"Hey! Wake up, Cav! It's good that you want to die first! Come with me!"
Shiloh slapped me on the cheek repeatedly unethically. His face looked panicked when I opened my eyes because I was disturbed by his hand punch. I could see the blue sky far above the cliff, and the cold water that froze me. My feet felt like they were floating in the water without getting a chance to land. Shiloh supported my body, so that half of my body was above the surface of the water.
"Ah, even if I die it will be exciting," I said lightly. Shiloh gave me a small slap on the cheek. His eyebrows dropped sharply.
"You can't die before this madness is over!" he said fiercely. I laughed, trying to get back all my life that had disappeared before—when I was desperate to jump down. Just imagine—dropping yourself into a river that may be more than 20 meters away from the ravine, plus the area is dark plus terrifying—anyone's heart will definitely go crazy. Only spirits dare to jump like that.
But I'm not included.
Shiloh slowly took my body away from this puddle. He tried so hard to support my body—I can't swim. He seemed to be holding me like I was a baby—you know what I mean, right? Being carried in front like that, you know.
"Hey, speed up your swimming! I'm hungry!"
Shiloh chuckled angrily. "You idiot. Don't make any noise! Want me to dive in again?"
I locked my mouth tightly. When Shiloh is angry, his orders are absolute like a king. I don't know why, I always become a pushover when suddenly that annoying male mode appears.
Finally my feet hit the mossy ground. One of the shoes I was wearing apparently lost in the water. I had no intention of looking for it because I got the shoes for free. Shiloh lay tired on the ground with his body soaked. I then sat beside him looking up at the place where we had committed suicide—okay, let's just say that.
"This case can't be taken for granted anymore, Cav." Shiloh said seriously. The look on his face was different from the previous time. Usually Shiloh is a jokester.
"Did I ever think this was all a joke?"
Shiloh did not respond to my words. "If you hadn't brought the Madman to our hideout, we might still be safe now."
I shook my head. "He had intended to harm me from the start. I just wanted to know—"
"Isn't it better not to know at all?" Shiloh glared at me. I gritted my teeth. He still wore that face stubbornly. "Now they're after us. We never know what dangers await."
"Stop, Shiloh." I looked at him disapprovingly. "Don't get into the habit of blaming other people. What we need to do is deal with it," I said quickly. Shiloh chuckled, but spoke no more. "Let's get through this together. You want it, right?"
"Huh, what can I do? I already owe you a lot."
Shiloh closed his eyes. I then walked towards entering into the forest on this river. There are lots of thorns and shrubs. Tall trees that I don't know what type are stuck firmly on the ground. I walked slowly when I saw a group of strangely dressed people walking somewhere. I turned to Shiloh who was still busy in that position which I found uncomfortable.
"Shiloh, come here!" I call him slowly. I kept an eye on that group of people. They seem to be led by someone, perhaps? It's far enough that I can't see it clearly.
Shiloh stood beside me. I immediately pointed at that group of people. "You saw them, didn't you?"
Shiloh nodded. The man didn't say much. He just watched the group of people with narrowed eyes. From here, the group walked in huddles, then they seemed to stop in place—perhaps planning something—and then they split up. We both immediately crouched down, hiding behind a bush with alacrity. The sound of their footsteps could be heard past our hiding bush.
"Free-"
"Can you just be quiet for a second?" Shiloh whispered, covering my mouth with his dirty, smelly hand. I snorted indignantly. Meanwhile, Shiloh was still peeking out from behind the bushes. Suddenly the unkempt brown haired man pulled my hand.
"There's no time. We have to get out of here quickly."
---------
I should be at home relaxing on a school holiday like this, but damn—I ended up wandering around in the wilderness with Shiloh until nightfall. The wet clothes were dry again. To be honest, I want to immediately clean myself and get rid of this unpleasant smell.
"I've been hoping to pick fruit, but it turns out that this forest really contains all male trees," I blurted out quickly. The more I walked in I found only a heterogeneous forest which—let me explain—only contains tall pine trees with lavender overgrown soil.
I still don't understand why we are here.
"Hey," Shiloh called. I turned around, found that face staring far away in the dim light, "why don't we walk by the river? This is actually a waste of time."
I chuckled blandly. "Didn't I remind you earlier? You panicked too much and pulled me here. Do you think I'm stupid?"
Shiloh sighed. He then walked ahead of me. I just looked at him disinterestedly. The man who at first glance looked em—handsome— was so annoying when he was cold like that. Maybe even—his cold demeanor surpassed the night breeze.
There is a moonlight that guides us on this quiet night. I just snorted when I saw Shiloh walking quite far from me. That man was a tymp who dared to throw peas at the side of the road—at that time. Shiloh isn't very bright in my opinion, but he has better achievements than I do. Imagine, at the age of eighteen, he got his chance at the national Olympics. Don't compare him to me. I'm really very different from him.
But Shiloh is actually very crazy. I mean, he sometimes laughs at things I find—uninteresting.
Obviously he is lonely.
"Shiloh, don't go far!" I shouted in panic. There is no longer that tall presence in front of me. There is only darkness that greets me. I walked slowly while closing my eyes even though it was pitch dark. But please, I can't linger in the dark alone.
"Shiloh, where are you, idiot?!" I said panicked. A tree unconsciously knocked over just like that. As I walked I began to hear crickets covering my surroundings.
I then stopped walking. I bent my legs and buried my head in them. My body is shaking. Unpredictably a flash of memory that I tried to throw away pushed into my brain. I tried to dispel the horrible flashbacks by imagining beautiful things, but I couldn't.
I hate being alone. Dark.
Shiloh, if you really leave me, I'll punch you unconscious!
"Caviar! Caviar! Where are you?!"
I looked up. A silhouette carrying a lantern ran towards me. I narrowed my eyes. I can see that in the dim light, Shiloh is looking down, looking at me frantically. Sweat was dripping from his temple. His hair was slicked back, showing his broad forehead.
"It's a good thing you're okay—"
"Damn you! You left me in the dark like this on purpose, huh?" I said after giving him a raw punch on the forehead. Shiloh grimaced slightly. He looked at me in horror. "You shut me out on purpose, asshole?"
Shiloh chuckled. He pinched my cheek fondly. "You said you wanted to die? Are you scared at this time?" he said, "what's with the Caviar I know?"
"You talk a lot!" I kicked his leg. "Teasing me again I'll bite you!"
Shiloh shuddered. He then hugged me, took me side by side. "You said you were hungry, right?" he asked, "I found a good place. There's plenty of food there. You're guaranteed to be full."
I smiled happily. "Really? But... do we have any money?"
Shiloh patted her chest proudly. "When I left you, I negotiated with them," he said, "I gave them the box."
I felt my heart stop beating. Box thing? What thing...
Wait—damn!
"You gave me my phone?!"
Shiloh nodded. "Shouldn't things really be used? After all, they've been short-circuited in contact with water."
"Shiloh, I don't know what to curse you like anymore," I said with a tired sigh. Too much stupidity going on today. "I recorded all these craziness in there and the cell phone is our only clue. You switched them instead. Your brain can be stupid sometimes, huh?" []
--------------
"So tell me," I said through gritted teeth. It's so crazy to want to pull the brown-haired man's hair out of his scalp. "Why don't you ask my permission first, hm?"
Shiloh chuckled. He repeatedly rolled his eyes. "I told you your phone was broken, right? What did you expect?"
"Why not give me your smelly wet bag, huh?!" I said annoyed. Shiloh hugged her bag which was still wet from the river earlier, then shook her head.
"It's delicious! Inside this bag is filled with valuables!" he said fiercely. Oh come on, the longer I want to knock on his skull.
"Ah never mind!" I said tired. I then took a deep breath, then looked up with a tired body. "Quickly take me to the place you want to show me."
Shiloh didn't answer. He was still silent back there, while I now took turns carrying the lantern. Shiloh suddenly whispered. "We still have the mask, right?" he asked, "you must tell me where the mask is now."
I smiled crookedly, looking down at him. "I'm not going to tell you after today's stupidity," I said, "quickly feed me or I'll make you some roast beef tonight. Want some?"
Shiloh shuddered. He kept his distance from me. Of course not, idiot. I don't want to eat your flesh which—I'm guessing it's bitter. Even the mosquitoes in this forest had no intention of sucking up his poisoned blood.
OK, sorry.
"That's them!"
I saw a group of people dressed in white around the bonfire. Shiloh then walked without hesitation to approach those who were busy joking around laughing. I trailed behind Shiloh with narrowed eyes. Entering this area, I began to step on the neatly arranged bricks. There are only a few trees here. In front of their table, there are various kinds of dishes that make my saliva drip. A chocolate tart topped with toffee, honey and caramel drippings set in a glass case, glazed fruit that's probably hygienic and weird snacks I've never seen.
Too busy staring at the food, I didn't realize the locals were staring at me. They gave warm smiles. Between them stood Shiloh showing me a red grape.
"Come join us," said one of the beautiful red-haired women. I smiled awkwardly, choosing to sit beside Shiloh.
Everyone at the table stared at us. If you were here, you could tell me and Shiloh apart. Everyone besides us was dressed in white with a crown of branches on their heads. The men wear white suits with a rather rough-looking crown, while the women wear knee-length dresses with short sleeves. They also had crowns on their heads, but they looked smooth without any roots.
"He's my friend," Shiloh said introducing me. They started smiling again. Oh come on, I want one person to show me his true nature.
"What's your name?" asked a boy Shiloh's age. The man had golden hair and light aquamarine eyes.
"Her name-"
"My name is Abby," I said quickly. Shiloh seemed to want to protest, but immediately I pinched her stomach secretly.
The boy smiled sweetly. "What a beautiful name you have," he said, "my name is Amyas. Nice to meet you."
I smiled awkwardly "me too."
Shiloh shifted uncomfortably close to me. He took a dry cake and lifted it up. "Can I eat this cake now? I can't stand hunger anymore."
Everyone laughs. Only I probably don't understand what's being laughed at. Amyas laughed with his hand over his mouth. I just watched disinterestedly.
So feminine.
"Go ahead, just eat." Amyas replied. Shiloh then ate his food quickly, while I just looked at the dishes with my thoughts flying everywhere. I'm hungry, but I don't know what this food is mixed with. They're all weird. What if I get drugged and wake up on a hot blaze? No, I went back on my words because I wanted to die in the previous days.
"Why haven't you eaten yet?" asked Amyas confused. He held an apple in his hand. "Here, eat. You must be hungry, right?"
I didn't answer.
It didn't take long for Amyas to speak again, "You probably think we're weird, don't you?" he asked. I'd love to say 'yes, you and the others are so weird!' but I don't want to risk being toppled off the top of the pyramid after being slit open. Oh come on, my mental suddenly shriveled. I mean, every human being has to be on his toes, right?
Shiloh apparently watched me as he finished his meal. He glared at me. Maybe he was annoyed why I didn't touch my food earlier, even though I was complaining that I was hungry.
"Hurry and eat. If you're hungry, you're like a lion," said Shiloh. I chuckled, then stomped his foot. Shiloh choked. great.
Amyas smiled faintly. He gave me a glass of cold white milk. I didn't guess that this milk was put in the fridge. I thought there was no fridge here.
"You look weak. Have a drink," Amyas said softly, "then you can change clothes with Aqua."
"Who's Aqua?" I asked spontaneously.
Amyas pointed at a girl with short blonde hair who was carrying a tray. The girl had beautiful blue-green eyes.
"She's my best friend."
"Oh."
There was no other conversation after that. I still kept silent in place until several people left the table. Shiloh may have been too lazy to persuade me by saying 'just eat first, die later'. The man began to join the residents, leaving me with the pungent black bag.
The milk in front of me is so tempting. So are the other dishes. At the third rumbling sound, I could no longer ignore the pleasures of heaven that were right before my eyes.
I just hope that tomorrow I can still breathe in this world. []