The sun rose slowly over San Miguel, casting long shadows through the trees. Maria woke up feeling tired, as if the weight of her dreams had pressed down on her. She glanced at the clock—it was already past nine in the morning. Andres had already left for the market with his father, leaving her alone with her thoughts and worries.
Maria rubbed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to shake off the feeling of unease that clung to her. She got out of bed and made her way to the kitchen, where Lola was preparing breakfast. The aroma of fried rice and eggs filled the air, and the sound of sizzling made her stomach growl.
“Good morning, Maria!” Lola smiled, her voice cheerful despite the grayness outside. “Are you feeling better today?”
“Good morning, Lola,” Maria replied, forcing a smile. “I slept poorly, but I’m okay.”
Lola noticed the tiredness in her eyes. “You should take it easy, dear. The first few months of pregnancy can be tough. Just relax and enjoy the quiet here.”
“Thanks, Lola. I will,” Maria said, but her mind wandered back to the stories of the Manananggal. She decided she wouldn’t let those tales haunt her. The village was supposed to be a safe place.
After breakfast, Maria stepped outside to take a breath of fresh air. The sun was hidden behind thick clouds, and the air felt heavy and still. She walked around the garden, admiring the flowers and herbs Lola had planted. It was peaceful, yet she couldn’t shake off the eerie feeling.
As she wandered, she noticed a small path leading into the woods. She hesitated, looking back at the house. Should she explore or stay close to home? Curiosity pulled her, and she slowly made her way down the path. The trees loomed overhead, their branches reaching out like twisted fingers.
The deeper she went, the darker it became. The sunlight barely penetrated the canopy, and the air grew colder. Maria felt a shiver run down her spine. She stopped, listening to the silence. The usual sounds of birds and insects were absent. It felt as if the woods were holding their breath.
“Maybe I should turn back,” she thought, but her feet moved forward, drawn by something unseen.
As she walked, she stumbled upon a small clearing filled with wildflowers. It was beautiful, a stark contrast to the darkness surrounding it. She knelt down to touch the flowers, admiring their bright colors. Suddenly, she heard a rustling in the bushes nearby.
Her heart raced. “Is someone there?” she called out, but only silence answered her. Maria stood up quickly, feeling a strange sensation wash over her. It was as if someone was watching her. She turned to leave but felt a cold breeze whip around her, sending chills down her spine.
On her way back, she caught sight of something out of the corner of her eye. A shadow flitted between the trees. Maria stopped, her heart pounding in her chest. “Hello?” she called, trying to sound brave. No answer came.
Fighting her fear, she quickened her pace, finally reaching the house. She slammed the door shut behind her, breathing heavily. “I’m just being silly,” she muttered to herself, trying to calm her racing heart.
Later that evening, Andres returned home, bringing fresh vegetables and fruit from the market. He looked cheerful and excited. “You won’t believe what I saw!” he exclaimed. “The old man at the market told me a story about the Manananggal. He said it’s been spotted near here.”
Maria’s heart sank. “Why are you bringing this up, Andres?” she asked, her voice shaky. “You know how I feel about those stories.”
Andres laughed, thinking she was joking. “Come on! It’s just a story. You can’t believe everything they say. They just want to scare you.”
“I don’t think it’s funny,” Maria said, crossing her arms. “This place is already creepy enough without adding more fear.”
Andres noticed the seriousness in her tone and softened. “Okay, okay. Let’s not talk about it. We have dinner to prepare.”
As they cooked together, the tension slowly faded. They laughed and joked, but Maria couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was lurking in the shadows. Later, as they sat down to eat, the atmosphere felt heavy, almost suffocating.
After dinner, they decided to watch a movie to distract themselves. As they settled on the couch, the wind howled outside, rattling the windows. Maria felt a sense of unease creep back in.
“I’ll go check on my parents,” Andres said, standing up. “They usually go to bed early.”
Maria nodded, trying to act brave. “I’ll be fine here.”
Andres left the room, and Maria was left alone with the flickering light of the TV. She glanced around, feeling the weight of the darkness pressing in on her. The shadows seemed to dance on the walls, making her skin crawl.
Suddenly, a loud thud echoed from outside. Maria jumped, her heart racing. She grabbed a pillow and hugged it close, trying to calm herself. What was that? She glanced toward the window, but all she could see was darkness.
Minutes later, Andres returned, and Maria sighed in relief. “Did you hear that noise?” she asked, her voice trembling.
“What noise?” he replied, looking confused. “I didn’t hear anything.”
“Never mind,” she said, shaking her head. “Maybe I imagined it.”
They returned to the movie, but Maria’s mind was elsewhere. The darkness outside felt oppressive, and every little sound made her jump. She decided to go to bed early, hoping sleep would bring her peace.
That night, as she lay in bed, the wind continued to howl outside, and the shadows seemed to grow longer. Maria pulled the blanket over her head, trying to shut out the darkness.
Just as she began to drift off, a loud crash echoed from the kitchen, making her sit up in bed. Her heart raced, and she quickly got out of bed. “Andres!” she called, her voice shaking.
He rushed into the room, eyes wide with concern. “What happened?”
“I heard something in the kitchen,” she whispered, terrified.
“Stay here,” he said, moving toward the door. Maria followed him, her heart pounding in her chest.
They crept into the kitchen, where the dim light illuminated broken dishes scattered on the floor. The window was wide open, swaying in the breeze.
“What the heck?” Andres exclaimed, surveying the mess. “How did this happen?”
“I don’t know,” Maria whispered, feeling a chill run down her spine. “It feels…wrong.”
Andres knelt down to pick up the shards of glass. “It’s probably just the wind. Let’s clean this up.”
As they worked together, Maria couldn’t shake the feeling that they were not alone. A sense of dread washed over her, and she glanced toward the window, half-expecting to see something lurking outside. But the darkness remained still.
After cleaning up the mess, they returned to their room. Andres turned off the lights, and Maria climbed back into bed, feeling more unsettled than ever. “What if it was the Manananggal?” she thought. “What if it’s watching us?”
“Don’t think like that,” she whispered to herself, trying to push the thoughts away. But the fear wouldn’t leave.
That night, sleep eluded her. She kept hearing strange noises outside—the rustling of leaves, the faint sound of whispers carried by the wind. Every creak of the house made her jump.
Finally, just before dawn, exhaustion took over, and she drifted into a restless sleep. In her dreams, she saw a woman with long hair and sharp teeth, floating above her. The woman’s eyes glowed with hunger as she reached for Maria’s belly.
Maria woke up with a start, her heart racing. It was still dark outside, but the fear clung to her. She quietly got out of bed, hoping to grab a glass of water to calm her nerves.
As she walked through the house, she felt the air grow colder, as if a chill had settled in. She tiptoed to the kitchen, careful not to make any noise. The house was silent, but Maria felt a strange energy in the air.
Suddenly, she heard a soft, eerie laugh echo through the hallway. Maria froze, her heart pounding in her chest. “Andres?” she whispered, but there was no response.
The laugh echoed again, low and haunting. Maria’s breath hitched as she slowly turned toward the source of the sound. It came from outside, through the open window in the living room.
“Just the wind,” she told herself, but deep down, she knew it felt different.
Cautiously, she approached the window and peered out into the darkness. The moonlight cast an otherworldly glow over the garden, but all she saw were shadows dancing in the wind.
Suddenly, a figure moved in the corner of her eye. She jerked her head to the side and gasped. There, standing at the edge of the garden, was a woman. Her hair was long and tangled, and her clothes were tattered. The woman turned her head slowly, and Maria felt her blood run cold.
The woman’s face was beautiful but twisted, her eyes glowing in the darkness. She smiled, revealing sharp teeth that glinted in the moonlight. Maria stumbled back, her heart racing.