Chapter 2: CHAPTER 1 - The Tale of Two Sisters
Alexandra Dimaguiba was known by her friends as Sandra, with the exception of her husband Nicholas who often calls her sweetly by the name "Sandy". She was very much loved and cared for by her partner in life. Being a plain housewife, she's content in this simple life she's living so far. She had two beautiful daughters with Nick, Mira and Christine. Mira was born on December 8, 1996, two years later after her marriage with her husband. Together with their first-born, they made a picture of a good family.
As a child, young Mira was a bright and prayerful little girl. Both Sandy and Nick, have always tried their best to raise God-fearing children and a faithful Mira has always made Sandy very proud as a mother. She would often lead their prayers before and after meals. Before bed, she would also pray entrusting herself to her guardian angel. With a playful grin, she would often tell her that her angel was her friend.
Christine was born 6 years later after Mira. She was like the angel of the family. Her innocent laughter would often be heard inside the house whenever they were playing with her. She seemed to be a very cheerful girl and Sandy has never wished for more than to have her little girl stay that way. She would always pray for angels to guard her day and night so she could safely pass her development stage during infancy. Of course, as her mom, she would always be by her side too.
Her blissful life as a mother and wife made her believe there was nothing she could ask for, until everything about the two of them changed 4 years later. The brightness and the warmth of her home seemed to dissipate as time passed and eat away the years of her life. She was seated in an empty dining room. The sound of fun and laughter often heard inside the house was replaced with cold deafening silence.
Christine stopped giving off her warm smiles and gentle laughter to anyone at home. Most of the time, she's found in a daze staring at the empty ceiling for hours. Sometimes, she would suddenly stare at the door of her room as if wary of someone coming in. At first, Nick looked away and shrugged it off before going back into the master's bedroom until he heard a loud bang from the door of their room followed by Christine's playful giggle. It was disturbing for Nick because as familiar as he was with Christine's giggle, that laughing sound was last heard when she was still a baby.
She's a grown child now.
Mira going home late became more frequent as days went by. Perhaps, she's entering her rebellious phase as a teenager. And there were no more traces of that faithful little girl Mira from 4 years ago. This made her husband talk to her out of worry for their eldest. Nick said he once entered her room and found books which can be found on the New Age section (1) of the National Bookstore. There was even an odd board printed with old Western rodeo-styled letters forming an arc. On its corners were the sun and the moon - 'YES' beside the sun, a 'NO' beside the moon and a huge 'OUIJA' in the middle of the two. It was then that Nick knew their daughter is up for some trouble soon.
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April 9, 2007.
Inside the Archdiocese of Manila – Office of Exorcism.
4:33PM. It was the Monday right after the celebration of Easter Sunday. He didn't expect he would immediately stumble upon another case.
"Father, this is Nicholas Dimaguiba. He wishes to consult you about some strange happenings around his young daughters," a young woman introduced the anxious Nick to Fr. Eli. This woman in plain white buttoned shirt and long gray pleated skirt was his secretary, Antoinette Laksamana. Nick immediately stood up upon the sight of Fr. Eli as if his bottom suddenly went on fire.
"Fr. Eli, I heard some things about you. Perhaps you can help my daughters," Nick said as he held up his hand to shake the hand of the young exorcist priest.
Then Fr. Eli shook his hand drenched in cold sweat as a response. He must have been waiting for long inside this cold office.
After some formalities, Fr. Eli started asking detailed questions on the account of Mr. Dimaguiba on the strange phenomena surrounding his two daughters Mira and Christine. Nick left no details unsaid. He began to recall everything he could remember, including the most unsettling thing his youngest daughter told him.
It happened 3 days ago, on Good Friday, when he took his family to his wife's province of origin – Batangas. It was meant for a change of environment that he took the decision to take them away from the metropolis. Maybe the fresh air can relieve them from the tension and the warmth of the summer sun thaw the icy cold atmosphere within his family.
It was an old-styled Filipino house made of sturdy wood. Here, Christine and Mira each have their own rooms. The place was huge for their family. Nick's in-laws were also there to tend to them with utmost care as it has already been 2 years since they last came to this home together.
Despite their awkward relationship, Tintin didn't like the idea of staying alone inside her room at night so Sandy initiated to go into her room to pray with her and sing a song of lullaby to help her sleep. From the door, Sandy could hear her daughter's soft voice mumbling a prayer she taught her. She sure has grown up as a brilliant kid. She could memorize the entire prayer and recite it on her own without anyone's guidance.
"Now I lay down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
"Two to foot, and two to head, and four to carry me when I'm dead…
"If any danger comes to me, and if I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take."
Sandy quietly approached the young girl as she continued praying fervently with eyes tightly closed… her prayers starting to sound more like pleading this time.
"Angel sent by God to guide me, be my light and walk beside me.
"Be my guardian and protect me, on the paths of life, direct me.
"Amen."
"Saint Anthony of Padua, pray for us," she concluded her prayer quickly and hurriedly made the sign of the cross:
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
She never lifted her eyelids until she laid down completely wrapped under the blanket. Such an adorable sight, Sandy thought. She knew Christine was still awake, scared. To calm her down, she started singing an folk lullaby. But instead of sleeping, quiet sobs from underneath the blanket started to become more audible, drowning her singing.
"Mommy… mommy… please stop…"
Sandy suddenly paused, with a curious look on her face, she stared down on her daughter whose face she cannot see. She tried to peer open her defenses but she refused to take off the blanket.
"M-mommy…" the sobs continued, Christine wrapped herself more tightly continuing to speak in a trembling voice:
"M-mommy… p-please … can you please … please stop?
"Please stop…
"You're already dead, Mommy."
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(1) New Age is a literary movement that particularly targets young readers into themes of occultism and a range of spiritual or religious beliefs and practices that developed in the West.
(2) A nickname for Christine. It is typical of the Filipinos to give nicknames that repeat one syllable from a person's name as a form of endearment such as Tenten, Jun-Jun and Maymay.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
AMnemosyne
AMnemosyne Hi,
I just want to let you guys know that despite most events here being inspired by some true events, everything written here is a work of fiction.
Any views and opinions reflected in this work doesn't necessarily reflect mine.
I hope not to offend any individuals with my work.
Thanks for reading!
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