The Princess Bride (Self-published)

19: Praedium Vocivus

Gabrielle knew that her time was limited and she silently prayed that she'd be able to locate her grandfather fast.

Praedium Vocivus. The land of the void. It is where souls waiting to ascend for judgment are gathered.

She looked around her – everything was hazy as if she were in a dream.

Pero, hindi ba't parang panaginip naman talaga 'to? she thought to herself.

Gabrielle knew the risks – she could be trapped forever in that realm or someone else could take over her body and she wouldn't be able to return.

She heard whispers but she couldn't see anyone.

"Lolo...?" she called out softly. "Lolo Solomon..."

May buhay na nakapasok...

Anong ginagawa ng isang buhay na tao rito?

Baka alam n'ya kung paano tayo makakalabas dito...

Halika, sundan natin s'ya...

Gabrielle froze for a second before she sprung into action running blindly.

H'wag n'yo s'yang hayaang makatakas!

S'ya na lang ang pag-asa nating makabalik!

She felt cold hands reaching for her and she shook them off but there were too many of them and soon she was ensnared by countless souls who were eager to go back to the world of the living.

A hand yanked her free and she fell forward. She got up ready to run when arms encircled her waist. "Bitiwan mo ako—!"

"Ako ito, Apo," she heard her grandfather's voice. "Halika," he urgently said before he led her away.

They reached what looked like broken spiral steps and they climbed it until they reached a landing.

"Paanong nakapasok ka rito?" Solomon asked his granddaughter. "Mapanganib dito, Apo—"

"Lolo..." Gabrielle wrapped her arms around the old man as she cried. "Lolo, h'wag n'yo po akong iwan..."

The old priest's eyes filled with tears as he lovingly cradled his granddaughter's face with his hands. "Apo, makinig ka...matapang ka at kailangan kong maging mas matapang ka ngayon..."

"Ayoko po..." Gabrielle wept as she shook her head. "Ibabalik kita. Kaya ko po..."

"Alam ko..." Solomon tearily said. "Kaya lang, Apo, malubha ang mga nakamtan kong sugat—"

"Kaya ko po kayong gamutin," Gabrielle insisted. "Ang sabi po ninyo dati, hangga't may natitirang hininga pa ang isang dela Paz ay kaya natin s'yang pabalikin sa mundo ng mga buhay gamit ang isang lumang ritwal. Kaya ko pong gawin 'yun—"

"Apo, pero kapag ginawa mo 'yun ay manganganib kayong dalawa ni Mikael dahil mawawalan ka ng malay-tao. Ibig sabihin ay dalawa tayong kailangan ipagtanggol ng Prinsipe."

"Malakas po ang asawa ko, Lolo—"

"Pero, may nararamdaman akong hindi magandang enerhiyang papalapit sa templo, Apo. Ipapahamak mo ang buhay mo pati na ang buhay ng asawa mo—"

"Lolo, hindi po hahayaan ni Mikael na may masamang mangyari sa ating dalawa—"

"Apo... gusto ko nang magpahinga..."

"Lo...Lo,  h'wag naman po..." The priestess started crying again. 

"May karamdaman ako, Apo, malubha na. Bilang na lang din ang araw ko sa mundo. Ang sabi ng doktor ay isa hanggang tatlong buwan na lang ang itatagal ng aking buhay..."