The City's Deadly Embrace

The City's Deadly Embrace

The plane was landing on Samar Island. It was foggy and the fog was so thick that it was like twilight, even though it might have been daytime. Was this how Biringan City hid itself, she wondered, a metropolis of shimmering spires and crystalline structures, veiled from ordinary eyes?

Stories said Biringan City was beautiful, but also dangerous. It was like a trap, hurting those who went there.

"Biringan City? Romance, Khailah, romance!" her publisher's voice boomed through the phone, practically vibrating with disapproval. "Stick to what you know, and what sells! What do you know about mythical cities and Engkantos?"

Khailah sighed, staring out the airplane window. Samar Island was fast approaching, and with it, her last chance to salvage her dwindling career.

Her last three novels were commercial flops. Readers were tired of her predictable love stories, and critics called her work "stale" and "uninspired."

She had to find something new and exciting. Biringan City seemed like just the thing with its whispers of enchanted beings and hidden portals.

But Khailah was determined.

She'd always been a little rebellious and too curious for her own good. Maybe this was her chance to prove them wrong, to weave a tale that blended her signature romance with the magic and mystery of Biringan City. After all, even the most unbelievable stories needed a touch of love, didn't they?

As the plane touched down, a thrill of anticipation coursed through her. This wasn't just a research trip but a journey into the unknown, a chance to rediscover her passion and reinvent herself. Biringan City awaited, and with it, perhaps, the key to her literary resurrection.

Her research led her to the depths of Samar, where the remnants of Biringan City were said to lie.

Khailah stumbled upon the tale of Kaelan, a scholar who'd vanished into Biringan City, consumed by his thirst for forbidden knowledge. Then there was Anya, the young woman lured by the city's siren call. Both never return and are missing.

A chill ran down Khailah's spine. Were these stories mere cautionary tales, or was there a darker truth lurking beneath the legends?

An old woman in the village told her, "You'll find it just past the waterfall with two rainbows." But the old woman had a strange look in her eyes, and Khailah wasn't sure if she could be trusted.

Late one night, huddled in her mosquito-netted hut, Khailah swatted away another mosquito, cursing under her breath.

One month. One month she'd been hacking through this infernal jungle, chasing waterfalls and fireflies, all based on the ramblings of drunks and madmen. She kicked a loose rock, sending it skittering down the path.

"Useless," she muttered, "absolutely useless."

She slumped against a moss-covered tree trunk, the humid air heavy with the scent of decaying leaves. This was it. Her last day. Another dead end. Tomorrow, she'd pack her bags and admit defeat.

But as she turned to leave, a figure emerged from the dense undergrowth.

An old fisherman, his face weathered and creased, his eyes holding a flicker of something... knowing. This was Mang Amado, who whispered to have escaped Biringan City's clutches. She knew from the village gossip that he was also a widower with a sick child and mounting debts.

She smirked. The old took her bait.

"Mang Amado," she began, her voice carefully measured. "I know you've seen things... things others wouldn't believe. I can help you and your son, but I need your help in return. Show me the way."

A flicker of hesitation crossed his face, then a resigned nod. I went to the shore to meet him as he returned from his fishing trip.

"It is a dangerous place," he warned, his voice husky. "Many have entered, but few return. And I couldn't even guarantee that we can find it again."

"I'm willing to take the risk," Khailah said, her voice firm despite the tremor in her heart.

Khailah felt a knot tighten in her stomach. This was it, the culmination of months of research, weeks of planning, and days of travel. This was her last chance to find Biringan City, the mythical city that was said to exist between the realms of the seen and unseen.

If she could find it, if she could prove its existence, she could shove it in her publisher's face. She could write a bestseller, a story that would capture the imagination of the world. She could breathe life back into her dying career.

And so, here she was, in the heart of an ancient forest, following a trail that may or may not lead to a city that may or may not exist. It felt surreal, like stepping into one of her fantasy novels. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves, and the only sounds were the rustling of branches and the chirping of unseen insects.

She glanced at Mang Amado, her guide, a wizened old man with eyes that seemed to hold the wisdom of the forest itself. He had warned her about the dangers of seeking Biringan City, about the creatures that lurked in the shadows, about the city's allure that could trap the unwary soul.

But Khailah was determined. She had come too far to turn back now. She had to know and had to see for herself if Biringan City was real. Even if it was just a legend, even if it was all a fool's dream, she had to see it through. This was more than just a story; it was her salvation.

Mang Amado held up a gnarled hand, signaling her to stop. This was their tenth day of wandering through the forest.

"We are already close," he whispered, his voice barely audible above the rustling leaves.

She wanted to roll her eyes at him. They're like complete idiots with their antics. She was already laughing at how silly she and the old man were. But suddenly, she felt a shift in the atmosphere. Something was different that night.

"Don't believe their promises once we enter Biringan City."

He fixed Khailah with a gaze that was both intense and weary, the eyes of a man who had seen too much of the world's treachery.

"'Yessss, Manong,'" she drawled, the word dripping with sarcasm despite the weariness in her voice.

"They will tempt you," he continued, his gnarled hand tightening around the handle of his bolo. "They will offer you riches, power, even love. They will show you visions of your heart's desires, of all that you long for."

He paused, his gaze boring into Khailah's as if trying to gauge the depths of her resolve.

"But it's all a lie," he said, his voice dropping to a whisper. "A trick to lure you into their web, to trap you in their world of shadows and illusions."

He stepped closer, his voice barely audible above the rustling of leaves.

"They will promise you fame and fortune, but they will take your soul in return. They will offer you eternal life, but it will be a life of servitude and despair."

He straightened up, his eyes blazing with a fierce intensity.

"Don't be fooled by their beauty, their charm, their seductive whispers. They are creatures of darkness, feeding on the hopes and dreams of the unwary."

He pointed a trembling finger towards the path ahead, the path that supposedly led to Biringan City.

"If you value your freedom, your soul, your very essence..." he warned, "Let's turn back now. Don't let their promises lead you to your doom."

Khailah's heart pounded in her chest. The air grew heavy, the silence oppressive. Even the insects seemed to have fallen silent.

Then, as if a veil had been lifted, the mist parted.

The sight of Biringan City, shimmering and ethereal in the fading light, sent a shiver down Khailah's spine. It was more magnificent than she could have ever imagined, a testament to the power of myth and the allure of the unknown. But as they moved closer, a sense of foreboding settled over her. The silence was unnerving, the lack of any signs of life unsettling.

The streets were empty, the buildings hollowed out, like empty eye sockets staring back at her. It was beautiful, yes, but it was a beauty that chilled her to the bone. And in that moment, she knew. This was no ordinary city. This was a place of secrets, a place of danger. A place where she might just find her end.

Mang Amado, his face full of worry, suddenly stopped and put his hand out to stop her.

"We can't go any further," he whispered, his voice raspy. "It's too dangerous. The city... it tricks you, it traps you. You've seen enough."

He turned, his gaze fixed on the shimmering city, a haunted look in his eyes.

"I can tell you what happens to people who go there," he said, his voice heavy with sadness. "The stories of those who were lost, the secrets hidden inside those walls. But please, let's go back now, before it's too late."

But Khailah, her heart pounding with a mix of fear and excitement, was already captivated. This was it, the culmination of her quest, the proof she needed to silence her doubting publisher and reignite her career. The stories were real, the legends true. And she, Khailah, was on the verge of uncovering the greatest story ever told.

"I've come too far to give up," she said, her voice shaking with excitement and maybe a little bit of craziness.

She pushed past Mang Amado, her eyes fixed on the city's beckoning spires. This was her chance to touch the impossible.

Mang Amado, defeated, followed her, his footsteps heavy with fear.

The city's silence was deafening. The buildings seemed to watch them with hollow eyes, their emptiness a stark contrast to the vibrant life Khailah had expected.

They found a hidden chamber behind a shimmering waterfall. Inside, the remnants of a library lay in ruins, its shelves lined with ancient texts. But as Khailah reached out, her fingers met only empty pages.

"Khailah, this is the place... uh... uh..." Mang Amado stuttered, it looked like he couldn't remember.

Khailah greedily continued walking. And in the depths of the library, they found Kaelan and Anya, their bodies still, their eyes vacant. They were mere shells of their former selves, their minds trapped in an endless loop of thoughts, forever consumed by the city's dark secrets. The sight sent a chill down Khailah's spine, a stark reminder of the price of unchecked curiosity.

But before she could fully process the horror before her, a group of figures emerged from the shadows. They were unlike anyone Khailah had ever seen—their faces were strikingly beautiful, almost ethereal, with skin that seemed to shimmer and eyes that held ancient wisdom. But it was their mouths that truly captivated and terrified her. They had no philtrum, the vertical groove between the base of the nose and the border of the upper lip.

The figures moved with gravity-defying grace, their expressions serene yet radiating undeniable power. One, seemingly the leader, stepped forward, his voice resonating with otherworldly authority. Behind him stood a woman, exuding the same aura.

"You should not be here!" he stated, his tone devoid of anger, yet filled with a chilling finality. "This city is not for the eyes of outsiders!"

Mang Amado, his face pale with terror, fell to his knees, his voice a trembling whisper.

"Forgive us..." he pleaded. "I meant no disrespect. I... I was only trying to help."

The leader's eyes narrowed, his gaze piercing Mang Amado's soul.

"You were warned!" he said, his voice laced with disappointment. "You were given a chance to return to your world! Yet you have betrayed our trust, and brought another with you!"

Khailah, frozen in place, felt a wave of fear wash over her. She had stumbled into something far greater, far more dangerous than she could have ever imagined. This was not simply a mythical city; it was a realm beyond human comprehension, a place where the rules of reality were bent and twisted.

The leader turned to Khailah, his eyes filled with curiosity and condemnation.

"You seek knowledge," he stated, his voice echoing through the chamber. "But knowledge comes at a price. Are you willing to pay for it?"

Khailah, her heart pounding in her chest, met his gaze. She had come seeking a story, a spark to reignite her fading career. But now, faced with the reality of Biringan City and its enigmatic inhabitants, she realized that she had stumbled upon a truth far more profound, and far more terrifying than she could have ever imagined.

Before Khailah could even form a response, Mang Amado scrambled to his feet, his voice cracking with desperation.

"We mean no harm..." he pleaded, bowing low. "We will leave now and speak of this to no one. Please, allow us to return to our world."

But as Mang Amado spoke, the very air crackled with unseen energy. A wave of power, palpable and chilling, surged through the chamber, and with a final flicker, the figures vanished—as if they were mere phantoms, never truly there at all.

Khailah gasped as she and Mang Amado were suddenly shoved aside, tumbling onto the cold stone floor.

Scrambling back, they looked up to find two figures standing before them, taller and more imposing than any they had seen before. Their beauty was breathtaking, yet tinged with a terrifying power, their faces veiled in shadow, adding to their aura of mystery.

Behind these towering figures stood four more, two men and two women, their faces uncovered, revealing features that were both alluring and unsettling... than the Engkantos. Their expressions were stern, their eyes holding a silent warning that sent shivers down Khailah's spine.

A wave of nausea washed over her as she recalled the sacrifices she had made to reach this point. The countless hours spent poring over ancient texts, the risky rituals performed in the dead of night, the friendships neglected in her relentless pursuit of the unknown–all of it now seemed a terrible folly.

She had crossed a threshold into a world beyond human understanding, a world where the lines between reality and myth blurred, and where the price of knowledge could be far greater than she ever imagined. Ambition, unchecked and untempered, could lead to ruin just as easily as it could to glory.

This was the true ruler of Biringan City, the embodiment of its magic and mystery. And in their presence, Khailah felt a terrifying sense of insignificance, a realization that she was but a mere mortal caught in the currents of a world far beyond her grasp.

"Welcome, Khailah," the being said, their voice a melodious whisper that resonated deep within her soul. "You have come a long way, and you have much to learn."

Khailah could only nod, her voice stolen by awe. She remembered Mang Amado's fierce refusal when these beings tempted him with promises of wealth and power in exchange for great promises. He had chosen his family, his love for them, over the seductive whispers of Biringan City's magic.

"I am the guardian of this city," the male being continued, "and I have watched you with great interest. You have a thirst for knowledge, and a desire to understand the mysteries of the universe. In Biringan City, that desire can be fulfilled."

The being gestured towards the city, its spires and towers shimmering under the otherworldly light.

"Here, you will have access to knowledge beyond your wildest dreams. You will learn the secrets of life and death, of magic and science, of the past and the future. You will become the wisest, most powerful being in existence. All beings will applaud your wisdom and power."

Khailah gulped, her mind reeling. It sounded incredible, a dream come true. To have access to such knowledge, such power... as an author, it would be the ultimate achievement, the pinnacle of her career.

"This is what you truly want, isn't it?" the being asked, his voice like a beautiful melody that wrapped around her. "A life free from the rules of the real world, a place where magic is real and dreams come true. In this city, you can become more than you ever imagined."

The being took a moment, their gaze deeply connecting with Khailah's very essence.

"We extend to you the acquisition of knowledge, the attainment of power, and the prospect of immortality—essentially, all that your human heart yearns for."

The being paused, their eyes piercing Khailah's soul.

"But even the sweetest fruit can rot from within. Can you bear the cost of such gifts, Khailah? To gain this knowledge, you must renounce your former life. You must leave behind everything you know and love, and become one with Biringan City."

Khailah's heart pounded in her chest. The offer was tempting, almost irresistible. But Mang Amado's resolute "no" echoed in her mind. Was she truly willing to give up everything she had ever known for the promise of knowledge and power? The same promise that had been so cruelly dangled before Mang Amado.

She thought of her family, her friends, and the world outside Biringan City. Was she willing to abandon them all for this unknown, potentially dangerous path?

The decision was agonizing. On one hand, she yearned for the knowledge and power that Biringan City offered. On the other hand, she feared the cost, the sacrifice she would have to make.

Khailah closed her eyes, trying to decide. The being waited patiently.

"Please," Mang Amado begged, his voice trembling, "don't hurt us. We didn't mean any harm. We just want to go back to our world."

But the leader simply shook his head, his expression filled with sorrow. He smiled enigmatically.

"It's already too late," he said, his voice resonating with a power that seemed to shake the very foundations of the chamber.

As if reading her thoughts, the female figures turned towards Khailah, their gazes piercing her with unsettling intensity. A tremor ran through her; the weight of her choice, the perilous path paved with greed, threatened to consume her, to shatter her very being.

A voice, not her own, whispered again insidiously within her mind, "You are too late... the city has already claimed you."

Khailah's mind reeled. Her gaze snagged on the woman's veil, the fabric a tantalizing barrier between her and the face it concealed. Though the woman's features remained hidden, an undeniable certainty bloomed within Khailah: this was the source of the voice, the speaker of those chilling words.

She had sought the extraordinary, the fantastical, but now, faced with the reality of Biringan City and its inhabitants, she realized the true cost of her ambition.

The shimmering beauty of the city, with its towering structures of gold and crystal, now seemed oppressive, a gilded cage. The ethereal beings, once objects of fascination, now appeared alien and unsettling, their beauty masking an otherworldly detachment.

And with that, the being vanished, leaving Khailah alone with her thoughts. She looked around at the shimmering city, its beauty now tainted with a sense of foreboding. The silence was deafening, the emptiness oppressive.

Suddenly, Khailah felt a wave of dizziness, and the world around her began to spin. She closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she was back in the forest, standing before the waterfall. Mang Amado was beside her, his face etched with worry.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Khailah could only nod, her mind still reeling from the encounter. "Who are those people?"

Mang Amado raises his eyebrows. "Who?"

"Those Engkantos—those who just appear and vanish! Those who promise me knowledge!"

"Ha? What are you talking about? We saw nothing..."

Mang Amado stopped abruptly, his face paling as fear gripped him. "You saw them..." he whispered, his voice hoarse, "...the illusion."

"You didn't see them?"

He shook his head urgently. "We have to get out of here!"

She had seen Biringan City, had been offered its gifts, and had ultimately chosen to walk away. But it seemed the city wasn't done with her yet.

An unseen force, cold and relentless, ripped her from Mang Amado's side, flinging her away as if she were a mere leaf in a storm. Instinctively, she shielded her face from the blinding flash of cameras as a crowd surged towards her, clamoring for photographs.

This wasn't the forest anymore. This wasn't Biringan City. This was... somewhere else. Somewhere she didn't recognize. And she was no longer Khailah the author, the seeker of stories. She was... someone else. Someone famous. Someone trapped.

Then, with a suddenness that stole her breath, it all stopped. The clamoring crowd, the flashing cameras, the disorientation... it all vanished. Silence descended, heavy and absolute. And through the stillness, two familiar figures materialized, as if stepping out of thin air.

Panic surged through her. She turned to run, but the figures were there, blocking her escape. Their faces were obscured by shadows, but their voices were chillingly familiar.

"Isn't this your desire?" one of them echoed, smooth and persuasive. "To be the best?"

The male beings cast a dismissive glance at the spot where the crowd had been. "Isn't this what you crave, the reason you were so eager to enter? We can offer you that in this city."

No. This had to be an illusion, a trick. She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them, willing the scene to shift. This isn't real. This can't be real.

And it did.

Gone were the clamoring crowds and imposing figures. In their place stood the familiar, comforting sight of the library. With a jolt, she realized she was no longer outside, but back inside, Kaelan and Anya staring at her with wide, startled eyes.

It was empty, yet filled with a haunting familiarity. Towering shelves lined the walls, overflowing with old books – the same textbooks she used to pore over in the library near Barangay Pagsanghan. There, in the center of the room, sat the plain, dark gray table, just as she remembered it.

But as she reached out to touch its surface, a wave of crumbling images flooded her vision – faces, places, moments in time, all distorted and decaying like faded photographs. It was a chilling echo of the city's embrace, a glimpse into the oblivion that awaited those who lingered too long in its grasp.

She gasped, jerking her hand back from the book as if it had burned her. Then, she turned and fled from the room, her heart pounding in her chest.

She bumped into Mang Amado, and suddenly, she was back in the forest. The magical city was gone, vanished like a dream. But this wasn't a dream; it was a nightmare, and she was trapped inside it.

"Khailah? What's wrong? You look scared," Mang Amado asked, his voice full of worry.

"Manong..." she whispered, her voice shaky, "...I saw everything. It was me. I opened the door to that city, Biringan. My books... they were the key. I started this whole mess."

She remembered writing those books years ago, pouring her heart and soul into tales of a hidden city brimming with magic and wonder. But now, those stories felt like a chilling prophecy, a curse she had unwittingly unleashed upon herself. She even saw herself in the library, a younger, more naive version of herself, unaware of the darkness that lurked just beyond the pages. But it was the man holding her book that truly unsettled her. She didn't recognize him, yet his eyes, filled with an ancient knowing, seemed to pierce through her, stripping her bare.

It was like she was trapped in a macabre hall of mirrors, forced to watch a distorted reflection of her own life, a horror film where she was both the protagonist and the victim. And then... a chilling realization washed over her, sending a shiver down her spine. Someone was watching her watching herself. Like an endless reflection, eyes stared back at her from every angle, each pair holding a depth of knowledge that both terrified and mesmerized her. It was as if the very fabric of reality had fractured, revealing a glimpse into a dimension where time and identity were fluid, where the past, present, and future intertwined in a terrifying dance.

"Khailah, you're not making sense. Biringan isn't real," Mang Amado said, trying to calm her down.

But she knew it was real. She had seen it with her own eyes. She had walked its streets, met its people, and felt its magic. And now, that magic was turning against her, twisting her memories, stealing her past. Tears streamed down her face, and she felt a deep sadness, a pain that seemed to tear her apart.

She had seen everything, but she didn't understand why she was the one who found Biringan. Why her? Why not someone else? And why was she the only one who didn't have a story in that book? It was like she was a puzzle piece that didn't fit anywhere.

As they walked back through the forest, a terrible feeling settled over Khailah. She realized that the peace she felt earlier was fake. It was like a trick, a moment of calm before a storm. She wasn't stronger; she was broken.

Biringan City wasn't just a magical place; it was a trap. It lured people in with promises of wonder and power, but it only wanted to hurt them. It made them greedy, and it turned them against each other. And she was the one who created this trap. She was the reason people were getting hurt.

Kaelan and Anya were lost in the city forever. Khailah knew that she would be trapped there too, someday. It was just a matter of time.

Biringan City didn't care who you were. It tricked everyone. It was beautiful, but it was like a poisonous flower, its beauty hiding a deadly secret. And she couldn't do anything to stop it.

She tried to write more stories, but the words felt heavy and wrong. Her stories used to be fun and exciting, but now they were filled with sadness and fear. People still liked her books, but she felt like a fake. She was writing about a world she didn't understand anymore, a world that was slowly fading from her memory.

She remembered bits and pieces of Biringan City – the tall towers, the strange creatures, the whispers of magic – but the memories were like broken pieces of a mirror, reflecting distorted images that made no sense. She couldn't remember why she created the city, why she opened its doors to the world.

Biringan City was a confusing place. It could make you smart, but it could also make you crazy. It could make you happy, but it could also make you sad. It was a place of extremes, a place where the line between good and evil was blurred.

She wrote about how the city tricked people, how it promised them power and knowledge, but only gave them pain and suffering. She wrote about how even the people who escaped were never the same, their minds and souls forever scarred by what they had seen.

She wrote about how people shouldn't be greedy, how they shouldn't try to take things that don't belong to them. Biringan City was for the creatures who lived there, not for humans. It was a world that humans were not meant to enter.

But even though she wrote about these things, she felt like she was just copying someone else's words. She couldn't remember her own experiences, her own feelings. It was like she was a puppet, her hand guided by an unseen force.

It was like Biringan City had used her, tricked her into creating it, and then used her again to warn the world about its dangers. It showed her its secrets, but then it took them away, leaving her with nothing but a hollow shell of her former self.

She felt alone. Mang Amado didn't believe her stories. No one did. She was trapped in a nightmare, and no one could hear her cries for help.

People in the village started talking about Mang Amado. They said he was losing his mind, telling crazy stories about a magical city. But he couldn't remember the stories clearly. He was confused, his memories jumbled like a deck of cards.

Khailah knew then that she was truly alone. Biringan City had taken everything from her – her memories, her friends, her peace of mind. She was a prisoner in her own mind, forever haunted by the city she created, the city that destroyed her.

It was as if Biringan City had not only stolen her memories but had also messed with Mang Amado's, leaving him with mixed-up thoughts and a bad reputation in the village.

This scared and confused Khailah. Had something powerful played with her life, doing things she couldn't understand? Was she just a piece in a big game, used for something she couldn't even imagine?

Maybe this was how the city made sure people heard its stories and warnings, but also made sure she, the writer, felt like those stories weren't really hers.

The more she thought about it, the more scared she became. What was real and what wasn't? Was Biringan City a real place, or was it all a trick to make her write those stories? A trick that left her feeling empty inside.

That thought made her feel even more lost and alone. It was like she was a puppet, dancing on strings she couldn't see, controlled by a force she couldn't understand. Was she even real anymore, or was she just a character in a story, a story written by Biringan City itself?

The memories of the city, once so clear and scary, now felt far away and fuzzy, like a dream she couldn't remember. They were like ghosts, always just out of reach. But even though she couldn't remember everything, she knew the city had changed her life and her writing forever.

Khailah felt lost and confused. She knew something amazing had happened to her, something she couldn't explain. But instead of feeling curious, she felt hurt and angry. Like someone had stolen something precious from her.

The truth about Biringan City, and why she was part of its story, remained a mystery. And that, she realized, was the worst part of it all. The city had used her greed to hurt her, turning her dreams into a nightmare. Biringan City was like a monster, hiding its true face behind a beautiful mask.

It tricked people, promising them riches and knowledge, but then it trapped them inside, lost forever in its shadows. Like a beautiful song that lures sailors to their deaths, the city kept attracting people who wanted more than they should, promising them power that would destroy them in the end.

It preyed on the desires of mortals, drawing them in with promises of wealth and knowledge, only to trap them within its ethereal walls, lost forever in its shadowy embrace. Like a siren's song, the city's allure continued to ensnare those driven by curiosity or consumed by greed, promising power, and knowledge that ultimately led to their downfall.

A group of bandits, driven by a desire for wealth and power, sought to uncover the city's secrets. Armed with the knowledge gleaned from Khailah's warnings, they ventured into the mist, hoping to outsmart the city's dark influence.

But their greed proved to be their downfall. As they delved deeper into the city, they became increasingly obsessed with the forbidden knowledge. They ignored the warnings of the past, believing that they were smarter, stronger, and more resilient.

The city, sensing their intentions, unleashed its power upon them. The bandits were trapped in an endless cycle of illusion and despair, their minds twisted and corrupted by the city's dark energy. They became part of the city's legacy, forever bound to its haunting secrets.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***