Land Of Eyes And Teeth (Part 3)

"Ano pang mga kailangan natin?" Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Taki nang ibaba niya sa ibabaw ng lamesa ang mga librong kinuha niya na tungkol sa Poblacion Očiazuby.

"Basahin muna natin tong mga nakuha natin sa archives. Baka sakaling may makita tayong importanteng impormasyon tungkol sa lugar." Wika ko na tinanguan naman niya.

Hinila niya ang upuan at naupo na roon saka nagsimulang magbasa. Si Radicus naman ay nagbabasa rin ng libro sa isang tabi. Taki's wearing a floral fit and flare dress and a lavender colored cardigan. Ang girly niya tuloy tignan while I'm wearing a dark blue collared blouse under a white jumper paired with black jeans, sneakers and a dressed up pony hairstyle to consummate a preppy look for today.

Itinuon ko ang buong pansin sa binabasa kong isang lumang libro na naglalaman ng mga historical records ng lugar.

Poblacion Lorente is the original name of the place until a foreign from Czech Republic was held as the mayor. Nero Novak renamed it as Poblacion Očiazuby or Oči a zuby, a Czech translation for land of eyes and teeth. The translation left me wondering but I resumed reading the contents.

Dahil sa sobrang kalumaan ay nagsimula ng magkulay dilaw ang bawat pahina. Whoever's reading this must really handle it with care. I read further and so far none of the pages I've been have spilled the reason why their place is in another dimensional plane. Parang ang mga taong naririto ay walang alam tungkol sa bagay na ito. When I flipped the page to the next one ay napansin kong nawala iyon. Pinag-aralan kong maigi ang maliliit na bahagi niyong naiwan sa libro. Halatang pinunit iyon ng sadya pero bakit? What's in that page? Hindi ko naman mahulaan ang kasunod because the pages and the book itself is very inconsistent in giving the information about the place.

I began tapping my index finger on the top of the table as I thought of possibilities. Naguguluhan na ako. Is this somehow related with the distressing experience that the Fulgar family been through? Or is this connected to the disappearance of Dean Fulgar?

"Every threads are connected and every lines of an adjacent angle end on the same vertex." Makahulugang sambit ni Radicus kaya napabaling ako sa kanya pero napailing na lamang ako ng maabutang nakasubsob na ang ulo niya sa lamesa. Malamang ay natutulog na naman.

"Bakit kaya ang antukin niya?" Tanong ni Taki na nakatingin narin pala sa kanya.

Napabuntong-hininga ako at muling pinagtuunan ng pansin ang lumang librong binabasa ko.

"Don't you notice it? He doesn't intake anything with caffeine even apples." That's what I've noticed on him. Lalo na noong binigyan ko siya ng fruit salad. Itinabi niya ang mga piraso ng mansanas na nakahalo roon.

"Really? But he's drinking tea like what most Brits like him do."

"Yes but those are only rooibos and chamomile. Both are herbal teas which are caffeine-free." I explained and caught Taki in my peripheral vision nodded approvingly. Nararamdaman ko pang namamangha siya dahil sa paliwanag ko.

"How do you do that?" Maya-maya pa'y pagsasatinig niya ng tanong niya sa isipan.

"It's just a simple observation. Hindi ko rin naman masasagot kung bakit ginagawa niya iyon." Because he's obviously doing it on purpose.

"Taki." Tawag ko sa kanya nang bigla akong may napagtanto kaya napatigil ako sa paglilipat ng panibagong pahina.

"Ano yon?"

"May pumunta ba sa address ng pamilya Fulgar dito?"

Sandaling napaisip si Taki para alalahanin ang plano namin kanina.

"Wala."

"Kung ganon baka pwede tayong pumunta roon at baka may makuha pa tayong mga impormasyon." I suggested and she nodded.

"I guess you're right."

Tiyempo namang tumunog ang Bluetooth headset with voice command which Professor made us wore awhile ago dahil mas convenient daw itong gamitin sa sitwasyon namin. He's probably calling kaya hinawakan ko iyon na nasa kanang tenga ko para pindutin ang answer button.

"Hello Professor."

"Coco, how's your task?"

"We already gathered some info about the place but I guess it's still incomplete and insufficient to draw conclusions on what exactly happened here." Paliwanag ko.

"Alright but just keep searching. Maybe we'll find some more important things."

"We will Professor but I would just like to ask for your permission if we could visit the address of the Fulgar Family here before. I think mas makakatulong iyon sa paghahanap natin ng mga clues kung nasaan na ba talaga si Dean Fulgar."

Natahimik si Professor sa kabilang linya pero maya-maya pa'y napabuntong-hininga na siya.

"Okay. I'll contact Wren and Winona to fetch you there. Ibibigay ko narin sa kanya ang address. Just make sure na magkakasama kayo papunta roon. I still don't trust the people in here."

"Yes Professor. Thank you."

☠️☠️☠️

"We're here." Anunsyo ni Wren matapos patayin ang makina ng sasakyan. Siya kasi ang nagdrive ng van namin papunta sa address na ibinigay ni Professor sa kanya.

Napatingin kami sa isang abandunadong bahay na pareho ang estilo at estruktura sa mga bahay sa Amerika.

Binuksan ni Wren ang pinto sa side niya at siya nang unang bumaba na sinundan naman namin. We even noticed that some of the citizens from the neighborhood were watching us with their censorious eyes and I can feel that they're abhorring us.

"Catholic ba kayo?" I asked my colleagues and they nodded.

"I was baptized as Christian even if I'm a hybrid." Paliwanag ni Wren.

"Kaya pala kung makatingin sila wagas at feel kong talaga na gusto na nila tayong gilitan ng leeg." I mumbled before heading to the abandoned house's door.

Sumunod din naman sila sa akin. The wooden floor of the balcony was making a creaking sound as we stepped on it to reach the door. Sira-sira narin ang ilan pang mga baluster nito and the place was covered with dust. Pinihit ko ang seradula ng pinto hindi inalintana ang alikabok na bumabalot doon.

"It's locked." I stated as I turned my attention onto them.

"Let me handle that." Pagpepresenta ni Wren. Humiram siya ng bobby pin ko at kinalikot ang doorknob and we were hopeful when we finally heard it clicked.

Tumayo si Wren at sinubukang itulak ang pinto ng paulit-ulit pero wala paring nangyayari.

"Sa tingin ko may nakaharang sa likuran nito." Aniya.

"The window's not locked." Sambit naman ni Radicus kaya napatingin kami sa kanya at sa bintanang tinuturo niya.

"It's also locked Rad." Tugon ni Winona.

Nalaglag ang panga namin ng sikuhin iyon ni Radicus ng walang kahirap-hirap dahilan para mabasag iyon.

"Not anymore." He said while shrugging his shoulders.

Napailing na lamang si Wren at binali ng tuluyan ang isang sirang baluster at inalis ang mga matutulis na parteng naiwan doon sa bintana para makadaan kami ng ligtas. Unang pumasok sa loob si Radicus na sinundan ko naman saka ni Taki, Winona at Wren.

Pagpasok namin sa loob ay kaagad naming napansing tama nga si Wren na may nakaharang sa pinto. Even the other windows were covered with hammered pieces of wood. Ang liwanag na nagmumula sa kaonting siwang lamang niyon ang nagpapailaw sa paligid ng bahay.

"Bakit nila tinakpan ng mga kahoy ang mga bintana at pinto?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Taki.

"Apparently, they're hiding from something at ang bintanang binasag ni Radicus ang tanging nagsilbing daan nila para tignan ang nangyayari sa labas ng kanilang bahay." Sagot ni Wren.

Hinati ni Wren ang grupo namin sa dalawa. He will go upstairs together with Winona and Taki to search for anything that could help us find Dean Fulgar and to unearth the mystery of this place.

Naiwan naman kami ni Radicus dito sa sala para magtulungan sa paghahanap pero mukhang walang balak ang kasama ko dahil noong mahiga siya sa may couch ay kaagad na siyang natulog. Hinalughog kong mag-isa ang bawat looban ng mga shelves at kabinet na naroroon sa sala.

Kanina pa ako hanap ng hanap pero mukhang wala naman akong ibang makikita rito. I was about to close the last mini cabinet nang bigla kong masagi ang isang de-latang pabilog na kahon. Gumawa ng kalabog ang pagkakalaglag nun sa sahig dahilan para magising si Radicus at inaantok pang napaupo sa couch. Napailing na lamang ako at sinimulang tipunin ang mga papel na maliit na nakakalat mula sa nakabukas na kahon. Ibinalik ko na ang mga iyon isa-isa subalit biglang naagaw ng isang kapirasong lumang papel ang atensyon ko. Inabot ko iyon at base sa itsura niyon ay pinunit iyon mula sa isang lumang libro. It was an article about the Great Fire of 64 that took place during the Roman Empire. Sa di ko malamang dahilan ay basta ko na lang naramdaman na parang may nag-uudyok sa aking basahin ang likuran niyon. I turned it and saw a short handwritten message and the writer must be left handed basing on the tiny and unapparent strokes and smudges of the ink which seems to appear like he's dragging his hand across the writings. Ang mga tinta pa ng nakaimprintang letra sa background niyon ay parang nabasa ng tubig kaya kumalat ito at halos hindi na mabasa. But the message says:

History has repeated itself and then there were none but the undead. I failed.
-D. Fulgar

☠️☠️☠️

"Let me be straight with you, Mr. Novak. Do you know Dean Fulgar?" Tanong ni Professor sa mayor ng Poblacion Očiazuby.

We were all gathered in the living room and we're currently listening to the voice record during Professor's interview with the mayor. Tobbie tried hacking their security system but he found out that they don't have one when he roamed around their municipal hall before the interview happens. Kaya voice recorder na lamang ang pinagamit niya kay Professor.

Humalakhak si Mr. Nero Novak pero hindi ko nararamdamang natutuwa siya sa tanong ni Professor. It's like it is a way for him to project his defense mechanism on a probable danger brought by the man he's talking to.

"Uh-huh. He's with his family when he came here last year."

"Then what can you say about him?"

"Let me ask you, Mr. Volkszki, do you believe in magic? Like what we're seeing on tv and movies. Things like powers, abilities and gifts." Kahit pabiro ang kanyang pagkakasabi ay mahihimigan mo talaga ang pagiging seryoso ng kanyang katanungan.

"Of course I do. I've known more than them."

"Then, let me ask you again. Do you believe in God?"

Binalot ng katahimikan ang paligid nila. Hindi nakasagot kaagad si Professor sa katanungan nito. Perhaps the reason why is him being a hybrid.

"If I believe in demons then why not in God?" Professor retorted and even if I cannot see it, I know that he's smirking.

Ngayon ay si Mr. Novak naman ang natahimik. Nanggagalaiti siya sa galit sa di ko malamang dahilan pero pinipigilan niya iyon.

"So, let's go back to the Fulgar Family. Many citizens of this place felt threatened because of them. They're not the kind of people that one should befriend with."

"But why do they felt threatened Mr. Novak?"

"Because as to what I've said earlier they're dangerous because they have magic." Mapaglarong tugon ni Mr. Novak pero bakit nararamdaman kong siya mismo ang natatakot sa mga pinagsasasabi niya.

"But luckily they're now out of here." Pagpapatuloy pa nito.

"Really? Including Dean Fulgar? Where is he now mayor?" Kalmado ngunit may pagbabantang wika ni Professor sa pulitiko.

Natawa ng hilaw si Mr. Novak upang pagtakpan ang kaba niya.

"Why are you asking me Mr. Volkszki? His family was gone including him." He's lying on the last part.

"Alam mo ba kung nasaan na sila ngayon?"

"No. I've never heard of  any news about them since they left this place." Liar.

"Are you sure that you really don't know where Dean is?" Muling paninigurado ni Professor na para bang tinanong lang iyon upang maanalisa ko kung magiging tapat ba ang sagot ni mayor o hindi.

Muling binayo ng kaba si mayor pero mabilis din naman siyang sumagot. "Yes." Kasinungalingan.

When the voice record ended, I have stated my analyses on their conversation. Ibinigay ko rin sa kanila ang nakita kong piraso ng papel kanina na may mensahe. Wren also got something from upstairs. Handwritten din iyon na statistical record ng bilang ng mga naninirahan sa Poblacion Očiazuby. There were no records of Christian people staying in here since the last two years kung saan unang dumating din ang dayo na mula sa Czech Republic who was Nero Novak, the current mayor of the place. Surprisingly, it turns out that all the citizens in here are atheists.

Pinag-aaralan pa nila ang mga impormasyong nakalap namin nang magpaalam ako sa kanilang lalabas muna at pupunta sa van para kuhanin ang polaroid ko roon na naiwan. The captured photos of the people in here could be a help in our observation.

Hiniram ko kay Professor ang susi ng van pero hindi siya tumango at hindi rin ako sigurado kung narinig niya akong magpaalam nang kuhanin ko sa ibabaw ng center table ang susi at lumabas na ng kwarto namin saka nagtungo sa baba ng apartment.

☠️☠️☠️

I was looking at the photos on the top of the table inside the van alone observing some details about the people. Paano kaya namin pag-uugnay-ugnayin ang lahat? From the burned scent of the place, the message, the statistical and voice record and to the fact that all the citizens in here are detesting Christianity.

Wait, the message was written behind the article that was about the Great Fire of 64 which could be somehow similar to the burned scent that Taki's smelling but how are they connected? I began tapping my index finger on the top of the table as I let myself drowned in deep thoughts. Paano nga ba?

Ano nga ulit ang espekulasyon tungkol sa nangyaring sunog noong 64 AD? I closed my eyes and the tapping of my finger moved faster as I recall the lessons we had on History about the Roman Empire.

Nahinto ako sa ginagawa at napadilat nang matandaan ko na kung bakit. It maybe unclear but various sources claimed that it is to make a reason to persecute the Christians.

Napahikab ako at doon ko lamang napagtantong alas-diyez na pala ng gabi. I better go back to our room now. Niligpit ko muna ang mga larawan bago ako bumaba ng van. Pagkababa ko ay kaagad kong napansin ang landlady na nasa labas ng kanyang apartment. Nakaupo sa patio stair at nakatungo. Nilapitan ko siya at unti-unti akong binayo ng kaba nang mapansin ang kakaibang kulay ng balat niya. Sobrang puti niyon na ibang-iba noong unang kita ko sa kanya.

"Bakit nandito ka pa sa labas hija?"

"May.... may ginagawa lang po ako pero papasok narin naman po ako." I tried my best not to stuttered and not to sound nervous in front of her.

"Alam mo bang delikado rito sa labas?" Aniyang nakatungo parin.

Ilang segundo pa'y sumuka na siya ng dugo at sa halip na tulungan siya ay napahakbang ako paatras dahil sa takot.

"Natatakot ka ba?" Tanong niya at nag-angat ng tingin sa akin.

Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong sumigaw dahil ang puti-puti na ng mukha niya at nagawa niya pang ngumiti sa kabila ng dugo na umaagos sa bibig niya na siyang lalong nagpakaba sa akin. Nang maramdaman kong nagwawala na ang mga emosyon niya at akmang susugurin na niya ako ay dali-dali akong tumakbo papunta sa van.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at tuluyan na akong nagsisisigaw dahil sa takot habang binubuksan ang pinto ng van. Naiiyak na ako at ramdam ko na ang panginginig ng mga kamay ko dahil sa kaba. Nang tuluyan nang bumukas ang pinto ay mabilis akong sumampa roon pero naabot ng landlady ang kaliwang paa ko at hinatak niya akong muli pababa ng van. Ang lakas niya at ang sakit ng likod kong marahas na bumagsak sa lupa.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya habang patuloy parin siya sa paghila sa akin. Kahit na nanlalabo na ang mga mata ko dahil sa luha ay kita ko parin ang nakakapanindig balahibo niyang ngisi at ang pag-agos ng dugo sa bibig niya. Sinubukan kong iangat ang katawan ko para bawiin ang paa ko subalit hindi ko na kinaya dahil sa sakit na iniinda ko sa likuran ko.

"Kristiyano!" Sigaw niya pero ilang saglit pa ay natigil siya sa paghila sa akin at bumagsak bigla sa lupa.

Napaupo ako at nakita ang dugong umaagos mula sa butas na nasa gitna ng noo niya.

"Coco!" Mabilis na dumalo sina Taki at Tobbie sa akin.

Radicus was holding a handgun and he's smiling maniacally as he stared at the landlady on the cold ground whom he had just shot. Now,  I understand why Ms. Davica and Winona seemed to fear him. The others followed and help me stood up. My knees were still trembling because of shock and horror pero mabuti na lang at kaagad nila akong inalalayan. Professor scooped me in his arms and carried me to the van.

☠️☠️☠️

"Can someone explain what's really happening? Anong klaseng nilalang iyong kanina? Zombie ba yon?" Naguguluhan at kinakabahang tanong ni Taki.

Huling pumasok si Radicus kaya dali-dali ng isinara ni Tobbie na nakaupo malapit sa pintuan ng van ang pinto. Professor and Wren are both sitting on the front seat listening to us. Nararamdaman ko ring para silang nagmamatiyag sa paligid.

"Hindi at kung pagbabasehan natin ang mensahe ni Dean Fulgar ay undead ang tawag sa nakita natin kanina. Sigurado rin akong lahat ng mga naririto sa lugar na ito ay ganoon." Seryosong tugon ni Wren.

"Alam niyo naguguluhan narin ako. Baka pwede niyong ipaliwanag ang tungkol sa undead na yan?" Pahabol naman ni Tobbie.

"History has repeated itself and then there were none but the undead." I stated the message with eyes still locked at nowhere.

"Wait, ang naaamoy ni Taki na sunog ay may kinalaman ba sa Great Fire of 64 na nasa article nung papel na sinulatan ni Dean ng mensahe niya? They have connections, don't they?" Ani Winona.

"Do you know anything about the Roman Empire during 54-68 AD?"

Napatingin kaming lahat kay Radicus na nasa likuran na tamad na pinaglalaruan ang hawak niyang pistol na animo'y simpleng toy gun lang iyon.

"Dude, tulog ako tuwing History Class so maybe you can have the initiative to tell us a recap about that. Teacher Rad, Teacher Rad, please?" Tobbie pleaded like a kindergarten student.

"Well then let's have a quick lesson on this."

"Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was the Roman Emperor who reigned during 54-68 AD. On 59 AD, many claims stated that he had his mother,  Agrippina, murdered. Alam niyo kung bakit?"

"Pwede wag kang pa-cliffhanger, Rad?" Nakasimangot na reklamo ni Winona but Radicus only shrugged his shoulders and continued talking.

"Maraming mga ekspekulasyon ang nagsilabasan but an untold version said that he made an agreement with a demon and in order to seal it he needs to make a human sacrifice and that is his mother who was allegedly planning to ousted him from power. Then, an urban fire broke out on 64 AD which was known as the Great Fire of 64. Separated stories circulated regarding the emperor and the fire but most of them mentioned that Nero was the arsonist and that he was seen on his place on the top of a hill playing his lyre while watching the city burned. But they said it was only a rumor, however, the event caused the first persecution of the Christians because Nero had put all the blame to the Christian Community. At ang isa pang sikreto roon ay parte iyon ng kasunduan niya sa demonyo."

"What's with the agreement?" I asked.

"He will serve and help the demon in eliminating those who believe in God in exchange for his immortality." He replied and we all went quiet as we connect the dots and the chains of events from the past and present.

"And did you know that on 69 AD he reportedly died? But legend arose that he's not dead and that he will return as an Antichrist and he's the beast who will bring destruction according to the Sibylline Oracle and the Book of Revelation." Natahimik kaming lahat sa idinagdag pang impormasyon ni Radicus.

"Can I ask you something?" Si Taki na mismo ang tumango para tumugon sa kanya.

"Do you know what's the translation of Novak in English?"

"Newman or Newcomer." Pabulong na wika ni Wren like as if realization hit him.

"You mean, Mr. Nero Novak is the Emperor Nero that you're talking about?" Di makapaniwalang tanong ni Winona.

"Exactly and he repeated history in this place." Nakangising tugon ni Radicus.

💀💀💀

I'm sorry for the late update and to make things clear every dates and events that took place during the reign of Emperor Nero were all true. I just fictionized the part about the agreement he had with the demon.

P. S. I remembered this one in my Araling Panlipunan Class before. My classmates weren't listening but it did caught my attention and it never leave my memory bank so I made use of it. The last part will be on the next update. 😃