"I see you wanted to escape again."
It's still dawn but Raquel is already in front of my house, blocking my escape route.
"You're truly persistent."
"I know right? If only I could escape Adji just like someone I know, I'll gladly become his accomplice."
"Yeah, I forgot, you're the daughter of the chief. You have an image to protect." I smug.
I know that no one will ever suspect that I imprisoned an outsider in the Thorny forest, and I'm going there to ask about the man about the outside world. Even so, I have to be cautious. Raquel is dangerous. She's a perceptive woman just like her father. I don't know how they did it, but they're very good at playing hide and seek.
"And you're the future one, IDIOT!"
"Aren't you a clingy fiancé?"
"Hmph, not today. I'm not here to stop you from not attending. Rather, I want to tell you that I have to go through the last phase of Adji. I have to stay at the council's house until I recover they say. I don't know what that means but it seems like you won't be seeing me for a day or two." Her smile is bitter. I know that she must be very worried about me.
"That's great! You should extend your stay." I hold her hands with mine. She might have thought I'm joking but truly, this is a time to celebrate.
"You mindless jerk!"
She kicked me on the butt and it hurts like hell. As expected of the daughter of the chief.
While I'm busy rubbing my butt, we met gazed, and I saw the very sad look on her eyes.
"Say Nabi, do you hate this island?"
"What's with that question? Of course, I hate it. It's boring and it's small. There's nothing else to do. My life here isn't worth living."
Those words are cruel but those are how I feel.
She sighed.
"I have been attending the Adji since I was young. I tried every meditation methods the elders thought. Unfortunately, I could never unlock the God-given power my father and ancestors have been talking about. Every day is suffocating. Before I knew it, I started to question it too, just like you."
My eyes widen. So, I'm not the only one! Raquel and I have been on the same boat all along! In that case, maybe I could tell her about the outsider I found in the thorny forest. Maybe-
"I hate Adji but that doesn't mean I despise this island. I love everything about it."
Oh. Fortunately, she stopped me.
"I don't know if you notice it since you're always at the cliff or somewhere on this island but the children here are very adorable and kind. They appreciate even the slightest blessings. I can see how much they love their brothers, sisters, the elders, and this island. They're sad that their parents died but if Adji gives them hope to live, then, I'll gladly side with it!"
The sun rises. I can't help but stare blankly in the clear sky. What she said isn't right but it's not wrong either. It's truly a complicated world.
"I get your message. Please, go now."
Despite saying that, I left first.
I'm quite angry. Raquel and I might be close friends, but we're different in many ways. Unlike her, I can't put my faith in something so frail like false belief. She'll see, I'll make a better future for them.
The walk to the Thorny forest might have cooled down my head. I'm glad to see the old man behind the bars I made. He didn't try to escape.
"You're here! You're here! I thought you've forgotten about me kid." He cried happily.
"Where's my bag? He asked.
Right, I hid his bag in the nearby bushes before going home.
" I need my bag to call for help." He said.
"Help? Is there a way for you to call for help? Are you going to fly again?"
No, he can't leave yet. He needs to tell me everything about the world beyond this island. I have to stop him at all costs. He's my only hope.
"Hahahaha, I can't do that. I don't need to fly or travel by boat just to call for help. You folks might not know this but we have a communication device. Let me show you."
Curious, I took his bag, opened the door, and joined him inside the cave. I'm pointing my arrow on his neck in case he does something funny.
He goes through his things, and after a few seconds, he pulled out a weird-looking bracelet.
"I'm going to call for help using this device."
Call for help? I give the outsider a puzzled look.
Right, I heard about it before.
When my parents are alive, they often talked in wonder about the technologies the past civilization has. So, it does truly exist, the communication device.
Then it hits me.
He shouldn't contact anyone. Not now. He can't leave me yet. I should take the communication device while I haven't planned my next move yet.
I'm about to snatch the device from the outsider when he spoke.
"Kid, do you want to come with me?"
I froze.
"I think about it all night. You're a good kid, but it seems like you're discontented. I know how you feel because I'm just like you. Always bored staying in the same place. Always yearning to explore and discover new things. Would you believe me if I told you that's the reason why I'm here?"
The outsider chuckled. Then, he continued in a calm and gentle voice.
"I'm a professional traveler. I take videos and photos of places that never or rarely been explored. This island is located in the west of the Pacific, a part of an abandoned country to be precise. Although I doubt you knew about it."
"In the year 2040, a nuclear plant was built within the surrounding islands. Those plants are used to power all things, including this technology." He raises the communication tool.
"It was a progressive country until a very big quake destroys it all. The nuclear plants got destroyed, poisoning every living thing around it. Since it's already been a hundred years. Even if my manager argued that this place is still contaminated, I went anyway, breaking regulations. I'm here alone since everyone gives up on the crazy idea."
That's... That's the history of the island?
I can't believe what I'm hearing. Should I believe it anyway?
He's an outsider. He can make all kinds of stories just to get out.
"Bwahahahaha, don't want to believe it? I can see it on your face kid. We'll whether you believe it or not, that's up to you."
The outsider pressed the communication device and green light flash on the air. I can't believe what I'm seeing. An image of a woman was formed. Is that even possible? Her clothing is foreign to mine. She looks pissed.
"You're still alive, Tim Green. I wish you drop dead."
The woman on the thin air spoke. It's a sight to behold.
"Bwahahahaha, sorry, I made you worried. I need to be rescued. I thought that exploring the Bia is a good choice but this happens to be inhibited by people isolated from civilization. They're going to kill me if they found me."
"What? There are inhabitants in Bia? But that's impossible! That country has been wiped out after the big quake. Until today, that's off-limit due to the high content of radiation."
"How should I know? I only pick this island since it's the farthest from the main sites. Who knows? As they said, victors decide on what to put on history books. Maybe there's a part of the history we don't know?"
The woman got infuriated for a second.
"Are you going to return there to investigate! You're really crazy! Did you know that going there is already a suicide mission?! You're lucky that you fell from a noncontaminated island!"
"Bwahahahaha. You're right! Then, I gladly wait for your rescue. You can trace my location, right? Send me a plane for two people tomorrow. Pick me during twilight. I'll be bringing someone with me."
"Someone?" The woman on the air looked at me. She might have only noticed me right now.
"He'll be crucial for my investigation, and Vblog."
After that, the outsider pressed the tool and the light went off.
"You believe me now?"
He only had the communication tool now. Based on what I witnessed yesterday and today, that call isn't certainly staged.
"Now that I told you about my world, will you be kind to share about this place kid? If you like to come with me, then, I should know what kind of person I'll be taking. Bwahahahaha. You can lie too."
The way he said it is very kind. He has a reassuring voice similar to our Chief Roro, of course, without the scary face. That might have driven me to share the disappointments I have been holding off for too long. I opened my mouth without a second thought.
"This place has nothing in particular. We depend on nature to live. We don't have any effective medicine for an outbreak. Everyone here depends on Adji just to get away from the harsh reality!"
"Huh? Adji, never heard of it before. What's that?"
"It's everything for everyone. It's a ritual and a meditation perform dedicated to one true God. I don't know what's that god's name or if it has one, but it's obviously a lie. The elders are saying that this ritual will even help us discover our God-given ability if we pour our hearts and soul to it. That's bullshit since I never knew someone that has an ordinary power, ever!"
"Woah, I can see now why you're displeased. Don't worry kid. I'm here. I'll make sure to change your destiny."
For a second, I thought I saw him smirk. But that immediately go away when he asked me about the departure time.
"Do you know what six o'clock means?"
I grinned.
"Of course, we have a stone clock."
"Then, don't be late."