LILY

In far, far away land, there lived a gentle giant, who knew nothing about cruelty, abuses and the like. In fact, he was the favorite among his kind by the little people in the island. However, not all had this kind of liking to him especially the one who thought he should have had all the attention of other beings in the island, solely for himself alone. This insecure kind of a brute was simply jealous of him and would do everything to appear the good one to the eyes of many.

In fact, the kind giant was so careful not to offend anyone for he knew very well that it would be dangerous a venture to carelessly walk among eggs, one misstep would cause life and limb.

However, he observed extreme wariness, this insecure, big-headed giant would be a scheming brute with just one slight of his pride he would do maligning-spree his enemy's character, portraying the kind one as the bad one. Spreading blatant lies so as to destroy his nemesis image in the process.

But to no avail. Little people or islanders were smart enough to believe not a single lie being hurled on him. For they knew better. What they had not known was unthinkable though. For truth seemed to be hidden behind the nuances of sweet talks, so-called concern-for-one's-welfare thingy.

Good things persisted; but, from cracks and gaps, sometimes, bad things could occur. That was why,

this bottled up emotion of the bad giant over the kind one had gone awry. He finally devised a scheme which convinced the other giants that his nemesis was the cause of a fatal blow to the leadership of their community. Indeed, he succeeded and was able to creating a stir which had resulted to petition the kind giant to leave the island for good of everybody. The kind giant went away with a heavy heart, and settled in a typhoon-ravaged island where existing was a daily battle of grit and ­wit.

Many years had passed by. Until …

Chapter 1: Play Thing

Where to?

Huh?

You talking to me?

Nope. Talking to my hand.

Lol

Why are you so sarcastic today?

Well, as always been.

But, you can be different if you will.

Or, I can be same nonetheless.

It's your choice, grumpy old pop.

Have you seen, Lily?

Nope.

What has she been up?

No idea.

Might as well, ask around. They might know her whereabouts.

Off, he went to the beach.

No one knew where Lily was. So he went to the nearby rice field.

He met, Amon, the farmer.

Are you not busy today my friend?

Why?

Don't want to bother you 'bout anything, unless you want to.

Go on.

Really?

It's a miracle.

Nope.

Sometimes we need to surprise people, or even ourselves.

Oh, yes, am I supposed to be surprised?

Your Lily?

Yes.

I saw her a while ago.

Where?

There!

He fixed his gaze on a not so far island in the horizon, perhaps a hundred thousand or so stone-hopping on the surface of the water after been hurled by a mighty giant to combat boredom, or destroy peace of lake's surface as it mirrors the serene sky full of fluffy cottony clouds. As told by tradition, those who ventured in there were not able to go back to their old self. Been that way, as if one would not get back alive and sane once the spirits of the island took his or her kinabuhi.

And he felt the shudder of his whole being, as in. Can't be. Lily won't go there he thought. No way.

I admire your daughter. She's brave. She will be like a man someday.

No.

I won't let that to happen.

She is just a child. She won't act like an adult er, a man for that matter and suffer the consequences.

Well, Lily was here in the forbidden island. An island of skulls and curse and witchcraft.

One, two, three…

Three little pebbles, white and round.

These are pretty things to me.

Lily was too absorbed; she was not aware of things to happen that day. She was totally clueless.

While Lily was busy playing on the sand unmindful of a sinister shadow moving toward her, a rusty crab crawled toward her as if telling her to look over the sky and see a cloud of monster which was about to pass by her. But, Lily was not aware, even a bit. Her little hands were busy on making small holes on the sand.

One, two, three…

Need to make more holes for all my pebbles to stay. Or, they will be tossed and gotten lost in the ebb of little waves upon the beach line.

The rhythm of the foamy salt water as it touches the beach line could be like a hushed lullaby sung by a bosomy mother to slumber her ever dear bundle of joy on her wrapped arm while sweats were running down her forehead to her face toward her half-exposed breast.

Lily, are you not minding time? It's already noon. You need to do some errands.

Oh, papa. I almost forget.

Get up and let's hurry.

Okies.

And they went toward the greenery. As they were walking through narrow path, father and daughter strode to the tickets and emerged from the vast clearing toward a brook where wild flowers were in robust growth.

One, two, three…

Flowers for you and me, papa.

Oh, thank you, Lily.

They were about to cross the brook when Lily saw something shining shimmering splendid near a protruding rock. It was a beauty to behold. Amazed and curious, father went near the object and about to reach for it with his knotty arms when a sharp shout of an owl flapping its wings away made him stop and arm unmoving for sec. Aside from her papa, Lily saw the poignant scene and could not believe her eyes that such a thing was there; holding them both enthralled.

Now, as they trudged the way toward their boat, she gazed one more time to the shadow which had grown a little smaller than she first saw it. In fact, Lily was wondering how on earth such a thing happened to exist. Hmm something bizarre or strange could be behind this, she thought.

While her papa was preparing the boat to get off the shore onto the wide blue sea, she glanced again for the third time ensuring that thing could have left or so, but to her amazement it was still there hovering on her as if it was a friend afraid missing her. She waved her right hand to the thing and smiled before she embarked on the boat.

After a minute or so, while the boat was on the vast ocean making its way amidst the little crests and ebbs as it crosses its way to the opposite direction, to where they lived and thrived and survived, a sigh of relief seen on her face when the full view of the seeming growing image of the island as their boat was nearing its destination:

Island Paraiso.

They heard the sounds of drum beatings and the laughter and the shouts and noise of people celebrating a festival. Lily could not help but to sway and get lost in the rhythm of the island. Carefree and free-spirited, she let loose herself to the sounds created by men and women and children who were also under the spell of the enchanting music which not only made them all in one spirit embodying their unity and love and respect to each other to the environment to animals and to plants partaking their festivity. This was a scene so abhorring to one who had been a big hindrance to their happiness and all and now, as always, would not let this one past without giving them their punishment.

Merry now, mourn later.

You little brains.

For I, the one with the power and strength and will to make you my play things.

No one will be more than me.

All of you will be under me.

For I am me.

Full of me.

Hehe

And his laughter roared like thunder in a warm air colliding with cold air in this part of the earth where magic and reality had a blurred marking in-between.

So anything could exist depending on the perception of the one conscious enough about the phenomenon or one who never had a little hint at all of any uncommon occurrences caught by discriminating eyes, ears and skin. Lily was one of those who could sense even a minute energy, be they positive or negative for she had been gifted with an extra sense of perception. And this was either a curse or a bliss depending on how it impacted her.

Lily.

Called her friend, Mertle.

Oh, beshy. Why?

I miss you.

Same here.

Where have you been?

There.

Pointed the island.

What did you do there?

Play.

Alone?

Yes.

Are you not afraid?

Afraid?

She laughed.

To whom?

To the bad giant.

Hmm, he's my friend.

Friend?

How come, he's bad.

We're both.

Stop that, Lily.

Drizzles came. They went to a nearby tree and take cover under it.

Rain is bad, too.

Nope.

They are good for the plants.

Raindrops.

Look at them.

Lily made her lips pointing to an adjacent orchid thriving on a bark just a little far from them attached to a crevice just beneath a bigger branch.

Ilang ilang

Mertle quipped.

Lovely

Like us.

While they were talking about the orchid, they were clueless of a creeping insect few inches from where Lily was. Its grimy feature and menacing eyes could send Lily or Mertle to the bottom of kinabuhi, or die.

Well, look what I have here. Two humans good for my whole week food-binged spree.

Lucky me.

Never had this kind of luck for ages. Now, I must be quick as an arrow to pin down these two humans, one at a time. A single bite will do.

But between the two girls who would be my first taste of human blood?

Would it be possible if I bit Lily first, her friend Mertle won't run and leave Lily anguishing in pain, or would both run before I could bite any of them?

Hmm ..how would I know? Better do it now than sorry later. But here's the plan:

I would grab her left arm and bite at once. Then while she's in pain with the venom am injecting her through my sharp, pointed snout, Mertle would be thinking of escaping; so, before she could escape from my claws, I would have to get her by the neck and poke with my venom. But wait, I should first see to it that neither of these girls would be able to feel that am here and about to ruin their day and their very lives!

I must be careful not giving any of them even a slight hint hehe

Good thing the rain stops. Let's go.

Wait.

Why?

I feel like something in here.

Where?

Look around.

Huh?

You mean, we have company?

Yes.

Who?

Dunno yet?

Is he bad?

How do I know?

You do not have a slightest idea who is here to kill you.

Hehe

For today is your last. Pray then that you go in heaven after this.

One, two, three…

What are you counting for?

Let's leave.

Wait.

Why?

Need to know who is here with us.

But, we need to go now.

Just a sec.

Silence. They were both observing the surrounding. Lily was looking at the bushes behind the tree, whereas Mertle was just sitting while groping a small rock as weapon when bad comes to worse.

Be ready for any action, Mertle.

Wow. Are we in for another adventure?

Right here. Right now.

Hehe

You dunno what kind of fight you are in today, kiddos. You might be dead later, so why waste your time looking for something you are not able to see. For, I am invincible.

Sshh.

Something is moving toward us.

What?

Just listen.

Unmoving. Breathless. Even their heartbeats were controlled. As if they did not want to create any distraction which could make them clueless of an impending danger. From any front it could attack them, Lily thought.

Am afraid.

Don't

How?

Dunno. But we need to arm ourselves with inner bravery.

Was there an outside one?

Yes.

Feigning courage.

I don't see anything moving or what.

Yes, for the enemy is hiding for he is a coward.

Hiding?!

Coward?!

You little brains, am not hiding, am not a coward.

Am just simply acting like a mist. You never see but I exist.

Hehe

He'shovering us.

Mertle stood up and looked up. She saw nothing but the green foliage of the tree branches canopying over their heads.

I saw nothing.

Feel it.

Said, Lily.

You mean he is invincible?

Yes.

Hehe

Little brains I adore you. You are becoming smart. Well, even if you are smarter than your ancestors, still you are under my mercy. I see you. You don't see me.

I feel him. He's just anywhere between that branch and this branch.

Straddling?

Yes.

Like a monkey-spider?

Oh, hoho

You guessed it right, Mertle.

How come a monkey-spider in this time of year?

Why?

This is enchanted island. Anything is possible.

Hehe

You got it right, Lily.

This island is enchanted. Anything is possible. Except your safety and kinabuhi. Which is mine.

Mine.

What shall we do then?

Observe.

Feel.

Hmm

While they were on for the big fight with invincible spider-monkey, Lily's father approached them.

Let's go home.

Both girls were elated when he approaches them as if they had been longing for a savior from a dire situation.

What are you up to?

Spider-monkey

Hmm.

This old man has been my nemesis. How could he always appear when I am about to make a kill. Oh I should get him dead first before I could have these kiddos' blood oozing with vigor. But, nope. Should wait for better day. Next time will be my time. I will eventually savor the blood of these kiddos and gain my physical body once again. Patience is a virtue. I should eat more patience now for the meantime.

And he munched the soft leaves of the tree, with gusto.