"Ilaya, get the log!"
"Ilaya, get us some rope."
"What's this? Not a thin rope!"
She looked down. "Sorry."
The men shook their head. "Tsk. Just do the task. We must careful, no mistake."
While Ilaya helped the village in putting thorns in their wall, she heard the murmurings of the ladies, getting a pail of water from the well.
"Look at her, she's so thin, right? Tiktik will loss their appetite." They laughed. "She's like a walking skeleton."
Ilaya's teeth gritted, these people can't seem to be sensitive, they're so ignorant to people's feelings or it's really intentional? But, Ilaya won't let those words get to her. She's not weak, not because she look weak. Strength can't be measure soley by appearance.
After she helped the men, she went to her home. She prepared a small pocket knife, a gift from her grandfather. This knife is lethal against aswang. She checked the windows to make sure it's closed. She checked their roof to make sure tiktik won't land on it. She surround their small abode with salt, she lighten a white candle in the altar and pray. "Lakan Danum, Lakan Diwa, Lakan Bakud, help us." She prayed, hoping the three high spirits will spare them.
She gripped on her 'kabah', a protection wrap around her waist. It guards her against the evil spirit, but it can't do good now after the creator passed away, the spell inside the kabah lost it's words. That's why, Ilaya only have herself right now. She rethink what her ancestor taught her, the infinity sign, the spell against aswang and other entity, it is said to be powerful but the power it unleashed depend on the deep of its caster.
When night arrived, it was fullmoon. The village gulped, tiktik will attack.
Tik... Tik...
"Did... you heard that?" Men outside whispered. "That faint sound?"
Tik... Tik...
"If loud it's far, if faint… it's near!"
And just like that, blood spilled again. Tonight? Not only tiktik clan envade. Some aswang from other clans helped. There are manananggal; half crosswise, winged creature with sharp claws, and shaggy hair. It fly around the village dragging people and killing them. There are also tiyanak; the imp demons, they're unborn child loss due to abortion, those innocent souls became demons, in a child body they attacked innocently, they usually cries out in the woods, luring people and then they attacked, they're fast, in a blink they're gone along with your internal organ.
Men dropped like flies then there is a cry—the newborn child of the villager's leader, the son of Chief Lamok. The people eye's widen as the smirk of the aswangs too. Manananggal and Tiyanak attacked the house, the guard tried to protect the baby but they're powerless. As Manananggal fly low to stare at the baby, saliva falls like fountain.
"DON'T! NOT MY CHILD!" The father plead as he tried to run to save his son but the aswang stopped him.
"A son for a son!" The aswang announced.
As the manananggal is about to tear open the baby, Ilaya showed up. She quickly did the infinity sign causing the manananggal to yelped, it's body smoke like it was poured by boiling water. It's groan rang in the dark surroundings.
The tiyanak growl as it jumped toward the baby, but Ilaya throw the knife at its head causing it to drop dead. Ilaya didn't waste any second, she cradle the baby and run away.
"Get her! Kill that human baby!" The aswang shouted. Every aswang run after Ilaya.
Ilaya ran faster despite out of breath, she need to get to safety, away from here. The forest was dark, the moonlight help a bit but still it's dark. The tiktik run faster than horses, however they're distracted as roots suddenly move and block their way—it was the dryad. They live inside every tree. But, the dryad can only help a little. Ilaya got swept up in the air, it was the manananggal! It laughed wickedly as it scratches Ilaya's arm. Ilaya shield the baby, even it hurts… even she get deep scratches she didn't let the monster.
"Stubborn, eh?" The manananggal fly higher, the cold wind touches their skin. "I will drop you, skeleton human girl!" The monster said, she laughed as she let go of Ilaya.
Ilaya yelped, she hugged the baby, shielding it from the wind and from the incoming impact. But it was ridiculous they won't survive the fall.
"N-now, hush, little baby, don't you c-cry…" Ilaya whispered, she's scared but she strengthen her faith. The baby cried as if he detects the death. But before the land caress their skin the branches of the acacia tree saved them, it moved as if an arm to catches them. It lessen the impact, only causing minor injuries but they're alive, both Ilaya and the baby.
The manananggal irked her nonvisible brow. "What?" She flapped her wings as she decend slowly. "Lucky, bitch!"
Ilaya's eyes widen when the winged monster fly like a hawk towards them looking at them as if they're prey. The monster grabbed Ilaya's hair, uncombed, causing Ilaya to loss the hold of the baby and drop. "NO!"
Quick to their wings, five fairies with glowing wings fly to catch the kid. They struggle to keep him up, the baby is heavy but they manage to save him.
"Fairies!?" The monster shouted, annoyed. "Damn, nosy nature spirits!"
Ilaya couldn't speak due to shock. Yes, she have seen aswangs but never fairies. The nature spirits are too introverts they don't socialize with humans, they prefer being alone.
The fairies fly the baby away from the manananggal. The monster screamed angrily as she toss Ilaya like a rug. "Tsk. Weakling."
Ilaya's back got hit to a cold rock. She yelped due to pain. Blood stained her clothes, blood on her head. Her vision starts to blur but she won't give up, not now, never. She tried to move but every muscle aches, it hurts.
The fairies fly quickly to escape. The winged monster clicked her tongue as she prepares her bat wings to follow suit. She quick glanced at Ilaya, "Humans are food but I loss my appetite. Who eat a bone? I prefer my dinner to be fresh, meaty, and juicy with a scream."
Then… Ilaya remembers, the snarl, the mock. People see her as a weak girl not even a lady. Her posture screamed baby syndrome. She's 25 but her appearance is child-like, her body small, her chest flat, her buttocks plain, she don't have small hips nor fat thighs, she's a plain and people call her hideous.
Tear drops… the pain from the injuries against these dark creatures couldn't match the pain in her heart.
"She's so short… and thin… like a walking skeleton."
"How tall - I mean, what's her height again?"
"Four eleven…"
"Four eleven? Pfft."
Ilaya gritted her teeth as she clenched her fist dragging the dirt and grass. Her body slighly shook due to accrumulated hurt turned rage. Her leg shook but she tried to stand. The winged monster aswang manananggal turned slightly as she felt the shift in the air... and her eyes widened. Ilaya is glowing like a moonlight. A swirling energy is rampaging in sphere around her palms and then it pause, the air pauses, and the second breathe—a dark scythe appears.
"W-WHAT ARE YOU?!"
Ilaya glared at the monster, her piercing eyes like a jagger. "I'm only short, I'm only thin—not fragile!" She screamed as she launched at the monster.
The monster caught off guard didn't get time to think when the scythe sliced her in half; length wise, 1/4; another swing, 1/8.
As the monster released its last cry before it dropped, and Ilaya too. Ilaya loses her adrenaline strength, that power she felt last minute. She can't believe she did that. The scythe too vanishes in the dimness.
"I… I need to get the kid…" She tried to move but failed. Then, she heard something jumped.
"What the-? How did this happen? Where's the kid?" The aswang sniffed the air. "Damnit. Sprites, ha? They're not far." He glanced at Ilaya. "But before that, I need to end you." He walked slowly to Ilaya, his claws glimmering, sharp with blood. He smirked. "To think a small girl killed Loisa? She's one of the most skilled winged monster in her race. Now, die!"
Before his claws reached her, he stilled as a soothing hum filled the midnight air. It echoed through the forest, it's so beautiful and enchanting.
"Hmmm… hmmm… hmmm… la… lala…" Bariton but angelic, a male voice. It's humming a haunting lullaby, no exact lyrics but told a thousand stories.
Ilaya only listens. This was what the elders always story tell the kids, the about of enchanting creatures, bodies connected to water; the water spirits of the forest, the sirens. But, it's not a siren; they heard footsteps. Before the aswang makes its move, blood spill out from his mouth when an arrow shoots into his heart.
"Eh? A monster… still has a heart?" Came a mocking soft voice before Ilaya lost consconscious.