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Chapter 11 - Chapter 11: The Anniversary of Wedding Bells

October 22nd, 2019

The one-month anniversary of Thomas and Catherine's wedding had them meticulously planning a getaway to Bali. Their vacation entourage included the company of Matt and Nicole. The quartet saw this opportunity as a chance to revel in an exquisite retreat before Catherine's upcoming film premiere.

After an hour's drive, they arrived at Jimbaran Beach—a renowned locale known for its stunning sunsets and the distinctive craftsmanship of its fishermen. Whether at the break of dawn or during twilight, the beach exuded a vibrant buzz. The local fishermen continued to set out to sea using their simple and rustic boats from ancient times. In the waning light, the sun's descent was a sight to behold, accompanied by folk singers' melodies. The setting was perfect for a candlelit feast, seafood barbecues, and an intimate poetry recital. However, the sheer number of tourists detracted from the tranquility, incongruent with the primary concept of their advertisement. Thus, the team shifted focus to the next location, Kuta Beach.

Kuta Beach, often hailed as Bali's most stunning coastline, was their chosen spot. The beach was level, with its soft, white sands and smooth texture, coupled with its vibrant beauty. Finally, a unanimous decision was reached to set the commercial shoot at Kuta Beach.

Following a lunch outdoors, the group made their way to the pier in preparation for a boat ride to the Temple of the Sea God. The temple itself rested atop a large slab of rock adjacent to the coastline. However, this season was marked by rising tides; during high tide, the rock was surrounded by seawater, causing the temple to appear as if floating, akin to an underwater palace. Access was only feasible via boat, requiring them to wait until the tide receded.

The massive rock resembled a tiny, independent island. The temple's popularity drew a substantial crowd, and though the rock wasn't overly expansive, the real allure lay in the remarkably azure seawater. Catherine tilted her head to gaze at the sky, which was equally vividly blue. Selecting this location for the story's conclusion proved to be a fitting choice.

Another two hours of travel passed, during which everyone agreed that the Temple of the Sea God would serve as an ideal backdrop for the protagonists' reunion. Additionally, with the help of a local resident, a stretch of sandy beach and a crystal-clear, cerulean expanse of water were discovered. This decision brought about a sense of ease, allowing them to comfortably explore the sights along both sides of the road.

On this day, Catherine took the reins of the camera herself, stopping to capture any picturesque scenes she encountered along the way. There were moments when she almost lost track of the group, as there was no map to guide her steps. She followed the path intuitively, fully aware that if she strayed, she would be utterly lost.

As the afternoon unfolded, the procession of tourists remained ceaseless. Catherine spotted the path leading to a rock formation, and without hesitation, she made her way up the path. Unbeknownst to her, Nicole was speaking below, her words unheard amid the surroundings.

Catherine, Thomas, and Matt had ventured ahead towards the restroom, and Catherine had to pick up her pace to keep up with them.

In a fleeting moment, Catherine ascended to the highest point, a vantage from which she could glimpse the Bali shoreline on the opposite side, as well as the boundless expanse of the sea below.

"How incredibly beautiful, Thomas, look!" As Catherine turned around, a familiar figure was conspicuously absent. Why couldn't she see any of them anymore? They should have almost reached this spot by now, shouldn't they? The climb was remarkably slow. Unperturbed, Catherine sat atop the rocky outcrop, gazing at the vast sea beneath and the vivid blue sky above. But in a moment, the azure sky transformed into an inky black.

Was the rain impending? Catherine opened her purse to check and realized she had forgotten her umbrella. How frustrating!

She wondered if Thomas and the others had brought theirs. Turning back to look at the narrow path, nobody was approaching yet, and even those above were gradually diminishing. Catherine's concern escalated; she reached for her mobile phone to call Thomas, but no matter how she tried, she couldn't establish a connection. When she attempted to call again, suddenly her phone had no signal at all. Oh dear! Trouble was looming. Catherine couldn't help but sigh with dismay.

At this moment, a tour guide passed by Catherine and curiously glanced at her. "Miss, haven't you left yet? The weather's changing; it seems like rain is coming. This season brings frequent storms."

"Rain? Storms? But the sky was so clear just a while ago," Catherine exclaimed in astonishment.

"The weather here in Bali is always like this, like a child's emotions—sometimes happy, sometimes sad. Especially during this time, you never know, it could change back to fine within a day." The tour guide spoke before departing.

Catherine recalled that this was the rainy season in Bali. During this time, storms were common and the weather was notoriously unpredictable. What now? She couldn't contact Thomas and the others at the moment.

Right then, a thunderclap resounded in the sky. "Ah!" Catherine hastily jumped down from the large rock, startled by the thunder's boom. As she landed, she twisted her ankle.

"Ouch, that hurts,"Catherine lamented, having sat on the ground for half a day without being able to stand up.

When she finally managed to rise and turned to the people around to borrow a phone, she realized there were only three people left—a middle-aged couple and another middle-aged man.

Of course, the elderly couple had no phones. Catherine had no choice but to approach them. This was it. Even her last hope had faded away. Desperation filled her; she could only describe her state as one of helplessness. She had never regretted only learning two foreign languages before. Now there was nothing to do but descend on her own, as everyone around had disappeared.

Catherine looked and smiled, using English to speak to the middle-aged man, asking to borrow his phone. However, he refused to say anything and simply looked at her, then said, "Xin chào ."

"I'm from Vietnam," he added.

"Could I borrow your phone? I'm lost right now, and I don't have any means of contacting my husband." Catherine's worry and desperation were evident.

When Thomas emerged from the restroom, Nicole rushed towards him like an ant scurrying on a hot pan. "What happened? Where's Catherine?" Thomas inquired.

"I couldn't find Catherine anymore; she must have gotten lost. Her phone is with me, so I can't contact her. And it seems like a storm is brewing. I'm really worried, Thomas."

Upon hearing this, Thomas's head spun like a busy bee; he didn't think much and dashed off to search for Catherine, leaving Nicole and Matt behind.