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The young girl sleepily puts mixed herbs to her scraped knee. Loud knocks from their door woke her up and as she headed downstairs, she tripped and scraped her knee.
"Grandma, why is it so noisy outside?" The grandmother, while preparing and sorting bottles and books quickly, is trying to calm down and reassure the younger child. “Oh it’s nothing Millie. They are just Grandma’s customers. Head to bed now, okay?” The older child stopped packing food and clothes and quickly guided his sister to their room upstairs. The people outside are getting rowdier, the clanking of metal and footsteps are getting louder. The Grandmother brought out a fork and waved it around while murmuring peculiar chants and incantations.
“Grandma, you’re the only one who can save Millie. You know our chances. I can buy us time. Millie is very gifted, and I want her to live a good life.” The Grandmother stopped her incantations and grabbed the boy’s arm. “You can only do one spell and the sacrifice you must make is far too great. I will not allow you. The mob will get tired eventually and we’ll find the time to get out of here. We’ll be fine as long as my barriers are up.” The grandmother pulled the young boy for a hug.
“O Bathala ng oras pakinggan mo ako
Buhangin ng orasan mo’y pupunan ko
Oras ang kinuha, oras ang parusa
Buhay ay isasalba.”
The grandmother kissed the boy’s forehead. A flash of light emanated from her kiss and the boy’s hair turned to white. “Don’t worry child, this is just a spell of protection.” “Thank you grandma and I’m sorry.”
…
“Grandma wake up! I made breakfast!” The young girl kissed her grandmother’s forehead and squeezed her tightly. “If you don’t wake up now, I’ll eat both of the bread that I made this morning!” The grandmother quickly stood up and rummaged their things. She checked their closets and kitchen. As soon as she saw their breakfast table, her vision turned white, and the colors of her face turned pale. “Millie, why did you only prepare breakfast for two?!” “O grandma, you should’ve told me last night if you want to eat a lot today. Baking takes time you know.” The grandmother’s hands are shaking, and she grabbed a chair to stop herself from falling down. “Millie, can you show me your knees?” The young girl is confused and hesitant with her grandmother’s request but still, she lifted her skirt. Her knees are fine and there were no scrapes.
“Millie, quickly grab your books and quills, clothes, and some of the potions that I have in the drawer.” The young girl is shocked to see her grandmother looking so pale and worried. “Are you alright Grandma? Are we going somewhere today? But you look sick!” “Oh don’t worry dear. I am fine and I just remembered that you’re supposed to go to my friend in the next town to fetch new books for me. Quick now!”
The grandmother prepared various potions, drinks, and food. She slipped her mysterious fork in the satchel and whispered few incantations. “Millie, once you go out don’t you ever go back today. If you will encounter troubles just keep moving forward. That book is very important and that friend will be gone tomorrow so you have to quickly go there. Remember don’t go back today. Promise me, Millie.” “Geez grandma, I’m sure you just want a day for yourself. Since you’ve been working hard, fine I promise I will not go back today.” The young girl wanted to tease her grandma but her grandma looks so sad and her eyes are very teary. “One more thing, please keep this notes and give the blue-sealed one to my friend and the red-sealed one, you can read it once you are out of our town. Use the path in the forest instead of the town path. This is important. Remember and follow my instructions, okay?” “Alright, please don’t be too sad without me grandma.” Her grandmother hugged her really tightly and quickly ushered her outside. Her grandmother never left their doorstep until she was in the forest.
…
Millie hurried to next town and is trying her best to remember her grandmother’s instructions. She is very occupied with her remembering that she didn’t notice the mudded hole in front of her and fell. Her things got scattered and the notes that she kept in her pocket got dirty. “Oh no.. grandma will get mad.” She opened both notes so that she can quickly clean it up and dry both out. She tried so hard not to peek but curiosity won.
“Dear …….,
Please take care of Millie……….. …………
…………………..The mobs will be here today. F….. he ………………….
They are coming there too. ………. away………………………………………….…..
…………….. be quick …………..”
“Dear Millie,
……………………………. understand……….
Your brother……………………………… remember…………………… His name is F…..
………………………………… protect…………………….future …………………white
Grandma.”
“What do they mean? Brother? Mobs? I have to go back.” Millie ran back to their cottage. She left her things and only clutched the two notes written by her grandmother. As she got closer to their cottage, the forest turned brighter and brighter and screams of an angry mob got louder.