i.
Rain had just stopped. There were no stars to wrap the black sky that night. It was already 1:30 in the morning and I only got two passengers since midnight. I called home five hours ago and I only got a busy tone. I was about to park my taxi when a young lady (mid-20s I think) in a pink dress waved at me. She looked like someone I knew. Slim curvy body, long legs, red full lips, shoulder-length brown hair, and a pair of enchanting twilight eyes. I hesitated for a moment but felt sorry for this woman to be walking around at that time.
What can I do, I'm a nice guy. I stopped in front of her and unlocked the passenger door. She had a lot of paper bags so I helped her get it all in the trunk, except for a small one which she kept to herself. I even saw a toy ring hanging from one of the paper bags, the same ring that I gave to my little girl as a birthday present. As she settled in the backseat, I noticed a black stain on her pink dress. I was curious about it but then realized she was looking at me. "Umm... I-I'm sorry Ma'am.", I muttered as I started the engine. "No, It's fine. Thank you by the way. Most of the cabs I called just ignored me.", she answered as she put on a jacket she took from the small paper bag. "Where to Ma'am?", I asked. "Just a corner from Penaviles St.", she said and we hit the road. There were no more cabs or any other vehicles roaming around so it felt like we were driving in an apocalyptic movie.
The cab was getting chilly so I turned the air-con down. She complemented the gesture and asked about my work. Our conversation ranged from daily events to politics and even to our love interests. She had a boyfriend who just died recently while I was a married man who had a little girl. I noticed a faint smell of rotten meat but quickly dismissed it as she never even complained about anything. We were a corner away from her stop when I realized that this street was barricaded by the police due to the fact that a dead body of a woman was found a couple of nights ago in the lake.
"Uhh, Ma'am, isn't this street part of a police investigation? I'm afraid we can't go further anymore", I said as I stopped and pointed at the yellow and black-striped ribbon tied to 2 poles that blocked the road. "That's alright. You could drop me here already. Thanks a lot.", she said that with a smile, and got out of the cab. As I watched her head across the street, I caught a glimpse of something brown on the other end of the passenger seat. It was her small paper bag! I took it and rushed to where she was heading to(she was walking slowly because she had a lot to carry). I ran to catch up with her (though I never got to ask her name), until I tripped and all the contents of the paper bag dropped to the ground.
I tried to gather them up until I realized they were all covered in red goo. It wasn't red goo, it was blood! And those "contents" were the original "contents" of a living person! I hardly managed to get up when I saw a shadow cast in front of me.
"So you found out about my dirty secret, eh?", I heard her soft voice say but I know she's boiling inside. Her eyes have turned purely into black. Her fingernails grew a foot longer and sharper. "If you've guessed it right, that's my dinner. So how about we play a game?", she added and flashed her fangs. "I-I w-won't tell anybody about this. Just d-don't eat m'me. I-I have a f-family.", I could hardly speak because I fear I might be her breakfast tomorrow.
"Here's the rules: If you escape tonight, I'm gonna let you live. If not, you will be my next meal!", as she finished her sentence, I tried to run as fast as I can. I ran in the direction of the lake where the dead body was found. I could clearly hear the noises we are both causing. I sometimes catch a glimpse of her fangs each time I look back to see how far I have gone. She's faster than me. From what I have known from stories, aswangs, are faster and stronger than any normal person. Sometimes they can even change form to a large boar, dog or bird. I don't care if she's an aswang or not. I must escape.
"Run! Tony Run!", I could hear her shout as I run through this thick green maze. Her voice seems to trail off. That is not good news. You see, the farther her voice seems to be, the closer it is. I better run fast. I was about to dive into the lake when I remembered about the dead body. I stopped and thought where to go. I listened for a scratch on the wood, a thud on a stone, or ruffle on the grass but there was none. I looked into the deep abyss of the lake and that was when I remembered what happened a couple of nights ago.
I was driving a passenger to Penaviles St. She was beautiful. She wore a beautiful pink dress that leaves your imagination to work. Alluring. Enchanting. I was tempted. She resisted. I killed her. I threw her body to the lake. I forgot the incident because she hit my head with her sturdy bracelet.
"Game's over Tony.", that voice snapped me back. It was her all along. "Why did you do that to my sister Tony? We were happy!", she shouted. "Guess I'll just eat you just like my sister would've done with you! She just hadn't embraced her powers when you abused her!", she added. I walked closer to the edge of the lake. Then suddenly I saw a pair of hands reaching out to me. I started to panic. I grabbed at the pair of hands that came from below the lake. My mind started to drift. As I was dragged to the depth of the river, I felt heavy. My breathing passage clogged. Before my eyes closed though, I saw my wife and my little girl sleeping at the bottom too. Wait? What? Why are they here? It can't be! NOOOO!
The next morning---
"Sir! They found three more dead bodies in the lake!", the cop in charge of the scene reported to the chief. "Hard days. Today is one of those hard days Lopez. ", and that was all the chief replied as he puffed o his cigarette.
