I woke up inside a dark and cramped room, surrounded by what seemed to be hard stones. The only source of faint lights was through a small window from above, and also a small window from the door in front of me. I crumpled on the rough floor. I smelled something weird, something metallic and sharp. Wait, is it a jail cell!? I summoned my strength to go to the door. That's when I realized. I have metal cuffs on my hands. Not really a cuff since they don't have chains, like an oversized bracelet. The metal is thick, but despite the thickness, it's not that heavy. It's as if I'm only holding a phone.
I can't remember anything after the explosion. Besides that, the book, the chant, the severed arm, and the booming voice. I can't remember anything. Not how I came to be here, and how long was I out!? How did I come here? That's right, I must be dreaming! I started to slap myself, first a weak one, then again, and again, now my slaps get harder as it starts to sting my cheeks and for sure leaves a mark. WHY! WHY! WHY CAN'T I WAKE UP!!??
"WAKE UP!!!" My voice echoed inside the room.
"Hoy! What the hell are you doing there!?" it came from a man's voice. Someone's here! outside this room. I got up and finally went to the door quickly. I grabbed the two metal bars on the door. And then it hits me. I'm not inside a room; I'm inside a freaking cell!
Regardless, I started to feel tears falling from my eyes, "Sir, sir, please, sir let me out, sir, please!!"
"Huh? The fuck are you saying?" he said. "Just wait for a while. Elder Aslon and Kuyo will be here to investigate you." He added, his voice stern and commanding.
Aslon? Kuyo? What kind of names are even those? I clutched my chest, and once again, I felt my breathing get harder and shallower. I didn't even notice that my back is against the wall. My tears raced faster as they ran through my cheeks. Mama... kuya... please wake me up... I don't want to be here.
I slowly slumped on the floor. Please God help me... A woman's voice echoed through the hall to my cell. "YOU SONS OF BITCHES CAN ALL GO TO FUCKING HELL!!" The words are crisp as if they can cut through someone's skin. I tried to gaze to look for the source of the voice, but it's impossible because of the door's angle.
A few more minutes, I heard footsteps growing louder by the second coming from outside. I heard metal jangling till the door opens. Two elderly men came inside. They're wearing brown... wait, how will you call it, brown tunics maybe? They were escorted by two guards, both wearing light blue military uniforms, adorned with chains on their chest pockets. They have crimson red lined with a golden patterned sash on their waist. They wore trousers bound at their knees.
"Good evening, Salimbay." One of the elderly men said. His tone is polite and calm.
"Hah?" Said I, "Salimbay?" What does he mean? Upon hearing me, the guards behind me tried to approach me, but he stopped them.
He walked towards me and continued, "Your clothes looked most peculiar. Where did you get them?" peculiar? What does that even mean?
After failing to get an answer from me, the other elderly man steps forward. He has brown skin, and a sharper nose. "Salimbay..." he said, again with the Salimbay, "We're here to ask you something." His voice was also calm, but unlike the other one, his was filled with authority, just like a guidance counselor. "My men found you at the place where Datu Rakta died. Why were you there?"
"Hah? Wait – wait... what are you two saying?" I said, my arms held forward to them as if asking them to slow down, "I don't even know how I got he –." I wasn't able to finish my sentence after a foot hit me. I fell on the floor clutching my stomach after that. WHAT THE FUCK!? I was about to retaliate, but was stopped upon seeing what was standing in front of me.
"I won't allow you to speak with Ginoong Aslon like that!" a woman commanded while threatening me with her sword. I closed my eyes multiple times and even scratched it to make sure that what I'm seeing is real. She has short brown hair, the same color as her skin. She also has a tail that's wrapped around her waist like a belt. But that's not it. Her forearms were covered in deep brown fur, the same as her calves and her feet! Her feet look like of monkeys.
"MARAHUYO!" the man she called Aslon yelled at her. "Please forgive her Salimbay," the guy said as he stretched his hands towards me. I gently accepted it as he helped me up. "I hope you are alright." He added.
Fuck! Being transported into an unknown place is one thing, but now, I'm also being kicked. Salimbay!? Marahuyo!? What the hell! I gazed towards the furry bitch, and then I gave her a forceful front kick on her gut. The two elderly men were shocked to see what I did. "I don't care who you are, but you don't just get to kick people whenever you like!"
She smirked and acted to attack me once again, but the one who asked me stopped her. "Salimbay, I apologize for what she did once again. But we need answers. What were you doing at Nakubli at the time of Datu Rakta's death?"
"Sir, like I told you before. I don't know what you're saying." He gently shook his head left and right, then he stepped back. I can sense some disappointment from his tone.
He closed his eyes and turned to the other elderly man, "Elder Kuyo, I guess we have no choice but to send in the inquisitors." Then he returned his stare at me, "I'm sorry about this, Salimbay, but you left us no choice. He pivoted and told his fury bitch guard to follow him.
Before leaving, the one he calls Kuyo whispered at me, "Salimbay, lord Mayari is inside the third cell to your right. The guards will change duties at exactly 12, that's your chance." Then he moved his head closer to mine and secretly lent a key to my hand, "These keys are the key to your Pira-cuffs, and the lock yours and Princess' Mayari's door. Please save Princess Mayari. Take care of her." He stepped back and exited the cell.
I studied the keys in my hand and turned my back from the door as it closed. Though it's quite dark in here, I can see that these keys are quite larger than the ones we use at home. The fudge, I was already kidnapped from my own world, so it seems. And now I need to rescue some damsel in distress princess!? I sat at the corner of my cell, tears wanted to fall again, but I managed to stop them. I just wanted to pass KomPan, but why does this thing happen to me!?
It got darker inside the cell, maybe because it's nearing midnight? How will I know if it's already twelve? I glanced at the cuffs on my wrists and tried to make sense of it. I can't see what's on it, but by tracing my fingers around it, I can feel some grooves marked on it. Like some script or whatever. Maybe an hour more later, I stood up and tried to peer from the little window in the door cell. I can't see what's outside or if it's already midnight. Then I heard someone shouting, maybe from outside, "IT'S ALREADY TWELVE!! CURFEW IS IN EFFECT!!" Well, that was convenient.
"Okay, Given Grace, relax. Third cell to my right." I murmured, trying to encourage myself. "Shit, if I die, I hope to wake up inside my room..." I unlock the chains and carefully put them down on the floor so as not to make any noise. Next is the door. Good thing my arms were not that thick. I tried to feel for the door lock outside, then I felt it. A large padlock, I inserted the key, and finally! Something good happens to me. The padlock opened, carefully unhooked it from the door, slowly and quietly. I slowly eased the door open and peered left to right. The hall seems empty, and no signs of any guards outside.
I exited the cell, the hall is tighter than I expected, the walls flickering with the light of torches on both sides. The cell beside mine is empty. I ducked low and turned right, heading toward the spot the old man mentioned. 'Time to save a damsel.'
I was just about to reach the door on the third one, I heard some rustling.
"HOY!" someone yelled from behind me. DAMN IT! I haven't even turned to him when I heard him stride towards me. I just raised my hands out of fear. I felt my knees shaking as my sweat raced from my forehead. I swallowed and tried to come up with a plan on how I can get out of this situation. He put his hand on my shoulder, that's where it kicked in. Maybe it's the fear, the fact that I didn't really want to die, or maybe it's the adrenaline. I twisted my torso, dropped low, and shot my elbow back into his abdomen. He moaned because of the pain as he bowed and held his stomach, then I followed it with a pivot from my left foot and drove a swift side kick to his knee. He stumbled hard, and he grabbed for his sword as he reeled in pain. Shit, what now!? My coach never taught me how to incapacitate a man, only to take him down on the floor. What now!? He's slowly trying to stand up now... wait, what if he yells for back up!? Holy crap!
"The torch! The torch on your right!" A woman's voice commanded, "Take it and put that son of a bitch down!"
The torch is made of metal and wood; it's quite heavy and probably will do the job. I grabbed it from where it's hanging, and with full force, I hit the guard on his back while he's getting up. He slumped on the floor. I'm really sorry kuya, I'm really sorry! I put my back against the wall. My hands are still shaking as I wipe the sweat on my forehead.
I turned to the cell where the voice came from, unlocked it, and stepped inside. The torchlight danced over her brown skin, wrapped in a sheer golden pañuelo, as they call it. It shimmered with every flicker of the fire from the torch. Her long, brown, wavy hair flowed like a calm river beneath the moon, and her red skirt, laced with gold patterns, caught the light as she moved. She stared at me with almond-shaped eyes—deep, steady, and piercing, as if she could see straight through my soul.
"Took you long enough." She said, her tone is quite assertive, as if she bought me from the market. "Now, if you may. Drag that son of a bitch inside this cell so no one can see him." I don't know why, but I was quickly compelled to follow her orders without any complaint.
After that, she quickly hugged me. I was quickly taken aback at what she just did. "Thank Lord Kan-Laon, you're safe." She whispered. Great, another weird name. But just after a few more seconds, she stepped back and turned her back on me while asking, "Who the fuck are you?" The hell is wrong with this woman?!
"In the storm's whisper and silent fury's breath,
Makanduk, etch the secret upon the wind,
The hidden blade—at last, caresses death."
Her chant echoes inside the room. I noticed a red glow on her hand, then she turned around at me a brandished a knife in front of me. Where the hell did, she hide it!? I held my hands towards her and told her to calm down. She pointed it on my throat as she walked towards me. I am a couple of inches taller than her, and I might be even stronger than her based on her slender and petite body.
"Tell me fucker, who the fuck are you?" Her tone went firmer, the knife's blade glinted as it threatened to bite my throat. What the hell!? This girl got some screws loose? I mean, earlier she hugged me, and now she's threatening to slit my throat like a psycho!
"You're not my Maharlika!." She said, "You're not Salimbay!" you don't say!
"Finally!! Someone who gets it!" I cried.
She leaned her head sideways and uttered, "Hah?" Now's my chance! I sidestepped left, parried her wrist, and in one smooth motion, clamped her arm between both mine. I easily took the knife from her and pointed it towards her. But then it suddenly disappeared from my hand out of thin air.
"What the!?"
"That clears it, you're not Salimbay."
"Girl, if you only knew how many times I said it to the others!" I was about to say more, but then she moved her face closer to mine that I could smell her sandalwood fragrance.
"Peculiar..." she muttered, "You're not my maharlika, but you definitely looked like her." She walked around me like a detective trying to investigate. I was curious enough about how she was so sure, unlike the other ones, so I asked her.
She explained, "First, your clothes. A maharlika won't wear something like that, second, Salimbay has a small mole under her lip, third is your accent and manner of speaking." She stopped walking and glanced at me once again, "Also, this one's a leap, but I have a suspicion that you're not even from this world."
Damn, this girl's sharp, "You're right! How did you know?"
"Your expression upon seeing me weave Nu. You look confused, as if it's your first time seeing this." She eased her expression and asked me again, this time with a calmer tone, "So Woman, who are you?"
"Gi – Given Grace... Taga Pembo, Makati..."
Her brows furrowed as she parroted what I said, "Giben Greys? Even your name sounds otherworldly." Wow ha, otherworldly? Says the one whose world has names like Kuyo, Aslon, and Salimbay.
She let out a sigh and said, "Well, that doesn't matter anymore." Then with calm certainty, she added, "I am Mayari, daughter of Datu Rakta of Tundun."
Just as expected, she is Mayari. And now that I'm really looking at her, yeah, she does look regal. The way she speaks, the way she moves, everything about her screams prin—
"SONS OF BITCHES, ALL OF THEM!" Wait, what? My thoughts stopped cold after hearing that crisp, venom-laced outburst. Girl, I just described you as regal! Her cheeks, no, her whole face turned red as she walked back and forth. A couple more pacing, she stopped and turned towards me and said, "Giben, you look like someone who can fight. If you can help me escape from these sons of the grandest fucking bitches..." she paused, "I promise to help you find a way to your world."
Damn, this girl looks harmless but curses harder than mang Tino, one of the pedicab drivers at our school. "Ye – yeah, I know Taekwondo."
"Hah? Taekwonwho?" she looks confused, as expected. "Regardless, let's move fast before the other guards notice something weird..." She pulled me out of the cell towards the hallway. We crouched and silently moved towards the end of the hall.
"Listen carefully," she whispered, "all you need to do is to protect my back if ever some fucker tries to blind side me." She ordered, as if it were an easy task.
"O – okay..." I said, as she stared at me, visibly confused, "I mean, alright."
I never thought I'd actually use what Coach Jokats taught us in real life. But seriously, why in this kind of situation? We moved quickly but carefully down a long hallway. After a few more turns—left, then right—the darkness still surrounded us. So far, no guards in sight. But near the exit on the other side, they were all there. Five of them, guarding the way out.
"These lazy ass fuckers..." Mayari mumbled, "Never mind, this is better." She leaned against the wall and closed her eyes. Her brows raised, and then she mumbled, "This will be better if I have the real Salimbay with me, or maybe even Agni, or any fucking baylan at all." Her tone has this escalating tension that gets heavier at the end of the sentence. Her teeth gritted, "DAMN THIS LIFE!!!" She shouted that causes the guards to be alerted.
"Who's that?" the guards asked, looking at each other as they grabbed their long guns (I don't know what they call it).
"Son of a –." She whispered, then grabbed my arm and hurriedly tried to open every door along the hallway. We managed to unlock the third one and slipped inside. Moments later, the guards asked the people in the first room if they were the ones who screamed.
"No sirs..." they answered, "
Then, inside the room we entered… sweat raced down my forehead and slid along my neck. What now!? Damn it, Mayari!
"Giben…" she whispered. "Crouch down low and hide right behind the door."
I did exactly what she said. Why do I even listen to this woman?
"HEY! WERE YOU THE ONE WHO SCREAMED EARLIER!?" the guard shouted.
Mayari kept her head down, standing at the darker side of the room.
"L–Lady Mayari… sh–she ran back that way…" I turned twice toward the voice. It was Mayari—speaking in the voice of an old man.
"Damn…" muttered the guard outside. "LET'S GO!" he barked.
"Should I sound the gong!?" asked one of the guards.
"What? Are you stupid!?" the other one hissed, "you want us to be punished by the elders!? The prisoner said she went back inside, probably she got frustrated upon seeing us! One of you, stay here!"
"Yes, sir!"
Upon making sure that they're inside. We opened the door, and slowly, we moved towards the only guard at the gate.
"Listen, I will get his attention, then hit him with this on his chin." I took the torch and swallowed hard. "Giben, make sure you do it full force."
I just nodded; we proceeded as planned. Mayari got his attention, then I hit him with all my strength... I'm really sorry kuya. His head bobbed back and forth as he fell, losing his consciousness.
We ran outside the prison after that. It looked like we were under a big house earlier… wait, is this a palace? The first floors are made of stone, and the upper levels built with wood. The courtyard's full of trees and plants, mostly palms, and it smells like the province out here.
We turned left, and behind the tall bamboo stalks, there was a small crack in the stone wall surrounding the place. Looks like she knows this place like the back of her hand.
"This way!" Mayari said quickly. "We're heading straight for Banahaw!"
As soon as we got out, we slid down into a creek. I felt like my butt got scraped from our way down. We followed it straight into the forest. When I looked up, the moon was still full, and the stars were also very visible, bright, and clear. Totally different from Makati, where you can barely see a single star through all the smog.
"GIBEN! THE FUCK ARE YOU STANDING THERE?!" she yelled.
My gaze snapped away from the sky, and I hurried to catch up with Mayari. Wherever I am right now, I'm slowly starting to accept that this isn't a dream. The scrape I got from sliding earlier hurts like hell, and don't even get me started on that kick from that damn monkey earlier. But wherever this is… I swear, Ma'am Sanchez and Sir Marc, this is all your fault!