Chapter 11: Good Friday

Good Friday, Seville Forest

The soil absorbed the blood of the six people who put a knife into their chest. Blood disappeared at a speed visible to the naked eye. Then, the symbols on the slab that covered the ancient well glowed red, and that red glow intensified and shot through the sky, covering the moon.

The moon turned red as blood and shone menacingly on the world. However, the red tinge soon disappeared, followed by the cracking of the slab that covered the ancient well. Soon wisps of black smoke began to escape through the cracks until it formed into a black, gigantic horned creature that stretched its three-fingered claw toward the sky.

The other side of the world. Pan-ay, Visayas, Philippines

In a village, in one of the local tribes in the Pan-ay Mountain, seven rings of tribal people were kneeling and facing towards the only raised hut in the village. It was the house of the chieftain. Inside, the cries of a woman about to give birth can be heard.

Meanwhile, the tribesmen chanted an earthen song, as old as time, passed through generations of mountain people, or what they call themselves as Bukidnon*(Bukidnon- root word bukid, meaning mountain; a term used to call people living in the mountain). There were no words to that song, only chanting and humming. Joining them in their vigils were towering figures clad in white, some had multiple eyes, some had four wings, and others sported four hands. Despite their oddities, they exude a holy light, enveloping the village, and isolating it from darkness.

Outside the seven rings composed of kneeling tribesmen, another seven rings were formed by various creatures with glowing features. Some were elven-like dressed in elaborate war clothes, others were tiny creatures with green skin and reptilian hide, some were half-horse half-human, others half-buffalo, half-human.

There were also seven rings made of tiny people, their form almost indistinguishable from the tall grasses. Another seven rings were made by transparent souls with black chains protruding from their belly buttons. The final ring was composed of kneeling giants, with horns as tall as the sky. Their red eyes bathed with tears, their skin cracked as dark blood flowed due to the intense presence on holy light. They were chained with glowing words and bound to wide ancient trees.

They all surrounded the house and the tribesmen, facing outward as if expecting a war. In the quiet night, the scream of the woman about to give birth was quite jarring. Suddenly a loud screech, brought upon by a giant bird made the guards look up.

The moon bled red. Red light fell into the land, but never onto the hut. The creatures guarding the hut turned into ash once the light of the red moon hit their skin. The towering creatures, radiating holy light rose into the air and opened their wings.

Although it only lasted for a second, the blood moon caused a lot of death. The tribesmen were spared because of the protection of the seven ringed guardians that disappeared with a golden flash after the rays of the blood moon shone upon them.

"Aaah!" The woman inside the hut screamed, followed by a wailing of a child. The tribesmen ended their chants upon hearing the cries of the babe. They all prostrated while laughing merrily.

"The child bearing the mark of Bathala*(God or Supreme being in Filipino Mythology) has arrived." A sonorous voice said as the crowd erupted in cheer.