𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗗 𝗖𝗜𝗧𝗬 𝗢𝗙 𝗔𝗦𝗛𝗘𝗦
–𝑒𝑚𝑛𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑚𝑠 𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑜𝑤𝑝𝑖
I wore white gloves as I took the bullet from the dead body in front of me. This is first class bullet. The culprit used first class bullet to kill this scientist.
I frowned when I saw his briefcase left opened. I pulled the briefcase as I check the things of a victim.
“A girl?” I muttered when I saw a picture of a kid. Tumingin ako sa likod ng litrato at doon ko napansin ang nakalagay na, “missing daughter of Lady Alesha, 1999,” I muttered again.
I checked his things again as I found a diary. I faltered when I opened the first page of it.
𝖣𝖾𝖼𝖾𝗆𝖻𝖾𝗋 10, 1987
𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘳. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘦. 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘩𝘢 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳.
I didn’t finish reading to his diary because I flipped the second page. I gulped when I saw a terrible drawing to his diary. This is probably a drawing of the girl named, Scaizer. When I flipped the third one, I saw a decayed fingernail above. What’t with this diary?
𝖬𝖺𝗋𝖼𝗁 20, 1989
𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘦. 𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘶𝘴. 𝘐 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘳. 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳
Punit ang baba nito at hindi na natuloy pa ang pagbasa ko taalarawan niya. I flipped other pages and half of it was missing. Did the suspect take those pages?
𝘓𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘯-𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺.
What is non-living body he was talking about? Hindi ko masyado maintindihan ang iba pang nakasulat dahil may nawawalang pahina ng talaarawan.
𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵.
That’s the last part I read. I flipped the last page and my expression changed when I saw a sketch of a place. This is the City of Ashes. No one dared to enter or pass this city because of rumors. I didn’t believe them because it’s only a rumors but we have a case about City of Ashes before. Teenagers tried to wander but none of them live. But I confirmed that there is a person who killed them. He was arrested two years ago.
“Crixus,” someone called. I stood up as I left the diary of former butler of Scaizer. “We found a claw marks to walls and floors. We also found a blood puddle to his room,” Officer Philips said.
Pumunta kami ng laboratoryo niya at doon namin nakita ang mga marka. It wasn’t a claw of fingernails. Masyado siyang malalim at malaki. Family of Seraph is very weird. I didn’t know that this case will appeared again.
“Where is the suspect?” I asked.
“Outside,” he answered as I responded a nod. Lumabas ako ng gusali at nakita ko ang suspek na nanginginig sa takot.
“What are those claw marks?” I started. His eyes widened as he shook his head repeatedly. “Do you have connection to family of Seraph?”
Lalo pang nanlaki ang mga mata nito at nanginginig ang labi niya sa kaba at takot. “H-hindi—w-wala akong kinalaman—”
“Okay, calm first. I will talk to you later.” I signaled other officers to assist him. He need to calm first. We can’t talk to him like that. Nakita ko naman na pinainom siya ng tubig ng isang babaeng officer at pinapakalma siya. My guts telling that he’s not the suspect. His expression is easy to read.
I just shook my head and sigh.
Lumapit ako sa kaniya at tinignan siya nang diretso.
“Speak.”
He inhaled and exhaled first. “W-wala akong kinalaman sa pagkamatay niya. A-ang nanay ng b-batang iyon—”
“You mean Lady Alesha? Who kidnapped the girl?” Seraph family is very puzzle to me. I don’t know what kind of family Seraph is but they are all weird.
“A w-woman…the long-haired woman…s-she kidnapped Scaizer. Ta-talk to her mother! She knows everything…” he stuttered in nervous.
Buhay pa ang nanay ni Scaizer? To the report before, Lady Alesha died because of accident.
“This is the file of Miss Alesha Seraph.” Kinuha ko naman sa kamay niya ang folder. Tinignan ko ang records ng nanay ni Scaizer at kasalukuyan akong nasa opisina. I read the paper by my eyes and it written here that Lady Alesha is alive. She’s currently recovering in Alessandro Hospital.
“Thanks,” I muttered as I left the office. I went to my car as I twisted the key inside and the engine started. I don’t know why I’m opening this case again; about Seraph family. Lady Alesha’s husband died in City of Ashes. Only Lady Alesha and her daughter left and Lady Alesha hired a butler for her daughter so her daughter won’t feel alone. To those missing pages of his diary, I have bad feeling that those pages are about to her, Scaizer. But who dared to remove the pages?
After several minutes, I arrived to the hospital. I parked my car outside as I pulled out the key and went out. The plants here are dead and the atmosphere is heavy. What a weird place.
“Nandito ba si Miss Alesha Seraph?” I asked. The nurse’s eyes widened. I immediately noticed the claw marks to her skin. It wasn’t that deep but it was the same claw marks to the laboratory; where the case happened and victim died.
“N-nasa g-garden po siya…” she stuttered. When I glanced again to the claw marks, she hid her arms to her back as she gave me a short smile. I didn’t talk about the claw marks to her skin and I take my way to garden she was talking. When I turned left, I saw Miss Seraph sitting to a wheelchair. I sat down in front of her and I noticed her skin turning pale.
“Lady Alesha, I’m here to talk to you. I’m Detective Crixus Achiavelli, I came here to help about your daughter,” I started with a low tone of my voice. She was spaced out and not even do a blink.
Suddenly, I heard her soft sighs. “She was taken from me,” she muttered. “My son and husband also taken from me,” she added without looking at me.
“Did you see the woman kidnapped her?” I asked. I don’t really sure about the guy said yesterday. He’s talking about the ghost already. Sino ang maniniwala sa kaniya?
“Long-haired woman kidnapped her. A dead long-haired woman. She took my daughter, they went in City of Ashes…” she trailed off as the emotions she was holding, escaped to her eyes and the tears rolled down onto her cheeks. “I can’t walk anymore to find her. If you are here to laugh me because of City of Ashes, do it.”
I shook my head as response. “I’ll do anything, ma’am. I’ll bring her back,” I retorted. Napaiyak pa ito lalo at tumango sa akin. Maya-maya pa ay itinaas nito ang damit niya sa may binti at nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa nakita. Her leg is turning black like a decayed meat.
“Pakiusap, ibalik mo ang anak ko—”
“Sir, sino kausap mo?” I stood up when the nurse asked.
“I’m talking to Lady Alesha,” I answered.
“Ano po? Sir, Lady Alesha died already. She’s in the private room. Isang minuto bago siya namatay. Paano rin po kayo nakapasok dito? Wala pa pong nagbabantay na nurse roon. Kaunti lang talaga kasi ang nurse rito,” she answered as she forced a smile to me. I gulped when I looked down and I just saw an empty wheelchair. What on earth?
“Yeah, thank you.” I remained myself calm despite of the nervous I’m feeling. Lumabas na ako ng hospital at diretso ang daan ko sa City of Ashes. The clouds are heavy today. I think there will be heavy rain later.
Honestly, I didn’t understand what’s happening. The guy said yesterday, I need to talk to Lady Alesha. He didn’t tell her condition to me because of nervous whenever I’m mentioning the surname of that family. Second is the nurse. The nurse I talked lately is only a soul or something and third is Lady Alesha. She gave me a clue, her soul gave me a clue. I don’t know what to feel today. I didn’t believe to ghosts but I didn’t know they are really exist and I could see them.
I opened my phone and I dialed Officer Philip’s number.
“Hello?” he spoke.
“Dude, where are you?” I asked.
“Hello? Who’s there? Crixus, are you alright? You are not answering.”
What? But I asked him right?
“Philip, I’m taking the road of dead city. Did you hear me?” I retorted.
“Stop pranking me, Crixus. I have something else to do. Let’s meet tomorrow.” I was about to utter a word again but he ended the call. I frustratedly keep my phone to my pocket. He didn’t hear me. Phone ko ba ang may problema? Ngayon lang talaga nangyari ang bagay na ito.
I tapped the break of my car when I realized I’m already in the city. I pulled out the key as I went out. This city was called City of Ashes because it’s raining here of ashes. Ashes and raindrops....

Sometimes, snow and ashes. And it’s really cold here. The air is very cold same as the place.
When I turned back, my eyes widened when there are many buildings to my back. There’s no road anymore. Where’s the road I take lately? What on earth?
I pulled out the gun when I started to hear rustles and screeches. Nagtago agad ako sa makipot na daan sa madilim na parte ng gusali at ganoon na lang ang gulat ko nang may lumabas mula sa gusali na isang nilalang na baliktad ang ulo ngunit may hawak na palakol.
“What on earth…” I muttered. Before he saw my figure, I opened the door as I entered the building. I used my phone as flashlight and I roamed my eyes inside. The building is empty but only paperwork and chairs. There’s no light here nor people.
“Help me!” I heard a scream of a girl. Agad akong napatingin sa hagdan at may nakita akong bata na karga ng isa pang nilalang. It’s a woman. A woman without eyes, lips and teeth. Mas masaklap pa ay, buto at balat na lamang ito. The woman can climb up fastly because of the rats under her long dress.
That girl is Scaizer.
“Scaizer!” I called as my voice echoes inside the whole area.
“Help me!” she shouted again but they both gone to my sight. Nagmadali akong umakyat ng hagdan at nakarinig ako ng mga yabag. I kicked the one door and I found a cubicles. I opened the every doors inside and I abruptly closed my mouth by the back of my hand when I saw a person’s body. It was tortured and her face can’t identify nor see anymore. Nakatali ang mga braso niya sa alambre ganoon din ang leeg at ang mga binti niya at ang bibig niya naman ay nakabuka. And the rat entered her mouth.
I closed the door as I left the room. But when I left the room, the whole place changed. It became dark and the walls covered by blood. Umiinit ang paligid.
Agad naman akong napaatras nang may sumulpot sa hallway. I pointed the light to creature, crawling to the ground. Ang mga paa nito at ang binti ay nakatilop sa harapan at ang ang mga paa nito ay nakapatong sa kaniyang balikat. He’s using his hands to walk. His voice is husky, like a voice of an old man and asking for a help.
I pulled the trigger of my gun as the bullet directly hit to his forehead. A pale blood came out to his forehead and it dropped to the floor. His blood formed a dozens of rats.
Crap, crap, crap! Wrong move!
Agad na akong tumakbo at tumingin sa ibaba. Ang unang palapag ay wala na. Nasa pinaka-itaas akong palapag ngayon at ang nasa baba ay naglalagablab sa init.
𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘈𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘰𝘷𝘦, 𝘩𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯.
I immediately remembered the rumors of people. That was the old man says to me. I didn’t know that I will witness this all. The claw marks I saw, the nurse and the scientist’s death. There are creatures watching to every move of that family.
Another world where creatures are freely to move. This world I’ve read when I’m secretly investigating this case before.
“Underworld damn,” I frustratedly muttered. Agad na lamang akong nagulat nang may nagtapon ng malaking palakol sa direksyon ko. I immediately ducked myself and the axe hit the wall. My eyes widened when I heard a sound of chainsaw.
Napatingin ako sa may malaking braso na humahawak ng chainsaw. His body is big but his head is small. But his mouth is big and he grin at me.
“Help me!” When I heard again her shout, I alarmed.
“Scaizer!” I shouted back but there is no response from her. The old woman is doing something to her.
His chainsaw slashed up horizontally but I immediately ducked myself. I took many steps backwards and when he targeted to slash my body, I moved my body backwards. I pulled the axe from the wall as I ducked and I hit his head by the axe. Umapak ako sa dalawang balikat niya habang hawak ko ang palakol na nasa ulo niya ngayon at agad siyang hinarap sa mainit na nasa baba. When I pulled out the axe, his body fell. I saw his wide grin before he vanished to my sight.
Hingal na hingal akong napaupo sa sahig dahil sa pagod at kaba.
“This is insane, what on earth…” I heavily muttered.
“Help me!” Nang marinig ko ang boses na iyon agad na akong tumayo at bumaba ng hagdan. The voice is coming from underfloor. Underfloor where the underworld portal activated. Habang pababa ako nang pababa sa hagdan, nakakaramdam na ako ng init. This place is hell. I removed my jacket as I kicked the door. I’m now inside the dark room.
This is a doll room.
“I love you, mama!” I heard a voice of a kid coming from a doll. Dolls have different voices.
Agad kong nakita si Scaizer na tinali ang bibig gamit ang tela at ang mga kamay at binti nito ay nakatali rin. Her eyes widened to me. Agad akong tumingin sa likuran at bigla na lamang ako tumalsik nang may humampas sa akin. My back hit the fine wall and I coughed because of pain. Nahihirapang tumayo ako at kinuha ang palakol na nahulog sa tabi ko.
Suddenly, I felt a pain to my face. I touched my cheek and I saw a blood to my fingers. She used her hand with long fingernails. This is the claw marks. The woman is taller than me. She has dark old skin.
I walked closer to her as I sighed. “Aargh!” sigaw ko at agad itinama sa katawan niya ang palakol na hawak ko. But before the axe hit her body, she caught it by her own hands as she threw the axe away. My eyes widened when she grip my neck tightly. Halos bumaon ang kuko nito sa balat ko. Itinaas ako nito at lalo ako hindi nakahinga. I hold her bone wrist and my mouth opened for the air. Kita ko sa malapitan ang mukha niyang bungo.
I stepped my left shoe to the wall as I pushed back. Agad kong hinila ang tali na para sa magbibigti at agad itong itinali sa leeg niya. Hinigpitan ko ang pagkakatali sa leeg niya at sinira ang sahig na gawa sa marupok na kahoy. Lumubog siya roon at hinahawakan ang tali na nasa leeg niya.
Tumakbo ako papunta kay Scaizer at tinanggal ang mga tali na nakatali sa kaniya. When I removed it all, I immediately carried her as I took the axe and my gun.
“I still have business to you,” I said as I grin. I threw the axe to her direction and the axe directly hit to her forehead. Maya-maya ay bumigay ang mga kamay nito. I left the room as I ran down to the stairs. Nang makalabas kaming dalawa sa gusali na iyon, ipinasok ko siya sa front seat. I went to driver’s seat as I started the engine of my car.
“You are safe now, don’t worry,” I said as I take a heaved sigh.
I dialed Philip’s number. “Hey, I have report to City of Ashes. You must destroy the place. I will go now. I will tell the rest when I arrive.” I ended the call without waiting for his response.
After several minutes, we arrived to our agency. Agad kong binuksan ang pintuan ng opisina habang hawak ang kamay ng bata. Tahimik lang siya at wala kahit isang salitang sinasabi.
“Sir, this is the missing girl of Seraph family. I found her now,” I directly said. But the head of our agency just frowned to the door I left opened. He stood up as he closed the door. Bumalik siya sa pagka-upo at tinuloy ang ginagawa niya.
“Sir,” I called as I tapped his shoulder but when I tapped his shoulder, my hand vanished. It became smoke and it turned back into normal.
“A-am I d-dead?” I stuttered. Agad ko namang naalala ang huling kaso na inasikaso ko noon. None of teenagers left alive.
“Blood blood, blood again. This city will burn again, people lives will be taken, blood blood blood again,” pagkakanta ng bata sa tabi ko. The tone of the song is rain rain go away. I gulped when I saw her wide smile.
𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺. 𝘈 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘰𝘯𝘦.
I immediately remembered the old man. He said that. The girl I brought here isn’t Scaizer. She is the young devil who activated the underworld to that city.
Lucialna.
I made wrong. Dapat malaki na si Scaizer at hindi bata. I failed to realize it early.
My hands trembled when the wall started to became dark.
“Blood blood, blood again. This city will burn again, people lives will be taken, blood blood blood again,” she repeatedly sang.
No…
NOTE: Walang nabubuhay sa City of Ashes o nakakaalis ng buhay.