Why aren't you sleeping? "I almost jumped when a cold voice spoke.
I looked to my side because that's where the voice comes from.
Wait? Is Icarus here? Did I think he left us ?.
"What are you doing here?" I wondered.
"I'm watching you" he replied then stood beside me. I backed away slightly so that our bodies would not stick together. I felt my heart beat faster. Gosh! When he's really with me, I'm nervous, I don't know.
"Are you afraid of me?" He asked as he picked up the pebbles on the ground.
"Ah, h-no. Why should I be afraid of you" I lied. He sat up and looked at the sky, there were pigeons flying.
He throws it with the small stones he picked up. Soon after, a pigeon fell, this is the pigeon he had been throwing stones at earlier.
He stood up and picked it up, he stood next to me again and cut off its head face to face with only his hand.
I stood up in panic and walked away slightly, he looked at me and nothing sucked the pigeon's blood. I almost vomited from what I saw, he was disgusting, he sucked on the neck of the pigeon, after that he threw away its body.
My mouth opened but no words came out. I didn’t know what my reaction would be.
"Sleep there" was his serious promise while wiping his lips pure blood. I ran into the cave and squeezed myself with Vera.
I'm so scared, isn't he a monster? Gosh !!! What a pity he is! he's still handsome!
"Girl! stop there is some more people who needs to eat!" I heard Vera speak.
"Girl! I'm still hungry, we still have a long way to go!" Aubrey replied.
I got up from bed, it was morning, and these two were fighting again.
Everything is disputed, including food.
"Where's Athena?" I asked them.
"Hey madame, you're awake" Vera insulted.
"Madame, are you ready to eat?" Aubrey added. I just stared at them and came out of the cave.
Not a day went by that I spoke to them politely. I saw Athena picking plants, maybe she will use them for medicine.
I approached him, I even heard him whispering to the plants as if they were talking.
"What are you doing?" I will ask. "I'm just asking if they know where Simoun can be found" he replied.
I laughed at what he said, when did the plants learn to speak? I let him talk to the plants.
I was on my way back to the cave when I saw Icarus. He was busy grilling fish, when he saw me he motioned me to come to him.
Even though I still couldn't move on from what I saw last night I still approached. When I got close to him he immediately handed me a sticky fish.
I accepted it even though I was hesitant whether I would eat it or not. Maybe later he poisoned it.
"Eat that, you've already eaten your breakfast" was its serious language.
I looked at the two, I just smiled because until now they are still fighting over the chicken thigh.
"Thanks, did you eat that? You just want us to share here?" I offer. He looked at me seriously.
"I've eaten" he replied and left. I watched him leave until I could no longer see him.
I looked at the fish he grilled for me, and an inexplicable smile drew on my lips. It was as if my heart was leaping with joy, maybe because this is the only time I can eat fish again.
Ewan, do you use it? I started eating, when Aubrey saw me she asked for it but I didn't give it to her.
I really don't want to, it was given to me so I should just eat it. "Eat thorns too bitch" she said angrily.
We continued our journey again. I know that Athena is very worried, especially for Jacobo.
Hopefully they are okay, we also stop stopping whenever we feel hungry or tired.
Icarus didn't show up for us either but I had a strong feeling that he was just around, compliant.
"Where can our feet take us? Is there a destination for our journey?" Aubrey's complaint.
We had just finished eating, and we resumed our journey.
"We need to go to mang chito, he's the only one who can help us" Athena replied.
In the middle of our trip, Vera was bitten by a cobra, fortunately Athena caught up with her early.
Athena is good at medicine, she seems to know almost everything when it comes to medicine.
We decided to stop first and rest under the big tree.
I made my bed and went to sleep
"Aicah! Aicah! Help us!" A man's plea, I can't see his face.
"Who are you? What's going on?" I asked. I don’t know where I am now, my hands and feet are tied, I am lying on the floor and surrounded by candles.
"Aicah !! Help us" was Athena's voice! He was begging.
"Aicah !!!" that was Vera's voice.
"Aicah! Help !!!" that voice was Aubrey. Gradually fear enveloped me, one after another people were shouting and asking me for help.
I couldn’t do anything because even I was tied up too. I was crying, I didn’t know how to help them.
Stop! That's enough, please! stop this! Stop! crying my cry in a flash the atmosphere became quiet.
When I woke up I was somewhere else, I was now in a big house, no! Mansion, Mansion this if you look.
All the equipment even the paint of the mansion is black.
No one even one, I decided to take a walk, until I was stranded in a large room.
There was a painting hanging there, I approached it and examined it carefully.
You are a picture of a woman, smiling and wearing a beautiful crown.
If you look at her, she looks like a queen, but why is everything she is wearing black ?.
"Aicah" I heard the wind whisper. I looked around to see if anyone was there but I saw nothing.
It still keeps calling my name. I followed the source of that voice.
I don’t know but spontaneously moving my feet, it took me to a big room.
I entered here without any nervousness, I was just so surprised when I saw Simoun, Raphael and Jacobo tied to the poles.
They were bloody and their bodies were covered in bruises.
"Aicah, it's good and you followed us" Raphael said weakly and tried to smile at me. I immediately ran closer to him and grabbed him but my hand only penetrated.
“You won’t be able to touch me, because you’re just a traveling soul” it explains.
"You're not dead yet, don't worry" he said when he saw I was surprised.
I looked at his whole body, of the three he had the most stripes.
"How can I help you?" I asked crying. "Go to the mountain of Cillo, at the top you will find a small hut, there lives the witch who captured us.
Please be careful, "he replied.
I nodded while still crying.
"Vera? How is she? Can you please don't tell her my condition? If she ever asks you, please let me know that I'm fine" he struggled as he spoke.
I would have just answered but there was some strong force pulling at me.
I woke up when Vera and I suddenly poured water on me. I catch my breath as I get up.
"You were crying earlier while you were sleeping, we didn't wake you up so Vera poured water on you" Aubrey said worriedly.
"Are you okay?" Vera asked. If so, is that just a dream? But why is it so real? I started crying again as I remembered Raphael's condition.
They need our help! We have to go to the mountain of Cillo.
"Where's Athena? We need to continue the journey!" I was confused and then took my backpack.
"Oh that's awake?" Athena said that she had just arrived.
"Mount Cillo! At the top of it! There's a hut! They're there Simoun! We have to hurry!" i said stronly
They were all surprised by what I said, Athena hurriedly took her backpack and so did Vera.
"How did you find out?" Aubrey asked in astonishment.
"I dreamed!" I answer.
We were in a hurry to walk because we had to rescue them Raphael.
"How's Raphael? Is he okay?" Vera asked seriously.
Ever since I told them I knew where they were Raphael she didn’t speak anymore.
I remembered what Raphael said so I just answered with my eyes closed.
"Yes, he's fine" We traveled a few hours until we reached Mount Cillo.
There aren't too many trees here, maybe people are cutting them down.
"Can we rest first? We've been walking before!" Aubrey's complaint. Athena sighed and nodded.
We were resting under a tree, Vera was still silent and seemed to be deep in thought. At night they all went to sleep but I stayed awake.
I'm waiting for Icarus, just in case he shows up again. I smiled when I saw him approaching me, I immediately stood up and approached him.
"Did you see them in your dream?" Its a serious question. I nodded with a smile, I was happy and I was useful to the group.
"In that case, you're what I'm looking for" he said. The smile disappeared from my lips and was replaced by astonishment.
"Rest, I will accompany you on your journey" he said and turned around.
"Really! That won't hide from us" I said like a child. Gosh! Aicah! What is happening to you! You look like a fool! He turned to me and nodded.
I smiled again and went back to lying down. I was still smiling even when I was asleep. I don't know, I'm glad he's coming with us tomorrow i'm excited! the next day after we had breakfast we left.
We will climb farther away because at the top of the mountain is the hut that Raphael says.
Athena and Vera walk first, Aubrey and I follow them, while Icarus is last.
"Girl, did that suddenly come with us? What did you feed there?" Aubrey whispered to me.
"Shhh, stop it! he might hear you! It's embarrassing!" I answer. We stopped when they suddenly stopped Vera.
"Why did we stop? We're going to rest?" Aubrey asked excitedly.
"We're at the top" Vera replied. Aubrey and I are wondering, are we at the top yet? Eh, we'll just walk, and it's not the top yet.
I turned to Icarus who was just behind me. He rolls his eyes around the whole environment.
When our eyes met I smiled at him but he just looked at me seriously.
Hayss, he doesn't really know how to smile.
"Where's the hut Raphael says?" I will ask. I don't see a hut here.
"Feel it, only you can teach us where the hut is" Athena replied.
Wait? Why me? All I know is that it's at the top of the mountain, we're not even at the top yet.
"I don't know" I said then treated.
"I think the hut is there" Icarus interjected then pointed the right way.
We walked in the direction Icarus said and he was right, there is a hut here.
This hut is small and looks old because it is overgrown with plants. We wasted no more time and went inside, but to my great surprise it suddenly widened and was the same as the mansion I had seen.
"Wow! The one with the magic!" Aubrey's harvest was amazing.
"In which room did you see them?" Vera asked seriously. I try to remember which floor it is! Bwiset I no longer remember.
"I'm sorry I don't remember, it's better if we cut them apart first so we can find them quickly" I replied.
They nodded, Icarus and I were together while the three of them were together.
We split up and started looking in the rooms but we still couldn't find them.
"How important are they to you?" Its a cold question.
"Very, very much they mean to me. They are also my family and I love them, even though they are not human like Aubrey and I" I replied.
He never spoke again, we continued to search but still nothing, all the rooms we went to were empty.
I heard footsteps so I quickly pulled Icarus secretly under the table.
I told it not to be noisy.
I saw a beautiful woman approaching in our direction.
It was dressed in a black curved body and was only up to the thighs short.
"Come out, I know you're hiding, Come on i don't bite" its artistic language still laughing.
I looked at Icarus who now looked at me badly.
I just bit my lip and slowly came out from under the table.
I bent down to face the woman, what can happen to us?
"Hello people! Welcome to my mansion!" she said happily and even scolded me, she also scolded Icarus.
"I know you've traveled a long way, just to be here, so I'll prepare a simple dinner for us!" she said happily with more applause.
This woman is weird! Why is she so mean to us? Isn't she bad? she hit them Raphael!
she motioned for us to follow her, so even though I didn’t want to I still obeyed.
she took us to a room where there was a long table and many different kinds of food there.
"Have a sit." it was there and even pointed to the chair.
I sat down and so did Icarus, we sat side by side while this woman sat at the end of the table.
I just looked at her seriously, which she did so Raphael hid them.
"ouch god damn it I'M HURT!" language of a familiar voice. I looked at the big men who had just entered, they were holding both of Vera's arms. So were Aubrey and Athena.
"Hi everyone! Come on, have a sit, lets eat together!" Happy offer of the woman.
Vera looked at it badly and spoke.
"Where are they Raphael! Get them out! Black lady !!"
"What did you do to them! Why did you lock them up here ?? !!" Athena asked angrily.
"Simoun? Where is he? Did you flirt with her while I was away!" Aubrey groaned.
shee laughed and took a glass of wine. she drank it and they looked at each other.
"Girls chill! Don't worry I'm going to answer all of your questions, but first, let's eat together! What a waste of food, right?" Its an artistic answer.
They did not answer and just sat down. Athena stood beside me while Aubrey and Vera were opposite us.
Silence enveloped us, only the sound of knives and forks could be heard.
I looked at them one by one, Icarus was eating seriously, Athena was cutting her steak but she wasn't eating it. Aubrey, on the other hand, is upset because she eats almost all the food she eats.
While Vera looks sharp at the woman and just drinks wine.
While the woman was just smiling while eating, it was as if she was teasing her with the smiles she was giving.
"It's not time to play! Give them Jacobo to us!" Athena's strong promise, I also saw her grip on the knife tighten.
"Aww Who says that I'm playing with you?" She asked smiling.
"I'm running out of patience! Get them out Raphael!" Vera was annoyed.
she laughed and shook his head. "You really inherited that from your father" was its meaningful answer.
Vera blinked before speaking.
I don't have parents, sorry ". Suddenly it looked worse.
I looked at Icarus who was still eating seriously, as if he didn't care even though the conversation of those around him was heating up.
The door opened and he spat out a handsome man, approached the woman and kissed her face to face.
I looked away, yuck! In front of us really?
Aubrey immediately covered her eyes.
"Tsk," Vera said, looking stunned at what she saw.
After they kissed, the man sat down next to the woman
"This is my husband! I'm sorry just now because we met again after 10hrs" he said artfully. I nodded while Vera and I didn't say anything.
"So, You all are here because of those guys, right?" deep voice said the man.
I immediately touched Icarus' arm, it was scary as if he would kick at any moment.
"Where are they?" Athena asked calmly. The man smiled and drank the wine.
"What's your name, ?" Aubrey asked curiously, looking like she had beaten this man. Grabe! nobody really chooses !.
"I'm Lourdcan, and this is my wife Vaneza" he introduced then looked at Vaneza with a sticky look. The way he looks at her, you can feel that he really loves Vaneza. How sweet.
"Ahh, okay" Aubrey replied and sipped ice cream.
"How are you my sweetie?" Lourdcan asked softly, but I knew he wasn't referring to Vaneza. So, who is he talking to?
"Come back to us, then we will set them free." Wait? Are they looking at Vera? Is Vera the one they are talking to?
"Why Lourdcan? Did Khione left you too?" Vera answered disrespectfully.
Suddenly Lourdcan's gaze deepened, and I saw that he was holding back his anger. Vaneza held it by the arm, calming it down.
"Is that how you talk to us in front of your friends?" Vaneza asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Just asking, is it bad?" Vera replied smiling.
"If you don't want to and you want to, you'll live here again!" Lourdcan made a strong promise.
Vera got even angrier, I could see the redness on her face.
"Let them go Simoun and we will give you Vera" Icarus whispered while wiping his mouth with a table napkin.
Vera looked badly at Icarus.
"Wow ha! You decided boy?" Its sarcastic harvest. Icarus just smiled, looking like he was still teasing.
! BRING RAPHAEL OUT !! "Vera shouted and stood up. I almost hugged Icarus when Lourdcan suddenly turned the table over.
We were all surprised except for Vaneza and Icarus. Gosh he's scary! I don't want to be here!
"Another warning! I'm going to kill that man !!" It's a threat. Tears gradually formed in Vera's eyes, she looked up to stop them from dripping.
Icarus stood up and also helped me stand up, he took my hand and pulled me out of the dining room.
Even tire mess I just dragged him. We sat on a long sofa, when we sat down he let go of my hand.
"A-when are we doing here?" I asked incredulously. They were still inside Aubrey lest they perish.
He looked at me seriously and spoke.
"You're scared, so I took you away from them" I almost lost my heart, punyemas what is this! Pafall is like a fool! My cheeks are getting hot, Icarus looks like a fool! Still thrilling! Oh wait! This is not the right time for thrill! My friends' lives are in danger.
"Let's find them Raphael!" Aya ko.
"Let's just wait for them to finish talking, they will also tell you where they hid Raphael" he replied.