Chanel ran as fast as she can. She didn't know where to go. She didn't know where she was. She just ran and escaped like what Night instructed her to do. She didn't want to run away, yet she didn't want to stay there either. She was torn in between leaving and staying and that made her stop running.

Huminto sa pagtakbo si Chanel at hinabol ang kanyang hininga. She was been in this damn forest for a while now. She was tired. But she turned around and stared at the path that she took. Huminga siya nang malalim at pumikit. Dinama niya ang lamig ng simoy ng hangin sa kagubatan. There were streaks of sweat on her forehead. She brushed it off and held her skirt. She was about to go back because she just couldn't run and leave Night there with that big three-headed beast! But she couldn't also dare to move her feet and run back to him.

Ano namang maitutulong niya roon? Hindi ba't magiging pabigat lamang siya? Lumunok muli si Chanel. Ibinaba niya ang pagkakahawak niya sa kanyang palda at nanatiling nakatayo sa kanyang puwesto. Sa tingin niya rin ay nakatakbo na siya ng malayo. That at least calmed her down. Tumingin siya sa kanyang paligid. Tahimik pa rin ang gubat. Her cries and screams earlier were the only noise that rung here in the mystic forest.

This forest, as per what Night said, was for those types of creatures—ancient entities and creatures. Besides that three-headed dog, mayroon pa bang ibang nilalang na makikita si Chanel dito? Doon na s'ya kinilabutan. She would not dare do anything here. Without Night, what could she do in this world?

She scanned the surroundings. The forest felt so eerie like it was alive and as if it was just silently watching her every move. Muli na naman s'yang kinilabutan. She clenched her fist and secretly prayed that nothing would happen to Night for he was her one and only hope.

***

Night stared at Cairus, the three-headed dog. Cairus had three personalities separated by the heads. With three brains working, this demon dog was not just an ordinary demon. He was smart and cunning. With his skills in politics and battlefield, Cairus made his way to the ranks and even took the spot as the head knight who guarded the previous demon king.

Now that the previous demon king was gone, his rank in the royal dark court was gone too. If only Night tamed this guy, he would be a great asset. But this bastard was greedy and his loyalty was still with the previous demon king even if right now he was working with one of Night's enemies.

"I saved your life once and now you want my head. How truly ungrateful, Cairus."

Cairus then laughed. "You know how much he wants your head. I'll gladly offer it to him."

Night smirked. "Disappointing. Just now I was about to give you another chance but if you really insist, go ahead and try it."

Cairus roared. He was excited. This battle between him and Night, oh boy, he was patiently waiting for it to come and now was the right time to settle debts and payments. Unang umatake si Cairus. He used his big paws to smash Night underneath. Night didn't move and only stared at him. Cairus then laughed when he saw how he crushed the land. When he lifted his right paw, there was no trace of Night underneath and that pissed him off.

"As you grew old, Cairus, you're also getting slower," Night commented while standing beside him.

"You...." Cairus then lifted his left paw and attacked Night with much more speed yet Night dodged it easily.

"That's two moves. You're still slow."

"I'm just getting started," Cairus answered. Cairus then used his power which is fire and attacked Night with his fire daggers. Right after that, he cast a magic circle where Night stood and used a spell to trap him inside. He was still not satisfied so he cast a magic circle above Night and cast another spell. Hot lava poured down from the magic circle to Night.

"Now what will you do?"

"You know what I will do," Night answered and lifted his hand. He destroyed the magic circle placed underneath and above him.

"Shall I bid farewell, Cairus?"

That was the last words Night said to Cairus. Continuous explosions could be seen and heard inside the Devil's Wood. It shook the whole forest and led to wake up and catch the attention of the ancient entities peacefully living and resting in the forest.

"I had no choice, didn't I? You are after my life and that woman, I have to protect that woman," Night whispered as he finally killed Cairus with just a snap of his finger.

Raven stood beside Night as they watched Cairus' body burning from his own fire, his own magic. That was the last thing that the demons wanted, to be killed by their own power.

"They will hear this," wika ni Raven.

"Let them."

"I took all the blood samples from the room as you've instructed, Master."

"Good. I can't work in the house while Chanel is there. Get someone to keep an eye on her."

"Yes, Master."

Night sighed and looked around the forest.

"Something's amiss. Go back to the house and tell Manda to prepare food. Bet someone's hungry."

"Will do, Master."

"Now, where did she run off?" Night wandered as he scanned his every path. Something was wrong, that was for sure. Because he couldn't tell where Chanel was. It was as if someone was blocking him to find her. Night sighed again.

They shouldn't be here in the first place. He had no power here in the forest. This place was sacred and no one should make noise here or they would wake something that was not supposed to be wakened up. If they woke up someone from its deep slumber, that would be big trouble.

So, whoever or whatever was holding Chanel at this moment, he could only wait until it let her go and wished it would not harm her.

***

Sunod-sunod na pagsabog ang narinig ni Chanel hindi kalayuan mula sa kanyang kinatatayuan. She was about to run again, to him, when she heard an unearthly sound coming behind her. She stood there, unavailable to move her body. She slowly looked behind as she felt its presence going near her.

Chanel didn't know what to do. She couldn't move her body for unknown reasons. Maybe the creature immobilized her so that she couldn't run away. One thing was for sure, whatever that was coming for her, it was old and dangerous. Its presence showed nothing but evil.

"Chanel...." It called her name. It sounded croaky and sinister at the same time. It also left breathy sounds as if it was gasping for air to breathe.

"I know you... you poor little child."

"Let me see you..."

Chanel finally was looking towards the woods where the voice came from. She closed her eyes as a brisk wind came and brushed roughly on her whole body. The temperature suddenly plummeted and the cold remained around her.

She slowly opened her eyes and came face to face to the creature. She couldn't describe what she was seeing. She gasped and covered her mouth. It was nothing but horror. The body was decaying. It had no eyes and nose, only there was a mouth remaining on its face. It was gasping as it held its hand on air, trying to find her.

When she took a step backward, it immediately snapped its head towards her. It heard her. It walked towards her and held her arms.

"I heard your pleas..."

Chanel was terribly shaking because, at any moment, this creature could kill her.

"I heard them well..."

Chanel cried. She couldn't stand what she was feeling and seeing. This was terrible. Everything about the creature scared the shit out of her and she couldn't do anything.

"Tell me your wishes.... I'll make it all come true. Tell me.... Tell me..."

Chanel was so confused. Why was the creature demanding for her wishes? She couldn't understand.

"I—"

"Yes, tell me... Three wishes, my child... Only three wishes..."

Three wishes kapalit ng alin? What was the price? Her life?

"A-and w-what will happen?"

"It's a surprise, my child. Will you take the risk?"

"A-are you going t-to take my life?"

"Maybe or maybe not..."

It was indeed foolish to say yes, but what would happen if she said no? Would this creature let her go or would it kill her? And if she said yes, what would it cost her, and what would be the payment?

Chanel took a deep breath and gave an answer without thinking twice.