Life in Cabanatuan City was, in a word, ordinary. Tricycles buzzed past like bees in a hive, jeepneys honked their horns in a chorus of impatience, and the lively chatter of street vendors filled the air with a sense of routine. My days were a predictable cycle of college classes, household chores, and escaping into the fantasy worlds of cultivation novels on my phone.
I wasn't anyone special, just Jiro, an ordinary college student. My biggest concerns were passing my exams, stretching my allowance, and figuring out what to do with my life.
That's how the day started: uneventful, like any other. I had gone to Pacific Mall, the city's ever-busy shopping hub. It was a two-story relic of the 90s, its facade faded and streaked with grime. Inside, the mismatched floor tiles and flickering fluorescent lights gave the place an almost nostalgic charm, complemented by the faint smell of fried street food wafting from the nearby stalls.
The mall was bustling as usual, with families hunting for bargains, teenagers loitering around the food court, and kiosk vendors hawking gadgets and accessories. I had just withdrawn my allowance from an ATM near a clothing store on the second floor. Leaning against the railing, I looked down at the sea of people below, their collective chatter blending into a calming hum.
Then, it happened.
The familiar hum of the mall was replaced by silence, an unsettling, almost deafening quiet. The lights above me flickered but didn't go out. I glanced around, expecting a blackout, but the mall was still illuminated. Something felt off.
A strange shimmer rippled through the air, distorting the scene before me like heat waves rising off hot pavement. The once-vivid colors of the mall faded, replaced by a muted gray. I blinked, trying to shake off the dizziness, but when I opened my eyes again, the mall was empty.
Not just empty of people. Empty of life.
The escalators were frozen mid-motion, the hum of the electronics had vanished, and even the air felt heavier, pressing against me like an invisible weight.
I took a tentative step forward, the sound of my footfall echoing unnaturally in the dead silence. My heart raced as fear clawed its way into my chest.
And then I saw it.
A figure descended through the shattered skylight above, landing with an impact that sent a tremor through the floor. My knees buckled slightly, and I stumbled back, pressing myself against a pillar.
It was an Aswang, its gaunt, leathery frame crouched low like a predator. Its glowing red eyes scanned the space, narrowing as they locked onto something behind me. Its wings, black and bat-like, folded tightly against its back, twitching with anticipation.
"Mother f***er!" I thought, my body freezing in terror as I desperately hoped the creature wouldn't notice me.
A voice called out behind me, calm yet commanding. "You've gone too far. Turn back now."
I turned to see a young man standing several meters away, his back straight, his presence both unnerving and reassuring. He wasn't from here, his flowing robes shimmered faintly, as though they were woven from threads of light. His hair was tied back, and his sharp features were set in a mask of determination.
In his hands was a crescent-bladed sword that pulsed with a faint golden glow, as if alive.
The Aswang let out a guttural snarl, baring jagged teeth. "You think you can stop me, boy?"
The young man didn't flinch. "This is your last warning," he said, raising his blade into a ready stance.
The Aswang laughed, a grating, unnatural sound that sent chills down my spine. "Bold words for a novice."
And then it lunged.
The young man moved faster than my eyes could track, his blade creating arcs of golden light as he slashed at the creature. The Aswang dodged with inhuman agility, its claws swiping through the air with a force that shattered a nearby display case.
Their clash sent shockwaves rippling through the empty mall. Glass shards rained down like deadly confetti, and the escalators groaned as their frames twisted under the force of the combat.
I ducked behind the pillar, my breath shallow as I watched the impossible unfold.
The young man was relentless, his attacks precise and unyielding. Each swing of his blade sent sparks flying as it clashed with the Aswang's claws. But the creature was no less formidable, its movements wild yet calculated. It lashed out with its elongated tongue, snapping like a whip.
The young man blocked it with his sword, but the impact sent him skidding backward. "You're stronger than I expected," he admitted, sweat beading on his brow.
"And you're weaker than I feared," the Aswang shot back, a malicious grin spreading across its face.
The young man muttered something under his breath, and glowing symbols materialized around him, forming a protective barrier. The Aswang screeched in frustration, its claws bouncing harmlessly off the glowing shield.
But it wasn't done.
The creature spread its wings wide, unleashing a deafening screech. The sound shattered the barrier like glass, sending shards of golden light scattering into the air.
The young man stumbled, his grip on his sword tightening as his aura flickered.
Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a scroll that glowed with an otherworldly light. Even from my hiding spot, I could feel its power, a weighty presence that seemed to hum in the air around it.
The Aswang's eyes narrowed, its lips curling into a predatory grin. "So that's what you're protecting."
The young man met its gaze with unwavering resolve. "This treasure isn't for you."
The Aswang lunged, faster and more ferocious than before. The young man dodged, but the creature's tongue grazed his arm, drawing blood. The scroll slipped from his grasp, skidding across the floor right toward me.
"Take it!" he shouted, his voice filled with urgency. "Run!"
My body froze for a moment, my mind screaming at me to stay hidden. But something deeper something instinctual had compelled me to move.
I darted from behind the pillar and grabbed the scroll. It felt warm, almost alive, as I clutched it tightly.
"Sh*t!" I cursed under my breath as the Aswang's eyes locked onto me, its fury palpable.
"Run!" the young man yelled again, his voice echoing through the chaos.
I didn't need to be told twice.
Sprinting through the wreckage, I weaved between shattered displays and crumbling walls. The once-familiar mall had become a twisted labyrinth, the air heavy with an unnatural chill.
Behind me, I could hear the battle raging on the clash of steel against claw, the desperate cries of the young man as he fought to hold the creature back.
Ahead, a shimmering barrier came into view, faint but unmistakable. It was my only chance.
With one final burst of energy, I dove through it.
The world snapped back into focus.
I found myself back on the second floor of Pacific Mall, sprawled across the cold tiles. The noise of normal life rushed back in the chatter of shoppers, the hum of escalators, the distant jingle of store advertisements.
But in my hands, the glowing scroll was proof that what I had experienced was no dream.
Breathing heavily, I sat up, my heart still pounding. The young man's desperate voice echoed in my mind.
He had risked everything to protect this scroll. And now, it was in my hands.
The vendor stared at me, his brows furrowing in confusion. I must have looked like I'd seen a ghost, sweat dripping down my face, chest heaving as if I'd just run a marathon.
"Uy, are you okay, iho?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern. He was an older man, with a weathered face and kind eyes, standing behind a cart of fried snacks. The smell of freshly cooked kwek-kwek and banana cue filled the air, but the scent barely registered in my mind.
I tried to answer, but my throat was dry, and my legs felt like jelly. I leaned against the nearest wall, clutching the scroll tightly under my jacket, trying to look as normal as possible.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I finally managed to croak out, though the tremor in my voice betrayed me.
The vendor tilted his head, unconvinced. "You sure? You look like you've seen a ghost. Do you need water or something?"
I nodded quickly, realizing that drawing attention wasn't going to help. "Ah, yes, water please."
He handed me a cold bottle from the cooler, and I gulped it down like my life depended on it. For a moment, the icy water helped ground me, cooling the burning sensation in my chest.
The vendor's eyes scanned me curiously. "Are you sure? It's like you disappeared and came back like you were being chased by a demon." He chuckled nervously, clearly trying to lighten the mood, but the irony wasn't lost on me.
I forced a weak laugh. "Ah, I just rushed over and jogged here because I was running late for class," I lied, though I could hear how unconvincing it sounded.
He gave me a wary look but didn't press further. "Alright, just take care of yourself. You look like you need some rest."
I nodded and thanked him before slipping away, clutching the scroll tighter against my chest.
Every step felt heavier than the last as I made my way out of the mall. I wanted to tell someone anyone what had just happened, but I knew I couldn't. Who would believe me? I'd sound insane, raving about Aswangs and sword-wielding warriors.
No, this encounter wasn't just crazy; it was beyond anything a normal human like me could comprehend.
And yet, here I was, an ordinary college student, somehow entangled in something far greater than myself.