Chapter 6: The Tikbalang’s Trickery

Jereco, a relic of a bygone era, a newspaperman who’d rather chew on a typewriter ribbon than a salad, couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony of his situation. “The engkanto offered their guidance, but warned him that the journey would be fraught with danger.” How did he, a grizzled old newsman, end up tangled in a web of supernatural intrigue? Oh, right, because he needed to pay rent.

Armed with the map provided by the engkanto, Jereco ventured deeper into the heart of the jungle. The forest grew denser, the shadows deeper, and the air heavy with an oppressive silence. Strange noises echoed through the trees, and the ground beneath his feet seemed to shift and move.

Suddenly, a chilling wind swept through the forest, and a figure emerged from the darkness. It was a tikbalang, a creature of myth and legend, its horse-like body and human head twisted into a grotesque caricature. Its eyes, glowing with malevolent intent, fixed on Jereco.

“You’ve come far, mortal,” the tikbalang hissed. “But your journey ends here.”

Jereco, despite the fear that gnawed at him, stood his ground. “I’m not afraid of you,” he declared, his voice steady.

The tikbalang laughed, a sound that sent shivers down Jereco’s spine. “We shall see about that,” it said, and with a flick of its tail, it vanished into the shadows.

“Oh, bite me!” Jereco muttered under his breath.

Jereco pressed on, determined to reach his destination. The forest seemed to grow more hostile with each passing moment. Trees reached out with gnarled branches, vines snagged at his clothes, and the ground beneath him seemed to give way.

Just when he thought he couldn’t take it anymore, he heard a faint whisper. A voice, soft and seductive, called out to him from the darkness. “Come closer,” it purred. “I know what you seek.”

Jereco hesitated. He knew better than to trust the voice, but something compelled him forward. As he stepped into the darkness, he was enveloped by a chilling mist. When the mist cleared, he found himself in a clearing, surrounded by a circle of towering trees. In the center of the clearing, a dark, pulsating object hovered in the air.

The artifact.

But as Jereco reached out to claim it, the ground beneath him gave way. He fell into a deep, dark pit, the darkness swallowing him whole.

To Be Continued