Chapter 98 - CORPSE

It was no wonder that she had lived according to her ideals for the reason of being Datu's favored child. Achis heard stories about her from his people. She was known as the goddess that was a blessing to Datu Pita's banwa. 

Legend says that every man who saw her - dreamt to become her husband to serve, protect, and pamper her for the rest of their lives. No matter how exaggerated rumors spread, that was inclined to her. He could guarantee, she filled the expectations. 

Because he, himself, wanted her to stay at his side. If not, he wouldn't bother hiding her from her Baba and to those who were thoroughly searching for her in the forest. If he could, he would never return her to her home.

A total of twenty-five days, they had not found the Bai of the house that caused the people of the entire banwa to be in turmoil. Maki and Datu Pita were still desperately looking for the young lady. In Lapil's opinion, it's pointless, however, he continues to offer assistance regardless he knew that the outcome would remain the same. 

Currently, they were taking a break, the sun was almost setting, yet Datu Pita's people were all working their hardest to find their lady. Witnessing how determined and passionate they are, Lapil's warriors were contaminated by their fired-up faith of good news and did their best to find her in the dense forest. 

Despite all this fiery enthusiasm, Lapil was already convinced that whatever they do or how hard they try to search for the most loved Bai, they will never find her because it is over a month and there's nothing else that could be found. 

He looked at the garment he was holding. This is the only remnant that they had seen in the forest, one of the slaves had confirmed that it was their Bai's clothing that she had left the balay. The first time he inspected the fabric, there was faint blood stained on it. It was torn apart by someone or something. He grasped it and looked deeper at the woods. 

He could still remember the scent that came from these clothes, it was a sweet and breezy, refreshing fragrance that would calm your nerves. Mixed with the pleasing scent, there was the hint of aroma of rice wine. 

Datu Pita said that his daughter had never tasted beverages like that before. Assuming that she had drunk the rice wine. There was a possibility that she was targeted that night. Either it was Datu Pita's enemy or it was a person who purely had the intention of coveting the young lady. 

With that, he concluded three possibilities that happened to her. 

One, she was killed. However, before anything else, he also assumed that she was defiled. He had seen numerous men that had suppressed and empowered women they desired. The blood that stained the garment could be the indication that her virginity was taken from her. 

Two, if she was not killed after the assault, she might be taken captive by the captor and is being hidden where she couldn't be found. The chances that the one who was responsible for all of this is one among them. 

Lastly, she ran away. She's not stupid, even though she had escaped or survived the attack. Her life will never be the same if she was dirtied. Even though they are originally betrothed to each other, she will not be titled as his legal wife. 

If that was the case, how can he even accept a woman who was already touched? That's inconvenient, besides, he had seen what happened to the women who had ravaged him forcefully. They are never the same again, they go insane. 

"DATU PITA! LAPIL! TATOP FOUND SOMETHING!" Wakan from a distance screamed. Both the Datu and Lapil looked at him and then ran in his direction. 

"Where?!" 

They fled to the location of Tatop, since the sun was setting, it's almost dark. Tall and large trees envelop the surrounding area. It is hard to see anything but vines and leaves with branches. 

"Fire up the torch," Lapil commanded Famir, who was catching up to them. Famir complied and took the readily torched that was kept on his belongings. 

As they got closer and closer to the area where Tatop said he found something, Datu Pita's pace gradually slowed down. The terror, fear, and anxiousness were visible in his expression. 

"Tatop, what did you find?" Lapil initiated to ask Tatop that has disconsolate lamentation. In the background, a wailing voice of a woman could be heard. 

Tatop looked at his Ginoo with despaired eyes. "Lapil-- it's the Bai." He mumbled disheartened. 

The atmosphere became heavy and none of them spoke. Datu Pita strode in the direction of the wailing woman, he kneeled almost crawling to get into the corpse that was laying on the ground. 

Famir followed the Datu to give him the light to see clearer in the dark. "Sasa, why are you crying?" Datu Pita asked breathlessly, looking at the slave mourning beside the skeletal body. 

The slave tried to stop herself from crying to answer her lord but when she had seen his distorted expression she cried louder. 

Datu Pita had lost his strength with the slave's response. He looked at the miserable and woeful state of his daughter's dead body. Unconsciously, the tears he's been holding from the moment he had entered the scene streamed down to his cheeks. 

He carefully embraces the carcass of his once lovely and bright child. Now, it's nothing but bones and rotting flesh. Based on its current appearance, it could be perceived that she's been feasted by wild animals in the woods. 

"My poor daughter..." Datu Pita sobbed his heart out. "Baba has failed you, Yanar," he screamed and punched the solid ground to relieve his agony but it did not help at all. 

"Ara...why did you take our daughter too? Ara! This is unfair! My wife, this is unfair....why am I left alone?! Yanar!"