Chapter 44
If audio player doesn't work, press Stop then Play button again
October was usually a humid month in Subangdaku, and the warm humidity was not helping Jamie. It was hot and his fever made him feel a lot hotter. The red blisters on his skin became itchier when touched by his uncontrollable sweat. He moved slowly on his bed because a slight touch on his skin magnified the pain and heat.
Since Bogart opened up the idea, Jamie could not take it out from his head. It was just simple - go to Loduvico, let him touch his skin, and he would be healed. But it was not as easy as that. He had blisters from head to toe, so where would Loduvico exactly touch him? Secondly, he was on house quarantine. His mother specifically told him to stay indoors. Going out could result to two consequences - him spreading chickenpox, or him becoming infected with the unknown disease. Either way, Jamie would be in trouble. So he must really stay home. Lastly, Jamie was partly afraid. What if Loduvico was using some sort of withcraft tricks to do the healing? Worse, what if he was using black magic? Or summoning the spirits of the dead? Loduvico could not do such act if he had no powers. Not knowing what it was scared Jamie.
He was in this state of hysteria when sleepiness finally visited him. Minutes after closing his eyes, he instantly dreamed. In his dream, Jamie was lying on a sidewalk. He was feverish and his entire body was covered with red blisters and boils. Much like his present condition but worse and more pathetic. He felt itch and pain at the same time. He sat up and looked at his legs and arms. To his surprise, he was also covered with dirt and filth, as if he did not bathe for several days or weeks. He smelled like cow dung. Horrified, Jamie cried so hard that he did not hear the footsteps approaching him.
"My child, fear not," the voice said. "Salvation is coming to you."
Jamie looked up but he was only blinded by a bright light. The light slowly dimmed as large hands closed in on him. The hands touched his face and warmth flowed through him. He felt relieved as pain gradually vanished from his body. He relaxed and closed his eyes. It was soothing and as he relished the moment, the hands that touched his face slowly withdrew. Feeling the cold air, he opened his eyes. It was already night.
And to his wonder, he was also somewhere else that looked like a marketplace. He wondered around the deserted streets and stalls. It was nothing like the market area of Subangdaku.
Jamie was confused. He knew he was only in a dream but why was he someplace he did not know. Usually, one dreamed only of places and events familiar to him. Yet, everything about the place was new - the brick-laden streets, the canvass stalls, the surrounding stone buildings, and even the purplish black sky.
"What is this place?" he asked himself.
He continued roaming around and explored the empty streets. Suddenly, he heard footsteps running towards him. Panicky, he looked for a place to hide and immediately took cover behind a large tent. He peeped through a big hole in the canvass. There were three people outside and they stopped right in front of his tent. They looked around and sniffed through the air.
"Where is it?" one of them spoke.
"It's somewhere here. I can smell him."
Jamie studied the men who did not exactly look like regular men. They did not even look like humans. Their head was too large for their long, slender bodies. They actually looked like aliens.
"Oh goodness," he whispered. "Are they the same alien that landed in Subangdaku? Am I in their planet?"
He was still guessing things when the door of his tent was violently opened wide, exposing him. His eyes widened in terror.
"There you are," one said. "You are not going anywhere."
Jamie screamed and kicked the hands that were about to touch him. He crawled his way and managed to escape them. However, they ran after him until he reached a dead end. He groped around but there was nothing on the cul de sac but only brick walls. The aliens closed in on him. He continued fumbling on the wall.
"It's the end for you."
Disheartened, Jamie gave up trying. The aliens were slowly inching towards him when he felt his arms getting heavy. He looked at his arms and surprisingly, they had turned into brick. The aliens were also in similar wonder. One of them suddenly pranced at Jamie but with one big swing of his right arm, the alien was instantly knocked down. The two jumped at him and he was overpowered. He wiggled but they were restraining him tightly. All of a sudden, one of them bit him in the arm. It attempted to bury its teeth but his brick arm just crumbled with the force. Jamie screamed.
He yelled and trembled until light appeared above him. It was already daytime, and he was back in Subangdaku. He looked at his right arm but it was still intact - no bites, not even a scratch.
"This is crazy," Jamie whispered. "Such a crazy dream. Is this the same dream that Tonton had?"
He looked around him and he was in school, except for several silver tents on the open ground. There were people everywhere - nurses and doctors in uniform, patients and their guardians, and volunteers bringing food and supplies. They were oblivious to his presence, as if he was invisible. He went inside one of the tents and to his horror, Kiko was lying in the bunk, screaming in pain. Nurses were gathered around him, tending to his medical needs. Scared, he went outside.
"It felt too real," he said and began weeping.
He went to another tent and saw Bogart. His friend was also in similar agony. He looked inside more tents and saw Tonton, Mr. Lucero, Mang Tomas, and other people in Subangdaku he knew. It was a depressing sight as the people he cared for were groaning in suffering.
"Please, stop this dream," Jamie cried and fell on the floor.
He could not look again at the things happening around him. Their pleas were excruciating to hear. He could not bear them all. Jamie was still crying, his head over his bended knees, when some hands shook his shoulders.
"Stop crying now. We need you."
Jamie wiped his eyes and looked up to the speaking voice. To his greater horror, Dr. Alvarado was smiling down at him.
Please report us if you find any errors so we can fix it asap!
October was usually a humid month in Subangdaku, and the warm humidity was not helping Jamie. It was hot and his fever made him feel a lot hotter. The red blisters on his skin became itchier when touched by his uncontrollable sweat. He moved slowly on his bed because a slight touch on his skin magnified the pain and heat.
Since Bogart opened up the idea, Jamie could not take it out from his head. It was just simple - go to Loduvico, let him touch his skin, and he would be healed. But it was not as easy as that. He had blisters from head to toe, so where would Loduvico exactly touch him? Secondly, he was on house quarantine. His mother specifically told him to stay indoors. Going out could result to two consequences - him spreading chickenpox, or him becoming infected with the unknown disease. Either way, Jamie would be in trouble. So he must really stay home. Lastly, Jamie was partly afraid. What if Loduvico was using some sort of withcraft tricks to do the healing? Worse, what if he was using black magic? Or summoning the spirits of the dead? Loduvico could not do such act if he had no powers. Not knowing what it was scared Jamie.
He was in this state of hysteria when sleepiness finally visited him. Minutes after closing his eyes, he instantly dreamed. In his dream, Jamie was lying on a sidewalk. He was feverish and his entire body was covered with red blisters and boils. Much like his present condition but worse and more pathetic. He felt itch and pain at the same time. He sat up and looked at his legs and arms. To his surprise, he was also covered with dirt and filth, as if he did not bathe for several days or weeks. He smelled like cow dung. Horrified, Jamie cried so hard that he did not hear the footsteps approaching him.
"My child, fear not," the voice said. "Salvation is coming to you."
Jamie looked up but he was only blinded by a bright light. The light slowly dimmed as large hands closed in on him. The hands touched his face and warmth flowed through him. He felt relieved as pain gradually vanished from his body. He relaxed and closed his eyes. It was soothing and as he relished the moment, the hands that touched his face slowly withdrew. Feeling the cold air, he opened his eyes. It was already night.
And to his wonder, he was also somewhere else that looked like a marketplace. He wondered around the deserted streets and stalls. It was nothing like the market area of Subangdaku.
Jamie was confused. He knew he was only in a dream but why was he someplace he did not know. Usually, one dreamed only of places and events familiar to him. Yet, everything about the place was new - the brick-laden streets, the canvass stalls, the surrounding stone buildings, and even the purplish black sky.
"What is this place?" he asked himself.
He continued roaming around and explored the empty streets. Suddenly, he heard footsteps running towards him. Panicky, he looked for a place to hide and immediately took cover behind a large tent. He peeped through a big hole in the canvass. There were three people outside and they stopped right in front of his tent. They looked around and sniffed through the air.
"Where is it?" one of them spoke.
"It's somewhere here. I can smell him."
Jamie studied the men who did not exactly look like regular men. They did not even look like humans. Their head was too large for their long, slender bodies. They actually looked like aliens.
"Oh goodness," he whispered. "Are they the same alien that landed in Subangdaku? Am I in their planet?"
He was still guessing things when the door of his tent was violently opened wide, exposing him. His eyes widened in terror.
"There you are," one said. "You are not going anywhere."
Jamie screamed and kicked the hands that were about to touch him. He crawled his way and managed to escape them. However, they ran after him until he reached a dead end. He groped around but there was nothing on the cul de sac but only brick walls. The aliens closed in on him. He continued fumbling on the wall.
"It's the end for you."
Disheartened, Jamie gave up trying. The aliens were slowly inching towards him when he felt his arms getting heavy. He looked at his arms and surprisingly, they had turned into brick. The aliens were also in similar wonder. One of them suddenly pranced at Jamie but with one big swing of his right arm, the alien was instantly knocked down. The two jumped at him and he was overpowered. He wiggled but they were restraining him tightly. All of a sudden, one of them bit him in the arm. It attempted to bury its teeth but his brick arm just crumbled with the force. Jamie screamed.
He yelled and trembled until light appeared above him. It was already daytime, and he was back in Subangdaku. He looked at his right arm but it was still intact - no bites, not even a scratch.
"This is crazy," Jamie whispered. "Such a crazy dream. Is this the same dream that Tonton had?"
He looked around him and he was in school, except for several silver tents on the open ground. There were people everywhere - nurses and doctors in uniform, patients and their guardians, and volunteers bringing food and supplies. They were oblivious to his presence, as if he was invisible. He went inside one of the tents and to his horror, Kiko was lying in the bunk, screaming in pain. Nurses were gathered around him, tending to his medical needs. Scared, he went outside.
"It felt too real," he said and began weeping.
He went to another tent and saw Bogart. His friend was also in similar agony. He looked inside more tents and saw Tonton, Mr. Lucero, Mang Tomas, and other people in Subangdaku he knew. It was a depressing sight as the people he cared for were groaning in suffering.
"Please, stop this dream," Jamie cried and fell on the floor.
He could not look again at the things happening around him. Their pleas were excruciating to hear. He could not bear them all. Jamie was still crying, his head over his bended knees, when some hands shook his shoulders.
"Stop crying now. We need you."
Jamie wiped his eyes and looked up to the speaking voice. To his greater horror, Dr. Alvarado was smiling down at him.
October was usually a humid month in Subangdaku, and the warm humidity was not helping Jamie. It was hot and his fever made him feel a lot hotter. The red blisters on his skin became itchier when touched by his uncontrollable sweat. He moved slowly on his bed because a slight touch on his skin magnified the pain and heat.Since Bogart opened up the idea, Jamie could not take it out from his head. It was just simple - go to Loduvico, let him touch his skin, and he would be healed. But it was not as easy as that. He had blisters from head to toe, so where would Loduvico exactly touch him? Secondly, he was on house quarantine. His mother specifically told him to stay indoors. Going out could result to two consequences - him spreading chickenpox, or him becoming infected with the unknown disease. Either way, Jamie would be in trouble. So he must really stay home. Lastly, Jamie was partly afraid. What if Loduvico was using some sort of withcraft tricks to do the healing? Worse, what if he was using black magic? Or summoning the spirits of the dead? Loduvico could not do such act if he had no powers. Not knowing what it was scared Jamie.He was in this state of hysteria when sleepiness finally visited him. Minutes after closing his eyes, he instantly dreamed. In his dream, Jamie was lying on a sidewalk. He was feverish and his entire body was covered with red blisters and boils. Much like his present condition but worse and more pathetic. He felt itch and pain at the same time. He sat up and looked at his legs and arms. To his surprise, he was also covered with dirt and filth, as if he did not bathe for several days or weeks. He smelled like cow dung. Horrified, Jamie cried so hard that he did not hear the footsteps approaching him."My child, fear not," the voice said. "Salvation is coming to you."Jamie looked up but he was only blinded by a bright light. The light slowly dimmed as large hands closed in on him. The hands touched his face and warmth flowed through him. He felt relieved as pain gradually vanished from his body. He relaxed and closed his eyes. It was soothing and as he relished the moment, the hands that touched his face slowly withdrew. Feeling the cold air, he opened his eyes. It was already night.And to his wonder, he was also somewhere else that looked like a marketplace. He wondered around the deserted streets and stalls. It was nothing like the market area of Subangdaku.Jamie was confused. He knew he was only in a dream but why was he someplace he did not know. Usually, one dreamed only of places and events familiar to him. Yet, everything about the place was new - the brick-laden streets, the canvass stalls, the surrounding stone buildings, and even the purplish black sky."What is this place?" he asked himself. He continued roaming around and explored the empty streets. Suddenly, he heard footsteps running towards him. Panicky, he looked for a place to hide and immediately took cover behind a large tent. He peeped through a big hole in the canvass. There were three people outside and they stopped right in front of his tent. They looked around and sniffed through the air."Where is it?" one of them spoke."It's somewhere here. I can smell him."Jamie studied the men who did not exactly look like regular men. They did not even look like humans. Their head was too large for their long, slender bodies. They actually looked like aliens."Oh goodness," he whispered. "Are they the same alien that landed in Subangdaku? Am I in their planet?"He was still guessing things when the door of his tent was violently opened wide, exposing him. His eyes widened in terror."There you are," one said. "You are not going anywhere."Jamie screamed and kicked the hands that were about to touch him. He crawled his way and managed to escape them. However, they ran after him until he reached a dead end. He groped around but there was nothing on the cul de sac but only brick walls. The aliens closed in on him. He continued fumbling on the wall."It's the end for you."Disheartened, Jamie gave up trying. The aliens were slowly inching towards him when he felt his arms getting heavy. He looked at his arms and surprisingly, they had turned into brick. The aliens were also in similar wonder. One of them suddenly pranced at Jamie but with one big swing of his right arm, the alien was instantly knocked down. The two jumped at him and he was overpowered. He wiggled but they were restraining him tightly. All of a sudden, one of them bit him in the arm. It attempted to bury its teeth but his brick arm just crumbled with the force. Jamie screamed.He yelled and trembled until light appeared above him. It was already daytime, and he was back in Subangdaku. He looked at his right arm but it was still intact - no bites, not even a scratch."This is crazy," Jamie whispered. "Such a crazy dream. Is this the same dream that Tonton had?"He looked around him and he was in school, except for several silver tents on the open ground. There were people everywhere - nurses and doctors in uniform, patients and their guardians, and volunteers bringing food and supplies. They were oblivious to his presence, as if he was invisible. He went inside one of the tents and to his horror, Kiko was lying in the bunk, screaming in pain. Nurses were gathered around him, tending to his medical needs. Scared, he went outside."It felt too real," he said and began weeping.He went to another tent and saw Bogart. His friend was also in similar agony. He looked inside more tents and saw Tonton, Mr. Lucero, Mang Tomas, and other people in Subangdaku he knew. It was a depressing sight as the people he cared for were groaning in suffering."Please, stop this dream," Jamie cried and fell on the floor.He could not look again at the things happening around him. Their pleas were excruciating to hear. He could not bear them all. Jamie was still crying, his head over his bended knees, when some hands shook his shoulders."Stop crying now. We need you."Jamie wiped his eyes and looked up to the speaking voice. To his greater horror, Dr. Alvarado was smiling down at him.
