They thought her death would mark the end of the case.
Pero mukhang may ibang plano ang tadhana ngayong gabi, dahil habang inaayos nila ang paglilipat sa bangkay ni Clouie at pag-contact sa mga magulang nito, unti-unti ulit nabulabog ang kaninang tahimik na lawa.
"K-KATAW!" Naythan screamed and hid behind Nemesis, alerting the rest of their clubmates.
'Pero hindi siya natakot kaninang sumisid sa lawa? Hay naku!'
Meanwhile, Nemesis stared in disbelief as the form emerged from the waters. The surface rippled as if it were obeying an unseen master, someone---or something---causing the disturbance.
Napuno ng tensyon ang paligid nang tuluyan nang magpakita ang nilalang na nanggugulo sa lugar. Fish-like scales adorned its large body. A pair of abysses for eyes. Its gills on its neck moved, sensing the change in environment. Sa palibot ng kanyang katawan, lumulutang ang maliliit na butil ng tubig, reminiscent of falling raindrops...
'If raindrops moved upwards instead,' Nemesis thought as she watched the droplets float in midair.
"Sorren, take the girl's body away," Damien commanded. To Caelum, he scowled, "I just hope Magno fed you enough paranormal encyclopedias, Agustin. Dahil kung hindi mo pa napapansin, wala tayong laban sa teritoryo ng mga kataw---!"
SLAM!
Nagulat sina Nemesis, Rio, Naythan, at Caelum nang bigla na lang lumipad ang katawan ni Damien. The waters slammed his back against a nearby fishing boat, sending buckets flying around because of the impact, knocking him out cold.
Nemesis sighed. 'Well, he did deserve it for being a jerk.'
Did she pity the rich kid?
Hell no.
Pero nang akmang isusunod na sana sila ng kataw, biglang umurong ang tubig bago pa man ito makaabot sa kanila. From behind her, Naythan furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Umm... Bakit 'di niya tayo masaktan? Favoritism?"
"No, it's because of this."
Nemesis held the medallion against her neck, remembering its protection. Tinanggal nga pala ni Damien ang kanyang medalyon ka kanina noong nalaman niya ang katauhan ni Caelum. Kung nagdududa man sila kanina sa authenticity nito, now there's clearly no doubt of it.
'Paano naman namin mahuhuli ang kataw?'
"N-Nem?"
"...."
"Nem!"
"Naythan, pwede bang mamaya ka na mangulit!"
"NEM!"
"Damn! Bakit ba?"
Instead of speaking up, Naythan pointed at something. Agad na sinundan ni Nemesis ng tingin ang tinuturo nito, at para bang naubusan siya ng hininga nang makita ang tanawin sa lawa. Behind the first creature, another one appeared. It was smaller and skinner, but its scales and black eyes carried the same peculiarity.
"Dalawang kataw?" Caelum studied them in interest. Ni hindi ito umalis sa kanyang kinatatayuan. "One is already a problem. Paano pa kaya natin mahuhuli ang dalawa?"
Hindi pa rito nagtatapos ang kanilang kakaibang gabi.
Dahil lalong nabahala ang Eastwood Paranormal Investigators' Club nang sinimulang atakihin ng ikalawang kataw ang nauna. Their monstrous noises made the surface of the lake ripple, tiny waves crashed the shores to and fro. Hindi makapaniwala si Nemesis sa kanyang nasasaksihan.
She stepped away as the waters became more violent.
Unti-unting natabunan ng makakapal na ulap ang kalangitan, hanggang sa tuluyan na nitong itinago ang buwan sa kanila.
KAMU SEDANG MEMBACA
EPIC
Paranormal"Stare at the dark too long, and you'll eventually see what isn't there..." If someone offered you an opportunity to investigate the deadliest (and craziest) mysteries in Eastwood, will you be brave enough to accept it? An epic paranormal adventure...
