Stepping on a battlefield usually equates to either bulky bulletproof vests, or camouflage uniforms. However, the Baylanes operated differently. Amidst the forest of Norzagaray, this team ran the unpaved dirt ways like there was a fashion show.

Rafael and Isagani wore a black high neck halter top paired with skinny jeans dating from the 90’s. Pauline had a terno of beige and brown baro’t saya—less chunky with a modern twist. Cielo had on a red inabol wrapped textile skirt paired with a loose blouse of the same color. And of course, Kris wore his usual attire.

By context of the present, Yani should be the more normal-looking one. But right now, it seemed as though he was the one out of place.

Isagani is enjoying the mountains around him. Compared to Tanay, this place is a lot warmer. His green eyes blended in with the trees around him. The perfect sunny weather felt so much more like the country he knows and loves. Thus, he’s currently doing the most spontaneous things like playing with the makahiya leaves, climbing massive boulders, and playing with his dagger. Pauline simply followed behind him to ensure that he didn't get too far. After all, Cielo put them in charge of guarding the team from the outside.

The group is huddled up in front of that supposedly strong albularyo’s house mentioned by the nuno. However, even after ten knocks from Rafael, there was no acknowledgement of their presence.

Yani decided to touch the outer walls of the structure. He closed his eyes.

A white light.

Static.

Emptiness.

Yani frustratedly grunted. “It’s not working. Why is it not working?”

Kris went beside him, and held his hand. “Try me.”

Yani closed his eyes once again.

Playing with Kalis.

Missions with the Baylanes.

Admiring someone… Wait, why is the face blurred out?

Yani immediately opened his eyes—giving Kris a questioning look. 

“I used my powers to limit your vision.”

“What? You can do that?”

“Yes. And that means that whoever came here before us can do it too. It’s probably similar to how you couldn’t decipher what happened at Ka Rene’s place too.”

Yani thought about it, and nodded. “So who’s the person in my vision?”

Kris didn’t respond, and simply went for the door. Yani pouted. Tsk. How stingy.

“Let’s just break in!” Cielo exclaimed, and took out a wine bottle in exchange for a key. 

When they opened the door, they were met with a similar scene. Broken pottery, an untouched image of The Last Supper, untouched images of saints, damaged furniture, and ripped up wallpapers.

“Another albularyo disappearance.” Yani uttered, and walked around. He tried touching every single broken thing he could find, but his seventh sense wouldn’t work on either of them. 

Kris walked around as well. He stopped in front of a stringed instrument attached to the wall. It was thin and long like a guitar and erhu made a baby. A traditional instrument called a kudyapi. Just gazing at it immediately allowed him to recall his sister’s voice.

“You want to learn this as well, Kris?”

“Wow, you did amazing!”

“Watch, I’ll dance while you play.”

Kris couldn’t help but let out a smile from all of the hearty memories. Cielo spotted his moment, and uttered, “You should take it.”

“What? No. It’s not mine.”

“Then just borrow it for now. You like playing that, right?”

“Well, yeah…”

“Besides, it might help with the mission. I heard you could lure anything when you play the kudyapi.”

Eventually, everyone went to the nearby village in hopes of discovering what kind of evil truly resides in Norzagaray. They thought that heading to the village would allow them to talk with the locals. But, with each meter deeper into the place, they saw and heard a shutting down of doors and windows.

Pauline eyed her left side, and saw a kid run to her house after her mother called her out. And, the house was of course put on a shutdown. “I guess they’re not too fond of visitors.”

Isagani looked around as well. This time, even a cat hurried up the tree. “Do we look like threats right now?”

“Pause,” Cielo halted the group. She spotted a lady running in their direction. She was panting, and had a hysteric face on. She carried a basket with her that seemed to be filled with freshly picked crops. When the lady got closer, Cielo tried to stop her politely, but the lady screamed, and her crops fell on the dirt path.

She seemed stressed, and looked back at the crops she dropped—about to panic.

Yani gave her a gentle smile, and began picking up a few pieces of corn and potatoes. Then, he handed it to her. 

The lady’s arms were trembling when she extended her hand to it. However, she did seem a bit less tense now. Yani took this as an opportunity to ask questions. “Good afternoon, are you alright po?”

The lady shook her head quickly. This made Yani understand that there must be something out there. “We’re here to help. May we ask what’s happening here?”

They all looked towards the lady, and she spoke in a whispered and tense manner. “Tiyanak… T-There’s a tiyanak. Two of them. T-Twins.”

The air around them changed—turning heavy.

A tiyanak is a creature formed when a fetus dies in the womb. It becomes a host for dark energy—turning an innocent baby into a vile creature. When the colonizers came, the story even changed—saying that babies dying before baptism would turn into one. 

“Tiyanak?” Yani repeated. The lady’s eyes frantically scanned the area, and she galloped back to her house.

Kris extended his hand, “Wait!” But the lady had already locked her door.

Rafael stretched his arms, “So what do we do now, captain?”

Cielo was deep in thought, then, “Kris, the kudyapi.”

Kris looked at the kudyapi in his hand. “I haven’t played in a while. Would it even work?”

Cielo nodded, “Try it.”

Kris took a deep breath, and began plucking the strings of his instrument. It was quiet, so the sound resonated in the air. The rumors are true. Someone with a spiritual energy as great as Kris could lure anything with his sound. Everyone focused on him—listening intently. Especially Yani. 

In Yani’s mind, it was like he and Kris were the only people in the place. Like Kris was playing the melody of “Ili-Ili Tulog Anay” just for him, and him only.

But that wasn’t the case.

And of course, another being felt the same exact way Yani did.

A creature with dark and crimson skin began emerging from the trees. It looked hideous. Covered in blood, and only five palms of hand big.

The tiyanak crawled towards the sound. Slowly. Cautious.

And when it was close enough, Kris stopped playing.

“YA!” Rafael barged head on with his wavy sword. 

The tiyanak’s mood instantly shifted. It went from being lured by the sound of a lullaby, to showing its fangs and ripping Rafael’s sleeve off.

Rafael stepped back, and the tiyanak began circling them on its own. It was fast. Too fast for the eyes to discern, and too fast for Rafael and Isagani to land a hit.

Cielo furrowed her brows. “Everyone, spread out!”

With her command, the whole team plotted themselves in different areas of the scope.

The tiyanak hopped on Pauline’s back—trying to bite her to death. “Ugh!” She took out a wooden piece. “Come to life!” It turned into a carved Philippine eagle, and lifted the tiyanak from her shoulder. But just when the creature reached a few feet up in the air, it ripped the eagle’s wings apart, and landed on the ground.

The tiyanak began hollering, screeching, and screaming. This made all of them cover their ears and bend to the unpaved road. “Damn it, shut up!” Despite the ache in his head, Isagani attempted a strike. But, the tiyanak jumped to his side. “Shit!”

It began ripping his clothes apart, and even leaving him with some bloody scratches on his arm. “Get off!” 

Cielo shouted, “Kris, bugaw now!”

Kris tried to head close to the injured Isagani, but the tiyanak let out an even louder scream—sending Kris flying a few feet back.

Yani was frozen from all the events. He wondered how a creature so small could do so much damage. But, he knew he needed to help. He took Kris’s bamboo stick that fell on the ground, and while the tiyanak was busy messing with Isagani, he ran with great speed, and hit it with the stick—leading to it landing on a tree—almost concussed.

“Are you ok?” Yani worriedly held Isagani’s wounded arm.

“I’m good. No worries.” Isagani chuckled embarrassedly.

Cielo threw a bottle of wine in the air. “Bless me with a bow and arrow!” She ran to where the bow and arrow were falling down, and instantly shot the tiyanak.

And, she landed a hit.

“Nice one, captain!” Rafael cheered.

The creature began crying. And crying. It walked towards them with an arrow stuck on its arm. 

Yani froze up. It’s… crying? He started to feel horrible. Is it alright to do this? 

As if the world slowed down, he saw Kris, Rafael, Isagani, Pauline, and Cielo lunge at the little creature at once. It’s just… a baby.

“Wait- We can’t just hurt it. It’s just a baby!” He gripped on Kris’s arm. This distracted the others from foregoing.

“What?” Kris gave him a vexed look. “That’s a tiyanak, not a human. Its dungan is already damaged. This is different from the mambabarang!”

“But still!”

“But what? Not everything deserves your mercy, Yani. This world is not that kind!” He shoved Yani away.

Suddenly, while bleeding on the ground from Cielo’s arrow, the tiyanak’s voice got louder. It made the trees sway, and rubbles flew from its intensity.

All of them covered their ears once more, and Kris took his bamboo stick back from Yani’s hold, but Yani kept it firm. Kris widened his eyes from the latter’s disobedience. Before Kris could reprimand, Yani spoke up first.

“Let me try something before you do it.”

Kris didn’t know why he agreed, but he did. It’s probably because of the painful screeching sound, or his trust in Yani.

Then, struggling to walk against the intense force, Yani approached the tiyanak. He felt like his eardrums were being stabbed, and his flesh was trying to be pulled from his body. Then, he grabbed a small bottle from his pocket.

“Go to sleep, little one.” He threw it towards the creature, and the glass broke—sending a gust of black air around it.

The cries began lowering… and lowering. Until, the tiyanak fell asleep.

Finally, the noise faded away.

Kris immediately ran to Yani, and placed his hands on the latter’s cheeks—moving his head around to check if he was alright. This made Yani chuckle. “I’m ok.”

“I shouldn’t have let you done that! You could’ve been hurt! We brought you here for directions, not to participate in a figh-”

“Kris, that’s enough.” Cielo giggled. “I know you’re worried about Yani, but he helped us.”

Rafael sighed, and looked down at the sleeping tiyanak. He frowned, and used his sword to strike it right on the heart.

Yani looked at the scene, and smiled sadly. Kris sighed, and spun Yani around. He had his hands on both the latter’s arms, and whispered, “This is our world, Yani… It’s the right thing to do.”

Yani nodded, and leaned back on Kris’s touch. “I get it. I knew you’d have to kill it, anyway. I just wanted it to at least be painless.”

Cielo cracked her neck. “That’s one down. Another one to go.”