CASE #1 TIKBALANG GANGBANG (PART 2)

“You look awful,  apo. Didn’t you get a  good sleep?”

Nightmares are typical to Denzel. Ever since he was still a child, most of the dreams that visit him in ungodly hours range from bizarre to something that will leave him clutching his heart as if he was about to have a heart attack upon waking up. When he starts to have a growth spurt, he manages to learn a kind of dreaming technique taught by her Lolo Virtudazo to pacify the demons of her slumber.

Yet from time to time, some fragments of the diabolic dreams still manage to slip past through his mental defense. And whenever that happens, he knows it's another omen that he must take careful notice of; something awful is about to happen, and whether he likes it or not he will get involved in it.

After all, that is his job as a freelance occult investigator.

“As usual, another bad dream Lo…so bad I want to puk--” And without even finishing his sentence, he started to throw up on his bed due to the astronomical disgust that still lingers on her mind after the nightmare he saw; a group of Tikbalang, half man half horse beings straight from old folks horror stories they dug from their equally ancient baul, is gangbanging a helpless maiden with a broken eyeglass inside a world where everything changes its colors every time you blink.

“Sorry Lo, my stomach just can’t help it.”

“Don’t worry about it. I don’t mind it at all.” Lolo Virtudazo or Lolo Vir smile at his apo while his whole translucent fiery figure shimmer only when the contents of Denzel’s stomach burst forth towards him. Being a ghost has its perks and one of it is that you don’t bother anymore getting dirty or smelly.

Lolo Vir’s phantom remained earthbound due to his insistence to guide his grandchild who willingly takes his mantle even though he has a good future that awaits him if he chooses a normal life. He has a scholarship during his college which he really worked hard just to achieve it, a supportive family that only wishes for him to become a university professor, friends that keep his spirit high in highs and lows.

And yet he turns his back away from all of it and embraces the life where he eats demons, ghosts, and at times mad gods for breakfast. A life with dangers that can not be solved by any common means and will require anyone who follow its patch seclusion and isolation.

In short, an existence that veers away from everything that is human.

Lolo Vir sometimes doubts whether he made the right decision of teaching his grandson the way of the occult since it seems it robs him the life that is more comfortable and safer. But his grandson determination fueled by the stubbornness he inherited from his mother has left him no choice but to pour on every knowledge and wisdom he has as the Old Magus of the North.

Besides, he has no choice but to train someone he trusts with the duty he has been doing ever since without getting any gratitude or recognition despite saving a town, a city, or even a country a couple of times as they get trapped in the unseen web of the supernaturals.

“Where is Lolo Vic, by the way?” Upon arriving at their kitchen, Denzel notices that his second guardian spirit, who usually hangs around their kitchen and opening random shelves and his fridges (a habit he always tries to negotiate to no avail with her grandfather from his mother side since it will scare the shit out of his visitors if they saw her cabinets opening themselves one by one on their own) is not around.

“Oh…I have a bad feeling about this.” Lolo Vir said ominously. After a second, a buxom lady starts to run like she’s on fire from their comfort room. She is technically naked with only a towel wrap around carelessly around her chest while she carries all her clothes and stiletto shoes along the way.

“What the--”

Then from the comfort room comes another fiery translucent figure who has this impish grin on his lips and a refreshed look on his face.

“LOLO VIC! WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO THIS TIME!”

“Easy there apo. Your lolo just got bored so he just has some good time. Maybe you can learn from me so that it will lessen those eyebags of yours and turn you into a much macho like me.” Lolo Vic laughs as he proceeds on the shelves and checked for some coffee to start his morning.

Victorio Cabucasan was a known Master when it comes to the dark arts during his ripe years. He is a natural when it comes to the occult and later on, he manages to strike a deal with a patron from the underworld which essentially turns him the first Grand Warlock; a title that only meant for the most notorious wizards who are willing to go for the extreme in the name of might and magic.

His boldness and live fast die young way of life, however, quicken his mortal existence after botching a ceremony that should make him control an alien god from the outer chasm of the cosmos. Now, like Lolo Vir, he becomes an earthbound phantom whose mission is to guide his beloved grandchild to finish his unfinished project as the Grand Warlock.

This also means, trying to push or rather encourage Denzel to make a pact with powerful yet dangerous spirits from either the underworld or from other nameless planes of existence.

“Let me guess, you role-play again as an Incubus and seduce that poor young woman?” Lolo Vir sigh in disbelief. He can’t stand the presence of Victorio who he believes is a bad influence on his grandchild’s mission. But Denzel insists that he needs the guidance of both the Old Magus and the Grand Warlock since they can both teach him the left and right path of the occult.

“You got it right old man. That was really fun until she snaps out of my salamangka and found out that she is making lump out of nothing at all!” Lolo Vic snorted as he looks for a mug on the shelves.

“I am sure she will get more terrified when he found out that your house Apo is located near an abandoned church and a graveyard for the psychos!”

“Enough lolo! And no coffee today or for eternity! You are a ghost remember?” Denzel buries his palm on his head out of disbelief and headache that greeted his already awful morning.

“Relax apo..you don’t have to remind again and again I am already but a sentient wisp of air. By the way, what’s with the awful face in this lovely morning?” Lolo Vic asked while also trying to hide his hurt feeling after hearing his apo castigating him and reminding him again that he is an abnormality in the mortal realm now.

“Nightmares, Vic. You know the drill. Anytime we might hit the road again.”

“So what about it this time?”

“Tikbalang rape.”

Before Lolo Vic needs to muffled his laughter upon hearing the ridiculous dream to not offend again Denzel but the damage was done this time. He can’t control himself after hearing the joke of the day.

Denzel is about to spit out another litany to his grandfather when his phone rings. It was a notification coming from an app called Saturn Watch. It is also the name of the agency that serves as the watchdog of the demons and monsters that roam the earth. When there are some anomalies going on involving the supernatural, they immediately provide a feed on their forum that can not be read by anyone in the world unless they are a registered Occult Investigator.

It serves as the bulletin board and a wanted poster where anyone can pick their target and get a reward after completing the job. Despite the fact that they want it to not sound to commercial, the compensation is needed as a motivation for an occult investigator who need also to support their day to day to life.

“It's official, we are dealing with a new case.” Denzel clicks the confirm button and swallows the deposit of saliva on his mouth. Things will get pretty hellish today and he will need to steel himself, as well as his stomach if he wanted to finish this case without any casualty.