[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

It was a dark night. The moon did not appear over the skies of Manila, and only a few stars, the street lamp posts and the occasional cars gave light to the dreary city.

Under the flyover bridge, a family of five huddled close together to provide comfort and support for each other in this lonely night. Their neighbors, a group of six children all donned in very thin and torn clothing did the same to chase away the night cold that was seeping through their bones.

Then they heard approaching footsteps. All heads were turned towards the source of the sound, but due to the darkness, all they could see were shadows of what looked like a person and a dog.

A man, the father of the family, stood up and walked carefully towards the shadows. “Who’s there?”

A beautiful female voice answered him. “Oh my. Good evening, Sir. Icarus and I are lost. Could you help us find our way home?”

The man let out a sigh of relief and grinned at her. “Sure, Missy. Where do you live?”

The female shadow smiled back. “I live in…”

But the man suddenly stepped back and shook in fear, for amidst her smile was a pair of razor-sharp fangs.

“ASWANG!!!” The man cried, racing towards his family. “Run everyone! RUN!!!”

However it was too late. They were all devoured in a matter of minutes. Resistance was futile and the poor victims’ screams were drowned out by the dog’s deafening howl.

It was indeed, a dark and dreary night for these seven unfortunate souls. ---------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------

G ullinbursti, the Flying Wooden Pig and Ecchan, the Flying Uh...Something Productions
Proudly Presents

Angel Chronicles

Second Choir: The Woman and the Dog

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* BLEEP! * “Good morning, Aya!” * BLEEP! * “It’s a blessed morning, Aya!” * BLEEP! * “Good mor—“

A small hand touched the button laid upon the right wing of an angel figurine/alarm clock standing upon a mahogany side table.

There was a click, and the sound stopped. A soft stirring followed, and then by a soft “whoosh” as a blanket was thrown aside.

Aya rubbed the sleep from her eyes for a moment, then with one last yawn, she got up from her cloud-shaped bed and headed towards the bathroom.

It didn’t take her long to finish her bath, and was dressed up for school in no time. After tying her usual light green twin ribbons upon her hair, she made her way down towards the dining hall. She came upon Earl, the Delgado’s young butler placing today’s breakfast upon the table.

“Good morning, Miss Aya.”

“Good morning to you too, Earl.” As she sat down, Aya took the time to smell the said breakfast. Mmm…the pancake sure smells good. “What’s inside it this time?” She asked, looking up at him.

“Well, Miss Aya, following the instructions from this new cooking show, I mixed mangoes along with the pancake mix. It’s a very healthy way of eating the most important meal of the day.”

“Ah, I see.” Aya nodded, then took a bite out of the pancake. A smile suddenly came upon her lips. “Mmm! Yummy!!”

Earl went puppy-eyed at the sight. “How cute!!!” He sighed, hugging the tray close to his chest.

The little girl looked up at the empty chair across her. “Hrm? Kuya’s not here yet?”

The butler crossed his arms in annoyance. “Che. Knowing him, he’s not even up yet. I’ll go wake him up now—“

But Aya was already starting to run up the stairs. “I’ll do it!” As she reached his room, she pushed the doors wide open and released a “KUUUUUUYYYYYAAAA!!!!!” * * *

The shout caused Joshua to sit up straight from his bed. “Wha? Where? When?” He looked to his side, albeit his expression still sleepy. “Aya…please don’t do that…”

His sister giggled. “But it’s so much fun!”

“No chocolate cake for you then,” He said, lying down once more under the covers.

“Boooooooo….” She pouted. “You’re so mean, Kuya.” Then she walked towards his form, laying her hands upon his blanket. “Can you at least have breakfast with me?”

“Maybe tomorrow.”

“Awww….please?” Putting on her cutest face, Aya shook him gently. “Pretty, pretty please?”

“I said TOMORROW, Aya.” His voice was soft, but firm. “I’m very tired.”

The little girl looked about to say something, but opted otherwise. “Okay. I’ll see you later then.” With her head drooped and a heavy heart, she dragged herself out of the room.

She met Earl in the hallway, and the young butler was immediately concerned upon seeing her. “What’s the matter, Miss Aya?”

She sighed, looking down at her feet. “Kuya won’t have breakfast with me.”

Earl frowned. “He said WHAT?!” He rolled up his sleeves. “I’ll wake him up right this minute and give him a piece of my mind!” He started to stomp up the stairs.

Aya’s soft voice stopped him in his tracks. “Please don’t, Earl. It’s okay.”

He looked hesitant, but she gave him a small reassuring smile. “Really.” She then walked past him with hooded eyes. “I’ll go to school now.”

“But what about your breakfast, Miss Aya?”

“I’m not hungry.” She replied flatly, while putting on her wing-decorated backpack. “See ya later.”

Aya went out and slammed the door closed before Earl could see the tear that was trickling down her cheek. She then wiped it off with the back of her hand and shook her head to recompose herself. “I musn’t be selfish. I musn’t be selfish.” Taking a deep breath, she decided to take off, thinking that the long walk to the gate will make her feel better.

It did, as always. The rows of rose bushes along the walkway that she planted, the numerous fruit trees that Earl greatly took care of, and that small wooden swing that Joshua had set up for her…

Aya sighed at that thought, and shut the gate after her. But just as she turned around, she bumped into somebody. “Oooof!”

“Oh my.”

What a pretty voice, Aya thought to herself, then looked up at a young woman kneeling in front of her. She was in her early twenties with a long and silky brown hair tied in a loose ponytail and attractive dark brown eyes. She wore a red spaghetti-strapped dressed, and a white lacy umbrella rested against her shoulder. And she’s so pretty too…

“Are you hurt, little girl?”

The six-year-old Delgado blushed in embarrassment as she realized she was staring at the woman. “I’m—I’m okay. I’m—I’m sorry.”

The pretty lady smiled and shook her head. “No, I’m the one who is supposed to be sorry. I didn’t notice you come out of that gate…”

“Woof! Woof!” came a low-pitched reply.

Aya turned to look at the source of the reply and was immediately taken in surprise. It was a dog covered in brilliantly white fur. Its slightly bent ears and its long tail were fluffy, and its black eye was small and rounded. A black patch covered its left eye.

The dog whimpered and licked her face in delight. “Oh my,” The woman said, chuckling. “He likes you.”

Aya beamed. “I like him too!” She said, scratching the area behind the dog’s ears.

“I’m glad to hear that. So where are you going, little girl?”

“To school.”

A yellow bus stopped in front of them and honked its horn. “That’s my ride.” Aya turned towards the white dog and patted its head. “It was nice meeting you, Icarus.”

“Arooo!”

She laughed in delight. “I hope we see each other again.”

The woman smiled. “Oh I’m sure you will, little girl.”

“Aya!” A girl’s voice called over from the bus. “Come on up already!”

“Bah, she’s always so slow.” A bored boy’s voice added.

“I’m coming!” Aya shrugged apologetically to the woman and the dog, then waved a them. “Bye!” And the door slid to a close.

As the bus left, a wicked smirk spread across the woman’s lips. “Looks like we’re going to have a feast, eh Icarus?”

“Woof. Yes Mistress…” Icarus answered, its right eye still trained upon the road.

“…you are not thinking of leaving me, are you Icarus?”

The white dog stiffened, feeling chills coming down his spine. It was scary whenever she talked to him this way. Hell, Icarus thought. Every bit of this woman is scary. “No, Mistress. I wouldn’t think of doing such a thing.”

“Good. You owe your life to me.”

The dog bowed his head. “Yes, Mistress.” He sighed inwardly. This was NOT the afterlife he expected. * * *

“Yesterday evening, two families died mysteriously under the flyover bridge at the Osmeña Highway in Manila. Could it be the work of an aswang? It is not an impossibility, police investigators say. A full report will be told later at the seven o’clock news.”

Joshua was currently watching the late morning news and sipping his can of coke when a large frying pan suddenly connected his head with a “BAM”.

“Owwwwww!!!” He rubbed the swollen part of his head and glared up at his butler. “What in God’s name did you do that for?!”

The pan hit his head for the second time. “Violation of the Second Commandment! Thou shalt not use God’s name in vain!” Earl declared loudly, frowning down at the boy.

“Okay, okay! I get it!” Joshua placed a pillow over his head to protect himself from further harm. “But why did you even hit me in first place, Earl? Or should I say, A—“

The butler gasped and pushed the pillow onto his face in an attempt to silence him. “Sssshhh!!! You are NOT supposed to call me that while I’m here!” He glanced from side to side and lowered his voice. “Who knows who or what might be listening?”

The boy finally found a way out of the suffocating pillow and was now laughing at the butler’s silly antics. “Relax. There’s no one here besides us.”

Earl straightened himself up. “You can never be too careful.” He then crossed his arms. “In any case, you—are an insensitive jerk.”

“What did I do THIS time?”

“Miss Aya.”

Joshua groaned. “Geez, Earl! Do you know how tiring it is to battle THREE gargoyles in ONE day?! Besides, I told her I’d have breakfast with her tomorrow, didn’t I?”

“That’s what you told her yesterday! And the day before that! AND the day before that! And for your information, Mr. Forgetful, you only fought ONE gargoyle yesterday. That ‘three’ you were talking about happened two days ago!” The angry butler argued, a vein popping from his temple.

The boy looked away. “Alright! I get your point! I’ll pick her up after school today.”

“Good, you’re going to text her that right now.” Earl said, shoving a cellphone onto Joshua’s hand. * * *

Aya’s heart took a leap as she read the text message from her cellphone. A huge smile broke out upon her lips and she jumped up and down excitedly. “Yahoo!!!!”

“Oy, watcha hopping around for?”

The little girl turned to see her two friends from the school bus. “Edwin! Sam! My kuya’s gonna pick me up and we’re gonna have lunch together!”

“So?” the boy called Edwin folded his arms behind his head.

Sam glared at her twin brother. “You’re being mean, Edwin!” Then she turned towards Aya and smiled. “That’s great, Aya. I guess that means you won’t be riding home with us?”

The little Delgado nodded in reply. “You know, this is turning out to be a really good day for me…”

“Aaaaiiiiieeeeee!!!!!!!”

The three children sharply turned their heads towards the school gate. “That sounds like Edythe!” Sam exclaimed, a hand upon her lips.

“If she’s in trouble, we’ve got to help her!” Aya declared. “Come on!” The twins nodded in agreement, and together they quickly made their way towards the cause of the cry.

As they neared the area, they saw some of their batch mates gathered around. But something was weird.

Aya blinked in confusion. “Why are they all smiling?”

The curious children made their way towards the group, and there, seated in the middle was the source of the excitement, barking and wagging his fluffy tail.

“It’s Icarus!” Aya exclaimed, pleasantly surprised.

The dog walked up to her and lifted up a paw. “Woof! (Hey, you’re that girl from before!)”

Aya beamed, taking ahold of the elevated paw. “Awww, you remembered me!”

“Is he a friend of yours?” Edythe asked.

“I met him this morning.” She replied, still shaking the dog’s paws. “It’s nice to see you again, boy.”

“Arooo…. (The pleasure is mine, Miss…)” The white dog bowed.

“Ha! That’s funny! A dog trying to be a gentleman!” Edwin laughed.

Icarus growled back at the boy. (What’s wrong with that?)

“At least he’s more gentlemanly than you.” Aya said, placing her arms around the white dog.

“Say what?!” And was followed by the children’s laughter. * * *

Icarus smirked, leaning into Aya’s embrace. (You tell him, Miss!) The teasing and laughter of children was something he had not heard for a long time, and thus he was happy to have the chance to do so now. Unfortunately it was quickly cut off, as a familiar lovely voice entered his mind.

I’m hungry, Icarus…

The white dog craned his neck up slightly, though not as much as to disturb the little girl whose arms were wrapped around his body. I see. I’m going to look for your meal, Mistress.

Why…? What’s wrong with the ones surrounding you now…?

He stiffened.

Having felt the movement, Aya looked down at the dog curiously.

Icarus…

That voice. That which belongs to the one who brought him back from the dead. Oh how he hated it.

BRING ME MY MEAL, ICARUS! The voice echoed, more forcefully this time.

The one-eyed dog finally looked up to meet Aya’s eyes.

“Icarus?” She whispered, tilting her head in confusion.

He pulled away abruptly, and ran towards the direction of the woods just in front of the school. * * *

Delaine gasped, sitting up from her seat all of a sudden as a searing but familiar pain passed through her head.

“Are you alright, Miss Gersten?”

The girl glanced up at the concerned teacher and her questioning classmates, and knew she needed to get away. “I…I don’t feel well, Sir.”

He nodded. “Ah, it must be the jet lag. Why don’t you head over to the clinic and take something?”

Delaine stood up. “Thank you Sir.” When she arrived into the empty hallway, she leaned against the wall for support. What she told the teacher wasn’t a lie.

Besides the headache, a horrifying image had appeared in her mind. There were children lying on the ground, all looking as if someone had sucked their lives out of them. A woman’s haunting laughter rang through her ears.

“It’s been awhile…” She commented, laying a palm on her sweaty forehead. Then the hand that was resting upon the wall clenched into a fist. “But this is no time to be wondering. I have to get to the children, fast!”

Delaine turned her head towards the window… * * *

Joshua pushed himself from the post he was propped on for two hours and looked up at his sister’s school building. What’s taking her so long? He then glanced at his surroundings. There were some cars parked along the sidewalk, but no one else was in sight.

Was the school holding an activity he didn’t know about? He frowned, trying to remember if Aya mentioned something similar in the past few days. But none came to him. Either she didn’t tell him or he had forgotten about it. He inwardly cringed at that second thought.

Or…

Another idea came into his mind, and this one proved to be the most disturbing. As if on cue, the school doors opened showing a crowd shouting out angry words at the principal in the middle. Joshua ran over to them, and as he drew closer, things became clearer.

“Where is my son?!?!”

“I demand to know where my daughter is right now!!!”

“WHERE ARE THEY?!”

The boy walked up to a crying woman, whom he knew was the mother of his sister’s friends. “Mrs. Tañag! What happened?”

She turned her tear-stained face towards the young male and hugged him tightly. “Oh Joshua! They’re missing! The children are missing!!!” --------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------

Aut hor's Notes:

Hi all! It's been awhile! Heh, I never thought I'd get to write ten pages for the second chapter. It's the first time I've ever written a chapter that's this long! But hey, I like doing it. And I hope you'll like reading it too!

And here are some of the clarifications for this chapter:
1. Aswang - one of the most feared supernatural creatures in the Philippines, most often disguised as a woman preying on humans, most especially children, pregnant women, and ill people.
2. Kuya - In the Philippines, this is what one calls his/her older brother as a sign of respect.
3. Yes, Icarus used to be dead. What was he like? Don't worry, you'll soon know. ^_~

Hrm, that's all I could think of for now. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask me. ^_^

Till the next choir!