Chapter 1: A monster in EDSA
A shaman's life is never an easy one. That being said, Billie is not a shaman. But how come her life is still as dangerous? When she woke up that morning, her plan was just to go to the grocery store, buy chocolates, ice cream, and other snacks, then go home. She was going to bike home in peace, place what she brought inside the fridge, watch some TV if she still had some energy, then sleep.
It was Puddle's fault she was sure of it. Maybe if she did not agree to bring him along that morning, she wouldn't be in that mess.
She had been inside the grocery store from quarter to 9 in the morning. With her cart rolling smoothly across the tiled floor, she stopped in front of the milk aisle and pondered on her options. Hmmm, maybe she should buy that one instead of the other?
She was so engrossed that when the overhead lights flickered and the ground trembled, Billie decided not to make too much of it. Must be an earthquake, she thought. Despite an unsettling feeling in the air, she decided that it's only because the supermarket forgot to change their light bulbs. She's about to go to the next aisle and get some boxed mac n' cheese. Buy some fresh fruit as well while she's at it -
"It's a bungisngis," said Puddle. He is a young duwende, with a smooth, baby face, narrow pointy ears, and short in stature, only reaching Billie's waist. Despite the hot weather, he wore a distinguished brown coat and small shorts. He jumped on the cart and shook Billie by her shoulders.
"Really? I haven't heard of one," said Billie, waving his hands away. "Do you think this full cream milk will taste better than the one we bought the other day?"
"Oy don't ignore me. This is bad. A bungisngis can never be in the city. Do you have any idea how dangerous it will be?" said Puddle, this time holding her by the collar.
"Nope. Besides, how are you so sure it's a bungisngis?"
"I'm definitely a hundred percent sure. I can sense its foul smell. Come on, just buy your stuff later. We have to immobilize it before it destroys everything! You have your space pouch with you don't you?"
"Whoah, hold your horses. Did you just say we immobilize it? Are you crazy?"
At that moment, a high-pitched alarm resounded throughout the grocery store. Nearby customers who were initially confused with the ground shaking were now beginning to be more terrified as the speakers blared an urgent voice, "Category B violent monster located 2 km south. We repeat! A category B violent monster has been sighted 2 km south. Please be guided accordingly."
BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.
Several phones alerted all at once. Billie pulled out her own and saw the screen flickering.
[NDRRMC (8:55AM, 27FebXX) A bungisngis (Category B monster) sighted at EDSA- Philam Avenue Northbound. Extreme damage expected. Areas close to the location please coordinate with the authorities immediately.]
"Oh fuck. You're right. Why are you right?" muttered Billie helplessly. She shoved the phone back in her bag.
"What did I say? We should go," said Puddle, looking proud.
Billie weighed her options. "Fine, I'm going because I only wanna check. If there are warrior shamans there already, we stay back."
"Of course! We can't have someone find out who you are," said Puddle.
"You think too much. Who cares about me anyway?"
–
The shrill, booming laughter punctuated with the unmistakable sound of slapping flesh swept through the terrified crowd. It was so loud that it could be heard a mile away. The hairs on the back of the surrounding onlookers stood on end as they surveyed the horror scene in front of them.
A one-eyed giant monster with greenish brown skin, standing about three stories high. It held an uprooted tree with all its branches and leaves atop its shoulder and began to swing it in the air. As it howled in laughter, two gigantic tusks protrude from its upper mandible giving it an even more menacing appearance.
They call it bungisngis. A cyclops in Filipino folklore. It's not supposed to exist just like the aswang, the tikbalang, the manananggal, the diwata, and all other mythical creatures in the old Filipino stories. But they do. At least in this alternate world, where they are real and threaten the existence of humans daily.
People who fight them exist too. They are called the babaylan - the Filipino shamans. In the olden times, the shamans were usually the strongest females with spiritual powers in their community. But with the increasing number of monsters, the men also began to take part and have become as numerous and as indispensable as the female shamans.
With the unexpected appearance of a bungisngis in a vacant lot along EDSA when the sun is high up in the sky, everyone momentarily froze. Someone shrieked in the distance, and as if on cue, everyone regained movement in their limbs, and bolted past the monster. The sudden loud noises of people screaming, of vehicles honking, and of tires skidding on the hot, cemented pavement seemed to have annoyed the bungisngis greatly. It roared as if in pain and clasped its hands over both of its ears.
In one swift motion, it swiveled the uprooted tree in the air. Unsurprisingly, it hit a couple of nearby empty sedan cars and toppled the overhead electrical wiring. There was a booming explosion and many people fled, leaving their cars behind.
During these frenzied moments, Billie swerved from the sidewalk and said in a dull voice. "Coming through. Stop blocking me, damn it."
A small creature on the back seat piped out. "They're panicking, what do you expect? Most of them probably hadn't seen a bungisngis in real life till now. They live in the forest after all."
"Yeah well, I haven't seen one either," said Billie exasperated. Her hair was thrown into a messy ponytail, a black cap was on her head, and a mask was blocking half her face. "Come to think of it, I haven't seen a duwende like you until a few months ago too."
Puddle grinned. "Don't worry I've seen a bungisngis before, they're strong but pretty dumb. They've got really sensitive hearing."
Since trying to speed across the sidewalk is not possible, what with the rabble scurrying away from the giant monster, Billie turned her bike to the highway and expertly treaded her way across the zigzagging cars. It was no easy feat as all of them were going the opposite direction from her and she found herself apologizing several times to the disgruntled motorists along the way.
"I still don't understand why I have to be involved in this shit. I'm not a shaman. The government employs shamans for these kinds of things you know. I'm risking my life for this shit - oh fuck-"
A white taxi screeched to a halt before it could collide with Billie's side. The taxi driver shouted all kinds of profanities at her before throwing the door open. "What the fuck are you doing? Are you trying to kill yourself? The monster is over there, why are you heading towards it?"
"Look, kind sir, no need to be rude, I just asked myself that question too," said Billie through gritted teeth. She massaged her left knee unconsciously and glanced at Puddle who only shrugged.
The taxi driver noticed Puddle on the backseat and his eyes widened. "Wait, could you be a shaman?"
"No I'm not a -" said Billie, but a few other people nearby heard the taxi driver's outburst. Soon whispers followed, and the others started to make way for her on the sidewalk.
"Let her come through. She's a shaman!" shouted the taxi driver. He even made a waving motion to the crowd.
"A shaman? Hey, they say there's a shaman here. Make way."
"Oh thank goodness there's already a shaman. She seems to have a duwende with her."
"Can she really defeat that thing? She looks young."
There was a whole lot of rustling noise and almost in no time, Billie found it easier to maneuver along, as the previously disorganized crowd had already parted for her. She was about to correct the taxi driver's misconception so she looked back but saw him giving her a two thumbs up. Billie found herself screaming internally, 'Damn it, I'm an average Filipino citizen like you too!'
"What are you dawdling around for? Let's go," said Puddle.
Billie threw him a contemptuous look as if to say 'it's all your fault!'
But Puddle only continued to smile at her brightly, so Billie had no choice but to pedal forward. The day has just started and she's already tired.