Napatakip ako sa aking bibig matapos kong matunghayan ang kalagayan ni Manuel. My eyes widened as I clearly looked on his face closely.

Lumuhod ako sa tabihan niya, hindi malaman ang sunod kong gagawin.

I looked around me, anuman ang umatake kay Manuel, sigurado akong nandito lang siya sa tabi-tabi.

Muli akong tumingin sa mukha ni Manuel. Duguan at halos wala na itong malay. He has his eyes shut tightly like he was in extreme pain.

This doesn't look good. Kailangan na siyang madala sa ospital! Marahan kong tinapik-tapik ang kanyang pisngi upang magising ito. Hindi ko na pinansin kung mabahiran man ng kaniyang dugo ang aking mga palad.

"Manuel? Manuel? Naririnig mo ba ako?" I repeatedly asked as I panic. "Please answer me! Kailangan na nating umalis dito!"

I heard him moan faintly which gave me a tiny bit of hope.

Napatakip ako ng aking bibig. "Thank goodness!" Napabuntong-hininga ako dulot ng sayang nadarama. "Manuel, naririnig mo ba ako? Ayos ka lang ba?" Dahan-dahan ko namang niyugyog ang kaniyang mga balikat.

He moaned again in response but never said a word.

Napailing-iling ako, kailangan na talaga niyang madala sa ospital! Napatingin ako sa buong paligid kung may mapaghihingan ako ng tulong ngunit tila wala akong mahihingian ng tulong sa ganitong klase ng sitwasyon. We're almost in the middle of nowhere, even if I scream here, nobody from Wichita would ever hear anything.

I cursed under my breath. This is not happening.

The calm feeling of the forest suddenly changed. Nagsitaasan ang mga balahibo sa aking buong katawan at sobrang lakas ng kabog ng aking dibdib.

Me and Manuel are alone but it feels like dozens of eyes are fixated on us, ngunit sa tuwing inililibot ko ang aking paningin sa paligid ay wala naman akong nakikitang senyales ng paggalaw sa mga halaman.

The overwhelming feeling of danger is starting to play tricks on me. Pakiramdam ko ay nagsisimula nang mabuhay ang mga puno sa buong paligid namin.

Sweat is starting to form on my forehead. Napalunok ako at muling napatingin kay Manuel.

"Manuel! Kailangan na nating umalis dito! Hindi na tayo ligtas dito!" He didn't respond. Halos mangiyak-ngiyak na ako sa sobrang takot. "Manuel, Gumising ka!"

That's when I heard it. The silent flapping of tiny wings and the soft tapping of claws on something hard and metallic. Napatingin ako sa van namin at nakita kong nakadapo sa bubong nito ang kuwago.

But something about it seems different...

Something sinister.

Hindi ko mapigilang kilabutan sa imahe nito. Nanindig ang aking mga balahibo sa kaba, hindi lang ang aking mga kamay ang nanginging. Pati ang aking bibig ay napaawang na lang sa gulat na aking nararamdaman.

Hoot! Hoot!

I gasped at the owl's sudden actions.

The very sound it made sent fear straight to my very core, it's almost paralyzing me on the spot. It slowly tilted its head at me while eyeing my every movement. It didn't take long for me to realize that Manuel was right. Hindi ito ordinaryong kuwago...

Hoot! Hoot!

It flapped its wings again one more time.

The sudden snap of branches in the forest caused me to jump from shock. Wala pang isang segundo ay may isang madilim na pigura ang lumabas mula sa mga puno.

Nanlaki ang aking mga mata.

My first thought was that the rabid wolf followed us here but upon further inspection... It's a completely different creature.

The first thing I've noticed are its eyes. Nagliliwanag ang mga ito na parang mga nagbabagang apoy. Its complexion is so dark that it almost blends with the entire surroundings. Rows of jagged teeth are visible as it snaps it in my direction. Naglalaway ito na parang gutom na gutom para sa lasa ng sariwang laman.

Two demonic horns sprout on it's forehead making it more menacing than it already is. It's build is strong and muscular like a gorilla and it is probably over ten feet tall! Wala akong kalaban-laban sa nilalang na nasa aming harapan.

Just staring at it makes my insides turn into mush from so much fear. I can't even utter a word.

It suddenly roared so loud causing me to scream at the top of my lungs! There is no way that any of us will survive if ever it attacks.

"A-Angel..."

My head snapped at the mention of my name.Nabaling ang atensiyon ko kay Manuel.

"Manuel! K-Kailangan na nating makaalis!" I tried to calm my voice as much as possible. "K-Kaya mo bang makatayo?"But even how much I tried to sound calm, my voice shattered.

I focused my eyes on the direction of the owl again and the creature a few meters away from it, ngunit tila nabuhusan ako ng malamig na tubig nang makita kong naglaho ang kuwago maging ang mala-demonyong nilalang sa isang iglap.

Hoot! Hoot!

Napatili ako nang makita kong nasa tuktok na ito ng punong kinaroroonan namin. I feel like it's starting to change its form as well! Did it summon the beast in front of us?

But how?

My mind feels like it's about to crumble at any moment now.

What should I do?! What should I do?!

"U-Umalis ka na... Tu-tumakas ka na... I-Iwanan mo na ako..." Mahinang bulong ni Manuel, pinipilit na lamang ng kaniyang katawan ang lahat ng kaniyang makakaya upang sambitin ito.

Nabigla na lang ako sa mga salitang lumalabas sa bibig niya. Is he really dying, please I hope this is really not happening.

"Na-nahihibang ka na ba?! We need to get out of here now! Hindi kita iiwan dito. Hindi ako aalis nang hindi kita kasama."

Hinang-hina na ang itsura niya at napapansin ko ang pamumutla ng kaniyang mukha. The color of life is slowly draining out of his body.

"I-Ito na lang ang natatanging paraan... K-Kailangan mong umalis bago pa mahuli ang lahat..."

Napalunok ako. I tried to fight off the tears that was about to come out of my eyes but I failed. This can't be happening! This is truly unbelievable!

Napailing-iling ako. I have to be strong! I don't know how are we gonna survive this situation but I have to do something. Anything!

Using all of my strength, pinilit kong itayo si Manuel mula sa kanyang pagkakahiga. I can feel the adrenaline rush in my veins starting to kick in.

"A-Anong ginagawa mo..." I heard him ask as I put his arm around my shoulders. "Hi-hindi ka makakatakas kapag sinama mo pa ako..."

"Please Manuel, wag mo nang sayangin ang lakas mo. Aalis tayo rito, hindi kita puwedeng hayaan lang na maiwan sa mga nilalang na nakapaligid sa atin."

"Angel!"

I barely saw what happened next. I saw a shadow running towards us in extraordinary speed.

Napatili ako nang bigla akong tabigin ni Manuel causing me to fall onto the ground a couple of feet away from him. The next thing I heard is his screams of agony like he is being tortured.

My head immediately turned at him as I tried to crawl away. My heart dropped as I saw what was really happening.

"M-Manuel!" I screamed.

The creature buried it's teeth deeper into his shoulders as it continuously rammed him against a tree. The creature doesn't seemed satisfied as it raised Manuel off the ground and violently shook him like some wild dog ripping a rabbit from limb to limb.

And the sound...

The monster is making this certain sound that is not coming from any living animal that I knew of.

I can't take it anymore!

He's in so much pain...

So much pain...

Hindi ko namalayang tumutulo na pala ang luha sa aking mga mata at hindi ko makontrol ang panginginig ng aking buong katawan. His scream of pain and the sound of ripping skin and bone are starting to get to me, torturing me.

I want it to stop! Napapikit ako ng madiin as I tried to get my feet on the ground. Kailangan ko pa ang alalay ng isang puno para hindi ako matumba dahil sa panlalambot ng aking mga binti.

Manuel is going to die if I won't do anything!

But what should I do?! A-anong laban ko sa nilalang, sa halimaw na iyon!

Biglang natuon ang aking mga mata sa kuwagong nasa puno. It's just sitting there like it's enjoying the show. Hindi man lang ito gumagalaw o kumukurap habang nakatingin sa ginagawang kahayupan ng halimaw kay Manuel... like it's enjoying it... Looking forward to what that creature might end up doing to Manuel's frail limping body.

It's like its the one responsible for all of this...

My body was then overwhelmed by this uncontrollable rage!

I don't know what is happening to me but my body just moved on its own as I tried to search the ground for something that I can pick up.

Nang makita ko na ang aking hinahanap ay kamuntikan na akong madapa para kunin ito. My hand immediately grasped the baseball-size piece of rock on the ground and immediately threw it at the owl but it missed it by mere inches hitting the tree instead.

I cursed under my breath as I tried to search for another piece of stone. My vision automatically adapted in the darkness.

I finally found what I am looking for but I was immediately stopped on my tracks when I realized how quiet it became. Ang kaninang ingay na ginagawa ng halimaw ay biglang naglaho at ang mga paghangos na lamang ni Manuel ang maririnig sa buong paligid.

I slowly turned around and saw the owl glaring at me with its big haunting eyes.

Lumipat ang aking mga mata sa halimaw at gaya ng ibong nakadapo sa tuktok ng puno ay may nanlilisik na mga mata itong nakatitig sa aking direksiyon. Manuel's limp body is hanging by its teeth as he moaned and groaned in pain. I gulped as the stone slipped off of my fingers.

Hoot! Hoot!

The owl flapped its wings angrily.

I screamed as the monster just tossed Manuel's unconscious body like it's some piece of trash and hit the side of the van with so much force that the vehicle wobbled for a few seconds. He layed on the ground unmoving in an unnatural angle, leaving some trail of blood at the side of our van.

I wanted to run away but my feet won't even move at all. Pakiramdam ko ay naparalisa ang aking buong katawan. I can't tear my eyes off of the owl. It feels like I'm being hypnotized by some kind of magical force.

The ground shook beneath my feet as my eyes widened at the realization that I'm its next target. The creature is running into my direction and no matter how hard I command my body to move... It just won't obey me. Iniisip ko pa lang ang kinahinatnan ni Manuel ay naiiyak na ako.

For a split second, flashbacks of my past came flashing inside my mind. Ang mga magulang kong masayang nakangiti habang magkahawak ang kanilang mga kamay, maging sina Samantha at Marco na patuloy akong sinusuportahan, hanggang sa makita ko mismo ang aking sariling nakangiti sa harapan ng salamin gaya ng isang panaginip...

I know what this vision only means. Death...

Mamamatay na ba ako?

It wrapped its huge fingers on my waist and lift me off of the ground like I was nothing. The sight of those burning red eyes of the beast made me want to scream at the top of my lungs but even my throat won't produce any sound!

My mind screamed for a miracle to happen but what are the odds that something like that would happen?

That's when I heard a familiar sound. A very long howl. Is that a wolf?

And it sounded like it's nearby!

A wolf's snarl was heard among the trees.

The monster's head snapped in the direction of the sound as the animal emerged into view! The wolf's mouth is fixated in a terrifying grin revealing its sharp jagged teeth.

Hindi na nag-aksaya ng panahon ang lobo at kaagad na sumugod sa halimaw! It pounced onto the monster at full force biting and clawing at it's face. It attacks with so much power that the creature was pushed back a couple of meters away.

The monster roared in anger causing it to drop me onto the ground.

I took a huge mouthful of air as I realized that I am able to move again! Kaagad akong napatingin sa kinaroroonan ni Manuel at pinuwersa ang sarili kong bumangon at tumakbo papunta sa kanya. I didn't look back as the two colossal beings fighting each other fearing that they might be just inches behind me.

I gasped when I fully saw what happened to Manuel. He had rows and rows of punctured and lacerated wounds running all over his chest!

"Manuel? Manuel?" I carefully slapped his cheeks to wake him up but ended up with no response. "Manuel! Gumising ka! Nasa panganib tayo!"

Still no response.

We can't stay here out in the open for too long.

Hindi ko na muna inintindi ang mga sugat ni Manuel at kabod na lang siyang hinila sa likuran ng van kung saan hindi kami nakikita ng dalawang nilalang na nagsasagupaan.

I palpated his pulse and was relieved to still find it. Ibinuhos ko ang lahat ng nalalaman ko sa first aid upang pigilan ang pagdurugo ng mga sugat nito.

Sweat is pouring all over my face as I took a peek at the two beings, I find it hard to focus as fear of those creature and fear for Manuel's health makes my hands shivering.

My eyes focused on the huge wolf. Mas maliit ito kesa sa itim na lobo na nakita ko sa camp tirso pero hindi pa rin ito nagpapatalo sa laki. This one is a different color too. It's not brownish in color like the rabid wolf but appears to be greyish in appearance.

Is this another werewolf? And if it is, is it a friend or a foe? Regardless, we need to get out of here!

Nagulat na lang ako nang biglang mayroong humampas ng ubod ng lakas sa gilid ng van dahilan para mayanig ito nang ilang segundo. I peeked again only to find that the wolf was thrown by the monster in our direction! It looked directly into my eyes before springing itself again at the creature.

Panandalian akong napinid sa aking kinauupuan.

I think I recognize those eyes...

"V-Verm?" bulong ko.

I watched in amazement as the giant wolf bit a huge chunk of the monster's arm before spitting it out in a random direction. The monster roared in pain as it grabbed the wolf by its legs and threw it against a tree.

But it doesn't seem effective against the wolf as it quickly found its footing and lunged itself like a bullet at the creature, ramming it against a tree and stabbing it with its branches.

The monster howled in pain as it found itself trapped in a corner.

The grey wolf growled menacingly as it sprang on the monster's horns snapping it off its head with its teeth. The monster tried to get its hands around the wolf once more but the wolf was so fast that the creature can't find where to look for it. Not even a second later, the wolf attacked again targeting the creatures leg, ripping it clean off of its body.

The monster roared as it fell onto the ground, the decapitated parts of its body began bleeding so bad.

The wolf didn't waste anymore time as it lunged at the monster's throat! It locked its jaw in place preventing the creature from breathing. The monster clawed at the wolf's body, desperately trying to throw him off of its body but it is all too late.

The wolf violently shook its head as it tried to tear the monster's throat. I faintly heard a loud snap and the creature suddenly went limp before going completely still.

Hindi ako makapaniwalang nagawa niyang baliin ang leeg nito.

Tama nga ba ang hinala ko na si Verm ang lobong tumulong sa amin?

Because if it's really him, then now I am slowly understanding what he meant when he said that he is one of the best hunters of their pack.

Kayang-kaya niya ngang patayin ang mabangis na asong-lobo na umaatake sa Camp Tirso.

Hoot! Hoot!

Halos napalundag ako sa sobrang pagkagulat nang pagtingin ko sa bubong ng aming van ay nakatingin na naman sa amin ang kuwago. It just sat there staring at me before tilting its head.

Out of no where, its eyes suddenly glowed red before flapping its wings and disappearing into the dark skies.

Naiwan akong lutang sa mga naganap na pangyayari...

How did that happen? Could it be... Witchcraft?

Muling bumalik ang aking paningin sa higanteng lobo ngunit bigla na lang itong naglaho. What even puzzled me more is the fact that the monster's body is starting to disappear like a smoke! It is completely evaporating right before my eyes!

Even the blood dripping from its wound had started drying up. Leaving no traces that the creature has ever been here.

"Angel..." Biglang may tumawag sa pangalan ko.

I looked behind me and I saw a naked mascular body...

"Mabuti't hindi pa huli ang lahat nang dumating ako," isang ngiti ang ibinati ng pamilyar na mukha sa aking harapan.

Tama nga ang hinala ko.

"Verm, salamat at dumating ka." I faintly said as I cried out of overwhelming fear. I've seen enough for tonight...

Tumango si Verm at kaagad niyang inalalayan si Manuel para akayin ito papasok sa loob ng van.

Manuel is now unconscious. But I really appreciated the final ounce of his strength to push me away before that creature tear my body apart...

I was about to close my eyes when I hear a familiar sound of an engine.

Napatingin ako sa aking likuran at may iisang headlight akong nakita. It was moving so fast, until I realized who's driving it.

"Soledad," bulong ko nang makita kong minamaneho ni Soledad ang motorsiklo ni Verm.

Have she seen what happened here?

She stopped the motorcycle in front of me and she greeted me with that grin on her face. "What do we have here?" asked Soledad, giving me a threatening aura that she might have found Verm and Manuel's secret.

She's a werewolf hunter hiding in a journalist's clothing.

Hindi ko na siya nagawang pansinin at dali-dali na akong sumakay ng van habang nanginginig ang aking mga kamay.

Manuel's life is on the line, kailangan namin siyang madala sa ospital sa lalong madaling panahon!

I can't afford to lose Manuel.

Agad kong pinaandar ang van, palayo sa madilim na parte ng kalsadang iyon. Palayo sa impiyernong nagpakilala sa amin kung anong klase ng kalaban ang aming haharapin.