ang mga luhang hindi naman nito kayang ikubli pa. "You lied to us many times, Pa! So many fucking times, but please, please... don't tell us that you're also lying when you promise us that you won't leave us! Nagmamakaawa akong huwag naman pati iyon, Pa..."

Her expression softened as she let go of her guard down to beg her father to stay with them. "Pa... please... I'm sorry. I'm sorry for saying hurtful words to you. I'm sorry for being rude. I'm really sorry, Pa. Pero sana hayaan mo naman akong bumawi sa 'yo, Pa..."

Levi wept and hurried back to his daughters to embrace each one as they cried together. For a family who was used to always being strong for the greater good, it was their rare moment of vulnerability.

"Pa, huwag mong isakripisyo ang sarili mo. Gagawa tayo ng paraan. Ililigtas natin ang Westwood City na walang nagsasakripisyo sa ating lahat. Pinapangako ko iyan," saad ni Alohi, lalo na nang maalala niya ang propesiyang ibinahagi ng Vanishing Hitchhiker sa kanila noong nasa loob sila ng 50 Sites of Fright. "Alam ko kung saan tayo makakahingi ng tulong."

Agad na nagpaalam si Alohi saglit sa pamilya niya upang puntahan ang nilalang na alam niyang makatutulong sa kanila noong sandaling iyon. Kumaripas siya ng takbo hanggang sa marating niya ang lugar. Amidst the chaos and carnage in Westwood City, her destination appeared to be the only place untouched and overlooked by both humans and monsters alike.

Habang naghahabol ng hininga ang dalaga sa labas no'n ay biglang bumukas ang pinto ng café. Bumungad naman sa harapan niya si Griffin na prenteng nakaupo sa upholstered chair nito sa gitna habang naka-krus ang mga binti. The handsome god smiled at her, as if he had been expecting her arrival.

Pagpasok ni Alohi sa loob ay siya ring pagsara ng pinto ng café. Hindi na nagpaligoy-ligoy pa ang dalaga at agad na inihayag ang pakay niya, "Kailangan ko ang tulong mo sa pagliligtas ng mga residente ng Westwood City."

"I'm a businessman, love. I don't do charity works for clients," nakangiting tugon nito sa dalaga sa kabila ng tonong nanunukso.

Nang sa wakas ay kumalma na ang paghinga ng dalaga at bumalik na sa normal ay hindi na ito nagdalawang-isip pa na lumuhod at yumuko sa tapat ng makapangyarihang nilalang at Book Thief. "I willingly offer myself to become your Regalia."

"Are you sure? I don't accept half-hearted wishes."

"This is better than seeing everyone die on Christmas Eve." Alohi looked up at him to say with determination, "Please, take me as your Regalia and save everyone."

"I accept. Let's now seal the deal," said Griffin.

"How?"

Griffin's smile lit up, and as he uncrossed his legs, he tenderly cupped Alohi's chin. He leaned in to seal their deal with just a gentle peck, but he changed his mind midway and surprised her instead with a long, passionate kiss.

Alohi's heart raced. She felt as if invisible horses galloped inside her chest while savoring the tender lips of the very man she had always loved. They pulled away, but the god's hand lingered on the woman's chin, accompanied by an amused smile on his lips.

"Do you always have to kiss your clients to seal the deal?" nakakunot-noong tanong ni Alohi kay Griffin.

The god of disappearance chuckled in delight upon reading her mind: she didn't want him kissing others like that. "Cute. Just so you know, I pricked their fingertips and had them sign a document with their blood. I just want to give you special treatment. Gusto kong iparamdam sa 'yong hindi ka lugi sa magiging relasyon natin."

Alohi was stunned for a minute but had all the swear words ready inside her head, which Griffin could hear. So, before she could verbalize them, he quickly changed the topic, "I could make all the residents' presence disappear to save them from the Urban Legends' attack. However, you have to deal with the monsters yourselves. That's the limitation of your request," paliwanag nito sa dalaga bago ito inalalayang tumayo saka pinatalikod.

With a tender smile and look on his face, he tied Alohi's hair using her favorite scrunchie, which he conjured out of thin air. After securing her hair, he hugged her from behind and softly whispered, "Don't push yourself too hard, and come home early to me."

"Sa pagkakaalam ko, magiging amo kita, hindi asawa," biro pa ni Alohi habang sinusubukang itago ang malakas na kabog ng dibdib niya.

Griffin chuckled and gave her a gentle peck on the right cheek before finally releasing her. "I'll wait for you, love."

「 ✦ 𝓛𝓸𝔀𝓵𝓪 𝓟𝓲𝓷𝓴𝓸 ✦ 」

Hello, Charmings!

Epilogue's the next chap, and I'd love to ask for your help by voting this story and sharing your thoughts with me. I truly appreciate your support. Thank you so much! 🤍