The fulfillment, part 1

A Story by Stark

A tale set in a distant and secluded part of the Philippines

A man takes his child to a forest, covered with large neem trees and surrounded with dark, shadowy corners. It was nearing sunset, and all they had was a worn-out lantern to light their paths. A cold wind blew from behind them, followed by the howling of wolves in the distance. The child, Ryan, had just turned 6 the day before.

"Pa, saan ba tayo pupunta? ( Dad, where are we going?)"

His father kept quiet, as if not hearing his sons question. Ryan tugged at his fathers coat, but still no response, as they kept walking deeper into the forest. After about 5 more minutes of trudging through the dark, damp forest, they arrived at a clearing. A small lodge stood in the middle of it.

The lights inside were lit, and smoke escaped from a small chimney on the roof. They continue to walk towards it, and upon reaching the door his father knocks. Once, twice. Ryan could hear heavy footsteps from inside. The door opens and they are greeted by a tall, flawless-looking man with long, black hair.

"Ang baho niya ( He smells terrible)" Ryan thought.

"Siya na ba? ( Is he the one?) " the man asked Ryan's father. His father nods in response.

The man put on a creepy grin and directs his attention to Ryan. He had an eye patch covering his right eye.

"Kumusta ka, iho? (How are you, young man?) "

Ryan was clearly afraid of him, as he hid behind his father. His father then turns around, kneels down to Ryan's height and hugs him, so tight that Ryan felt like his father was going somewhere far, far away.

"Pasensya ka na, anak. (Forgive me, my child) " and he kisses Ryan on his forehead. Ryan, confused at the time, didn't know what to say or do.

Before Ryan knew, his father had turned around him and started to walk away. He put out his hand and shouted at the top of lungs, as tears began falling from his eyes.

"'TAY! (DAD!) "

He tries to run after his father, but fell face first on the ground, sobbing like he has never sobbed before.

"'..tay.. " he whimpers.

He stands up, seeing the figure of his beloved father slowly disappearing into the darkness. He clears his tears, blinks once. Blinks a second time. And his father was gone.

"Ako si Mang Pedro, anong pangalan mo? (I am Mr. Pedro, what's your name?) " the scary man behind him asks.

Ryan sniffs away his remaining tears, and proceeds to say his name.

"Ahh. Tara, kain tayo, Ryan. ( Let's eat, Ryan.)"

Ryan faces the direction his dad vanished from one last time, and walks inside the lodge in the middle of the forest.