Chapter 2: Prologue

Year 821

"What have you done?" A woman appeared in the clearing. She looked aghast at the sight of slaughtered animals and the drawn pentagram in the middle of the rocks.

"Awy, what have you done?" the woman, Hymi, repeated. She couldn't recognize her sister, save for her face that was streaked with blood. Her black hair was matted with stones and clay, a sign that she had done something she shouldn't have.

A sacrifice, to the gods, of the evil kind

There was not a sight of stars in the sky, as if it mirrored the grim reality happening beneath it. It was supposed to be just another night in the mountains. Tomorrow, the hunters would arrive with the animals they caught and the plants they've foraged. It will be a night of merriment, where they'd drink rice wine endlessly. Children will be laughing as they get to eat meat for a month. The hunters will finally unite with the spouses they left behind.

That was what was supposed to happen tomorrow, but that was now far from happening, Hymi knew. Her sister, her mirror image Awy, what has she done?

"Ate, please! Please tell me what you've done! Why did you do this? This is not the night to talk to Bathala, nor the other gods that roam the earth. Who did you call that you had to create such a massive sacrifice?"

*Ate - older sister

The other woman, Awy, walked towards her. For the sake of answers, Hymi ignored the scent of blood and earth. Finally, her sister stood in front of her. Amber eyes gazed at the other's eyes, their clothes with a stark difference. Awy's skirt, emblazoned with gemstones and precious wood, was now ruined by the bold, red color of the elixir of life. Her shirt, once adorned with lace to show her superiority as the wife of the chief, was torn in pieces. Her headpiece was nowhere to be seen.

Despite the physical look of defeat, Awy had the grin of victory plastered on her face.

In contrast, Hymi was more kempt. She was clean, in a simple abaka skirt and a cotton shirt. Her hair was kept in a braid as a sign that she was married to the second in command. Her expression showed wariness as if she knew that her sister would come up with something when left unsupervised.

"Awy, Ate —" before she could continue, the sky rumbled, lightning struck the trees around the clearing. Fog descended from the heavens, and the sacrifices disappeared. The deal was sealed. In horror, Hymi stumbled back. The air was becoming thick, making it hard to breathe. The hair on her arms stood, and all she wanted was to run. As if sensing her fear, her twin smiled. It was as if she enjoyed seeing her suffer.

"What have I done, Ading? I did what I had to do. You know it was me all this time." Awy grinned.

*little sibling

It finally dawned on her what Awy was talking about, but her heart could not accept it. This was her twin sister, her other half. She couldn't do something this heinous.

'No, she's lying. She's saying things to get to me. It's a diversion.'

"Oh, Hymi. Playing victim also makes one a villain," Awy chuckled, "My dear Ading, do you really think I did this for nothing? Think about what's going on in our village."

As if she found the thought hilarious, she roared, menially, while Hymi looked at her in horror. "Please don't tell me it was you," she whispered.

'Please, Ate, tell me you won't do such a thing.'

"But I did, sister. What did you expect? That I'd take it lying down? Your child is an abomination!" Awy screeched

"What do you mean my child is an abomination?" Hymi's brows scrunched in confusion. That was not what she was thinking of when she asked.

On her mind was the sudden delay of winter's arrival and lack of communication with the gods.

"What do you mean my child is an abomination?" she pressed. Awy only smiled and walked away out of the clearing. Hymi, in fear, ran back to the village. Her heart, already filled with dread, dropped at the sight of fellow villagers holding their children. The night was filled with cries, of their guard dogs howling at the moon, and the spouses left behind, they were crying. Why were they crying?

Hymi's feet moved on their own accord and brought her to their hut, where her children were supposed to be. Her relief was replaced by trepidation when she saw her son, Dawu, on the ground near his newborn sister, Yama's cot.

"Dawu," she stepped near, gently raising his head. Young Dawu's golden skin now lacked luster, his eyes pure white. His lips were pale, and no air was coming out. Her Dawu is gone.

But Hymi did not have time to weep nor recollect herself, for Yama's cot indicated no movements. She laid her son on the bed as if she was just tucking him to sleep. Gently closing his eyes, Hymi said, "May Mebuyan guide you to the afterworld." She kissed her son and turned in the direction of the cot. Awy said Yama was an abomination. Was this what she meant to do?

When Hymi saw her child, her voice left her body. She could not scream out at the horror of the scene—her once beautiful child.

Her face was half-rotten, with her left eye plucked out. It was as if someone tore her face, but who could've done such a thing? Hymi only left an hour ago to follow Awy, who was missing for a day. Unless

This couldn't be happening.

Awy's anger was directed at her daughter, Yama.

"It was my doing!" Hymi wept as she knelt on the ground, holding the cot as she was unable to face the horror that was once her child. "It was me, Ate. Why, why the children?"

Then it clicked. The winter, the gods' silence, and the plague, it was all her doing, Awy.

Awy

Guilt boiled to anger, and as the cries echoed in the dark, so did the thirst for revenge.

It all started with a lullaby.

CREATORS' THOUGHTS
Ava_Marie_Nessie

Hello, everyone. This is Wintertide's Lullaby. It is inspired by Philippine mythology and folklore. I've always wanted to explore fiction, so here I am. I would love to hear from you!

Follow me @chronicfilipina on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and WEGO Health.

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