A trip worth remembering

It was 7:30 in the morning and I was rushing going to school. I ate my breakfast in one gulp and then off I went to ride a jeepney. While wearing my uniform, I heard the news that a teenager named Lee was reported missing 3 days ago. He was the fourth one to be reported missing this week. The authority can’t find him or even his dead body as well as the body of the first three people reported missing. After watching the news that morning, I went to ride a jeepney going to school. I was almost running to the highway and I’m starting to perspire. As soon as I reached the highway, I immediately extended my arms telling the driver to stop by me. I rushed to the nearest seat without reading the signboard and eventually fixed myself. After a few moments, I noticed that I was the only passenger riding on that jeepney. I kept on wondering why other people didn’t bother to ride on that jeepney and they’re insisting their selves on full-packed jeepneys.  I ignored them thinking that maybe they don’t like to ride on that jeepney. Then, the driver of the jeepney caught my attention. He was a very old man, I think around 80’s, wearing a very thick eyeglasses, has a long white hair and he had an overgrown beard and moustache. I wondered how he can drive the jeepney very fast in spite of his age. I also started to notice that the jeepney I was riding was now different before I rode on it. It can now change its color anytime and its tires changed into flying eagles. Also, its muffler doesn’t release smoke but blue vapors that leave mark in its trail instead. It also had a hand-shaped steering wheel and buttons are on every finger that he presses to control the speed of the jeepney. I started to worry seeing the route it was taking is not the route going to our school. I then started to approach the driver and said that I will get off the jeepney, but as I started to move, he then announced that I should prepare myself because he will boost the speed of the jeepney for we will be crossing a barrier. I can’t clearly hear him because the engine is making its noise. He then pressed something and the jeepney ran with its highest speed. I hold tightly to the jeepney’s passenger handle because I felt that I will get off my seat.

I looked outside to see what’s happening but I can’t see anything except a big wall in front of us that the old man is attempting to bump. I shouted to the driver because we will be hitting that wall, but because of the loud noise of the engine, he cannot hear even a single word I scream. I just closed my eyes and hold my breath. Everything happened in a blink of an eye and when I opened my eyes, I was falling very fast on a woody forest. I saw the jeepney continues to fly as if it intentionally dropped me there. I protected my face and all of a sudden, I felt branches of trees whipping my body and hit me everywhere. Luckily, I landed softly on the bushes and I didn’t get some serious injuries. I managed to stand to check if I’m still able to walk and I fixed myself. I looked around trying to recognize the place. I can hardly see things around me because the moonlight was not enough to let me see what’s beyond those tall trees. I walked around to find the way out of that forest. As I’m searching, I heard a horse running around me. I looked for it hoping that it would help me find the way out. Suddenly, an arrow was flying towards me targeting my head. I ducked immediately and the arrow missed me for a second and hit the tree behind me. The galloping horse suddenly came out and I was surprised to discover that it’s not a horse but a centaur (half horse and half human). The creepy creature pulled another arrow to hit me again. I was sweating wildly and my heart beats very fast. He was pulling the arrow against the bow and anytime, it will be my last day on earth. He then released his weapon and I just closed my eyes to welcome my death. Suddenly, someone pushed me aside and I was thrown in a deep hole. Fortunately, my sling bag caught the big stone at the mouth of the hole where it was stucked and I hold tightly to its strap to save my life. From below, I could hear the two fighting above the ground. The sound of sparking swords and strong shouts tells me that the battle was very tough.

While holding tightly, I looked down and I was shocked to see big snakes. I then hold very strong and manage not to move so I won’t attract their attention. Slowly I could feel that the snake is crawling on my legs up to my back going to my head. I was very nervous that time but still managed not to move. I suddenly heard a loud bang indicating that someone had won the battle. I heard footsteps coming to the opening of the hole and I waited for the mysterious man to save me again. I was surprised to see the centaur looking from above and his sword pointing to me. He was smiling broadly and was ready to drop the sword at any time. After a moment, someone pushed him and the centaur fell to the hole where the big hungry snakes feasted him. The mysterious man then pulled me from the deep hole. He immediately put me on his horse and off we went to his hiding place. He was so weird because the way he dresses was so different from me. He wore black loose jeans, a pair of black boots, a long sleeves and a gray rugged cloak. He also had a silver sword on his back with its handle decorated with rubies and emeralds.

After a few minutes, he ordered his horse to stop and we went down his horse. He said to me that we will be entering his hiding place and we should now be careful so that the different creature around us won’t notice us. I asked him if where was his house because as I can see, we’re still in the middle of the forest and there were no houses and all that I can see was thick tall trees growing all around. He then whistled and after a few minutes, another creature was coming. It was a huge vulture having gold feathers. We then rode in its back so we can go to his hiding place at the bottom of the tallest and the biggest tree in the forest. After a few minutes, we arrived there and the vulture went back to its nest above the tree. He invited me to enter his house inside the tree for me to rest.

His place was very simple. It has one table and two rooms, one for the kitchen and one for the living room. It also had a chimney and two small windows. I then sat on the wooden chair carefully carved from the tree and I relaxed from the traumatic feeling I just experienced. He then questioned me and asked where I came from. I told him the whole story and he said to me that the jeepney I rode intentionally get some innocent people to feed the centaurs in the forest. He also told me that the magical jeepney had victimed hundreds of people but only a few of them were saved by him. Sadly some of them eventually die because of trauma and health problems. Currently, there were only two survivors left and I was the third. The problem is that, they don’t know how to get back and so, they had already spent some time of their lives in that place. I asked him where those people were staying now and he answered me that they were on his other hiding place plotting some plans on how to chase the flying car and ride back to their own world. I also asked him to meet them but he refused and told me to have a rest first and settle it tomorrow. He gave me some food and clothes to change. Before I slept, I thank him and asked for is name but he refused to tell me and he said that knowing his identity is not important.

The next day, I woke up early and found some parts of my body aching. I changed to my uniform because I’m not comfortable wearing the kind of clothes they are wearing. After changing, I found the mysterious guy preparing breakfast. I can now clearly see his face compared last night. He was wearing the same clothes and his sword still positioned on his back. I also found out that he was a young man, around 20’s, has a black hair and beautiful expressive eyes. He then invited me to eat breakfast with him. After breakfast, he brought me to the place where the two survivors were hiding. He presented me to them and he went off to save another life. I met the girl and she named Fria. She was 14 years old and was saved by the mysterious man two years ago. The other one named Lee, 19 years old was saved by the mysterious man 3 months ago. I then found out that the man named Lee was the one I heard in the news days ago.

After knowing each other, we then plotted some plans in order for us to catch the flying jeepney and ride back to our own world. They said to me that they’d followed the jeepney once and they found out that after dropping that passenger to the woody forest, the jeepney will then proceed at the top of the mountain to take rest for a while and then went out fetching another victim again. But before we can reach that mountain, we have to cross a big river and then climb the mountain to get in their stop over. The travel will approximately lasts for 3 days meaning we will spend some nights outside the hiding place which is dangerous because centaurs were scattered all over the forest and are ready to attack victims anytime. But, they also discovered something that can drive away centaurs which is the francolin, a rare gem stone found only at the heart of a hyrax that dwells in the middle of the forest. The hyrax was guarded by thousand of lyssa (frog monsters that grows as high as 2 meters) that attacks enemies and left nothing but bones. They also told me that we have a very small chance to grab a francolin from a hyrax, but, we still have a chance to have one if we will stole the mysterious man’s francolin.

I reacted and said that getting the mysterious man’s francolin is an act of betrayal to him. We should be thankful to him because he saved our lives and so, we should not betray him. But they interrupted again that going back home is the most important thing to settle in our minds. Also, they explained to me that the mysterious man was a strong man and he can still have another francolin with him. After plotting the plan, I was then given the chance to get the francolin from the mysterious man and our journey will begin that same night. When I get back to his house, I waited for him to sleep first. They told me that the francolin’s color is purple and it gives off pleasant smell during night. When he finally slept, I was carefully approaching him so he won’t be awakened. I smelled the francolin and it gets stronger as I move closer to him. It smells like a rose blended with a jasmine’s scent. I was really nervous thinking what he would do if he later found out that I stole his francolin. The purple gem was glowing brightly in his chest. I slowly grabbed the gem and carefully cut the string he put to it connecting to his neck. After getting the francolin, I immediately left to join Lee and Fria waiting outside. We then started our journey. Fria said to us that we should be very careful in our journey because the forest was full of magical creatures, some can be our enemy, and some are not. We hid under a big black cloak and we carry some stuff that we can use in our journey. After hours of walking, we were surprised to see 8 centaurs ahead of us. They were walking in every place and looking for something. Lee then pushed us near a tree so that they can’t notice us. He told me that a centaur’s sight is blurred that is why it can’t see clearly at night. But its sense of smell is very strong that enables it to find its victim immediately. Our conversation was interrupted when the 8 centaurs were approaching us as if they’ve found us. Fria then grabbed the francolin from my bag and exposed it outside the cloak. The centaurs shouted in agony as if they were hurt by the francolin’s smell. They left immediately and we were relieved to see all centaurs running away.

When the sun finally rose, we removed the cloak because centaurs don’t attack in the morning. We then took some rest under a tree and ate some food we brought. While eating, Fria saw an injured flying creature that looks like a bird. She helped it and fixed its wings so it can fly again. After helping the flying creature, it flew away but something from the tree grabbed the bird and blood spurted out from the tree. We were shocked to discover that the tree’s leaves weren’t really leaves but another magical monster. It has sharp teeth and looks like leaves. We then ran because they were chasing us to suck our blood. After running very fast, we arrived at a place where another creature dwells. They looked like cats but they have wings and one eye. They noticed us and they immediately ran to us. We thought they were to attack us but they jumped above us and ate those flying creatures chasing us. We then continued running until we reached the big river. Lee explained that the river was called “the river of forgetfulness” because if you were to drink water from it, your memory will be deleted and you will remember nothing. We then looked for something we can use to cross the big river. We saw some rocks that were perfectly positioned across the river that we used to get to the other side. While crossing, Fria slipped and she fell to the river. Lee and I grabbed her arms and pulled her. Lee keeps on telling her not to open her mouth to avoid the water from entering. We managed to pull Fria and continued crossing the river. When we finally reached the riverbank, I get my plastic glass inside my bag that I use in going to school and I poured the water inside it and scoop some water from the river. When I finally stand, the rocks we used to cross the river moved from their places. We then finally discovered that they were not rocks but they were the lyssa or the frog monsters. They were now coming to attack us because maybe we disturbed them. In spite of tiredness, we ran as fast as we could to avoid those ugly lyssas. While running, Lee instructed us to have separate ways to confuse the lyssas. Lee went to the right while Fria went to the left. I then went straight and find some ways to kill those lyssas. I saw a big tree ahead and I climbed up to gather its fruit to use as weapon against those running monsters. I immediately picked one and threw it to them. I was surprised to see that when the red fruit touch them, it explodes and turn them all to ashes. After disposing those lyssas following me, I then helped Fria to get rid of those lyssas following her, until Lee shouted because his feet was caught by the tongue of a lyssa. Unfortunately, nothing left to the fruit we used in getting rid of those lyssas. I then remembered that I had a muriatic acid in my bag that I will be bringing to school. I poured the acid in the lyssa’s tongue and it melted. For the finale, I poured the acid all over the lyssa and it melted until it gone into waste. We then heard a loud scream behind us and we all turn around to see where it comes from. But as I turn my back, something hit my head and made me fell to the ground.

The next thing I knew, all my body parts were aching and something was tied on my wrist. It was already twilight and I began to worry thinking that the centaurs might come any moment and attack us. I then discovered that my hands were tied to a tree as well as my feet. I looked for Lee and Fria but they were not around. I then heard Fria talking and I saw her together with Lee standing beside me. I asked them to free me but they keep on telling me that they will now offer me to their great master. I also noticed that their eyes were red as if someone was controlling them. Suddenly, hundreds of centaurs came and I can see to them that they were very excited to eat me. But a big centaur told them that I belong to Haek, their master. They then started to bring me at the peak of the high mountain to offer to Haek while Lee and Fria leading the way. I was really hopeless that time thinking that after a lot of attempt to end my life, maybe this will succeed. As I look above the clouds, I saw a single star shining brightly and it fired my bravery to fight for my life. After a few moments, we arrived at the nest of Haek. The place was very dark and windy. All the trees there died and a lot of human bones scattered in the place. The big centaur then called Haek and I heard a very loud roar and the ground began to shake. Haek was a very big centaur, about 8-10 feet high. He started to pace towards me to eat as his dinner. I was very nervous that moment because my death was nearly approaching. Haek was about to get me when a red light gleamed above the sky. Every one of us stopped and looked above thinking where does the light came from. Suddenly someone pulled me and free me from being tied up. I was surprised to see that it was the mysterious man who saved me for the second time. He was now bloody and he was full of bruises. He immediately put me at the back of his horse and we ran away from the crowd of centaurs. I was ashamed thinking that I betrayed him and he still save me. He then whipped his horse so it would run very fast. Obviously, the crowd of centaurs followed us. After a few moment, I looked behind to check if the centaurs were still following us. I was nervous to see that each and every one of them was pulling arrows against their bows. They released it and the arrows hit the mysterious man’s horse. We fell to the ground and hit those big trees on our way. Then I saw Haek fighting with the mysterious man. I grabbed the opportunity to run and retrieve Lee and Fria. When I saw them, the hungry centaurs were about to eat them and I grabbed them and we ran away. This time, they were on their proper mind now and we helped each other getting away from the centaurs. It was very dark now and the centaur’s eyes were the only thing we can see from them. After few minutes of running, we reached the dead end of our way. Lee said that we have no other choice but to jump over the cliff and come what may happen below. Until we heard the mysterious man riding in the golden vulture telling us to jump over and his vulture will catch us. The centaurs were now nearly approaching so we decided to jump at a count of three. The centaurs then fell to the cliff and were eaten by the snakes dwelling below.

We finally reached the peak of the mountain and saw the flying jeepney. We dropped there to ride back to the flying jeepney parking there. But as soon as we stepped to the ground, the jeepney’s engine started indicating that it will be flying again to the world where we came from. Lee immediately grabbed the steering wheel from the old man followed by me and Fria who are now comfortably seating at the back. Lee attempted to drive the rare jeepney without knowing what to press to make it move. The old man stood and called some of the centaurs strolling around. Fortunately, Lee made the jeepney fly and started to move away. We were so happy because at last, we will be back home. The mysterious man followed us and wished us luck in our journey back to earth. Having no idea where to go, we just followed the map in the jeepney’s dashboard. After a few minutes, we saw the barrier which means we will now be entering the earth. Lee used the jeepney’s full speed to cross the barrier faster. At last, we saw the earth again, our home that was once taken away from us. But there is only one problem left. We don’t know how to make the jeepney stop. The jeepney’s engine then suddenly stopped and the jeepney was pulled by the earth’s gravity. We screamed loudly because the jeepney will crash to a big acacia tree below. The next thing I knew, my head hit a hard thing that made me unconscious.

I opened my eyes and discovered myself lying in the hospital. My mother beside me jumped for joy when I finally woke up. My family gathered around me and some of them cried. They said to me that I was lost for 2 weeks and when they found me, I was in the hospital lying for three days now. My family then discharged me from the hospital and we went home. As I was entering our car, I saw the flying jeepney once again and this time, a mother with her daughter was riding in it. I shouted to them telling them to get off the jeepney. The mother looked at me and her daughter just smiled at me.