"Uwaaaaa!"
The cry of a newborn baby echoed throughout the entire village. Almost everyone in the neighborhood heard it, including Ilaya—a 25-year-old… loser. She was sitting outside their house on the porch, savoring the cool evening breeze. She looked up at the dark sky, where the full moon and the stars seemed to be silently watching her miseries and sufferings each night. Ilaya often wondered what she had done wrong to make the heavens despise her. She had done everything she could; swallowed her pride, endured judgment, but she was still unfortunate. She longed to have a job in the nearby town so she could help her family. In the eyes of her parents and some relatives she was worthless because she couldn't give them money. In a family poisoned by greed, your worth is measured by what you can give.
"She's so short."
"She's so skinny."
"How tall is she?"
"Four eleven."
"Four eleven? Pfft."
Endless comments from people who had nothing better to do than meddle in her life.
As Ilaya was deep in thought, listening to the voices of insects around her, the hair on her arms suddenly stood on end—an ominous wind seemed to warp around her skin. She looked toward the roof of a neighbor's house. Her eyes widened at what she saw—a monster! A kind of aswang known as a tiktik! There was no doubt the creature was targeting the innocent newborn. For aswang, pregnant women and newborns have a scent that's irresistible.
The aswang's tongue extended and pierced a small hole through the roof made of coconut leaves. It grinned wickedly, revealing its sharp teeth and drooling mouth. Before the aswang could succeed, Ilaya, trembling with fear, managed to moved her right hand and formed the infinity sign; a type of protective gesture against aswang that her aunt had taught her, their family had a lineage of healers and witches.
After she did the infinity hand sign, the monster screamed and fell into the yard. The people inside the house immediately heard the noise.
"Aswang!" The midwife shouted. "There's an ASWANGGGGGGG!!!"
Moments later the husband of the new mother emerged, wielding two machetes, his face twisted with rage, mouth snarling as he yelled. "Where is the aswang?!"
Due to the noises the neighbors came rushing out; some help, others just to gossip.
"There! The aswang!"
"It's a tiktik!"
"A tiktik? A type of aswang that can extend their tongues. But, their tongues are not the common tongues it's super thin like a thread?!"
"Don't let that damn thing escape!"
"After it!"
The people shouted, holding all sorts of weapons: stingray tails, salt, garlic, and sharp blades.
Panicking, the aswang crawled quickly to escape, but because of the damage it suffered from the infinity sign cast by Ilaya, it couldn't get far.
They were now in the woods, it felt like a game of hide and seek or a tag. The tables had turned. The aswang, once the predator... was now the prey.
The surroundings were dark, lit only by the moonlight and fireflies. Then, a flaming arrow pierced the creature's heart. It stiffened instantly, unable to even cry out before turning to ashes. Though it wasn't caught by the people, it caught the eyes of a river spirit... Ilawod.