Earth Angel: And so they arrived

II. And so "they" arrived.

It has been....5...6 centuries? ago when the people of Garokia took the wrath of the oracles for their "misbehavior" unexpectedly, that even their greatest warior Malik cannot do anything but to summon their god protector to ship their city in another dimension, another world where they can escape their fate. Their prayers were heard, and was shipped to a place then unknown....islands separated by water....located at the south-east part of the earth, and so they thought their fate will disappear as they are shipped....but the power of the oracles is far and wide, that no island can hide them from their extinction, even in this desserted island they thought inhabited by little "black" men, their fated death followed them.

It has been 5 days since they settled in the desserted island, everyone was tired of running away from the hideous monsters that comes unexpectedly, and stayed until their claws could pierced a heart of a warrior or 2.

"I have lost my only happiness, my wife died from the hands of this monsters, my daughter hannah was lost in another dimension...who knows maybe another time...and now my people is sufferring." Malik was mumbling to himself, feeling tired, down,"O good oracles!!!! what have you done to us? we who have sowed your land and built your temples!!!!how could you have make us suffer like this....take my life!!!, take our lives!!!!" his voice echoed in the mountains that surrounds their pact. Garokian people showed different expressions in their face. The older ones looks tired, down, women are crying, holding in their arms their little ones and the newborn ones. The young warriors were expressionless, the middle aged warriors looks in low spirit, the look of a fallen warrior, all of them tho' have one thing in their minds...what are they to do to stop this ordeal?....

IN their weakest, the strength of the people of garokia faltered, they lose hope, lose the desire to defend themselves, even lose hope of living continously. Then they thought....was it our evil ways? was it the self esteem we built in ourselves that makes the oracles angry and finally bring us down to our lowest?....there could be nothing to think of, it must be it, it must be.

The elder of Garokia that was left, 5 of them meet, they plan to find the source of their ordeal...somehow.

"Abu, it come to me that, the very reason we are sufferring our ordeal must be our own evil ways." Apo Albay, the eldest among the men meeting, with a kyphotic stance, sitting in front of a heated pot containiing herbs they found along the way, holding to his right hand a bamboo stick he curved himself, and his left hand on his crossed legs, "i cannot think of any thing we did to displease the oracles."
"i did think the same Apo" answered the other elder, in his late forty, he was sitting in front of Apo, smoking a pipe that has herbs in it to satisfy his taste
"What evil ways? we have taken what is ours, and we have to prove to other cities that we are the strongest. could that be evil?" query another elder, who could have been the youngest among them. he was sitted on a self made "bangkito" (stool), looking at the other elders, his knees on his bare chest, his arms folded around his legs.
"and to where did our tactics of proving our stregnth lead us? killing warriors when they are stopping us from taking their livelihood, killing innocent men...for what? for a mere gold or silver? and what is their use if we are dead?" abu cried with the sound of desperation.
"and if it is our action that deem us to this situation, what are we to do then? Apo?" the last of the elder, Malik finally said something
"The oracles was displeased, but they are forgiving in nature, if we change our way, ask forgiveness...they may give us the answer...." it was the last statement....then there was silence
silence
silence still
"I shall built an altar, offerred to the oracles...and all of us, our wives, daughters, sons, co-warriors, elders shall pay homage, beg....i don't care if i the greatest warrior kneel before them...this ordeal have to stop...the killing must stop...now or we shall all perish." Malik stand up, he headed to the forest near their camp, he did not even look back to see the other elder's expression nor hear others mumbles of agreement...he will do whatever things to stop this fate.

One....two....weeks, that long a time the mighty fallen warriors have work to built an altar dedicated to the 4 oracles, being cautious as well to an unexpected attacks, an altar large enough to be a city, when finally they finished the altar and built a sacrifice place at the center. On the last day of the week...as they counted they start collecting woods to make fire, killed a wild boar which was hunted by warriors for sacrifice, killed it and collect its blood. They encircled the blood around the sacrificial altar, put the meat at the center to be burned.
Everyone was in front of the sacrificial altar, with Apo Albay leading, He throw sands on the burning altar, then started chanting in words only he knew the translation...
Then everyone waited....a night, everyone gathered dared not move nor get out of the altar...there was nothing happening, second night...still there was nothing
"The great oracles must really have been displeased, they wouldn't even hear our pleas" a woman, carrying a child in her arms cried in awe
"Maybe then....our sacrifice is not enough" a warrior at the back exclaimed, in his loudest voice
"Shall we sacrifice a human life instead?" another warrior said, "perhaps one of our children?" he recieved a roaring anger from mothers and fathers around. Everyone then was in chaos after the thought sank in their minds...he might be right, the oracles want a life of a human for a sacrifice....but will they give their offspring? their life which they hardly fought for? what sacrifice other than life shall they give which can appease the oracles...
"STOP!!!!!! YOU FOOLS!" Malik's voice echoed, it was so loud that it made the birds from the tree flow away, and beast on the land hibernate, "i have thought that Egos might be right, it must have been a human sacrifice...but the dilemma of who is in question now?...then i have the answer..." everyones ear is on Malik, no other sound can be heard except his voice, "I have lost my wife who is so dear to me, and so is my daughter, my very happiness, my world...because of my selfish way of living, because of my greed....then...let me sacrifice my life, i cannot afford to see anybody being killed again, i shall then be the sacrifice." he ended his speech
"No Malik!" the old Apo Albay stood up, "I am old, my time in this world is to end soon, whether there is monster or none, let me sacrifice my life then."
"But there would be no one to summon the oracles if you die Apo" reasoned Malik, "I shall be the sacrifice"
"I can be the sacrifice!" an innocent young boy butt in, "I want to be sacrifice"
"No Argos" Malik smiled at the young boy "You have lots of time to see the world and do the things maybe impossible"
"Then let me Malik!!!" it was bujin, a blind warrior, "I've been blinded by the creatures, i have no reason to be called warrior and live...i shall sacrifice my life, in this way atleast i can still help." he was standing, his eyes were binded with dirty white cloth to hide the shocking truth about his lost eyes
"You have been a great warrior bunjin, that even in your blindness you were able to fight, i have already decided, and whoever wants to replace me must fight me and won over me!" there was silence after this words were delivered, "Now...is there anyone to challenge me...whoever won shall be the sacrifice!"
Malik went to the center of the encircled people, waited......
"Ahhhhhhhhhhh," MAlik turned around to find a young warrior, Aldor attack him at the back with his wooden stick, "i shall challenge you!"
"Very well then!" he dodge the stick to the left, held the stick with his right hand and hit Aldor to his stomach, the young warrior felt the pain run into his brain and his body froze, unresponding. This stirred the other warriors spirit, and they attacked Malik, in front, sides, back, but their effort was useless for Malik's strength and speed outweigh them. he dodges every attacks and give a blow only God knows how strong...
This goes on and on....until almost everyone, even the women finally give up. There is no one other than Malik...the great warrior
At the dawn of that day...Malik was tied in the altar...They beg to kill Malik first before he was burn, but MAlik declined, he wanted to feel the heat....he wanted his death....remembered.

He was burning, they can smell a burning flesh....they are expecting cry from excuriating pain...but there was none, he remained quiet...until he succumbed to death....and burned....everyone was crying as they see their hero being burn away. Apo Albay can't help but cry as he was chanting words....still only he kows the translation, and then......

A human form from the smoke that comes from Malik's body

"You have learned well" a woman's voice spoke to them, everyone bowed down, nobody dared to peek at the human form, "For this sacrifice, and the compassion everyone have shown i shall forgive thee, but then curse is a curse, and it cannot be undone."
"What shall we do your great oracle" Apo Albay asked
"I shall then bless this place you all work hard to build, and everyone shall stay here, for outside this altar you are vulnerable to the creatures that hunted you. In time as we have agreed, your savior shall come, 3 women of different origin shall unexpectedly come, they shall free you from this creature, and shall free you from this curse...to when they will arrive you shall not know....but the virtue of waiting shall be put in test" from this she added, "the sky will turn dark, 7 days, 7 nights, but it shall not rain,it shall be dark, remember to expect the unexpected." the voice and form disappers after saying this words.

Then they were satisfied, they felt good, and felt renewed
Malik should have seen this...he'll be very proud

The people of Garokia waited, they encounter the creature, but it never enterd the city, they find a way to procure food, water, tools. Still they waited...they will wait...they will come, if not for them but for their future generation.
They have waited so long that they have seen the arrival of fleets, white men colorful dresses, then the men conquered many places except theirs for they cannot be found easily, then they name the island Philippines....They should have named it Garokia for they were the first to come....but what the heck? they need to survive...name is not important anymore...then they were replaced by other white men, they have metal thing that shoots another metal thing, then it stings...but still they cannot find garokia. Generation after generation Garokian people evolve, from the very powerful to normal, ordinary humans. Then comes the yellow men, small eyes...but they did not last long....then.....then....can't keep track of time anymore.

It was dark this day, for the first time in their life....they see darkness in 3pm time...then it come to them....the prophecy.......their savior is coming.

When everyone was anticipating rain...it did not come, it was dark....but at the same time it was hot, as if its just the surrounding that changed, the climate did not. The whole day was dark....then the next day, and another day, and another...

A woman in black hair is carrying a dead woman in her arms, her skin is white, her eyes were black, round, tears flowing on her white cheeks...in her eyes is the look of revenge...but then she have to find her way...her destiny says so.

She was walking on the streets, her black leather suit were torned, a mark of struggle was obvious, her hair, with streaks of red were disorganized maybe as a result of a great fight, her eyes were burning with anger, but she have to run away, she have to regain her strength, lost in a battle with demons....inside and outside her body.

In her dreams, she was told of her story, who she is, what she really is, and how great can she be. Is it in her blood that she cannot resist greatness? is it in her blood that dictates her what to do or not to do....is it her fate that she now is leaving the comfort of her home and family to find something indefinite? she stroke her black hair, with white bangs, and white braided hair tail. Her yellow eyes was covered with sunglass...tho' it is dark out there, she can't let anybody sees it...they'll freak out for sure...its one in a million, she is definitely sure.

The bus she was riding (a Baliwag Transit) was headed for cabanatuan, she don't know why she is going there, the only thing she know is that that is where her brain wants her to go. The bus stopped before it enters the express way. a young woman with black hair, wearing a white shirt, maong pants, and a maong jacket, without anything on her feet entered the bus, she then seated beside the girl with white bangs. They look at each other as if by destiny they have to find each other. But no one spoke, they remain silent as the bus collector approach the woman with black hair for her payment, she took a hanky from her pocket and counted coins, then pay the collector. The trip went smooth and well.
by the end of the express way, another woman entered the bus, she was wearing a black leather, torned with red streaks on her hair, she sat opposite the woman with black hair, when the collector went to her, she hissed in anger, the collector frozed with fear, the woman with black hair saw everything, knew that she's not gonna pay so she again took her hanky from her pocket and paid for the other woman. a nice gesture....the woman with red streaks look at her
"I didnt ask you to pay!" she started arrogantly, the other woman did not speak
"You should have said thank you instead of your sarcasm!" butt the woman with white bangs
"Who are you? its not your business silly!" she answered
"Who is silly? you...rotten woman!"
"Tell me...what do you want? cow!!!!!" the red streaked hair woman was shouting
"Thats enough, i dont need your thank you....and its not your business" she looking at the red streak hair woman then the woman with white bangs , she then smiled afterwards, "lets just be calm."

The bus trip went well, no more arguments, no more sounds from the women....

SCREEEEECCCCHHHHH
The bus have to stop, it wont start
"Damn this Bus!!!!!!" cried the woman with red streak hair, "I'm getting off!" shouted she to the bus driver
"I'm off too!" said the woman with white bangs
"Are you following me?" ask sarcastically by the woman with red streak hair
"This is my destination asshole!" the other woman with red streak hair raised her middle finger up which angered the woman with white bangs
"Okay....enough you two....let this be our destination, besides i dont know where we are" the black haired woman butt in again, "do you? this is your destination right?" she ask the woman with white bangs
"Dont have any idea either"
"So? how come this is your destination?" for the first time it was a civilized question.
she shrugged her shoulder

They proceeded...walking