Red String (Howl Series #1)

YSOBELLA IS SITTING in a corner with a little smile on her face, looking at the people of Assura celebrating under the full moon. It is the 45th anniversary of their town and the people are having a festive feast.

Malapit ng mag hating gabi kaya iilang tao na lang ang natitira sa park. Nag desisyon na rin si Bella na bumalik na sa kanilang tahanan.

Habang naglalakad pabalik sa bahay nila ay masayang pinagmamasdan ni Ysobella ang mga tao sa paligid. Nakakatuwang pagmasdan ang mga tao habang nagkakatuwaan na parang walang problema.

This is what she wants. A peaceful but lively environment to live in. Walang karahasan at hindi malupit ang mga tao.

Pag-uwi niya ay natutulog na ang kanyang Lola. Na una na kasi itong lumisan sa park dahil sa pagod. Wala na ang mga magulang ni Ysobella. She was only six years old when they died at simula noon ang Lola Esmey na niya ang nagpalaki at nag-alaga sa kanya.

Ysobella then readies herself for bed. She needs to wake up early tomorrow, for tomorrow is her special day. And also, her Lola Esmey promised to cook her favorite dish.

"I can't wait for tomorrow." She thought.

Mahimbing na natutulog si Bella nang bigla siyang gisingin ng kanyang lola. She yawned while rubbing her eyes with her hand. Then Bella noticed the discomfort on the face of her Lola Esmey. Ysobella's eyebrows furrowed and her head is clouded with confusion. She was about to ask her Lola Esmey what was wrong when she heard a ruckus from the outside.

May nagkakagulo sa labas. And Bella can hear the people running while some are shouting and crying. Hindi maintindihan ni Ysobella pero bigla na lang may bumalot na kaba sa kanyang dibdib.

"Lola, ano pong nangyayari?! Bakit nagkakagulo ang mga tao at bakit may mga sumisigaw?" Nababahalang tanong ni Bella. Ang mga kamay niya ay nanginginig sa kaba.

"Apo, kaliangan na nating umalis dito. Hindi titigil ang mga rouges hangga't hindi tayo nauubos. Doon tayo dumaan sa gubat. May alam akong pwede nating pagtaguan." Nagmamadaling saad ng Lola Esmey niya.

After her Lola Esmey said those her body stiffened. Rogues. The rogues are attacking their town.

Tama ang Lola Esmey niya. Hindi titigil ang mga rogues hangga't hindi sila mauubos. Kung may ititira man ay gagawin nilang tagapagsilbi. But they know that to become enslaved by rogues is like facing death.

Her heart was beating hard as they headed towards the forest. Her chest hurts as she hears countless screams from people, including children.

Gone is the peace and laughter in their town. The peace is now replaced with chaos and the laughter is now replaced with screams.

Patuloy lang sa pagtakbo si Bella at ang Lola Esmey niya. "Kaunti na lang apo, malapit na tayo. Pangako hindi papayag ang lola na mapahamak ka." Pagaalo ng Lola Esmey niya.

Pero habang binabaybay nila ang gubat, Bella suddenly felt an excruciating pain in her chest. Dahilan para mapaluhod siya sa lupa.

Nataranta naman ang Lola Esmey niya. "Apo! Anong nangyari?! Nasaktan ka ba?!" Her grandmother asked with anxiety.

Pero parang walang narinig si Bella dahil sa sobrang sakit. Parang pinipiga at hinihiwa sa dalawa ang kanyang puso. And Bella cried harder when the pain doubled.

Nanlalabo ang kanyang mga mata at pumipintig ang ugat sa ulo niya. Sumasakit din ang kanyang buong katawan at parang nawawalan siya ng lakas.

Her grandmother is telling her something pero tila wala siyang naririnig. She curled up like a fetus as she continued to feel the excruciating pain.

"AHHH! Please... S-stop--- s-stop... I-It h-hurts... P-Please..."

Her grandmother caresses her cheeks as she talks to her. She would love to hear it, but the pain continues as the seconds go by.

"S-Stop p-please..." She begged once more. Hanggang sa unti-unti ng nawawala ang sakit.

I'm sorry... Said an unfamiliar voice of a man. Hindi alam ni Bella kung kanino galing ang boses na 'yon. Masyado siyang mahina para pagtuunan iyon ng pansin.

Ysobella wanted to speak but she can feel that her body is slowly falling into the abyss. But before she blacked out, she saw her grandmother's warm smile.

Mahal kita, 'yon ang nabasa niya sa mga labi ng kanyang lola. And When the darkness succumbs to her, powerful arms lift her from the ground.

YSOBELLA WOKE UP in an unfamiliar room. Kulay puti ang kwarto at amoy gamot.

Where am I?

Pinilit ni Bella na tumayo hanggang sa biglang bumukas ang pintuan. A man and a woman entered the room and when they saw her relief flashed on their faces.

"Mabuti at gising ka na? Kumusta ang pakiramdam mo?" The woman asked.

"Medyo nanghihina pa--- Ang lola ko?! Nasaan ang Lola Esmey ko?!" Ysobella asked in fear.

The man taps the woman's shoulder before facing Ysobella. The man then took a deep breath before speaking.

"I'm sorry, but you're grandmother's dead." He said with grief.

After he said those, Ysobella cried in pain. She couldn't accept it. It can't be.

She was with me in the woods. We were running and--- Ysobella covered her mouth when she remembered what happened.

Mas lalo siyang naiyak sa naalala. Nawalan siya ng malay nang bigla siyang makaramdam ng kakaibang sakit sa buong katawan.

Ang Lola Esmey ko. Wala na ang Lola Esmey ko. Ysobella cried in grief.

Buong araw siyang hindi makausap dahil sa labis na pighati. Hindi naman siya iniwan ng doctor at ng lalaking nagligtas sa kanya. Ysobella felt their concern for her.

"Maraming salamat sa tulong niyo. Kailan po ba ako pwedeng umalis?" Ysobella asked the next day. Hindi niya pa alam kung saan siya pupunta pagkatapos nito. Wala na siyang pamilya at wala na rin siyang bayan na babalikan.

"You are not leaving, Ysobella. From now on, dito ka na sa'min." The doctor said.

"Yes, stay here with us. Ligtas ka rin dito." Said the man who saved her.

"Nasaan po ba ako?" Tanong niya sa lalaki.

"You are in Highcrest Mountain, Bella. Welcome to the House of Salvatorri." The man uttered gently.

Then it dawned on her. Nasa mansyon siya ng Crescent Moon Pack.