Malcolm
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Aldeheid awoke at the noise from outside. The thumping sounds of footsteps, hard and fast. It seemed like it was not just one pair of paws doing that but hundreds. She also heard the small howls of dogs far away from the town, as though in the middle of the forest in front of her balcony.

Maingat na minulat niya ang kaniyang mga mata at mariing sinuri ang paligid. Her drapes are drawn, the windows are shut, and the door is locked. She shouldn't be afraid because she followed Dorothy's instructions and had been doing so for the last four months in Malcolm.

It was the fourth month in a row that this had happened. This that happens every time the moon is full is something she couldn't understand. She knows she should have gotten used to it by now, but she hasn't because she couldn't.

It's too terrifying for her to listen to it. Those harsh scrapes on the roofs and howling noise disturbed her inner serenity. Sino nga ba ang hindi matatakot doon kung lagi naman itong mangyayare sa tuwing sasapit ang malaking buwan? Perhaps Malcolm possesses what the ancients referred to as mythical creatures that stalked the streets at night, killing people. Mas lalo lamang siyang natakot doon lalo pa na isang lumang bayan ang Malcolm.

But her sister said that she shouldn't be afraid, that all she had to do was secure herself in her room and never let the air find her.

Nalilito at naguguluhan, iyon ang mukha ni Aldeheid nang ibilin iyon ng kapatid. When the first night occurred, she couldn't believe what was happening, she couldn't even dare to glance out the windows, afraid of what she might witness. But in her mind, she knows that there is something terrifying about Malcolm whenever the moon is bright.

Perhaps her sister has known all along but has been afraid to tell her.

Like how she always does, she tried ignoring the noise and woke up again with the sun glistening on her soft face. Nag-inat siya at unang tinahak ang daan patungong balkonahe. The sun was peeking in the east, illuminating the entire town of Malcolm.

Tumunghay siya at masayang napapikit. Ito yung lagi niyang inaabangan araw-araw. Wala siyang sariling balkonahe sa sariling silid niya noong nasa Cragmerre pa siya nakatira. Aside from that, their house was sandwiched between two towering houses, making it unlucky for her to miss out on the unending beauty of nature.

Now that Malcolm has given her the opportunity, she wouldn't miss a day without witnessing the color change of the sky and town.

Nagmulat siya nang marinig niyang kumatok ang kaniyang pamangkin na pitong taong gulang pa. Rexter opened the door himself and Aldeheid saw him rubbing his eye as he yawned. Napahagikhik siya at binati ang bata.

She stepped in and kissed Rexter on his flushed cheek. "Have you been playing video games till past 11?," she questioned, suspiciously.

The kid simply denied and yawn for the third time, "I was out playing last night that I forgot I still have a class," he drowsily said, making Aldeheid wrinkle her brows.

Sabay silang dalawang napatingala nang sumulpot ang isang pamangkin nito na apat na taong gulang lang ang agwat sa kaniya. "Rosalia..." she whispered.

"G'morning. Inaantok pa ako gusto ko nalang mag-absent ngayon." aniya at naghikab rin.

Hindi niya mapigilang matawa sa dalawang magkapatid. She had no idea what they have been doing last night but they sure are lack of sleep. Tumayo na siya at pinangko rin ang dalawa upang bumaba. "I told you to get a good night's sleep, especially that today is the first day of school."

Nang makababa ay binati naman agad ang tatlo nina Dorothy at Crowick. The two were already at the dining, both drinking their coffees and reading newspapers.

"Any news about the wild dogs last night?," Aldeheid asked as soon as she seated.

Napaubo ng bahagya si Dorothy sa biglang tanong nito at natawa, "Same old news like the other months. Ganoong naman talaga rito sa Malcolm sa tuwing malaki ang buwan. Right, guys?," at pinandilatan ng mata ang pamilya habang nagsasalin ng maligamgam na tubig sa baso si Aldeheid.

The three immediately answered, all refused to let suspicion take place inside Aldeheid's mind. Napatango lang siya at uminom bago nilantakan ang pagkain sa harapan.

While they were eating, they were also discussing the new semester and work. Bumaling ang pansin ni Dorothy sa kapatid na tahimik lang silang pinapakinggan. Aldeheid doesn't go out unless it's her monthly check-up. Naaawa siya dito lalo pa't kinukulong lamang niya ang sarili sa silid.

Marahan siyang nagpunas ng bibig atsaka tumikhim upang magsalita. All eyes were on her when she started asking Aldeheid about going out.

Napakurap lang ang dalaga bago dahan-dahan na ibinaba ang kutsara't tinidor na hawak, "Town feast?"

Tumango si Dorothy, "It happens once every year. It's to celebrate the late Alpha Malcolm the 2nd's 250th birthday. You should come with us, masaya 'yon at paniguradong magugustuhan mo roon."

Aldeheid couldn't decline the cheerful look on her sister's face. She's afraid to go out because she might cross paths with people she's worried might be a part of her life in the future. Ayaw niya iyon pero ayaw niya ring malungkot ang kaisa-isang kapatid niya.

Pilit na ngiti lang ang itinugon niya atsaka tumango. She witnessed Dorothy's big 'yes' and she couldn't be any happier about it.

However, what she overheard aroused her curiosity.

Malcolm is a town very diverse from the other towns and districts in Fordice. From the old aged town, down to its odd system, to the howling every month—Aldeheid had already figured how intriguingly terrifying the town was. But, now that her sister has brought it up, who was this late Alpha Malcolm the 2nd she was referring to?

Ito ba yung nagdaang naglilingkod ng bayang 'to? His birthday is being celebrated, then he must be a local hero, not to mention his name being Malcolm. Sigurado siyang malaki ang dulot na binigay nito sa bayan. Perhaps it was the real owner of Malcolm.

Pero bakit kakaiba ang pangalan nito? Alpha? Why does it sound like a name of a canine? Is it even his name or an address as the locals used to refer him?

Napakibitbalikat nalang siya atsaka inalis sa isipan ito. Whoever that was, he's out of her business. Ayaw na niyang madagdagan pa ang problema niya. Herself and the odd town alone were enough. And she isn't allowing any more problems to enter her life again.

Not, even if it's something irresistible and inevitable.

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nyariina