Barbaric Heart

Four : The Old Lady and her Gnome

Yo, guys! It's been a long looong time. Lol. Hope you'll like this.

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"Makatutulong 'tong halamang gamot para mapabilis ang pag-hilom ng sugat mo."

Medyo napaigtad ako at napakuyom ng kamao ng lumapat ito sa sugat ko. Malamig ito pero magaan sa pakiramdam. I can't bear to look at my foot in its current condition so I looked away.

Napunta naman ang tingin ko sa gnome na mukang may inaaral na kung anong lumang papel na sa tingin ko ay mapa.

Nahugasan na din ito kanina sa tulong ng gnome bago ito lagyan ng gamot. Naramdaman ko namang unti unti ng nawawala ang sakit at binebendahan na ito ng puting tela.

We're already inside the cabin and believe me or not, I can feel that the cabin is moving and walking on its own.

I'm also still bewildered due to the fact of how it looks. Cabin with chicken legs, just-just wow.

Pinanonood ko lang syang tumayo mula sa paanan ko papunta sa may chimney na ginawa nilang lutuan. "Mahusay ka sa pakikipaglaban, hula ko ay isa kang taga-sunod ng isang hari. Tama ba ako, mandirigma?" she looked at my direction with a warm smile on her face.

Looking at her face made me miss the grandma that lives with me years ago, it's such a shame that she's gone.

Hindi ko sinagot ang tanong nya. "San tutungo ang kubo na ito? San nyo ko balak dalhin?" tanong ko.

The smile on her face didn't disappear. "Sa hilaga, ngunit walang eksatong paroroonan." napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nya.

"Are you kidding me?" hindi ko mapigilang itanong.

"Totoo ang aking sinabi. Kami ay mga manlalakbay kaya normal lang na wala kaming eksaktong destinasyon." nabaling ang tingin ng matanda sa paa nya. "Mas mabuti siguro kung magpahinga ka muna, mandirigma. Hindi biro ang nangyari sayo kani-kanina lang."

"No, I'm not tired-" she suddenly stops. Her consciousness began to fade and her vision is swirling. "Wha-what?"

Napakapit sya sa unan upang gawing sandalan habang nilalabanan ang hilo. When her gaze turns to the old lady, her vision began to be more blurry and she can feel there's something absorbing her.

Parang may kung anong pwersa sa suot nitong kwintas at hinihili sya palapit nito. Her body began to give up and the last thing she know, she lost consciousness.

"Gabriella! Gabriella!"

"Please, don't do this!"

"Nooo! Doooon't!" and then a loud cry was heard.

Napabalikwas ako ng bangon. I can feel my sweats running down my face down to my neck. Feeling the loud beating of my heart, I looked around.

I'm still at this rusty bed but I can't seem to find the old lady and her gnome. Napahawak ako sa noo ko. "What was that?"

Slowly, I stood up. Little by little. Kinuha ko ang cloak ko sa gilid ng higaan at sinuot ito. Good thing they keep my mask intact.

I am grateful to them for helping me but that can't erase the doubt inside me. Agad kong kinuha ang bag ko at palakol ng makita ko ito na nakasabit sa dingding.

Binuksan ko ang lumang pinto upang lumabas at tumambad sakin ang waterfalls. Napakaganda nito. Dahan dahan akong lumabas sa cabin, not wanting to bother this creature or whatever this is.

I was about to approach the water when something catches my eyes. "H-huh? What the heck is t-that?!"

There are some kind of entity or person walking on the water. Napaigtad ako ng bumaling ang tingin nito sakin. Using his fog like hands, he waves at me while wearing a smile. His body is glowing, so is his long hair. The lower part is like a merman's tail except that it's longer.